Supporting Voluntary & Community Action
October / Novemeber / December 2012
Inside this issue: Engaging with businesses Upcoming training Local experiences of commissioning News from The Station BME voice and influence Bristol Mayor and Police Crime Commissioner elections
Photo by Camilla Adams
and more...
A young person taking part in a filmmaking course with the Creative Youth Network. See inside for information on the launch of their exciting new building, The Station.
Voscur
Welcome to our Autumn edition of Thrive! to be learnt from the Olympics
2006 (Trusted and Independent:
that we can take forward in
Giving Charity Back to Charities)
our work with volunteers
has recommended the payment
(see Volunteer Bristol’s article
of trustees of large charitable
on page 9).
organisations. I share the view of
Demand for skilled volunteers in the sector has never been so high. Voscur has been working with Business in the Community to develop Business on Board – which aims to get business people to bring their skills to trustee boards. Voscur has also worked
the NVCO and NAVCA that paying trustees is in principle not a good idea. As Joe Irvin, Chief Executive of NAVCA has said: “The voluntary nature of trustees is what makes charities special. This move could blur the distinction between charities and other organisations.”
with Volunteer Bristol to develop
Of course it may be that this
the Boost programme – bringing
is part of a wider blurring of
skilled people into organisations to
voluntary action with the delivery
The Olympic euphoria may have
help out with special projects or
of public services. But I don’t
passed by the time you are
pieces of work.
believe that’s a good idea either.
reading this, but as I write, I feel
We currently have two volunteers
Wendy Stephenson
in the Voscur office – the
Chief Executive
Wendy Stephenson Chief Executive
that it is important to say a word about volunteering. It was great to see that the volunteers who helped to make the Olympics a success were recognised and thanked by so many people. As readers of this magazine will be aware, volunteers are an invaluable part of society, carrying out so many different roles and giving their time freely – quite simply without them many things just wouldn’t happen.
experience gained at Voscur by current and previous volunteers
www.navca.org.uk
has helped towards some getting
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk
paid work. We owe it to those who volunteer for us to make sure that we have up to date safeguarding policies (where these are necessary) protect our volunteers; that we understand our responsibilities and volunteers’ rights; that expenses are paid on time, and that volunteers know
get behind a high profile national
that they are valued. Volunteers
event such as the Olympics is very
are justifiably a cost as well as an
different from recruiting and
asset to an organisation.
managing volunteers in a local
It is a concern within the sector
Nevertheless, there are key lessons
2 www.voscur.org
content/charities-act-review
volunteer policies; that our
Of course, recruiting volunteers to
voluntary sector organisation.
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
that Lord Hodgson’s report of
Key to symbols Equalities Article Training Information & Resources Event
his review of the Charities Act
October / November / December 2012 Issue 18
Contents Voscur
Compact
4
New members
16
5
Community Learning Trust gets the go-ahead
6-7
Well-placed to compete? Experiences of commissioning in Bristol
Support Hub
Voice and Influence 17
Get ready, get set, get involved! November’s VCS Assembly meeting
18-19 Know your community rights
8
New funding for activities for deprived and disadvantaged communities
9
Inspire a generation – of volunteers!
10-11 Business and community engagement 12
What’s the point of the Compact? Quite a lot!
20
Report on Neighbourhood Partnerships
21
VCS Advocate elections
22
The story behind The Station
23
Positive for Youth: October’s Children and Young People’s Network meeting
Power of Partnership 2012
13-15 Upcoming training courses
24-25 BME voice and influence 26
A new vision for social care
28-31 Bristol’s Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner elections
Keep up to date with Voscur online:
www.facebook.com/voscur
twitter.com/voscur
www.flickr.com/voscur
www.youtube.com/voscur
Thrive! is also available online as a pdf at www.voscur.org/magazine. If you require it in another format, please get in touch on 0117 909 9949. 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.
Issue 18 October / November / December 2012
www.voscur.org
3
Voscur
New Voscur members Art & Power dave@artandpower.com 0117 317 8099 www.artandpower.com Aspire Bristol admin@aspire-bristol.co.uk 0117 954 0861 www.aspire-bristol.co.uk Audrey Michel audrey@ethos-solutions.com 0117 902 2005 Photo from the launch of Bristol Women’s Voice
BasicNeeds Glos Community Animation Programme
Jane’s Holistic Centre and
info.glos@basicneeds.org
School of Excellence
www.basicneeds.org
jane.giddings@hotmail.co.uk www.janesholisticcentre.com
Bath YMCA
The team here at Voscur welcomes our new members!
info@bathymca.co.uk
Make it Worth it Campaign
01225 325900
letsmakeitworthit@yahoo.co.uk
www.bathymca.co.uk
07765094526
Bristol Muslim Cultural
Open College Network
Society (BMCS)
info@ocnswr.org.uk
hundreds of community,
bmcs@bmcs.org.uk
01752 831500
voluntary and social enterprise
www.bmcs.org.uk
www.ocnswr.org.uk
groups active in Bristol.
Bristol Women’s Voice
People Can
For more information on
info@bristolwomensvoice.org.uk
chrissy.wyatt@peoplecan.org.uk
www.bristolwomensvoice.org.uk
www.peoplecan.org.uk
Emmaus Bristol
Trinity Care Service
info@emmausbristol.co.uk
admin@tcsdaycentre.co.uk
0117 954 0886
0117 983 8878
www.emmausbristol.org.uk
www.tcsdaycentre.co.uk
4 www.voscur.org
Voscur is a member-led organisation, made up of
becoming a member of Voscur and the range of member benefits, visit: www.voscur.org/joining or call us on 0117 909 9949.
October / November / December 2012 Issue 18
Voscur
Community Learning Trust gets the go-ahead Photo by BC Gov
The West of England Learning
August 2012 and August 2013, the
Learning Trust pilot is a diverse
Partnership is one of fifteen
pilot Trusts will work to:
and exciting community learning
partnerships from across the country that will take part in a pilot scheme supported by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) that will give communities more power to choose which adult learning courses are available in their areas. The Community Learning Trusts will involve colleges, adult education services, businesses and voluntary organisations, working together with their surrounding communities to provide courses that local people want. Between
• Boost the number of people participating in learning. • Motivate and help people who are disadvantaged. • Have a positive impact on people’s lives. • Generate income to reinvest in learning.
partnership. Voscur, along with our colleagues in the West of England (Voluntary Action North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CVS) is carrying out a survey on voluntary and community sector groups’ involvement in community learning, so that we can ensure that the interests of the sector
Get involved – complete our short survey
are represented in the proposed
Voscur and the Voice and
completed online at:
Influence service want your help
www.survey.bris.ac.uk/voscur/
to make sure that the Community
communitylearningsurvey
West of England Community Learning Trust. The survey can be
Community Learning Partnership VCS Network meetings: Wednesday 17 October, 10am-12pm at
Wednesday 12 December 2012, 10am-12pm
Shirehampton Public Hall.
Venue – tbc
This meeting will include an update on the
This meeting will include a presentation on
agreed terms of reference for the new
engaging equalities groups with presentations
community learning partnership and VCS
from voluntary sector organisations who have
Network; choosing voluntary sector
been successfully commissioned to deliver
representation and a presentation and
community learning. To confirm your place at
discussion on what the voluntary sector can
this meeting visit: goo.gl/6YTNg
contribute to the partnership to get more people learning. To confirm your place at this meeting visit: goo.gl/78AAP
Issue 18 October / November / December 2012
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5
Well-placed to compete? Experiences of commissioning in Bristol Voscur and Bristol City Council’s (BCC) Strategic Commissioning and Procurement Service has recently carried out research and published a report on voluntary sector organisations’ experiences of commissioning in the city. This partnership was established to ensure that the development of commissioning processes can be informed by actual experiences from the sector.
