Leeds Voice was established in 1999 by the voluntary community and faith sector for the voluntary community and faith sector.

In 1998 The Leeds Initiative carried out a huge consultation and planning activity which led to the production of Vision for Leeds, a 10 year plan for the future of Leeds. The chair of Voluntary Action Leeds was invited to be on the planning group for Vision for Leeds. She realised that it was impossible for her to fully represent the views of the sector which is made up of over 3,000 groups and organisations of different sizes with many different roles within the city.

With this in mind she called together a group of VCFS people and they worked on the idea of a new organisation, set up to arrange representation of the sector. Getting the support of the council and the Leeds Initiative she held VCFS consultation meetings to agree the aims of this new organisation that was to become Leeds Voice.

Leeds Voice STRATEGIC PURPOSE

Leeds Voice exists to strengthen & represent the voluntary, community and faith sector throughout the Leeds Metropolitan District by:

  • Building the capacity of the sector and by securing recognition as full and respected partners

  • Enabling voluntary community faith sector representation and participation at a local level.

  • Actively supporting the sectors to participate in consultation and decision-making.
  • Empowering the sectors by promoting communication and partnership, through information sharing, networking and strategic advocacy.
  • Ensuring that all our work is underpinned by a commitment to recognising and valuing the diversity of our city.

Now, eight years later Leeds Voice has developed into an organisation that coordinates neighborhood and city wide strategic representation, forums, events and training and gives grassroots support to groups so they can grow stronger and become more involved in they city

Leeds Voice's Core Values are a Commitment to the Following;

  • Equal opportunities, and recognising and valuing diversity
  • The principles of community development and grassroots involvement and participation
  • Partnership working locally and at a strategic level
  • Responding proactively to the needs of the VCFS

A Vision for the future

Leeds Voice will;

  • Continue to be an organisation that is responsive to the needs of the voluntary community and faith sector.
  • Be faithful to our strategic purpose whilst being responsive to the rapidly changing strategic climate within the Leeds Partnership.
  • Continue to promote the value of VCFS involvement, service delivery and community empowerment to our partners.
  • Seek to appropriately resource Leeds Voice in order to fulfil our strategic purpose.