Thrive! Magazine July-September 2015

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Supporting Voluntary Action

Supporting voluntary and community action

July/August/September 2015

In this issue: Fighting for 50:50 - a Bristol Women’s Commission campaign Help with fundraising Is social investment for you?

Bristol energy champions Upcoming training and more...

Photo: People power in South Bristol - ACORN members Jake and Jane at a demonstration against rising rents. More on p8-9.

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Supporting Voluntary Action

Voscur’s Annual Conference & Awards 1 October 2015 watch this space...

Contents Voscur 4 Editorial 5

Could you be that bit greener?

6-7

New members

8-9

Member focus: Acorn change begins at home

10

Fighting for 50:50

11

Bristol Energy Champions

12-13

Feature: Suffragette city

Voice and Influence 19

Is it time to ditch the term ‘Black and Minority Ethnic’?

20

Support with safeguarding

21

‘This is me’ - interview with a VCS Advocate

22-23

Linking local groups with mental health services

24-25 Keeping commissioning improvements on the agenda 26-29 Feature: Is social investment for you?

Support Hub 14

Funding: no single trick...best have several up your sleeve...

15

Twenty things you need to know about... annual reports

16-17

Upcoming training

18

A ‘Boost!’ for play in Bristol

31

Think local: Hartcliffe and Withywood Community Partnership

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.

Issue 29 July / August / September 2015

www.voscur.org

3

Dear members and friends review progress and influence next steps.

As grant pots reduce and organisations seek alternative sources of finance, we have been talking to social investors about making their funds more accessible.

We recognise that this type of repayable finance isn’t for everyone, but it may be for you. You will find information about social investment Wendy Stephenson (centre) pictured with Bristol South MP, Karin Smyth, and Navca Chief Executive, Neil Cleeveley, at a recent 20th Anniversary event.

on pages 26-29, and there will be an opportunity to meet social investors and find out more at our July VCS

Welcome to the first Thrive!

Sector, and the value it brings to

Assembly meeting (details at: goo.

magazine to be published since

the city.

gl/vMPJpn).

Readers will know that for

Many organisations have great

some time Voscur has been

ideas and offer excellent services,

championing the sector’s

but not all are able to employ

role in the delivery of public

an experienced bid writer. That’s

services, through influencing

why we have set up our Funding

commissioning policy and

Advice Review Service – to help

practice. Following our event

you put together brilliant funding

‘Commissioning and the Voluntary

applications. See page 14 for more

Sector – 2 Years On’ and our

information about the service and

involvement in the Council’s Social

details of other funding advice

Value Scrutiny Inquiry Day earlier

support that Voscur can offer.

the May elections. We’re pleased to add Bristol’s new Councillors and Members of Parliament to our readership and look forward to working together for the greater good of our city. To kick off, we asked our four MPs to give us their views on the emergent themes and challenges for our sector over the next 5 years (see Kerry McCarthy and Karin Smyth’s responses on pages 12-13). We look forward to hearing from Charlotte Leslie and Thangam Debbonaire in our autumn edition.

A recurring theme for us is survival - we know that further reductions in public spending will see an increased demand for the services of our members. It’s important therefore that Voscur is here to represent Bristol’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise

4 www.voscur.org

this year, it’s good to be able to report that there is now a real opportunity for change in Bristol see more on p24-25.

Outside of commissioning

I hope to see you at the Assembly - if not, have a great summer enjoying all that Bristol has to offer.

Best wishes,

processes, a number of local organisations receive grant funding from Bristol City Council.

We will be discussing the Council’s Grants Prospectus at our VCS Assembly meeting on 16 July 2015, where you will be able to

Wendy Stephenson Chief Executive

July / August / September 2015 Issue 29

Could you be that bit greener ?

Photo by Gringer CC BY-SA 2.0

Go Green is the brand new initiative, run by Business West and Low Carbon South West (in close partnership with Bristol Green Capital 2015), to encourage businesses and organisations in Bristol and the West of England to work in more sustainable ways.

Many people in the city want to live and work ‘greener’ – but sometimes do not know where to start. Go Green provides a practical framework and online tool that groups can access free of charge and use to begin planning, implementing and documenting their own green

through using sustainably sourced

joining Go Green,” said Tim Wilson,

changes.

teas or coffee, or by hosting

Director of Estates, Bristol Zoo

green workshops and creating

Gardens. “The events are excellent

‘How To’ guides for staff and

and a great way to meet other

volunteers.

organisations and get expert tips

“Go Green events are excellent and a great way to meet other organisations and get expert tips and advice on going green.”

Go Green suggests that businesses and organisations implement new

Go Green is for all groups, no

measures and practices under five

matter their size. It is not a

key areas:

competition, nor a contest, but a

•

Planning and resilience

By signing up to Go Green, groups

•

Travel and transport

are invited to navigate an easy-to-

•

Energy and efficiency

follow pathway of:

•

Sustainable sourcing

•

Say it

•

Happy and healthy

•

Do it

Go Green will work with groups

•

Prove it

along the way, providing ideas and

Go Green is a recognised initiative with its own branding that groups

and advice on going green.”

tool which can help people make sense of how the green agenda can be embedded into the fibre of an organisation and make a real, lasting difference.

inspiration, and challenging groups to make further improvements.

can use to demonstrate their

“We are delighted to be part of

commitment towards making

the celebrations for Bristol’s year

Bristol a Green Capital – be that

as European Green Capital by

Issue 29 July / August / September 2015

To find out more, visit: www.gogreenbusiness.co.uk

www.voscur.org

5

New Voscur members Inspire And Motivate Community Interest Company

Rainbow Centre

A social enterprise providing employability skills,

children, and their families, affected by

training and experience for young unemployed

life-threatening illness and bereavement. www.rainbowcentre.org.uk 07964 287 003

people. www.inspireandmotivate.org 07775 924 050

We offer arts therapies and counselling to

All-Aboard! Watersports

South West International Development Network

Provision of rowing, sailing and canoeing for those

Designed to support, inform and connect

who would not normally be able to access the water

professionals, academics and students engaged in

due to barriers of social deprivation; physical, sensory

the international development sector in South West

or cognitive disability; or economic hardship.

England. www.swidn.org.uk

www.allaboardwatersports.co.uk

The Society

07964 287 003

The relief of unemployment,

Bristol Volunteers Card

including assistance into employment.

Negotiating discounts and incentives for volunteers in

www.the-society.org.uk

Bristol.

07860 111 480

www.bristolvolunteerscard.co.uk

HAVOYOCO UK

07456 659 216

Holistic services for youth from disadvantaged

Incredible Edible Bristol

backgrounds to enhance their life skills and

Promoting horticultural activities in Bristol and

educational outcomes as well as sport activities.

surrounding areas; installing gardens in public

Oasis Hub: Brightstowe

spaces, and schools; and running an education

Working together in and with local partnerships,

programme in primary and secondary schools.

to meet local needs and build on existing

www.ediblebristol.org.uk

strengths and assets in the local community. www.oasisacademybrightstowe.org 0117 316 7330

Read Easy South Bristol

Nabadda Educational Service

07554 117 763

Nabadda Educational Service helps to raise

The Ape Project

educational attainment among young Somali children

Positive activities and opportunities for children

in Bristol through the use of one-to-one mentoring

and young people in and around Bristol.

and tutoring. roseanna_looker@hotmail.co.uk

www.apeproject.co.uk 07903 798 333

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One-to-one support for adults who struggle to read. www.readeasy.org.uk

July / August / September 2015  Issue 29

LGBT Health Forum Bristol

their potential through participation, performance,

Improve the outcomes of mental health services

volunteering and employment.

for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in

0117 908 5294

Bristol. www.lgbthealthforumbristol.co.uk

Hillfields Community Trust

Wider World

money that provides activities or workshops to

Enrichment activities for children from low-income areas.

