Thrive! magazine - Jan/Feb/Mar 2014 edition

Supporting voluntary and community action

January / February / March 2014

In this issue: Are you paying the Living Wage?

LGBT History Month To merge or not to merge?

The Boost! project Bristol success in Compact Week Upcoming training and more...

The winners of the 2013 ‘Voscurs’ – Bristol’s voluntary and community sector awards – celebrate at our Annual Conference in November 2013.

Full photograph on p9.

Fund it!

Creative income generation 13 February 2014, 9:30am-4pm, The Watershed, Bristol Take another look at how you generate income – have you thought about how you can raise income for your organisation through crowdsourcing or other creative opportunities? Join us for workshops and presentations from funders, plus surgeries, stalls and networking.

Contributors on the day include: BIG Lottery, Children in Need, Quartet Community Foundation, Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal, NCVO, Local Enterprise Partnership, Sponsorcraft and local organisations who will share learning and top tips.

For further information and to book your place, visit: www.supporthub.org.uk/fund-it For up-to-date news and information nearer the time of the event, follow it on Twitter using #fundit14

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“Altogether an enjoyable and informative day” Attendee, Funding Fair 2013

Delivered by the Support Hub, a Voscur service

January / February / March 2014 Issue 23

Contents Voscur

Bristol Compact

4 Editorial

18-19 Bristol work celebrated in Compact Week

5

New members

6

Are you paying the Living Wage?

7

LGBT History Month in Bristol

20-21 2013 BME Community Award winners

8-10

Our role in a healthy city – Voscur’s 2013 Annual Conference

22

Community Asset Transfer and youth centres

23

Improving the experience for Bristol children and families

Voice and Influence

Support Hub 11

Boosting your capacity for development

12-13 To merge or not to merge?

24-25 Working together for better health 26-27 Victim Support celebrates 40 years in Bristol and beyond

14-15 Support Hub events and training 16-17 All together now – tips for successful partnership working

Keep up to date with Voscur online:

www.facebook.com/voscur

twitter.com/voscur

www.linkedin.com/company/voscur

www.youtube.com/voscur

Thrive! is also available online as a pdf at www.voscur.org/magazine.

If you require it in another format, please get in touch on 0117 909 9949.

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

Issue 23 January / February / March 2014

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Dear members and friends paying tribute to the contribution of the local VCS to the health and vitality of the city. He also spoke about the important role Voscur has played in supporting the sector (see page 8-9).

This recognition was especially important as it coincided with the City Council’s budget announcement of a £90 million cut over the next three years, which will hit the sector and frontline services hard.

So, although it’s been a good Wendy Stephenson, Voscur Chief Executive (centre), and Richard Pendlebury, Voscur Chair (right), accepting the NAVCA award from Neil Cleeveley, Director of Policy and Research at NAVCA (left).

year for us in many ways, I am writing this knowing that the

Looking back at last year, we can

p8). We are determined to build on

future is uncertain. What I can

proudly point to a number of

this success and continue to evolve

say with certainty, however, is

important successes, including:

and improve to meet the changing

that, as always, Voscur will be at

needs of our sector.

the forefront of negotiations and

• Negotiating with the elected Mayor to sign off on six key

Voscur was delighted to see local

pledges to promote the sector.

partnership working recognised

• 93% of participants telling us

at a national level at the Compact

campaign work to help ensure that our sector is both protected and at the same time assisted in adapting to meet the growing

that our training has made them

Awards. Bristol received one

more confident in taking action

award and one commendation,

in the relevant area.

and two local initiatives were

Wendy Stephenson

shortlisted – the best results of

Chief Executive

• Recording over 97,500 unique visitors on our website, which received 1,607,436 page views.

any core city (see p18-19). You can read more about what makes a successful partnership in this

Many more successes are outlined

magazine, be it a merger (p12-13)

in our Annual Review (online at:

or joining together to bid to

goo.gl/1D6h3m).

deliver services (p16-17).

Our membership continues to

At a local level, we thought that

grow and we are reaching a wider

our members also deserved

range of groups. Satisfaction with

recognition, so we reintroduced

our services is high, and we were

the ‘Voscurs’ to celebrate the

one of the few VCS infrastructure

innovative and crucial work of the

support organisations to win a

sector. We were pleased that the

NAVCA Quality Award last year (see

Lord Mayor presented the awards,

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demand for our services.

