MORE than 60 people from voluntary and community groups met with Shadow Minister for Charities, Social Enterprise and Volunteering Nick Hurd in Sheffield.
Topics including sustainable funding, volunteering and charitable giving.
Mr Hurd said the 'third sector' had a role to play in the Conservatives' plans for recovery, if they win the next election.
"We need to think creatively about old problem
s, and the third sector is a key part of doing that", he said.
"The sector is robust and independent, and we need to look at what we can do to help the sector stand up more on its own feet.
"Our aim is to unlock the potential of the sector to help more people."
Nick Warren, Chief Executive of Voluntary Action Sheffield, who helped organise the event, said: "The event was a unique opportunity for voluntary and community organisations from the region to ask questions and give direct feedback to the Conservatives on their ideas for our sector."
READ MOREMain news indexYour lettersFeaturesSouth Yorkshire's environmental newsKids ZoneMore business newsMore Rotherham newsMore Doncaster newsMore Barnsley newsLatest sport.