Autumn 2012
Issue 05
Promoting excellence in voluntary and community services
Contents
Inside This Issue: • Page 3: CEO Editorial • Page 4 & 5: Support for groups • Page 6: Training • Page 7: Community Transport • Page 8 & 9: Getting to know your Community • Page 10: Helping an org with volunteers • Page 11: Five Ways to Wellbeing • Page 12 & 13: Affordable Housing • Page 14: Neighbourhood Resolutions Project • Page 15: Communications Feedback
Community Impact Bucks Page 2
CEO Editorial At Community Impact Bucks our purpose is to promote excellence in voluntary and community services. We do this by supporting anyone who wants to to volunteer, by providing advice and information to community groups and organisations to help them thrive and by enabling communities to identify and develop activities that are wanted and/or needed. In the current climate of increasing expectations and demand of the voluntary and community sector alongside reducing resources available to it – issues we are not immune from – we have been reviewing how we deliver services to you, and what they are, as well as balancing the quality vs quantity argument. At our core is the intent to empower groups and individuals, to address your support needs when you ask, if not before through events or training. To that end we are providing access to many more self-help
tools, guides, case studies and templates. By access we mean events, telephone and internet support as your first port of call. If more support is needed we can provide it through additional training, or scoped projects, although for some of these we may have to make a charge. To aid your access to our support, advice and information we are revising our website to include frequently asked questions (FAQs) and mapping possible pathways to solutions based on those questions, whilst keeping on offer our telephone, email and face to face support. To give you a taste of the pathways that can result from FAQs this edition of Impact illustrates some of the pathways that may help you or your group / organisation.
Cora Carvey Chief Executive cora@communityimpactbucks.org.uk 0845 389 0389
Community Impact Bucks
Page 3
Support for groups
Support for groups and organisations To provide timely support to your organisation we have developed a range of routes and services including free self-help tools, face to face surgeries and more intensive chargeable support to ensure we can meet your organisation’s needs. Several guides have been developed providing valuable information that will help your organisation, available for free on our website with more planned for the Autumn. These include: Guide to Business Planning, Good Practice Guide to Involving Volunteers, Guide to Project Planning, Guide to Funding, and Guide to Sustainable Funding and Financing options. We find that many groups need quick alerts from us as to possible funding streams that they can apply for. Over the past year we have built up our Funding Blog www.bucksfunding.wordpress.com and this has now become a popular source of up to date funding information. We recommend that you use this as a first port of call if you are looking specifically for funding help. You can also subscribe to the funding blog to receive regular updates by email to ensure you never miss out on the latest updates.
Community Impact Bucks Page 4
We also find that groups like to have face to face sessions with us to help them think through issues around governance, business planning and funding. We are now holding monthly Funding Advice Surgeries, offering individual 45 minute appointments to discuss your project or funding issue with funding advisers. You can book onto these via our funding blog, using the online forms within. If, during your funding advice session, it becomes apparent that your organisation would benefit from expert volunteer help, for example, to develop a business plan, to do some marketing, develop a website, put together a budget, etc. we can refer you to one of our Expert Volunteers for this service. Similarly we are able to refer your organisation for help from a local business through our Volunteer Workout programme, which could offer particular expertise, resources, or assist you with a fundraising event.
Support for groups More intensive one to one advice work with groups is, in turn, more resource intensive for us and there is a significant cost to us to provide this. You can commission us to do this more intensive work, although we may need to make a charge in order to do so. In some
instances we have been able to secure funds to cover this cost, for example – if you are an organisation or group that works with the over 50s then our Sustainability Adviser, Sara Greenwood (sara@communityimpactbucks.org.uk), can support you in this way.
