Thrive - April, May, June 2015 Edition

Supporting voluntary and community action

April/May/June 2015

In this issue: Bristol - a learning city Volunteers’ Week May’s elections - our local parties’ intentions for our sector A look at social prescribing Upcoming training and more...

Photo: Local young person involved in APE Project’s Bike Exchange Scheme. For more information about APE, see p8.

Contents Voscur

Voice and Influence

3 Editorial

15

Putting victims first

4

New members

17

5

Member focus - “Think Big” - Friends of Headley Lane Park

‘This is me’ - interview with a VCS Advocate

18

Bristol: a learning city

6

Neighbourhood focus: Dundry View

19-23

7

Bristol launches ‘Batook’s Blueprint’ - a Manifesto for Race Equality

Thinking outside the box - May’s elections and the voluntary and community sector

8-9

Grasping the nettle - support around volunteering for groups running sustainability projects

10

Celebrating our city’s fantastic volunteers

11

Stronger together - a look at Voscur and Volunteer Bristol’s new joint membership scheme

Support Hub 12-13

Upcoming Voscur training

14

Embracing change - local organisation has support from Voscur to take its next steps

24-25 A united voice is a stronger voice Bristol BME Voice’s Knowledge and Share Programme 26-27 Just what the doctor ordered - a look at social prescribing in Bristol 28-30 City devolution and communities 31

Think local - Neighbourhood Partnerships’ conference February 2015

Key to symbols Training

Information & Resources

Event

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 the views of Voscur. Publications, events and services mentioned in Thrive! are not necessarily endorsed by Voscur.

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April / May / June 2015 Issue 28

Dear members and friends for Good’, was published in

economies are growing but

January 2015.

need more support.

The Commission argues that it is generally understood that our

governance, leadership and

physical infrastructure requires

succession planning under

regular investment to help it cope

strain.

with new and changing demands - the case for investment in VCS infrastructure is just as compelling.

The research shows that Bristol’s voluntary and community sector (VCS) works with and supports some of the most vulnerable people in the city.

We do this by anticipating and responding to need, standing up for social justice and equality, being creative, innovative, frugal, maximising resources, involving volunteers, and not giving up.

Voscur is a member of Navca, a network of VCS organisations operating across the country, carrying out important behindthe-scenes work to support this frontline activity.

In this time of austerity, funders

infrastructure will be needed, as long as people come together to form VCS groups. New groups and existing ones will need advice on legal forms, governance, compliance, fundraising and income generation, financial and organisational management and demonstrating their value.

Additionally, an independent voice for and of the sector is vital.

understanding is resulting in lost opportunities.

• Too few infrastructure bodies and local groups demonstrate impact.

• Understanding of new forms of finance is weak.

The Commission addresses these issues in its recommendations, and these will inform our future plans. The Commission’s findings will be combined with Voscur’s local knowledge of capacity and need across the VCS in Bristol to give direction and focus to

number of key challenges for

our work to ensure that we are

social action; we’ve highlighted

effective in the challenging times

some of them here – they’re

ahead.

probably familiar to you too: • Coping with the problems of today leaves no time for foresight.

protect frontline services, with

To read the Commission’s report in full, go to: www.navca.org.uk/ commission-report Best wishes,

• Direct financial support to

seen as a key element of that

organisations is declining,

protection. Recognising this,

while demand is increasing.

Navca set up an independent

• Poor inter-sector

The Commission identified a

are understandably keen to infrastructure sometimes not

• Lack of capacity is placing

• New forms of organising and

commission to look at the future

advancing social causes are

of voluntary sector infrastructure.

Wendy Stephenson

emerging.

Chief Executive

The Commission’s report, ‘Change

• Cashless and informal

Issue 28 April / May / June 2015

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New Voscur members Buzz Lockleaze

Bourne Family Project

A social enterprise which runs an employability

Family support centre based in Kingswood

project; does work around food and healthy eating

which aims to provide a safe and confidential

and is developing a community food shop and

space where families and individuals can

coffee/smoothie bar. www.northbristoladvice.org.uk/communityprojects/buzz-lockleaze

seek practical and emotional support. bfp@bournechristiancentre.org 0117 9478441

admin@buzzlockleaze.co.uk 0117 269 0006

Old Market Manor

Steiner Academy Bristol

A factory in Old Market, now a community-built,

A new school offering an education that is creative, engaging and environmentally conscious.

community-led space: a design centre for excellence built by people who are dedicated and passionate about ‘making’/creative arts. hello.oldmarketmanor@gmail.com 07921 765 909

info@steineracademybristol.org.uk 0117 965 9150

Friends of Headley Lane Park See case study on following page. http://headleyparkers.btck.co.uk For more information on becoming

Picton Street Fayres

a member of Voscur and the range

A community group which organises street fayres

of member benefits, see p11, visit

throughout the year in Montpelier.

www.voscur.org/about/joiningonline

www.facebook.com/pictonstreetfayre.montpelier

or call us on 0117 909 9949.

pictonmarketing@yahoo.co.uk 07760207310

Keep up to date with Voscur online:

f l i x /voscur

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/voscur

/voscur

/voscur

April / May / June 2015 Issue 28

“Think big”

Friends of Headley Lane Park Friends of Headley Lane Park was formed by three mums who wanted a better play area in their local park for their children. In August 2013, finding no Council funds available to assist them, they set upon the task of raising at least £50k to make their aim a reality.

They began by holding family fund/awareness-raising events in the park. They also applied for several grants and wrote to local businesses asking for help. This achieved some success, but they

Local children promoting the ITV People’s Millions campaign

film showed children playing in the

effort. We found it important to

park and was lots of fun to make.”

decide on our ethos and values early on so they shone through in

quickly realised that they needed

All of this hard work paid off -

to be more ambitious to reach

Friends of Headley Lane Park were

their target.

successful, winning £50,000!

For that, they decided to enter

“We are now able to realise

when working together intensively

the ITV People’s Millions. Their

our dream for a new improved

and under pressure.

application was successful and

play area, and the park will be

they were chosen to be one

finished while our children are

of the charities put up for the

still young enough to enjoy it,”

public vote; these projects made

says Hannah. “At the beginning,

campaign films which were

none of us had any experience

televised before voting opened.

of fundraising or of running a

“Groups were encouraged to drum up support from their community,” says Hannah Knight, one of the original founders of the group, “so we set about spreading the word through social media, flyer distribution, posters, banners and more. Our

our applications. It is also vital to spread the workload and get on well with your group - especially

“Our advice would be to think big and don’t give up. Our determination has paid off and given us drive to keep going and make more future plans.”

voluntary group - Voscur has been a great help with everything

To read more about

from grant finding to setting up.

Friends of Headley

Our Neighbourhood Partnership

Lane Park, visit: http://

has also been invaluable and we

headleyparkers.btck.co.uk

have taken advice from websites such as Community Matters.

Finding and applying for grants is hard work but well worth the

Issue 28 April / May / June 2015

Starting a new group? Voscur’s Support Hub can help. Call them today on 0117 909 9949.

www.voscur.org

5

Neighbourhood focus: Dundry View Dundry View Neighbourhood Partnership gives us a rundown of what they have been up to in their neighbourhood...

Bishopsworth Swimming Pool was closed in February 2012. The pool site is very important to the local community and is often referred to as “the heart of the village”. At the Bishopsworth Forum in June 2012, the community and the Council pledged to work together so that the community would be fully involved in determining the future of the site. It was agreed that any decisions about the site would be made together with the Neighbourhood Partnership.