Key to symbols Equalities Article Training Information & Resources Event

January / February / March 2014 Issue 23

New Voscur members ACE

Living Bristol – Vivir en Bristol

cherelle@newgenerationtakeover.com 07915 270 301

walter@livingbristol.com 0117 230 5593 www.livingbristol.com

Alternative Housing alternativehousing@outlook.com 0117 951 7414 Bristol Autism Support bristolautismparents@gmail.com 0117 953 8555 www.bristolautismsupport.com BSGPF – Bristol & South Gloucestershire People First admin@bsgpf.org.uk 0117 953 6910 ERIC (Education & Resources for Improving Childhood Continence) info@eric.org.uk 0117 360 3060 www.eric.org.uk Felix Road Adventure Playground felixroadapg@hotmail.co.uk 0117 955 1265 www.felixroadplayground.org Foresight info@foresight-preconception.org.uk 01275 878 953 www.foresight-preconception.org.uk The Hearing Impaired Support Scheme

Macfatson info@macfatson.com 0844 812 5683 www.macfatson.com Network Counselling & Training Ltd. bert.weenink@network.org.uk 0117 950 7271 www.network.org.uk Places for People haylee.cowley@placesforpeople.co.uk 0117 970 4509 www.placesforpeople.co.uk Together for Mental Wellbeing contact-us@together-uk.org 07590 961 344 www.together-uk.org Wessex Counselling Service office@wessexcounselling.co.uk 01373 453 355 www.wessexcounsellingservice.co.uk You & Your Work cubeyourwork@hotmail.co.uk 07711 408 547 www.youandyourwork.org.uk

hissvolunteers@virginmedia.com 0117 323 5151 Knowle and District Community Association markjffaulkner@aol.com 0117 977 1205

Issue 23 January / February / March 2014

For more information on becoming a member of Voscur and the range of member benefits, visit www.voscur.org/ about/joiningonline or call us on 0117 909 9949.

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Are you paying the Living Wage?

Voscur has recently joined a growing number of voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations in being awarded a ‘Living Wage Employer’ mark. Currently, just over 40% of those accredited identify themselves as being from the VCS, but only 3.5% come from the South West of England. Voscur believes that many organisations may well be offering the current Living Wage rate of £7.65 per hour to their workforce – perhaps your organisation too could join the Living Wage movement?

Good for business An independent study in London examining the business benefits of implementing a Living Wage policy found that more than 80% of employers believed that the Living Wage had enhanced the quality of their staff’s work,

reported increases in work quality

advice and support to employers

as a result of receiving the Living

implementing the Living Wage,

Wage. Fifty per cent felt that the

including best practice guides;

Living Wage had made them more

case studies from leading

willing to implement changes in

employers; model procurement

their working practices, and made

frameworks; and access to

them more likely to adopt

specialist legal and HR advice.

changes quicker.

Additionally, the Foundation has

Good for society

a forum for leading employers,

The Living Wage initiative was

Two thirds of employers reported

Wage and keep the momentum

launched in 2011 by campaigners

a significant impact on

going, along with the financial

and employers after a ten-year

recruitment and retention within

and strategic support work

campaign through Citizens UK

their organisation. Seventy per

with principal partners Trust

(formerly London Citizens). The

cent felt that the Living Wage had

for London, Save the Children,

causes of poverty are complex

increased consumer awareness of

KPMG, Aviva, Linklaters, Resolution

and in order to truly improve

their organisation’s commitment

Foundation, Queen Mary

lives there should be a range of

to be an ethical employer.

University of London and the

measures across policy areas –

Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

and absenteeism had fallen by approximately 25%.

Good for the individual The Living Wage gives people the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families.

Seventy five per cent of employees in the London study

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to publicly back the Living

the Living Wage can be part of the solution.

The Foundation offers accreditation to employers that pay the Living Wage, or those that commit to an agreed timetable of implementation. They also provide

For more information on the Living Wage Foundation and the benefits of registering, visit: www.livingwage.org.uk

January / February / March 2014 Issue 23

LGBT History Month in Bristol February is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) History Month, which celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGB&T community, both in the UK and across the world. Sarah-Louise Minter, Development Manager at LGBT Bristol, explores what this year has in store…

A large selection of different events take place in Bristol every year to mark LGBT History Month, and at the time of Thrive! going to print, planning for many of these is already underway.

Out Stories, the local LGBT history group, currently has an LGB&T exhibition touring Bristol venues, following a successful launch in February 2013 at the M Shed. Out Stories is also planning a number of interesting walks, book reviews and events for next February.

We Are: Fest, the group behind Bristol Pride, will also be putting on events and films at various LGB&T venues in Bristol, including fundraisers for Bristol Pride 2014.

Walk Out members, family and friends at the beach

• Bristol Hate Crime Services – a new collaborative Hate Crime Support Service that is able to offer a bespoke specialist service to those suffering

LGBT Bristol, the Council-funded

homophobic, transphobic,

voice and influence forum

racist, disablist and/or faith-

for LGB&T people in Bristol, is

based hate crime. The service

currently raising funds for a

also offers support to those

launch event for next year’s LGBT

suffering gender and ageist

History Month, where it will raise

hate crime.

awareness for its current projects: • Diversity in Schools – a project working for equality and inclusion in primary schools.