07594 433 530

Good E.I.D.E.A Supporting children and parents to learn social and emotional life skills through meaningful activities.

0117 956 5826

Bishopston, Cotham and Redland Neighbourhood Partnership Streetscene Group An enthusiastic group of volunteers who aim to make a difference to the areas in which they live.

07920 422 407

Freedom Fields Therapeutic outdoor weekends for children in foster care and their carers.

07982 260 872

Jacob’s Wells Community Hub Passionate about celebrating Jacob’s Wells, reducing

Drawing upon small funding pots to ring-fence benefit the whole community.

0117 965 4408

The Thomas More Project Residential Care Home and Supported Living Project for adults with learning difficulties.

One-to-one mentoring and tutoring. www.thomas-more.org.uk 0117 962 0887

Cats Protection Bristol & District Rescuing, rehoming and caring for cats in Bristol and the surrounding area.

0117 9322760

We also welcome our new associate members, individual members and supporters: Opening Doors Bristol & Somerset; Alabare - Homes for Veterans; Bristol Health Partners; Alzheimer’s Society; Include; Karen Lloyd; Access Sport CIO; Social Housing Solutions.

social isolation and sharing knowledge and skills.

07718 916 368

Bristol Fibromyalgia ME/CFS Support Group Breaking barriers of isolation and supporting people to learn how to self-manage their condition(s).

0117 982 7067

For more information on becoming a member of Voscur and the range of member benefits, visit:

Misfits Theatre Company

www.voscur.org/about/joiningonline

Giving people with learning disabilities the

or call us on 0117 909 9949.

opportunity to be creative, have fun and reach

Issue 29 July / August / September 2015

www.voscur.org

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Change begins at home

ACORN members at a demonstration outside a local estate agent against proposed rent increases.ore on pXX Article written

by Stuart Melvin, ACORN National Organiser.

Times are good for some. Last year, The Times newspaper’s ‘rich list’ recorded that the wealthiest 1,000 people added £28 billion to their wealth. Yet, according to the largest study on poverty in the UK in recent years by Poverty and Social Exclusion (PSE), the number of households living below commonly perceived minimum standards has doubled since 1983.

This PSE research, carried out in 2012, found that 4 million people in the UK are not properly fed; 2.3 million UK households cannot afford to heat the living areas of their homes; over 30 million people suffer from financial insecurity; and around 2.5m children live in homes that are damp.

ACORN is a group of low-income residents in Bristol that is

8 www.voscur.org

fighting for change. Originally founded in the 1970s in the USA, ACORN stands for ‘Association of Community Organisations for Reform Now’ and has a presence across the globe. Through direct-action campaigning, the organisation has won enormous victories for working people, from living wages through to fair-credit home ownership deals, and has transferred billions from rich to poor.

The first UK branch of ACORN was launched by 100 residents in Easton, Bristol, in May last year.

These people came together with the shared purpose of uniting low- and moderate-income communities and to fight for fairness.

The pivotal campaign has been for improved housing conditions for private renters, many of whom are living in damp homes with unsanitary living conditions for families. Insecure tenancies are also allowing eviction at as little as 8 weeks’ notice (ACORN

is currently fighting the evictions of renters who have asked for repairs). Many can’t afford to move due to letting agency fees, rising rents and unreturned deposits - with 14,000 on the social housing waiting list in Bristol (as reported by Bristol247 in April 2015), there is nowhere to go.

In July, the group held an accountability meeting, where 100 residents told their stories to local letting agents and demanded change. Meanwhile a petition gathered 2,000+ local signatures. ACORN has won repairs and rent reductions worth 10s of £1,000s. Sometimes a letter and a negotiation has been enough.

Other times the group has held colourful, creative pickets to secure the work needed. This kind of collective direct action means members collectively share the victory, building confidence and leadership.

ACORN has also reached out to build partnerships with local politicians, charities, housing

July / August / September 2015 Issue 29

Easy-Translations Ltd. associations, student organisations, landlords and letting agents. We recently launched the Ethical Lettings Charter, a voluntary accreditation scheme inviting landlords and agents to sign up to set commitments around security of tenure, costs (and barriers to accessing housing), and repairs. The Charter has now been endorsed by several landlords, letting agents Piper Property and Kingswood Accommodation, as well as Bristol City Council and others. In light of the national election result, ACORN are delighted to be able to work with our new local MPs to push the scheme.

Further action around rent rises has also taken place as these rises are increasingly hitting home. Nationally, insecure tenancies, benefit sanctions and rent rises are conspiring to create a tsunami of homelessness. According to national charity Crisis, rough sleeping in England has gone up 55%. When an estate agent recently encouraged landlords in Bristol to jack up rents, 12,000 people signed a joint ACORN/38 Degrees petition against it, and 200+ joined us to deliver it.

The housing crisis, welfare cuts, low wages and insecure employment are a toxic mix for millions of us struggling to get by. Supported by groups including Voscur, ACORN is now beginning to organise neighbourhood groups in other areas of Bristol, as well as Birmingham, Newcastle and London. We’re determined to not only stand up for each other, but to make our voices more powerful and demand what we deserve: equality.

Join, donate or get in touch at: www.acorncommunities.org.uk Check out the Ethical Lettings Charter at www.ethical-lettings.org.uk

Issue 29 July / August / September 2015

A Local Service for Bristol's Voluntary and Community Sector We translated for

Bristol Debt Advice Centre. North Somerset Council. Avon and Bristol Law Centre. South Gloucestershire Council. The Greenway Centre. Knightstone Housing Association. Bath Royal United Hospital. Care & Repair. WECIL. NHS. Burroughs Day Solicitors. SPH Housing. Green Lane Hospital. Southmead Development Trust. Stone Healthcare. Bristol Refugee Rights. Sight Cymru. North West Leicestershire District Council. Bristol Community Housing Foundation. Bristol Community Support Services.

Bristol Community Health. Charnwood Borough Council.

CCS Adoption. DF Legal LLP. Newport City Council. Cumbria Community Law Centre. Bristol LINk. South Gloucestershire LINk. Great Western Ambulance Service.

North Bristol Advice Centre. Purdoes Solicitors. Carlisle City Council. Rethink….

E: info@easy-translations.co.uk 0117 301 4343 0845 200 7832 Fax: 0870 762 7312 SMS: 07762230222

www.easy-translations.co.uk

Free office furniture for local not-for-profits

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 www.voscur.org

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Fighting for 50:50 Bristol Women’s Commission’s campaign to get 50% women on Bristol City Council 2016 Article written by Daniella Radice, Councillor for Bishopston Ward on Bristol City Council and Assistant Mayor for Neighbourhoods.

The first woman elected to Bristol City Council was Mabel Caroline Tothill from Easton ward in 1920.

It is hard to believe that even though it is nearly 100 years since her election, we still haven’t got gender equality.

Today, only 34% of Bristol’s

Local women engaging with political candidates at a recent BWV Question Time event in Bristol West.

councillors are women; with women making up 51% of the

If the thought has even vaguely

problems more effectively,

population, we think equal

crossed your mind, please

because it would be able to draw

representation is a priority.

consider putting yourself forward.

upon a wider range of experiences

If you are not keen on party

and insights.

politics or belonging to a group,

3. There is evidence in the UK

Bristol’s electoral system is changing, with ‘all out’ elections in May 2016. This means that all

you can stand as an independent.

that under both the Labour and

the political parties will be looking

Bristol needs you because:

Coalition governments, women

to find 70 people each to stand.

