THRIVE November/December

Page 1

Welcome

Supporting Voluntary & Community Action

!

November & December 2008

Inside Voscur’s Magazine Bristol’s e-procurement system explained Create your own domain name E-Learning and Moodles Forthcoming Funders’ Fair Funding Voscurs – winners announced Image: Knowle West Media Centre

Tackling Hate Crime Equalities Network Conservative view on community empowerment


Shape a life. Be a foster carer TACT is a well respected fostering and adoption agency. TACT will offer you excellent training with 24 hour support and respite care when you need it. TACT pay between £322 & £574 per week per child as well as additional allowances for birthdays, festivals and holidays. Although fostering can be challenging, it can also be very rewarding. If you believe you have the capacity and commitment to support, vulnerable children and young people between 10 -16 years old, then we’d love to hear from you.

To make a difference call: 0117 927 7725. Email: e.graham@tactcare.org.uk www.tactcare.org.uk

Charity Number: 1018963


Welcome

Contents 4

Editorial

20-21

Hate Crime

5

Voscur News

Tackling Hate Crime

Neighbourhood Learning Shadowing Scheme

23

How To - ICT

Refreshed Voscur Board

Create your own domain name

Voscur staff ‘skilling up’

24-25

How To - Funding & Finance

6-7

The Voscur Awards

Bristol e-Procurement System (BePS)

Awards to celebrate the work done by the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector in Bristol

Pre – Tender Questionnaire online toolkit

Funding Fair

News from Quartet Community Foundation

8

What’s Happening in the Sector

26-27

How To - Good Practice

Community Development support

Supporting you to support yourself

Equalities Network

9-14

Have Your Say

28-29

How To - Green Pages

Neighbourhood Partnership Seminar

Green Christmas

Neighbourhood Partnership Residents’ Forum

30-32

Children & Young People

Action Research Project

New Bristol Partnership unveiled

Voscur Reps

Vox Pops – Impact of the credit crunch on charitable giving

An effective voice for Disabled people

Voscur Training & Learning e-Learning – Moodles

The Conservative view on community empowerment

34-35

Virtual Learning Environments

Bristol LINk

36

Diary

17

Volunteering Bristol

18-19

Equalities

Equalities and Human Rights Commission funded research

Why not advertise?

Thrive! is available on disc. Please contact

Special discounts for Voscur members!

the office if you would like to

Deadlines for January 2009 Thrive!: 2 December 2008 for ads, 16 December 2008 for flyers

receive your Thrive! this way. The

Details of prices at www.voscur.org/magazine

newsletter is also available online as a pdf

or phone Polly Stewart on 0117 909 9949

at www.voscur.org/magazine

Disclaimer: some of the views expressed in this publication are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily represent those of Voscur. Publications, events and services mentioned in Thrive! are not necessarily endorsed by Voscur.

www.voscur.org

3


Editorial

Getting it Right Wendy Stephenson reports on Voscur’s Annual Conference and discusses representation at the Local Strategic Partnership partnership working. The Media

commissioning framework for

Trust talked about marketing of the

the Partnership. The Partnership

sector.

is responsible for delivering the Local Area Agreement target

The Chief Executive of Bristol City

Environment for a Thriving Third

Council, Jan Ormondroyd, told us

Sector. Voluntary and community

about the difficult job of changing

sector organisations must be

the culture of a large organisation

in a position to influence and

so that it was more responsive and

deliver services. It’s important,

flexible.

therefore, that Voscur members are represented at all levels within

Wendy Stephenson - Chief Executive

The highlight of the day was the

the Partnership.

Voscur awards which celebrated “Professional, but warm and

the excellent work of the sector in

We don’t want to get caught up in

friendly” was one of the many

Bristol and also recognised public

processes, but getting the process

compliments that we received

sector support.

and structure right will make a difference to the outcome. We

about our Annual General Meeting and Conference held at the

The formal business of the Annual

want to contribute to practical

beginning of October. Thanks very

General Meeting saw four new

partnership activities that make a

much to all of you who came and

members elected onto Voscur’s

difference to people in Bristol.

made it such a successful event.

board, so that we now have a full complement of elected board

Our first speaker, Councillor Helen

members – an indicator of a

Holland used the inclusion of the

healthy organisation.

key to symbols

Environment for a Thriving Third sector target in the Local Area

It is usual Voscur practice to

Agreement as an example of the

announce our representatives to

Council’s commitment to the

the Bristol Partnership at our AGM.

sector. Discussing commissioning,

We were not able to this year as

Councillor Holland talked about

the Partnership was restructured

grants existing in the future but

during the summer. We have now

‘not in the same way’, signalling

seen the proposed new structure

change on the horizon.

and will be working to make sure

Equalities Article

?

Training

Resources

that the sector is fully involved as a Workshops run by NAVCA,

partner.

Bassac, and ProHelp helped us

4

look to the future in terms of

Jan Ormondroyd has told us that

the commissioning agenda and

she wants to see a transparent

www.voscur.org

Event


Voscur

Voscur News A Day in the Life of… Do you want to get a better understanding of what a Councillor does? Do you want to understand how the council works and how you can influence it? If so, why not take part in a Neighbourhood Learning Shadowing Scheme? Following the successful Councillor shadowing programme that Voscur ran early in 2008, Voscur is running a new shadowing programme from January to March 2009. We are expanding it this year to include Councillors and senior managers.

New Voscur Board members Joanna Holmes and Red Cottam

Refreshed Voscur Board Voscur is pleased to welcome Max Beseke, Red Cottam, David Elson and Joanna Holmes to our board, all bringing different skills and experiences to the mix. We are particularly pleased to have different neighbourhood perspectives (Red and Joanna), alongside a tenants’ (David) view, and the experience that Max brings from the advice sector. We are sorry to lose Ian Steele, who is stepping down as chair and board member. He has been a great chair, bringing humour and direction to the role. Thanks also to James Carpenter who has also stepped down this year. For details of Voscur’s Board of Directors visit:

Why should you take part? This

www.voscur.org/about/who

will give you the chance to manager for a day, and is a great

Skilling Up

opportunity for you to gain a

Sophie Bayley, Hannah Parker, Ruth Pitter and Wendy Stephenson have

greater understanding of how

all completed the first year of the Diploma in Teaching in the Life Long

the Council works and the role of

Learning Sector at City of Bristol College.

shadow a Councillor or senior

local councillors. You will also be able to share your ideas about the needs of your neighbourhood or community of interest.

“It was great to be able to work as a team outside of the work environment and improve and develop our skills together. The learning has been really useful and will bring benefits to our members in that our training

For more information

and learning events will be even better” explained Hannah Parker,

please contact Hannah

Neighbourhood Learning Co-ordinator.