The community quickly rallied around and formed a steering group consisting of residents and local councillors from both the Bishopsworth and Hartcliffe wards. The steering group, supported by Council staff and Hartcliffe and Withywood Community Partnership, organised a comprehensive engagement and information-sharing campaign which included door-knocking in the local area, mapping existing local resources, a programme of community workshops, and lots of publicity. Using all of the information gathered, the steering group gained a really

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Photo by janetandphil CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Dundry View Neighbourhood Partnership has an inspirational story to tell about how we have been able to influence the future plans for an empty building in Bishopsworth (a part of the Dundry View area).

good understanding of what local people wanted for the future of the site.

The community wanted to retain the building for community use rather than knock it down. Criteria based around community input were set so that expressions of interest could be invited from organisations that could run and deliver a service from the site in the future. Six expressions of interest were received, and the community was then asked to take part in a week-long consultation to decide on the preferred option.

The final recommendation to the Neighbourhood Partnership was for ‘Transitions Skate’ to open an indoor skate park and to support the development of a ‘village hub’ on the outside space. Lots of residents, including a good representation of young people, came along to the meeting to

pledge their support for the project. After a lively debate, the Neighbourhood Partnership supported the proposal with an overwhelming majority.

Work is now taking place on the building, and it is hoped the new facility will be open later this year.

A ‘Friends of the Bishopsworth site’ group has been set up to manage this and the Council’s parks service has agreed to fund the maintenance of the outside space for five years.

Without the Neighbourhood Partnership, the result may have been quite different and the community is delighted with the plans.

For more information, email Gemma Dando: Gemma.Dando@bristol.gov.uk

April / May / June 2015 Issue 28

Bristol launches ‘Batook’s Blueprint’ - a Manifesto for Race Equality Photo by Liam Gast

March 2015 saw the launch of Batook’s Blueprint – Bristol’s Manifesto for Race Equality. The Manifesto was initiated by the late Batook Pandya (founder of SARI) and developed by Bristol BME Voice, in partnership with local agencies and community representatives.

The launch event, held in a packed Trinity Centre, was chaired by Chief Inspector Norman Pascal, Chair of Avon and Somerset Black Police Association, who introduced Mayor George Ferguson as the keynote speaker. The Mayor celebrated the achievements of people from BME communities

George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol, supporting the launch of the Manifesto with members of the steering group.

The Manifesto is a challenge to

Radio CIC and a member of the

both public agencies, business and

Manifesto steering group, said,

communities to transform race

“The Manifesto has to involve

equality in Bristol. It lays down

the large strategic organisations

seven principles:

working with groups and our

within Bristol, but acknowledged

1. Ensure fair representation

that there is a lot more that we

2. Address the impact of

can achieve together. Reflecting

multiple discrimination

on the fact that real change

3. Increase decision making and

comes from grass-roots activism, George welcomed the Manifesto

voter registration

communities – partnership working is essential.”

Alex Raikes, interim director of SARI and also on the steering group, added, “Race equality in Bristol should have, at the very

4. Eliminate racial stereotyping

least, the same priority as the

5. Make race equality a high

profile given to Bristol Green

priority

Capital.”

6. Ensure adequate resources to

Sue Mountstevens, Avon and

enable change to happen

Somerset Police and Crime

ethnic minorities and white

7. Improve social and economic

Commissioner, was pleased to add

British* (in the areas of education,

opportunities

her support to the Manifesto.

and asks local agencies to sign

* for more information, visit: goo.gl/SFkjJS

for Race Equality and pledged his support for it.

In 2014, Bristol came 7th in the Runnymede Trust’s list of areas with the most inequality between

employment, health and housing).

In terms of representation, Bristol currently has five Black councillors, a rate of 7%, whilst the BME population of Bristol is 16%.

up to these principles and work together to produce an action plan for change.

Read the Manifesto at: http://goo.gl/ZlMJK8

Roger Griffiths, chair of Ujima

Issue 28 April / May / June 2015

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Grasping the nettle Support around volunteering for groups running sustainability projects To be the first UK city awarded

training and support covering a

‘Green Capital’ status is an

full range of matters related to

One local group that is already

enormous achievement, of

volunteering, and has created

signed up is the Ape Project

which we are all justly proud.

a suite of training workshops

C.I.C., a non-profit organisation

This achievement also brings

tailored around the needs

which works with children,

unprecedented opportunities for

of community organisations

young people and their families

local communities and voluntary

undertaking environmental

across Bristol.

groups, including those with no

sustainability projects. The

previous record of environmental

programme will be delivered from

or conservation activity, to

April to July 2015, in order to put

engage with the Green Capital

organisations on the front foot

programme and share in the

at the very start of their Green

‘greening of the city’. Many of

Capital projects.

these projects will involve the

Passionate about the importance of play and its ability to transform both individuals and communities, APE uses a mixture of practical skills, tool work, craft and

The training will consist of a

cooperation to promote

series of four half-day workshops,

creativity, healthy lifestyles,

delivered in small groups. Each

community development and

workshop will be held at several

environmental awareness in

community venues across the city

communities. The project

Organisations undertaking

to help ensure access for different

manages a children’s bike

community, environmental and

communities. It will be possible

exchange scheme and has

sustainability projects will need

to book individual workshops, but

previously benefitted from

to make preparations in order

we advise organisations to sign

Green Capital support. Guy

to maximise the impact of their

up for the full package in order to

Dobson, Co-Executive Director,

projects. Voscur recognises

gain a comprehensive overview of

is looking forward to taking

that small community groups

volunteering issues.

part in the Voscur volunteer

Thanks to funding support from

training course, and explains:

Green Capital 2015, Voscur is able

“Ape Project’s involvement of

to offer this training at the heavily

volunteers has really taken off

subsidised charge of £10 for all

this year. We wish to manage

voluntary and community sector

our volunteers effectively and

organisations taking part in green

provide them with as good an

projects. We anticipate high levels

experience as possible, so this

Voscur has been commissioned

of demand for this training, and

course is ideal for us.”

by Green Capital 2015 to deliver

recommend that organisations

a comprehensive programme of

book early to ensure their places.

contributions of local people, confirming that community action and volunteering are central to keeping Bristol green.

will want to know how best to attract and retain helpers and supporters. Even well-established charities may need advice about safeguarding young volunteers or additional insurance that may be required for outdoor work.

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April / May / June 2015 Issue 28

Recruiting Volunteers 21 April, 29 April, 23 June 2015 (with addition of 28 April for Green Capital Grant recipients only).

Session 1

• What volunteering is (no contract, no compulsion, no payment, expenses).

• Why people volunteer.

• What stops people volunteering.

• Who can volunteer (including supported volunteering).

• Where to recruit (role descriptions, adverts).

• Selection of volunteers (interviews, references).

Supporting and Retaining Volunteers

Session 2

5 May, 13 May, 30 June 2015 (with addition of 20 May for Green Capital Grant recipients only).

• Why people stop volunteering.

• Volunteer induction.

• Supporting and supervising volunteers.

• Valuing volunteers.

Managing Volunteers – Having Everything in Place

Session 3

21 May, 4 June, 8 July 2015 (with addition of 11 June for Green Capital Grant recipients only).

• Planning for volunteering.

• Volunteer policies and procedures.

• Anticipating issues that can arise when working with volunteers.

• Exit processes.

Safeguarding 10 June, 16 June, 15 July 2015 (with addition of 7 July for Green Capital Grant recipients only).

Image produced from a photo by eithin CC BY 2

Session 4

• What is safeguarding?

• The main categories of abuse.

• Safeguarding volunteers and vulnerable groups.

• Safeguarding policy and procedures.