Between February and April,
Partnership and consortia
Support and training
a number of Voscur members
development
requirements
completed a telephone survey.
Many organisations reported
The following priorities emerged
The responses have helped us
that they already work in
for support and training:
to understand local experiences
partnerships, half of which
business skills; understanding
of commissioning; working in
reported positive experiences.
the commissioning process;
partnership; the use of quality
The flip side of the coin often
partnership and consortia
marks and people’s understanding
related to these key areas:
development; e-procurement
of social value. The report consists of several main sections: Awareness of commissioning processes and registration on BCC’s e-procurement system Levels of awareness of BCC’s commissioning processes were
• Difficulty in finding appropriate partners. • The resources needed to develop and maintain partnerships. • Working together whilst preserving their own identities. • Managing conflicting interests.
systems and TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations). Improving commissioning relationships Many respondents described tangible and constructive ways in which commissioning relationships
higher (60%) than awareness of
“It’s not very straightforward”
could be improved. These include
the commissioning practice of
one respondent said, “it’s great in
dedicated points of contact;
other public sector bodies (33%).
theory, but it’s a lot of work and
better and earlier involvement of
it is hard to find partners. It feels
voluntary sector organisations in
like we’re being forced down this
the commissioning cycle; advance
route without being sure we have
notice of contracts coming up
the time or resources to do it.”
and more realistic timescales
Most reported that they were already registered on BCC’s e-procurement system yet there was little correlation between being registered and an awareness
Others recognised that
of commissioning procedures.
partnership working could be
(especially when partnership working is required).
useful if the correct support is available.
6 www.voscur.org
October / November / December 2012 Issue 18
Voscur
How does the sector assure
How does the sector assess
appropriate definition of social
the quality of services and
social value?
value and its role in
activities?
Social value is the term used in
commissioning processes.
Questions about the use of
the Public Services (Social Value)
quality marks and standards were
Act 2012, which describes the
included so that we could work
requirement for local authorities
with commissioners to ensure
to consider how the services they
that requirements are realistic.
commission and procure might
Less than half of respondents
improve the economic, social
reported that their organisation
and environmental well-being of
worked towards an official quality
the area. The government has
mark or standard. Of those
heralded the inclusion of social
without a formal quality mark,
value in commissioning processes
many robust approaches were
as a way to ‘level the playing field’
described for ensuring quality,
for the voluntary sector.
many of which center on service user involvement.
Recommendations and next steps The report includes many recommendations for commissioners, support organisations, BCC and the voluntary sector. These are being considered by Voscur and BCC in their development of an action plan for future work.
However, just a third of respondents were able to
The diversity in the sector’s
articulate the meaning of social
approach to ensuring quality
value and its relevance to their
Further information
is notable. This gives reason to
work. This is not surprising as
To download a copy of
commissioners to avoid making
the Act itself does not include
the report, go to:
specific quality marks compulsory
a definition. This highlights the
www.voscur.org/content/
for all and keeping the assessment
need to develop a sector response
bristol-commissioning-report
of quality more open to providers.
so that we can lobby for an
This report gives us very helpful insight into our partners’ experiences of our commissioning practice. It will help us to further develop the Enabling Commissioning Framework so that voluntary sector organisations can become stronger, more effective and be well-placed to compete for public sector contracts.
It is clear from the report that Voscur needs to lobby for change and support the sector in commissioning. Our Support Hub and Voice and Influence services are reviewing these recommendations and will respond to the sector’s needs. Max Beseke, Chair of Voscur’s Board of Directors
Nick Hooper, Chair of the Enabling Commissioning Board, Bristol City Council
Issue 18 October / November / December 2012
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7
Support Hub
New funding for activities for deprived and disadvantaged communities Photo by Metro Centric
A new pot of funding has been introduced from Bristol City Council (BCC). The Community Investment Small Grants Fund is managed by Quartet Community Foundation, working closely with the Council’s Community Investment team.
The primary aim of this small
• Organisations/groups should
Voscur recently ran a workshop on
grant funding is to encourage
not be in receipt of any other
the BCC Community Investment
local people to become more
funding from BCC, including
Small Grants Fund and have
involved in community-led
Neighbourhood Partnership
produced some useful resources
activities that enable deprived
Wellbeing funding.
that you can read here:
and disadvantaged communities
• It will not fund capital items.
www.supporthub.org.uk/
to respond to and cope with
• Self help activities can be
content/CIFsmallgrantsfund
change. Unlike the previous BCC
funded, including the provision
Development Fund (managed by
of emotional support, advice or
the Community Foundation), this
information exchange.
fund is not for capacity building or organisational development. There are full guidelines on the Fund on Quartet’s website – it is really important that people read these before making an application. Quartet will be happy to advise organisations by phone if they have any questions on the guidelines. Key points are: • Organisations/groups should
The guidelines give two outcomes that need to be addressed in the application, these are: • Increased participation by people in activities that improve their community. • Local people benefit from opportunities that would otherwise not be available to them. It is important that you say what you will actually do to achieve
have an maximum income
these outcomes and what
of £50,000.
difference the activity will make.
8 www.voscur.org
For Quartet’s guidelines, visit: goo.gl/fpCY0
October / November / December 2012 Issue 18
Support Hub
Inspire a generation – of volunteers! Your organisation may not have an Olympic-sized budget or the glamour of the ‘greatest show on earth’, but you could learn a lot from the London 2012 ‘Game Makers’ programme. Volunteer Bristol highlight some top tips to ensure gold medal success for your organisation. The Olympic and Paralympic volunteering programmes didn’t do everything right in terms of volunteer management, but the contribution of the 70,000 Games Makers was undeniably a great success. There has even been talk of a ‘volunteering renaissance’ in the UK, inspired by the Games. A huge number of people in Bristol want to volunteer (over 350 register with Volunteer Bristol each month), so surge or no surge, the will is already there in our city. What we can take forward from the Games is how to ensure that volunteers are attracted to and stay with our organisations. Some top tips: Big up your volunteers. The London 2012 volunteers weren’t called Games Makers for nothing – it couldn’t have happened without them – and this point was made publicly at every opportunity. Likewise, you should ensure that everyone in your organisation understands the role of your volunteers, values the contribution that they are making and finds frequent ways to say “thank you”.
Photo of Olympic ‘Games Makers’ by David Ian Roberts
Paint the big picture. Many volunteers want to feel part of something bigger. Make sure they understand what your organisation does, the value of its work and how their particular role relates to the mission of your organisation as a whole. Embrace diversity. Volunteering attracts people from all walks of life and successful volunteer programmes involve people with a wide range of expertise and backgrounds. You can actively encourage people into your organisation by being openminded, friendly and flexible. Think short-term. Regular, reliable volunteers are essential to many organisations, but there is a large (and growing) number of people who have experience and skills, but who don’t wish to commit long-term. Think about setting up one-off events or short-term projects that may attract help from people who are between jobs or trying to
Issue 18 October / November / December 2012
juggle volunteering around family commitments or term-time study. Observe the 1-week rule. When a volunteer offers their services, they expect a prompt response. If phone messages or emails are not replied to, it looks bad and may put someone off volunteering for your organisation. The earlier you reply, the better (even if you don’t need volunteers at the time). Pay expenses. When you are applying for funding or setting a budget, factor in the cost of volunteer’s out-of-pocket expenses. Not all will claim, but make the offer anyway. It reflects well on your organisation and may attract people who have plenty of time, but not a lot of money.