• Walk Out – a gentle, accessible walking group for LGB&T people who want to make friends while exercising.

LGBT Bristol is a membershipbased forum and welcomes new members. As a member, you can receive our regular newsletter, and help to shape the direction of the work by taking part in the forum. New trustees are also

Contact sarah@ lgbtbristol.org.uk if you would like to join the fun and committed team currently governing LGBT Bristol.

For more information on the work of Out Stories or We Are: Fest, visit: www.outstoriesbristol.org.uk and www.wearefest.com For information on LGBT Bristol, how to join, its projects, calendar and work, plus the online brochure of events for LGBT History Month (when published) visit: www.lgbtbristol.org.uk

always welcome.

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Our role in a healthy city – Voscur’s 2013 Annual Conference The Station was a great venue for Voscur’s 2013 Annual Conference, which saw representation from over 70 local organisations and agencies.

It is estimated that the annual cost of health inequalities is between £36 billion to £40 billion through lost taxes, welfare payments and costs to the NHS.’

Following formal AGM business, Neil Cleeveley from NAVCA presented Voscur with a NAVCA Quality Award. This award recognises the quality of Voscur’s work with and for the voluntary and community sector in Bristol.

Sue concluded that the NHS has to tackle the causes of ill health “further upstream” – that is, look at prevention, as “it’s the only solution in the long run”.

Attendees were interested to hear from Neil that a national survey has reported that groups who use support organisations such as Voscur are more likely to: • Improve their chances of accessing funding.

• Feel they have a chance to have a say on local issues.

• Have better relations with statutory bodies.

The theme for the day was the ‘Voluntary and Community Sector’s Role in a Healthy City’.

Sue Brazendale, Voscur’s Health and Social Care Network Coordinator, set the scene by quoting from the Marmot report ‘Fair Society, Healthy Lives’: ‘Health inequalities are largely preventable. Not only is there a strong social justice case for addressing inequalities, there is also a pressing economic case.

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“How can we work together to get the stop-smoking message across?”

You can read notes on Janet’s presentation and the Q&A session online (link below).

Voscur’s film, screened at the event, showing the range of activities of the local voluntary and community sector, clearly demonstrated our contribution to a healthy and happy city.

Janet Maxwell, Director of Public Health, then talked about Bristol’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy. There are ten priorities in this strategy, and these will be overseen by the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Janet recognised the value of the sector, and talked about the need to work together to combat health inequality in Bristol.

Questions to Janet included: “How can the sector better link to health structures?”

“Will there be more radical commissioning of ‘prevention’type services, over and above acute medical services, in the future?”

Janet Maxwell, speaking at the conference

To read the full notes from the day, visit: goo.gl/RfmMhJ To read the Marmot report ‘Fair Society, Healthy Lives’, visit: goo.gl/I3ns6S You can view Bristol’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy here: goo.gl/tNwzRH Voscur’s video on local voluntary work can be viewed here: goo.gl/InINxo To see photos from the event, visit: goo.gl/w8Mdz6

January / February / March 2014 Issue 23

The winners of the 2013 ‘Voscurs’ – Bristol’s voluntary and community sector awards – celebrate at our Annual Conference back in November 2013.

The Voscurs – Bristol’s voluntary and community sector awards

Best Idea into Action

Sharon Boreham,

The One Love Breakfast Show

Court Manager for Bristol Crown

(BCfm and Ujima Radio)

and Magistrates’ Courts

Over forty nominations were

Thriving Bristol

Presenting the Voscurs, the

made in the five award categories

FishFest

Right Honourable Lord Mayor

and hundreds voted to decide the following winners:

Thanks for Supporting the Sector

Longest-serving Volunteer

Avon Gorge Hotel

Roy Harvey (Avon Scouts) Derek Sealy and Roy Hackett (St Werburghs Community Association) Community Venue of the Year St Werburgh’s Community Centre

Bristol Clinical Commissioning Group

of Bristol, Councillor Faruk Choudhury, said: “Without your contribution, I think, as a local authority, it would have been very hard to keep our city going. Because of your

Kate Cooke, BCC, Inner City Health

contributions, our city is one of

Improvement Team, Public Health

the best cities to live in in the

Osborne Clarke

United Kingdom. Everyone in the

PCSO Michelle Hibberd, Avon and Somerset Police

room is a winner to me and on behalf of every community in

“We are very pleased. It is fantastic to achieve recognition for our hard work and celebrate it with the team.”

