Published quarterly by the Gloucestershire Association for Voluntary and Community Action April 2012

In these difficult times, it is more importantthan ever that voluntary and communityorganisations are able to demonstrate oursocial and economic impact. To help gatherthe evidence of the sector’s positive role inour communities, GAVCA and the Universityof Gloucestershire have joined forces todeliver the Proving Our Value project.

Proving Our Value is a partnership project beingdelivered by GAVCA and the University ofGloucestershire to research ways of demonstratingthe social and economic impact of voluntary andcommunity organisations. Part of a Big Lottery-funded project taking place across the South West,the project is looking at community developmentorganisations including GL11, Fair SharesGloucestershire and the Gloucester City CentreCommunity Partnership.

Ann Wheeler, Project Manager of GL11 CommunityProject, says:

Opportunities for small, local charities to be partof a University research project do not comealong often. The invitation to GL11 Community

Project to be part of the Proving Our Value project wasan unexpected and pleasant surprise, and now that weare a few months into the project, it is becoming clearthat there will be even more positive outcomes forGL11 than originally anticipated.

What we hoped to get out of the project was help infinding ways to prove more effectively the economicbenefits of investment in our work. But, at anoperational level, the additional outcomes for GL11will include stronger, more robust methods ofcapturing, recording and monitoring data –particularly relating to volunteer hours and input.

We already record volunteer hours, both individuallyand collectively, but quantifying the financial andother value of volunteering for the purposes of thisresearch project has already highlighted how changesand improvements to our internal monitoring can bemade. The more in-depth data that we will now becollecting will help in reviewing and developingprogrammes of work, in seeking out new partnershipsand funding.

As the challenges grow within the voluntary sector,then so the need for clarity of purpose and additionalhard evidence to ‘prove our value’ becomesof even greater significance.

The University is working with its partners to developa toolkit for measuring impact through an actionresearch approach. As the work develops, we will beaiming to engage with more VCOs who are interestedin exploring the use of this toolkit in theirorganisations, and will be rolling out our learning aswidely as possible across the VCS.

If you are interested in taking part, contact SallyPickering at GAVCA: sallyp@gavca.org.uk or ring01452 332424.

Page 2 Page 2

Some members of the VCS Children and Young

People’s Strategy Group are currently assessing what

are the most crucial issues affecting children and

young people that the VCS wants to influence, given

the much reduced resources for supporting this area

of work this year.

Other existing VCS Assembly structures will remain in

place for the time being - in particular the Stronger

and Safer Communities Strategy Group and the

Health and Wellbeing Strategy Group - so there is still

a place for the VCS to get their voice heard on

important current topics.

How can you get involved?If you would like to comment on any issues

concerning the VCS Assembly, please contact Hannah

Gorf by emailing hannahg@gavca.org.uk or phoning

01452 522600.

For more information about the TLI project, please

contact Sally Pickering, by emailing

sallyp@gavca.org.uk or phoning 01452 509700.

* Other consortium partners are: PATA, Gloucestershire Council

for Voluntary Youth Services and Fair Shares.

Transforming Local InfrastructureThis work will form one strand of a project that is

being undertaken by a consortium of infrastructure

organisations in Gloucestershire*, led by GAVCA.,

called Transforming Local Infrastructure (TLI). The

programme is being funded by the Office of the Third

Sector (OTS) and aims to help transform the way

frontline groups are supported to make their services

more effective and sustainable.

A key aspect of the TLI project in Gloucestershire will

be to look at how new media and other new

technologies can be used more effectively to enable

the VCS to share their views without the expense and

time of attending numerous meetings. It will also be

looking any new opportunities for the VCS to get

involved in partnership working and to have

influence, for example: the imminent arrival of an

elected Police and Crime Commissioner; new

commissioning structures within Gloucestershire

County Council; and the new Local Healthwatch

structure which will come into being next year.