1. A lack of political equality

have put new issues onto the agenda: for example, a focus on

The Bristol Women’s Commission

gives the false impression that

is asking all parties to field at

women aren’t as good as men

least 50% women candidates in

at leadership, or that politics is

Political representation is central

winnable seats.

something men do and women

to advancing gender equality in

This is where you come in! The

shouldn’t or wouldn’t want to get

the city. We now have four women

Commission need women to

involved in. Women already play

MPs – it is time for the council to

come forward to stand, no matter

a key role in leading many public

catch up!

what your political point of view.

and private sector organisations

Being a local councillor is about

and make brilliant role models

representing your community and

in these places of work, but

For more information,

its interests. Women play a vital

this is not matched by political

email:

role in many VCS organisations,

leadership roles.

info@bristolwomensvoice.org.uk

but not so many make the

2. A more diverse Council would

or call: 07972 673782

transition to political leadership.

10 www.voscur.org

childcare for younger children.

make better decisions and solve

July / August / September 2015 Issue 29

Voscur is proud to be supporting the work of

Bristol Energy Champions Article written by Sophie Pritchard, Coordinator, Bristol Energy Champions.

Bristol Energy Champions is a Green Capital project set up to create a network of volunteers to work on energy issues.

The volunteers help people, communities and local businesses to save energy and reduce energy

Members of Bristol Energy Network on a bike-powered light bulb stall to promote sustainable energy.

bills, as well as supporting groups to set up and run local energy

take action to keep the warmth in;

more people reduce their fuel bills

efficiency and renewable energy

helped University Hospitals Bristol

and keep their homes warm.

projects. The programme is open

to carry out energy audits; helped

to anyone with an interest in

Talking Money to run workshops to help people manage their fuel

To create a new, just energy system that works for us all, we need to include everyone energy; there’s no need to have any existing knowledge and we can cover travel costs and some other project costs. The project is run in partnership by Bristol Energy Network, Centre for

bills; helped to install a ‘solar tree’ (a 15ft metal tree with solar panels for leaves) in the city centre with Demand Energy Equality; and run stalls at various events across the city. Energy Champions are also getting stuck in with the Bristol Energy Cooperative and Bristol Friends of the Earth to get solar panels on Bristol schools.

If you work with people living in poor housing or struggling to pay their fuel bills please get in touch.

We can help provide information or organise workshops. There may also be people within your network interested in joining us as an Energy Champion. Through the programme they will receive free training and make some useful new connections within a growing field. It’s also an opportunity to become a role model and mentor

Sustainable Energy, University

To create a new, just energy

within your own community,

Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation

system that works for us all, we

enabling you to share your

Trust, OVO Energy and Bristol

need to include everyone, and

knowledge and help others.

Friends of the Earth.

especially those whose needs

So far, Energy Champions have supported Easton Energy Group to take thermal images of houses so that people can see where their homes are losing heat and

are not addressed by the current

For more information,

system. We’ve been working

contact Sophie

with the African Voices Forum to

on coordinator@

recruit Energy Champions from

bristolenergynetwork.org or

BME communities to help even

0117 934 1432.

Issue 29 July / August / September 2015

www.voscur.org

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Suffragette city Bristol is the only major city in the UK to elect four female MPs Following the general election last May, Bristol returned four woman MPs, the largest city in the UK/ England to have all-female representation. Kerry McCarthy (Labour) and Charlotte Leslie (Conservative) were re-elected, whilst Thangam Debbonaire (Labour) and Karin Smyth (Labour) were part of the new wave of women and people from minority ethnic groups taking their seats. This has made Parliament more representative of the general population than ever before.

At a Voscur event held in May 2015, voluntary and community sector leaders and activists met the city’s MPs and local councillors, including those newly elected. One question was on everyone’s lips: “What are the emergent themes and challenges for the voluntary and community sector over the next 5 years?”

Voscur asked all of the MPs their response to this question; first up, Kerry McCarthy and Karin Smyth...

kerry.mccarthy.mp@parliament.uk

Kerry McCarthy Labour MP

Bristol East The main challenge for charities and voluntary groups over the next five years will be picking up the pieces where vital public services have been cut back.

While austerity measures have already been quite deep in many areas, the full impact has not yet been felt, and the new Conservative Government has indicated that it wishes to go further, with a commitment to £12 billion worth of cuts to the welfare budget. Local government finances are already stretched to breaking point.

These cuts will no doubt be accompanied by a narrative that those being stripped of benefits

12 www.voscur.org

did not deserve them to begin with. Unfortunately, this is not a new phenomenon, with rhetoric about ‘workshy scroungers’ and the growth of food banks already having been blamed on their users. This, of course, undermines the ability of charitable groups to raise money and perform their work. Organisations like the Trussell Trust will therefore have to find new ways to challenge negative narratives: a job which is only made more difficult by the gagging law, introduced by the Coalition Government, which restricts the ability of groups to campaign on certain issues.

In the Queen’s Speech, the Government announced a Charities and Social Investment Bill, which will protect charities from abuse and prevent people “who present a known risk” becoming trustees, as well as

enabling charities to more easily make social investments. The issue of charitable fundraising is not mentioned in the Bill but, given recent media coverage of the tragic death of my constituent Olive Cooke, is very likely to form part of the debate.

I recognise that charities need revenue streams to continue their admirable work and that many charities are strapped for cash.

I hope that the inquiry which has now been started by the Fundraising Standards Board and the other self-regulatory bodies will find a solution which does not stop them raising money, but does protect elderly and vulnerable potential donors.

July / August / September 2015 Issue 29

The Autumn edition of Thrive! will include responses from Conservative MP Charlotte Leslie (Bristol NorthWest) and Labour MP Thangam Debbonaire (Bristol West).

Photos: Voluntary sector activists join Bristol Councillors and newly elected MPs to discuss important issues for the sector.

karin.smyth.mp@parliament.uk

Karin Smyth Labour MP

Bristol South Personal pride at being elected to succeed Dawn Primarolo as Bristol South’s new MP was swamped by the bitter prospect of five years of a Government whose Bills, outlined in the Queen’s Speech, will have a major impact on our communities.

From my longstanding local involvement, particularly in the NHS, I know there is an outstanding strength amongst Bristol’s voluntary organisations.

There is an indomitable commitment to supporting individuals and communities, and so the sector has become adept at rising to meet the changing demands placed on them by

public bodies and society at large. The next five years promise plenty more such challenges.

My role will be to oppose damaging policies in Parliament, but I will very much welcome being kept in touch with the impact on local communities of Government decisions, particularly on many of the areas earmarked for legislation.

Bills loom outlining the proposed sale of limited housing association stock, changes to welfare entitlement, and the potential loss of significant benefits of EU membership, for example.

Then there’s a Bill focused on devolution and growth. It is too early to predict the full impact on ‘Greater Bristol’, but with its pledges to give control of health and social care, transport, planning and skills to cities with

Issue 29 July / August / September 2015

elected mayors, it is bound to create a sea-change. The idea comes from the Chancellor’s much-vaunted ‘Northern Powerhouse’. Well, here in this part of the country I want to see a ‘Western Powerhouse’ that genuinely empowers local people. But I know that this can only come from instigating a methodology for change that’s ‘bottom-up’ in spirit, beginning with people and communities, rather than imposing a topdown structure on them. I will bat for the former, but I fear the Government plan is for the latter.