Goska Ong, Centre Manager, St Werburghs Community Centre

Issue 23 January / February / March 2014

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Bristol, I, as your Lord Mayor, thank

“Winning a Voscur was a great

you for all of your hard work.”

boost for us – our community

Goska Ong, Centre Manager at St Werburghs Community

festival is a small organisation with a band of really hard-working volunteers, so it was fantastic to

Centre, winner of the ‘Community Venue of the Year’ award, said:

be able to tell them we’d won! It makes a difference getting a bit of recognition for the team, and

“We are very pleased. It really

hopefully spreads the word about

means a lot to us. The Centre

what FishFest does. Networking

staff and trustees work very

at the ceremony was really useful

hard and you can clearly see

too. The awards are such a

that they love what they do. It is

positive idea, celebrating the

fantastic to achieve recognition

often unsung work of volunteers

for our hard work and celebrate

across the city.”

it with the team.”

Kate Brooks from FishFest, winner of the ‘Thriving Bristol’

The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Bristol, presenting the Voscurs

To see a video of the Voscurs being announced, visit: goo.gl/JrVv7m To see photos from the awards, visit: goo.gl/w8Mdz6

award, said:

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10 www.voscur.org

‘One of the best business decisions we have made is to outsource our HR, payroll and recruitment to Cornhill HR. They provide us with invaluable support and guidance and are a great team to work with.’

Head of Secretariat at ICS

January / February / March 2014 Issue 23

Support Hub

Boosting your capacity for development Jessica Langton, Boost! Project Coordinator at Volunteer Bristol, explains the many benefits of enlisting the help of a skilled volunteer...

For many voluntary and community sector organisations, development work can be a problem; finding the time to think about reviewing business plans, HR strategies and websites is difficult when the day-to-day pressures of delivering services are increasing.

The Boost! programme is a free service that can help you achieve a select piece of development work. We match organisations with a skilled volunteer for a period of up to six months and support the placement process. Examples of the areas supported include finance, HR and marketing.

Life Cycle Boost! has worked with Life Cycle, providing the organisation with an HR professional to help develop their equalities procedures and internal appraisal systems. Life Cycle delivers a range of services to encourage all members of the community to cycle. Despite having an equal opportunities policy and efforts to provide accessible services, Life Cycle knew that its staff and volunteers

A Two’s Company cycle ride – Life Cycle’s fantastic project for people with visual impairments

weren’t representative of the area in which it operates, and that its services were struggling to reach BME communities.

The team at Life Cycle worked with a Boost! volunteer to review and update their equality and diversity policies and procedures, and to put an action plan in place to ensure they were engaging a range of groups and communities. Director Poppy Brett told us that Boost! has enabled her to “feel confident that Life Cycle is doing the right things” and has helped them to “transform their staff appraisal systems”.

“Like any organisation, Life Cycle is always looking at new ideas and ways to develop, and we saw Boost! as an opportunity to get some specific expertise into Life Cycle that it didn’t have,” says Poppy. “The volunteer was really useful; he brought in knowledge and skills and saved me valuable time – it would have been very hard to find the time to do

Volunteers also gain valuable experience from being part of Boost! “It was an opportunity to use my skills and professional knowledge and experience to make a difference in areas which really needed my help,” said the volunteer. “Boost! is a great scheme, which I would strongly recommend.”

To see if your organisation is eligible for a Boost! volunteer, or for further information on becoming a Boost! volunteer, please visit: www.volunteerbristol.org.uk or email: boost@volunteerbristol.org.uk To volunteer for Boost!, you must have two years’ professional experience and be willing to give at least two hours a week.

this work.”

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To merge or not to merge?

Mergers are becoming more common as the sector continues to feel the impact of a challenging financial environment. Whilst a merger is a resource-intensive process, there are positive outcomes. Our Support Hub team has spoken to four Bristol charities which have recently completed mergers to find out more…

SPAN at the Silai Centre Single Parent Action Network (SPAN) has been supporting single parents and their families, both locally and nationally, for over 23 years. Despite growing in size and influence, when its base was under threat and alternative office space did not materialise, merger was the most realistic option.

Local charity Silai for Skills recognised SPAN’s dilemma. Silai needed to strengthen its financial position and merger was a great opportunity, especially as their building was underutilised.

In 2012, a merger committee was established with representatives from both organisations, tasked with achieving mutual understanding and transparency. The two organisations set specific objectives for the merger, backed up by clear criteria to evaluate options.

Voscur supported SPAN at the start of the process with guidance on due diligence and signposting.

Both organisations received further support with managing the financial elements of the merger, including transfer of assets, deeds, and specific VAT advice.

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“It is vital to seek early advice from specialist charity professionals when considering any kind of restructuring. There are many important legal, regulatory, constitutional and practical issues to address, as well as financial issues and due diligence. Too often, organisations don’t look at these wider aspects of the proposed change or explore alternative options. That’s a very risky way to deal with matters of such significance and it can lead to serious trouble, rather than the bright future you expected.”