The TLI programme’s priorities are in response to the

issues raised by the many frontline organisations that

took part in a consultation back in the summer of

2011. Other aims of the programme are:

1. To provide a single point of contact for more

effective specialist support to VCOs working with

children and young people

2. To transform the way that volunteers are matched

with the needs of VCOs to make more effective use

of the skills and resources being offered

3. To create a sustainable service that will support the

private sector to contribute towards the work of

the VCS in Gloucestershire.

What is happening now?Andrew Lee has recently joined GAVCA as the new

Policy and Partnerships Manager to oversee the work

of transforming the VCS Assembly. Andrew can best

be reached by email on andrewl@gavca.org.uk

The VCS Assembly Board has recognised the positive

impact this work will have on enabling the VCS to

have a voice in Gloucestershire and is fully supporting

the project.

The VCS Assembly Board also has a new Chair – Claire

Mould from OPENhouse in Stroud. We welcome

Claire and look forward to working with her in the

future.

The Gloucestershire Voluntary andCommunity Sector (VCS) Assembly is about toundergo a “refresh” of its structure and theway it works in response to the changingexternal partnership environment.

Over the next 18 months, the intention is totransform the VCS Assembly so that VCOs cancontinue to influence public sector decisionsabout commissioning strategies and services,despite reduced funding to support the VCSAssembly’s work.

Welcome to… Andrew LeeNew Policy andPartnerships’manager, AndrewLee, has joinedGAVCA at anexciting time in thedevelopment of theGloucestershire VCSAssembly.

Andrew haspreviously worked to

develop credit unions at the Commission forRural Communities, and also has abackground as an independent equalities anddiversity specialist.

Andrew will be based in the GAVCAPartnerships Team and will be workingMonday to Thursday.

If you’d like to arrange to meet Andrew, thenyou can contact him by ringing 01452 522600or by emailing andrewl@gavca.org.uk

Don’t forget that you can keep up-to-date withall the news from the Gloucestershire VCSAssembly by visiting www.gloshub.org.ukor by subscribing to the weekly e-newsletter,the Gloshub Bulletin. Just emailhannahg@gavca.org.uk to sign up.

Community Power Comes to Gloucestershire

If your organisation would like to support renewal energy generationin Gloucestershire, then why not invest in shares in the county’s firstcommunity owned "power station"? The array of solar panelsinstalled on the roof of the City Works building in Alfred Street,Gloucester, is expected to generate approximately 40,000 kWp ofelectricity a year, equivalent to the electricity used by 12 households.

The Gloucestershire Community Energy Co-op is inviting local peopleand voluntary and community organisations to own shares in thesolar array. Investors will get interest on their shares, expected to bearound 5% per annum.

The Gloucestershire Community Energy Co-op is already exploringopportunities for additional solar projects, as well as energy saving,wind, hydro and other renewables in the county. Prospectuses andother documents can be obtained from City Works, downloadedfrom www.gloscommunityenergy.coop or by calling 01452 348508.©Living Off Grid at Flickr.com

Page 3 Page 3

Some members of the VCS Children and Young

People’s Strategy Group are currently assessing what

are the most crucial issues affecting children and

young people that the VCS wants to influence, given

the much reduced resources for supporting this area

of work this year.

Other existing VCS Assembly structures will remain in

place for the time being - in particular the Stronger

and Safer Communities Strategy Group and the

Health and Wellbeing Strategy Group - so there is still

a place for the VCS to get their voice heard on

important current topics.

How can you get involved?If you would like to comment on any issues

concerning the VCS Assembly, please contact Hannah

Gorf by emailing hannahg@gavca.org.uk or phoning

01452 522600.

For more information about the TLI project, please

contact Sally Pickering, by emailing

sallyp@gavca.org.uk or phoning 01452 509700.

* Other consortium partners are: PATA, Gloucestershire Council

for Voluntary Youth Services and Fair Shares.