Of course the request that you keep me updated also extends to areas the Government isn’t talking about: health and social care, for example. The impact of the implementation of the 2014 Care Act will be of particular interest. I welcome thoughts and views.

www.voscur.org

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Funding: no single trick...best have several up your sleeve...

The first is our Funding Application Review Service which gives groups critically constructive feedback and advice about their draft funding bids, making sure they are as strong and compelling as possible.

“We have now successfully received three different grants from five bids written so we’re really happy with the support.”

Our expert funding advisors review applications and budgets. They then provide a comprehensive written report and a follow-up phone call to strengthen the bid and improve a group’s own skills for future applications. This will increase the quality of the bid; chances of success; as well as a group’s confidence in explaining their proposal and their planning and development of subsequent proposals.

One of the first local groups to use this service, Trinity Community Gardens, said:

14 www.voscur.org

Photo by JohnMayer1129 CC BY 2.0

Ask anyone in our sector what is the number one issue that affects their group or organisation, and you are almost guaranteed to get the same response – funding.

With this in mind, Voscur has been working to develop and support a number of services to help our sector strengthen its fundraising and make that illusive ‘sustainability’ a reality.

“We got really good feedback that helped us to keep improving and understanding what we had missed out. We have now successfully received three different grants from five bids written so we’re really happy with the support.”

The charge for this service depends on the size and complexity of an application. We charge a fixed fee for the initial review, based on the value of the proposal, with additional follow-up support available if needed. Current costs and further details are on our website (details in the box to the right).

Another new Voscur service is Grants Online Local - a specialist tool that enables local voluntary and community sector groups/ organisations, local partnerships and local businesses to search for and identify relevant grant funding sources. Voscur has partnered with Grants Online Local to provide members with access to this service

through our own dedicated portal.

Lastly, you may want to consider joining other fundraisers in Bristol at the monthly Bristol Fundraisers Group, an informal gathering, established by Philippa Cox from Frank Water. The group is designed to share knowledge, ideas, difficulties and successes to help meet the challenges of funding voluntary organisations today.

Charities and community groups of all sizes are welcome.

For more information about the Funding Application Review Service, call 0117 909 9949 or visit www.voscur.org/fars For more on Grants Online Local, visit: www.voscur.org/ content/grants-online-local For the Bristol Fundraising Group, contact: philippa@frankwater.com or register for the next meeting at: goo.gl/6QbA95

July / August / September 2015 Issue 29

Support Hub

20

things you need to know about...annual reports

Make it appealing

1. Consider your audience – regulators, members or other stakeholders, funders and other partner organisations...how can you best communicate with them?

10. Be clear about your legal reporting and filing requirements.

They differ depending on the type and size of your organisation.

11. Include all the information you are required to provide.

12. File early if you can,

2. Use the opportunity to engage and motivate your audience.

3. Take inspiration from other organisations.

Photos, infographics and case studies can help a report to come alive.

4. Go for a consistent message and style.

5. Be creative - photos, infographics and case studies can help a report to come alive.

Tell a positive story

6. Be selective. Concentrate on your impact: the difference you are making to your service users and community.

7. Focus on your successes but be honest about the challenges.

8. Talk about the future too!

9. Remember to say thank you.

Make sure you fulfil the legal requirements

but make sure you hit the regulator’s deadlines.

Getting the job done

13. Nominate one

easy it is to read and understand.

18. Consider a digital/mobile format - how many of your readers will access this report online?

19. Don’t forget to proofread the text to eliminate mistakes and typos.

Get advice and support

20. Help is out there; there is lots of advice available online and the regulators have clear guidance available on their websites.

person to oversee the preparation of the annual report.

14. Make sure they have the full support of the team and can delegate!

15. Monitor

It is worth the investment of time and effort; a great annual Focus on your report is an successes but effective way to encourage be honest about and celebrate, the challenges. inspire and

and evaluate all year round - having this information at your fingertips makes for easier report writing!

16. Allow time to collate the information and plan carefully.

Make sure everyone will be able to read it

17.

Make sure it is accessible. The design of the report will affect how

Issue 29 July / August / September 2015

motivate.

Voscur/Volunteer Bristol’s Boost! programme matches local groups with professional volunteers who have skills to help in a number of areas why not find out more? Visit www.volunteerbristol.org.uk/ organisations/boost and see p18.

www.voscur.org

15

Upcoming Voscur training How Decisions are Made in the City

Recruiting Volunteers

Wednesday 8 July 2015, 12pm – 2pm

Wednesday 16 September, 9:30am – 12:30pm

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) and business-led bodies such as the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), and how they make decisions.

This course, for anyone who recruits and supports volunteers, will identify why people volunteer and what stops people from volunteering, highlight best practice in recruiting volunteers, help you to create a volunteer role description and advert for recruiting volunteers and provide you with a range of effective recruitment techniques.

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 use it.

This course is being delivered by Bristol City Council.

“I’ve gained so much confidence in my role as a trustee from this course.”

Participant, Being a Good Trustee May 2014

Recruiting Trustees Wednesday 9 September, 9:30am – 1pm The ideal trustee board contains a mix of people with a range of skills and experience. If we always recruit friends and people we know, we risk creating a board of similar trustees, while missing out on the chance to include new perspectives and ideas. Having said that, it can be time-consuming to recruit from a wider pool and many of us would not know where to begin.

This course will provide you with a plan and resources to help your recruitment of new trustees. Come and share your experiences of the challenges and discuss solutions to achieve success.

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HR Essentials for Managers Wednesday 23 September, 9:30am – 3:30pm This course will provide an overview of the essential Human Resources (HR) processes that may be delegated to managers. We will cover: disciplinary and grievance hearings; managing sickness absence; appraisals; performance management; equal opportunities; the importance of contracts and staff handbooks; interviewing; and understanding the risk of legal challenge. We will also consider the balance between running robust HR processes and ensuring a dynamic, engaged and productive team.

July / August / September 2015 Issue 29

Being a Good Trustee Tuesday 29 September, 6pm – 9pm 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.

Developing a Fundraising Strategy Tuesday 13 October, 9:30am – 3:30pm Not sure where to go next with fundraising or feeling like it is a lot of work for little gain? If so, this course is for you. It introduces fundraising strategies and explains why they are useful, looks at external challenges and opportunities, and starts to think about a variety of funding sources.

Confident to Present and Influence Wednesday 14 October, 9:30am – 3:30pm This intermediate-level, interactive course will give you hints, tips and practical advice to help improve your confidence in how you plan and use presentations to get your message understood and to influence your audience.

Organisational Legal Structures Tuesday 20 October, 12pm – 2pm What is your organisation’s legal structure? Is it the right one? Do your trustees have unlimited ability and, if so, is that advisable? Do you know the differences between a CIO and a CIC? What are the pros and cons of different legal structures? Come along to this focussed, accessible, two-hour lunchtime session to find out. We will cover community associations, companies limited by guarantee, charitable incorporated organisations and community interest companies. Bring your lunch, if you like.

Issue 29 July / August / September 2015

“Voscur courses are always well organised and presented. Working with others in similar situations is really helpful and brings new ideas.”

Participant, Developing a Fundraising Strategy, April 2014

Mediation for Managers Wednesday 21 October, 12pm - 2pm This course will provide an introduction to mediation in the workplace. We will: review the process for mediating a conflict between two staff members; learn and practise one of the core skills; and consider how to embed mediation in your organisation. This course is essential for anyone exploring proactive ways to resolve workplace conflict and increase employee engagement.

Good Customer Services for Office Based Staff Thursday 22 October, 9:30am - 3:30pm This course offers the opportunity to reflect on the service you provide to internal and external customers.