• Getting support.

For a full list of courses and to book, visit: www.voscur.org/ content/managing-volunteers-training. For more information, please contact Nikki Smith at Voscur: nikki@voscur.org

Issue 28 April / May / June 2015

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Celebrating our city’s fantastic volunteers National Volunteers’ Week is the annual celebration of volunteering that aims to recognise the enormous contribution made by millions of volunteers across the UK. Volunteers’ Week has taken place every year since 1984, and is bigger and more diverse each year. This year, Volunteers’ Week will take place from 1 - 7 June, and during the week a broad range of activities and initiatives will be taking place across Bristol, with support from Volunteer Bristol @Voscur.

Sian Bunn, Volunteer Development Manager, explains, “We want every

Radio Lollipop volunteers at the Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital provide care, comfort, play and entertainment to sick children in hospital

what is planned. We can help with

includes template certificates of

ideas, publicity, promotion and

thanks that can be downloaded

resources.”

and presented to volunteers.

volunteers and let everybody

Last year LinkAge hosted a

Volunteer Bristol is planning

know how much we value them

‘LinkAge Volunteer Big Thank You’

events across the city to mark the

and rely upon their support.

event during Volunteers’ Week

week, and up-to-date details of

There are so many different ways

in June which was attended by

these will be added to our website

an organisation can show its

120 volunteers. They premiered a

(www.volunteerbristol.org.uk)

appreciation for volunteers - some

‘thank you’ film they had made,

closer to the time.

charities present awards or give

together with speeches from

out themed merchandise, like

existing volunteers, their chief

Volunteers’ Week mugs.

executive and trustees. This

volunteer-involving organisation in Bristol to join in – it’s a wonderful opportunity to thank our fantastic

“Why not organise a volunteers’ picnic, or invite your local community radio to present a feature about your volunteers?

For more information

year LinkAge is looking forward

on what’s happening

to hosting another event along

locally for Volunteers’

similar lines, but with a secret

Week, call Sian Bunn or Emily

twist!

Bonney on 0117 989 7734

Whatever you do for Volunteers’

Volunteer Bristol @Voscur can

Week, we are urging all voluntary

provide advice and assistance to

and community organisations

help organisations celebrate their

across the city to let us know

volunteers, including a toolkit that

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For national Volunteers’ Week, visit: http:// volunteersweek.org

April / May / June 2015 Issue 28

Stronger together A look at Voscur and Volunteer Bristol’s new joint membership scheme Photo by Robert Louis Clemens CC BY-ND 2.0

Working in partnership is a

One of Voscur’s key roles is to

short-term strength and longer-

defining characteristic of

offer local groups the chance to

term sustainability. Not only does

our sector and it’s helping to

benefit from our community of

our merger enhance the network

achieve great things in Bristol.

peer members. We help establish

you are directly connected to for

For example, we are starting to

and maintain relationships built

collaboration and advocacy, but

close the gaps between different

around common goals and values,

membership fees remain no more

systems that support people

then turn those relationships into

than 0.5% of your annual income.

with complex needs (Golden Key),

action and, if that is what our

We’re also launching some exciting

address social isolation in our older

communities need, collaboration.

new services for 2015, including:

Doing this more responsively and

• More targeted funding

communities (Ageing Better), fight to not just eliminate racism but create equality of opportunity (Manifesto for Race Equality) and ensure that economic growth includes, rather than excludes, disadvantaged communities (Local Enterprise Partnership investment).

effectively was a primary reason for Volunteer Bristol and Voscur’s merger a year ago. In 2014 our separate membership schemes ran in parallel as we integrated services and systems. This year we will consolidate membership into a

support: www.voscur.org/fars • Low-cost volunteer management training to support your involvement in Green Capital.

• Additional HR support to help

single joint scheme that gives you

recruit and develop the staff,

These schemes are possible

access to a larger, more diverse

volunteers and trustees your

because, as well as our individual

network of peers and a range of

organisation needs.

and organisational loyalties, we’re

new member benefits.

also part of something bigger, and tapping in to that makes us

What’s changing?

For more details, go

all stronger, smarter and more

We’re combining membership

to www.voscur.org/

influential.

benefits to create the best-value

membership2015

investment in terms of your

Issue 28 April / May / June 2015

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11

Upcoming Voscur training Preparing your Accounts for your End of Year Report Thursday 16 April 2015, 9:30am - 3:30pm This course is designed to identify key areas associated with the production of statutory accounts for those who have had limited exposure to this specialist area.

Safeguarding and Whistleblowing Thursday 30 April 2015, 9:30am - 1pm How do you manage issues of safeguarding in your organisation? Do you have a whistleblowing policy?

How are concerns shared and how are decisions made about escalating whistleblowing processes?

This training will answer the above questions, help you identify steps to take when issues arise, and inform you about how to develop and maintain relationships with Bristol City Council staff and the support they can offer to help you meet good practice standards and legislation.

Being a Good Trustee Thursday 23 April 2015, 6pm - 9pm Tuesday 9 June 2015, 9:30am – 12:30pm Governance has never been more crucial; in challenging times, a strong board is essential to survive and thrive.

Yet many trustees are unclear of their duties and boundaries with staff. This course sets out trustee roles and responsibilities and suggests tools to help ensure your board leads your organisation’s impact.

Contracts of Employment – How to Get it Right

comply with all the relevant legislation and treat staff as people, not just ‘human resources’. This course is being delivered by ACAS.

Working Together to Prevent and Support Young People Being Drawn into Terrorism and Extremism Thursday 14 May 2015, 9:30am – 12:30pm The workshop builds our understanding of how young people can become radicalised and be vulnerable to extreme views and actions which could lead to acts of violent extremism. Practitioners working with young people may well become aware of changes and signs that might indicate the early stages of vulnerability to extremism. This workshop will enable practitioners from all agencies to recognise signs, to know what action to take in response to concerns, and to cascade the learning to others in their teams.

Finance Forum - Insurance for Voluntary Sector Organisations Tuesday 2 June 2015, 1:30pm - 3:30pm This session will cover the reasons why VCS organisations need to consider insurance; the legislative requirements; the types of insurance cover required (including good practice measures in undertaking risk assessments); and where and how to obtain suitable quotations. This course will be delivered by Martin Ladbrook, of Ladbrook - specialist advisers to the voluntary and community sector.

Minute Taking for Administrators

Wednesday 13 May 2015, 9:30am - 1pm

Wednesday 3 June and Wednesday 10 June, 9:30am - 1pm (course over two half-day sessions)

Organisations are only as effective as the staff that work for them, and employment contracts should help both employers and employees get the most out of their relationship. This course will help you create, alter and end employment contracts using procedures that

All organisations need accurate records of meetings.

They are essential if teams, committees and boards are to have a clear account of the decisions made and the actions required. The aim of this course is to provide you with tools to ‘minute’ with confidence.

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April / May / June 2015 Issue 28

Doing ‘green’ work/running a project around sustainability?

Find out more about a range of courses that are taking place around volunteering between April and July 2015 on p8-9.

Writing Small Fundraising Bids

Trustee Network

Thursday 4 June 2015, 9:30am – 3.30pm

Wednesday 1 July 2015, 6pm - 8pm

Make it easy for funders to say “yes” to your bids.

Whether you want £200 for a community event or £2,000 for new equipment for your services, you need a strong, clear proposal. This one-day course will take you through the essentials for writing a strong bid that’s appealing to funders, and how to avoid the most common pitfalls.

The Trustee Network is open to any trustees, from the brand new to the very experienced. As well as a short presentation on a relevant topic, Trustee Network meetings offer a chance to meet other trustees and share good practice.