Transforming Local InfrastructureThis work will form one strand of a project that is

being undertaken by a consortium of infrastructure

organisations in Gloucestershire*, led by GAVCA.,

called Transforming Local Infrastructure (TLI). The

programme is being funded by the Office of the Third

Sector (OTS) and aims to help transform the way

frontline groups are supported to make their services

more effective and sustainable.

A key aspect of the TLI project in Gloucestershire will

be to look at how new media and other new

technologies can be used more effectively to enable

the VCS to share their views without the expense and

time of attending numerous meetings. It will also be

looking any new opportunities for the VCS to get

involved in partnership working and to have

influence, for example: the imminent arrival of an

elected Police and Crime Commissioner; new

commissioning structures within Gloucestershire

County Council; and the new Local Healthwatch

structure which will come into being next year.

The TLI programme’s priorities are in response to the

issues raised by the many frontline organisations that

took part in a consultation back in the summer of

2011. Other aims of the programme are:

1. To provide a single point of contact for more

effective specialist support to VCOs working with

children and young people

2. To transform the way that volunteers are matched

with the needs of VCOs to make more effective use

of the skills and resources being offered

3. To create a sustainable service that will support the

private sector to contribute towards the work of

the VCS in Gloucestershire.

What is happening now?Andrew Lee has recently joined GAVCA as the new

Policy and Partnerships Manager to oversee the work

of transforming the VCS Assembly. Andrew can best

be reached by email on andrewl@gavca.org.uk

The VCS Assembly Board has recognised the positive

impact this work will have on enabling the VCS to

have a voice in Gloucestershire and is fully supporting

the project.

The VCS Assembly Board also has a new Chair – Claire

Mould from OPENhouse in Stroud. We welcome

Claire and look forward to working with her in the

future.

The Gloucestershire Voluntary andCommunity Sector (VCS) Assembly is about toundergo a “refresh” of its structure and theway it works in response to the changingexternal partnership environment.

Over the next 18 months, the intention is totransform the VCS Assembly so that VCOs cancontinue to influence public sector decisionsabout commissioning strategies and services,despite reduced funding to support the VCSAssembly’s work.

Welcome to… Andrew LeeNew Policy andPartnerships’manager, AndrewLee, has joinedGAVCA at anexciting time in thedevelopment of theGloucestershire VCSAssembly.

Andrew haspreviously worked to

develop credit unions at the Commission forRural Communities, and also has abackground as an independent equalities anddiversity specialist.

Andrew will be based in the GAVCAPartnerships Team and will be workingMonday to Thursday.

If you’d like to arrange to meet Andrew, thenyou can contact him by ringing 01452 522600or by emailing andrewl@gavca.org.uk

Don’t forget that you can keep up-to-date withall the news from the Gloucestershire VCSAssembly by visiting www.gloshub.org.ukor by subscribing to the weekly e-newsletter,the Gloshub Bulletin. Just emailhannahg@gavca.org.uk to sign up.

Community Power Comes to Gloucestershire

If your organisation would like to support renewal energy generationin Gloucestershire, then why not invest in shares in the county’s firstcommunity owned "power station"? The array of solar panelsinstalled on the roof of the City Works building in Alfred Street,Gloucester, is expected to generate approximately 40,000 kWp ofelectricity a year, equivalent to the electricity used by 12 households.

The Gloucestershire Community Energy Co-op is inviting local peopleand voluntary and community organisations to own shares in thesolar array. Investors will get interest on their shares, expected to bearound 5% per annum.

The Gloucestershire Community Energy Co-op is already exploringopportunities for additional solar projects, as well as energy saving,wind, hydro and other renewables in the county. Prospectuses andother documents can be obtained from City Works, downloadedfrom www.gloscommunityenergy.coop or by calling 01452 348508.©Living Off Grid at Flickr.com

Page 4 Page 4

The Voluntary and Community Sector is recognisedby local public sector agencies as being able toprovide valuable intelligence and understanding ofthe needs of communities, particularly those thatare often termed by others as “hard to reach”.

