Come Celebrate National Volunteers Week with PAVS on June 7th 2011 Volunteer Celebration Event and Pembrokeshire Volunteering Awards 2011 Ceremony Venue: Pavilion, Withybush, Haverfordwest Date: Tuesday 7th June 2011 Audience: Volunteer Managers and Volunteers. There will be a variety of activities happening on the day and we would really like to see as many volunteers there as possible, celebrating the hard work and dedication they have given to volunteering and as always, lunch will be provided free of charge. The Pembrokeshire Volunteering Awards 2011 ceremony will also take place at this event, so please nominate your volunteers for the awards (call PAVS on 01437 769422 for an application form). All organisations are invited to bring along their exhibition stands to raise the profile of their organisation and to promote their volunteering opportunities in order to recruit new volunteers. More information will follow nearer the time. Do you know people who give their time and commitment to volunteering in Pembrokeshire? Do you know someone who has changed their life through volunteering? PAVS runs an award scheme to recognise and celebrate the real difference volunteers make to communities in Pembrokeshire and to themselves. Why not nominate them and give them the recognition they deserve? For a nomination form contact Volunteering Pembrokeshire on 01437 769422.
The deadline for the next issue is: Friday 29 April 2011 Email to:enquiries@pavs.org.uk
Issue 53 Rhif 53
February 2011 Chwefror 2011
Contents Foreword PAVS Trustee News News ICT Charity Commission News Trustee News Social Enterprise News PAVS AGM Report Funding News Training Volunteering
2 4 5 8 10 12 13 15 19 29 31
Foreword Happy New Year and welcome to the first Pembrokeshire Voice of 2011.
budget holders will not know their final budgets until mid-February and in fact, the final budget will not be signed off by the full Council until 3rd March, hence the rather gloomy letters that are being sent out at the moment. Hopefully March will bring better news!
As we move closer to the end of the current financial year, the issue that still remains largely unresolved is that of the budget settlement. We still do not know what opportunities and challenges may present themselves to the third sector in announcements that are yet to come.
The problem for all of us is to retain the experience and expertise of our staff during this period of uncertainty – and there is no easy answer to this. Dipping into reserves to cover staff salaries for a time-limited period is something that Trustee Boards may wish to consider but it is always a difficult balancing act. Certainly, PAVS’ Trustees have done this in the past to secure front-line services during a “funding gap” but this has only been possible because of a robust reserves policy and is clearly not a sustainable option in the long term.
It is undoubtedly a worrying time for those organisations – like PAVS itself – that are in receipt of funding from the public sector and it is certainly a mixed picture at the moment. Many of us have received letters from statutory partners confirming that current funding arrangements are ending on 31st March, but few have been able to confirm what will happen after that date. Hywel Dda contracts are being rolled forward for 6 months pending a review of the commissioning framework. Recipients of Cymorth funding have been told that their funding will be renewed for a further 12 months, during which time services will be reviewed in the context of the new Families First programme. Some Assembly and UK grants have been stopped at source and some capital funds have either been withdrawn or significantly reduced – for example, the Communities Facilities and Activities Programme is likely to be reduced by 50%.
As mentioned in previous issues of Pembrokeshire Voice, It is important that all third sector organisations delivering public services review their “business” and identify areas where potential savings can be made. All members of the third sector Infrastructure Partnership (including PAVS) have been required by WAG to identify potential efficiency gains. Although we have responded to this request, a strong message has gone back to WAG pointing out that we are already lean organisations – we certainly don’t have much “fat” to trim. We also use every £ of our “clean” money to lever in funding from elsewhere – in other words, we believe that we do represent good value for money although we are always ready to reduce unnecessary overheads in order to release funds for frontline service delivery. We believe this is true of the majority of the sector but equally recognise there is certainly no room for complacency in the current economic climate.
In all cases where contracts and Service Level Agreements have been renewed, they appear to have been “flat-lined” – a term that has crept into the vocabulary to mean “no increase”. Of course, this means a cut in the value of the contract in real terms when inflationary pressures and rising staff costs are taken into account. Having said that, many Service Level Agreements have, in fact, been “flat-lined” for the past few years, so we are used to being asked to deliver the same for less!
One lesson to learn from all of this is that the sector must work collaboratively and develop funding streams that are resilient to changes in public sector budgets. The regional Collaborative Communities project, delivered in Pembrokeshire
On a more positive note, Local Authority settlements appear to be better than had been anticipated so we are hoping that wholesale cuts in services can be avoided. Unfortunately, 2
Foreword It is a busy period for the Representation and Joint Working team in PAVS as we move towards the completion of major strategies and plans for Health Social Care and Wellbeing; Children and Young People and Community Safety. Plans are currently out for consultation and we are grateful to all third sector organisations, their members, service users, staff and trustees who have contributed to the process in one way or another. Your views are always welcome.
by PAVS and Pembrokeshire County Council, provides a range of services to help third sector organisations develop business and funding strategies and to work collaboratively through formal and informal partnerships. More information on collaborative working is included in the Charity Commission section of this newsletter. Another lesson is that communities and citizens will be asked to do more to help themselves and their neighbours, achieving community regeneration through grassroots community development. This was the theme of the recent WCVA Regional Policy event in Carmarthen, which provided a useful forum to discuss some of the key benefits of and barriers to successful community regeneration from a community perspective. What emerged clearly from the event was that done properly, community development is a powerful mechanism to achieve a step change in community regeneration with local solutions being delivered by local people.
Finally, as pressure builds on public services, volunteering has never been more important – many of the “local solutions” referred to above rely on people being prepared to give their time for the benefit of others. Volunteering Pembrokeshire is here to help recruit and place volunteers within the sector and, as 2011 is officially the International Year of Volunteering, let’s make it a good one! This edition of Pembrokeshire Voice has the usual mix of articles that we hope you will find informative and useful. Happy reading!
Sue Leonard, Chief Officer
Ian Hunter OBE, Chair
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News from the Board At its first meeting of the New Year, the PAVS’ Board unanimously agreed to appoint Phil Vickery as a member of the Board. Phil has a long and varied experience of working in the voluntary and community sector and will undoubtedly have much to contribute to the work of the Board and the future of the Association. Pembrokeshire County Council has confirmed that Cllr David Wildman has been nominated to take up the position of adviser to the Board in place of Cllr Sian James who stepped down from the Cabinet at the beginning of the year. The Board would like thank Cllr Phil Vickery James for her valuable input and support over the last 18 months, and look forward to establishing a similar good relationship with Cllr Wildman.
Cllr David Wildman
In light of the significant work currently being carried out with health through the 3rd Sector Co-design project, the Board has also requested representation from Hywel Dda in an advisory capacity and await confirmation of the nominee.
PAVS’ Interim Business Plan The Board has recently signed off an interim Business Plan for PAVS, which will be circulated to members shortly. Full and summary versions will be made available for download from the PAVS’ website.
In addition to the Business Plan, PAVS also works to very detailed annual Delivery Plan, which describes how the Association will meet the Third Sector Infrastructure Partnership service specifications. The next step is to develop a strategic plan, before revisiting the Interim Business Plan and drawing up a revised document that will steer the development of the Association in the longer term. Over the next few months, the Board and PAVS’ executive team will lead a wide-ranging consultation with our members, the wider third sector, statutory partners, funders, and other stakeholders, such as the Assembly and Wales Council for Voluntary Action, to develop a clear strategic direction for the Association.
The interim Business Plan has been produced by a small working group set up by the Board and led by Vice Chair, John Gossage. John presented the key elements of the Plan at the PAVS’ Annual General Meeting in December, which produced some interesting and supportive comments from members who were present.
The exact format of the consultation is yet to be agreed (a recommendation will go to the Board at its February meeting) but will offer a range of opportunities to get involved, through a programme of consultation events, focus groups, questionnaires, and so on. Your views will be extremely important in helping shape the future direction of PAVS – please take the opportunity to contribute to the debate. 4
Third Sector News Deposit Local Development Plan – Consultation
Yes or No? On Thursday 3rd March, the voters of Wales will be asked to decide whether the National Assembly for Wales should have full law making powers for the 20 current devolved areas. Whilst PAVS, as an organisation, remains neutral in this matter we would strongly encourage you to look at the issues involved, especially from a voluntary sector / community group perspective, and to use your vote on 3rd March.