Parker on 0117 909 949 or e-mail: hannah@voscur.org

?

For further information on Voscur’s Training and Learning opportunities visit: www.voscur.org/training

www.voscur.org

5


The Voscur Awards

and the winner is... The winners of the first Voscur awards celebrating the fantastic and innovative work done by the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector in Bristol were announced at the Voscur Annual Event on Thursday 2 October 2008. The awards were presented by Bristol City Council Leader, Helen Holland and Chief Executive, Jan Ormondroyd. To see details of all the nominations for the 2008 Voscur awards visit www.voscur.org/voscurnominations

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www.voscur.org


The Voscur Awards

Community Venue of the Year Winner Wellspring Healthy Living Centre, www.wellspringhlc.org

Runners up Pickle Factory, www.snipurl.com/picklefactory The Vassall Centre, www.vassallcentre.org The Withywood Centre, www.withywoodcentre.com

Most Innovative or Engaging Project Winner BCFM Community Radio, BCFM Community Radio

Runners up Clover House, www.cloverhouse.org PIPA, www.hartwood.org.uk/pipanew Refugee Awareness Project, www.refugee-action.org.uk

Most Active Community Activist Winner Ricardo Sharry

Runners up Faaduma Mohammed, Kai Paulden, Marryanne Kempf, Paulette North

The ‘I Will Survive’ Award Winner BREAD Youth Project, www.breadyouthproject.org.uk

Runners up Werburgh’s Community Centre, www.stwerburghs.org.uk St Pauls Afrikan Caribbean Carnival, www.stpaulscarnival.co.uk Trinity Community Arts, www.3ca.org.uk

Thanks for Supporting the Sector Winner John Bos (BCC Community Buildings Officer)

Runners up Sally Oldfield (BCC Local Nature Reserves Officer) Claire Teasdale (BCC Arts & Festivals Officer) BEST (Bristol East Side Traders), www.bristoleastsidetraders.co.uk

www.voscur.org

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What’s Happening in the Sector

Who is Watering the Roots? What community development support is available to Bristol’s community groups? In changing times when the talk is of commissioning and social enterprise, regionalisation and

Human Rights on the Agenda

modernisation, I am reminded of my colleague at the Black Development Agency, Ayannah Griffith’s question, ‘Who is watering the roots?’. Promoting Voscur’s Neighbourhood Learning programme this year, we have missed the support of Neighbourhood Facilitators (part of the Neighbourhood Renewal programme). Bristol City Council Development workers, previously supporting groups at a grass roots level, are now part of the Community Engagement or Community Cohesion teams, which have a different focus. Through Bristol City Council investment and the

Qaiser Razzak will be at the next Equalities Network meeting

Capacitybuilders funded ‘Sustaining the Sector’ programme, Voscur and Black Development Agency are able to provide some one to one support to

Equalities Network 25 November, 10am – 12.30pm

smaller groups and Voscur’s Neighbourhood Learning Programme will reach out to neighbourhood groups.

The next Equalities Network meeting will include

As part of the programme we are running the course,

a presentation by Qaiser Razzak, manager of the

‘Ideas into Action’ for those who have an idea or want

Equalities and Human Rights Commission, English

to change something and want to know how to set up

regions, South West office.

a group. The event will be held in the Terrace Room, the We want to know: If you are a small group looking for

Lighthouse Building, Barton Hill Settlement, Ducie

support; If you know of a group of people coming

Road, Bristol BS5 9JH.

together to try and achieve something locally; Are there local issues not being addressed

A hot lunch will be provided so booking is essential.

Let us know and we will see what we can do. Email: info@voscur.org with the subject ‘Needs’

?

‘Turning Ideas into Action!’ 4 and 11 November, Beacon Centre, Russell Town

Email: emma@voscur.org

Avenue, Bristol BS5 9JH, 6 – 9.00pm. Cost:

Tel: 0117 909 9949

Free. Rebekah Hacker on 0117 909 9949

Book online at www.voscur.org

or go to www.voscur.org/training

8

www.voscur.org


Have your say

New Bristol Partnership Unveiled At the end of September, the cabinet members of Bristol City Council approved the accountability and governance framework for the relaunched Bristol Partnership (Bristol’s Local Strategic Partnership) The revised structure will see a

Learning City (Children and

Voscur has always held elections for

smaller Executive Board (for full

Young People’s Partnership

members to decide representation

proposals see www.voscur.org/

Board)

to Bristol Partnership and the new

bp). The council has identified

Safe and Healthy city (Safer

proposals would change this. As

that ‘it is expected’ that either

Bristol Partnership Board / Health

Thrive! goes to press, a meeting

the Chief Executive or Chairs from

and Wellbeing Partnership

has been arranged for the Voscur

Voscur and the Black Development

Board)

board and existing Voscur reps to

Agency would be Voluntary

City of Thriving Neighbourhoods

discuss VCS representation on the

and Community Sector (VCS)

(Neighbourhood Partnerships

revised new Bristol Partnership.

representatives on the Executive

Board)

Board’.

Look out for the insert with Voscur raised concerns at the

details on the Voscur reps

Sub-boards that align with Bristol’s

cabinet meeting about the lack

elections in this issue of Thrive!

Sustainable Community Strategy

of active representation from

or visit www.voscur.org/

are proposed. These are:

Equalities Communities either in

representation

influencing decision-making or as a Prosperous and Ambitious

scrutiny function on the new Bristol

Partnership Board

Partnership Executive Board.

Bristol Partnership Executive Board Driving the city wide modernisation agenda Tackling deprivation Ensuring the future economic, environmental and social well being of the city Promoting equalities & community cohesion Overview of the Partnership in its community leadership role Overseeing the delivery of SCS priorities, including the monitoring of the delivery of Local Area Agreement (LAA)/Multi Area Agreement (MAA)

Prosperous

Learning City

Safe and Healthy City

City of Thriving Neighbourhoods

and Ambitious

Children and

Partnership Board

Young People’s

Safer Bristol

Wellbeing

Neighbourhood

Partnership Board

Partnership Board

Partnership Board

Partnerships

www.voscur.org

9


Have your say

Are NPs pointing in the right direction?

Graham Sims, the Strategic Director for Neighbourhoods

Neighbourhood Partnership Seminar

Neighbourhood Partnership Residents’ Forum

Bristol City Council’s Community Development Team is

The next Neighbourhood Partnership Residents’

organising a Neighbourhood Partnership Seminar on

Forum (NPRF) will take place on Saturday 22

Monday 10 November 12.00 –3.00pm at the Council

November, 10.00 -1.00pm at the Greenway centre,

House.

