Thrive April-May-June 2012
32
Supporting Voluntary & Community Action April / May / June 2012 Proving Our Value Property Advice Training and Learning Local Funding Volunteer Support Project Compact News The New VCS Advocates Elected Mayor Referendum Police Crime Commissioners and more! Inside this issue: Young people enjoying the services and outdoor play structure at Windmill Hill City Farm
description
Voscurs Magazine
Transcript of Thrive April-May-June 2012
Supporting Voluntary & Community Action April / May / June 2012
Proving Our Value
Property Advice
Training and Learning
Local Funding
Volunteer Support Project
Compact News
The New VCS Advocates
Elected Mayor Referendum
Police Crime Commissioners
and more!
Inside this issue:
Young people enjoying the services and outdoor play structure at Windmill Hill City Farm
A not for profit community interest company
We have carried out an extensive re-organisation programme and now have fully up to date specialist display equipment in various assessment areas, including stairlifts, bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, riser recliners, wheelchairs, scooters, walkers and Telecare.
Book an assessment with one of our Occupational Therapists and come to the Centre so that you can try out equipment before you buy it or telephone to make an information enquiry. These services are for older people who want to remain independent, disabled people of all ages, their families, carers and for health professionals.
We now also have a Retail Outlet at Living, selling everything from perching stools to wheelchairs, at very competitive prices, which is open every weekday.
LivingPractical solutions for independent living
Home aids and adaptations
Tel: 0117 965 3651 E-mail: [email protected]
Retail Outlet
Tel: 0117 965 3651 E-mail: [email protected]
Or visit our website at www.thisisliving.org.uk
Contact details:
Issue 16 April / May / June 2012 www.voscur.org 2
Contents
Disclaimer: some of the views expressed in this publication are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily represent those of Voscur. Publications, events and services mentioned in Thrive! are not necessarily endorsed by Voscur.
Keep up to date with Voscur online:
twitter.com/voscur www.flickr.com/voscur www.youtube.com/voscurwww.facebook.com/voscur
Voscur
3 Editorial
4 New Members
5 MemberProfile:WindmillHillCity Farm’s Active Citizens Project
6 DonorPsychology:Makea Bigger Impact Online
7 Proving Our Value Project
Support Hub
8 Property Matters – Advice from the Ethical Property Foundation
9 Communicate! Get Your Message Out
10 Advertisements
11-12 Polish Information Day
13-14 KickStart–SomeCaseStudies
15-16 Upcoming Training Courses
17-18 Local Funding Opportunities
19 Volunteer Bristol’s Volunteer SupportProject
Compact
20 The Compact Lives – Latest News
21 Bristol City Council’s Compact Champions
Voice and Influence
22 BristolWomen’sVoice
23-25 NewVCSAdvocates
26 ‘X’MarkstheSpot–Elected Mayor Referendum
27 Elected Police Crime Commissioners
28 NewInitiativetoTackle‘ProblemFamilies’
29 Celebrating Age Festival 2012
30 The Future of Community Learning intheWestofEngland
The newsletter is also available online as a pdf at www.voscur.org/magazine.
If you require Thrive! in another format, please get in touch on 0117 909 9949.
www.voscur.org April / May / June 2012 Issue 163
Voscur
Key to symbols
Our regular readers will know
that Voscur’s main area of
activity at the moment is that
we are contracted by Bristol City
Council to deliver Infrastructure
Support Services to voluntary and
community sector organisations
in Bristol.
Voscur is delivering this contract
through the Support Hub (www.
supporthub.org.uk), an initiative
that provides development and
support activities to groups in
Bristol; and through the Voice
and Influence initiative (www.
voiceandinfluence.org.uk) that
brings groups together to
influence policy and practice.
What else is Voscur doing?
Voscur hosts the Compact Liaison
Officer, Mark Hubbard, who has
played a role promoting and
supporting good practice in
relations between public sector
partners and the voluntary and
community sector. Mark has
been particularly active on the
Council’s Enabling Commissioning
Board, which is working towards
improving commissioning practice
locally. We are pleased that the
government has recognised the
value of the Compact (see article
on page 20).
Recently, Voscur has worked with
the City Council to bring groups
together (at short notice) to look
at contracting opportunities.
Our staff have pulled out all the
stops to put together events
and briefing sessions so that VCS
groups don’t miss out on potential
bidding opportunities.
Voscur is also planning ahead
and addressing some issues that
we have been considering for
some time.
One of these is registering Voscur
as a charity – we have taken advice
as to the best way forward for us
and our board is now progressing
this matter. We have written more
about this on the next page.
We are also reviewing our strategic
plan and will update our business
plan following that review. We
recently asked our members to
help us to do this by completing a
short survey that will feed into our
plans. We thank those of you who
took the time to complete this.
There is still time to complete the
survey (see page 14 for details).
Another area of work that we
are undertaking is looking at
the impact of the economic
downturn, funding cuts, and
pressure on services. We are
gathering this information to
share with other core cities* so
that together we can build a
picture of the impact of cuts and
use this information to campaign
locally and nationally.
Please do get in touch with us if
you would like to be more involved
Dear Members and Friends
Wendy Stephenson Chief Executive
Equalities Article
Training
Information & Resources
Event
in Voscur, or if you would like to
find out more about what we do.
Best wishes
Wendy Stephenson
Chief Executive
*English core cities are Bristol, Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Nottingham, Birmingham and Liverpool
Issue 16 April / May / June 2012 www.voscur.org 4
Voscur
New Voscur Members32nd Bristol (1st Whitehall)
Scout Group
0844 3574632
Ausform
07951596078
www.ausform.co.uk
Auxilium Early Intervention
Family Support
Avon Talking Magazine for
the Visually Impaired
01454 775067
Bristol Neighbourhood &
Home Watch Network
Common Wealth Theatre
07517 027657
commonwealththeatre@
googlemail.com
www.commonwealththeatre.co.uk
Engaging Families
07811358159
Break Free Foundation
07517320612
jethrofriggens@
breakfreefoundation.org
www.breakfreefoundation.org
Friends of Hannah More
Primary School
0117 9039937
Group Analysis South West
0117 942 3343
www.gasw.co.uk
Hands Around the World
01600740317
www.hatw.org.uk
Home Instead Senior Care
01275 391300
www.homeinstead.co.uk/bristol
IDEAL Community Action
0117 9543708
www.ideal-cl.org.uk
Mend the Gap
01934 853228
Paul Serry
07868713173
www.paulserry.co.uk
TaxAid UK
02078034950
www.taxaid.org.uk
Ujima Radio CIC
www.ujimaradio.com
Whitchurch Maritime
Cadet Force
0117 9148389
If you would like to find out more
about becoming a member of
Voscur, please contact us on
0117 909 9949 or visit:
www.voscur.org/about/
joiningonline
ShouldVoscurbecome a registered charity?
Voscur is currently a not-
for-profit company limited
by guarantee. This is mainly
because, when Voscur was set
up in 1995, funded by the local
regeneration partnership, it
was administratively simpler.
Now Voscur provides public
services through contracts and
grants, being a charity is a more
appropriate legal status. We are
therefore proposing to register
as a charity and would welcome
your views on this.
To tell us what you think (about
this and our next strategic plan)
go to www.survey.bris.ac.uk/
voscur/2017 or email
www.voscur.org April / May / June 2012 Issue 165
Voscur
MemberProfile:WindmillHillCityFarm’s New ‘Active Citizens’ Project
Windmill Hill City Farm is an
independent community project
situated half a mile south of
Bristol city centre. It offers
educational and recreational
facilities and activities based
around food, farming and the
environment for local people,
giving them the opportunity to
experience farming in the heart
of the city.
Windmill Hill City Farm has recently
launched an exciting project,
Active Citizens, which aims to use
the internet to help people to
connect with local issues and
each other and take action to
improve their lives and enhance
their community.
It is split into three main sections.