But can you demonstrate how you have gained thatunderstanding, how you engage with and involvethe communities with which you work? Can youshow that the information you can provide comesfrom a wider constituency than a handful of staff ortrustees of your organisation?

Being open to influence from all the people who havea stake in our organisation, whether they be yourservice users, funders or people in your localneighbourhood, will improve the relevance andquality of the services you provide so it’s importantto look for any opportunities to be influenced bythem and hear what they have to say.

GAVCA is committed to being accountable to itsmembers, service users, funders, and colleagues, andwe believe that meaningful involvement of thesestakeholders will help to strengthen democracy andensure this accountability.

We have therefore recently developed a StakeholderInvolvement Policy which sets out thesecommitments in more detail. Alongside this policy,sits a strategy in which we have identifiedopportunities for involvement of our stakeholders in3 areas of our work: Governance of GAVCA, servicedelivery, and in services received from GAVCA.

These opportunities have then been broken downinto the 5 levels of a “Ladder of Participation” whichare:

1Information: providing information aboutour services and governance so that VCOs

are aware of how they can influence them

2Consultation: detailing how we will gatherinformation about the needs and strengths

of the VCS

3Participation: explaining how we willprovide volunteering opportunities within

GAVCA to enable individuals to participate inour work

4Partnership working: explaining how wewill seek and select partners to work with

on joint projects

5Empowerment: how we support andinvolve our member organisations to

govern GAVCA as a member-led organisationthrough involvement as trustees

The full strategy and policy are available on ourwebsite at www.gavca.org.uk/support-for-your-group/policies

If you would like advice to help you develop aStakeholder Involvement Strategy for yourorganisation, contact GAVCA on 01452 332424.

If the answer to any of these questions is ‘yes’,then our training programme could be whatyou’ve been looking for. With courses on a rangeof subjects, each developed specifically for thevoluntary and community sector, we believethey’re one of the best ways for your organisationto develop, adapt and grow.

We price our courses reasonably, and the good newsis that GAVCA members receive a 50% discount,making it even easier to get thetraining you and your organisationneed.

But don’t just take our wordfor it - here’s what attendeeson our courses have had tosay:

What courses are available for Spring and Summer?

To find out more about any of these courses, visit the GAVCA website at www.gavca.org.uk/training orcontact our Training Coordinator by ringing 01452 332424 or email training@gavca.org.uk

1 May Risk-assessing your volunteer roles GAVCA Gloucester

10 May Outcomes – demonstrating the difference you make GAVCA Cheltenham

15 May Cutting your costs in the current economic climate GAVCA Gloucester

17 May to 12 July Look after yourself: 8-week course GAVCA Cheltenham

19 June Safeguarding children and young people GAVCA Gloucester

26 June Funding Support Workshop GAVCA Gloucester

3 July Campaigning skills GAVCA Gloucester

10 July Equality Act 2010: Update GAVCA Gloucester

18 July Running a creative project on a tight budget GAVCA Gloucester

©istockphoto.com/hidesy

Is GAVCA Training the missing piece in your organisation?Improving

accountability andEffectiveness

Involving yourStakeholders in your

Organisation

Would you like to develop your skills in key areas?Are you looking for support in adapting to a changing environment?Do you need a quick refresher about core roles or tasks?

Page 5 Page 5

The Voluntary and Community Sector is recognisedby local public sector agencies as being able toprovide valuable intelligence and understanding ofthe needs of communities, particularly those thatare often termed by others as “hard to reach”.

But can you demonstrate how you have gained thatunderstanding, how you engage with and involvethe communities with which you work? Can youshow that the information you can provide comesfrom a wider constituency than a handful of staff ortrustees of your organisation?