Introduction to Time Management

Wednesday 8 July 2015, 12pm – 2pm

Wednesday 17 June 2015, 9:30am - 1pm Do you find that there are not enough hours in a day?

Are you always rushing around? You may think that you don’t have time to attend this course, but you’d be wrong! Take half a day out of your schedule to learn how to identify your bad habits, reduce stress (using proven time-management techniques) and discover how to manage that daily flood of e-mails.

Being an Even Better Trustee Thursday 18 June 2015, 6pm - 9pm Focused on governance, managing risk, effective meetings and how to make the most of the skills in your trustee team, this course is designed to support your development beyond the basics of being on a board.

Telling Your Story Thursday 25 June 2015, 9:30am - 1pm This practical workshop will equip attendees with the correct tools to be able to communicate effectively with a range of audiences, from members of the public to stakeholders and beyond. Attendees will be able to try their hand at various disciplines and will be offered advice on PR, marketing, social media and website management.

How Decisions are Made in the City Bristol has a number of locally based institutions making decisions which have an impact on our communities. As VCS activists, do you understand what these organisations are and how they make decisions?

This session will inform you about our elected Mayor, Bristol Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), business-led bodies such as the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and how they make decisions.

Evidence and Intelligence to Support Funding Bids – How Can Council Data Help?

Thursday 9 July 2015, 9:30am - 1pm This course can help enhance your funding applications and project planning. It offers a chance to look in more depth at the range of data and intelligence freely available online via the City Council and how to make best use of it. This course is being delivered by Bristol City Council.

Early-bird rates available!

To book your place or to find out more, please go to: www.supporthub.org.uk/ training-hub or call us on: 0117 909 9949.

Issue 28 April / May / June 2015

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13

Embracing change

Local organisation has support from Voscur to take its next steps

Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust (LNT) is a local charity run by residents and professionals to help improve quality of life in Lockleaze. They achieve this by working to bring better services to the area and building public pride and community spirit.

Richard Reddrop, Chair of Trustees at LNT, approached Voscur last year for support as LNT prepared for the move to a new community hub. “As an organisation we had been a little consumed by the process of planning and building a new community centre – and now

Charlotte Leslie MP and Mayor George Ferguson officially open ‘The Hub’ community centre in Lockleaze with the help of some local children and volunteers.

Once some of the key themes

local people, and is willing to

of this listening exercise became

take on constructive feedback

clear, the organisation could start

and embrace change,” says

Following an organisational ‘health

further strategic planning with

Steve Watters, Support Hub

check’, Voscur worked with LNT to

Voscur’s advice and support.

Development Worker at Voscur.

wanted a development plan to drive us forward,” he said.

produce an action plan, breaking the work into clear steps for the trustees and staff at LNT to tackle.

We also gave advice on the development of the board of

“I am sure lots of local people will benefit from the new services.”

trustees through training and

The Lockleaze Hub is now open,

Our first step was to work

recruiting new members. This led

with lots of activities each week

with trustees to review the

to new people with relevant skills

for the community as well as

organisation’s strategy, and a key

joining the board and a plan for

rooms for hire. The organisation

action for LNT was to listen to

future development.

continues to develop and there

the views of local people. Voscur helped to design a survey to find out about local views and needs.

Following Voscur’s support, LNT restructured the staff roles and including the promotion of social

partners and users, asking about

inclusion in the community.

valued and what they felt needed to change,” said Richard.

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future in the pipeline.

gained funding for new projects

“We sent out the survey to all our their perception of LNT, what they

are more exciting plans for the

“It’s great to be able to work with an organisation that wants to make a difference, listens to

Could Voscur’s Suppot Hub help your organisation? Get in touch on: 0117 909 9949

April / May / June 2015 Issue 28

Putting victims first Article written by Alice Jones, Grants Officer and Violence Against Women and Children Champion, Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office.

The OPCC has worked with the VCS in a number of ways: Consultation – we consulted on our commissioning intentions both online and in person from February to May 2014. This allowed the team to attend and co-host a number of meetings

putting victims first a new approach for support services

Police and Crime Commissioner

and events with the VCS.

(PCC) Sue Mountstevens set a

Ultimately, it was this feedback

clear priority in her Police and

that enabled us to publish a

We are now working with our

Crime Plan to ensure that victims

clear commissioning plan, which

new providers, alongside criminal

are at the heart of the criminal

responded to individual comments

justice and other partners, to

justice process. As part of that

and outlined the changes we had

realise the PCC’s ambition. As

commitment, over the last year

made in response.

a relatively new commissioning

the Office of the Police and Crime

Market events – we hosted two

Commissioner (OPCC) has been

market events which gave us the

working hard to put in place local

opportunity to answer questions

support services for victims of

from potential providers, better

crime and anti-social behaviour

understand their views (and

(ASB).

service user needs), and make

When the Integrated Victim

clear our vision for victim services.

Strategy was published,

Purchasing methods –

recognising the importance

recognising the importance of

of working with providers and

smaller specialist services and

partners, two of the key principles

providers, the OPCC uses its

were that the approach should be

funding in a variety of ways,

consultative and collaborative. This

opening up opportunities to the

meant that we aimed to enrich

market.

our process with the knowledge, expertise and experience of voluntary and community sector (VCS) providers, partners and other stakeholders from the very start.

Updates – we continually sought to keep stakeholders - including VCS organisations and providers - up to date with publications, events and decisions.

Issue 28 April / May / June 2015

Next steps…

body, we are keen to continue working in this way and to evolve our working relationship with partners and the VCS to bring about the very best outcomes for Avon and Somerset.

VCS groups can read the PCC’s ‘VCSE Charter’ online (goo.gl/ KTW2oD) and are welcome to get in touch with the PCC’s Custody Visiting and VCSE Officer, Anna Hill, by emailing: Anna.Hill@ avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk

Read the PCC’s full Police and Crime plan at: www.avonandsomerset-pcc. gov.uk/

www.voscur.org

15

#whyvotebristol15 Ask your parliamentary candidates how they will represent your needs and aspirations if they are elected ...

Thursday 16 April 6 - 8pm Trinity Centre Send us your questions by 10 April

On Thursday 7 May there is a General Election and everyone will have the chance to vote for an MP to represent them in Parliament.

Bristol West will be a close competition between the candidates.

Book your place at goo.gl/7IzCfT

Send your questions

We are now collecting questions to ask at the event. If you have a question you want candidates to answer, send it to info@voscur.org or stacy@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk We’ll choose a good mix to cover a range of subjects. There will be time on the night for questions from the audience.

#whyvotebristol15 Organised by:

Ce l

eb r at i n

gov.uk/register-to-vote yea

g

t w e nt

For more information:

Book your place

rs!

y

Supporting Voluntary Action

0117 909 9949

0117 954 2834

This is me Christine Townsend is the VCS Advocate on the Bristol Safeguarding Children Board. With a background in education, she has a strong interest in safeguarding and empowering young people.

Christine is co-founder and trustee at Integrate Bristol, a charity working with young people on projects that promote equality and integration in our communities. Here is a flavour of what she does and who she is...

There are opportunities that

My favourite spot in Bristol

and inequality. It is about

young people don’t even know

is Brandon Hill. You only know

standing up and speaking out –

exist – it’s about making them

about it if you’re a Bristolian really.

not everybody is able to.

understand that people aren’t

Tourists walking up Park Street

going to knock on your door and

wouldn’t even know it’s there. I

invite you, but you can apply like

love all the history around it - the

everyone else and they will snatch

uprisings of the working classes in

your hand off! I’m on a governing

the 1800s.

body for a local school. I say, “You’re over 18 now, you can go and be a governor in a school.”