The first element is to map local
community facilities, services
and natural resources, as well as
groups of people who are already
‘active’ in their communities
in some way (local residents’
groups). This online map will help
to build active citizenship and will
strengthen community networks.
The next element is to use digital
media to help people to become
active citizens. Most of the ideas
for ‘social action’ will come from
people themselves. To get things
started there will be two projects:
1) The Fruitfulness Project – this
will produce an online urban ‘fruit
map’, identifying readily accessible
fruit trees in public spaces in
order to harvest this free (often
neglected) resource to produce
jams and pickles. Using a local,
natural resource to create a social
enterprise will provide both an
income to sustain the activity,
as well as equipping participants
with greater skills.
2) Playground Media – this will
involve establishing a digital media
studio where young people can
develop life, citizenship and work
skills. This will promote their own
sense of worth and identity,
reflect what they value and give
them a greater voice to express
and act on their concerns.
The final element of the project
will develop an online toolkit that
will help similar organisations to
replicate the idea in their
own context.
Would you like to be involved?
Windmill Hill City Farm is looking
for interested local organisations
who would like to be featured
on our map of local community
facilities. If your organisation
would like to be featured on the
map please register your interest
by e-mailing: bethany.crowe@
windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk.
More information is at:
www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk.
Young farmer hard at work at Windmill Hill City Farm
Issue 16 April / May / June 2012 www.voscur.org 6
Voscur
DonorPsychology:Makea Bigger Impact OnlineIn these tough economic times,
funding/finance is by far the
number one issue that many
voluntary and community
organisations put on their list
of priorities. Many organisations
are looking to online fundraising
methods to increase donations
in a cost effective and
sustainable way. However, new
evidence suggests that how well
organisations understand and
communicate with the donors
they are targeting can significantly
influence whether their online
fundraising is successful or not.
One of Voscur’s neighbours the
digital agency Nomensa recently
called for a fresh approach in
how charities approach online
giving. Their report ‘Charities
Fail to Make an Impact Online’
outlines how organisations can
improve the user experience
and increase the volume and
value of online donations.
Nomensa, which specialises in
perfecting online user experience,
compared the online donation
processes of Cancer Research
UK, Macmillan Cancer Support
and Marie Curie Cancer Care. The
findings suggest that at present,
almost half of users (47 per cent)
who start an online donation fail
to complete it.
Understanding the psychology
of the donor is key to a fresh
approach. The report suggests
that charities should adopt a
process that is easy for donors
and keeps them engaged at
every stage. They urge charities
to embrace social media, make
sure their website is optimised
for the mobile web, and move
away from calls to donate –
instead ask people to invest in
specific projects.
“It is essential to understand
the donor’s motivations and
emotional mindset so that each
step along the online donation
process can support, reassure
and enhance their experience.”
Nomensa reports. “If this
doesn’t happen, nearly half of
all potential donors will walk
away” state Nomensa.
Luckily a wide range of tools are
becoming available for small
organisations to ensure they
maximise throughout, making
the process of donations or
support from users continue
all the way on through to a
successful conclusion for both
charity and giver.
Using contact relationship
software designed to support
fundraising like CiviContribute
or commercial offerings like
Salesforce can capture details of
even abandoned contributions
for follow up, but also provides
givers with mobile front ends
remarkably similar to applications
they use in their daily interactions
in social networks. They also
allow your supporters to become
fundraisers in their own right by
tapping their own social groups
with personalised fund raising
pages provided through the main
campaign website, and promoted
through the networks they
belong to.
QR codes are also
increasingly being
used by small
groups to raise
funds and
promote awareness of their work
as well. These square “bar codes”
can be generated freely online
from web addresses using services
such as www.qrstuff.com to take
users from their phones directly
to donation pages.
Other options like text-giving
through services like
Vodaphone’s text giving service
(www.justgiving.com/
justtextgiving) continue to
generate a lot of revenue for
groups as well as moving into
social networking and creating
lots of integrated channels for
asking for money and support.
For more information,
contact Sean Kenny by
calling 0117 909 9949
or e-mailing
www.voscur.org April / May / June 2012 Issue 167
Voscur
Proving Our Value
Your chance to participate in ground-breakingresearchtoshow the economic value of the VoluntaryandCommunitySector.
The ‘Proving Our Value’ project
aims to provide tools to assist VCS
organisations to improve how they
demonstrate the economic and
social impact of their activities
to funders, commissioners,
government, and the public.
This project will be of national
importance and Voscur has been
chosen as the main infrastructure
organisation to be involved.
Voscur is working with the
University of Bristol to capture
the value of our impact as an
infrastructure organisation.
However, the project will also
involve showing the progress and
value of Bristol’s VCS, in general,
as well as specific organisations
that receive Voscur’s services.
The project started in November
2011 and will take place over an
18 month period.
What do we mean
by ‘impact’?
There is often confusion about
what impact actually is and how
it differs from outputs and
outcomes. The National Council
for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
explains these concepts as follows:
Outputs are the direct products
of a programme or activity, such
as numbers of people attending,
but are not the objectives of a
project in themselves.
Outcomes are the benefits
or changes for the intended
beneficiaries.
Impact is all the changes resulting
from an activity, project or
organisation. It includes intended
as well as unintended effects,
negative as well as positive,
long-term as well as short-term;
as well as effects on wider society.
How can we show
economic impact?
This is what the Proving Our
Value project will find out. Direct
economic impact is quite easy to
measure, such as an increase in
organisational income. Indirect
impact is not so easy. How could
you put a price on an increase in
a service user’s self-confidence
for example? There are already a
number of tools that can help you
do this, but some of them tend to
be expensive or complicated. We
hope this project will help to make
the process more user friendly so
that even smaller organisations
can demonstrate their value.
How can your
organisation benefit?
Voscur’s involvement in this
project means that this is an
exciting opportunity for you
(as an organisation that uses
our services) to have support
from the University of Bristol to
evaluate your own work. So we
hope you will get involved in the
various stages of the research –
we will keep you informed of any
opportunities as they arise.
If you would like to
find out more about
the Proving Our Value
Project, please contact Wendy
Stephenson on 0117 909 9949,
or e-mail: [email protected]
Photo by Rob Jewitt
Issue 16 April / May / June 2012 www.voscur.org 8
Support HubSupport Hub
Property MattersProperty can be one of the
largest areas of expenditure for
VCS groups. Making the wrong
decisions about property can
result in expensive mistakes,
often leading to cuts in services,
or even closure. Groups are not
always aware of how to find the
right support to solve problems
effectively.
Since 2005, the Ethical Property
Foundation’s award-winning
Property Advice Service has
helped more than 2,000 VCS
groups make the right decisions
about their premises through
access to high-quality voluntary
sector-specific property advice.
Dealing with property matters
is a daunting prospect for
many groups. Negotiating
with landlords, understanding
leases, buying, community asset
transfers, co-locating, finding,
sharing or selling premises,
managing a building, or finding
affordable professional help,
can take up valuable time and
resources. Groups that contact
the Ethical Property Foundation’s
Property Advice Service are given
friendly, expert advice by people
who understand how VCS groups
work in the Bristol area. In addition
to this, the Ethical Property
Foundation has a ‘register’ of
property professionals (surveyors,
solicitors, architects) who offer
their services free or at a reduced
rate to organisations referred to
them by the Foundation.
Through our work in Bristol
we have saved organisations
considerable amounts in
professionals fees, as well as
helping them make decisions
that have avoided future
property costs.
Groups are facing difficult times
and the Foundation is part of
two new initiatives that offer
targeted support:
The Support Hub
We are delighted to be part of the
‘Support Hub’. The Foundation,
as part of this service, is able
to provide one-to-one advice
on property issues as well as
providing training and briefing
sessions. For information on the
Support Hub contact:
0117 909 9949 or email
Bristol Legacy Commission
The Bristol Legacy Commission
(BLC) is an organisation set up
to empower and support BME
communities in Bristol. The BLC
recognises that BME groups are
currently facing difficult times
and may need help with property
related concerns or issues; it
has commissioned EPF to work
with groups that meet specified
criteria. If you have a property
related problem, please contact
Patsy Newton (EPF) on:
0117 944 5454 or
email: patsy.netwon@
ethicalpropertyfoundation.org.uk
A property advice session
www.voscur.org April / May / June 2012 Issue 169
Support Hub
Communicate!