Cecile Gillard, Legal Manager, Charity and Voluntary Sector Unit, Burton Sweet

Other key activities that were prioritised included consulting with beneficiaries; communicating plans with funders; and regular meetings with staff. The language that was used focused on two organisations ‘joining together’, to reflect the positive opportunity being presented.

“It was a huge learning curve,” reflects Tove Samzelius, the Interim CEO at SPAN. The following

points illustrate the greatest lessons learnt during the process: • Expect the unexpected – mergers are time consuming and complicated.

• Gain mutual understanding and open communication at the outset.

• A one-year operational plan is essential.

• Apply creative as well as strategic thinking.

• Maintaining the heritage of both organisations is really important.

SPAN now manages all staff, as well as the Silai Centre where services continue. Both organisations found the process offered fantastic opportunities to do things differently, including: • Invigorating the organisation’s vision.

• Showcasing best practice.

• Extending the reach of the services.

• Exploring new funding opportunities.

• Refreshing the branding.

• Increasing commitment to the organisation.

January / February / March 2014 Issue 23

From the left – Lorraine Bush (HAWKS CEO), Rita Sheridan (a service user from both organisations) and Carolyn Purcell (Kwads CEO)

HAWKSPRING Hartcliffe and Withywood Kick Start (HAWKS) has recently joined with Knowle West Alcohol and Drug Service (Kwads), to form the new organisation HAWKSPRING. The impetus to merge came from a withdrawal of funding,

Thinking of merging?

Here are three key questions to ask first: 1. Do we have the capacity to embark on merger negotiations?

2. How will a merger impact on key external stakeholders?

3. Are there other options, such as partnership working arrangements?

as a result of the Safer Bristol decommissioning process.

Voscur responded with specific support in areas such as the TUPE of staff and contract exit planning. A referral was also

If merger is for you, then Trustees should also consider the following questions: • Will our ability to fulfil our mission be greater than it is now?

• Do we and our potential partner have a common value base?

• Will the key strategic objectives reflect and strengthen what already exists?

made to the Boost! programme, delivered by Volunteer Bristol in partnership with Voscur. A skilled professional was matched with HAWKSPRING to mentor the new board.

• Will beneficiary needs be met more effectively?

• Will our influence increase?

• Will the new organisation be financially sustainable?

• Can we agree effective governance arrangements?

In summary, with your mission at the centre of discussions, merger offers many positive opportunities for organisations that are seeking to secure their future.

If your organisation requires support, please contact Voscur on 0117 909 9949 or take a look at our merger factsheet: www.supporthub.org.uk/resources/mergers-factsheet For further guidance from the Charity Commission, visit: www.supporthub.org.uk/resources/making-mergers-work

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Support Hub events and training Retention and Support of Volunteers Thursday 16 January 2014, 9:30am-3:30pm If volunteers have a good volunteering experience and get the support they need, they’re more likely to be satisfied in their role and be keen to stay and develop further. This course supports volunteer managers to get the best out of their volunteers by putting key principles into practice.

Finance Forum Thursday 23 January 2014, 10am-12pm The Finance Forum offers anyone with financial responsibilities the chance to receive updates on legislation, workshops on chosen topics and a safe environment to learn from each other’s practical skills and experience by addressing a current issue together at each meeting. Need to know what format to present your financial information? The topic for January’s Forum will be ‘Management Accounts and Cashflows’.

Being a Good Trustee Thursday 30 January 2014, 6:30pm-9:30pm 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 clearly sets out trustee roles and responsibilities and suggests tools to help ensure your board leads your organisation’s impact.

Prove it!

Tuesday 4 February 2014, 9:30am-1pm Donors will only fund a project where there is clear evidence it’s needed. So if you’re starting a new initiative, or want new funding for an existing project, this course will give you the resources and sources of information to prove why it’s required.

Writing Small Fundraising Bids Thursday 6 February 2014, 9:30am-3:30pm Make it easy for funders to say “yes” to your bids.

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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.

Being an Even Better Trustee Thursday 27 February 2014, 6:30pm-9:30pm Focused on governance, managing risk, effective meetings and utilising the skills in your trustee team, this course supports your development beyond the basics of being on a board; a natural follow-on for people who have previously completed “Being a Good Trustee” or already have some trustee experience.

Managing for Managers Tuesday 4 – Thursday 6 March 2014, 9:30am-3:30pm Do you manage staff and/or projects, but don’t have any formal management training? Do you want to improve your skills as a manager? This course is an intensive, interactive three-day course covering the essential issues and principles of being a good manager. Covering leadership, motivation, delegation, communication and leading teams, this course will provide you with a range of skills and tools to put straight into practice, and the confidence to reflect on and develop your own management style. The training is delivered by Stephenie Linham who has delivered training for the Directory of Social Change.