Pembrokeshire County Council has now prepared its Deposit Local Development Plan (LDP) and is undertaking a 6-week consultation on the document from 26th January 2011 to 9th March 2011. The Deposit LDP contains policies and maps to guide the development of land. Once adopted, the Plan will be used to make decisions on planning applications until 2021.
The National Assembly for Wales is the elected body that represents the people of Wales, takes decisions and makes laws that affects us all. Currently there are 20 subject areas that are devolved to Wales but, in some of these areas, the Assembly must refer back to the UK government for permission each time it wants to change the law or make new laws. The Referendum on 3rd March will ask whether people agree that the Assembly should have full law making powers in all of the devolved subject areas.
The Council would welcome your views. The Deposit LDP and associated documents including the Sustainability Appraisal (incorporating the Strategic Environmental Assessment), Habitats Regulations Appraisal and representation forms are available to view on the Council’s website www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/planning or hard copies can be viewed at County Hall reception, Pembrokeshire libraries and Customer Contact Centres. A CD-ROM is also available on request. Comments on the LDP must be received by 5.00pm on 9th March 2011. You can respond to the Plan in the following ways:
Whatever the result of the Referendum, the Assembly will still not be able to make laws on matters that are not devolved such as defence, tax or welfare benefits.
• Uploading your comments on the interactive web page on www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk
This is an important issue and a good turnout is essential. Please do everything you can to encourage and support your members, service users, volunteers, staff and Trustees to take part and cast their vote – whatever that might be.
• Downloading a response form from the Council’s website and e-mailing it to ldp@ pembrokeshire.gov.uk • Telephoning 01437 764551 and asking for a paper copy of the response form, which you can fill in and send back by post
A guide issued by the National Assembly for Wales relating to the referendum (Vote 2011) can be downloaded from their website www. assemblywales.org (follow the Get Involved link)
Please note that Pembrokeshire County Council and the Welsh Assembly Government reached agreement on revisions to the timetable for the delivery of the LDP in December 2010. The revised Delivery Agreement can be viewed in the same locations as the Deposit Plan.
There is also a section on the referendum on the Electoral Commission’s website: www.aboutmyvote.co.uk and the helpline number is 0800 3280 280. Welsh language versions of both documents are available.
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Third Sector News WCVA pushes for change Community Right to Try Communities take on under-used assets on a temporary or permanent basis and bring them into worthwhile community use, for example, shops and land
In his speech at the WCVA Annual Conference at the end of last year, the First Minister outlined commitments to assist disadvantaged communities beyond 2012; support social enterprise “the trading arm of the third sector” and the third sector scheme “still unrivalled anywhere else in the world”. He welcomed and supported the ability of the sector to deliver public services, not as a cheap option to fill cuts, but as an important part of a joint vision and concerted action to achieve better outcomes. He also recognised the role of the sector in facilitating effective engagement with citizens and communities which he described as a “major part of our social justice agenda”.
Community Right to Bid Communities/third sector organisations should have the right to request the chance to bid for and run local services. Community Right to Know Communities need more information about assets, costs of services, service reviews, etc to make informed decisions on buying, trying and bidding.
WCVA continues to examine and contribute ideas to policy makers and is publishing recommendations to feed into the next Assembly elections in May. These ideas, which will be explored further through the WCVA conference and seminar programme during 2011, include:
Social Impact Bonds A new way of funding where the public sector commits to pay for improved social outcomes. On the back of this, investment is raised from socially motivated investors (eg trusts, banks, wealthy individuals) which is paid to the provider. The financial return to the investor is dependent on the degree to which the outcomes improve.
A Future Jobs Fund for Wales The present Future Jobs Fund has been terminated by the Department for Work and Pensions, but it will leave a huge gap for young people without work experience. A scheme in Wales is a serious policy option.
Self Directed Support Self directed support is the support individuals and families have after making an informed choice on how their individual budget is used. The process of deciding support through selfdirected support is through co-production and can make citizen designed services a reality. People could retain the choice not to have self directed services, or use a third party.
Community Allowance This was trailed by WCVA last year and could now be piloted. It would give people on benefits the right to take up meaningful part-time paid work and provide benefit to their community without negatively affecting benefit payments.
WCVA Conference Calendar 2011 Wales Charity Law 12th May rd Public Service Delivery 23 June th 12 July Third Sector Research 14th September Volunteering th Third Sector Funding 11 October 26th October Trustee and Governance 24th November WCVA Annual Conference
Community Right to Buy Communities should have first option to acquire an asset of potential community value.
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News Queen’s Honour Nominations Did you know that you can nominate anyone for a Queen’s Honour such as an OBE, MBE or Knighthood for achievements in their field of work or community? A Queen’s Honour is considered to be the most prestigious personal award an individual can receive and can prove to be a life-changing experience for many recipients. There are two routes by which people enter the process: • nomination by an individual or a public/private sector organisation familiar with the work of the candidate e.g. a friend, business contact or spouse • submission by a government department that has identified a candidate doing good work within its sphere of interest Honours lists are published twice a year at New Year and in mid-June on the date of The Queen’s official birthday. Anyone can receive an award if they reach the required standard of merit or service, and honours lists contain a wide variety of people from different backgrounds. Honours committees are looking for someone who has made a difference in their field of work or community - paid or unpaid - but the nominee must still be involved in the activity for which they are nominated. There is no nomination deadline and it can take 12-18 months for a decision
ICT Derek Checks the Weather Online BBC weatherman, Derek Brockway, was in Milford Haven library on 27th January to help promote National Libraries Week by helping people get online as part of BBC First Click. PAVS ICT Training & Development Officer, Mike Becket, was there supporting people over 55 to video conference with Skype when Derek came by to lend a hand. Derek got chatting to the group then delivered an impromptu weather report using weather maps from the Met Office and from the BBC. Just goes to show the joint benefits of being online and being in the library! 7
ICT Choosing a Web Host
ICT Knowledgebase is 10
Once you’ve developed a website, you’ll need someone to ‘host’ it - that is, to let you store it on a computer that is permanently connected to the Internet so that other people can see it. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can host your site, as well as providing net access and email, and this may be the best solution for beginners with a simple site. But there are many alternatives - and so many companies offer web hosting that it can be difficult to decide which package suits your organisation’s needs. What’s the best package for you? This will obviously depend on what you want to use your website for. However before signing up to a package: • Be clear about your requirements and make sure your chosen host can fulfil them (e.g. amount of web space, bandwidth, number of email boxes, databases, backup arrangements etc). • Check websites that are similar to yours and get recommendations if you can • Last but not least - make sure you read the hosting company’s terms and conditions. Treat with caution: • Offers that seem too good to be true (e.g. unlimited bandwidth or web space at rock bottom prices) • Excessive fees for exceeding your bandwidth • Companies that don’t publish their contact details (including street address, phone number) on their website • Companies that respond slowly to technical support queries or sales enquiries. You can compare prices and products at UK Top Hosts.
The ICT Knowledgebase was originally set up by Lasa in 2001 to provide impartial information in plain language on Information Technology for third sector organisations, enabling them to benefit from using technologies to help them achieve their goals. Ten years ago many organisations were getting their first desktop computers, gradually most of them networked the machines to share resources and offer centralised document storage, easier backing up, and more sophisticated security. We now have the potential of cloud computing ‘anytime, anywhere’ access to day to day office productivity applications, document sharing and the like. You don’t necessarily need a powerful computer - just access to the internet. Despite the promise that new technology and especially the internet offers, many organisations remain ‘excluded’ and will continue to need help to effectively and strategically manage what technology they have. After all, they want to get on with delivering their mission and don’t necessarily want to have to think about technology. The ICT Knowledgebase is important for the Third Sector as it contains lots of great content to help third sector organisations make informed ICT decisions and also signposts to further sources of help.