Doncaster Road, Southmead, Bristol BS10 5PY

The seminar, which is being held in advance of Bristol’s

The Forum is a meeting for residents involved

second ‘state of the city’ debate is expected to focus

with their local Neighbourhood Partnerships.

on what is working well and not so well in the city and

Councillor Terry Cook, the Executive Member for

how this might be addressed through Neighbourhood

Neighbourhoods and Graham Sims, the newly

Partnerships.

appointed Strategic Director for Neighbourhoods have been invited to the next NPRF meeting to set

The event will also include a question and answer

out the roles and responsibilities for Neighbourhood

session with leading politicians from each of the

Partnerships and how they see this new local

council’s political groups and leading council staff.

governance structure evolving.

As Thrive! goes to press the full details are

The meeting is also a great opportunity to

not yet available but look out for updates

network with other residents and enjoy a free

on the Voscur website:

lunch. For more information or to book your

www.voscur.org/brispartnership/np

place visit: www.voscur.org/brispartnership/np or call Matthew Symonds on: 0117 909 9949

10

www.voscur.org

www.voscur.org

10


Have your say

Local or Global Giving? We asked a selection of Voscur

“I give to several local charities – mainly through

members attending our Annual

habit. There are so many national ones that I

Event in October to give their views

wouldn’t know where to start.”

on the potential impact of the

Ben Barker - Greater Bedminster Community

global credit crunch on whether

Partnership

or not people make donations to charities.

“A lot of what I am involved with is local and so I’m aware of how difficult it is for local,

We asked: Many charities are concerned that the global credit crunch will reduce the number of financial donations they receive from individuals. Do you prefer to donate to local or national charites?

especially really small organisations to get money, so my donations are local but then I’m also concerned about other issues globally, so I occasionally go that way too.” Alice Meason, Quartet Community Foundation “Personally, I give to national charities and campaigning organisations and the credit crunch wouldn’t affect my decision whether to give or not to give to those organisations. I would always be more likely to give to a national organisation than a local organisation.” Stuart Griffin - Social Enterprise Works “I donate to Unicef and I’ve done that for the past few years. I’m dubious of people selling (collecting for) charities door to door because I’m not sure if they are legitimate or not.” Alex Milne - Community at Heart “I donate to charity but I don’t mind, just where it’s needed most. I do international, I do local - I do all that.”

Lisa Blackwood, St Pauls Unlimited “I donate to Save the Children, which is international, I think. I’ll still continue to donate (despite the credit crunch) because I think there is a lot going into local stuff and so it’s a chance for everyone to get a piece.” Mandy Cox, Wellspring Healthy Living Centre

www.voscur.org

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Have your say

The Blue View on Our Sector and Community Empowerment Last issue we reported on the government’s Community Empowerment White Paper. Below are extracts from the Conservative Shadow Minister for Charities, Social Enterprise and Volunteering, Greg Clark’s speech to the National Association of Voluntary Community Action (NAVCA) conference in September. “My colleague George Osborne,

Dr Colin Copus, senior Lecturer, Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham

the Shadow Chancellor, used an interview with the Guardian newspaper to talk about how the progressive aims that many of us share can be achieved by what we hope will be the next Conservative government and that created a bit of a debate - about whether this is something that society should embrace or whether this is a twist too far for public opinion, to embrace the Conservatives as the progressive party aiming to pursue progressive goals. I was struck by Kevin Curley’s

L-R Greg Clark MP, Kevin Curley, NAVCA, Peter Wanless, Big Lottery Fund

(Chief Executive, NAVCA), letter in the Guardian responding to the

when the decisions have already

of community or is the intention to

above. Kevin said that, “If George

been made’ - there is a challenge

have the community sector there

Osborne wanted to harness the

to us that I hope we will rise to.

as a kind of co-opted cog in the

voluntary sector then he should

12

machine of government?

learn from three decades of our

“I think it comes down to this

involvement in government funded

question of involvement - to

“One of the key questions, as you

programmes. We know what has

harness the energy, creativity

know, is whether voluntary groups

worked and what has failed. Any

and everything the third sector

should have a greater involvement

government would be wise to draw

brings to bear - but what does

in the delivery of public services.

on the third sector’s experience as

that involvement mean? Does

My answer to that is, of course

it plans its social programmes and

involvement mean recognising the

they ought to able to if they want

not simply to ask us to deliver them

sector as the organised expression

to, but I think there is a danger if

www.voscur.org


Have your say

you’re not careful, if through the

according to our instructions. I’d

blunt instrument of contracting

like to see more councils – and

you find that you’re not doing

government being more confident

something different, innovative

in using the grant rather than

and new but you’re just doing it

feeling constrained to turn grants

the old way, but just by a different

into contracts. So I hope that

group of people.

we can establish through the Compact a greater acceptance of

An effective voice for Disabled people Since the West of England Coalition for Disabled people closed, there has been no

“Contracting isn’t the end game

grants funding and I hope that we

especially for small or community

only use contracts where that is

based organisations. Grants have

necessary or where that is the right

always been incredibly important

course.”

Disability Equality Forum, being

away of grants. Since 2002/2003,

These are extracts from Greg Clark’s

is restricted to monitoring and

contracts have overtaken grants as

speak to the NAVCA conference.

being the prime source, the most

For a full transcript visit:

common source of public sector

www.voscur.org/haveyoursay

and I’m dismayed by the withering

funding. In the last three years according to the finance study

“Contracting isn’t the

there has been an absolute decline

end game especially

in grant giving by 13%.

effective voice for Disabled people’s groups in Bristol. The part of the Council’s structure scrutinising the Council’s policies and practice. It wants to be a more wide-ranging voice for Disabled people in Bristol. The Forum is currently considering alternative structures including a possible move out of the

for small or community

Council. Members will vote on

“I think that is very regrettable

based organisations.

the Forum’s future this autumn.

because grants say something

Grants have always

To find out more

about the question of trust and

been incredibly

contact Laura Welti

question of empowerment - to say to an organisation we’ve seen

important.”

you, we know you do good work

(Monday – Thursday 11am – 3pm), email: laura.welti@bristol.gov.uk

in our community and we don’t

Greg Clark, Conservative Shadow

want you to operate specifically

Minister for Charities,

or phone: 07810 506730

www.voscur.org

13


Have your say

Have a Say in Local Health and Social Care Local Involvement Network for Bristol Are you interested in having a say in health and social care locally? You can become part of a new way for local people to have their say about the way local health and social care services are run and developed by joining Bristol Local Involvement Network (LINk).