Some organisations can
find funding to employ
communications staff, others
are working together to begin
experimenting in these areas.
Whatever stage you are at and
whatever scale you operate on,
it is important to plan ahead and
find the tools that will best serve
your aims. Voscur and the Support
Hub hope that Communicate!
will provide you with some useful
information on communications
in the VCS Sector.
Working in partnership with local
media consortium Blueboard
(comprising Knowle West Media
Centre, Firstborn Creatives,
Suited and Booted and Calling The
Shots), this event will help VCS
organisations explore how they
can make use of a wide spectrum
of different media channels to
promote themselves and raise
awareness about what they do.
The day will include workshops
from a variety of media partners
and a chance to network and
understand more about how to
communicate your key messages.
You will have the opportunity to
find out about:
• social media
• getting local media coverage
• creating video content for
the web
• effective photography and
more!
There will be stalls from local
media agencies with lots of
tools, tips and hints as well as
presentations from the Evening
Post, Watershed and the BBC.
Effective communication is key
to any organisation, regardless
of size. In a climate of change
and growing uncertainty,
both traditional and new
media channels present VCS
organisations with a range
of different opportunities to
raise funds, awareness and to
reach out to new audiences.
Never before has the concept
of ‘communications’ presented
such a diverse range of tools for
charities and voluntary groups.
Online social networking offers
a predominantly free or cost
effective way of reaching out and
engaging with diverse audiences
at the click of a mouse. Across the
country, the local press and TV is
shrinking, but there are still plenty
of openings for local submissions
from VCS groups, putting the
onus on them to be proactive and
secure coverage for their cause.
New media is allowing groups
and individuals to bring their
communications to life through
photography, video and audio…
the list is endless.
Popping up all across a sector
not traditionally associated with
‘marketing/communications’, are
examples of excellent practice
and new, creative ideas.
Keep an eye on the
Support Hub website
for more information:
www.supporthub.org.uk/
training-hub
Communicate!
31st May 2012 9:30am-4:30pm
The Greenway Centre, Southmead, Bristol
Photo by Josh Fassbind, www.joshfassbind.com
Exciting training conference to help you get your message out and reach new audiences
RIGDZIN
Public Talk & Teachings with Tibetan Lama
Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoche
Public Talk—� ursday 12th April 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Teachings—Friday 13th to Sunday 15th April 10am–4pm
Heart of Compassion
Joyful Enthusiasm
Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoche is an accomplished buddhist teacher who has lived in the West for the last eight years. His friendly and informal approach to teaching makes his message accessible to anyone, regardless of belief or background.
Venue: YHA Bristol, 14 Narrow QuayContact: [email protected] | 07814 076986
www.rigdzin.org | www.vistaproject.org
Do you have an accessible venue for hire in Bristol?
Voscuriscurrentlylookingfornewaccessible venues within Bristol to be used for training and events.
If we don’t already use your venue please send us your details.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0117 909 9949
Over 600 doormats in one hit – advertise in Thrive! For rates, visit: www.voscur.org/magazine
www.voscur.org April / May / June 2012 Issue 1611
Information Day for Polish CommunitiesVoscur, SARI (Support Against
Racist Incidents) and Avon
and Somerset Police recently
organised an Information Day
for Polish Communities in
response to intelligence that
highlighted that many people
from Bristol’s Polish Community
were not aware of the range of
services available to them, or
how to access those services.
At the same time, many
organisations have been seeking
ways to reach out further to
Polish people so that they can
benefit from the range of services
and activities in Bristol. We were
therefore glad to bring both
people and organisations together
for networking opportunities.
The event was held at the Polish
Church with attendance of around
500 people from the Polish
Community. Stalls included health
and well being services, education
and learning, debt management,
and public agencies such as Avon
Fire and Rescue Service, the Police
Service and Bristol City Council.
SteveJackson
Btristol Drugs Project (BDP)
www.bdp.org.uk
Bristol Drugs Project has
tried various approaches to reach
out to the Polish Community,
including taking advantage of
having employed a Polish speaking
worker in the past. We have an
awareness that among some
communities there is an anxiety
about confidentially and a risk
that organisations such as BDP are
seen as connected to statutory
bodies. We have been keen to
emphasise our independence and
assert that the services we provide
are confidential.
Being able to promote Bristol
Drugs Project at the Polish
Information Day was really useful
in order to help us reach out
to the Polish Community. We
particularly wanted to use the
event to offer volunteering
opportunities to people from
the Polish Community; and it was
helpful in that there has been
tentative interest and at least
one person has signed up.
Another positive outcome from
the day was that we were able to
make some really useful contacts
with other agencies that were
present. For example, we made
a link with a woman who runs a
Polish language website in the
South West; she will be able to
promote Bristol Drugs Project on
the website and can offer some
interpreting services to us so
this will ultimately benefit Polish
Communities further.
Bristol Drugs Project at the Polish Information Day © www.informacje24.co.uk
Issue 16 April / May / June 2012 www.voscur.org 12
Support Hub
Valerie MowerBristol & South Gloucestershire
People First
www.bsgpf.org.uk
We attended the event to
let Polish Communities know
about the services we run for
people with learning difficulties.
I attended along with two of our
members and we were able to
use our stall to promote Bristol
& South Gloucestershire People
First. The place was packed, it
was good to see so many people
turning up – we could have
done with more space for our
stall, banner and leaflets. What
we found most useful was the
opportunity to promote the
services we offer at Bristol &
South Gloucestershire People First
such as advocacy and mentoring,
and support groups for people
with learning difficulties.
Something we found particularly
beneficial was the chance to
network with a wide range of
agencies that were also there on
the day as some of them were not
fully aware of what we do.
What some of those from
Bristol’s Polish Community found
useful about the event:
• “Opportunity to ask questions
and discuss issues.”
• “Obtaining contact details for
various agencies.”
• “Help that has been offered.”
• “Interesting information.”
• “Everyone available in
one place.”
• “Lots of people are looking for
help but don’t know where
to get it.”
• “Makes people aware of their
rights and issues.”
• “This information helps me to
survive in a foreign country,
in my day to day life.”
• “I got all answers to my
questions.”
• “Opportunity to speak with
representatives in Polish.”
What people felt were the
most important issues for
Polish communities in Bristol:
• Make people aware of their
rights and issues.
• Language barrier.
• Lack of knowledge
(law/regulations).
• Discrimination.
• Lack of jobs.
• No access to language
courses for adults.
• Lack of information in
Polish for new arrivals.
• Racism.
• Alcoholism.
• Health and Law.
BSGPF at the Polish Information Day © www.informacje24.co.uk
For more information
on this event, contact
Ruth Pitter:
0117 909 9949
“This information helps me to survive in a foreign country, in my day to day life.” Polish Attendee
www.voscur.org April / May / June 2012 Issue 1613
KickingThingsOffEnabling the Development of NewVCSOrganisations.It is often difficult knowing where
to start when setting up a new
group, getting a group going, or
keeping a group going during its
early stages and some support to
keep focused and on track can
prove invaluable.
You may have read about Kick Start
in our previous edition of Thrive!.
The programme is being provided
by the Support Hub to bring groups
together to share experiences,
explore their shared dilemmas and
be supported by an experienced
development team to draft plans
to help make their hopes for the
future a reality.
This course is in full swing and we
caught up with two of the groups
attending to give feedback on their
experiences so far.
Bridge of Peace.
Name: Alima Soliu
Role: Trustee
What is the purpose of
Bridge of Peace?
Bridge of Peace exists to
promote community cohesion.
It does this mainly by organising
events that bring together people
from diverse communities.
Bridge of Peace serves people from
isolated communities, people from
different cultures, immigrants who
have had problems integrating
into UK culture. The organisation
works with people who may find
it difficult building relationships
where they now live.