You will be given tips and techniques to develop your expertise to delight your customers and deal with customer complaints and challenging behaviour. This course is practical and delivered in an imaginative and engaging way at your pace.

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.

www.voscur.org

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A ‘Boost!’ for play in Bristol

Voscur/Volunteer Bristol’s Boost! programme matches local community organisations with professionally skilled volunteers to do a short-term piece of work that builds long-term organisational capacity. Here’s one of our success stories…

The organisation Bristol Playbus has been delivering mobile play opportunities to children and families in Bristol for 41 years. It provides Ofstedregistered pre-school education for under-fives, music-making, sports, arts and environmental activities for 5- to 13-yearolds, and a recently developed ‘Sensory truck’ for children with disabilities. Activities are designed to meet the needs of diverse

other local charities. For six weeks,

created a real turning point for

local communities: encouraging

the volunteer met weekly with

the organisation by giving the

well-being, creativity, contact

Playbus’s Project Co-ordinator

committee the information and

with the natural environment and

to review financial data, helping

confidence to embrace necessary

community cohesion.

to prepare the detailed reports

changes. Both the management

The need for a ‘Boost!’

required to inform management

committee and the Project

committee decision-making.

Co-ordinator now have a better

Like many organisations Bristol Playbus recently found

Drawing on professional

themselves facing a loss of local

experience, the volunteer

authority funding, leading to a

reviewed Playbus’s pricing

challenging period of change and

structure and advised on the

redevelopment. So a first priority

viability of their current services

was to stabilise finances and

and contracts. The result was a

increase income and efficiencies

forward-looking sustainability

in running their services.

action plan.

They approached Boost! to get a

The management committee

professional, independent view

dedicated a development day to

of their situation and guidance on

reviewing the plan and, with the

what needed to change.

volunteer’s help to overcome

The placement Boost! matched them with a

new approaches, and are keen to hold a similar business planning session and review on an annual basis. Following implementation of the plan, the organisation now has greater local influence, more stable income, and greater equity in pay between different teams.

hurdles, its recommendations were taken on board.

Interested in working with or becoming a Boost! Volunteer? Get in touch by emailing:

volunteer accountant who also

The result

had experience of working with

Working with the Boost! volunteer

18 www.voscur.org

understanding of how to manage

boost@volunteerbristol.org.uk

July / August / September 2015 Issue 29

Is it time to ditch the term ‘Black and Minority Ethnic’?

In May this year, former chair of

are growing – including how they

general population, is their

the Commission for Racial Equality,

are affected by racism – it is

‘whiteness’ all that matters?

Trevor Phillips, gave a speech in

becoming increasingly unrealistic

which he suggested that phrases

to package all non-white groups all

such as Black and Minority

together.

Ethnic (BME) and Black, Asian

“You’re reducing all these diverse races and cultures down to three letters – not even a word, but just three letters.”

and Minority Ethnic (BAME) have become outdated, existing purely “to tidy away the messy jumble of real human beings who share only one characteristic – that they don’t have white skin”. He said this is an outdated way to refer to Britain’s racial minorities; that the acronyms could be divisive, and actually served to mask the disadvantages suffered by specific

‘BME’ and ‘BAME’ can undermine the real inequalities some groups face in society. In Bristol, the level of Somali pupils achieving 5 A* - C

While many use the terms BME and BAME, they are not universally liked as they do not recognise what some feel is their rich heritage.

Writer Lee Pinkerton says, “Personally I don’t like the term (BME); you’re reducing all these diverse races and cultures down to three letters – not even a word, but just three letters. It sounds like a disease like CJD, or HIV or BSE. I prefer the term Black.”

GCSEs or above is far lower than

Phillips suggests a good

Chinese students; unemployment

replacement could be “visible

Lola Okolosie, an English teacher

among Bristol’s Bangladeshi

minorities” or “people of colour”.

and writer, states, “I don’t

communities is far higher than

These terms though, as with BME/

particularly like these terms but

African Caribbean communities.

BAME, give a Western perspective

these labels are a necessity. They

If services are to be tailored

of race. A term that has been used

exist because society recognises

to address need then, where

more recently is “global majority”,

that discrimination is a fact

anomalies are not evident, specific

but this does not acknowledge

which the law must acknowledge

inequalities will be overlooked

the discrimination and inequality

and seek to redress.” Okolosie

when certain data sets are

people of colour can still

argues that without these labels,

included under umbrella terms.

experience even where they are

ethnic and cultural groups.

material disadvantages and discrimination can go unrecorded/

Okolosie considers whether Gypsy,

the majority.

Roma and Traveller communities

The debate demonstrates the

can be labelled ‘people of colour’.

complexities of terminology and

If not, does their experience of

race, and while we are yet to find

being a minority ethnic group not

a satisfactory, universal term, the

count? With life expectancy 12

message is that BME/BAME should

However, as the differences

years lower and infant mortality

not assume to capture all non-

between minority communities

three times higher than the

white, non-British groups.

unacknowledged – for example, the fact that certain people are far more likely to be stopped and searched on streets or in airports.

Issue 29 July / August / September 2015

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19

Support with safeguarding The Safe Network provides safeguarding information to VCS groups working with children and young people, related to activities outside the home, such as afterschool art clubs and weekend reading groups. Launched in 2009, it is a partnership between Children England and NSPCC, and was initially funded by the Department for Education. It provides safeguarding resources, developed by and for the voluntary and community sector, including core safeguarding standards.

Its standards are increasingly endorsed by local safeguarding children boards (including the Bristol Safeguarding Children Board) for use in commissioning and safeguarding audits.

Voscur is a Safe Network ambassador. Ambassadors focus on providing local signposting to the Safe Network website and resources. Resources are very easy to access (after registering online on the Safe Network website) and include:

• Are they Safe?: An initial nine-step guide to safeguarding for leaders of groups in the voluntary and community sector, working with children and young people.

• The self-assessment tool: this is useful in checking whether your organisation meets the recommended standards for keeping children and young people safe. It also links directly to a toolbox of resources which has template policies, procedures and guidance to help you put in place the various elements of the standards. It generates a summary and action plan automatically.

• A strategic guide for trustees and senior managers: this links to Safe Network’s resources and Children England ‘Simply the Best’ quality assurance framework. The ‘Everyone’s Business Safeguarding for Trustees’ guide sets out your responsibilities for safeguarding and protecting children, using

the latest statutory guidance.

• Our Decision: this unique guide has been developed to support voluntary and community sector organisations working with children, young people and families with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application process and effective decision-making related to the level of supervision and checking required for different roles.

• Multi-faith safeguarding hub: this online hub gives you the opportunity to access a variety of unique and interesting resources to support safeguarding within faith settings, for the six main faiths in the UK. It includes case studies, good practice, links to specialist organisations and an online platform for people to share resources and to provide networking opportunities.

For full details, visit: www.safenetwork.org.uk

Volunteers’ Week 2015 The start of June saw Bristol abuzz with events for Volunteers’ Week: our chance to shine the light on the invaluable contributions of our city’s volunteers. Events included tea parties and picnics, fairs and gatherings - all bringing people together to celebrate volunteers and the time they give to our communities. It was also a drive to boost the awareness of volunteering across the region; our Volunteers’ Fair in The Galleries saw a host of organisations come together to share the abundance of opportunities out there that can help individuals develop their skills, meet new people and change lives!

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Volunteers at Fix Up Look Sharp, raising money for CLIC Sargent.

July / August / September 2015 Issue 29

This is me

Vicki Morris is the VCS Advocate on Bristol City Council’s Provider Forum. With a background in women’s services, mental health, substance misuse and public health, she has a strong interest in wellbeing and equal rights.