For more information, visit www.volunteerbristol.org.uk or call Volunteer Bristol on: 0117 989 7733.
www.voscur.org
9
Business and community engagement The world of business is
Suppliers, customers,
changing. If you are waiting for a
consumers, employees and
pure philanthropic output you
investors increasingly build
are not going to get it.
expectations of socially
Mike Barry, Head of Sustainable Business, Marks and Spencer Many charitable organisations have yet to understand the wide range of ways businesses engage
responsible business practice into their judgements about any individual company. International Centre for Corporate Responsibility
with their local communities. The
Trust. Reputation. Profile. Brand.
traditional scenario of a large
These aspects of business are
company giving an over-sized
firmly in the spotlight and a
cheque to a worthy social cause
sense of corporate accountability
once a year is now considered
is undoubtedly increasing.
outdated. For companies of all
Once seemingly indestructible,
sizes, a one-sided giving approach
corporations have been hugely
is being overtaken by more
affected from very public scandals
creative and strategic ways of
such as phone hacking, Libor rate
connecting with the communities
fixing and Wikileaks.
in which businesses have a stake – as employers, service providers, suppliers and delivery partners.
away from a top-down method – nominating a charity to support or undertaking ad hoc fundraising activities. Companies often adopt a more consultative and strategic approach to developing community links, which includes engaging employees and customers in the process of choosing local charitable causes
to this change by harnessing
take part in meaningful activities.
their relationships with local
estimates that £1.6 billion is
their reputation, profile and
donated to the community sector
longevity. It is therefore not
by companies each year but the
surprising that a recent survey
overall amount given has been
by the Harvard Business School
declining for several years. As a
found 93% of CEO’s citing social
result, ‘in-kind’ support such as
responsibility as ‘important’ or
donations of goods and services,
‘very important’ to the future
specialist pro bono contributions
success of their business.
10 www.voscur.org
many businesses are moving
and then encouraging them to
communities as a way to boost
is on the rise.
becomes more sophisticated,
Businesses are responding
The Directory of Social Change
and employee volunteering time
Photo by Melissa Segal
Businesses are also increasingly harnessing their own resources, expertise and networks to have a real tangible impact on a community issue that links to their core business values. To illustrate this, the table on the next page provides a brief overview of some of the key sectors in the UK, the popular community ‘themes’ and
As the approach to becoming
programmes some companies
a socially responsible business
have developed:
October / November / December 2012 Issue 18
Support Hub
Sector
Key community themes
Example of programmes and activities
Financial services.
Financial literacy and capability. Education and enterprise. Social investment.
Triodos sustainable banking: investing in organisations that benefit people and the environment.
Legal.
Access to justice. Social mobility. Employability. Education.
The PRIME commitment: law firms provide fair and equal access to work experience for young people.
Construction.
Employability. Local recruitment. Apprenticeships.
MITIE’s ‘The Real Apprentice’ scheme: providing local, sustainable recruitment opportunities.
Retail.
Local community support. Schools and education. Customer involvement.
Asda’s ‘Community Life’: identifying and responding to local community needs. M & S: a one-day wardrobe clear-out for Oxfam raised £3.3m.
Technology and Media.
Social innovation – design and delivery. Digital literacy. Youth engagement .
Salesforce.com Foundation: product donations and training for non-profits to use their cloud technology systems. Google: ‘Hack Days’ with young people to address unemployment issues through online technology.
Does your organisation want to find out how to build great relationships with business? Building Effective Partnerships with Business Monday 1 October 2012, 9:30am-4pm This course, organised by the Support Hub, will provide advice, guidance and practical suggestions to apply when starting or developing partnerships from within the business sector including: • Being able to identify what your organisation has to offer and gain from partnerships with business. • Gain a range of methods and approaches to building partnerships. • Hear from several local businesses regarding their current partnerships with the voluntary and community sector. Trainers: Corinne Thomas and Davina Pilkington, Business Unusual
Issue 18 October / November / December 2012
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11
Support Hub
Power of Partnership 2012 Now in its eighth year, Business in the Community, in partnership with their Bristol ProHelp Group, is hosting the Power of Partnership event on Tuesday 16 October 2012 at St Werburghs Community Centre, Bristol.
Suit image by Anynonymoose.
Runners in the Sports Relief Mile for 1625 Independent People.
Power of Partnership is a free event, providing a unique opportunity to meet businesses face-to-face, receive free professional and business advice, forge working partnerships and be inspired by best practice case studies of business and community partnerships. The event will include a varied programme of plenary speakers, best practice case studies, workshops and advice surgeries from some of Bristol’s top professionals. Bristol ProHelp comprises of 30+ professional firms including lawyers, accountants, architects, consulting engineers, surveyors and PR/marketing consultants. Representatives from these areas of business will all be
12 www.voscur.org
British Red Cross service user with his home from hospital volunteer.
available for you to meet and receive free advice. We are also inviting organisations to exhibit at this event. The exhibition space in St Werburghs Community Centre will be utilised by community, voluntary and professional organisations, displaying relevant material on working together for the benefit of the local community. There is no charge for exhibiting. Over the years, the advice given at these events has led to valuable long-term relationships between the organisations. Mark Stevens, Partner at GSS Architecture, Chair of Bristol Prohelp and The Prince’s Ambassador, South West commented: “Staff enjoy working on these projects. They feel they
Tea time at Windmill Hill City Farm
are assisting organisations in the worthwhile services they provide and putting something back into the communities where they live and work.”
For further information and to register please email Nicola Prince at BITC: southwest@bitc.org.uk or call 0117 930 9380. To apply to Bristol ProHelp for free professional and business advice please email: reed@bitc.org.uk
October / November / December 2012 Issue 18
Support Hub
Support Hub training courses Support Hub training is offering some new courses to help your organisation be more effective in these challenging times. Keep an eye out for our new year courses at: www.supporthub.org.uk/training-hub.
Building Effective Partnerships with Business New
Retention and Support of Volunteers
1 October 2012, 9:30am-4pm
9 October 2012 – 9:30am-3:30pm
Developing long term partnerships with businesses
This course is helpful for those that are relatively new
will add value to your services and improve your
to volunteer management or those who may have
resources. This course, delivered by Business
some experience but want to know more. Its purpose
Unusual, will provide advice, guidance and practical
is to support volunteer managers to get the best
suggestions when starting or developing partnerships
out of their volunteers and ensure they have a good
with the business sector.
volunteering experience. This will help you to keep your volunteers as well as gain extra support!
Trustee Series 1: Why am I on the Committee?
Making the Most of the Media
3 October 2012, 6:30pm-9:30pm
17 October 2012, 9:30am-4pm
This course will give anyone who has the role of a
This workshop will help you learn how to make the
trustee, a basic overview of their legal duties and
most of the media, giving you the skills you need
responsibilities. It is ideal if you have just become a
to boost your chances of winning regular and
trustee or want to brush up on your skills.
positive editorial coverage across newspapers, radio, TV and websites.
Using Proactis Plaza (formerly known as Bristol eProcurement System, BePS)
New
4 October 2012, 1pm-4:30pm Bristol City Council has replaced Bristol E-Procurement System (BePS) with Proactis Plaza – an online system which organisations need to use if they want to be commissioned for work. Representatives from Bristol City Council will answer questions and guide you through registration, common issues and practical exercises.
Preventing Injury to Children – is Cotton Wool Hazardous? New 18 October 2012, 1pm-3pm With around 13,500 preventable childhood injuries being treated by emergency departments in Bristol every year, this is a big issue for families and everyone who works with them. Rob Benington, Injury Prevention Manager from NHS Bristol will share the most up-to-date knowledge about serious childhood injury in Bristol.
Issue 18 October / November / December 2012
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13
Ten Steps to the Perfect Tender
Commissioning and Outcomes
23 October 2012, 9:30am-3:30pm
14 November 2012, 9:30am-3:30pm
This course is aimed at those who already have
Outcomes and commissioning go hand in hand.
a good knowledge of raising funds for voluntary
In order to understand how your organisation can
sector organisations and who want to know more
engage in commissioning, you will need to first
about being commissioned for services through
understand outcomes. This course is aimed at
Bristol City Council and the tendering process.
people with some understanding of income generation, fundraising or tendering.
