News - VCFSE sector joins the Combined Authority Shadow Board

Cheshire and Warrington Infrastructure Partnership (CWIP) is delighted to announce that the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector has been elected to the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority (CA) Shadow Board, helping make sure the sector has a stronger collective voice.

Made up of local infrastructure organisations (LIOs), CWIP supports the VCFSE sector and aims to influence decision making in the region.

The Shadow Board will meet on a couple of occasions before the CA is set up in April 2026, and CWIP members have chosen Gary Cliffe, Chief Executive of Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA), to join it. Gary has worked in the sector for many years, and is passionate about what devolution can do for the sector. He is actively involved in many strategic boards and meetings to help represent the sector, including the Cheshire and Warrington Leaders’ Board.

There is a commitment from the Shadow CA for the VCFSE sector to have a seat on the main CA Board once it is set up, and there will be a fair and transparent process to elect the VCFSE representative. More information about this process will follow in the coming weeks and months.

All CWIP members have been heavily involved with devolution discussions since the initial proposals were announced, helping make sure the VCFSE sector is treated as an equal partner, well positioned to influence the priorities of the CA and take advantage of future funding and opportunities.

A manifesto, codeveloped with VCFSE sector organisations across the region, was created to support CWIP’s approach to devolution.

• Download a copy of the manifesto 

One of the manifesto’s key asks was a seat on the CA Board so this development is a positive step forward for CWIP and the wider VCFSE sector. It is also one of few examples across England where the VCFSE sector has secured a seat on a CA Board.

CWIP will make sure the VCFSE sector can effectively influence the various workstreams that are being set up to shape the CA and its priorities, embedding the voice of lived experience and wider communities.

If you’d like more information about CWIP’s approach to devolution, please email: cwip@vsnw.org.uk.

There are also the following key contacts in the various LIOs.

• Cheshire Community Action (CCA) – John Heselwood (john.heselwood@cheshireaction.org.uk)
• Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA) – Ryan Gould (ryan.gould@cwva.org.uk)
• Community and Voluntary Services (CVS) Cheshire East – Kate Little (kate.little@cvsce.org.uk)
• Warrington Voluntary Action (WVA) – Naz Ghodrati (naz@warringtonva.org.uk)