What have you learnt about working in the voluntary and community sector?

Well, I’ve been working in the VCS since 1993, so I’ve probably forgotten half of what I’ve learnt! I know that competition is wasteful and collaboration is more interesting and more cost effective.

What do you think are the big challenges for the VCS? For small VCS groups, competition from the large nationals, and the rise of payment by results, which in my opinion favours richer (large, national) organisations.

What do you think are the big issues in health and social care at the moment?

Five years of a Conservative government determined to force through yet more austerity cuts.

How can we afford Trident when we can’t look after vulnerable people? The privatisation of the NHS and also the ticking timebomb of the lack of GPs. Recruitment pressures will also disproportionately affect surgeries in the less affluent areas.

If you could change one thing in Bristol what would that be?

The inequalities which are very stark in our city. Hate crimes, which are horrendous, frightening and unforgivable. Oh and the terrible animosity between drivers and cyclists. It’s a stupid waste of energy.

What would make the biggest difference to improving equality in society?

Access to work and education. Our city is wealthy enough that if we spread the good stuff we could all do better. Also, I really fear the widening gap, which serves no one, not even the rich.

What tip would you give to a new CEO of a small charity?

You have to be a jack of all trades, willing to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in. Never ever get too distant from the people you serve - tenders, policies and quality assurance can be dull as ditch water, if they aren’t balanced with the real people and issues.

What do you think is the secret to being influential?

Relationships. In the end, if you can build relationships, then you create the space to talk, and that’s how you get influence. Also, listening is as important as talking.

Issue 29 July / August / September 2015

This may seem ironic because I like to chat!

If you could do one thing differently in your working career what would that be?

I’d have been a stand-up comedian or a politician (are they in fact one and the same?).

Best tip for cycling in Bristol?

Enjoy it, and smile. Life is short and cycling is one of life’s simple, clean and health-promoting pleasures. By the way, I’m now a Breeze Champion, volunteering to get more women out on their bikes. Visit www.breezebikerides. com for more information.

To get more information about our VCS Advocates, watch video updates and find out how to get in touch with them, visit: www.voiceandinfluence.org. uk/advocates

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21

Linking local groups with mental health services Article written by Sarah Rudston, Communications Officer for the Community Access Support Service.

Community groups in Bristol can now receive support and advice on local mental health services from the new Community Access Support Service (CASS). As of the beginning of April, CASS has recruited three ‘Networkers’ who will each work within a different Bristol locality, delivering advice and information on mental health to community, equality and faith groups.

CASS (which is part of a new range of Bristol Mental Health services) is run by the Healthy Living Consortium of Wellspring Healthy Living Centre, Knowle West Health Park Company and Southmead Development Trust, with additional support from SARI (Stand Against Racism and Inequality). Each of the three CASS Networkers will be based within a consortium partner, working alongside a Communications Officer and Manager.

Building mental health capabilities in local communities CASS was commissioned to address the issue of community groups

22 www.voscur.org

finding themselves overstretched and under-resourced when it came to the mental health needs of their members. “People were less likely to contact mental health services when facing a crisis – they were more likely to go to a local group or a faith organisation,” says Vicki Morris, Chief Executive of the Knowle West Health Park Company.

“Many of these smaller groups were finding it hard to know how to help their members to get the right support.”

is a key function of CASS within the new Bristol Mental Health Services,” says Monira Ahmed Chowdhury, Manager of CASS. “There is a commitment to ongoing improvement.”

Unlike other services which work directly with service users, CASS Networkers will be providing help and advice to groups whose members may not have previously accessed mental health support services.

The CASS Networkers will link up with groups in the areas of North, South and Inner & East Bristol, with a particular focus on community, equalities and faith groups. The aim is to supplement the existing support offered with accessible, up-to-date information on local mental health services, advice on effective signposting and general information about emotional wellbeing.

“Our work is not to directly inform the public but to support groups which are accessed by individuals,” says Monira. “This way, those who are active in the community will be able to spread the word about the new services on offer.

A major focus of CASS is reaching out to communities who often face exclusion and discrimination, identifying how best we can support these groups in finding the right services for their members.”

A new way to improve mental health services

Starting a conversation

The CASS Networkers (Letty Anderton, Agata Palmer and Anna Balcerek) will also work to influence service providers and pass on feedback on current mental health services which will be collected from the groups. “Listening to what community groups have to say and getting those views back into the mental health system

In addition to the three Networkers, CASS also employs a Communications Officer who works with service providers to ensure that information about mental health services in Bristol is clear, accessible and accurate.

“A key part of helping people to access mental health support is providing the right

July / August / September 2015 Issue 29

Development Trust. “We want to enable links between existing and new services and ensure community groups like local sports clubs are fully aware of the wide range of mental health support available in Bristol.”

“CASS is a hugely exciting service and, now that the three Networkers have been recruited, we can begin the work of linking up with community groups across the city,” says Elaine Flint, Chief Executive of Wellspring Healthy Living Centre.

“Many local groups will have members who have faced mental

The Community Access Support Service team.

information,” says Sarah Rudston, Communications Officer for CASS. “If people find it hard to understand information about mental health services, it’s another barrier between them and the support they need. We will work with service providers in Bristol to improve communications, helping people to access support which is appropriate for their needs.”

Linking up with existing networks CASS plans to work alongside existing networks of support in Bristol, strengthening relationships between groups and service providers. “Bristol already has a strong network of support services outside of the formal mental health system,” says Alex Kittow, General Manager of Southmead

health difficulties. It’s our aim to ensure that all groups are able to signpost to the right services, start conversations about mental health and have a clear line of feedback to improve the services which are currently available.”

For more information call 0117 911 9832 or email info@cassbristol.org

Wednesday 14th October 2015, 10am - 12pm

Photo provided by BAND

Next Children & Young People’s Network Meeting Early Intervention: Meeting Priorities for Bristol’s Children, Young People and Families Speakers: John Readman, Strategic Director, People, Bristol City Council, and Judith Brown, Operations Director, NHS Bristol Clinical Commissioning Group Visit www.voiceandinfluence.org.uk/cyp_meetings for details.

Issue 29 July / August / September 2015

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23

Photo by Monkey Boy42 CC BY-NC 2.0

Keeping commissioning improvements on the agenda Commissioning and procurement

opened the event by stating how

are important to Bristol’s

important Bristol community

voluntary and community sector

organisations are to the city and

(VCS). Bristol Compact and Voscur

emphasised a commitment to

have been working to improve

make commissioning processes

commissioning in Bristol for

inclusive.

some time, with good progress,

Social Value event in December;

“I want to do as much as we can to include and listen to Voscur”

Cabinet Office review of the

Mayor Ferguson

and there are currently some opportunities for further changes.

Some recent developments are helping this work to focus: our

Social Value Act; our ‘VCS and Commissioning: Two Years On’ event in March; new European Union procurement regulations; and the UK government’s new Public Contract Regulations.

The situation is becoming more stable in Bristol City Council (BCC), and all of these developments present good opportunities for us to influence commissioning so that small, local, niche, equalitiesled community organisations are included and can win public service delivery contracts.

VCS and Commissioning: Two Years On

Audience members put questions to a panel of commissioners from BCC, Bristol Clinical Commissioning Group and the Office of the Police Crime Commissioner.

Wendy Stephenson, Voscur’s CEO, interviewed Alison Comley, BCC’s Strategic Director for Neighbourhoods, who gave an update on progress to a shared action plan and current thinking around commissioning.

Participants discussed a set of proposals for improvements to commissioning that would support the inclusion of VCS organisations.