Bristol LINk has recently been launched. It is a network of local people, organisations and groups that want to improve health and social care services. Pat Foster, LINk Manager explains, “Bristol LINk’s membership is small at the moment and urgently needs people from the local community who feel strongly about local health and social care services”. Bristol LINk will be expected to represent everyone and will also work with health and social care professionals to make sure your voice is heard. It will not matter whether services are provided by the NHS, a local authority, private company, social enterprise or a charity, as long as they are paid for by the tax payer they will be covered by the LINk. This includes, for example, day centres and care homes, home care, family planning, hospitals and GP surgeries, as well as health promotion. LINks do have teeth and have

14

www.voscur.org

been given powers as part of their

to being involved in working task

role. The LINk will be able to make

groups. You can join the LINk as an

reports and recommendations and

individual or as a representative of

get a reply within a set amount

a voluntary or community group.

of time, go into some types of services to see what they do,

For more information about

comment on local services and

Bristol LINk contact:

receive a response from local

Caroline McAleese - Development

authority commissioners and

and Information Worker for Bristol

overview and scrutiny committees.

LINk, 0117 9589347, email: carolinemcaleese@linkbristol.org.uk

You can participate in the LINk as

Or write to the LINk at:

much or as little as you wish, from

The Care Forum, Vassall Centre,

receiving information regularly

Gill Avenue, Bristol, BS16 3JE


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Volunteering Bristol

A Choice Blend A national study of people volunteering with organisations or groups published by the Institute for volunteering Research, looked at the provision of volunteer management. It found that the way in which volunteers reported being supported and managed varied considerably. Although four-fifths of volunteers said that they had

“Volunteer Management is about achieving a ‘choice blend, in which organisations combine ‘choice and control’, flexibility and organisation’, informality and efficiency’ and ‘personal and professional support’ “

access to someone within the organisation from whom they could seek advice and support, other elements of recognised good practice in volunteer management were less common. More than threequarters of volunteers reported not being provided with a role description and almost as many had not

Gaskin (2003) A Choice Blend: what volunteers want from organisations and management. Institute for Volunteering Research (IVR)

received training for their role. Even so, the majority of volunteers also felt that although support was

The different ways in which volunteers are involved

available, they did not feel they needed it, nor did the

and managed, across activities as well as the different

majority particularly want written role descriptions.

approaches to involving regular and occasional

In fact many volunteers felt that a written role

volunteers means that there has to be different

description would make their volunteering too rigid

models and strategies to managing volunteers and

and formal.

organising their involvement – one size will not fit all.

Whilst volunteers seem not to be particularly

Volunteering Bristol will advise organisations that are

demanding when it comes to formal management

looking to involve volunteers for the first time on

practices, Volunteering Bristol’s own research among

what processes they should have in place that will help

volunteers reveals that they are really frustrated by

them involve their volunteers successfully.

organisations that fail to respond to their enquiries about advertised volunteering roles, or do not inform

The Volunteer Organisers’ Forum meets about four

applicants of the length of time their recruitment

times a year, with additional ad hoc workshops on

processes could last. Several volunteers reported that

particular issues arranged as required. The Forum will

they had left volunteering because they had not felt

be discussing the issue of recruiting and retaining

valued, and some because they had been insufficiently

volunteers in a workshop on 12 November and its next

occupied.

network meeting is on 20 November.

Volunteering Bristol encourages volunteering involving organisations to join its Volunteer Organisers Forum where members can exchange ideas and experiences with their peers to help them use the good practice advice that is available to achieve the style and standard of volunteer management that suits their organisations’ needs.

Main article sources: Helping Out: a national survey of volunteering and charitable giving. (2007) The Cabinet Office, and Volunteering Bristol: Survey of volunteers using the Volunteer Centre services (2008).

www.voscur.org

17


Equalities

Equalities and Human Rights Commission Funds Ground-breaking Research In Spring this year the Bristol Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) Forum was awarded a grant by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to research the needs of LGB people from Black Minority Ethnic and Faith communities in Bristol.

Research from other cities indicates that Black Minority Ethnic and Faith LGB people are often isolated from the services offered by both statutory and voluntary organisations. The findings from the study will be made available in a detailed report in Spring 2009. This will be ground-breaking research as there is a dearth of studies of this kind in Bristol or elsewhere. The views of: Black Minority Ethnic individuals; LGB people from a Faith community; LGB and BME organisations respectively will be canvassed through the use of focus groups, one-to-one interviews, and questionnaires as well as through online forums. We hope that the project will lead to greater recognition and support for LGB people from Black Minority Ethnic and Faith communities. Since July this year two workers, Leiza McLeod and Edson Burton have been recruited to the post. They have researched the background literature, are in the process of contacting Black Minority Ethnic and Faith LGB people in Bristol, and are promoting the project in

18

www.voscur.org

Edson Burton and Leiza McLeod, Development Workers

community print and on local radio.

to one interviews; questionnaires

The first focus group took place in

or an on-line forum, please email

October this year.

either Leiza: leiza@bristol-lgbforum.org.uk or Edson: edson@

The research is supported by a

bristol-lgb-forum.org.uk or call

steering group, the members

0117 352 5633. You will also be

of which have a broad range of

able to share your experiences via

research, project management and

an online Forum.

personal experience. For the sake of security and honest If you are a Black Minority Ethnic

engagement access to the online

and Faith LGB person who would

Forum has first to be vetted so

like to become involved in the

please contact the above emails or

project through: focus groups; one

number in the first instance.


Equalities

Brits stand shoulder to shoulder with refugees Refugees and British people are standing shoulder to shoulder across the UK thanks to an innovative project in Bristol which recently launched its new website. The Refugee Awareness Project (RAP) website www.raproject.org.uk will act as an inspirational ‘toolkit’ for the many people nationwide who support asylum seekers and refugees in their communities and want to make their voices heard. and speak publicly after all they’ve been through and in a language that’s not even their mother tongue!” The new site gives people everything they need to become community ambassadors for refugees, including tips on how to offer practical help and pocket booklets that put the facts at their fingertips. The website’s ‘info vault’ is a fantastic one-stopRAP volunteer delivering awareness workshop

The interactive website is the

something to counter that.

offspring of a project operated

shop for facts and figures about asylum, providing resources and activities that trainers, teachers and community activists will find

by national charity Refugee

“In running awareness workshops

Action. Both refugees and British

with local people, I’ve found that

people from all walks of life have

a lot of people are initially hostile

Bristol’s RAP co-ordinator Claire

volunteered with the project.

about refugees. However, their

Stern, said that many thousands of

They have visited local groups to

opinions are not based on any real

people up and down the country

give the facts about asylum, and

facts and as soon as you explain

are hungry for information and

refugee volunteers have told their

the reality, they understand why

want to know how they can make

stories of fleeing persecution and

we should offer asylum seekers

a difference. The RAP website will

war.

protection and admit that they’ve

empower those people to act.

especially useful.

been misled by some parts of the Rob Wotherspoon volunteered in

tabloid press.