In future Bridge of Peace would
like to widen its work by providing
specific services as well as
organising events, supporting
elderly people, people who may
be experiencing domestic abuse
and more.
Why did you sign up for
the course?
Bridge of Peace has ideas
but not a lot of structure; it is an
informal group that has not
honed its mission or vision.
It wants to become more
organised and more formal as
an organisation, and to become
more focused.
What have you found useful?
On the course we have looked
at management committees and
their legal responsibilities. We have
explored constitutions, making
sure that everyone agrees with
the one adopted. We have gained
information about where we
can go for funding. One session
looked at different structures that
organisations have. This made
Bridge of Peace realise that there
are different structures that might
suit us more, for example a
co-operative might be considered
as we are a peace focused
organisation.
What difference has it made to
you and your organisation?
We have found that we talk a
lot more; it has opened up dialogue
between us. We are now looking at
different ideas and the different
things that are out there. It has
given us new enthusiasm in our
organisation and reminded us why
we started. It has made us more
positive about the direction of
the organisation and the feeling
that we can develop a strong
foundation. Our confidence has
increased in our selves and what
we’re about.Photo by Steven Depolo
Issue 16 April / May / June 2012 www.voscur.org 14
Support Hub
Avon Indian Association
Name: Shiv Sama
Role: Trustee
What is purpose of the Avon
Indian Association?
There are organisations for
different Asian Communities
in Bristol but there is no other
organisation for Indian people.
There are a lot of Asian people in
Bristol, especially older people who
have little or no communication
with the rest of society, they
are isolated; people have issues
linked to English, health and
education. There is no place for
the community to meet. The Avon
Indian Community Association
works city-wide to try and find
out what issues people have and
to address these and give people
more confidence.
Why did you sign up for
the course?
The organisation is quite newly
re-started. It began a while ago but
became inactive and we now want
to kick start it. Amongst our needs,
we wanted to find out more about
getting funding and running the
organisation.
What have you found useful?
•Gettingmoreinformation
– you think you know everything
but you don’t.
• Fundraising – places we can go
to for funding, how to make our
case, understanding application
forms better to have a better
chance of getting funding.
• Opportunity to meet other
organisations – helps us to
identify our unique selling points.
It has been useful to have more
knowledge about what’s about, to
find out what others are doing and
how they are doing it, to become
aware of networks out there. It has
also made us aware of what Voscur
can offer.
What difference has it made to
you and your organisation?
It has put us on the right track.
Before we didn’t know where to
turn or who to ask for grants or
other services. We were not aware
of what was out there. Kick Start
has been a useful information
gathering experience and has
increased our confidence as an
organisation.
For further information
about Kick Start,
contact the Support
Hub on 0117 909 9949 or visit
www.supporthub.org.uk
Whatsupportwill you need in the next fiveyears?
Bristol’s voluntary sector is
currently going through a period
of significant change. Voscur is
therefore reviewing how it can
best meet the development
needs of our member
organisations such as yours, as
well as our own charitable status.
Based on your input, and that
of other stakeholders (staff,
board members, partners), we
will update our priorities for the
next five years. Our aim is to
make your organisation stronger
and more sustainable, so do
spend ten minutes to help us
support you more effectively by
answering a few questions at
www.survey.bris.ac.uk/voscur/2017
or email: [email protected]
Shiv Sama at a Kick Start session
www.voscur.org April / May / June 2012 Issue 1615
Managing Performance and AppraisalsWednesday 18 April 2012, 9:30am-1pm
This workshop, delivered by Charity HR, is designed to
cover the main principles of the topic including best
practice under current legislation.
This course will look at how to set up a performance
appraisal system and the key issues organisations
need to consider. It will also offer you time to discuss
particular issues for your organisation.
Your Parliament: How it works and how you can be involved in national decision makingMonday 23 April 2012, 9:30am-3:30pm
This session is for people in community and voluntary
groups or organisations who would like to find out
how parliament works, how you can be involved and
how you can influence decisions made in parliament.
Trustee Series 1: Why am I on the committee?Wednesday 2 May 2012, 6:30pm-9:30pm
This course will give anyone who has the role of a
trustee a basic overview of their legal duties and
responsibilities and is ideal if you have just become
a trustee or just want to brush up on your skills.
Financial Skills for the Not Financially MindedMonday 14 May 2012, 9:30am-3:30pm
This course will be useful for anyone who needs
to read and understand accounts, whether as a
paid staff member or as a trustee/management
committee member. The course is practical and looks
at example accounts of voluntary organisations.
Trustee Series 2: Good Governance – how to be a better trustee.Tuesday 15th May, 6:30pm-9:30pm
This session complements ‘Why am I on the
committee?’ and looks in greater detail at how
trustees can be more effective in their role. It will
cover the Code of Good Governance; the role of
staff vs the role of trustees; skills audits and having
effective meetings.
Introduction to FundraisingThursday 17 May 2012, 9:30am-3:30pm
This course will help you to develop a good
knowledge of the basics of fundraising. By the
end of the session you will have a checklist of
skills needed for good fundraising: be clear about
what information you need to collect; be able to
assess which types of fundraising are best for your
organisation; have a written funding skills audit and
action plan; understand the changing environment
of funding; understand how to clearly express your
organisation’s mission, vision and overall aim and
identify where else to get support.
SupportHub:Trainingand Learning Programme
Issue 16 April / May / June 2012 www.voscur.org 16
Support Hub
Commissioning for BeginnersMonday 28 May 2012, 9:30am-1pm
If you have heard of commissioning and think it is
relevant to your organisation, this course is for you.
It will give you a broad understanding of the
principles of commissioning, the stages of the
commissioning cycle, terminology and myths &
fears around commissioning.
Communicate!Thursday 31 May 2012, 9:30am–4:30pm
This event for VCS organisations will help you to get
the most of promoting, publicising and marketing
your organisation. With case studies, workshops and
panel discussions this event will help you get your
message out there.
Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) Training for Organisations Considering a Merger. Monday 18 June 2012, 1pm-4:30pm
In the current economic climate, mergers of
organisations could mean that TUPE regulations
apply. The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection
of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) protects
employees’ terms and conditions when a business is
transferred from one owner to another. This can be a
complicated process for any organisation. This course
will help to explain TUPE in more detail and provide
advice and guidance on how to approach it.
Your Local Government: How it works and how you can get involved in local decision makingWednesday 20 June 2012, 9:30am–3:30pm
This session is for people in community and voluntary
groups or organisations who would like to find out
how local government works and how you can be
involved and influence local decision making.
Ten Steps to the Perfect TenderWednesday 27 June 2012, 9:30am-3:30pm
This session will help you focus on Bristol City
Council’s pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ)
and invitation to tender, as well highlighting the
steps your organisation needs to take to make a
successful proposal.
To book any of these courses or to find
out more please go to
www.supporthub.org.uk/training-hub
To find out if you are eligible for a free place
please call us on: 0117 909 9949
“The trainer was excellent, she involved everyone and shared her expertise, wit and warmth in a very encouraging and informative manner.”
Attendee, Making the Most of the Media training
www.voscur.org April / May / June 2012 Issue 1617
Planning Your FundingFurther to our list of local
trusts, foundations and charities
(opposite) we are keen to help
groups think about the wider issue
of income generation so that they
have a co-ordinated approach to
generating income.
Avoid writing an application that
fits the funders’ needs but then
strays from your own aims and
objectives for the project you are
seeking to fund. Is your planned
project based on what your
constitution says? Think about
how you will manage the funding
if you are successful and how it
can have long-term benefits for
the communities the funding is
for, especially after the project
has ended. Your funding planning
should be led by the long term
plans for your organisation.