These proposals were prioritised

This annual event serves to keep

as follows and our action plan

commissioning improvements

includes potential solutions.

on the agenda and was a reprise

#1 Commissioning intentions – advance notice of what’s being commissioned Proposed solution: Publish

of the landmark event we held in partnership with BCC in 2013. Mayor George Ferguson

24 www.voscur.org

intentions regularly so that the market can prepare; consider the impact of local vs national advertising. #2 Equalities and impact – making sure that small organisations are actively included Proposed solution: Establish a new policy of positive action to include small, local, niche, equalities-led community organisations. #3 Informed design – making sure that commissions are informed by market analyses Proposed solution: Develop standard guidance on market analysis and engagement in early stages. #4 Consistent practice – so that providers can easily engage Proposed solution: Develop a new commissioner training programme; link commissioning success/failure to staff performance management; establish mechanisms for commissioner peer learning. #5 Learning and improvement – a new approach to repeat good practice and identify learning from problematic processes Proposed solution: Establish an accountable body to examine practice and disseminate learning; review failed processes; define elements of ‘good’ processes.

July / August / September 2015 Issue 29

#7 Proportionality – ensuring that processes/paperwork are proportionate to size/ complexity of contract/grant Proposed solution: Develop standard guidance on proportionality, including timescales and paperwork; ensure VCS involvement in designing a Bristol approach to new EU procurement regulations. #8 Efficiency – establishing passporting to avoid duplication of providing/ assessing policies Proposed solution: Implement passporting in e-procurement.

Photo by Liam Gast

#6 Fostering collaborations – actively working to support partnership development Proposed solution: Develop standard guidance on market facilitation; develop commissioner understanding and practice in including small providers.

Voscur’s CEO, Wendy Stephenson, interviews BCC’s Alison Comley at this year’s Commissioning event.

Our input also included a

BCC’s Cabinet) is expected in the

presentation, during which

coming months. We hope that the

three VCS Advocates (Peter

recommendations that will include

Walker, ARA; Dom Wood, 1625ip;

many of our proposals. We expect

Alistair Dale, Youth Moves) gave

there to be a full consultation

feedback about VCS organisations’

during summer/autumn on the

Social Value and Procurement Inquiry day

experiences of commissioning/

next version of the Social Value

procurement. We also presented

Policy. We continue to work with

Following on from this event,

the other proposals, alongside

BCC to influence changes to

Bristol Compact and Voscur were

some opportunities for change

commissioning, procurement and

invited to participate in BCC’s

that could flow from the new EU

social value.

Inquiry Day, which aimed to:

procurement regulations.

1. Identify the key principles that

Specifically, we have identified

should form the basis of the draft

some great opportunities for

Social Value policy.

Bristol innovation (see More

2. Consider and discuss whether a Social Value Toolkit should be developed in order to assist those who commission/procure services both internal and external to the Council.

Information), including proposals that would deal with ‘bid candy’, size of contracts excluding small providers, light touch procurement, and local vs national contract advertising.

A Draft Social Value Policy, which

Next steps

arose from our work with BCC last

A report (including

year, was presented and discussed.

recommendations that will go to

Issue 29 July / August / September 2015

For further information on VCS priorities for commissioning improvements, and EU procurement and potential for Bristol innovation visit: www.voscur.org/Bristolcommissioning

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25

Is social investment for you?

As traditional Grant funding opportunities decline, it is vital that new forms of finance are considered by voluntary and community sector organisations and groups whose services are needed more than ever. An increasing number want to use repayable finance to increase their impact on society, for example by growing their business, providing working capital for contract delivery, or buying assets.

Voscur, alongside partners, has been at the forefront of a campaign to develop and promote Social Investment opportunities across Bristol and the wider city region.

There are many issues to consider before taking on social investment. For example, is your organisation truly investment ready? Have you got your trustees on-board?

How will this investment impact your core activities?

Can you pay the loan back?

Voscur will be running a series of workshops, explaining how this type of investment works and how to access it, later this year. For more information, contact Paul Hassan by emailing Paul@voscur.org or calling 0117 909 9949.

26 www.voscur.org

Big Society Capital www.bigsocietycapital.com Big Society Capital is an independent financial institution with a social mission, set up to help grow the social investment market in the UK. It was set up to help make sure that these charities and social enterprises can find appropriate and affordable repayable finance to meet their capital needs.

Voscur asked them to explain what social investment is and to take us on a tour of the various products and services available...

Looking for an alternative source of funding? Social investment could be it With finance proving increasingly difficult to obtain from traditional providers, a growing number of charities and social enterprises are looking to social investment as another source of funding to help them grow their businesses and increase their impact on society.

Social investment is the use of repayable finance to achieve a social as well as a financial return.

Charities and social enterprises receive finance from investors and pay them back from the surplus generated from trading activities, public services contracts, grants and donations, or a combination of some or all of these.

Here we explore the main types of social investment available:

Debt Finance Debt finance usually takes the form of loans, both secured and unsecured, as well as overdrafts and standby facilities. Organisations can look to social investors such as Charity Bank (www.charitybank.org) and open funds such as Big Issue Invest’s Social Enterprise Fund (www.bigissueinvest. com/funds/social-enterprise) for funding up to £1.5 million. CAF Venturesome (www.cafonline.org/ charityfinance) also offers between £25,000 and £250,000 for small and medium-sized charities.

Equity Investments Equity investments allow a company limited by shares to sell its shares to investors. Unlike debt, equity finance is permanently invested in the organisation and it has no legal obligation to repay the amount invested. Big Issue Invest can invest up to £1 million in equity.

Quasi-equity Quasi-equity fills the gap between debt and equity and aims to reflect some of the characteristics of both.

A quasi-equity investment allows an investor to benefit from the future revenues of an organisation

July / August / September 2015 Issue 29

through a royalty payment which is a fixed percentage of income. Social Investment Business (www.sibgroup. co.uk) can provide quasi-equity facilities from £50,000 to a maximum of £1 million.

Social Investment Tax Relief In 2014, the government launched the Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) to support charities and social enterprises in accessing finance from individual investors by offering a 30% income tax relief. Later this year, fund manager Resonance will build on this initiative and launch the Bristol SITR Fund with around £5 million to invest in local charities and social enterprises.

To give a local perspective on how SITR works in practice, Voscur asked Social Investment Fund managers, Resonance, to tell us more about the work they do and to provide a case study of how this initiative works in practice (see box to the right).

The social investment market has grown over the last decade with the amount of money available to charities and social enterprises rising to £359 million in 2014 compared to £104 million the previous year. Additionally, there is now a diverse range of products available for both early stage social ventures and more established organisations.

Attendees in a workshop with Geetha Rabindrakumar from Big Society Capital at Voscur’s 2014 Social Investment Conference.

Resonance

www.resonance.ltd.uk Resonance’s first Social Investment (SITR) Fund has just launched, bringing £5m to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector for the benefit of local communities.

Resonance works with social enterprises throughout the UK, assisting them in their development strategies, providing support with investment readiness and securing finance. Their aim is to match the social enterprise with

Issue 29 July / August / September 2015

investors who share their values and want to invest in sustainable, well-planned projects.

The Fund, set up by Resonance, will offer unsecured loans up to a maximum of £275,000 per business, giving social enterprises across the city access to investment at a significantly lower cost than they would otherwise be able to obtain.

Continued overleaf....

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27

Resonance

www.resonance.ltd.uk Continued from previous page...

