THE challenges ahead facing the voluntary sector in Herefordshire will be the main focus at the annual conference of the county’s Services for Independent Living (SILs).

Chief executive Marion Tweed-Rycroft said that with Government budgets being cut dramatically everyone needed to understand what the national and local picture was and how to think about how they could get more, for less.

“As a provider of services, we know we will be expected to provide the same high level of support to disabled and older people who wish to remain in their own homes, but with reduced budgets to do so,” she said.

The conference, at Gardner Hall, Royal National College for the Blind, will be chaired by nationally acclaimed alternative comedian Laurence Clark and the keynote speaker will be Dr Martin Stevens, academic and author of “The Personalisation of Adult Social Care in Rural Areas”.

Wendy Fabbro, from Herefordshire Council, will speak about challenges and opportunities locally, and there will be talks on how people who need the services should be involved in designing them.

The conference is on Wednesday, July 14 starting at 10.45am.

To book a place email vickyg@ s4il.co.uk or phone 01432 353397.