Planning your fundraising is
essential. Here are a few basic tips
to consider when planning your
fundraising activities:
• allow enough time to fundraise
• be prepared to invest time
and money
• involve the whole organisation
• do not undertake or view
fundraising in isolation to the
activities of the organisation
• develop fundraising skills
and experience within your
organisation
• clearly define your project
and budget
• use evidence
• undertake targeted fundraising
• be realistic
• ensure all of the above is
linked to the long term aims
of your organisation.
There is support available
through the Support Hub for
eligible groups who wish to have
more help in this area – and
of course, do see our training
listings for relevant courses
related to improving your funding
and financial stability: www.
supporthub.org.uk/funding-hub
This is a selection of
local funding opportunities:
Andrews Charitable Trust
Projects that raise awareness of
homelessness and the family unit
in Bristol.
www.andrewscharitabletrust.
org.uk
info@andrewscharitabletrust.
org.uk
Amount available varies from
year to year.
Co-operative Membership Community Fund
Community groups, voluntary
groups, self-help groups,
community charities or local
branches of national charities
that carry out positive work in
the community.
www.co-operative.coop/
membership/local-communities/
community-fund/
Apply online.
Between £100 and £2,000.
Gane Charitable Trust
Promotion of crafts, further
education in the fields of crafts,
architecture and design and social
welfare. Preference for Bristol,
Newport and surrounding areas.
www.ganetrust.org.uk
Apply online.
£500 or less, but in exceptional
cases up to £1000.
John James Bristol Foundation Grant
Charitable organisations working
for the benefit of Bristol residents.
Main areas of focus are education,
health and the elderly.
www.johnjames.org.uk
Telephone: 0117 923 9444.
Quartet Community Foundation
Small, community-based charities
and voluntary groups in the West
of England whose work benefits
local people. New and established
groups. Also runs it own ‘Express
Grants’ programme.
www.quartetcf.org.uk
Issue 16 April / May / June 2012 www.voscur.org 18
Support Hub
Telephone: 0117 989 7700
Grant amounts varies.
Express grants up to £2,000.
Richard Davies Charitable Foundation
Charitable organisations
undertaking projects for the
young and elderly in Bristol.
18 Over Lane, Almondsbury
Bristol, BS32 4BP.
Society of Merchant Venturers Grants
Caring for the elderly, education
and youth initiatives, also a variety
of local causes benefiting Bristol,
its people and its institutions.
www.merchantventurers.com
Telephone: 0117 973 8058.
The Denman Charitable Trust
Preference for small organisations
in the Bristol area. The Trust will
not fund running costs.
PO Box 1881, Bristol, BS37 6WS
Telephone: 01454 322 430
Apply in writing.
The Portishead Nautical Trust
The objective of the trust is
to relieve and assist people
under 25 years of age who are
disadvantaged.
Telephone: 01275 847 463
Telephone for an application form.
Value: discretionary.
The Spielman Charitable Trust
Particular interest in:
• helping to deal with
immediate needs.
• caring for and educating
children and young people.
• grants to other charities that
the trustees believe merit
the support.
Only funds work that takes
place in Bristol and the
surrounding area.
Mrs J Moody, 17 St Augustine’s
Parade, Bristol, BS1 4UL.
Telephone: 0117 929 1929.
Van Neste Foundation
Registered charities only, unlikely
to respond to national appeals.
Current policy is to focus on the
following categories:
• Developing world.
• Disabled and elderly.
• Advancement of religion and
respect for sanctity and
dignity of life.
Community projects,
15 Alexandra Road, Clifton
Bristol, BS8 2DD.
Applications must be made
in writing and addressed to
the Secretary, Mr F.J.F. Lyons.
A concise letter setting out
clear objectives of the appeal,
supported by details of agreed
funding from other sources and
also a timetable for achieving the
objectives of the appeal. Latest
audited accounts should also be
submitted.
Waitrose Community Matters
Waitrose branches support three
nominated local charities or
community groups per month
and £1,000 will be available every
month for each shop to divide
between the chosen causes.
51 Northumbria Drive, Henleaze,
Bristol, BS9 4HN.
Telephone: 0117 9624244.
To nominate your organisation
pick up a form from the
welcome desk.
To find a more
comprehensive list
of local and national
funding you may wish to search
GrantNet: www.supporthub.org.
uk/funding-hub/grantnet
(an online funding database that
is free to Voscur members) or
Funding Central
www.fundingcentral.org.uk
(a free to use online database.)
As far as is possible, we have
checked that this information is
correct at time of publication.
www.voscur.org April / May / June 2012 Issue 1619
Support Hub
New life for Volunteer Bristol’s VolunteerSupportProgramme
That is where Volunteer Bristol’s
Volunteer Support Programme
(VSP) comes in. Funded by the
Big Lottery Fund, the project
works with people who may face
challenges to volunteering, such
as those with a history of mental
health problems, homelessness
or alcohol and/or drug misuse.
The project offers different levels
of support to enable people to
start volunteering, and crucially,
to stay volunteering. VSP also
works closely with voluntary and
community groups to encourage
and support them to take on
people who have additional
support needs.
For organisations, the programme
provides support and guidance
in working with individuals who
need extra help. “Taking on
such volunteers can offer a new
perspective and increase diversity
in an organisation.” Says Piers
Cardiff, the Volunteer Support
Programme Co-ordinator.
For individuals, the project
provides two different levels
of tailored support, according
to need; advisors and mentors.
Advisors work with prospective
volunteers and help identify roles
that match their interests, skills
and aspirations. This support is
aimed at those who require some
preliminary help, but then are
happy to ‘go it alone’ (although
crucially, follow up support is
available if needed). The second
level matches a person who wishes
to volunteer with a mentor, who
supports them in identifying and
applying for positions, as well as
during their volunteering.
Demba found his volunteer
placement through the VSP, with
youth organisation Fairbridge
West. He says: “I hadn’t worked
with young people [before
volunteering] and now my
confidence and positivity is huge.
I wish I had considered it earlier
than I did.” Fairbridge West
is equally positive about its
volunteers; “they bring to us
a wealth of knowledge, skills,
information and fun” says
Val Fulcher, Administrator at
Fairbridge.
For more information,
contact Piers Cardiff,
VSP Coordinator,
0117 989 7734.
For more info visit:
www.volunteerbristol.org.uk/vsp
Giving your time, skills and experience to a good cause can improve your confidence, enable you to learn new skills and help you to feel a valuable part of the community. But some people face barriers to volunteering and need a bit of extra help to take their first steps.
Demba volunteering at Fairbridge West
Issue 16 April / May / June 2012 www.voscur.org 20
Bristol Compact
The Compact Lives and Thrives (in some places)
Nick Hurd, MP Minister for
Civil Society, has reported
that the Compact is one of
the government’s six business
plan priorities for 2012/13. This
means that each government
department needs to include
Compact implementation in its
business plans. This is seen as a
positive commitment and as Tom
Elkins (Compact Voice) says, “the
Compact has survived changes
in government, new policy
landscapes and different partners
coming and going, yet support
for its principles remains strong.”
Background
The coalition government
refreshed the National Compact in
2010, confirming its commitment
to positive relations with the VCS.
The purpose of this refreshed
Compact is to achieve a strong,
diverse and independent civil
society, effective and transparent
design and development of
policies, programmes and public
services, responsive and high-
quality programmes and services,
clear arrangements for managing
changes to programmes and
services and “an equal and
fair society”.
Checking progress of
Compact implementation
At the same time, the ‘Compact
Accountability and Transparency
Guide’ was published to establish
a mechanism for checking the
implementation of the Compact
across government. For example,
it described a National Audit
Office (NAO) inquiry during
2011/12 ‘into the operation of
the Compact across government
and its agencies’ to ‘identify
areas of good practice, areas
for improvement, and to make
recommendations about longer
term and more permanent
accountability structures.’
The NAO report presents an
interesting snapshot of what’s
good and what could improve.
Encouragingly, departments
were supportive of the Compact
and there were good examples
of it being applied. However,
the analysis of complaints about
the Compact’s implementation
indicates that there is scope
for improvement. The Compact
benchmark that departments
should allow 12 weeks for
responding to consultations is
often not met. Leadership within
departments on Compact issues
is also not always visible which is
a further area for improvement.