Thanks to lasa knowledgebase article www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk/choosingwebhost
www.ictknowledgebase.org.uk 8
ICT PAVS Circuit Rider Project PAVS’ Circuit Riders (ICT Support Officers) offer advice and support all aspects of ICT (Information Communications Technology) for your group or organisation. You may want to: • Set up or improve your website • Buy the right computer and new software • Share photos & videos of your events • Video conference your clients, Trustees or staff for free The Circuit Riders also deliver workshops throughout Pembrokeshire to show how modern technologies can enhance your work, reduce your costs and improve your communications. Through the Communities 2.0 project, PAVS works with voluntary groups and organisations based in, or who work within, targeted areas of Pembrokeshire, namely: • Haverfordwest, Castle & Garth • Milford, Hubberston & West • Pembroke Dock, Central & Llanion • Pembroke, Monkton & St Mary North ICT support can be provided to social enterprises across the whole of the County. If you would like further information please contact: sue.blantern@pavs.org.uk or look online: www.pavs.org.uk/support/ict/
Charity Commission News New Resources for small charities The Commission has launched a series of • Registering a new charity – registration thresholds; the application process resources for small charities available on their website. Most charities have a small income or consider themselves small. Their needs and legal • Running a small charity – accounting and reporting; making changes; dealing with requirements are different than those of larger property charities. They can also face different challenges. To make things easier, the Commission has • General information and research covering all brought guidance and resources relevant to small issues affecting small charities. charities together in this section which includes:. For more information visit: www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Charity_ • Starting a new charity – finding trustees, requirements_guidance/Specialist_guidance/ choosing a name and aims; choosing a Small_charities/default.aspx governing document etc 9
Charity Commission News The Equality Act 2010 – time to review your objects clause The Charity Commission takes the view that the implementation of the Equality Act 2010 means that Trustees of charities should review the objects clause in their memorandum and articles of association or other governing document to see if, as many do, they limit benefits to people with a “protected characteristic”. If objects are so restricted, the Trustees of the charity need to consider whether what they do meets one of two further tests imposed by the Act. The tests are that the: (1) purpose of the limitation must be to prevent or compensate for a disadvantage linked to that protected characteristic; and (2) discrimination or limitation must be a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. If the objects do not pass the tests, there may be unlawful discrimination. If you have any doubt regarding your objects, contact the Charity Commission.
Collaboration is successful, small charities tell Commission - local networking could help find partners
communication. The report showed that amongst the charities that had collaborated:
“Collaborating with other charities works and brings real benefits”, small charities have said in a new report published by the Charity Commission. The research shows collaboration is more likely to happen and more likely to succeed when charities network and get to know each other first. In response, the Commission is encouraging charity trustees to consider getting to know potential local partners, since many charities who had not collaborated said it was because they had never been approached. The report, ‘Strength in numbers – small charities’ experience of working together’, is based on a survey of 2,500 charities with incomes of less than £250,000, as well as in-depth interviews with charities and sector experts. 91% of charities on the Commission’s register have an income of £250,000 and under, with a combined income of £4 billion. The research shows that the main factors contributing to successful collaborations were the quality of the pre-existing relationship with their charity partner (55%) and the compatibility of organisational aims, values and mission (52%). Key ingredients for successful collaboration included effective leadership, planning and
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Nearly half (45%) of charities surveyed said they had collaborated with at least one other charity over the past two years; most commonly sharing information, joint fundraising and sharing equipment.
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82% of charities that had collaborated with others felt that it had been successful. 29% thought it had been ‘very’ successful.
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84% of the collaborating charities reported benefits, ranging from maintaining or improving services, enhancing reputation, and identifying cost reductions and increased access to funding opportunities.
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The main driver of collaboration was the presence of other charity partners in the local area with similar aims and objectives. Many charities were also motivated by a desire to improve services and reduce duplication.
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Small charities that had faced challenges such as organisational growth and extra demand for services were more likely to have collaborated.
Charity Commission News Charity Commission updates its trustee toolkit
Of the charities surveyed that had not yet collaborated; • 46% said there had been no need for them to do so, or that they had not been convinced of the benefits of collaboration •
Over a third (34%) said they had no appropriate charity partners
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30% said they had never been approached by another charity interested in collaborating
The Commission has published the latest chapter of its online compliance toolkit for trustees, called Protecting Charities from Harm. This chapter covers due diligence, monitoring, and verification of the end use of fund. The toolkit addresses not just what steps charities should take when making grants themselves but also what enquiries charities should make about donors, stressing the importance of charities knowing who their donors in order to avoid being targeted for illicit activities such as money laundering or tax evasion. The documents include a risk assessment checklist, a sample partnership agreement, a partner verification form and a project monitoring checklist.
Where charities had encountered difficulties when collaborating, the most common causes were a lack of funding, resources or expertise, or differences in personalities or working cultures. A significant proportion of charities surveyed felt they would need further support in order to enhance existing collaborative arrangements or to get started with collaboration. Through the regional European-funded Collaborative Communities project, PAVS Development Officers are able to support organisations who wish to consider working together, from informal working arrangements to full mergers.
Update on the Charitable Incorporated Organisation
The Commission is preparing for the new structure for charities, the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), which will What can you do online at the be introduced in late Spring. They will soon Commission? be publishing detailed guidance for trustees that will explain how to set up a new CIO, how In the last newsletter we published an article on registering new charities online . As well as online charitable companies or charitable industrial and provident societies can convert to CIOs registration, the Commission also has a new and what unincorporated charities need to do range of online forms – in Welsh and English – to become CIOs. The introduction of the new designed to help trustees manage their charities model will be phased in to manage what we more easily. These forms include: expect will be high demand from charities. o Applying to vest your charity’s land in the You can find more details on the CIO section Official Custodian; www.charitycommission.gov.uk/ of the website. o Letting us know that your charity’s merged; and (source: Charity Commission) o Removing your charity from the Central Register. The Commission is continually seeking to improve its online systems to meet charities’ needs, and are constantly upgrading the system in response to feedback from charities. Their aim is to have all services online by 2012.
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Third Sector News New WCVA Affinity Scheme - Can you save money and make a difference? Before you start to work out how to reduce CO2 usage, first find out if your current energy bill bares any resemblance to what you actually used.
WCVA has signed an agreement with Utility Aid to promote their services to our members. As energy brokers to the SCVO, CFDG, Charity Buying Group and more, Utility Aid has worked in the not-for-profit sector for over the last ten years reducing bills, controlling costs and helping our clients on the way to making a difference. They are a bespoke organisation designed to work at your pace to talk in your language. What is even more remarkable, as a charity, you are eligible for a free, no obligation energy audit to start you on your way. So call Lotte on 0808 178 8170 (free phone) or visit www.utility-aid.co.uk.
65 per cent of charities pay annually on estimated billing 15 per cent of charities are on the wrong profile 5 per cent of charities pay the wrong bill or indeed get no bill at all Utility Aid will help you understand your actual energy usage, check exactly what you are paying for, and then advise on how to really make a difference both to you and the planet, whilst also offering a pathway into the realms of the wholesale energy market.
(source : WCVA)
In Kind support for voluntary organisations In Kind Direct redistributes surplus goods from manufacturers and retailers to UK charities working at home and abroad. In Kind Direct was founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1996 and is one of The Prince’s Charities, which is the largest multi-cause enterprise in the United Kingdom. Since foundation in 1996, they have redistributed £100 million in value of goods from over 850 companies. Over 8,000 charities have joined our network to benefit, helping millions of people in need. Groups have been able to access all sorts – from toys, sports equipment; clothing, work & office equipment and cleaning materials. Register on their website www.inkinddirect.org/charities/goodsavailable.asp
Trustee News New Year – New Trustees? Why not raise the profile of becoming a trustee? As the parties, tinsel and turkey become distant 5% of people aware that trusteeship is a way to memories, New Year’s resolutions often mean support a charity. that people express an interest in giving their time to an interest or community they care about. The NCVO have developed a Trustee Recruitment Campaigns Pack to raise awareness The NCVO believe that this is a golden of becoming a trustee? The pack includes opportunity to raise the profile of trusteeship. As posters, leaflets, logos and templates which you may be aware almost half of all boards have can all be customised with your information and at least one trustee vacancy at any one time, logos. There are also videos and case studies boards are sometimes missing experience and that you can link to on your website to show what skills they need to deliver their mission and public trusteeship is all about. awareness about trusteeship is low, and only For more visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/ Trusteerecruitmentcampaignspack 12
Trustee News Trustee Recruitment Resources for sports and recreational groups
New PAVS information sheet A new information sheet has been added to the suite of information sheets on the PAVS website. Groups are always being asked what difference their organisation, project, event or activity makes. This information sheet, ‘Impact and impact measurement’ explains what is meant by impact, why it’s important and how to measure it. Available here www.wcva-ids.org.uk/pavs/2006
The NCVO have also developed specialist guidance to help sports and recreational groups recruit new trustees. This new online resource is available here www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/ smart-sport/board-recruitment (source: NCVO)
Lobbying the Welsh Assembly work in Wales or those who want to try new ways of working or refresh their knowledge.