Community Impact Bucks
Page 5
Training
Strategic Volunteering Short description: A one day workshop focussed on how to involve volunteers to reach strategic and long term goals, including high calibre professionals or expert volunteers. Course Introduction: Many organisations involve volunteers in service delivery, but this workshop is focussed on improving how to involve volunteers to reach strategic and longer term goals. Whether you are already have volunteers or want to start a new programme, the workshop is an opportunity to review your current priorities, learn from good practice and apply it to your own organisation. Aimed at trustees or staff with responsibility for volunteering, this will help to identify how to benefit from volunteer involvement.
The workshop will cover: • Understanding why people volunteer • Identify what volunteers can offer to your organisation • Clarify priorities for taking your Volunteer programme forward • Investigate new and strategically important volunteer roles • Identify routes to recruitment of high calibre and professionally qualified volunteers • Reviewed needed management inputs and develop a management case for a new initiative or plan • Consider some issues around motivation and management Book online at http://www.theclarefoundation.org/training.html During September we have been conducting a feedback survey on your training needs, this has been done to double check that the training we offer to you across the County continues to meet your needs. The survey has been done in collaboration with Aylesbury and Chiltern District Council, The Clare Foundation and Action 4 Youth who along with ourselves deliver training to the voluntary sector and who are part of the training directory partnership. The next edition of the training directory will be published on line for the period October 12 Community Impact Bucks Page 6
to March 13 and will take guidance from the survey’s findings. This is important because over the last 12 months a number of courses included in the Countywide training directory have had to be cancelled due to low numbers. Clearly this situation is of no benefit to anyone and it is vital in these times of scarce resources that we focus on delivering training that appeals and delivers to a broad number of groups. If you have not seen the survey but wish to feedback your comments please email info@buckstraining.co.uk.
Community Transport Buckinghamshire County Council, Buckinghamshire Community Foundation and Community Impact Bucks are pleased to announce the launch of the Community Transport Challenge Fund; an exciting new opportunity to support local communities and community transport providers promote and develop community transport services in Buckinghamshire. Community Transport services provide a life line to local people who are in danger of becoming socially isolated due to a lack of transport. Approximately 75 community transport schemes exist in Buckinghamshire alone, often run by a small team of volunteers. The aim of the Community Transport Challenge is to support new and existing services in activities that enable local people to get around. Grants of up to ÂŁ30,000 will be available to registered charities, informally constituted organisations such as village car schemes and social enterprises. A total of ÂŁ150,000 is available, to be split between the successful applicants, and can be used for either capital or revenue purposes.
The activities undertaken must either be completely new projects or a clearly different approach to an existing service. The award of funds will be split into two phases: Phase One Summer 2012 to November 2012 Phase Two January 2013 to 30th June 2013 All applicants will be supported and given guidance by Buckinghamshire Community Foundation and Community Impact Bucks, who will also take applicants through an organisational review. For further information about the Fund and how to apply, contact Buckinghamshire Community Foundation on 01296 330134 or email: info@buckscf.org.uk
Community Impact Bucks
Page 7
Getting to know your Community
Getting to know your Community For a number of years Community Impact Bucks has supported communities throughout Buckinghamshire in embracing the benefits of Community Led Planning. Community Led Planning, sometimes known as Parish Planning, is an ideal way to reach out and truly understand what the needs and aspirations are of people who live in your community.
The process is truly community led, bringing local volunteers together on a project in which they undertake a range of community consultation activities; from which an action plan of projects and priorities is established and implemented. The process and the resulting projects bring all sorts of people from the community together to develop their shared vision for the future of their community. The resulting action plan then provides the community with the route map to progress towards achieving the overall holistic vision for their neighbourhood.
Community Impact Bucks Page 8
With the introduction of the localism act, we are now seeing communities using Community Led Planning to understand what the local shared vision is for their area, and to identify which of the tools within the localism act can best help them achieve their vision. Put simply, Community Led Planning helps you understand what you need as a community, and the rights within the localism act can then provide the framework to take action on what has been identified. The process is also a good way to start the discussions with the local authorities and other service providers in how they can help your community. Community Led Planning really is the tool to kick start localism in your community and Community Impact Bucks is here to help.