Let’s hope that the Coalition
Government’s renewed focus
on the Compact will further
progress its aims and objectives,
both at a national and local level.
As Tom Elkins says, “while the
[NAO] report highlights that more
needs to be done, the fact that
so many remain committed and
receptive to achieving these goals
is welcome news indeed.”
There has been a recent flurry of government activities about the Compact. Mark Hubbard (Compact Liaison Officer) who works with public sector commissioners and VCS groups to implement the Bristol Compact, reports on progress.
If you have any
questions about the
Compact, please
contact Mark Hubbard on:
0117 909 9949 or e-mail:
www.voscur.org April / May / June 2012 Issue 1621
Bristol Compact
CompactChampions–HeretoHelpBristol City Council (BCC) has
recently established a network
of Compact Champions in all of
its directorates to help improve
relationships between the local
authority and the VCS. The role
of a Compact Champion is to:
• promote the Bristol Compact
to colleagues and partners
• ensure and be accountable
for Compact compliance
within the directorate
• be knowledgeable and expert
about the VCS and able to
promote the diversity and
benefits of the sector
• help build positive
relationships between the
council and the VCS
•model excellent practice as
a champion of the VCS and
the Compact
• increase the VCS’s access to
and influence on strategic
partnerships and commissioning
• act as an advisor to the
directorate on the Compact
and working with the VCS
This is a network of council
individuals at all levels that have an
interest in good relations between
the council and the VCS. They have
volunteered to become Compact
Champions and commonly have
personal experience of the VCS as
trustees and volunteers.
“From my perspective,” says Mark
Hubbard, Compact Liaison Officer,
“this network ought to help VCS
organisations engage better with
the local authority. Sometimes
VCS organisations do not know
who to talk to – a Compact
Champion will be able to help put
people in contact. They can also
help when relationships between
a commissioner/service manager
and a VCS organisation are
difficult – a Compact Champion
may be able to help both parties
understand each other better.”
The Bristol Compact Partners
hope that the network of
Compact Champions will expand
to other public sector bodies and
the VCS.
A full list of BCC’s
Compact Champions
can be seen at:
www.bristolcompact.org.uk/
compact-champions-bcc
Mark Hubbard (Compact Liaison
Officer) [email protected]
0117 909 9949
Compact Champions’ recent achievements
• Di Robinson (Service
Director, Neighbourhoods
and Communities) and
Gillian Douglas (Equalities
and Community Cohesion
Manager) worked to ensure
that the current VCS
Investment Strategy was
consulted on for 12 weeks
and that the following funding
process allowed a maximum
period for applications.
• Netta Meadows (Service
Director, Strategic Planning
and Commissioning,
Health and Social Care) is
on the Council’s Enabling
Commissioning Board and
chairs its Monitoring and
Accountability group. That
group is working to ensure
greater efficiency and
consistency in managing
council contracts, which
will benefit providers and
commissioners and ultimately
deliver appropriate services
to communities.
• Sue Bandcroft (Senior
Commissioning Manager, Safer
Bristol) merged a one off
commissioning process for
‘Supporting Recovery’ grants
with the VCS Investment
Strategy. This ensured that
VCS organisations could see
grant opportunities in one
place and did not need to
provide the same ‘PQQ’ type
evidence more than once.
Issue 16 April / May / June 2012 www.voscur.org 22
Voice and Influence
BristolWomen’sVoice
We’ve all recently heard and
read headlines about how
women are at the forefront of
the cuts and behind the headlines.
Families in Bristol (and the
women within them) have been
coping with the extra stress of
unemployed teenagers, fewer
local play schemes and activities
for children, worries about
changes to social care, losing
jobs and reduced hours, and all
this on top of having less money
to go around.
We might not be able to solve
all of these problems but women
in Bristol have a new chance to
get together and share ideas
about how the city could be
better for women.
A new organisation, Bristol
Women’s Voice was launched
on Saturday 24th March which
aims to make women’s equality
a reality.
The idea of the new organisation
is not to duplicate the excellent
work that a whole range of
organisations are doing in
the City but to bring those
organisations together with the
97% of women who are not in any
such organisation to exchange
experiences, share ideas, celebrate
successes and support campaigns
and events for women in the city.
We intend to develop a Women’s
Strategy for Bristol to get the
decision makers from public and
private organisations to commit to
doing things that will make a real
difference to women’s lives.
We are going to do this in
different ways; we have a brand
new web site with a blog and
Facebook page; we will also be
meeting together to come up
with real actions for decision
makers in Bristol to make a
positive difference to women’s
lives. So far, local women have
identified 4 main priorities;
jobs and skills, health, caring
responsibilities and safety, but this
is just the start and we need you
to get involved and get active.
Please have a look at the web site
and sign up to take part in the
forums and come to meetings
and share your ideas. Together
we can make Bristol a showcase
for women’s involvement,
empowerment and equality.
Aroona Smith, Cezara Nanu,
Diane Bunyan,
Maria Banos-Smith,
Penny Gane, Tove Samzelius
– Interim Management Group
The launch and the development
of the web site have been
supported by Bristol City Council.
Find us at:
www.bristolwomensvoice.org.uk
TheteambehindBristolWomen’sVoicedescribethis new initiative which aims to bring women togethertomakeadifferenceinthecity.
Photo by Katheryn Emily
www.voscur.org April / May / June 2012 Issue 1623
Bristol’sNewVCSAdvocates
VCS Advocate to the Children and Young People’s Outcomes Board
Dom Wood
(1625 Independent People)
Email Dom: [email protected]
Sandra Meadows
(Play and Early Years Training Unit)
Email Sandra: [email protected]
VCS Advocate to the Children and Young People’s Attainment and Progression Board
Poku Pipim Osei
(Babbasa Youth Empowerment
Projects)
Email Poku: [email protected]
VCS Advocate to the Children and Families Early Intervention Standing Group
Judith Davis
(Full Circle Youth and Family Project)
Email Judith:
VCS Advocate to the North Area Partnership Executive Group
Sue Kelly
(The Prince’s Trust, Fairbridge Bristol)
Email Sue:
VCS Advocate to the South Area Partnership Executive Group
Vicki Morris
(Knowle West Health Park)
Email Alex:
VCS Advocate to the Central and East Area Partnership Executive Group
Jonquil Richards
(Barton Hill Settlement)
Email Jonquil:
VCS Advocate to the Health and Wellbeing Board
Peter Walker
(Addiction Recovery Agency)
Email Peter:
The results of the election for the Bristol’s Voluntary and Community Sector Advocates were announced in February of this year. The VCS Advocates will help ensure that the VCS has a strong voice and is able to influence decisions of importance.
Issue 16 April / May / June 2012 www.voscur.org 24
Voice and Influence
VCS Advocate to the Safer Bristol Partnership
Alex Raikes
(Support Against Racist Incidents)
Email Alex:
VCS Advocate to the Reducing Re-offending Board
Graham England
(Addiction Recovery Agency)
Email: [email protected]
Introducing Poku Pipim OseiVCS Advocate to the Children
and Young People’s Attainment
and Progression Board.
Why did you decide to put
yourself forward as a VCS
Advocate?
I think small voluntary and
community sector (VCS)
organisations are not adequately
informed of how authority
structures work in Bristol. I can
equally say the same for our
authority’s lack of practical
understanding of how most VCS
organisations work. My decision to
be an advocate rests on
developing a better understanding
of how decisions are made in the
city, sharing this understanding
with my other VCS organisations
and all being well, influencing
these decisions to reflect
their needs.
You’ve been elected as an
Advocate for the Children and
Young People’s Attainment
and Progression Board. What
interests you in this?
Having lived in Clifton, Easton
and now St George, I think it is fair
to say more can be done –
educational activity-wise for
children and young people coming
from deprived communities, for
example, both in schools and
within the communities. Policies
undoubtedly shape curriculums
and activities delivered in schools
and in the community
respectively. My interest is to
convey some of my experiences
beside my colleagues, to help
improve attainment levels in
the City.