The Voices for Change Cymru project have created a brand new guide to lobbying the National Assembly for Wales. This free guide is designed to give voluntary sector organisations useful information about the opportunities that exist to have their voice heard and how to use their resources most effectively in their lobbying work. The guide consists of a series of information sheets ranging from how to write a consultation response to working with committees, how to influence manifestos to influencing legislation. It is the perfect resource for anyone new to campaigning and influencing
You can get a full copy of this free guide posted to you by emailing Voices for Change Cymru at vfcc@wcva.org.uk to request a hard copy, or you can download it by going to www.voicesforchangecymru.org.uk/informationresources/how-to-lobby-the-national-assemblyfor-wales (choosing either the full version or just selecting the sections most relevant to you). The guide is available in English and Welsh. (source: WCVA)
Social Enterprise Support Collaborative Communities The Pembrokeshire Collaborative Communities team Development Officers, Vanessa John and Wendy Marmara; Flagship Officer for Socail Enterprise Robin Benson and Social Enterprise Development Officer Kevin Doolin (both based at PCC), are working together to offer support to the voluntary and community sector, including: • • • • • • • •
• • • • •
Developing business plans Legal structures Trading – moving away from grant dependency Market research and marketing plans Governance HR and good employment practice Assistance with premises Feasibility studies
Financial management and budgeting Fundraising options and strategy Environmental sustainability Equal opportunities Tender readiness and procurement
Call the Collaborative Communities team on 01437 769422 or 775537. Collaborative Communities has been part funded by the EU’s Convergence European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government
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Social Enterprise Support Tax Implications of trading
Green Dragon programme to support social enterprises
As soon as an organisation starts charging for goods or services, it becomes subject to tax on the profit. There are some exemptions for charities, but a charity which trades outside the exemptions can end up in trouble. And any organisation, charity or not, which does not understand the VAT implications of its trading can get in trouble.
Social enterprises across parts of Wales are to benefit from a free programme that will establish environmental management systems and develop their businesses using the Green Dragon Environmental Standard. Groundwork, in partnership with the Wales Cooperative Centre’s Social Enterprise Support Project, has been awarded a contract to deliver Level 1 and Level 2 of the Green Dragon Environmental Standard to social enterprises across the convergence areas of Wales. The Green Dragon Environmental Standard is a stepped system comprising five levels of achievement, which provides the framework to make cost savings, comply with legislation, improve environmental performance and increase competitiveness.
It all comes clear in ‘Tax implications of charity trading’, published by the Charity Finance Directors’ Group (CFDG) in April 2010. Written by Pesh Framjee and the charity tax team at Howarth Clark Whitehill, this 140-page book is clear, detailed and easy to read, and best of all can be downloaded free of charge at www.cfdg. org.uk/cfdg/good_practice_publications.asp. It can also be purchased from CFDG for £15. Its 12 chapters cover introduction; basic tax exemptions; business sponsorship; trading companies; shops and cafes; merchandising; events; providing services; training and conferences; other areas (overseas operations, rental income/lettings, sports facilities, property sales, and gift aid admission to premises); cost allocation, transfer pricing and loss making trades; and social enterprise.
This scheme is free to qualifying social enterprises and offers the benefits of financial savings and improved environmental performance. The Project is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the European Union’s Convergence programme which is administered by the Welsh Assembly Government. Places on the programme are limited, so if you are a social enterprise interested in participating, please contact Alison Bedford, Environment Project Coordinator on 01978 757524, alison.bedford@ groundwork.org.uk www.greendragonems.com.
Can you make use of a free Sage accounts package? The Trustees of Theatr Forum have a Sage accounting package which is surplus to their requirements. The Trustees have asked PAVS to find out if any voluntary group could make good use of the software.
The package can be used for accounts; VAT returns; Profit and Loss reports; Quotations and Invoices and Stock Control. If you feel your organisation would benefit from this Sage package please email development@pavs.org.uk and your group will be entered into a draw. The closing date for entry to the draw is Monday 28th February.
The Package consists of Sage Instant Accounts and Sage Instant Accounts Plus which are suitable for new and small organisations and businesses. 14
REPORT on PAVS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING for the financial year ended 31st March 2010 On arrival, there was an opportunity for guests to network and visit the PAVS stands, which provided information about the full range of services on offer through the Association. Copies of the brand new PAVS’ leaflet were distributed, and many people commented on the professional layout and excellent content. Guests also enjoyed the excellent seasonal buffet provided by East West Cuisine.
10-year long service award – a special edition PAVS’ pen! He noted that it was particularly hard to retain good staff when contracts were shortterm (often no more than 12 months at a time) and that PAVS was fortunate that its team of experienced and skilled staff had remained loyal to the Association.
The business of the AGM started at 7.00pm with Chair, Ian Hunter OBE, first welcoming everyone to the meeting and then introducing his fellow Board members. The Minutes of the previous AGM held in January 2010 were presented and adopted as a true record. The Chair then moved on to thank Board members for their work over the past twelve months. He paid tribute to Nigel Owen who had stepped down as Chair at the previous AGM, describing him as someone who combined business sense with a genuine passion for the voluntary sector and a firm belief in what it could achieve. The Chair confirmed that two Trustees, Chris Blakemore and Rod Bowen, had decided to step down from the Board at the AGM due to pressures of time. The Chair recorded his thanks to them both for their hard work on the Board and the significant contributions they had made over the years.
The Chair then presented the Annual Review for 2009/2010, which once again highlighted the excellent work carried out by PAVS staff over the reporting period. He paid tribute to the work of the whole staff team and highlighted the fact that three members of staff had now received their
The Annual Review 09-10 is available on our website.
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It was reported that, during this year, the Board had agreed and undertaken a performance selfassessment process, with the three appointed members also being subject to additional assessment by the rest of the Board.
enterprise trading arm. It was reported that PAVS had been working closely with County Voluntary Councils across South West Wales and could see the very real benefits of even closer collaborative working in future. The Chair also described the exciting project to develop a shared resource centre for the third sector in Pembrokeshire, which PAVS was leading with support from Pembrokeshire County Council.
Ian Hunter explained why he thought this was important: “Like all organisations in the third sector, PAVS needs strong leadership and good governance and as Chair I am committed to ensuring that the Board performs to the highest possible standards and commits to a process of continuous improvement. I am immensely grateful to all members of the Board for giving up their time and working hard for the benefit of the Association. The Chair also thanked Cllr Sian James for her valuable contribution as the adviser to the Board, nominated by Pembrokeshire County Council, and wished her well for the future following her recent announcement that she intended to step down from the Cabinet at the end of the year.
He went on to outline the work of the Voluntary Sector Liaison Group and the Wales Association of County Voluntary Councils, describing the meetings as useful and enjoyable. He spoke of the challenges that lay ahead in light of the proposed public sector expenditure cuts and described the steps that PAVS was taking to reduce overheads and increase earned income, potentially through the development of a social
In closing, the Chair expressed his gratitude to PAVS’ members and supporters: “My warmest thanks to you, our members and supporters from the voluntary sector and to our funders and partners, for your support and encouragement. We look forward to continuing working with you again in the New Year.”
Chief Officer, Sue Leonard, then presented a brief overview of the work that PAVS had carried out during the year and highlighted the fact that the Association performed extremely well when bench-marked against other CVCs across Wales. She said that PAVS “punched above its weight” and gave several examples of pieces of work that the Association had delivered which were now being taken forward nationally. The key theme of the year had been regional collaborative working, with PAVS being involved as a delivery partner in three regional Convergence projects:
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It was noted that PAVS was fortunate in having such a strong Representation and Joint Working team, which had been able to engage the wider sector in strategic and service planning partnerships. The Chief Officer explained that PAVS also employed two part-time Voluntary
Sector Brokers, who worked within the recently formed Complex Care Teams across the County to ensure that third sector services were “brokered” into care plans. She confirmed that the model had been successful and that presentations had been made at national conferences and to the Assembly as an example of best practice.