Being open to influence from all the people who havea stake in our organisation, whether they be yourservice users, funders or people in your localneighbourhood, will improve the relevance andquality of the services you provide so it’s importantto look for any opportunities to be influenced bythem and hear what they have to say.

GAVCA is committed to being accountable to itsmembers, service users, funders, and colleagues, andwe believe that meaningful involvement of thesestakeholders will help to strengthen democracy andensure this accountability.

We have therefore recently developed a StakeholderInvolvement Policy which sets out thesecommitments in more detail. Alongside this policy,sits a strategy in which we have identifiedopportunities for involvement of our stakeholders in3 areas of our work: Governance of GAVCA, servicedelivery, and in services received from GAVCA.

These opportunities have then been broken downinto the 5 levels of a “Ladder of Participation” whichare:

1Information: providing information aboutour services and governance so that VCOs

are aware of how they can influence them

2Consultation: detailing how we will gatherinformation about the needs and strengths

of the VCS

3Participation: explaining how we willprovide volunteering opportunities within

GAVCA to enable individuals to participate inour work

4Partnership working: explaining how wewill seek and select partners to work with

on joint projects

5Empowerment: how we support andinvolve our member organisations to

govern GAVCA as a member-led organisationthrough involvement as trustees

The full strategy and policy are available on ourwebsite at www.gavca.org.uk/support-for-your-group/policies

If you would like advice to help you develop aStakeholder Involvement Strategy for yourorganisation, contact GAVCA on 01452 332424.

If the answer to any of these questions is ‘yes’,then our training programme could be whatyou’ve been looking for. With courses on a rangeof subjects, each developed specifically for thevoluntary and community sector, we believethey’re one of the best ways for your organisationto develop, adapt and grow.

We price our courses reasonably, and the good newsis that GAVCA members receive a 50% discount,making it even easier to get thetraining you and your organisationneed.

But don’t just take our wordfor it - here’s what attendeeson our courses have had tosay:

What courses are available for Spring and Summer?

To find out more about any of these courses, visit the GAVCA website at www.gavca.org.uk/training orcontact our Training Coordinator by ringing 01452 332424 or email training@gavca.org.uk

1 May Risk-assessing your volunteer roles GAVCA Gloucester

10 May Outcomes – demonstrating the difference you make GAVCA Cheltenham

15 May Cutting your costs in the current economic climate GAVCA Gloucester

17 May to 12 July Look after yourself: 8-week course GAVCA Cheltenham

19 June Safeguarding children and young people GAVCA Gloucester

26 June Funding Support Workshop GAVCA Gloucester

3 July Campaigning skills GAVCA Gloucester

10 July Equality Act 2010: Update GAVCA Gloucester

18 July Running a creative project on a tight budget GAVCA Gloucester

©istockphoto.com/hidesy

Is GAVCA Training the missing piece in your organisation?Improving

accountability andEffectiveness

Involving yourStakeholders in your

Organisation

Would you like to develop your skills in key areas?Are you looking for support in adapting to a changing environment?Do you need a quick refresher about core roles or tasks?

Page 6 Page 6

Get the word out aboutyour work

If your organisationhas a Facebook pageor a Twitter account,then why not ‘like’ or‘follow’ GAVCA? Youcan post your newsand events onto our

Facebook wall, too,helping bring your information to a wider audience.

You can find GAVCA on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/GAVCAGlos and on Twitter weare @GAVCAGlos.

If you’re not sure whether Facebook or Twitter arefor you, then why not email GAVCA’s InformationOfficer, Honey Lucas, at honeyl@gavca.org.uk to talkthrough the pros and cons.

Free IT SupportVoluntary andcommunityorganisations whichwork with children andyoung people canbenefit from free ITsupport, provided byi-Trust and ChildrenEngland.

The support is fundedby the Department forEducation and isavailable until the end of June 2012.

Find out more from http://bit.ly/yUWdPR

Put these dates in yourdiaries now, or visit the

GAVCA website atwww.gavca.org.uk/

whatson to keep up-to-date with

forthcoming training,meetings, events and

activities.