What do you think the priority
issues are for the voluntary
and community sector in
Bristol in the coming year and
what should we focus on to
influence and make sure our
voice is heard?
More should be done around
cultural awareness within BME
communities. One is required to
complete a UK citizenship test
upon arrival in the UK which helps
you understand the history and
culture of the average British
person. However, most people
end up living amongst other
BME communities e.g. Easton,
Redfield etc, which makes the
need for other cultural awareness
programmes essential for
community development.
Beside community cohesion
programmes, I believe we
also need practical aspiration
programmes for our young ones.
Aspiration programmes are just as
important as the ‘outcome driven’
approach recently adopted by
authorities if we are to see a fair
growth in all areas of our local
You can read more about the VCS Advocates and how they will be helping the VCS to have a strong
voice and influence on the Voice and Influence website at www.voiceandinfluence.org.uk/advocates
www.voscur.org April / May / June 2012 Issue 1625
Voice and Influence
economy in the long run. Many
young people from deprived
communities that I engage
with feel that certain career
professions, such as a lawyer,
pilot or doctor are not for them,
even though they have the
interest and academic ability.
I think we also need to encourage
innovation in the City. Change is
not achieved by implementing the
same agenda or working with the
same partners over and over
again. Society is not that static
and I believe change can only be
realised if we have a system in
place that accommodates new
ideas and alternative
sustainable concepts.
VCSAssemblyand NetworkMeetingdates for your diary
Health and Social Care Network
Monday 30 April, 2-5pm
Community Learning Information and Consultation event
Thursday 10 May, 9.30am-1pm
Children and Young Peoples Network
Thursday 17 May, 10am-1pm
VCS Assembly meeting
Thursday 14 June, 10am-1pm
Health and Social Care Network
July 2012 – date to be confirmed
Neighbourhoods and Communities Network
Wednesday 19 September, 2-5pm
Children and Young Peoples Network
October 2012 – date to be confirmed
VCS Assembly meeting
Wednesday 7 November, 2-5pm
More details for upcoming meetings can be found at
www.voiceandinfluence.org.uk/voiceandinfluence/diary
What are your priorities
in the coming year?
Join in the discussion and
make sure the newly elected
VCS Advocates are taking
your views forward. We’ve
been asking VCS groups
what their priorities are –
watch our short film on the
Voice and Influence blog at
www.voiceandinfluence.
org.uk/blog/26 and leave a
comment to say what you
think the priorities for the
VCS should be.
Issue 16 April / May / June 2012 www.voscur.org 26
Voice and Influence
XMarkstheSpotBristol voters prepare to decide on elected mayor referendum.
On Thursday 3 May the Bristol
electorate will be asked to vote
to decide whether they want a
directly elected mayor to replace
the current position of leader of
council. Elected mayors would
be voted for by everyone on the
electoral register whereas the
leader of council is chosen by
Bristol’s 70 elected councillors.
The elected mayor would have
more direct powers, for example,
they will be able to decide local
policy, appoint members of
their cabinet and set the council
budget. An elected mayor
would only need the support
of a 24 out of the 70 Bristol
councillors to pass their budget
proposals instead of the current
requirement 36. The government
says that elected mayors will
be able to negotiate with them
to potentially take over more
powers currently held by central
government.
The referendum on elected
mayors is taking place this year,
a year when no council elections
are scheduled, leading some to
express concerns that the turn
out will be very low. In January,
an elected mayor referendum
in Salford (greater Manchester)
was won with support of just
10% of registered voters. At the
last local elections in Bristol in
2011 the turnout ranged from
46.7% (Clifton ward) to 26.7%
(Filwood ward).
If people vote yes for the
introduction of a directly elected
mayor then the first election
will take place on Thursday 15
November 2012, on the same day
as the election for the first Police
Crime Commissioner for Avon and
Somerset (see page 27).
No“In my party, there is a very
strong view that a directly
elected mayor would not be
good for democracy, would
not be good for government
and getting things done and
would not be good for ward
councillors and their voters,
who would be sidelined under
the new regime.”
Barbara Janke, Leader of Bristol City Council, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group.
Yes“I truly believe an elected
mayor, someone who enjoyed
the backing of voters and the
business community, has the
potential to take us forward.”
Peter Abraham, Leader of the Conservative group, Bristol City Council
Find out more:
Visit: http://goo.gl/6unCQ
to download a briefing paper.
What would an elected mayor
mean for the VCS in Bristol?
Give your views on what an
elected mayor might mean for the
Bristol VCS via the Voice
and Influence blog –
www.voiceandinfluence.org.uk/
x-factor-date-confirmed-
mayoral-referendum
If the May referendum result is
yes, we’ll be discussing ‘a VCS
manifesto for the mayor’ at
the VCS Assembly meeting on
Thursday 14 June, 10-1. See the
Voice and Influence website for
details – www.voiceandinfluence.
org.uk/voiceandinfluence/diary
www.voscur.org April / May / June 2012 Issue 1627
Voice and Influence
Police Crime Commissioners andFundingforCommunitySafetyThe Police Crime Commissioners
(PCCs) will be able to make crime
and disorder reduction grants to
any organisation or person in their
force area. In order to provide
the PCC with a budget for this
purpose, the Home Office expects
to consolidate and transfer some
existing crime and drugs grants to
PCCs from 2013/14.
A key component of this funding
will come from the transfer from
local authorities to the PCC of the
Community Safety Fund (formerly
within the Area Based Grant). The
amount of Community Safety
funds available to local authorities
have already been reduced by 20%
in 2011/12 and will be reduced by
a further 40% in 2012/13, before
being transferred over to PCCs
from 2013/14. A key factor for the
VCS and other sectors is that this
funding will not be ring fenced
and PCCs will have the discretion
to use it for a range of activities
they see as supporting their wider
community safety objectives and
commissioning role.
In England, PCCs will also
receive the proportion of Drug
Interventions Programme Funding
not going to the new Health
and Wellbeing Boards, as well as
funding for services to address
violence against women and girls.
Historically, local VCS organisations
working in community safety have
looked to their Community Safety
Partnerships (CSPs) for some
funding support. However, it is
clear that, from 2013, CSPs will not
automatically be the recipients of
PCC funding. In the absence of
such funding, there are doubts
about the ability of CSPs to sustain
existing services from their own
resources. At the same time,
concerns are being voiced that
PCCs may decide to re-allocate
all of their community safety
budget to fund local policing
activity, or may commission
and procure community safety
services through a competitive
process in which CSPs will be
bidding for funding alongside
VCS and private providers.
Find out more:
Visit: http://goo.gl/
WG7Qw to download a
Voice and Influence briefing on
elected PCCs.
Safer Future Communities Policy
Briefings: www.clinks.org/
services/sfc/policy-briefings
Photo by Stuart Boreham
At present precisely which model
will be adopted by individual PCCs
is unclear and it is likely to be
different between areas.
To ensure that the voluntary and
community sector can influence
the new PCC we’re working with
Somerset Community Council
to develop a VCS PCC Network
across Avon and Somerset. You
can find out more about this
at the Neighbourhoods and
Communities Network meeting
on Wednesday 19 September,
2-5pm. For more details visit
www.voiceandinfluence.org.uk/
voiceandinfluence/diary
Issue 16 April / May / June 2012 www.voscur.org 28
Voice and Influence
Troubled Families
In December 2011 the Prime
Minister David Cameron
announced that the Government
was to set up a new scheme to
tackle what he calls ‘troubled
families’. The Government has
calculated that there are 120,000
troubled families that suffer
from at least five of the following
characteristics:
• no one in the family is
in work
• living in poor or
overcrowded housing
• no parent has any
qualifications
•mother has mental
health problems
• at least one parent has a
longstanding illness,
disability or infirmity
• a low income
• an inability to afford a number
of food and/or clothing items.