Bristol because of the way refugees and asylum seekers, some of the

“The refugee volunteers on the

most vulnerable and marginalised

project have been a real inspiration

people in British society, are

to me. It’s so impressive that

treated. He decided to do

they’re brave enough to go out

To see the new website and find out how your organisation can receive a refugee awareness workshop go to www.raproject.org.uk

www.voscur.org

19


Hate crime

Tackling hate crime in Bristol Contacts for reporting hate crime and further information: EACH – Homophobic (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual): 0808 100 143 (Mon-Fri 10am4pm) www.eachaction.org.uk SARI – Faith-based / Racist: 0117 942 0060 (24 hrs), www.sariweb.org.uk WECIL – Disablist: 0117 903 8900 voice and minicom (Mon - Fri 9am-4.30pm) www.wecil.co.uk Victim Support Avonvale: 0845 45 66 099, (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm) www.victimsupport.org.uk/avonvale/ Avon & Somerset Police: 0845 4567000 (dial 999 in an emergency, 24hrs) www.avonandsomerset.police.uk Safer Bristol Partnership: for locations of reporting centres in Bristol; to report hate crime online or to download the Hate Crime Strategy 2006-09 (Easy English version available): www.bristol.gov.uk/hatecrime Home office: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/ reducing-crime/hate-crime/

Hate crime is extremely underreported in our city and the Bristol Hate Crime strategy is working to address this problem. Reporting of hate crime incidents needs to be encouraged in order to ensure that people can get support; to paint a better picture of how hate crime is affecting the city; to identify where the ‘hotspots’ are and how best to tackle the problem and to make Bristol safer. Race, faith, ethnicity, disability or sexuality based bullying, prejudice or harassment is a hate crime. It can be any incident directly against individuals believed to belong to, or believed to be associating with persons belonging to, a specific group, therefore it can affect anyone. It can be any incident committed against a person or property that is perceived to be motivated by the offender’s hatred of people based on prejudice (as above), and should be determined as a hate crime by the person affected and not by agencies involved. Whilst not all incidents constitute a criminal offence, the effects nevertheless can be just as serious in terms of impact. Hate crime offences can range from name-calling, harassment, criminal damage, graffiti and assault to violence against the person and murder.

20

www.voscur.org


Hate crime

Tackling hate crime – the Bristol picture

Support Against Racist Incidents (SARI), Education and Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH)

The Bristol Hate Crime strategy

and West of England Council for

was initiated by a small working

Independent Living (WECIL) who are

group including Voscur, and was

key providers in challenging hate

developed from wide consultation.

incidents and supporting those

It is managed by the Safer Bristol

who report.

Partnership. Major successes of the strategy include the joint working processes

Recognising a hate crime incident. Would you report it?

involving voluntary and public sector organisations tackling hate crime and developing strategies to increase reporting. Sharing of information and data has been vastly improved, more effective signposting and support is available to those who report and a range of third-party reporting centres have been established in Bristol. Reporting centres are community venues where staff have been trained to receive reports about hate crime from the public; information is then forwarded on to the relevant agency if the

Reporting ensures

person reporting wishes this to happen; the process also enables

people get help. No

better tracking of hate crime

one should suffer in

incidents and activity in the city.

silence – you can help make a difference.

The training given to organisations which serve as reporting centres

For example: A white person is victimised because they have a black partner. A person leaving a gay venue is verbally abused by passers-by. A disabled man’s house is constantly being vandalised with graffiti, and sometimes rubbish is put through his letterbox. A person with learning difficulties is frequently verbally abused by a neighbour, who also plays loud music and refuses to turn it down. Mr X gets constant racial abuse when walking down his street so he tends to drive a lot. A brick was thrown through his windscreen and now Mr X and his family are too scared to leave the house.

is delivered by a consortium of

Anything like this is hate crime

voluntary sector organisations:

and should be reported.

www.voscur.org

21


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22

www.voscur.org


How To - ICT

What’s in a Name? How to have and use your own domain

A domain is the part of a

panel and choose the section

link to verify your ownership of the

web site or email address

“manage domain” then choose

address.

after the www and @, like

“email forwarding”.

Step Five: Go back to Accounts

voscur.org for sean@voscur.org

and you will see your new domain

or www.voscur.org or bristol.gov.

You will see a section to fill in that

address added, click on “Make

uk for mailing the City Council or

asks you to add a username (you

Default”. Your new email address

going to their website.

can use your own name, or office

is now live! Any mail you send will

or info) @thedomainyouhave.

come from you@yourdomain.org.

If you want professional looking

org.uk and a box asking where

uk and you can tell all your friends

looking email rather than the aol.

you want to forward that mail to.

and colleagues the new address.

com or blueyonder.co.uk your

Enter the googlemail address you

Internet Service Provider has given

set up in Step One. Click Update

If you need any more help setting

you, you can set one up in 10

Forwarding at the bottom of the

up more addresses for your office,

minutes for less than £5.

page and log out.

or transferring address books, or using the free calendar, or

Step One: First set up a Google mail

Step Four: Return to your new

setting up a website with your new

address – go to www.google.co.uk

googlemail account and click

domain, feel free to contact us at

and click on mail in the top left

“Settings” (in the top right corner

Voscur or use the contact form

hand corner and follow the simple

of the page) and then select

on our ICT Development services

instructions to set up the address,

“Accounts” from the list of tabs. In

web page at www.voscur.org/

we recommend a user name

the section “Send mail as:” click on

ictdevelopmentservices, or phone

format of name dot organisation

“Add another email address”.

Sean Kenny at Voscur on

(e.g. sean.voscur).

0117 909 9949. A pop up box will appear

Step Two: When you’ve done that,

prompting you to enter

head over to www.123-reg.co.uk

the address you want to

and find a suitable domain name

use – enter the address

that’s available. Registering a org.

you set up with 123-reg,

uk domain costs £5.58 for 2 years

press “Next” and then “Send

with 123-reg, the cheapest we’ve

Verification”.

found. After a short period of time Step Three: Once you’ve bought

a mail will appear in your new

your domain log into the control

googlemail inbox, click on the

Please note: Voscur does not endorse any specific company, and those named above have been given as examples. It is important to research products and companies best placed to suit your organisation’s requirements. When entering into any agreement ensure that you are aware of the full terms and conditions.

www.voscur.org

23


How to – Funding and Finance

Bristol e-Procurement System (BePS) - it’s coming your way If you’re a Voluntary, Community or Social Enterprise sector (VCSE) organisation which receives any sort of funding from Bristol City Council you are encouraged to register on BePS.