Trustee Series 2: Good Governance – How to be a Better Trustee
Health and Safety in the Workplace New
24 October 2012, 6:30pm-9:30pm
20 November 2012, 9:30am-4:30pm
This session complements ‘Why am I on the
This course is aimed at anyone needing an
Committee?’, looking in greater detail at how
understanding of the essential aspects of health
trustees can be more effective in their role.
and safety and how to work safely within your organisation. You will be asked to carry out a written
Greening your Organisation
assessment on the day which will lead to a certificate
7 November 2012, 10am-12:30pm
valid for three years.
from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health,
Greening your organisation can save you money. This session, delivered in partnership with Business West, is packed with lots of ideas how. Each organisation that attends will receive a free energy saving device.
Updating your Equality and Diversity Policy 28 November 2012, 9:30am-3:30pm The Equality Act 2010 brought in new legislation and
Managing Sickness and Absence New
organisations need to be clear on how this impacts
8 November 2012, 1pm-4:30pm
Council’s baseline standards.
their service. This course will help you to review your equality and diversity policy, in line with Bristol City
This course will be delivered by Charity HR and will cover what constitutes absence; what are sickness and absence policies; the importance of up to date record keeping; fit notes; return to work interviews;
Costing your Project – Using Full Cost Recovery
planned absences and how to manage these; when
3 December 2012, 9:30am-3:30pm
absence becomes a problem and case studies to
This course will give you an introduction to the theory
work through in groups.
and methods of full cost recovery (FCR), to ensure projects are costed effectively. This is for anyone who needs to know more about how to cost projects, unit costs and FCR.
14 www.voscur.org
October / November / December 2012 Issue 18
Support Hub Equalities Monitoring – Getting it Right 11 December 2012, 9:30am-1pm
To book onto any of these courses or to find out more, please go to www.supporthub.org.uk/training-hub.
Many organisations have concerns about asking their
Alternatively, you can call us on
service users equalities information. Organisations
0117 909 9949.
need this information in order to understand who they are reaching and how to reach a wider
This is a QR code,
audience. This basic course will give you all you need
designed for smart
to help you monitor your service users.
phones and devices. You can download an
Prove it! – Convincing Funders your Project is Needed
‘app’ which will allow
13 December 2012, 9:30am-3:30pm
access to additional
Do you need to show evidence of need for your
information on your mobile/smart device.
you to scan these codes for instant
project or service? This basic course will equip you with the skills and resources you can use to prove to funders there is a need for your new or existing project.
How training can help Stacey Vallis, Youth Volunteering Development Worker at Young Bristol, attended our Funding Applications: Getting it Right training. She recently got in contact with us to let us know some good news... Following on from my training with you I built up the confidence to submit a funding application to the Clubs for Young People’s ‘Do Something Environmental’ project.
Three ‘Woodlanders’ involved with Young Bristol.
The project granted us £1000 to build an outdoor education kitchen for young people so they can learn about sustainability & self-sufficiency. In June this year we built the kitchen with the help of 15 young people and Bristol’s fantastic Conservation Trust. We will be using the site with many groups, to develop skills in foraging, cooking, woodwork and survival. Thanks so much for the great training; I would never have applied for this money if I hadn’t attended. To find out more about Young Bristol, visit their website: www.youngbristol.com. You can also view a youtube video of the building of the outdoor education kitchen at: goo.gl/CLG0h
Issue 18 October / November / December 2012
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15
Bristol Compact
What’s the point of The Compact? Quite a lot! The Compact (the agreement between local public agencies and the voluntary sector) is a bit like one of those appliance manuals. You know you ought to read it but you don’t because you’re busy. You remember it when things go wrong and you realise that, if you’d looked at it earlier, the problem might have been avoided. The Bristol Compact is being
voluntary sector) commitments.
consultations, allowing enough
revised for the first time in four
The Compact partners have
time, using a variety of methods,
years. The update (which will
done this to reinforce the
avoiding duplication and working
follow a review that is taking
importance of both sectors
with service users to represent
place until the 7 October) will
working in partnership.
their views.
to the national Compact in
Compact themes
4. Promoting volunteering
December 2010. Bristol’s Compact
The new version focuses on the
Commitments include recognising
Partners’ Group (comprised of
following themes:
that volunteering is a choice
and voluntary sector groups)
1. Allocating resources
working with volunteers requires
proposes to include the following
efficiently
resources and volunteers need
things, all of which are relevant
Commitments include intelligent
to be managed respectfully and
to Bristol to provide a new focus
commissioning, social value,
professionally.
for the Bristol Compact. Proposed
co-development, full cost
new Compact values include:
recovery, realistic timetables
incorporate the revisions made
representatives of public agencies
• Partnership working for the benefit of Bristol, its people and communities. • Sharing a commitment to maintaining and developing a thriving voluntary sector in Bristol. • Sharing a commitment to the Bristol 20:20 Plan. • Working within available resources that are linked to current priorities.
Shared commitments
and should be open to all;
5. Managing changes to services
and multi-year funding.
Commitments include recognising
2. Promoting equality and
to an end, the impact on service
community cohesion
users and employees should be
Commitments include
considered and minimised, and a
representation and involvement
reasonable notice period
of groups that work with under-
is required.
that when things change or come
represented people/communities, and delivering the public sector duty on promoting equalities and tackling discrimination. 3. Consulting with the voluntary sector, service users and governance bodies
For the first time, the new version
Commitments include being clear
proposes to include a description
about the purpose and limits of
Don’t miss your opportunity to have your say! The consultation on the revised Bristol Compact closes on 7 October. Only 10 questions – do it now! www.bristolcompact. org.uk/revision.
of our shared (public and
16 www.voscur.org
October / November / December 2012 Issue 18
Voice and Influence
Get ready, get set, get involved! November’s VCS Assembly meeting Photo by Aartj
The next VCS Assembly meeting
sector organisations a range of
To confirm your place at the VCS
takes place on Wednesday 7
opportunities, including the right
Assembly meeting visit:
November (2-5pm). The meeting
to bid to run council services
www.voscur.org/content/vcs-
will include details of the new
(Right to Challenge – see page 18)
assembly-meeting-1
City Deal and what it will mean
and the opportunity to nominate
for the voluntary sector, updates
and potentially bid for land or
on the Mayor and Police Crime
buildings of community value
Commissioner elections, policy
(Right to Bid – see page 19). As
news and updates, and practical
Thrive! goes to press, more details
advice and information on how
are awaited on when and how
those in the voluntary sector can
the new Community Rights are
make the new Bristol Compact
to be introduced. There will be
work for you.
an update on these at the
1. Learn about the City Deal
Assembly meeting
and what it means for the
3. Find out how the new Bristol
voluntary sector.
Compact can work for you.
In July 2012, the Government
Graham Sims, Bristol City Council’s
announced that it had agreed a
acting Chief Executive, will launch
Bristol City Deal which will include
the revised Bristol Compact at
transferring more power from
the VCS Assembly meeting. The
central to local government.
next six months will see significant
The Government says that the
changes in leadership of key
five-part deal will be delivered in
public bodies, with the election
return for strong local leadership
of the first Bristol Mayor and
and strengthened governance
Police and Crime Commissioner
structures. Come and find out
(see page 28-31) and the start of
more and join in the discussion on
GP Commissioning. The revised
the role of the voluntary sector in
Bristol Compact will be a helpful
the City Deal.
tool to ensure a positive and
2. Get an update on Community Rights.
effective relationship between the voluntary sector and these new partners. The meeting will include
The new Community Rights
a presentation on the ‘top tips
(included in the Government’s
for making the Compact work for
Localism Act) offer voluntary
your organisation’.