The Chair then formally presented the Annual Review 2009/10 to the members and it was unanimously agreed to accept the document. In presenting the annual accounts for the financial year ended 31st March 2010, TSR Finance, Bernie Scourfield, explained that PAVS received income from a wide range of funding sources and that the systems in place within the Finance team were robust and fit for purpose. He also presented information relating to the pension deficit and explained that this was an actuarial valuation only, which did not have any negative impact on the long-term financial position of the Association.
The year had also seen the usual mix of excellent training courses, workshops, conferences and events, with the Pembrokeshire Volunteer of the Year awards ceremony in June standing out once again as a key event in the PAVS’ annual calendar. The ceremony provided an opportunity to formally recognise and celebrate voluntary action across the county and the stories of the volunteers had been amazing – as they were every year.
Alun Evans, PAVS’ auditor, from Messrs Bevan & Buckland, confirmed that the finances of the Association were well-managed by professional and well-qualified members of staff within the Finance team, and recommended that the accounts for 2009/10 be received by the membership. This was agreed by all present.
In closing, Sue thanked the staff and Trustees for their hard work and continued support throughout the year, and finally expressed her gratitude to PAVS’ members and friends: “We have once again appreciated the support offered to us this year by our members and colleagues in the voluntary sector and by our partner organisations. PAVS faces challenges for the future – the same as everyone – but with the continued support of our staff and trustees and our partners, members and service users, we remain confident of success in the coming year. We look forward to continuing to work with you all in future for the benefit of the voluntary and community sector in Pembrokeshire.”
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The Chair thanked Mr Evans for his work in auditing the accounts. It was proposed and unanimously agreed that Messrs Bevan & Buckland be re-appointed as auditors for the financial year 20010/11. The final item of business was the election of Trustees to the Board. As had previously been confirmed, two Trustees had retired from the Board which had resulted in two positions becoming vacant. It was reported that no nominations for these vacancies had been
document. He further explained that, once the interim Business Plan was finalised, work would begin on developing a strategic plan and that this would include wide ranging consultation with all stakeholders – PAVS’ members being at the forefront.
received within the deadline for submission. It was also confirmed that the remaining elected Trustees had all confirmed that they were willing to continue to serve as Board members. The following Trustees were therefore unanimously elected to the Board by all present:
Martin Bell
Michael Odlin
The interim Business Plan was well received by those present and, in the short discussion that followed, members expressed broad support for the overall aims and objectives. Towards the end of the evening, there was some very positive feedback on the high quality of PAVS’ services from one member organisation, which was echoed by all present. The Chair thanked everyone for their very positive contributions throughout the evening and for making the effort to attend the AGM despite the inclement weather. The meeting closed at 9.00pm.
Dilys Fletcher
Simon Preddy
Immediately following the AGM, the Board met and confirmed the re-appointment of the three officers to the Board, namely Ian Hunter as Chair (right); John Gossage as Vice Chair (left) and Bernie Scourfield as TSR Finance (centre).
Beryl Thomas-Cleaver The business of the AGM was concluded at 8.00pm. In the second part of the evening, Vice Chair John Gossage, presented an overview of the work carried out by the Trustee Board to develop an interim Business Plan for PAVS. He described the process that had been followed and set out the values, mission, objectives and key actions that had been included in the 18
Funding News Specialist Funding Surgeries
The BBC Children in Need surgeries
The Comic Relief one-to-one funding surgeries held in November 2010 proved popular. A range of organisations booked 45 minute slots with Comic Relief South Wales Regional Advisor, Roy Norris. He helped participants tailor their Comic Relief funding applications to ensure maximum impact. Feedback indicated that the in-depth scrutiny of applications and resulting advice was very useful, ensuring applications were well crafted and met the funding criteria.
In early February 2011– with Wales funding officer, Andrea Powell - followed the same format. They attracted a wide variety of organisations – all planning projects which targeted disadvantaged children and young people under 18. Look out for news of future surgeries.
Roy followed up with a pro-forma expenses form which can be used to turn expenses into gift aid. Contact the Development Team for a copy.
Grants are made to not-for-profit organisations working to make a positive difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people.
More details about Comic Relief programmes and 2011 deadlines can be found on www.comicrelief.com
Future funding deadlines are 15 April, 15 July and 15 October 2011. Allow at least 6 weeks as the organisation will provide eligibility feedback on a draft application.
The Children in Need Small Grant programme awards grants of up to £10,000 and can be made for up to three years.
More details and examples of funded projects can be found on www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey
Collaborative Communities Session 1 – Thursday 24 February 9.15am – 1pm Session 2 – Thursday 10 March - 9.15am – 1pm
There are a few places remaining on the Collaborative Communities: Funding Strategy – Survival and Resilience Workshop - an interactive practical two-part workshop which will help your organisation work towards a sustainable funding strategy:
The sessions will take place at the PAVS’ office in Haverfordwest - booking essential. Call the Collaborative Communities team on 01437 769422 or 775537.
Discuss the pros and cons of funding sources Explore business tools for strategic development Consider the wider impact on your organisation Introduce the concept of a funding strategy Develop a bespoke action plan for your organisation to begin moving towards a more secure financial future
Collaborative Communities has been part funded by the EU’s Convergence European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government.
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Charity News Gift Aid Development and Reform
Royal Wedding and Big Give
The Government’s Gift Aid Forum is to close and will be replaced by a Charity Tax Forum which will look at wider issues, including VAT and payroll giving. While some may be disappointed that the Forum failed to gain unanimous consent to a single reform strategy for Gift Aid, it is clear that what works for many charities as a means of redistributing higher rate tax relief directly to the cause is seen by others as removing a huge incentive for substantial donors to give more. What is encouraging is that the Government has committed itself to looking at other ways to support the sector through the tax system. This includes the introduction of further promotions to encourage both donors and charities to adopt and use Gift Aid, and other tax reliefs, to their full potential. Amanda McLean, Chief Executive of the Institute of Fundraising, commented:
The Big Give has announced a commemorative Royal Wedding challenge fund to mark the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in April. Sponsors will join with major donors to double online donations. A Big Give spokesman said that Prince William has expressed his desire to create the ‘People’s Wedding’ and encouraging donations to those most in need would help to achieve this. The Big Wedding Give will draw on the support of highlevel donors, the Government and the giving public to raise money for hundreds of charities. The idea is that various philanthropic and corporate organisations agree to match donations made by the public to charities. For details view www.thebiggive.org.uk (source Philanthropy UK).
PAVS Outreach Week 11th - 15th April 2011
“It is a shame that the Gift Aid forum was unable to fulfil its original terms of reference in improving the use of Gift Aid and that the Forum was unable to gain unanimous consent to a single reform strategy for Gift Aid. It is also regrettable that the Government was unable to agree to any extension of Transitional Relief. However, the Institute welcomes the fact that the Government has committed itself to working with the sector to help those most in need and leave no stone unturned in looking at other ways to support the sector through the tax system. The Institute looks forward to working with Government to extend the support of its taxeffective giving initiative to donors as well as voluntary organisations in the future.”
PAVS Development team is giving an early warning to voluntary groups about the annual ‘Outreach Surgeries’ which will be taking place during the week beginning 11th April 2011. Development officers will be available to meet with groups for oneto-one surgeries at a range of venues throughout the county. The exact dates for each venue have yet to be confirmed but details will be available on PAVS’ website. For further information call the Development Team on 01437 769422.
(source Institute of Fundraising – www.fundraising.co.uk).
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Charity News UK Government green Paper on Giving The Government’s Giving Green Paper has kickstarted the debate around how to catalyse a culture shift that makes social action a norm, wrapping five key tenets it believes could bring this about in the acronym ‘GIVES’.The paper highlights greater opportunities for people to give ‘with the grain’ of their lives, better information about giving, making giving more visible, recognising the exchange and reciprocity giving, and supporting organisations in taking a role in Big Society. Greater opportunities include harnessing new technology, better asking and identifying more opportunities to volunteer. The
paper offers many examples where this is already being achieved as well as suggesting new ways such as giving via cashpoints.The paper also recognises the obstacles that prevent existing philanthropists from giving more money. It says there is a gap in the market for professional advice for philanthropists – currently, only 1% of the wealthiest individuals use philanthropic advisors to help them determine where to invest. View the green paper at: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/
Mapping Voluntary Sector Cuts A new website will help to build a nationwide picture of how government spending cuts are taking a toll on the voluntary and community sector. The site, www.voluntarysectorcuts.org.uk, gives voluntary and community organisations the opportunity to share their concerns about funding cuts and how they will impact on their ability to deliver vital services. It is a joint project bringing together the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) with the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO), Volunteering England, the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA), the National Council of Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS), Compact Voice and the nine Regional Voluntary Networks from across the country (Regional Voices). All of the data captured will be public, so that groups can use the information in their campaigning and policy work, and citizens can see the real impact on voluntary organisations in their area. To share your story, or find out more about this collaborative project, please visit www.voluntarysectorcuts.org.uk
Convergence Funding The Eligible Staffing and Participants Costs
Issued by Pembrokeshire SET, part of the European Unit, Economic Development Division, Pembrokeshire County Council Contact: 01437 776175.
guidance for the 2007-2013 Structural Funds Programmes has been revised. It is available on the WEFO website at the following link: wefo.wales.gov.uk/developing/ guidance/eligiblestaffingcosts/?lang=en WEFO guidance notes are in the process of being updated to reflect changes. Project sponsors are advised to regularly check the website for updates.
