MADAM, OVER many years I have had involvement in Church activities, Rotary, and before that Round Table. I have recently had to resign, due to health reasons, from numerous working groups where I have been the representative of Churches Together in Ross and of the Voluntary [3rd] Sector for many years. At my last meeting of the 3rd Sector Board I was invited to make my observations on the present situation.

Over the years I have become increasingly concerned at the way in which our County Council, Primary Care Trust, and other bodies have viewed the 3rd sector and its ability to be constructive in the planning of services for the population of Herefordshire.

With some exceptions meetings are treated as of very low priority. It is also often assumed that the authorities can produce plans and strategies and expect the 3rd sector to fall in line with their implementation when it would have been far better if they had asked for advice or ideas first.

We are living in increasingly difficult times with spending cuts everywhere we look. Whilst this is not good it creates a situation where there are great opportunities to bring forward new and more effective working practices. The roles of faith communities and others in the 3rd sector in Herefordshire life are more vital than ever, and yet Councillors and some officers go out of their way to make life difficult.

At a scrutinary meeting before Christmas county councillors spoke out about the 3rd sector, their waste of money, the quality of their work, and the level of their experience, leaving no room for a reply to the scathing criticism. Such bigoted thinking does nothing for the good of our population. Third sector staff and volunteers are motivated either by their faith or the desire to see those with special needs, those who are less well off than the general population, have specific disabilities, or poor health can be helped to achieve a better level of life.

A recent survey showed that there are some 50,000 volunteers who give 5,876,000 hours of service. This is the equivalent of 3,054 full time workers and a monetary value of £60m. Surely this shows that the authorities ought to be coming to the 3rd sector and asking how can they help us rather than thinking that the 3rd sector should just fall in line with what they deem politically to be what is needed.

I hope the media and the people of Herefordshire will get behind the 3rd sector to show that they are an invaluable asset to our county.

Philip Dazeley