Issue 18 October / November / December 2012
Another Voice and Influence event: Special meeting to give the voluntary sector a chance to inform the new Bristol Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The draft of the first Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Bristol is due to be released in December 2012, followed by a formal consultation period. The Voice and Influence team and the voluntary sector Health and Social Care Network have worked in partnership with The Care Forum to organise a special meeting on Thursday 8 November, 1-3:30pm, to enable voluntary sector groups to find out about the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and contribute to it prior to the publication of the draft. To confirm your place at the special Health and Wellbeing Strategy meeting visit: goo.gl/zflqa or call Voscur on 0117 909 9949.
www.voscur.org
17
Know your community rights As many of the new community rights from the Localism Act come into effect, we’ve prepared a brief introduction to the Community Right to Challenge and the Community Right to Bid, setting out what they involve and what they’ll mean for the voluntary and community sector.
Community Right to Challenge — in brief Mark Hubbard
What’s happening in Bristol?
making panels and the
Bristol Compact Liaison Officer
This part of the Act came into
processing of challenges.
force in June 2012. The Act and its accompanying statutory guidance leave it to the authorities to
What is Community Right to
develop their own processes for
Challenge?
handling challenges.
Community Right to Challenge
Bristol Compact and the Voice
(CRtC) will let communities challenge to take over local services that they think they can run differently and better. The Act defines local services as those delivered by the local authority and fire and rescue service. Under the new arrangements, virtually all council services will be open to CRtC. If a challenge is accepted, a procurement process will
and Influence service have been
that we should be cautious.
become part of the Enabling
If a procurement process is
Commissioning Framework
triggered, the original challenger
and be clearly defined in the
has no privileged position; the
commissioning cycle.
procurement process would be
So far, a couple of focus groups (of council and voluntary sector
event to discuss the following:
what is described as a ‘relevant
• Timings for when challenges
the detail. By the time you read
may be submitted. • Information required to enable interested parties to submit a challenge in the correct format. • Clarity about decision
18 www.voscur.org
Voscur’s position
The intention is that CRtC will
Challenges can be made by
and fire and rescue authorities).
Bristol City Council.
may be a useful tool, but
this there will have been a further
a ‘relevant authority’ (local councils
early October Cabinet meeting at
to develop those processes.
Who can make a challenge?
or groups of 2 or more staff from
the proposal being made to the
We believe that the new CRtC
determine future service delivery.
community groups, parish councils
has now been used to finalise
working with Bristol City Council
officers) have discussed some of
body’. These are voluntary and
The product of those discussions
open to any provider. Voscur’s services (Support Hub and Voice and Influence) are developing a response to the new Rights.
Find out more: For more information about developments in Bristol, email Mark Hubbard: mark@voscur.org. You can also visit: www.communityrights. communities.gov.uk.
October / November / December 2012 Issue 18
Voice and Influence
Community Right to Bid — a quick guide Matthew Symonds Development Manager – Participation
What is Community Right to Bid? The new Community Right to Bid (CRtB) (part of the Localism Act) aims to keep valued land and buildings in community use by giving local people the chance to bid to buy them, if and when they come onto the market.
sale, the Right to Bid is triggered,
The Social Investment Business
giving people up to six months to
has launched the Community
prepare a bid and compete
Ownership and Management of
the sale.
Assets (including CRtB) grants
What if there is a disagreement over whether an asset should be added to the register?
based on the CRtB guidance. The make-up of the panel has not yet been agreed, but is likely officers (possibly) and external
use’ mean?
representatives. Voscur has
privately owned, buildings or land that is currently or has recently been used by the local community. This could include village shops, pubs, former schools, swimming pools or a public open space. How will CRtB work? Once in place, charities and community groups will have the opportunity to nominate public and private land and buildings to be part of a register of ‘assets of community value’. The register will be held by the Council and will be publicly available. If something on this register is offered for
£100,000 are available.
nominations and make a decision
and buildings in community
assets’) could be private, or
feasibility grants of up to
to consider any contentious
to consist of councillors, council
to in the Act as ‘community
grants of up to £10,000 and
The Council will convene a panel
What does ‘valued land
Valued land and buildings (referred
programme. Pre-feasibility
agreed to be involved in the CRtB panel if appropriate. Is CRtB different from Community Asset Transfer (CAT)? Yes, Bristol City Council have an existing CAT policy which enables them to transfer land and buildings to communities for less than their market value. Is there any funding or support to help charities or community groups secure assets through CRtB? The Government is funding Locality to provide advice and support for groups to use CRtB, including capacity-building support to make a bid feasible.
Issue 18 October / November / December 2012
Find out more: Community Right to Bid information: www.mycommunityrights.org.uk/ community-right-to-bid Bristol City Council – Community Asset Transfer: www.bristol.gov.uk/cat Social Investment Business, Community Rights Grants Programme: www.thesocialinvestmentbusiness. org/communityrights Locality’s website: www.locality.org.uk The VCS Assembly meeting on Wednesday 7 November will include an update on the introduction of CRtB in Bristol. (See page 17 for more details).
www.voscur.org
19
Voice and Influence
Voluntary sector report recommends improvements for Neighbourhood Partnerships The Neighbourhood Partnership
2. Devolve funding decisions
(NP) working group, established
to local Partnerships
following the voluntary sector
Increase the wellbeing fund
Neighbourhood and Communities
given to each NP, explore
Network meeting in November
incorporating funding from other
last year, has published its final
partners and possibly set up two
report. Following its evaluation
funds – one fund for councillors
of resident and voluntary sector
to allocate and another fund that
involvement with NPs, the working
would be decided by the NP or
group made 29 recommendations
its sub-groups.
The report concludes that NPs have been a positive development, creating opportunities for residents and voluntary and community groups to get involved in local decision making. However, some aspects of NPs do not work as effectively as they could, acting as a barrier to reaching and engaging more people.
3. Develop genuine partnerships with local people Local community members of the NP together with councillors
and what role local residents,
community engagement workers to focus on community development work.
network of NPs, supporting one
with only council business on
another and sharing good ideas.
them are not partnership agendas. The process for setting the agenda for NPs should be opened up to ensure that in each NP, part of the agenda can There are many different ways
understanding of what NPs are
NP area coordinators and
agreeing NP business. NP agendas
recommendations are:
Develop a more generally shared
producing local communication.
5. Develop a strong city-wide
be set by the local community.
part of Bristol
community groups already
should have more control over
The report’s five main
1. Ensure good NPs in every
sub-group or be given to local
This would free up the time of
to help strengthen and improve the Partnerships.
NP area coordinator, possibly a
that this could be done. To allow this to happen it may be
Once established, a city-wide group for NPs could share good examples of their activities and consider city-wide and relevant strategic issues that affect NPs. This group could also oversee improved communication and links between the 14 NPs.
necessary for NPs to choose which council agenda items they want at their NP meetings.
community groups, councillors
4. Improve communication so
and statutory partners have in
that local people are better
The full report can be
them. The NP terms of reference
informed about their NP
found online at:
should be reviewed and revised.
NP communication should be
Each NP needs to be closely involved in this process.
20 www.voscur.org
led by someone other than the
www.voscur.org/news/ NPreportcompleted
October / November / December 2012 Issue 18
Voice and Influence
VCS advocate election Voluntary and community sector (VCS) advocates are chosen by voluntary groups and organisations in Bristol to provide a voice for the sector. Through the VCS Assembly and Network, the advocates engage with others in the sector, taking a range of
VCS advocate election timetable Notice of election and VCS advocate positions available Monday 17 September 2012
Nominations open Monday 17 September 2012
views and experiences forward
Nominations close
when representing the VCS at
Friday 2 November 2012
partnerships, meetings and during important decision making processes. The advocates actively take part in these meetings/processes, ensuring that they relay views, knowledge and expertise from the local sector to influence thinking and decisions in the city. Nominations are now being invited for the election of VCS
Notice of candidates Monday 5 November 2012 – shortlist published
Election Voting begins Monday 5 November 2012 Voting closes Friday 7 December 2012
Notice of results Monday 10 December 2012
Advocate induction/VCS advocate meeting Wednesday 12 December 2012
advocates for the following boards and partnerships: • Bristol Safeguarding Children Board (two places). • (Children and Young People) North Area Partnership Executive Group (one place). • Bristol Provider Forum (one place). • Physical, Sensory Impairment (PSI) Partnership Board (one place). • Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) group
Four of our current VCS Advocates giving video updates to the sector. www.youtube.com/voscur
(to be confirmed, see website or call Voscur for details). • West of England Community Learning Partnership
For full details of the VCS advocate election, as well as contact details and video reports from your current VCS advocates visit: www.voiceandinfluence.org.uk/advocates#election
(one place).