Financial Management for the Non-Financially Minded Tuesday 11 March 2014, 9:30am-1pm Make sense of annual accounts and know what questions to ask to check your organisation is in good financial health. Does you project income cover overheads? Could small issues today become major problems? This course will help you present and use financial information more effectively to support your organisation’s purpose.

January / February / March 2014 Issue 23

Trustee Network: Strategic Business Planning Wednesday 12 March 2014, 6:30pm-8:30pm 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.

Volunteers and the Law Tuesday 18 March 2014, 9:30am-3:30pm

their work means everyone gets the best out of the relationship. This course outlines the issues to consider to ensure you’re operating within the correct legal framework.

Confident to Present and Influence Thursday 20 March 2014, 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.

Volunteers are a huge asset to your organisation, and making sure you understand the legal implications of

Mind the Gap: Fill in the Gaps in your Organisation’s Knowledge Effective, interactive lunchtime training for your group.

Do you struggle to find time for training?

Are there gaps in your team’s knowledge of: • organisational structures; • funding and finance; • policies and procedures; • marketing and publicity?

Based on positive feedback from our ‘Kick Start Your Organisation’ training course for new groups, we have devised four two-hour sessions for you, which we will deliver from 12pm-2pm in our training room at Royal Oak House. You can come to one, two, three or all four sessions – and bring your lunch if you wish.

Different people from your organisation can attend each session.

1. Organisational structures – do you have the right one?

Wednesday 29 January The session will cover community associations, charities, companies limited by guarantee, CIOs and CICs. 2. Improving your fundraising skills Wednesday 12 February This session will help you understand what information is required, the language and terminology, and budgets.

3. Policies and procedures – the essentials Wednesday 26 February Understand why we have policies and procedures, the different types, what they should contain and baseline standards.

4. Marketing your organisation Wednesday 12 March Understand what marketing is, the basic principles, publicity and golden rules.

‘Early Bird’ rates for anyone booking a course four weeks before the day of the training.

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

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All together now – tips for successful partnership working With diminishing resources, there are increasing trends for voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations to work collaboratively and in partnership. The Support Hub supports VCS organisations to work together. This article describes two recent VCS partnerships, their top tips for success and reflections on things they might have done differently.

Two local partnerships have formed recently in response to funding and commissioning opportunities: Second Step is the lead agency for the Bristol response to the Big Lottery Fulfilling Lives programme*.

With a focus on people with multiple and complex needs, this programme is about long-term changes to the way in which services are able to make contact and sustain engagement with those who are hardest to reach. The beneficiaries of this programme will be people with needs relating to mental ill health, drug and alcohol misuse, homelessness and reoffending – people who fall in and out of services.

The partnership comprises service users, council and health commissioners, specialist service providers and equalities groups. * The partnership expects to hear the results of its business plan in January 2014.

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SARI (Stand Against Racism and Inequality) leads a collaborative partnership between lobbying charities, serving the needs of people vulnerable to hate crime. This service is for victims of any type of hate crime including racist, faith-based, disablist, homophobic, transphobic, age-based or gender-based.

Commissioned by Safer Bristol, the new Bristol Hate Crime Service is grant-funded for the next three years and is delivered by SARI, Brandon Trust, Bristol MIND and LGBT Bristol. Victims receive specialist advice, and support is tailored to individual needs and experiences.

The commissioning process for the new Hate Crime Services recently won a national award – see p18.

Top tips for developing partnerships From our conversations with these partnerships about what worked well and what could have happened differently, we have picked out these top tips: 1. Be clear about roles and expectations Partnerships should be diverse and include expertise that reflects your target group/s – building such relationships takes time. Clarity of purpose and responsibility is required from the early stages for all partnership members. SARI used a collaboration agreement template (see information box at the end of this article), which includes steering group, communication and responsibilities as the basis for their discussions and legal agreement.

January / February / March 2014 Issue 23

“We have had excellent engagement from our service user advisory group but we underestimated the resources needed to support the group to participate not only in the partnership board but also in the whole business planning process.”

Aileen Edwards, Second Step

2. Test ideas and build consensus

4. Don’t promise more than you can deliver

6. Make sure emotional support is available

It is important to have many discussions to test and adapt ideas before formal decision-making meetings. It is important that partners are included in accessible ways, using appropriate forms of communication. A regular hate-crime service provider forum has been established to continue good communication as hate-crime services develop and respond to victims’ needs. It is expected that the provider forum will help to ensure that victims are involved in service reviews and future developments.

When working with partners, it is even easier to promise more than you can deliver than when working individually. Conversely, it is easy to underestimate the time needed for setting up new services, training, referrals and publicity.

There can be some pressure on all partners in setting up a new collaboration, but lead partners can feel more responsibility. The expectations of others can add to these emotional demands – it is recommended that early discussions about expectations take place and that emotional support is provided for partners.