Why is BePs important to the VCSE?

How will BePs work for the VCSE?

kept securely and only authorised personnel will have access to it.

The Bristol e-Procurement System

Once you have received your

(BePS) is the web-based system

username and password you’ll be

Training on Commissioning

used by Bristol City Council to hold

able to search the bulletin board

and BePS

information on service providers,

of advertised tenders, receive

contracts and tenders. BePS is

tender alerts and express interest

going to be the only way that the

in opportunities.

relationships with VCSE groups in future, including grant funding.

BePS is free to use, and you can register

All tendering opportunities over

via this link: www.

£10,000 are now processed

procurement.bristol.

through BePS and the council will only accept tenders submitted on

gov.uk/. It’s as easy as

the system. Over the next year all

opening an account

follow-up contract management,

with Amazon or

monitoring and payments will also

Facebook.

be managed through BePS.

Tendering Toolkit

a PTQ to be considered for an advertised Bristol City Council

A new toolkit has been launched

contract.

to help small and medium sized enterprises develop a pre-

For further information and to

tender questionnaire (PTQ). All

download the toolkit visit

organisations need to complete

www.bristol.gov.uk/ptq

www.voscur.org

?

Bristol City Council and Voscur have set up BePS training opportunities for VCSE groups:

Council manages its contractual

24

All organisations’ information is

Wednesday 12 Nov, 10.30am – 12pm Thursday 27 Nov, 2.00 – 3.30pm, For further information and to book online visit: www.voscur.org/training or contact Sabrina Lee on (0117) 909 9949


How to – Funding and Finance

Voscur Receives Beacon Grant Award Voscur has been awarded a Beacon grant from the National Association of Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) for our work training Children and Young People’s organisations in outcomes-based commis-sioning. During the Summer training sessions, groups told us the kind of support they needed to engage in the commissioning and procurement process. The small grant will help to support consultation events linking commissioners and the voluntary sector on how to achieve outcomes for children, as well as further capacity building training for the Children’s workforce in outcomes development and monitoring

?

For further information visit:

www.voscur.org/commissioning

All the Fun of the Funding Fair! Dependent upon grant funding? Concerned about grant funding drying up? Need to learn new skills to generate income for your organisation?

Organisations (NCVO) on 16 September. The Annual Funding Event, entitled, From Surviving to Thriving: Making your Organisation Sustainable, will include four indepth and interactive workshops

…then look no further than the Voscur and BDA Annual Funding Event, where you can learn how to:

to equip Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations with skills to think beyond grants and understand how to access more sustainable and diverse forms

Plan and price your services to

of funding. The event promises

help you generate income

workshop facilitators and speakers

Make winning applications for

who are experts in their field,

long-term grant funding

funding information, resources and

Participate in commissioning

guidance, networking and much

processes and take up contracts

more…

Start trading goods and services The event acts as a follow-up to the very successful ‘Introduction to Sustainable Funding workshop’,

?

19 November 2008, from 9.30am – 5pm at the Greenway Centre,

which Voscur ran in partnership

Southmead, Bristol BS10 5PY. Book

with National Council for Voluntary

online at www.voscur.org/training

www.voscur.org

25


How to – Good Practice

Supporting you to support yourself Do you feel isolated in your role? Are you fed up with not getting enough support? Could external support be right for you? Many people who lead organisations can feel isolated in their roles, often due to insufficient support being in place.

Pippa Adamson from Red Kite

Coaching – Coaches are concerned

facilitator. This helps develop

Partnership highlights the

with learning and development

questioning and reflective skills,

importance of support.

through increased self-awareness,

as well as working through some

self-regulatory strategies, insights

difficult management issues.

Successful leaders in the private

and commitments.

and public sectors often work with a mentor, a coach or an external

Non-managerial supervision or

supervisor who supports them in

external supervision – providing

developing good judgment, clear

support in your work but not from

decision-making and strategic

your line manager.

skills. This helps them deal with the

Why do it? What are the benefits for you and your organisation? Role modelling of how to do supervision well can improve

pressures and stresses of running

External managerial supervision –

the quality of supervision in the

an organisation.

this is where the organisation asks

workplace.

someone to provide managerial

Off-loading can help you see the

To improve the situation, the

supervision, for example while a

issues more effectively and

organisation might pay for external

manager is away.

can help you be more focused in

support, where a manager/leader

your role.

can go and talk through the

Counselling – working on issues,

Seeing a mentor or coach one-

current issues in a confidential and

which get in the way of your work

to-one can provide personalised

supportive environment. The labels

but may not be work-related;

management training. You can

or names of supporters are much

sometimes provided for staff and

improve your influencing skills,

debated but some of the options

volunteers who have been through

your communication skills and

are:

difficult incidents at work.

get help with problem-solving. If a Management Board knows

26

Mentoring – a mentor can guide,

Action Learning Sets – in an Action

that its Chief Executive is

encourage and help you to develop

Learning Set, people work in a

receiving good support, then it is

as a person and as a leader and

group to support and challenge

fulfilling its responsibility to

manager.

each other, with the help of a

support the leadership of the

www.voscur.org


How to – Good Practice

You can improve your influencing skills, your communication skills and organisation and thereby

get help with problem-

able to help. Contact Sophie

improve its effectiveness.

solving.

Bayley on 0117 909 9949

When might my organisation look for external one-to-one support? When your organisation is experiencing change and there may be stress within the staff team When a new Chief Executive/ Manager has been appointed Where the Board and Chief Executive, Manager have been in place for many years Where the Chief Executive or Manager has little or no support in the organisation and/or has no line manager Where the person’s line manager is on sick leave

How can Voscur support you? Voscur has already run Action Learning sets for Leaders, Development Workers and Chairs of Voluntary, Community and

3) Voscur is looking to develop Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations for our members. We also have a directory of external consultants (see below). Internally, we encourage our managers to have non-managerial supervision and have peer support through our Development Team.