Issue 18 October / November / December 2012
www.voscur.org
21
Voice and Influence
The story behind The Station In anticipation of the launch of The Station, Wendy Stephenson, Voscur’s CEO, recently met with Sandy Hore-Ruthven from the Creative Youth Network, hoping to get the story behind the creation of the new Bristol youth centre. Wendy Stephenson (WS): I remember attending an event about 4 years ago at the Fire Station when the concept of The Station was first forming. What have been the major challenges that you have faced getting from there to here? Sandy Hore-Ruthven (SH): A medium sized organisation taking on a project of this scale has its challenges. We have had to expand very quickly; systems and structures were not in place, people have been over-worked
Young people involved with the Creative Youth Network.
SH: We haven’t always, especially
together in new ways to offer
internally, but we have learnt a
support to young people.
lot. We have done a good job of
and stressed.
keeping partners on-side – it’s
Another big challenge has been
the vision; keep people involved;
the fact that The Station is developing at a time when other youth provision is being cut. Some have taken the view that money is being diverted into The Station, but this is not true. Through communicating and engaging with our critics, many I would say are now enthusiastic about the project (or at worst – neutral!).
important to keep communicating
We have put a lot of time into
every minute. Keep the vision,
working with partners, having
the plan in mind at all times and
regular meetings, dealing with
don’t underestimate the internal
things like joint branding and
infrastructure you need to make
how those practical things will
it happen. Oh, and don’t let
work. I also feel we have managed
consultants tell you what to do –
the youth involvement element
stick to your plans and tell them
well – young people are now
if you think they are wrong!
getting excited as it comes to
keeping young people involved
WS: What has been the biggest
be creative in how we keep
success? SH: The biggest success has been
them engaged.
the partnership working. I know
WS: How have you managed to
than the sum of its parts. We are
keep people on-side?
22 www.voscur.org
taking on such a massive project? SH: Go for it! I’ve loved almost
opening time.
(4-5 years) and we have had to
give to someone contemplating
accept and respond to criticism.
Another challenge has been in such a long term project
WS: So what advice would you
that The Station will be greater
The Station launch will be on the 20th October 2012, 12-10pm. Silver St, Broadmead (launch events will continue over two days). For more information, visit: goo.gl/A0UND
already seeing partners working
October / November / December 2012 Issue 18
Voice and Influence
Positive for Youth: October’s Children and Young People’s Network meeting In a recent Voscur survey, members requested more information on youth work. ‘Positive for Youth’ brings together everything the Government is doing to support young people and will form the focus of the upcoming Children and Young People’s (CYP) Network meeting on the 4th October, 2012. The meeting will highlight the current drivers for youth work and what the Positive for Youth strategy means for the voluntary and community sector. Fiona Phur, voluntary and community sector specialist at the Youth Work Unit at Learning South West will
present, followed by feedback from VCS Advocates. The first half hour of this meeting will be an optional tour of Barton Hill Settlement, highlighting the groups that are based there and the work they do, particularly with children, young people and families. Following on from this CYP Network meeting, there will be a free event (organised with support from Voscur, separate booking necessary), ‘Understanding Payment by Results for Small Organisations’. This is a peer learning seminar, facilitated by the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services as part of the Department for
Get involved, get up-to-date, get connected – benefits of our CYP Network: On the hunt for new direction in my work-life, I accessed the Voscur website and found lots of useful resources, low cost (or free) training and details about local events. I attended the CYP Network and through these meetings I found clear links between my previous roles and some potentially new areas of work. I also met up with old and new colleagues and caught up with current policy and practice. My confidence and enthusiasm returned, alongside my determination to continue to work to improve services and opportunities for children, young people and their families. I am now working as the Family and Parenting Co-ordinator for Imayla. Thank you Voscur.
Fiona Castle, Family and Parenting Co-ordinator for Imayla
Issue 18 October / November / December 2012
Education funded Overarching Strategic Partnership (led by Children England in partnership with Social Enterprise UK, Race Equality Foundation, NAVCA and Community Matters). Diane Mak, an associate at Social Finance UK, will explain how the Payment by Results model works. Participants will discuss the implications of this approach for small organisations and devise principles to enable their effective participation. The Troubled Families Programme is using Payment by Results for commissioning and funding services. This free seminar is aimed at voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations that work with children, young people and families.
Positive for Youth – Implications for the Voluntary and Community Sector Thursday 4 October 2012, 9:30am-11:30am Barton Hill Settlement, Bristol. To book your place, visit: goo.gl/kNqak Understanding Payment by Results for Small Organisations Thursday 4 October, 2012, 11:30am-2:30pm Barton Hill Settlement, Bristol Please book separately for this event here: goo.gl/xniRx
For more details about the CYP Network meeting, contact Asma Ahmad on 0117 909 9949, or e-mail: asma@voscur.org
www.voscur.org
23
BME voice and influence Information on Bristol’s commitment to strengthen the voice and influence of black minority ethnic (BME) communities and groups, plus interesting news and events for BME organisations.
News Following the work of the BME Voice and Influence Steering Group, Voscur and Bristol City Council (BCC) have committed to contribute resources to a
The BME Voice and Influence programme will seek to progress
the voice and influence of
the aspirations set out in the
any disadvantaged groups
vision statement produced by the
or individuals, regardless of
steering group in November 2011,
background.
this includes aspirations to: • Work with BME communities
programme of work that
to strengthen their voice and
co-ordinates and increases
influence, ensuring they play
BME voice and influence for
a full part in decision making
individuals, communities and
processes.
groups in Bristol.
• Work with Bristol’s institutions to improve the dialogue with BME groups.
Campaigning
• Build coalitions that strengthen
Visit the Voice and Influence website for regular updates, minutes of steering group meetings and the full vision statement: www.voiceandinfluence.org.uk/ BMEvoice
and 2011/12. 118 of 153 local
voluntary and community sector
authorities responded.
organisations was down. Around £3m in social care funding was cut
The Afiya Trust have published
One in five respondents did
findings from their research
not declare whether equality
examining whether public
impact assessments had been
sector cuts are impacting
conducted. One in five authorities
Patrick Vernon, the Afiya Trust’s
disproportionately on BME
also said they did not collect
chief executive, said: “There is
families and voluntary and
data on the funding allocated to
clear evidence that many local
community groups.
BME voluntary and community
authorities are not delivering on
sector organisations (which the
their legal requirement as part
Trust described as “alarming”).
of the Public Sector Equality
Some local authorities indicated
Duty to conduct equality impact
that they did not and would
assessments when making funding
not conduct equality impact
cuts that affect BME communities.
As part of their ‘Living in the Margins’ campaign to reduce inequalities for BME families and voluntary and community organisations, the Afiya Trust used a freedom of information request to obtain details from all local
assessments on their adult social care budgets.
to BME voluntary and community sector organisations in 2010/11.
