Our role is to support, promote and develop local voluntary and community action and we do this by: Providing practical development support (including funding) Managing Middlesbrough Volunteering Academy Supporting the VCS to engage at a strategic level Enabling the sector to work together through meetings, forums, training and events Advocating for the VCS through membership of planning and partnership forums and liaison with public bodies Promoting good practice in meeting the needs of local people and communities Raising the profile of the local VCS through research and other short-term projects.