For further details of any of these events, please visitthe GAVCA website at www.gavca.org.uk/whatsonor ring GAVCA on 01452 332424.

Tue 01 May 129.30 - 12.30

Risk-assessing your volunteerroles

Wed 09 May 1210.00 - 12.00

Down to Business seminar 2:Developing your pitch to theprivate sector

Thu 10 May 129.30 - 12.30

Outcomes – demonstrating thedifference you make

Tue 15 May 129.30 - 12.30

Cutting your costs in the currenteconomic climate

Thu 17 May 12- Thu 12 Jul 12

Look after yourself: 8-weekcourse

Wed 23 May 1210.00 - 12.00

Down to Business seminar 2:Developing your pitch to theprivate sector

Thu 24 May 129.30 - 3.30

Successful VolunteerManagement: Sharing solutionsfor the effective involvement

Tue 29 May 1210.00 - 12.00

Down to Business seminar 1:Building partnerships with theprivate sector

More benefits to GAVCA MembersGAVCA is always working to extend the benefits thatits members receive. With this issue of Pulse you willfind our most recent services leaflet, which outlinesexactly how our members receive discounts on allmanner of training, room hire and other services.

GAVCA is also working with other organisationswhich offer services that our membership could find

useful. More information will be available on ourwebsite shortly about these new offers, but they willinclude:Insurance discounts from Endsleigh and Tennyson

InsuranceHR advice from Charity BuilderTraining from My Learning Pool

Keep an eye on the GAVCA website for updates.

If your organisation is struggling to find funding, why notgive GAVCA’s Group Support Services Team a call?Angela Gilbert, Mary Boucher and Jane Jarman can discuss your organisation’s funding needs and point youin the right direction for finding available funding. Their specialist knowledge of the funding available indifferent parts of the county could really help your organisation target your funding efforts more effectively.

The team can also give you general advice about writing successful funding applications.

Contact the Team by emailing:angelag@gavca.org.uk (Cheltenham)janej@gavca.org.uk (Gloucester)maryb@gavca.org.uk (for other parts of the county).

Want more training? Why not come to GAVCA’s Funding Support Workshopin June? Find out more details from the website at www.gavca.org.uk/whatson or speak to any member of the Group Support Services Team.

Seminars will be running throughout the year atother locations around the county, check the GAVCAwebsite for more details:www.gavca.org.uk/down-to-businessAnd if you’re coming to GAVCA’s Trustee orVolunteer conferences then come to one of ourworkshops!

Each group attending the seminars is also eligible foran hour’s individual support to talk through yourneeds in more detail. Following this initialassessment, groups can sign up for in-depth andtailored support to look at particular projects wherecollaboration with the private sector could be useful.

Seminar 1: Building partnerships with the privatesectorThis is aimed at organisations that are beginning toexplore how they could work with the private sector,or want to develop a fledgling relationship with abusiness.Cheltenham: April 18 & May 29, 10 – 12pm at the

Community Resource Centre, Grove Street GL503LZ

Gloucester: April 25 & June 12, at the GAVCAoffices on Eastgate Street GL1 1PN

Cirencester: Thursday 21 June, at Meadow BankDay Centre

Northleach: Wednesday 27 June, at WestwoodsCommunity Centre

Seminar 2: Developing your pitch to the privatesectorAttend as a follow-up to Seminar 1 or as a stand-alone, this seminar is for organisations that want todevelop an established relationship with a business,or who have an idea or project for which they wantbusiness involvement.Cheltenham: May 9 & July 18, at the Community

Resource Centre, Grove Street GL50 3LZGloucester: May 23 & July 17 at the GAVCA offices

on Eastgate Street GL1 1PNNorthleach: Wednesday 12 September, at

Westwoods Community CentreCirencester: Thursday 13 September, at Meadow

Bank Day Centre

To find out more about the Down to Businessproject, contact Shelley on 07968 827 308,shelleyb@gavca.org.uk or visit the website atwww.gavca.org.uk/down-to-business

Down to Business is a GAVCA project which aims to helpthe voluntary and community sector develop itsrelationships with the private sector.