Resonance is a social impact

support the social enterprise

investment company that has

sector. Three key factors in the

been helping social enterprises

legislation are:

raise capital for thirteen years. It

1.

does this both by working with individual enterprises to raise investment and, in some cases, like here in Bristol, by launching impact investment funds,

SITR funds can only be lent to enterprises that are:

• Charities • Community Interest Companies or

which allow larger amounts of

• Community Benefit Societies

investment to target a particular

2.

social issue.

All SITR funds are issued with a three-year capital

Resonance is involved with many

repayment break, which means

aspects of social enterprise and

only the interest is payable for

environmental sustainability;

the first three years of the loan.

however, the main focus of

3.

the Bristol SITR Fund will be on ‘Dismantling Poverty’. Resonance are currently seeking social enterprises that target the root causes of poverty with solutions such as: • Supporting those with lifecontrolling addictions • Rehabilitation and support of ex-offenders • Improving health and wellbeing • Job creation and education • Access to decent affordable accommodation • Reducing the cost of living

All funds lent under an SITR scheme are

unsecured. This is a clear advantage for most small social enterprises that often do not have any assets.

Resonance is committed to supporting social enterprises in and around Bristol. Loans from their SITR Fund will range between £50,000 and £275,000 and all the funds will be lent over a six-year term.

The application process for the Bristol SITR Fund is now open, so if you are a social enterprise looking for an alternative funding opportunity or you would like to learn more about

Resonance selected Social

the Fund, please contact Donna

Investment Tax Relief (SITR)

Thomas, Fund Manager, at:

as the framework for the

info@resonance.ltd.uk or visit

Fund because the legislation

www.resonance.ltd.uk

FareShare South www.faresharesouthwest.org.uk

FareShare South West, based in Bristol, was the UK’s first business to receive investment under the Social Investment Tax Relief Scheme (SITR) in November 2014.

Set up in late 2007 FareShare South West supports local communities and the environment by diverting surplus food that the food industry would otherwise waste to organisations that work with vulnerable people. Thousands of tonnes of perfectly good in-date food are wasted in the South West each year due to packaging errors, out-of-date promotions and discontinued lines. At the same time, there are over 4 million people in the UK who cannot afford a healthy diet, among them homeless and elderly people, children,

is specifically designed to

28 www.voscur.org

July / August / September 2015 Issue 29

Photos provided by FareShare South West

West refugees and people suffering from mental and physical health problems. FareShare’s mission is to build a bridge to combat these issues whilst simultaneously offering work experience and job opportunities to those who have been excluded from the jobs market.

The deal came about when social impact investment company Resonance were approached by a number of Bristol angel investors who wanted to back social enterprises in their city.

Resonance set up a pilot scheme to: • Investigate how they might channel the city’s wealth into social enterprises that focus on social and

economic deprivation in local communities.

• Identify the demand for social investment from local charities and the social enterprise sector.

FareShare South West was selected from a collection of over 80 businesses that were working hard to support some of the most disadvantaged people in the City.

FareShare South West, who had only a few employees and relied heavily on volunteers, were able to receive a Social Investment Tax Relief-eligible investment of £70,000 from a small group of local investors piloting the Fund, set up and managed by Resonance. Jacqui Reeves at

Issue 29 July / August / September 2015

FareShare South West said: “We needed investment to increase our activities and to achieve our aims of addressing the imbalance by redistributing quality surplus food to groups working with vulnerable individuals in and around Bristol. The investment will help us create real jobs and work experience opportunities for vulnerable people who previously were unable to work.”

As a result of this pilot deal and continued support from local investors, Resonance is now building a series of city-based SITR Funds starting with a £5m Fund for Bristol, which will launch here in 2015.

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29

Hartcliffe and Withywood Community Partnership

Hartcliffe and Withywood

A third are economically inactive

hub for organisations and services

Community Partnership (HWCP)

and 1 in 3 have no qualifications;

which meet the needs of the

is a charity established in 2002 to

less than half of 16-year-olds

community. Anyone who wants to

spearhead regeneration of one of

attain GCSE maths and English

visit us is very welcome.

the most deprived communities

and the number of children with

in England. Government funding

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

has reduced over recent years,

is higher than the Bristol average.

due to the funding cuts in the

There are lower-than-average IT

city, but the importance of HWCP

skills, making it more difficult for

in supporting the community has

some people to access benefits,

grown. The impact of underlying

employment and housing

poverty in this community has

information; a third have no home

meant that we are experiencing

internet. We recognise this and

increasing demand for our

have established a hot-desking

services.

area which is free to the public -

Based in the @symes Community

we already offer free wi-fi.

The @symes Community Building,

serve has a population of 34,000

which we manage, is set in the

(8% of Bristol), and 22,500 of

busy Symes District Centre on

these live in some of the most

Peterson Avenue. It is already

deprived Lower Super Output

home to a range of important

Areas in England and Wales. 4,300

services such as the new Dementia

people live alone and isolation

Wellbeing Service, the library, drug

is a major issue for many elderly

and alcohol support (Hawkspring),

residents, which is why our Catt

domestic violence (Southern

Community Transport project is

Arc), the CATT community

so important. CATT also operates

transport team, the Dundry View

the South Bristol Hospital Bus, a

Neighbourhood Partnership, a

crucial service considering that

range of drop-in services such

15% of the population have a long-

as debt and legal experts, and a

For more

term illness or disability - heart

range of activity groups such as

information, call

disease, stroke and cancer rates

Art for All and the sewing group.

0117 903 8044 or

are higher than the city overall, as

The vision for the building is that

visit www.hwcp.org.uk

is child mental ill health.

this will increasingly become a

Issue 29  July / August / September 2015

Photo by Samsaundersleeds CC BY-SA 2.0

Building in Hartcliffe, the area we

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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

Voscur training and events July 2015 Date

Time

Event/training

Location

7th

1:30pm - 3:30pm

Safeguarding Adults and Children: Basic Awareness

St Werburghs Centre

8th

12pm - 2pm

How Decisions are Made in the City

Royal Oak House

8th

10am - 12pm

Managing Volunteers – Having Everything in Place

Easton Community Centre

9th

9:30am - 1pm

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

Barton Hill Settlement

9th

2pm – 5pm

Volunteer Organisers’ Forum

County Guide HQ, Redland

13th

1pm - 4pm

More than Just a Number! Using Outcome Measures to Help Improve Emotional Wellbeing

Easton Business Centre

15th

1.30pm - 3:30pm

Safeguarding Adults and Children: Basic Awareness

The Hub

16th

10am - 2.15pm

Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly

The Park Centre

September 2015 Date

Time

Event/training

Location

9th

9:30am - 1pm

Recruiting Trustees

Barton Hill Settlement

16th

9:30am - 12:30pm

Recruiting Volunteers

The GreenHouse

23rd

9:30am - 3:30pm

HR Essentials for Managers

Windmill Hill City Farm

29th

6pm - 9pm

Being a Good Trustee

Windmill Hill City Farm

October 2015 Date

Time

Event/training

Location

1st

tbc

Voscur’s Annual Conference and Awards

tbc

13th

9:30am - 3:30pm

Developing a Fundraising Strategy

The Gatehouse Centre

14th

9:30am - 3:30pm

Confident to Present and Influence

St Werburghs Centre

14th

10am - 12pm

Children and Young People’s Network Meeting

Barton Hill Settlement

20th

12pm - 2pm

Organisational Legal Structures

Royal Oak House

21st

12pm - 2pm

Mediation for Managers

Royal Oak House

22nd

9:30am - 3:30pm

Good Customer Services for Office Based Staff

Southville Centre

Keep up to date with Voscur online:

f l i x /voscur

/voscur

/voscur

/voscur

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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