Where next? If you want extra support here are some places to go to: 1) Check the Trainers and Consultants Directory on the Voscur website under www. voscur.org/directories to find appropriate support 2) If you are interested in Action Learning Sets, Voscur may be

a Chief Officers’ Network to support you in your role. If you are interested contact Wendy Stephenson at Voscur on 0117 909 9949 or email: wendy@voscur.org 4) Go to Trainers and Consultants Direct at NAVCA www.trainers andconsultantsdirect.org.uk 5) Funds might be raised to cover costs if it relates to capacity building and increased effectiveness of the organisation. Contact Sabrina Lee, Voscur’s Funding Advisor on 0117 909 9949 or Quartet: www.quartetcf.org.uk or call on 0117 989 7700

Thanks to Pippa Adamson www.red-kite.net

www.voscur.org

27


How to – Green Pages

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas Follow these top tips to help make your Christmas a bit more environmentally friendly

Switch off

Re-post

If you’re taking a holiday

It is estimated that up

over the Christmas or New

to 1 billion Christmas

Year period then make

cards (17 for every man,

sure that all your work or

woman and child) could

home computers, moni-

end up in bins across

tors, printers and other

the UK after Christmas.

electrical equipment not

After you’ve finished with

in use during the holiday

the seasonal greetings

is switched off to avoid

from your partners and

wasting energy and help

colleagues makes sure

keep your bills down.

they are recycled at one of the many Christmas card recycling centres. If you take them to one of the supermarket recycling centres you’ll help raise money for charity too. You could also try sending e-cards this year. E-cards mean no paper at all but the sentiments are still there.

28

www.voscur.org

Get back to your roots Over six million trees were bought last Christmas in the UK, most of which were thrown out after December, creating over 9000 tonnes of additional rubbish - that’s the equivalent weight of 160,000 of Santa’s little helpers! So, if you’re buying a real Christmas tree, make sure it has roots so it can grow again. If it can’t grow again, take it to one of your local recycling centres where it will be chipped and turned into nutritious compost.

Buy better If you’re buying Christmas presents, keep an eye out for recycled products. From fashionable bags and drinking glasses to cushions and clothing you’ll be amazed at what you can find. Visit: www.recyclenow. com to see a full range of recycled goods that make ideal gift ideas!


How to – Green Pages

Pack in the bags

Keep someString ‘em up one else warm

Say “No” to unwanted

More than 80,000 tonnes

carrier bags when doing

of old clothes are thrown

your Christmas shopping,

away over Christmas - if

take a re-usable shopping

you get a whole new

bag with you or re-use

wardrobe, donate your

plastic bags. Don’t accept

unwanted clothes to

bags that you don’t need

charity shops.

this Christmas. Cloth

Umm... thanks

It is estimated that over

If somebody gives you a

Christmas as much as 83

present that you don’t

square km of wrapping

really want or your

paper will end up in UK

children receive a toy that

rubbish bins, enough to

is soon discarded - rather

cover an area larger than

than throw it away, pass it

Guernsey. Use string to

on to your local hospital,

tie up your parcels so that

play centre, charity shop

the paper can be reused.

or school.

bags also make a great Christmas gift.

Bin those usual resolutions and make a New Year recycling resolution! If you’re not already recycling at work visit www.recyclenow.com/what_can_i_do_today to find out how you can turn your workplace green. Find out more details on recycling and Christmas opening hours for the Bristol recycling centres at: www.bristol.gov.uk/recycling www.voscur.org

29


Children & Young People

Highlighting the Work of Our Members Action research project: ‘Platform Futures’ Young People as researchers and evaluators

Emma Agusita outside Knowle West Media Centre - Picture by Tanya Hazell

Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC) is an organisation

Emma has been developing a participatory approach

engaged in developing the creative, social and

to the research project so that young people are not

educational potential of people within the surrounding

simply a ‘source of data’. PF is providing the chance

community and the wider city. The centre offers

for young people to become actively involved as

opportunities for young people to participate

co-researchers and evaluators and there will be a

in a range of creative projects mobilising video,

young researchers group looking at key aspects of the

photography, graphic design, music, and multimedia

research. This approach reflects the ethos and practice

and online platforms.

of KWMC where young people are encouraged, through creative means, to participate in decision-

Since October 2006 Doctoral research student,

making processes regarding issues that affect them

Emma Agusita, has been working collaboratively with

and their local community. KWMC knows that young

KWMC and the University of the West of England to

people have a valuable contribution to make to their

develop an action research project “Platform Futures

communities and that they can have a positive impact

(PF)”. The project is evaluating ways in which young

on the perception of young people both within the

people engage in creative media activities in informal

communities in which they live and beyond.

educational settings and will look at what kinds of

30

digital media technologies can be used to extend and

Recently, young people from KWMC were engaged

enhance project work with young people.

as evaluators in the development and delivery of an

www.voscur.org


Children & Young People

evaluation of the South Bristol Urban 2 programme.

shared decision making about the form of,

The young people involved had been central to the

approach to and tools used for, evaluation. For

‘Archimedia Project’ which received funding from

example, allow young people to set relevant criteria

the SB Urban 2 programme. The Archimedia project

which reflect their priorities, don’t just use pre-

involved young people in every element of decision-

existing ones

making regarding the planning and creation of a new

Consider ethical issues in relation to evaluation

purpose built flagship building for KWMC.

such as: consent, inclusiveness, confidentiality and anonymity, recognition, ownership and social

By working closely with KWMC’s youth media worker,

responsibility. Aim to raise awareness, and involve

Sandra Manson, and with support from independent

young people in thinking and decision making about

research and evaluation consultant Roz Hall, the group

these issues

planned the evaluation process and carried out the

Treat young people as equals

majority of the evaluative work. The team then worked

Make the evaluation process clear and easy to

with input from Emma to develop the content of the

understand

evaluation into a publication.

Always genuinely listen to what young people have to say

The book In Our Opinion – Young People as Active Participants in the Regeneration of Their Communities

Sharing the outcomes of the Platform Futures

(2008), suggests a number of effective ways of

research project will help to develop and promote

working with young people as evaluators. These were

inclusive practice, particularly young people’s

developed in collaboration with the young people

participation in research and evaluation. This

involved and can be applied to the evaluation of

will improve service provision and enhance the

programmes, initiatives, projects and activities that

effectiveness of creative media activities such as those

involve young people:

at KWMC that support young people’s personal, social and educational development.

Be willing to acknowledge that young people are experts on the issues and matters that affect them

Sources of further information:

Work to develop a mutual sense of trust and

Knowle West Media Centre www.kwmc.org.uk;

respect with young people as a basis for developing effective practice Be honest with young people. If they are aware of the facts of a situation they are better equipped to

Platform Futures Blog www.platformfutures.blogspot.com

deal with them

National Youth Agency – see Young Researchers

Involve young people throughout the entire

Network www.nya.org.uk

process; don’t just bring them on board to suit your own timetable or agenda Aim to enable young people to be involved in

For further information contact Emma, Email: emma@kwmc.org.uk

www.voscur.org

31


Children & Young People - Reps

Voscur Reps Voscur Reps are there to ensure that the views of the sector are heard and represented at strategic meetings. Reps represent the views of, and are accountable to, Voscur Children and Young Peoples Network members. All of our Reps are volunteers and are undertaking this responsibility in addition to their organisational roles. Representation is a two way process and network members are requested to contact the Reps with concerns, feedback and questions. More information about your Reps can be found at: www.voscur.org.uk

Introduction to Your New Rep Welcome to Sandra Meadows -

Sandra Meadows, Rep to the Diploma Development group

the newly appointed rep to the Diploma Development Group, a sub

strategic and operational plans and

be available in 17 subjects across

group of the 14 - 19 work stream

developments. My past experience

England by 2013. Diplomas cannot

group. Sandra introduces herself

of working in partnership and

all be taught in one school and

below:

across sectors will assist in

will be offered in partnership with

gathering and communicating the

other schools and colleges. Also, in

“I am the Co-ordinator of the

views of those I represent. I look

2010, £7bn will be transferred to

Play & Early Years Training Unit

forward to speaking with many of

local authorities from the Learning

(PEYTU), a local charity and training

you during my tenure – please do

and Skills Council, therefore Local

provider for the Children & Young

get in touch.”