Getting to know your Community
With our Community Led Planning
where you will find a range of resources
support, we can help your community
and case studies on what has been
undertake expert community
achieved in a community like yours.
engagement using a range of different tools and techniques; from working with small groups of village organisations, through to providing expertise in engaging with particular groups such as young people using our i-van.
If you would like to explore Community Led Planning activity further within your community we would be more than willing to come out and meet with you, so feel free to contact us on communitydevelopment@
For more information on Community
communityimpactbucks.org.uk
Led Planning please visit the
or call 0845 3890389 and ask to speak to
Community Impact Bucks website
the community development team.
(www.communityimpactbucks.org.uk/ pages/community-led-planning.html), Community Impact Bucks
Page 9
Helping an organisation with volunteers
Helping an organisation with volunteers The Well @ Lent Rise came to Community Impact Bucks needing help with marketing their organisation. As Nicky Allen explains: “In the past we have struggled to have any response to adverts we have placed for expert volunteers. Following a meeting with Alison Holloway (Community Impact’s Expert Volunteer Coordinator) we had a far better understanding of what to actually include in the adverts and we have been much more successful ever since.” The charity, based in Burnham currently runs six projects providing help to the local community including supporting vulnerable individuals, providing free financial guidance and running a youth outreach service. They wanted to raise their profile locally by means of a marketing leaflet which would encourage people to donate funds. CPS, a company based in Marlow, had been helped by Lucie Maldoom (Community Impact’s Volunteer Workout Project manager) to set up an employer supported volunteering scheme. Volunteer Workout works with businesses and business people to enable them to give back to their communities. Laura Radcliffe, the marketing manager for CPS, volunteered her time as part of this initiative. Community Impact Bucks Page 10
Following 2 days input the leaflet was completed, a printer found and the leaflet available in time for a fundraising event. “Reflecting on this assignment (says Laura) I have learnt a lot about how small charitable organisations function and the difficulties they face – I’ve also discovered the huge difference they make to the people they touch. It was great to be able to help out and deliver something that the charity will be able to use to further their excellent work.” As Nicky Allen from The Well explains: “A totally new leaflet was produced which was more up to date than our existing material and a far better reflection of who we are as a charity. Along the way we have learned some useful tips about setting out and planning documents which has been a huge added bonus. Moreover, Laura has done a brilliant job on the leaflet and now wants to help us with a few other things we have been struggling with. We couldn’t be happier!” “We will DEFINITELY use expert volunteers in the future. It is a brilliant way to match up people with relevant skills to help organisations such as ours. It is a fantastic service for which we are truly grateful. “
Five Ways to Wellbeing
Five Ways to Wellbeing campaign shows encouraging results Community Impact Bucks are supporting a Buckinghamshire wide communications campaign that launched in April 2012 to encourage the general adult population to improve their mental wellbeing. Eleven organisations across Buckinghamshire, including the district and county councils, NHS, Bucks Sport and the voluntary sector led by Community Impact Bucks have worked together to implement a co-ordinated campaign across Buckinghamshire to promote the Five Ways to Wellbeing and promote existing programmes, facilities and events which related to each of the five themes. From the pre evaluation which sought people s awareness of the Five Ways to Wellbeing, the results are encouraging. Headline results showed that: • 36% of respondents had heard of the Five Ways to Wellbeing but 58% had not, yet high numbers of people said that they carried out some of the five actions within their daily lives, indicating that the link between what they were doing and its benefit to their mental wellbeing was perhaps unknown.