“We overpromised because we were determined to get the work. It would have been good to have a reality check from commissioners – we hadn’t expected them to say yes to all of it!”

Alex Raikes, SARI

3. Be open and share resources Being willing to share information and resources is important.

Different partners bring different things into the mix – openly sharing such expertise helps partners to value each other’s contributions and limitations.

Recognise that contributions may include things like meeting rooms as well as staff time.

5. Don’t underestimate the time needed to engage service users If working with vulnerable people – as many VCS organisations do – it is important to remember that truly involving them takes time and, when working across a partnership of organisations each with their own ways of involving people, it becomes more complex.

Make sure you plan a realistic amount of time for this.

Issue 23 January / February / March 2014

Voscur’s Support Hub supports VCS organisations in a range of different areas – visit www.supporthub.org.uk or call 0117 909 9949 for more information.

For more information about the partnerships, visit: www.second-step.co.uk/bigfulfilling-lives.html and www.sariweb.org.uk To download a template collaboration agreement, visit: tinyurl.com/mcgjnqe

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Bristol work celebrated in Compact Week After nearly four years of working on the Bristol Compact, several Bristol initiatives were recognised in November’s Compact Week and National Compact Awards. Mark Hubbard, Bristol’s Compact Liaison Officer, tells us more...

Compact Week is the annual

extensive public engagement

celebration of excellence in

and consultation activities.

relationships between the public and the voluntary and community sector (VCS). Each year, as part of national Compact Week, nominations are invited for six National Compact Awards.

We were pleased when all four of the nominations from Bristol were shortlisted, making Bristol

• Impact Award – Bristol City

Winner of the Advancing Equality Award Safer Bristol won the

Council, Voscur and Bristol

Advancing Equality Award for

Compact partnership to

its commissioning of hate-

improve commissioning

crime services. This award

for VCS – for partnership

demonstrates an outstanding

working to resolve issues with

commitment to equality and

commissioning processes.

actively seeking to tackle and

• Leadership Award – Bristol

challenge discrimination. We were

City Council’s Strategic

particularly pleased about this

Commissioning & Procurement

award as the work represents

Service – for incorporating

some good innovation: these

many aspects of the Bristol

services and outcomes were

Safer Bristol’s commissioning

Compact into its work to

commissioned using a grants

of new Hate Crime Services –

standardise commissioning

process instead of procurement.

for a process that was inclusive

practice and support the

The process resulted in new

and equalities-focused and led

involvement of VCS providers.

services led by SARI (Stand

the best-performing core city.

The shortlisted nominations were: • Advancing Equality Award –

to new grant-funded services delivered by a partnership of VCS organisations.

• Engagement Award – Bristol City Council’s commissioning process for community transport services – for its

18 www.voscur.org

The Awards were hosted by Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society, in London on 6 November 2013. Several representatives from Bristol attended.

Against Racism and Inequality) in partnership with Bristol MIND, Brandon Trust and LGBT Bristol.

Highly commended The other great news was that Bristol City Council’s Strategic Commissioning and Procurement

January / February / March 2014 Issue 23

Left to Right: Kunle Olulode, Voice4Change; Councillor Gus Hoyt, Bristol City Council; Alex Raikes, SARI; Mark Hubbard, Bristol Compact

“The early engagement of commissioners in the process was key to Safer Bristol successfully winning the Advancing Equality Award.

This partnership working, supported by the Bristol Compact, created a real and balanced dialogue which resulted in equalities communities’ needs being considered comprehensively, which in turn resulted in award-winning results.”

Gillian Douglas, Interim Service Manager at Safer Bristol

Compact Week radio programme Another positive part of our Compact Week was a radio programme about how VCS organisations can be commissioned to deliver public services. Bristol Compact and Voscur’s Voice and Influence

in the Leadership Award category.

demonstrate good practice.

We are hoping that aspects of the celebrated Safer Bristol commissioning process will be used to tackle some of the issues experienced by small organisations and equalities groups in the city.

Watch this space!

service joined up with Ujima Radio to discuss social value and light touch procurement.

The show included Cllr Gus Hoyt (Bristol Assistant Mayor), Christine Storry (Bristol City Council’s Market

Service was ‘highly commended’

work with commissioners to

Development Manager), David Hunter (Bristol Pound), Edward Kellman (Nilaari), Paul Hassan

For more information, visit www.bristolcompact.org.uk or contact Mark Hubbard on 0117 909 9949 or email

This award was for showing

(Voice and Influence Manager

outstanding leadership which

at Voscur) and myself. We had a

has directly led to consistent

good discussion, which we agreed

To listen to the podcast of

championing and support for the

to continue with Cllr. Hoyt.

the radio show, visit:

Compact. The awards panel stated that they thought the work of that team in involving small providers was exemplary.