This comes at a time when BME communities are experiencing one
authorities of cuts to BME services
The findings also showed that
of the largest increases in health
and communities in 2010/11
the overall funding for BME
inequalities and one of the largest
24 www.voscur.org
October / November / December 2012 Issue 18
Voice and Influence reductions in social mobility since the 1940s. From our initial findings, they are also bearing a significant brunt of the cuts.” The Trust called on the Government to review guidance to local authorities funding cuts and to ensure that “all local authorities undertake equality impact assessments with clear evidence that the impact on BME communities…[is] factored into all decision making processes and
Chinese elders at a luncheon club, photo care of Afiya Trust
• Develop best practice guidance
equality impact assessments
final council budgets”.
to ensure all local authorities are
and to produce an action plan
The Trust also recommended that
carrying out the Public Sector
to support BME communities.
local government should: • Establish a network to support local authorities to develop best practice around race equality to minimise the impact of the cuts on BME communities.
Equality Duty. • Establish a team of peer reviewers to support council leaders, elected mayors, councillors and cabinet members to develop robust processes around the cuts and
To find out more visit: www.afiya-trust.org and www.livinginthemargins.org/ category/keyfindings/
Events Black History Month 2012: October 2012 Black History Month in Bristol is widely recognised and celebrated, with a diverse programme of activities across the city. These events are often collaborative, organised by voluntary groups and public sector agencies. While some people believe that one month focusing on Black history undermines or pigeonholes work that ought to be on-going throughout the whole of the year, some groups find it a useful opportunity to showcase certain services or important issues that sometimes lack attention.
Black and Minority Ethnic Fair 2012 – ‘Money, Marketing and Media’: Thursday 25 October, 1 - 6pm, the Council House, College Green, Bristol. An opportunity for voluntary groups supporting BME communities across Bristol to showcase their services, network with public sector agencies and find out about how they can get involved in having an increased and co-ordinated voice. The event is facilitated by Voscur, SARI and Bristol City Council.
For more information about the month’s activities visit: www.blackhistorymonthuk.co.uk
Issue 18 October / November / December 2012
Find out more at: goo.gl/HqPm7
www.voscur.org
25
Voice and Influence
A new vision for social care? At the end of July, the Government published its White Paper, Caring for our future: reforming care and support. White Papers are the first step in creating legislation and it is anticipated that a new Act of Parliament will be on the statute books by 2015.
Photo by Mercy Health
The White Paper sets out a
However, the Government will not
Others are not so optimistic
broad vision for a reformed care
set the financial criteria for at least
however. The Kings Fund said
and support system. The new
another year and possibly not until
“despite its commitment to
system will:
after the next election.
the urgency of reform, the
• Focus on people’s wellbeing
There will also be a new
and support them to stay
government website, from
independent for as long as
April 2013, which will provide
possible.
a clear, universal source of
• Introduce greater national consistency in access to care and support. • Provide better information to help people make choices about their care. • Give people more control over their care. • Improve support for carers. • Improve the quality of care and support. • Improve the integration of different services. Amongst the many proposals is a long awaited revision of the financial and personal needs criteria for social care support.
26 www.voscur.org
information on the health care and support system.
Government has failed to produce a clear plan for how care should be funded or a timetable for how these decisions will be considered. Nor has it acknowledged the growing pressures on the current system, maintaining instead that
‘Portable care assessments’ will be
local authorities have sufficient
introduced; meaning that people
funding to meet current needs.
in receipt of social care who
This flies in the face of evidence
move from one local authority
that care spending is falling while
to another will not have to face
the numbers of people needing
delays while they wait for their
care is rocketing.”
support needs to be re-assessed. The Social Care Institute for Excellence described the White Paper proposals as “helping to raise the bar for quality, independence, information,
The White Paper can
choice and control, building on
be downloaded here:
the work the sector has already
goo.gl/633d9
been doing in these vital areas”.
October / November / December 2012 Issue 18
Bristol votes for its first directly elected Mayor As Thrive! goes to print, twelve candidates have declared their intention to stand in the election for the first ever directly elected Mayor of Bristol. The election takes place on Thursday 15 November (the deadline for formal nominations closes on 19 October). The declared candidates for the mayoral election so far (correct as of September 2012) are: Craig Clarke – Independent (State Education Party) Tim Collins – Independent (Save Filton Runway) Geoff Gollop – Conservative George Ferguson – Independent (Bristol First) Spud Murphy – Independent Eric Mutch – Independent (renamed Mr Corrupt Self Serving Lying Thieving B’stard) Neil Maggs – Respect Party Daniella Radice – Green Marvin Rees – Labour Jon Rogers – Liberal Democrat
held at the M Shed in September. Each candidate was given the opportunity to pre-record a one minute video, setting out their response to the following question: ‘How do you see the voluntary and community sector contributing to your vision for Bristol?’. The videos were played, following which the candidates heard from voluntary groups/ organisations about priorities and issues that they think the elected Mayor needs to be aware of. The videos from the mayoral candidates, as well as other news and information about the election can be found here: www. voscur.org/mayorelection2012
Pledges for the mayoral candidates At the June VCS Assembly meeting, voluntary sector groups were invited to take part in a discussion on whether the sector should identify some pledges for all mayoral candidates to sign up to. Since the meeting, Six pledges have been developed further: Draft VCS pledges for
Andy Thorne – Independent
the Mayor*
Stoney Garnett – Independent
If elected as Mayor of Bristol:
All the declared candidates were invited to attend the Voscur AGM
28 www.voscur.org
1. I will establish regular communication with the
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
voluntary sector, meeting with and listening to representatives at least every month. I will support the Bristol Compact and seek to ensure my policies are implemented in a Compact compliant way. I will ensure that there are fair funding opportunities for the voluntary sector and that it is not disproportionately affected by any budget reductions I make. I will recognise and champion the contribution of the voluntary sector to Bristol, including its role in supporting and empowering smaller and disadvantaged communities. I will work with the voluntary sector to support the Bristol Partnership priorities of reducing the number of children living in poverty in Bristol and tackling youth unemployment. I will work with the sector to support and empower young people by supporting Bristol’s young MPs and introducing a Young Mayor of Bristol.
* As Thrive! magazine goes to press further consultation is taking place with the voluntary sector on the pledges before they will be finalised in October. Find out more and give your support to the VCS Mayor pledges at: www.voscur.org/mayorelection2012
October / November / December 2012 Issue 18
Voice and Influence Putting the mayoral candidates on the spot The Voice and Influence service and Voscur are working with partners to organise Question Time events with the mayoral candidates.
x
Bristol Mayor Election Question Time
Mayoral Question Time at the
Mayoral Question Time at the University of Bristol
South Bristol Skills Academy Tuesday 16 October, 6:30-8:30pm
Friday 2 November, 6pm start. The Great Hall, Bristol University, Clifton.
Organised in partnership by Voscur, Hartcliffe & Withywood Community Partnership, Knowle West Media Centre, Community In Partnership Knowle West and supported by the City of Bristol College.
Organised in partnership by University of Bristol Students Union, the University of Bristol and Voscur. This event is primarily for students but is also open to the wider community.
Mayoral Question Time at the Greenway Centre
Mayoral Question Time at the Trinity Centre
Monday 22 October, 6:30-9pm The Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead.
Thursday 8 November, 6:30-9pm The Trinity Centre, Lawrence Hill.
Organised in partnership by Voscur and Southmead Development Trust.
Organised in partnership by Voscur, St Pauls Unlimited and Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management. This event is primarily for residents and community groups in Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill wards.
What would you ask the Bristol Mayor candidates? To make sure that a diverse range of issues are covered at the Question Time events, we are asking people to submit questions online in advance. A range
of questions will be chosen – yours might be one of them. To submit your questions visit: goo.gl/yFJpn or call Matthew Symonds on: 0117 909 9949.