The Pembrokeshire Specialist European Team is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and Pembrokeshire County Council.
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Awards and Competitions The Big Society Award
National Lottery Awards - 2011 Round Open to Entries
The Big Society award has been created to recognise individuals, groups or organisations throughout the UK that are demonstrating the Big Society in their work or activities.
The National Lottery Awards are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects. The awards recognise the difference these projects have made to people, places and communities across the UK and celebrate the talent, hard work and dedication of those involved in their running.
The Big Society is about moving power away from central government and giving it to local communities and individuals. It has three main aims: • Empowering communities – helping and enabling local people to have more of a say in how decisions are made in their area and about the services they receive. • Changing and opening up public services – encouraging public sector organisations and individuals to demonstrate new and innovative ways of delivering public services and enabling charities, social enterprises, private companies to deliver public services. • Promoting social action – encouraging people to be more involved in their communities and to volunteer and give money.
Reflecting the different types of projects that benefit from Lottery funding, awards are made under the following categories: * Best Arts Project. * Best Education Project. * Best Environment Project. * Best Health Project. * Best Heritage Project. * Best Sport Project. * Best Voluntary/Charity Project. Winners will receive £2,000, determined by a public vote featured in a BBC1 television show in the autumn. The awards are open to anyone, individually or as part of a group, who has successfully been awarded and used Lottery funding for any type and size of project, which has benefited UK residents.
Anyone can make a nomination, including people who benefit from the group, organisation or individuals activities. There is no deadline for nominations, they can be sent at any time. For details e-mail: BigSocietyAward@ cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk, and please type “Big Society award” in the subject area. People can nominate winners at www.number10.gov.uk/ bigsocietyawards (source Philanthropy UK).
The deadline for receipt of entries is 5pm on 18 February 2011.
Leading Wales Awards - 2011 round open to nominations The Leading Wales Awards recognise and celebrate personal achievement in outstanding leadership and management, which helps to drive the growth of the Welsh economy. The programme rewards individuals at all levels whose efforts have resulted in positive outcomes for their project, business or community. Entrants from companies of all sizes, voluntary and not-for-profit groups, public sector organisations, partnerships, team leaders and young leaders aged 16-25 are welcome. The focus for the 2011 Leading Wales Awards is:”Leaders making a real difference in Wales”. See details on www.leadingwalesawards.com/ The deadline for nominations for the 2011 awards is 4 March 2011 22
Awards and Competitions BT’s Big Voice Competition Big Voice is a national competition for students, sponsored by BT as part of the education programme supporting the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is open to young people 11 – 19 years old, working in teams of between 5 and 8 members under the supervision of a responsible adult. Phase 1: BT Big Voice film treatment competition: Deadline May 27 2011 Young people work in teams to accomplish four tasks: (a) identify a problem in their local community which they believe needs to be addressed
(b) develop a practical solution to the problem (c) think about how their ideas could be turned into an influential short film, using a drama or documentary approach (d) submit a written treatment for their film to win a major prize. This is supported by a speciallymade video resource. Phase 2: BT Big Voice film festival, regional and national finals in May/June 2012 Completed films be shown on city centre video screens during the run up to the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games. There will be ‘Oscars’ for regional and national winners
Pembrokeshire Impact Fund – Latest News The scheme has distributed £245,847.82 in funding to 130 groups in Pembrokeshire since its launch in May 2008. The current grant scheme supports voluntary and community groups applying for up to £3,000 towards capital costs for a project. The scheme cannot fund the running costs of an organisation such as general office equipment. Projects need to show how they address the key themes of community involvement, sustainability and equal opportunities. Examples of projects funded in the recent round include:· • Equipment for community halls • Refurbishment of community facilities • Play area equipment Application packs and further information are available from Lindsay Morgan – development@pavs.org.uk or call (01437) 769 422. The final deadline for this financial year is 11 February and the panel meeting will be take place on 1 March 2011. As far as the next financial year is concerned - we still do not have precise details of the next round of Welsh Assembly Government funding to support the Pembrokeshire Impact Fund small grant scheme. The good news is that we have just received an invitation to bid for further funding but it is likely to be about half the amount of previous years. This will inevitably mean some changes to the grants programme, perhaps a lower maximum amount of grant or fewer application rounds each year. Once details are confirmed, they will be published on PAVS’ website. 23
Charitable Trusts This first section relates to national companies that have a local presence:
Asda Foundation
cause such as trips, activities and equipment. However, a full list of those causes that cannot be supported can be found by following the website link to excluded items.
The Asda Foundation was set up in 1988 to support local good causes chosen by their staff, and is funded by profits from the mid– week national lottery. There are no specific priorities and each application is considered on its own merits. For details please visit: www.your.asda.com/asda-foundation
The committees can also provide freshly produced Greggs products for community events and activities. For details please check the Greggs website – www.greggsfoundation.org.uk
B&Q One Planet Living Grant
Lloyds TSB Foundations
The B&Q One Planet Living (OPL) Grant offers between £50 and £250 of B&Q materials to schools, community groups and charitable organisations for long-term sustainable projects. Themes include saving energy, conserving nature, grow your own or local culture and heritage. Projects must be within a 20 mile radius of a B&Q store so this would only be interesting to communities on the eastern edge of Pembrokeshire. Announcement on new deadlines in February 2011. For details please visit: www.diy.com
The Lloyds TSB Foundation funds local, regional and national charities working to tackle disadvantage across England and Wales. The focus is on supporting small and medium underfunded charities that can make a significant difference to the lives of disadvantaged people by helping them to play a fuller role in the community. For details please visit: www. lloydstsbfoundations.org.uk
The Santander Foundation
The Santander Foundation supports local communities and disadvantaged people, particularly in areas where the firm has a significant presence – there are several branches in Pembrokeshire. Priorities include education and training. The Foundation funds tangible items like equipment and training materials £500 to £4,000. For details please visit: www. aboutsantander.co.uk
The Co-operative Community Fund The Co-operative Community Fund awards grants of between £100 and £2,000 to community, voluntary, or self-help groups to run projects that carry out positive work in the community. For details please visit www.co-operative.coop
Greggs Foundation Regional Grants
Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards
The Greggs Foundation operates a regional grants programme to support charitable organisations through the provision of small grants of up to £2,000. The regional grants programme is administered by committees of volunteers from Greggs shops, bakeries and offices. There is a Greggs bakery in Haverfordwest and also Tenby.
The Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards Scheme provides one-off donations of between £500 and £4,000 to local projects that support children and their education and welfare, elderly people and adults and children with disabilities. Larger Grant Applications range between £4,000 and £25,000 and are to support local, national or international projects in areas where they operate. For details visit: www.tescoplc.com
Committees use their knowledge of the local area to make small grants to local organisations. Most of the grants are to support an identifiable 24
Energy and Environment New funding from Western Power Distribution
E.ON Sustainable Energy Fund
A new environmental initiative is offering community groups an opportunity to share in a £50,000 grants fund. The Community Chest grant scheme has been launched by electricity company Western Power Distribution (WPD) in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) which will administer the initiative and provide expert advice and support. Community groups within WPD’s distribution area which covers south and west Wales and the south west of England, can apply for cash help to take simple but effective energy efficiency measures to not only reduce their energy costs but also reduce the carbon emissions of the buildings used for their activities. It will enable community groups to insulate loft spaces, install energy monitors, insulate windows and doors, fit effective heating controls and install low energy lighting. The maximum award for each successful group will be £1,000. CSE have put together an application process along with some energy survey guidance notes for interested groups. Visit the CSE website www. cse.org.uk/wpdcc for further information and click on the WPD Community Chest link to download an application form and energy survey audit form.