• Walking to be active and studying for a qualification to keep learning were the two most popular actions done by respondents. However, the results show there are clear opportunities to promote alternative activities which promote wellbeing other than those listed by respondents. • Locally created logos and symbols for the campaign were favourably received, with 75% recognising the Five Ways logo and 68% strongly agreeing that the wellbeing symbols matched the actions they represented. • Of those who responded 66% agreed to being contacted again for follow up surveys, giving us a great baseline on which to further evaluate this campaign. If you want to know more about Five Ways to Wellbeing or how your group can get involved visit: www.buckinghamshire.nhs.uk/ wellbeing
Community Impact Bucks
Page 11
Affordable Housing
Celebrating the official opening of Tingewick’s second affordable housing scheme On Friday 22 June 2012, practically five years to the date of the opening of the first affordable rural housing scheme in Tingewick, a second development of 8 homes for local people was opened by the Rt Hon John Bercow MP.
l-r in foreground Peter Smith – Chairman Tingewick Parish Council; Cllr Derrick Isham – Chairman Aylesbury Vale District Council and Rt Hon John Bercow MP at the official opening of Tingewick II.
The scheme, offers 2 one bedroom flats, 3 two bedroom houses and 1 three bedroom house for rent and 2 one bedroom flats for shared ownership. In Buckinghamshire, high house prices often mean that people who have a strong local connection to a rural parish often can’t afford to buy or rent in the Community Impact Bucks Page 12
villages where they belong. Rural exception schemes address that issue by providing housing for those people and ensuring that those houses remain affordable and available for local people in perpetuity. This housing makes a real difference to peoples’ lives, offering a lasting advantage for rural villages.
Affordable Housing
Would you like to find out how your village can provide homes for the community? or perhaps affordable housing has been identified as a need through your community led plan. Call or contact: Jean Fox, Rural Housing Enabler, Community Impact Bucks on 0845 3890389 or jean@communityimpactbucks.org.uk Community Impact Bucks
Page 13
Neighbourhood Resolutions Project Community Impact Bucks is working in partnership with Thames Valley Police and Wycombe District Council to deliver an exciting new pilot project designed to tackle low level crime and anti-social behaviour in the High Wycombe area. The scheme, known as Neighbourhood Resolutions, is based on the principles of Restorative Justice, with a community volunteer facilitating a meeting between wrong-doer and victim. The volunteer’s role in the process is to support both parties in deciding on what reparative action the wrong-doer can take to help repair the hurt, damage and distress often caused. One of the scheme’s main aims is to reduce the number of first time offenders entering the Criminal Justice System. Dealing with low level crime and anti-social behaviour in this way means the wrong-doer is able to avoid a criminal record and is effectively given a second chance to change his or her ways. But the meetings are definitely not a soft option. Facing the victim can be a powerful experience and hearing
Community Impact Bucks Page 14
from them about the consequences of their actions, has the potential of mitigating the chances of the wrong-doer re-offending in the future. But the most important person in the whole process is the victim, with the meeting being an effective way of giving them the opportunity of having their voice heard and enabling them to take an active part in the justice process. Low level crime and anti-social behaviour, such as graffiti, criminal damage and drunk and disorderly conduct, can have a huge impact on communities. This initiative offers members of the public the opportunity to address these issues in a positive way, helping them make their communities safer, more pleasant places in which to live. We have great hopes for the project and the volunteering opportunities it provides and if it proves successful in High Wycombe there are plans to roll it out to other areas. So watch this space and we’ll keep you updated.
Communications Feedback Delivered straight to your inbox Do you have access to the internet?
will allow us to spend more money on meeting the demand for our services.
Can you help reduce our costs? Do you want to keep up to date with all the latest goings on at Community Impact Bucks? We are now offering you the opportunity to get the Impact magazine before anyone else straight to your inbox and as well as getting the magazine we will keep you up to date with all the latest third sector news. If we can reduce the number of magazines we produce and post out it
If you would like to start receiving the Impact Magazine electronically simply send your name and email address to info@communityimpactbucks.org.uk
Want to Save Money on the Cost of Your Heating Oil the Easy and Reliable Way?
Community Impact Bucks
Page 15
PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
Community Impact Bucks Unit B, The Firs Bierton, Aylesbury, Bucks. HP22 5DX Tel: 0845 389 0389 Fax: 01296 331464 www.communityimpactbucks.org.uk info@communityimpactbucks.org.uk
All articles are available in large print on request