Authorities will be responsible for

People’s sector. In my new role as

Email: smeadows@peytu.co.uk

commissioning the annual spend on education and training for 16-

a member of the 14-19 Diploma of the 14-19 Work stream) I am

What are Diplomas for 14-19 year olds?

keen to assist in ensuring that

The Diploma is a new qualification

the voluntary sector perspective

that combines academic study

is communicated and included in

with work based learning. It will

Development Group (sub group

32

www.voscur.org

19 year olds. For more information go to: yp.direct.gov.uk /diplomas


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Training & Learning

Oodles of Moodles

“I’m really excited about this, it shows that digital technology allows partnership working not seen in the sector before and Hot Topic

Oriented Dynamic Learning

I think it could be the

Environment. Moodle is one type

future for community

e-Learning - Oodles of Moodles

of e-Learning and is designed

Electronic learning (e-Learning or

to help educators create online

eLearning) is a type of education

courses with opportunities for rich

where people learn through

interaction. Moodle is a Course

computer technology. In some

Management System (CMS) - a free,

Jo Weenink, Development Worker,

instances, no person-to-person

open source software package

Bristol Learning Communities.

interaction takes place. It is defined

which you can download and use

as teaching/learning experience

on any computer. You can put on

learners. This is one way of

that uses a wide spectrum of

different modules, activities and

reaching people who cannot afford

technologies, mainly Internet or

podcasts to help people learn.

to attend training sessions. Many

computer-based, to reach learners.

34

learning”

organisations are using them now Moodle’s modular design makes it

and Voscur has its own which

Introducing Moodle

easy to create new courses, adding

Barton Hill Settlement is currently

Moodle stands for Modular Object-

content that will engage

using.

www.voscur.org


Training & Learning

Learning News

What does this mean for Voluntary, Community and Social

New West of England

Enterprise (VCSE) organisations

Community Learning Moodle

and the people we work with?

Four Local Authorities: Bristol,

There is now one place to go to

South Gloucestershire, North

access information about Local

Somerset and Bath and North

Authority Community Learning

East Somerset have been working

in the region. This includes the

in partnership to develop a

contact details of all the teams,

cross authority Virtual Learning

what courses are running where,

Environment (VLE).

support for learners who have attended courses and up to date

The partnership has been about

newsletters and information

sharing good practice, resources

relevant to the sector.

and standardising access to community learning information

Over the next year, Learning

across unitary boundaries.

Communities Bristol are looking at ways in which other learning

www.communitylearningwest.

providers can use this resource to

gov.uk

promote courses and services.

The Virtual Learning environment

In the fast changing world of ICT

(VLE) is being used as

and e-Learning we in the VCSE sector need to make sure we are

A place to store, access and use

not being left behind. This new

materials

VLE for community learning may

A platform on which to build and

provide a model of good practice

deliver learning activity

of how, in an environment with

A set of communication

scarce recourses we can work

possibilities, including

together to promote and support

information sharing, videos

teaching and learning in the

and dialogues

community learning sector.

A system to track and monitor

To find out more contact: Jo

learner activity

Weenink on 0117 9039750 or e-mail: jo.weenink@bristol.gov.uk

?

The Showcase section provides links to examples of interesting online

courses, learning materials and other e-learning solutions: www.e-learningcentre.co.uk/ eclipse/showcase www.bartonhillsettlement.org.uk www.moodle.org Learn Direct runs many courses online, that could be useful for you: www.learndirect.co.uk

www.voscur.org

35


!

Voscur Ltd. The CREATE Centre Smeaton Road Bristol BS1 6XN Tel: 0117 909 9949 Fax: 0117 933 0501 Email: info@voscur.org Web: www.voscur.org

Voscur Diary November/December 2008 Tue 4 & 11 Nov

Turning Ideas into Action (Neighbourhood Learning) Beacon Centre, BS5 9JH (6pm – 9pm)

Thu 6 Nov

Hate Crime Awareness St Werburghs Community Centre, BS2 9TJ (9.30am – 3.30pm)

Dragons’ Den – Pitching your Proposal Greenway Centre, BS10 5PY (1pm – 3.30pm)

Wed 12 Nov

Bristol e-Procurement Training City Learning Centre 3, BS16 2HD (10.30am – 12pm)

Thu 13 Nov

Conflict – Dealing with Difficult Behaviour Gatehouse Centre, BS13 9JN (9.30am – 3.30pm)

Wed 19 Nov

Funders’ Fair (Voscur & BDA Event) The Greenway Centre, BS10 5PY (10am – 5pm)

Sat 22 Nov

Neighbourhood Partnership Residents’ Forum The Greenway Centre, BS10 5PY (10am – 1pm)

Tue 25 Nov

Voscur Equalities Network Barton Hill Settlement, BS5 0AX (10am – 12.30pm)

Wed 26 Nov

Making Meetings Work for you (Neighbourhood Learning) @Symes, BS13 0BE (9.30am – 3.30pm)

Thu 27 Nov

Bristol e-Procurement Training The Park, BS4 1QD (2pm – 3.30pm)

Wed 3 Dec

Auditing your Building for Energy Southville Centre, BS3 1QG (9.30am – 3.30pm)

Thu 4 Dec

How to Win Tenders Barton Hill Settlement, BS5 0AX (9.30am – 3.30pm)

Tue 9 Dec

Full Cost Recovery @Symes, BS13 0BE (9.30am – 3.30pm)

Introduction to Voscur for small and new groups Windmill Hill City Farm, BS3 4EA (10am – 12 noon)

To book or for further information visit: www.voscur.org or tel: 0117 909 9949

Designed and produced by thedesigntailor.com Printed on 100% recycled paper using vegetable based inks

Company limited by Guarantee Registered in England no. 3918210

36

www.voscur.org


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