It wouldn’t be something they’d ever considered.

When you’re younger you perhaps feel that you haven’t got anything to give or anything to say, but actually, it is a really valuable insight that young

As you get older you can get caught up in the systems, the bureaucracy – you can get battered down a bit; not speak up, not speak out. But young people

Words are cheap and easy to

don’t have that, they have a real

say; what’s important is the way

sense of justice, and it is really

people act.

empowering to see them using

My relationships have got to add something to my life; they have to bring something that isn’t already there and I haven’t already got. They have to enrich and not drain.

that as a group of young people to make changes. The young people at Integrate have achieved great changes in a short amount of time and that drives me to do the work I do.

people can bring – we need young

I have been a fan of snooker

people to be more involved in

from a young age. Anyone who

local decision making.

remembers Pot Black will get the

Get more

idea…I have been around the

information about

country to watch it live. It’s a fiver

our VCS Advocates,

and you get 4-5 hours of live sport

watch video updates

– now that’s value for money!

and find out how to get

Ultimately I would like to see them being the VCS Advocates.

When they see someone they know and trust doing things, they are more likely to follow when

There are things that need

those opportunities come up.

to be changed in the world, particularly around injustice

Issue 28 April / May / June 2015

in touch with them at: www.voiceandinfluence.org. uk/advocates

www.voscur.org

17

Bristol: a learning city Article written by Paul Jacobs, Service Director Education and Skills, Bristol City Council, who tells us what it means to be a ‘learning city’

Learning Cities are being developed across the world to promote the importance of learning and encourage participation.

In Bristol, we’re ambitious for our city and know that learning is at the heart of our success, and so we are developing the concept of Bristol as a Learning City. Since June we have been working with a group of Leaders from across the city - called the Founders Group including voluntary and community sector colleagues.

We want to develop a city that promotes learning and encourages a culture where everyone is proud to learn - at school, work and in communities. We also want a city that supports the development of a highly skilled workforce, joining the skills taught in schools with business needs for the future, resulting in an enterprising, diverse and sustainable world-class city.

We are establishing a Learning City Partnership, including influential and inspirational leaders from across the city, to change perceptions about learning and our schools, and deliver change through some ambitious challenges. We want to increase participation and achievement

18 www.voscur.org

Mentors from BYEP, working on enterprise ideas with young people.

of learners and promote and celebrate learning.

joins together the skills taught in schools with the needs of city employers; we will work with schools and businesses to establish a shared Engagement Hub in the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone and create a young person’s Passport for Employability.

The Founders have agreed four themed groups to drive action in 2015. The themes and some examples of the activities are as follows: Learning for life – to reduce the social isolation of older citizens, we will be working with Bristol Ageing Better to support their ‘schools for all ages’ strand, focusing on intergenerational learning.

Learning for everyone – to engage care leavers in learning and employment, we will work with partners and employers to improve care leavers’ life chances and outcomes.

We believe voluntary and community sector organisations have a great contribution to make and so look forward to engaging with colleagues throughout the year - look out for more updates from Voscur.

For more information, contact learning.city@bristol.gov.uk Paul Jacobs is speaking at

Learning in education – to raise young people’s attainment, we will work with schools and other education providers to narrow the achievement gap.

Voscur’s next Children and Young People’s Network meeting on 6 May 2015 for more information, visit:

Learning for and in work – to develop an engagement hub which

www.voiceandinfluence.org. uk/cyp_meetings

April / May / June 2015 Issue 28

In the run-up to May’s general election, Voscur will be partnering with other organisations and agencies in the city to raise vital awareness in our communities about how to make your vote count. To kick things off, we approached the four main parties in the city and asked them what their party will be doing locally to assist in the support and development of the city’s voluntary and community sector - here is what they said...

Photo by Monkey Boy42 CC BY-NC 2.0

his year’s elections offer voters a beguiling choice between a firm Conservative commitment towards deficit elimination by 2017-18, and a more woolly debt reduction plan offered by Labour.

However, what is clear from consideration of the nation’s perilous finances is that whichever Party is returned to Parliament, the voluntary and community sector will be expected to work within a political landscape of evershrinking budgets.

To further this end, the Coalition has pursued various community-based initiatives over this Parliament, including the setting up of the Big Society Network, the Big Society Bank and the Localism Act 2011, which included numerous provisions allowing charitable trusts and voluntary bodies to apply to carry out formerly council-provided services.

Locally, in addition to the Mayor’s Fund for Bristol, the Council is still responsible for

ristol has a strong tradition

We encourage councillors to work

public (and quasi-public) sector

of voluntary sector

closely with organisations in their

organisations across Bristol

organisations, which has

wards, signposting residents to

commission, making life easier for

changed over the last few years,

services and supporting their

the sector and enabling individual

especially as a result of the

activities.

organisations to engage, focussing

Coalition Government’s austerity programme.

Labour led the Council’s Third Sector Commissioning Strategy

on the outcomes we all want – not just the process.

With less money around, the City

to develop a transparent

Even when the Council improves

Council has altered what it does,

and common approach to

commissioning, Labour still

and voluntary and community

commissioning across the

supports the retention of a

organisations have changed to

Council. However, we know

grants pot, recognising this is

reflect that. Many organisations

there are real problems here,

an excellent way to support

that were principally funded

with inconsistent practice across

innovation in the sector, keeping

previously by the Council have

different departments, and

flexibility for issues that arise, and

put together new partnerships,

smaller, local niche organisations

testing ways of working that can

collaborating with each other and

often missing out. Labour

shape future service delivery.

working with other funders to

would ensure that every Council

continue to deliver and develop

service commissioned follows

their services.

the guidelines and best practice,

Labour councillors recognise – and celebrate – the value of the sector to Bristol and to our communities.

working with the sector, involving organisations right from the start in scoping work. Done well, this would inform the way other

Labour strongly supports Neighbourhood Partnerships.

We want to see more powers and responsibility passed from the Mayor at the centre, out to communities. At national level, all

allocating £7.5 million worth of

and are much more responsive

such an approach has resulted in

strategic grant funding across the

to variations in local need. We

the creation of a burdensome,

city. Conservatives have previously

will continue to press for much

overblown, wasteful and often

been prominent in championing

simpler and open procurement

intrusive bureaucracy. We are

community causes; in this year’s

processes that give small

convinced voluntary organisations

budget we secured an extra £250k

organisations a fairer chance at

can and will do better.

into neighbourhood sports grants.

securing local authority work

Councillors have an essential

contracts.

In any event, given the pervasive economic constraints confronting

advocacy and leadership

For a more in-depth exposition of

central and local government

role within Neighbourhood

this subject, I would refer readers

following May’s elections, we really

Partnerships and other

to “The Blue Book of the Voluntary

don’t have much choice in the

representative forums. We are

Sector: Civil Society and the

matter.

committed to redistributing the

Conservative Party After the 2015

locus of power and resources away

Election”.

from the central administration and out into the city’s disparate communities.

A state-centric model for the supply of public services is no longer an option or even always

Underpinning our approach to the

desirable. In fact, this concept

third sector is a conviction that

has failed all of us on a number of

non-government organisations

levels. Aside from the great cost

can do a better job than the state

and inefficiencies it has invoked,

political parties are talking about devolution.

They mean from “Whitehall to the town hall”, but we don’t want to see it stop there, believing that many more decisions about local services and spending should be taken at the most local appropriate level. We envisage local voluntary and community sector groups having a greater role in that decision-making, using their knowledge and experience to shape policies and projects.