If you want to work more closely with the private sector,but feel you don’t have the knowledge or skills you need,then why not come along to one of our FREE Seminars?

Page 7 Page 7

Get the word out aboutyour work

If your organisationhas a Facebook pageor a Twitter account,then why not ‘like’ or‘follow’ GAVCA? Youcan post your newsand events onto our

Facebook wall, too,helping bring your information to a wider audience.

You can find GAVCA on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/GAVCAGlos and on Twitter weare @GAVCAGlos.

If you’re not sure whether Facebook or Twitter arefor you, then why not email GAVCA’s InformationOfficer, Honey Lucas, at honeyl@gavca.org.uk to talkthrough the pros and cons.

Free IT SupportVoluntary andcommunityorganisations whichwork with children andyoung people canbenefit from free ITsupport, provided byi-Trust and ChildrenEngland.

The support is fundedby the Department forEducation and isavailable until the end of June 2012.

Find out more from http://bit.ly/yUWdPR

Put these dates in yourdiaries now, or visit the

GAVCA website atwww.gavca.org.uk/

whatson to keep up-to-date with

forthcoming training,meetings, events and

activities.

For further details of any of these events, please visitthe GAVCA website at www.gavca.org.uk/whatsonor ring GAVCA on 01452 332424.

Tue 01 May 129.30 - 12.30

Risk-assessing your volunteerroles

Wed 09 May 1210.00 - 12.00

Down to Business seminar 2:Developing your pitch to theprivate sector

Thu 10 May 129.30 - 12.30

Outcomes – demonstrating thedifference you make

Tue 15 May 129.30 - 12.30

Cutting your costs in the currenteconomic climate

Thu 17 May 12- Thu 12 Jul 12

Look after yourself: 8-weekcourse

Wed 23 May 1210.00 - 12.00

Down to Business seminar 2:Developing your pitch to theprivate sector

Thu 24 May 129.30 - 3.30

Successful VolunteerManagement: Sharing solutionsfor the effective involvement

Tue 29 May 1210.00 - 12.00

Down to Business seminar 1:Building partnerships with theprivate sector

More benefits to GAVCA MembersGAVCA is always working to extend the benefits thatits members receive. With this issue of Pulse you willfind our most recent services leaflet, which outlinesexactly how our members receive discounts on allmanner of training, room hire and other services.

GAVCA is also working with other organisationswhich offer services that our membership could find

useful. More information will be available on ourwebsite shortly about these new offers, but they willinclude:Insurance discounts from Endsleigh and Tennyson

InsuranceHR advice from Charity BuilderTraining from My Learning Pool

Keep an eye on the GAVCA website for updates.

If your organisation is struggling to find funding, why notgive GAVCA’s Group Support Services Team a call?Angela Gilbert, Mary Boucher and Jane Jarman can discuss your organisation’s funding needs and point youin the right direction for finding available funding. Their specialist knowledge of the funding available indifferent parts of the county could really help your organisation target your funding efforts more effectively.

The team can also give you general advice about writing successful funding applications.

Contact the Team by emailing:angelag@gavca.org.uk (Cheltenham)janej@gavca.org.uk (Gloucester)maryb@gavca.org.uk (for other parts of the county).

Want more training? Why not come to GAVCA’s Funding Support Workshopin June? Find out more details from the website at www.gavca.org.uk/whatson or speak to any member of the Group Support Services Team.

Seminars will be running throughout the year atother locations around the county, check the GAVCAwebsite for more details:www.gavca.org.uk/down-to-businessAnd if you’re coming to GAVCA’s Trustee orVolunteer conferences then come to one of ourworkshops!