The Government has calculated
that £9 billion of public money is
spent on 120,000 troubled families
each year, but that only £1 billion
of this is targeted at initiatives
that help them to turn their lives
around for good.
The Troubled Families Programme
will use £448 million from existing
government department budgets
to fund a ‘payment by results’
model. Local authorities will be
able to claim up to 40% of funding
for troubled family interventions,
but the funding will be ‘payable
only when they and their partners
achieve success with families’.
This means that local authorities
will have to fund much of the
troubled families work up-front
from their own budgets. The
Government states that turning
troubled families around means:
• children back into school
• a reduction in criminal
and anti-social behaviour
• parents on the road back
to work
• a reduction in the costs to the
taxpayer and local authorities.
The Government will also fund
a national network of troubled
family ‘trouble-shooters’ in each
(upper-tier) local council. The
trouble-shooters will operate
at a senior level to oversee the
programme of action in their area.
Critics of the Government’s
proposals argue that the initiative
is ‘all words but no action’* and
that it will require local authorities
to find an additional £675 million
to match the government funding
at a time when councils are being
forced to slash budgets. Even if
the full funding can be found,
the project would still only
provide one caseworker per ten
troubled families.
* Mark Johnson, founder of charity User Voice, 20/12/11, The Guardian
Governmentannouncesnewinitiativetotackle‘problem families’.
Find out more:
Come to the next
Children and Young
People’s Network meeting on
Thursday 17 May, 10am-1pm
at St Werburghs Centre to find
out more about the Troubled
Families Initiative, how it will be
initiated in Bristol and, if and how
the Voluntary and Community
Sector could contribute. Book
your place online:
http://www.voiceandinfluence.
org.uk/voice-and-influence/
children-and-young-peoples-
network
Troubled Families information on
the Department of Communities
and Local Government website:
www.communities.gov.uk/
communities/troubledfamilies/
www.voscur.org April / May / June 2012 Issue 1629
Voice and Influence
You’re Never Too Old
Bristol’s Celebrating Age Festival
is an annual event that aims to
showcase and celebrate the
diverse contributions that older
people make across the many
different communities that
make up the City. Alongside this,
it also offers local groups and
organisations that provide services
for local older people the chance
to come together, promote their
activities and share best practice.
The 2012 festival will take place
from the 9-23 June and is being
organised by Bristol City Council
and the Bristol Older People’s
Forum with support from NHS
Bristol and other local individuals
and groups.
This year’s festival is tied in to
the ‘European Year (EY) of Active
Aging and Solidarity Between
Generations’. The overall aim for
EY 2012 is to promote active
ageing and to do more to mobilise
the potential of the rapidly
growing population in their late
50s and over. This ties in well with
the Olympics, which is also taking
place in the UK this year.
“People are living longer.” Says
Stella Quinlivan from St Pauls
Learning & Family Centre. “This
is a long-term challenge that will
need the support of everyone.
Together, we need to change
attitudes about ageing and older
people, and do more to value the
contribution that older people
make to society.”
There will be a main event taking
place in the city centre, as well as
fringe events in neighbourhoods
across the city. Last year, these
included yoga and tai chi sessions,
tea dances and samba. There
was an information fair, music
and workshops that provided the
opportunity to meet new friends
or try something different.
The team is currently working with
older people in the community to
plan this year’s events.
Age is no barrier to having influence. Not only are older people more likely to vote in elections, they also make a significant contribution in many different decision making structures in Bristol, as elected councillors, magistrates and school governors to name a few.
A flower arranging session at a previous Celebrating Age Festival
For more information
contact Stella Quinlivan
on 0117 9145470 or
email: agefestival@
gmail.com
http://www.bristol.gov.
uk/page/celebrating-
age-festival-2012
Issue 16 April / May / June 2012 www.voscur.org 30
Voice and Influence
What’sNextforCommunityLearningintheWestofEngland?The government has recently
published its future priorities
for publicly funded community
learning. These are:
• Maximising access to
community learning.
• Promoting social renewal.
• Positive impact on the
social and economic well
being of individuals, families
and communities.
To progress these priorities,
the Government is proposing
to pilot ‘different locally-based
community learning trust models
to channel Adult Safeguarded
Learning funding and lead the
planning of local provision in
cities, towns and rural settings’.
We now understand that a
community learning trust is not
expected to be a constituted
body, but will be required to bring
together all providers that receive
funding to ensure that there is a
co-ordinated and coherent model.
Across the West of England there
will be increased opportunities for
Voluntary and Community Sector
(VCS) organisations to contribute.
Bristol City Council, South
Gloucestershire Council and North
Somerset Council are already
working together in a consortium
and are commissioning over
20 smaller providers. These
authorities have invited Bath and
North East Somerset Council and
all further education colleges to
consider local options – potentially
resulting in a joint West of England
Community Learning Trust pilot
application overseeing over
£2.5 million of provision.
Local VCS organisations can get
involved and contribute by:
• Getting funding through a
local commissioned contract
to deliver courses to target
learners – this would mean
employing qualified tutors and
ensuring quality teaching and
learning outcomes.
• Supporting service users and
volunteers to access community
learning courses managed by
other providers – this could
mean brokering, hosting
courses, helping to recruit and
signpost learners.
• Influencing local planning,
gathering and sharing local
needs analysis data to inform
the new community learning
trust model and plan – this
is a critical advocacy role,
making sure that services are
responsive to local needs.
Voscur is working with
Bristol City Council
and neighbouring
authorities to explore how we
can support VCS organisations
across the West of England
to play a more active role in
adult and community learning.
Together we are planning an
information and consultation
session on Thursday 10 May.
VCS organisations operating
across the West of England are
invited to come along to discuss
possible options for a new
Community Learning Trust and
to explore how we can progress
this work together – hope to see
you there!
To book and find out more about
the event please follow this link
http://goo.gl/uD1u7
For more information
about Community
Learning Trusts, please
e-mail: Jane Taylor
(Service Manager –
Communities & Adult Skills):
Photo by RT Library
Voscur Ltd. Royal Oak House Royal Oak Avenue Bristol BS1 4GB
Tel: 0117 909 9949 Fax: 0117 933 0501 Email: [email protected] Web: www.voscur.org
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April 2012Date Time Event Location16th 4pm-5:30pm VCS Community Development
Workers NetworkRoyal Oak House
18th 9:30am-1pm Managing Performance and Appraisals @Symes Community Building
23rd 9:30am-3:30pm Your Parliament: how it works and how you can be involved in national decision making
Arnos Vale
30th 2-5pm Health & Social Care Network Meeting Salvation Army, Hassall Drive
May 2012Date Time Event Location2nd 6:30pm-9:30pm Trustee Series 1: why am I on
the committee?Barton Hill Settlement
10th 9.:30am-1pm Community Learning Information and Consultation Event
The Pavillion, Harbourside.
14th 9:30am-3:30pm Financial Management for the Not Financially Minded
Windmill Hill City Farm
15th 6:30pm-9:30pm Trustee Series 2: Good Governance: how to be a better trustee.
Barton Hill Settlement
17th 10:00am-1pm Children and Young People’s Network Meeting
St Werburghs Centre
17th 9:30am-3:30pm Introduction to Fundraising St Pauls Learning Centre
21st 4pm-5:30pm VCS Community Development Workers Network
Royal Oak House
28th 9:30am-1pm Commissioning for Beginners The Greenway Centre
31st 9:30am-4:30pm Communicate! (effective communications event)
The Greenway Centre
June 2012Date Time Event Location14th 10am-1pm VCS Assembly meeting The Withywood Centre
18th 1pm-4:30pm Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) Training
St Werburghs Centre
18th 4pm-5:30pm VCS Community Development Workers Network
Royal Oak House
20th 9:30am-3:30pm Your local government: How it works and how you can get involved in local decision making
The Withywood Centre
27th 9:30am-3:30pm Ten steps to the perfect tender Barton Hill Settlement
For details of all the above training and events visit: www.voscur.org/calendar/month
TrainingandEventsDiary—April/May/June2012