Finally, Labour councillors want the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to work in a much more transparent and accountable way, and to value the voluntary and community sector for the huge impact it has on our city.

For more information, email: helen.holland@bristol.gov.uk

For more information, email: mark.weston@bristol.gov.uk

he Green Party

them going. The Council should

Council-run to being privatised. The

acknowledges the social

promote tendering processes

question to be answered is, when is

value of volunteering and

which support the third sector to

it right to do this?

of the voluntary sector in general.

Volunteers should be treated

participate (along with SMEs).

Of course, in the current climate,

We support the Bristol Compact

any response has to be much more

and measures which improve

defensive than that. Facing 40%

the way in which statutory and

Council budget cuts - no one can

Strong community groups mean

voluntary (and other) bodies work

or should pretend that somehow

strong communities. This has

together. We do not support the

it is going to be all right. Services

enormous benefits in terms of well-

wholesale replacement of Council

will suffer, possibly all of them. The

being, engagement, looking after

services with volunteers.

most vulnerable will be hit hardest.

with respect and valued for their contribution.

your neighbours, improving your local environment and much more.

The role of the Council is to enable this, to encourage it, to allow such groups to get on with it.

Cuts will be made to the easiest

There is however a discussion

targets, and this will undoubtedly

to be had about when and if

include funding for the voluntary

a service should be run by the voluntary sector or the statutory sector. If you go back far enough

sector. In this environment it is critical that we give principles for funding priorities. As Greens,

Where it is good, the Council should

in history, education was a

provide large-scale stable processes.

charitable activity. Clearly, it is

It is far less good at innovation.

correct that it has become a right

There is a role for the third sector

for all, and state funded. Recycling

Finally, the Green Party believes that

in starting projects up and getting

has gone from voluntary sector to

the voluntary sector should play a

this means funding for the most vulnerable.

iberal Democrats believe community and voluntary organisations, by virtue of their independence and close understanding of their members, volunteers and beneficiaries, are a powerful means by which residents can shape and change their local communities.

Many also have far deeper connections to the communities they seek to represent than council officers. These officers, however effective they are, could never realistically wish to profess such a detailed understanding of the needs of the many and varied communities that make up our great City of Bristol.

It was the Liberal Democrats who brought in devolution of many decisions to local neighbourhoods, via Neighbourhood Partnerships, and we want to see that role enhanced and developed. Neighbourhood Partnerships have the potential to act both inside and outside the institutions of the Council. They also have the potential to reengage people with the political system,

key role in campaigning within the democratic process. In this context Bristol councillor Rob Telford campaigned with local groups against the Coalition’s Lobbying Bill, which tragically placed restrictions on the role of charities and the voluntary sector in campaigning on the issues that people care about. The Green Party will continue to work to repeal this affront to the democratic process.

For more information, email: charlie.bolton@bristol.gov.uk

helping to organise citizens in

the Council is now only interested

demand from projects and

their own communities, to restore

in the City Centre and surrounding

organisations that need funding

legitimacy and a strong sense of

areas. I want to see more clarity

than there are funds available, so

public purpose to our democracy,

from the Mayor about what is

Bristol City Council must become

thereby making it fit for the

expected from the voluntary

more accessible to voluntary

challenges of our generation.

sector in terms of work done and

organisations that truly connect

outputs, and a transparent system

with local communities.

Regrettably, progress has stalled since the Mayor took office. We believe our citizens must have a say on how we are governed locally.

Current legislation denies Bristol’s residents a say over whether they

of ‘value mapping’ introduced to ensure consistent value for money for the Council Tax payer across all contracts with the voluntary and

gary.hopkins@bristol.gov.uk

community sector.

want to keep so much power

The City Council must work for

concentrated in the hands of one

all of Bristol, and working with

person. There is now cross-party

the voluntary and community

consensus to give Bristol the power

sector is an essential way to do

to choose its own local governance

this. As everyone knows, Local

arrangements and in so doing

Government finances are likely

further devolving power to the

to remain tight for several years

residents of Bristol.

(whoever wins the elections in

Many people have told me they feel

For more information, email:

May). There will always be more

Voscur and Up Our Street are organising an event in Bristol West to give local people the chance to ask questions of their local parliamentary candidates (more information on p16).

Are you registered to Vote?

Check by 20 April 2015 at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

A united voice is a stronger voice Bristol BME Voice’s Knowledge and Share Programme It has been 50 years since the

partnership working. The purpose

sense of distrust of public

creation of the Race Relations

of the work was twofold: on

agencies’ abilities to meet the

Act of 1965, which, although

one side it dedicated time and

needs of BME communities,

tentative, edged the way towards

resources to skills development

which is further emphasised by

race equality recognition and

and confidence building – on the

a lack of representation within

legislation in the UK. Although a

other, effecting change through

the various agencies. Another

huge amount has been achieved

discussions with city leaders. In

recurring concern was connected

in this arena, few will disagree

practice this was achieved through

to commissioning processes.

that there is still some serious

four separate sessions of training

Many BME groups felt that they

work to be done to achieve true

followed by a chance to talk with

had been used, sidestepped

racial equality in the UK and, more

key city strategic figures.

and swallowed up by bigger

specifically for us, in Bristol.

Knowing how important having influence in local public and economic life is for the advancement of BME organisations and communities, the Bristol BME Voice team created the Knowledge and Share Programme. This Programme ran between September and December 2014 and engaged with ten BME organisations from a diverse range of backgrounds including West African, African Caribbean and Polish.

“I know a wider network of people as a result of these meetings and have made use of these new contacts.”

monitoring on contract delivery and clauses within contracts, ensuring that large firms utilise and subcontract to smaller organisations with local knowledge four of the leaders acknowledged

and Crime Commissioner, Sue

the issues raised, and took away

Mountstevens, Judith Brown,

their own list of action points to

Director of Operations for the

follow up.

Clinical Commissioning Group, and Malachy McReynolds from the Partnership Executive Board.

24 www.voscur.org

a key action point is for more

Mayor, George Ferguson, Police

Programme brought local BME

in the city, and encouraged closer

large contracts. It was clear that

and links to their communities. All

West of England Local Enterprise

conversation around race equality

capacity to tender for and win

These included Bristol’s elected

The Knowledge and Share people together to continue the

organisations that had more

Some common themes/concerns emerged from participants.

It is apparent that there is a

Three months on, we revisited some of the participants.

Effiom Ene-Obong is the founder and director of an alternative inner city employment agency - The Society Community Group

April / May / June 2015 Issue 28

Photo by Louise Wender

Photo taken at Voscur’s ‘Feeling Bristolian’ Bristol BME Conference in 2014 (TSCG). He explained that he

respected elder, Clementina

these new contacts,” says Ruth

has utilised the training and

Johnson-Martin, has become

Soandro-Jones, Fundraising and

networks to extend discussions

“better equipped” to realise her

Communications Manager, Bristol

and plan for future work, both

vision of creating an elder people’s

Refugee Rights. “Further sessions

with other participants and

forum in Wick, where she lives, as

would be helpful to take more

strategic leaders. “I’m happy that

well as gaining vital support and

practical and coordinated actions

I have developed some great

skills for her Bristol-based roles at

and to identify what the barriers

networks through participation

OSCAR and the Malcolm X Elders.

are to greater influence and

in the programme,” he explained.

bringing about change.”

“A great platform to raise issues or concerns, I am grateful for the opportunity.”