Each group attending the seminars is also eligible foran hour’s individual support to talk through yourneeds in more detail. Following this initialassessment, groups can sign up for in-depth andtailored support to look at particular projects wherecollaboration with the private sector could be useful.

Seminar 1: Building partnerships with the privatesectorThis is aimed at organisations that are beginning toexplore how they could work with the private sector,or want to develop a fledgling relationship with abusiness.Cheltenham: April 18 & May 29, 10 – 12pm at the

Community Resource Centre, Grove Street GL503LZ

Gloucester: April 25 & June 12, at the GAVCAoffices on Eastgate Street GL1 1PN

Cirencester: Thursday 21 June, at Meadow BankDay Centre

Northleach: Wednesday 27 June, at WestwoodsCommunity Centre

Seminar 2: Developing your pitch to the privatesectorAttend as a follow-up to Seminar 1 or as a stand-alone, this seminar is for organisations that want todevelop an established relationship with a business,or who have an idea or project for which they wantbusiness involvement.Cheltenham: May 9 & July 18, at the Community

Resource Centre, Grove Street GL50 3LZGloucester: May 23 & July 17 at the GAVCA offices

on Eastgate Street GL1 1PNNorthleach: Wednesday 12 September, at

Westwoods Community CentreCirencester: Thursday 13 September, at Meadow

Bank Day Centre

To find out more about the Down to Businessproject, contact Shelley on 07968 827 308,shelleyb@gavca.org.uk or visit the website atwww.gavca.org.uk/down-to-business

Down to Business is a GAVCA project which aims to helpthe voluntary and community sector develop itsrelationships with the private sector.

If you want to work more closely with the private sector,but feel you don’t have the knowledge or skills you need,then why not come along to one of our FREE Seminars?

Page 8 Page 8

Pulse is published by GAVCA. Please address any comments or queries to Honey Lucas, Information Officer at GAVCA, by emailing honeyl@gavca.org.uk or by ringing 01452 332424.

GAVCA: Registered Charity No. 1068715, Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered in England & Wales No.: 3501904.

GAVCA is a local development and support organisation that works to strengthen the voluntary and communitysector (VCS) in Gloucestershire through training, information and representation.

GAVCABeatrice Webb House, 75-81 Eastgate Street, Gloucester GL1 1PN

GAVCA in CheltenhamCommunity Resource Centre, Grove Street, Cheltenham GL50 3LZ

GAVCA Partnerships Team is a service of GAVCABeatrice Webb House, 75-81 Eastgate Street, Gloucester GL1 1PN

Sharing solutions for theeffective involvement ofvolunteers

Thursday May 249.30am to 3.30pm

City WorksAlfred StreetGloucester GL1 4DF

Successful VolunteerManagement:

This FREE event is for anyone who is responsible formanaging volunteers within their organisation as all or part oftheir role.

Through inspiring presentation and interactive workshops,participants will develop their skills and gain new knowledgein how to recruit, retain and support volunteers in roles thatenhance both the work of their organisation and the lives ofthe volunteers.

This is a FREE event but £15 will be charged tonon-attendees or anyone who cancels less than 7 daysbefore the event.

City Works has full mobility access and a hearing loop. Pleasecontact GAVCA to discuss any other specific accessrequirements you may have.

For more information, phone 01452 332424 oremail admin@gavca.org.uk or download the flyerfrom the GAVCA website at http://bit.ly/GBsIjZ

This event is funded by the Big Lottery and organisedby the BASIS partnership, led by GAVCA.

The BASIS partnership is made up of Cotswold CVS,Forest Voluntary Action Forum, GAVCA,Gloucestershire Rural Community Council, ThirdSector Services, Volunteer and Community Action(Stroud District).

Got a QR code reader on your phone ortablet? Use the code printed here to jumpstraight to information about this event onthe GAVCA website.