The E.ON Sustainable Energy Fund offers grants of up to £20,000 to community groups and not for profit organisations who wish to implement sustainable energy projects in. Awaiting 2011 deadlines announcement. For further details please visit: www.eon.com
New energy website A new website - Community Energy Online www.decc.gov.uk has been launched – it provides support to local authorities and community groups to develop local low carbon and renewable energy projects. The website has been developed with community networks, the Local Government Group and industry bodies like the CHPA (Combined Heat and Power Association). It is designed to give communities access to information from different independent sources on generating low carbon heat and power. It has also been announced that the Department of Energy and Climate Change will shortly be consulting on its Microgeneration strategy and publishing further details on the Renewable Heat Incentive.
Naturesave Trust The Naturesave Trust has announced that it will now provide start up ‘seed corn’ grants for community renewable energy projects. The Trust is keen to help communities, in particular, that do not have the initial start-up capital to undertake all the preliminary work to get to the planning stage, and most importantly, for the community to retain as much control as possible over the operating income once the project has been successful. Grants are available whatever type of renewable power generation the community is considering. Applications can be made at any time. www.natursavetrust.co.uk (Source WCVA e-briefing)
General Funding The Garfield Weston Foundation
including arts, community, education, welfare, medical, social, religion, youth and environment. For details go to: www.garfieldweston.org/
The Garfield Weston Foundation supports community projects under a range of themes 25
General Funding Hilton in the Community Foundation
People’s Postcode Trust
Hilton in the Community (HCF) is offering the opportunity to apply for its central grants programme in 2011. Themes selected for consideration: disabled children; children in hospital; homelessness and life-limited children. The Foundation considers grant applications of up to £5,000 and some favoured projects receive up to £10,000.
The Trust provides funding opportunities to small organisations, community groups and charities. NEW: Now accepting applications from Wales for projects under £5,000 only A project must have a clear charitable purpose and show visible results within 6 months. Further information on www.postcodetrust.org.uk
Find details at www.hilton-foundation.co.uk.
Swimathon
Next deadline is 15 February 2011.
The Links Foundation
The Swimathon Foundation is offering grants of between £300 and £2,500 to swimming pools, community organisations and charities who can demonstrate how funding will allow them to help more people participate in and enjoy swimming and to make swimming more accessible.
The Links Foundation funds a diverse range of community groups to help provide facilities and services to improve the conditions of life. Look out for new 2011 criteria and deadlines – www.linksfoundation.org
For more information visit the website: www.swimathon.org/foundation. The first round of applications closes on 21 March 2011
Marsh Christian Trust The trust aims to support general charitable institutions. The causes usually supported by the trust fall broadly with the following categories: • • • • • • • •
Trusthouse Charitable Foundation
social welfare; literature, arts and heritage; environmental causes; conservation and animal welfare; healthcare and medical research; education and training; miscellaneous; overseas appeals.
A medium-sized grant maker, awarding around 300 grants totalling about £2 million each year. Formed in 1997 out of a trust operated by the Council of Forte plc which inherited investments in the Granada Group. Trusthouse is administered by The Henry Smith Charity, but the two charities are entirely separate, and you can apply to both foundations at the same time.
Grants are only made to registered charities that are experienced in their chosen field of work with particular consideration given towards charities displaying a Christian emphasis. Further details are available from www.marshchristiantrust.org (Source: Charity Funding Report)
The grants programme supports projects in the UK which address issues in rural communities and/or areas of urban deprivation. Within these two main headings, focus is on established projects which work in the fields of community support; arts, education and heritage; disability and health care. For details view: www.trusthousehcharitablefoundation.org.uk 26
General Funding Wales & West Utilities – via the Community Foundation in Wales
The William and Jane Morris Fund
The Wales & West Utilities Small Grant Scheme has been set up to support projects and initiatives that address issues affecting children and young people in Wales. Projects considered include those that: address poverty and social exclusion; build confidence and self-esteem; motivate and inspire individuals to fulfill their potential; provide diversionary activities which reduce anti-social behaviour; improve health and wellbeing; develop skills as a spring-board for employment; inform and educate on issues relevant to children and young people; engage children and young people with the broader community.
The Society of Antiquities in London administers the William & Jane Morris Fund, which provides grants for the protection and repair of ancient churches, buildings or monuments. Churches, Chapels and other places of worship built before 1896 are able to apply for grants of up to £1,000 towards the conservation of internal decorative features, such as stained glass windows, sculpture, furniture, internal monuments and tombs, and wall paintings. Repairs to bells, organs, and alteration of decoration, installation of heating, and rewiring are excluded. Grants towards major structural repairs and fabric maintenance may be considered under exceptional circumstances. Applications are considered twice a year, and the deadlines are 31 March and 31 August each year.
The company is working in partnership with the Community Foundation in Wales which is running the grant scheme. Local community organisations, voluntary groups and charities that work with people under the age of 25 are eligible for this grant.
For details visit : www.sal.org.uk/grants/williamandjanemorr (Credit AVOW newsletter)
For details, view www.cfiw.org.uk
Lottery Funding Big Innovation
People and Places
BIG Innovation is specifically about supporting new projects that test new ways of tackling emerging and existing social problems.
The National Lottery has extended the People and Places programme and it will remain open for applications until mid-2011. The current programme will be reviewed and will be followed by a new People and Places programme.
Create new kinds of activity to tackle new or emerging social needs • Create new way of addressing a current social problem •
The successor programme will build on the success of the existing People and Places and as a result is likely to have many similarities.
The programme will award grants of between £20,000 and £1 million for projects running up to five years.
It will fund capital and revenue projects that encourage co-ordinated action by people who want to make their communities better places to live. It will support local and regional projects throughout Wales that focus on: • revitalising communities • improving community relationships, or
Round 1 stage 1 application deadline: 21 February 2011 Round 1 stage 2 application deadline: end August 2011 For details call 029 2067 8200 or e-mail biginnovation@biglotteryfund.org.uk 27
Lottery Funding • enhancing local environments, community services and buildings
There are three aims which relate to learning, conservation and participation. To receive a grant your project must:
The main aim is to bring people together to create real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need. The project should be community led – so helping people to develop the skills and confidence to become more involved in their community is an integral aspect to this programme.
help
people to learn about their own and other people’s heritage.
The project must also do either or both of the following: conserve
the UK’s diverse heritage for present and future generations to experience and enjoy. help more people, and a wider range of people, to take an active part in and make decisions about heritage.
Projects must mainly benefit people in Wales. Find details on www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Your Heritage
Your Heritage is a rolling programme and there are no deadlines for applications. You will receive a decision on your application within 10 weeks from receipt of the fully commpleted application. For details view www.hlf.org.uk
The Your Heritage programme offers grants between £3000 and £50,000 inclusive for projects that relate to the local, regional or national heritage of the UK . Applications should help people learn about, look after and celebrate heritage in a fun and enjoyable way.
