Our (2022) report has been coordinated through members of the Nottinghamshire Together partnership and seeks to provide an insight into the state of the sector as it emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic. The partners would like to thank all the voluntary groups and organisations who took part in the survey and its wider consultation processes. It is appreciated that groups and organisations responded at a time of competing pressures and wider COVID-19 impact on service users, volunteers and staff. The contribution of the sector is clearly demonstrated throughout this report and enables us to highlight our unique strengths:

• the sector's flexibility.

• how it has adapted as a sector.

• how it recognises the challenges ahead.

• the challenge of structural changes and wider impacts on society that the sector need to understand and respond to.

• the sector’s ability to provide timely insight through its community voice.

The pandemic has highlighted the value of the Voluntary and Community Sector, demonstrating its ability to respond and deliver at a time of unprecedented uncertainty. The insight provided through this report shows that existing organisations 'stepped up' and newcomers 'stepped forward'; this resulted in the sector having an equal 'seat at the table', in many instances for the first time.

The challenge moving forward, at a time of severe financial pressure for many, is to continue to secure funding and capacity to support Nottinghamshire residents.

This report demonstrates the value of the Voluntary and Community Sector and moving forward it is hoped that wider stakeholders continue to work with and invest in it.