Further details about the election Approximately 320,000 people within the Bristol will be eligible to vote. You must be on the electoral register to vote in the elections on 15 November. If you are not yet registered, do this by the 8 October by calling Bristol City Council’s Electoral Services on: 0117 922 3400. Providing you are on the electoral register, you can just go to your polling station which will be open from 7am - 10pm. The vote will use a supplementary voting system –
there will be two columns and voters will be able to cast a first and second choice vote. If no candidate wins 50% of the first choice votes then the top two candidates go through to a second round and the other candidates’ second choice votes are redistributed. The process continues until a candidates passes the 50% + 1 threshold to secure a plurality of votes. Whoever is elected as Mayor of Bristol will serve until the next mayoral election takes place in May 2016.
Keep up to date with the mayoral election at: www.voscur.org/ mayorelection2012
Issue 18 October / November / December 2012
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29
Police and Crime Commissioner election Photo by John Jones
A million to one — voters prepare to choose the first ever elected leader for the police. On Thursday 15 November, 1.1 million people across Avon and Somerset will be eligible to vote to choose the first ever Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). Elections will be taking place in each of the 41 police authority areas in England and Wales, to choose the PCCs who will set the budgets and priorities for police and community safety issues for the next three and a half years. The PCC will have five main
to the Community Safety
Avon and Somerset. A guide to the
responsibilities:
Partnership* in the police
voluntary sector in this area has
force’s area).
been prepared for the candidates,
1. Appointing the Chief Constable and holding them to account to run the police force. 2. Producing a 5 year Police and
*In Bristol this is called the Safer Bristol Partnership.
giving useful information and data about the contribution local groups make. A public Question
As part of the Safer Future
Crime Plan that will set out
Time event is also taking place on
Communities project, Voscur
local police priorities.
Thursday 18 October (see details
has been working with voluntary
on the next page).
3. Setting the annual policing
sector partners to make sure
charge element of the local
voluntary groups across Avon
council tax bill and the local
and Somerset are informed
police budget.
about the new PCCs and able to
4. Cooperating with the criminal justice system in their area. 5. Working with partners and funding community safety activity to tackle crime and disorder by awarding grants to other organisations (including but not limited
30 www.voscur.org
influence the candidates on issues that matter to them and the communities they serve. Work is already underway to help make sure that the PCC candidates are informed about the voluntary and community sector across
Find out more The VCS PCC Network for Avon and Somerset: www.voiceandinfluence.org.uk /VCSPCCNetwork VCS Voice and Influence briefing on Police Crime Commissioners: goo.gl/x7gBa
October / November / December 2012 Issue 18
Voice and Influence
Avon and Somerset Police Crime Commissioner Question Time
x
Police Crime Commissioner Election Question Time
Thursday 18 October, 7-9pm The Council House, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TR
Tuesday 6 November, 7-9pm
Candidates for the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner election will take part in this public Question Time debate. The event, organised by Voscur as part of the Safer Future Communities project is free but booking is essential.
To book your place, visit: goo.gl/Ld8dA or call:
To book your place visit: www.tinyurl.com/QT-PCC or call: 0117 909 9949.
County Cricket Ground, Taunton, TA1 1JT
0117 909 9949.
What would you ask? If you’d like to submit a question for the PCC Question Time event you can post it online at: www.tinyurl.com/PCCquestions or call Matthew Symonds on the number above. A range of questions will be chosen to be asked at the event.
What do the figures tell us about crime in Avon and Somerset? In 2010/11 the number of offences in Avon and Somerset was 1,521 (762 in Bristol). 17% of the people in Avon and Somerset were victims of at least one incident of crime in 2010/11. There were 2,751 prosecutions for violent crimes against women, 2,069 resulting in conviction. The conviction rate for Avon and Somerset is 75.2%, higher than the England and Wales rate of 71.6%. From 2009/10 to 2010/11 there was a 10% drop in recorded incidents of anti-social behaviour, higher than the 8% recorded drop across England and Wales. In 2012/11, there was 1,894 racist incidents recorded, a drop of 7% from 2009/10. 5.3% of all recorded crimes in Avon and Somerset were recorded drug offences. In Bristol, 30.8% of adult offenders reoffend, 41.1% of juvenile offenders reoffend. These figures have been drawn from the Safer Future Communities’ Statistical Toolkit that gives information on crime and reoffending, anti social behaviour, arrests by ethnicity, victims of crime, substance misuse, violence against women and girls, youth crime and hate crime, by police force area.
Find out more at Clinks’ Stats Support website stats.cesi.org.uk/website_ documents/clinks.html
Issue 18 October / November / December 2012
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31
Voscur Ltd. Royal Oak House Royal Oak Avenue Bristol BS1 4GB
Tel: 0117 909 9949 Fax: 0117 933 0501 Email: info@voscur.org Web: www.voscur.org
Training & events diary October 2012 Date
Time
Event
Location
1st
9:30am-4pm
Building Effective Partnerships with Business
Arnos Vale, West Lodge
3rd
6:30pm-9:30pm
Trustee Series 1: Why am I on the Committee?
Barton Hill Settlement
4th
1pm-4:30pm
Using Proactis Plaza (Formerly Known as Bristol eProcurement System, BePS)
Knowle West Media Centre
4th
9:30am-11:30am
Children and Young People’s Network meeting-Positive for Youth – Implications for the Voluntary and Community Sector
Barton Hill Settlement
4th
11:30am-2:30pm
Understanding Payment by Results for Small Organisations
Barton Hill Settlement
9th
9:30am-3:30pm
Retention and Support of Volunteers
The Greenway Centre
16th
4pm-5pm
Changes to the NHS, a Voscur briefing session
Royal Oak House
16th
6:30pm-8:30pm
Bristol Mayor Election Question Time event (South Bristol)
South Bristol Skills Academy
17th
9:30am-4pm
Making the Most of the Media
Withywood Centre
17th
10am-12pm
Community Learning Partnership Voluntary Sector Network meeting
Shirehampton Public Hall
18th
1pm-3pm
Preventing Injury to Children – is Cotton Wool Hazardous?
The CREATE Centre
18th
7pm-9pm
Police Crime Commissioner Question Time event
The Council House
22nd
6:30pm-9pm
Bristol Mayor Election Question Time event (Southmead)
The Greenway Centre
23rd
9:30am-3:30pm
Ten Steps to the Perfect Tender
The Gatehouse Centre
24th
6:30pm-9:30pm
Trustee Series 2: Good Governance – How to be a Better Trustee
Barton Hill Settlement
November 2012 Date
Time
Event
Location
2nd
6pm-9pm
Bristol Mayor Election Question Time (Clifton)
Wills Memorial Building
6th
7-9pm
Police Crime Commissioner Question Time Event (Somerset) Taunton County Cricket Ground
7th
10am-12:30pm
Greening your Organisation
The Southville Centre
7th
2pm-5pm
VCS Assembly Meeting
The Colston Hall
8th
1pm-4:30pm
Managing Sickness and Absence
St Pauls Learning and Family Centre
8th
6:30pm-9pm
Bristol Mayor Election Question Time event (Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill)
Trinity Centre
8th
1pm-3:30pm
Help Shape the Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Bristol
St Pauls Learning and Family Centre
14th
9:30am-3:30pm
Commissioning and Outcomes
Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens
20th
9:30am-4:30pm
Health and Safety in the Workplace
St Werburghs Community Centre
28th
9:30am-3:30pm
Updating your Equality and Diversity Policy
Wellspring Healthy Living Centre
December 2012 Date
Time
Event
Location
3rd
9:30am-3:30pm
Costing your Project – Using Full Cost Recovery
The Gatehouse Centre
5th
5:30pm-8:30pm
Neighbourhoods and Communities Network meeting
TBC
11th
9:30am-1pm
Equalities Monitoring – Getting it Right
Easton Business Centre
13th
9:30am-3:30pm
Prove it! – Convincing Funders your Project is Needed
Phoenix Social Enterprise
For details of all the above training and events visit: www.voscur.org/calendar/month Voscur is a registered charity and a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. Company no. 3918210. Charity no. 1148403. Printed on 100% recycled paper using vegetable based inks