“TSCG directors have been hosted at NILAARI and, consequently, we have been collaborating on recruitment into the health and social care sector, and even achieved internal outcomes of building skills/knowledge. I also found the leadership topics most useful towards my development as the Founder of TSCG and as a community leader. Overall, I feel that this remains a great platform to raise issues or concerns, and I

All participants stated that they had increased their knowledge and skills following involvement in the Knowledge and Share Programme.

am grateful for the opportunity.”

“Personally I know a wider network

Like Effiom, veteran activist and

meetings and have made use of

of people as a result of these

Issue 28 April / May / June 2015

If you have any questions about the Knowledge and Share Programme, email Ruth Pitter: ruth@voscur.org For further information about Bristol BME Voice, visit: www.bristolbmevoice.org.uk

www.voscur.org

25

Just what the doctor ordered A look at social prescribing in Bristol ‘Social prescribing’ refers to a

a wide range of activities. Social

budget should be established

formal process of enabling general

prescribing might be offered to all

with appropriate commissioning

practitioners (GPs), practice

patients, but usually it works with

arrangements in order to develop

nurses and other health care

patients who:

and extend the provision in Bristol.

• Have mental health problems.

The Joint Commissioning Group

practitioners to refer patients to a range of holistic, local, non-clinical services to help their wellbeing.

• Are vulnerable/at-risk.

There is no uniform agreement,

• Are frequent attenders of GP

but the main elements of social prescribing are usually: • Formalised referral mechanisms from GP/ Primary Care to a ‘community connector’ (or other such named person), who identifies

• A holistic approach to

help them play a central role in managing their own care.

best time for social prescribing.

2) Understanding evidence - social prescribing suffers from what might be described as ‘evidential biases’. Rules of evidence for short-term interventions do not fit for

preventative approaches are

preventative work with a

common in the voluntary and

longer time span. Sometimes it is not clear if it is the social prescribing mechanism or a

Commissioning Group and the

particular intervention that is

likes of the Big Lottery Fund have

being evaluated. The Kimberlee

funded a wide range of social prescribing-type services for some years.

and Wellbeing Board considered a report on social prescribing in

refer to a limited range of

Bristol (the Kimberlee report).

activities whilst others refer to

They agreed that a pooled

report concluded that a variety of evaluation tools were used in Bristol, making it difficult to assess

In November 2013, Bristol’s Health

Some social prescribing projects

26 www.voscur.org

authority budgets, it was not the

Holistic assessments and

City Council, Bristol Clinical

• Encouragement for patients to

and massive pressures on local

What’s been happening in Bristol?

services (the ‘prescription’).

‘prescription’.

a permanent Public Health lead

• Are not benefitting from

community sector (VCS). Bristol

practitioner regarding the

Health in Bristol, the absence of

conditions.

identifying appropriate

• Reports back to the GP/health

given the redesign of Public

understood long-term

treatment.

activities.

1) Right idea, wrong time -

• Have untreatable or poorly

organisations suitable for the

supportive organisations and

probably three reasons for this:

• Are socially isolated.

clinical medicine/drug

• Excellent knowledge of local

plan did not materialise. There are

practices/clinics.

a range of activities and patient.

met, but a joint commissioning

the different projects.

3) Value for money - the Kimberlee report concluded that the varying models of delivery

April / May / June 2015 Issue 28

Photo by ResoluteSupportMedia CC BY 2.0

in Bristol had varying costs; just

Commissioning Group. The post

This large-scale pilot provides a

looking at staff costs alone on

holder will continue with mapping

comprehensive evidence base

four projects in Bristol, they

of local activities started by the

that supports the case for social

ranged from £223 to £883 per

Joint Commissioning Group and

prescribing. The evaluation

client per annum. Not all decision

looking at evidence and evaluation

identified improvement in patient

makers are convinced that social

models.

wellbeing, and social prescribing

prescribing is value for money.

Elsewhere, a significant report on

Where now for a strategic approach for social prescribing?

Social Prescribing was published

Bristol Clinical Commissioning Group has taken the lead in developing a strategic approach.

The potential of social prescribing is recognised in reducing hospital

needs of patients with long-term

admissions for older people, and

conditions.

in strategies for supporting people with long-term conditions and improving mental health.

by Rotherham Voluntary Action

was found to help reduce hospital admissions by between 12% and 21%.

in 2014. NHS Rotherham Clinical

Whilst Bristol might not be as far

Commissioning Group funded

ahead as Rotherham, we seem

the work for two years. It was

to be moving towards overall

part of a wider GP-led project

‘buy in’ for social prescribing as a

to increase the capacity of GP

significant tool in improving health

practices to meet the non-clinical

and wellbeing in our city.

Around £1m was invested. Just over £600,000 was distributed to enable VCS organisations to

Voscur continues to be involved

deliver a menu of 31 separate

with this work, and links are

social prescribing services. Twenty

being developed with Bristol

nine (out of 36) GP practices in

Ageing Better. Bristol Public

Rotherham referred 1,607 patients

Health has funded a staff post,

to the scheme.

To see more on social prescribing, visit: www. voiceandinfluence.org. uk/hsc_resources

seconded to the Bristol Clinical

Issue 28 April / May / June 2015

www.voscur.org

27

City devolution & communities City devolution has been the hot topic in politics over the last few months. But what does this mean and what are the opportunities and risks for the voluntary and community sector?

Devolution is defined as the

the four unitary authorities in

politicians, volunteer groups &

transfer of power from central

the West of England to form a

media, shows level of interest

government to a subnational level.

combined authority to secure

in devolution” tweeted one

It can be divided into two main

devolved powers for strategic

attendee. “Enjoyed @voscur

types: functional public sector

functions such as transport,

debate on devolution today”

service based (e.g. transport, skills)

planning, housing, skills, economic

added another, “Need for

and fiscal (taxes) devolution.

development and health and

leadership & vision and for third

social care in an offer similar to

sector to rise to the challenge!”

Greater Manchester has recently announced its landmark devolution agreement with Government: the first for local government and local partners. It

that agreed with Manchester, with the Chancellor George Osborne

Scott Jacobs-Lange @Scott _ Sovereign

advising all that his door is open for discussion.

is far-reaching and includes major

Voscur has taken an active interest

plans for local transport, control

in this debate; as well as attending

of a major housing investment

the Core Cities Summit in Glasgow

fund, and control of local skills

alongside the City Council, we

funding and health and social

hosted a debate in March (in

care, with the objective of being

association with the Bristol

able to direct funding and services

Festival of Ideas) to consider the

to identified local priorities and

role of communities in these

needs and support economic

new developments. Community

growth and wellbeing.

activists from across the West of

Sheffield also agreed a devolution deal shortly after that focuses mainly on skills and transport.

England (WoE) contributed to the discussion, which was opened by Mayor Ferguson. The majority of attendees said that the event had

This follows major developments

increased their knowledge of City

in policy from the Government,

Devolution, and many planned to

Opposition and the Scottish

share information with others to

referendum on devolution last

continue the debate. Many were

year.

sharing information and opinions

Along with other Core Cities and City Regions, the Government has indicated that it would welcome a commitment from

28 www.voscur.org

live from the event via Twitter, which recieved over 160 tweets with the #futurecity15 hashtag.

“Packed conf. room today inc.

“Some great debate and discussion about #westofengland devolution today at #futurecity15 event. Thanks to @voscur and partners for organising.”

Voscur is keen to ensure that any change in city region governance is also an opportunity to develop neighbourhood accountability and enhance community democracy.

This view is shared by the think tank ResPublica who said in their recent report ‘Restoring Britain’s City States’*, “Local authorities should be given a duty to involve, empower and work with communities.