National Funding Rural Retail Grants
Lets Walk Cymru
The Rural Retail Programme is designed to offer support to rural communities to those businesses or community groups where other sources of funding are not available. Rural Retail is currently available for businesses, individuals, social enterprises and community groups in villages and settlements within rural areas of the following counties: Anglesey, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Monmouthshire, Powys, Pembrokeshire, Vale of Glamorgan & Wrexham. Applicants must also be: the sole village store within a two mile radius, able to demonstrate that the business is a vital rural retailer, within a rural electoral ward within the counties listed above. Support is available in the form of initial advice and then if deemed eligible, grants of up to £5,000 for measures to make a business more sustainable and up to £10,000 towards the costs of re-introducing rural services. For details please visit: http://digbig.com/5bcgsc
‘Let’s Walk Cymru’ is a new Wales-wide initiative developed in partnership with the Sports Council for Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government and Countryside Council for Wales - tasked with increasing the number of people participating in walking as a regular activity. ‘Let’s Walk Cymru’ is providing grants to organisations and groups across Wales. The programme seeks to explore innovative ways of promoting walking to improve health and wellbeing. There are three levels of grants available (ranging from £1K - £15K) and awarded reflecting the size & content of the project. For further details please visit: www.lets-walk-cymru.org.uk/information
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Funding Splash – the Water Recreation Challenge Fund for Wales The Welsh Assembly Government is offering up to 100% grants to projects (large and small) which help people to enjoy the waters of Wales. Minimum grant is £5,000. The emphasis will be on supporting new capital and other works improving bank-side facilities, signage, off road parking, etc. This can also include facilities designed to meet the needs of disabled people. Projects should help promote sustainable and responsible access. For details visit: www.environmentagency.gov.uk
Training Training Courses for Spring 2011 Marketing your volunteering opportunities 2 March 10.00am-1.00pm Tutor: Caroline Graham By the end of this session, participants will: • understand the importance of the role description in marketing the opportunity • pick up useful hints and tips to market opportunities • be familiar with a range of methods to attract a diversity of volunteers This session will be useful for: those who find it difficult to fill volunteer vacancies, and would like some ideas. Course Code: 4h Cost for Full PAVS’ members - £9 Roles and responsibilities of trustees and management committee members 16 March 6.00pm-9.00pm Tutor: Vanessa John By the end of this session, participants will: • have an understanding of trustee roles and responsibilities • be clear on how aims or legal objects should reflect the organisation’s values and mission • identify potential liabilities and how to guard against them
This session will be useful for: new trustees and more experienced trustees who would like to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. Course Code: 5c Cost for Full PAVS’ members - £9 Skills for negotiation and influencing others 30 March 10.00am-4.00pm Tutor: Louise Wilkinson By the end of this session, participants will: • distinguish issues that are ‘common ground’ from those that are being disputed • have developed skills for presenting arguments factually and rationally, whilst acknowledging that the parties involved may have strong feelings about the situation • understand the importance of moving from competitive win/lose outcomes to co-operative solutions This session will be useful for: those who would like an introduction to the skills needed for negotiation, particularly in meetings or with partners. Please note this session is not about contract negotiations. Course Code: 3d Cost for Full PAVS’ members - £18 All courses are currently delivered at PAVS’ offices, however if you have 6 or more people interested in a course we can run the course at a time and venue to suit you. To book your place or find out more contact Louise Wilkinson at PAVS’ or email training@pavs.org.uk
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Training Adult Learners’ Week 2011 Adult Learners’ Week is the UK’s largest festival and celebration of adult learning, co-ordinated by NIACE Dysgu Cymru. Adult Learners’ Week is a campaign which combines national promotion with local action. The campaign offers adults the chance to have a go at learning something new by trying out one of the hundreds of free taster sessions that happen across Wales during the week, and an opportunity for learning providers to showcase their provision.
of visitors who were interested in learning something new. Voluntary sector exhibitors who benefited from having a free* stall at the market, alongside PAVS, included Pembrokeshire Spinners Weavers and Dyers, Pembrokeshire Federation of Women’s Institute, Pembrokeshire U3A and Narberth Scrapyard. If you are interested in having a stall at the market, or would like to put on some taster sessions during the week please contact Louise Wilkinson at PAVS, there may be some funding available to pay for tutors/ venue / materials etc. for taster sessions.
If your organisation provides any kind of learning opportunities to adults in Pembrokeshire and you would like to publicise what you do you might like to be involved with Adult Learners’ Week 2011. The Pembrokeshire Learning Festival planning group is co-ordinating and helping with a number of events throughout the week (14-21 May). The week starts with the usual Learning Market at the Riverside in Haverfordwest, on Saturday 14th May, where local providers and support agencies can have a stall at the market to promote their services and even have demonstrations and activities. In 2010 the market attracted a number
Please note: if you wish to be involved in the market, or receive funding for taster events, certain conditions apply please contact Louise Wilkinson at PAVS for more details. * Thanks to funding received by the Welsh Assembly Government, and the European Social Fund
Cllr Huw George opens the 2010 Adult Learners’ Market 30
Training & Volunteering Regional Learning Partnership South West Wales Working across the Education and Regeneration agendas since Autumn 2007, the Regional Learning Partnership for South West Wales (RLPSWW), includes representatives from over fifty organisations, and partners come from several sectors.
of access to data, information and intelligence about skills and learning in South West Wales. It provides access to labour market information (LMI) at a local level and facilitates research in order to inform planning and strategy. Some of the data included in the observatory could be of use if you are looking for figures to support research, or funding bids.
They currently comprise Local Authorities, Higher Education, Further Education, the Third Sector, Work Based Learning, the Private Sector, and key stakeholders such as Careers Wales West and JobCentre Plus. All are committed to furthering collaboration within the region around the transformation of both skills and learning.
The Observatory includes: Publications - Latest reports and publications concerning skills, learning and labour markets. Data Maps, Tables and Reports - Find data using interactive maps, tables or data reports.
The RLPSWW has created a The Learning & Skills Observatory for South West Wales – which is a website dedicated to providing a single point
To visit the Observatory go to http://rlp.infobasecymru.net/user/home
Latest Volunteering Vacancies
Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards - 2011 Round Launched
SPAN ARTS LTD Poster Person / Driver Office Volunteer, Door Security, Event Volunteer Love the Office Volunteer MENCAP Street Collector Collection Tin Volunteer TEACHER SUPPORT CYMRU Volunteer 1ST HAVERFORDWEST SCOUT GROUP Assistant Beaver Scout Leader RSVP Knitting, Stitching & Craft Needlework KEEP WALES TIDY CAMPAIGN Litter Champion CRUSE PEMBROKESHIRE Treasurer HYWEL DDA HEALTH BOARD VOLUNTEERING FOR HEALTH Buddy / Department Support Volunteer WOODLAND TRUST Local Media Volunteer PRINCES TRUST (SOUTH WALES) Volunteer Coordinator CHILDRENS COMMISSIONER FOR WALES Community Volunteer
Nominations are being invited for the 2011 Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards, which have recently been launched. The awards celebrate the achievements of Welsh volunteers and voluntary and community groups that have made an outstanding contribution to their community. Nominations can be made under the following five categories:
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Young people (aged 25 years and under). Adults (over 25 years). Groups (two or more individuals, whether as an informal group or a formally constituted group). ‘Green’ volunteers.
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Trustees.
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Up to three winners will be selected in each category and invited to attend an awards ceremony to be held this summer. In addition, highly commended nominees will each receive a certificate. The closing date for receipt of completed nomination forms is 15 April 2011. For further information, please contact the WCVA Helpdesk on 0800 2888 329 help@wcva.org.uk 31
Volunteering Engagement Gateway Update 2011 You may not be aware but PAVS can support your organisation throughout the whole process of tendering for Engagement Gateway contracts, and continue that support once you have won a contract.
achievable and attainable? Are you attempting too much? Realistic – Can you realistically achieve the objectives with the resources you have? Do you have the resources to make the objective happen? Time-Bound – State when you will achieve the objective.
PAVS can offer… • One-to-one support / surgeries to look at your tender document • Training on a number of topics, such as monitoring, evaluation, record keeping, and publicity • Support in putting together good practice guidelines and developing a volunteer initiative • Toolkits, such as Measuring Outcomes from Informal Learning • Events and seminars to network with other organisations involved in the Gateway and learn something new
Don’t forget… …there will be other opportunities to tender, so if you are not quite ready with your project idea at the moment you will get another chance. However your project should be finished, and the money spent, by summer 2012 so don’t leave it too late! There are currently 6 projects running in Pembrokeshire offering activities and support for those who are economically inactive, or unemployed, across Pembrokeshire. If you work with any clients who could benefit from some extra support to move towards getting a job contact PAVS and we can help find the right project for your clients.
Some common mistakes you might like to avoid… • Don’t leave writing your tender to the last minute, it might take longer than you think, and if you would like support it is better to contact PAVS as soon as possible. • Please label the envelope correctly as stated in the guidelines, a number of submissions were ineligible due to mistakes on the envelopes. • Make sure the contract is in the value range for the Level you are applying for (for example Level 2 is £25,000-£75,000) • You need to have a clear idea of your project in order to meet the specifications of the tender – don’t forget your SMART objectives!
If you have any queries about the Gateway please contact Louise Wilkinson on 01437 769422 or email louise.wilkinson@pavs.org.uk
Specific – Objectives should specify what they want to achieve. Be precise about what you are going to achieve. Measurable – You should be able to measure whether you are meeting the objectives or not. Quantify your objectives. Achievable - Are the objectives you set,
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