Seven of Liverpool’s leading charities have joined together to launch the 800 Group and have pledged to work together and to support other charities across the city.

They are:

• Age Concern Liverpool,
• Bradbury Fields,
• Henshaws,
• Imagine,
• Merseyside Society for Deaf People,
• Nugent Care, and;
• PSS ~ innovation that changes lives

Between them have a combined history of providing support and care services for vulnerable people for 800 years, are the founder members of the group.

Plans for the 800 Group, which includes a commitment to share resources, shape services for the future and develop models of best practice, have now been unveiled to service commissioners and representatives from other charities.

The seven partners have considerable expertise and experience in the fields of health and social care. They have a combined turnover in excess of £55 million per annum and support tens of thousands of vulnerable people in Liverpool and the surrounding area. The 800 Group believes that this is a positive move for each of the partners, for other charities in the sector and for the people who rely on the services every day of the year.

Dil Daly, the Chief Executive of Age Concern Liverpool and the chair of the 800 Group, says:

“The 800 Group is a commitment to work together to provide support and care for vulnerable people of all ages in all parts of Liverpool and the surrounding areas. By sharing our skills and resources and by working together we will help to ensure that people receive the support they need and choice in the services they deserve”. Now the seven organisations which have founded the 800 Group are inviting other charities to become associate members and to take advantage of the professional support, training and bulk purchasing benefits created through collaborative working.

Dil Daly continues:

“As individual health and social care agencies we have provided support for people over many years and as a group we are committed to working together to develop services for the future. We each bring our respective strengths, understanding and insights to the partnership and aim to provide the highest levels of support for the people who rely on our services.”

“Our approach will be an inclusive one and by working with other charities and health and social care agencies we will build strength and resources in our sector in the years ahead.”

The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Steve Rotheram, welcomed guests to the launch at Liverpool Town Hall. Roger Phillips, presenter of Radio Merseyside and a trustee of the 800 Group founder member, Bradbury Fields, which provides services for blind and partially sighted people, hosted the launch event.

The seven partners have undertaken joint research, held shared training sessions and have joined together to tender for health and social care contracts in Liverpool – and more examples of collaborative working will be seen throughout 2009.

Post attributed to Nugent Care [here]