Legislation should be introduced to enable the formation of neighbourhood councils and to enshrine their rights to draw down

April / May / June 2015 Issue 28

Photos taken at the City Devolution event in March 2015, hosted by Voscur, in association with the Bristol Festival of Ideas.

responsibilities and resources.

democracy and accountability,

hit by predicted budget

This would need to build on the

supporters of this approach

cuts and ensure that each

spirit of the Localism Act, which

argue that there are many other

local authority continues to

aims not to restrict but actively

benefits that devolved powers and

undertake its community

encourages the potential for

governance could bring. These

leadership role of promoting

legitimate bottom-up community

include:

the social, economic and

action, by allowing for greater cooperation and collaboration

environmental wellbeing in

• Single point of decision-

their areas.

making on agreed functions,

between partners.”

leading to quicker and more

• An avenue to formally

Bristol and neighbouring WoE

visible decisions. Unlike the

combine resources and efforts

authorities are looking at potential

Local Enterprise Partnership,

in regard to economic growth

devolved powers and funding

a combined authority also

and wellbeing that respond to

that responds to the economic

has the relevant democratic

local priorities and needs.

needs and priorities of the WoE

accountability.

and Bristol area. Currently, there is no agreed statement of intent

• Secure more long-term

between the four West of England authorities to secure devolved powers and functions from Government.

further improve community

Issue 28 April / May / June 2015

sector. For example, one question

funding, and retain more of

was about how we will ensure that

the benefits of local growth to

neighbourhood and community

reinvest in local priorities.

priorities are reflected in any long-

• Provide resilience and

As well as an opportunity to

Clearly there are also risks for the

sustainability to a range of functions that will be hardest

term strategic plans of an entity covering a much larger

Continued on next page...

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29

Continued from previous page...

geographical area. How will new commissioning arrangements that emerge from any new entity impact VCS organisations? As the ResPublica report states: “In many respects the challenges faced in devolving to communities mirror the obstacles that need to be overcome in transferring powers from the centre to local government. The approach requires a complete transformation in philosophy and approach to change the culture of how things are done and having the confidence to let go.”

The case that was presented at the core cities event in Glasgow was that devolution to a city region offers a much greater opportunity to influence local services, rather than a national policy approach that takes no account of local need.

Time will tell if this approach prevails. Voscur and the rest of the sector will continue to watch with interest as the devolution debate continues.

*Core Cities UK are: Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Cardiff, Glasgow. They are a unique and united local authority voice to promote the role of their cities in driving economic growth and the case for city devolution. They represent the councils of England’s eight largest city economies outside London along with Glasgow and Cardiff. For information visit: www.corecities.com

Free office furniture for local charities

Some useful links: ResPublica report: ‘Restoring Britain’s City States‘ http://goo.gl/P5RjZz Core Cities’ ‘Modern Charter for Local Freedom’ http://goo.gl/N1PKkq A round-up of the Tweets from Voscur’s event in March: goo.gl/F4X1J5

30 www.voscur.org

Collecteco clears commercial premises and redistributes good-quality office furniture and other equipment to good causes. If your charity is looking for anything, please send a wishlist with your contact details to the email below and we’ll match it against our stock.

www.collecteco.co.uk E: wishlist@collecteco.co.uk April / May / June 2015 Issue 28

Neighbourhood Partnerships’ conference February 2015

“We must excite people that this

feasible. Strategy must come from

is their local governance,” said

the centre, where the joining-up

Mayor Ferguson, speaking at the

happens, but local areas should be

Neighbourhood Partnerships’

able to respond to local issues.

conference held at Circomedia on a cold Saturday morning in February.

The Mayor said that problems are and reminded us that the UK is more centrally governed than any other European country, but cities and neighbourhoods are where the problems and solutions lie.

ability to deliver, and indicated

Councillors must be embedded in

that there is a deal to be done

their Neighbourhood Partnerships,

in terms of how Neighbourhood

and Neighbourhood Partnerships

Partnerships are resourced to

must be part of the ‘bigger

respond to local issues. Some

picture’.

areas in Bristol face more acute

Bristol, as part of a city region, has more control over transport, for example, we would be better

a relaunch of Neighbourhood Partnerships in the autumn and a drive to get more people involved.

Photo by jontangerine CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

as drum beaters for local issues;

Partnerships and said that if

Council officers, there will be

there is a differential in terms of Neighbourhood Partnerships’

very relevant to Neighbourhood

neighbourhood plans by City

The Mayor recognised that

The Mayor referred to Councillors

He emphasised that devolution is

Following a joining-up of

Photo by David McKelvey CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

not understood from the centre,

Councillors are drum beaters for local issues and must be embedded in their Neighbourhood Partnerships

and what their potential is.”

problems than others. But how would others react if some Partnerships were to receive more resource than others, because of the disadvantages that some people face?

able to deal with how we move

Concern about lack of

efficiently around our city,

participation in Neighbourhood

without reference to central

Partnerships was raised. The

government.

To find out more

Mayor saw it as his role to illustrate

about your

the benefits of Neighbourhood

Neighbourhood

Partnerships. “The biggest job is

Partnership, go to:

to get people to recognise that

goo.gl/TLKRMC

The Mayor said that there is an absolute desire to devolve as much (to neighbourhoods) as is

they exist, what they are doing

Issue 28 April / May / June 2015

www.voscur.org

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

Voscur training and events April 2015 Date

Time

Event/training

Location

16th

9:30am - 3:30pm

Preparing your Accounts for your End of Year Report

The GreenHouse

16th

6pm - 8pm

#WhyVoteBristol15

Trinity Centre

23rd

9:30am - 12pm

Health and Social Care Network event - Better Care Fund

The Park

23rd

6pm - 9pm

Being a Good Trustee

Windmill Hill City Farm

30th

9:30am - 1pm

Safeguarding and Whistleblowing

St Werburghs Centre

May 2015 Date

Time

Event/training

Location

6th

10am - 12pm

Children and Young People’s Network Meeting

Barton Hill Settlement

13th

9:30am - 1pm

Contracts of Employment – How to Get it Right

The Southville Centre

14th

9:30am - 12:30pm

Working Together to Prevent and Support Young People Being Drawn into Terrorism and Extremism

Phoenix Social Enterprise

June 2015 Date

Time

Event/training

Location

2nd

1:30pm - 3:30pm

Finance Forum: Insurance for Voluntary Sector Organisations

Royal Oak House

3rd

9:30am - 1pm

Minute Taking for Administrators (part one)

The Southville Centre

4th

9:30am - 3:30pm

Writing Small Fundraising Bids

St Werburghs Centre

9th

9:30am - 12:30pm

Being a Good Trustee

The GreenHouse

10th

9:30am - 1pm

Minute Taking for Administrators (part two)

The Southville Centre

17th

9:30am - 1pm

An Introduction to Time Management

Windmill Hill City Farm

18th

6pm - 9pm

Being an Even Better Trustee

Windmill Hill CIty Farm

25th

9:30am - 1pm

Telling Your Story

The Gatehouse Centre

July 2015 Date

Time

Event/training

Location

1st

6pm - 8pm

Trustee Network

TBC

8th

12pm - 2pm

How Decisions are Made in the City

Royal Oak House

9th

9:30am - 1pm

Evidence and Intelligence to Support Funding Bids – How Can Council Data Help?

Barton Hill Settlement

16th

10am - 2pm

VCS Assembly

The Park

For details of all the above training and events, visit: www.voscur.org/events/upcoming/voscur

Voscur is a registered charity and a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. Company no. 3918210. Charity no. 1148403.

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