We will use these successes – along with the two nominations that were shortlisted – in our

Issue 23 January / February / March 2014

mark@voscur.org

www.ujimaradio.com/voscursocial-value-city-councilprocurement-show

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19

2013 BME Community Award winners The fourth annual Bristol BME Fair took place in October 2013 and hosted the first Bristol BME Community Awards to highlight the excellent work that takes place within the BME sector.

The awards were split into five categories and received 31 nominations. Winners were decided by a panel of agencies, representing a range of BME communities. What was clear from all of those nominated is that, even in these austere times, a huge amount of work is taking place to ensure that local BME groups not only survive but continue to champion volunteering and provide high-quality support to BME communities.

The Change Project won the ‘Young BME Community Motivator’ award for the outstanding engagement and contribution of their young members, who are bringing about real and lasting change in their communities. They were commended for developing their own unique voice that has changed opinions and challenged prejudice and stereotyping.

BCfm and Ujima Radio’s ‘One Love Breakfast Show’ was the winner of the ‘Improving BME Lives’ award,

20 www.voscur.org

due to its successful partnership working and coverage of BME issues (some of which are sensitive cultural issues that may be seen as taboo within communities). BCfm received the award, praising the work of over 200 volunteers who help to bring community radio to the city.

“We were honoured to receive this on behalf of all of those working voluntarily for community radio in Bristol, including our cousins at Ujima Radio,” said Pat Hart from BCfm. “The award means so much to us because it’s from the people of Bristol.”

Bristol Black Carers received the ‘Engaging in and Promoting Services to BME Communities’ award and were praised for the breadth of their culturally sensitive services that have proved lifechanging for their communities.

Hazel Britton, Care Services Manager at Bristol Black Carers, said that she was “overwhelmed by the award” and it was a lovely

surprise for their organisation as they work hard in engaging and supporting the community.

Rahma Ali, from United Housing, winner of the ‘Tackling Inequality, Exclusion or Disadvantage’ award, was recognised for going above and beyond in her efforts to campaign for women-only swimming sessions at Horfield Leisure Centre, on behalf of the North Bristol Somali Women’s Group. Following a successful campaign, weekly women-only swimming sessions started in September 2013 and saw over 100 women and their families attend the first session. Rahma was praised for showing leadership and demonstrating how peaceful campaigning can effect change.

“I am delighted to win this award on behalf of my friends, family and everyone involved in this campaign,” said Rahma. Oona Goldsworthy, Chief Executive of United Communities, said: “We are so proud of Rahma and the other members of the campaign;

January / February / March 2014 Issue 23

they worked hard for over a year to overcome many obstacles.

This award is great recognition of their determination to swim in an environment they are comfortable with.”

Jean Smith, Director of Nilaari Agency, accepted their award for ‘Demonstrating Resilience through Difficult Times’. She talked about the resilience it has demonstrated over the past year, and the utter commitment of its staff, which has kept the service going. They were praised for their services to many vulnerable groups that otherwise might find it difficult to find help in receiving appropriate treatment.

“The award for resilience came out of the blue,” said Jean. “It was a fantastic surprise knowing that we were voted for by the community. The award is a huge boost and an encouragement for us to keep on going.”

Overall the event was a huge success; over 200 people attended and 27 local organisations had stalls to promote their work in the city. “It was a very uplifting event,” said Mobs Timi-Biu, Voscur’s BME Community Connector, “a very good chance for the different groups and organisations to find out about each other’s services, and celebrate local work.”

For more photos from the BME Fair, visit: goo.gl/VU4UPr

Issue 23 January / February / March 2014

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Community Asset Transfer and youth centres Local voluntary and community sector groups are being encouraged to take control of Bristol youth and play facilities, and keep centres open for the benefit of children and young people. Rose Richards, Service Manager for Bristol Youth Links, tells us more…

The priority for implementing the new Bristol Youth Links (BYL) arrangements was to transfer services, staff and children and young people from over 60 individual arrangements to three new provider consortia. Since the transfer of services, and following the clarification on which facilities would not be taken on by BYL, Bristol City Council has been consulting and exploring within communities the potential interest in Community Asset Transfer (CAT) in each area.

CAT is a process through which local authorities transfer the ownership of land and buildings to communities for less than their market value. This gives power back to communities to drive change at a local level. Following the consultation, a list of potential Bristol facilities was published.

Felix Road Adventure Playground Association is one of these facilities. It has an existing lease but is interested in taking on

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full responsibility (with some help from the Council). The local authority is working with the Association to take this forward.

As at 13 November 2013, Southmead Youth Centre, Eagle House, The Mill, Lockleaze Youth and Play Space (The Vench) and Lawrence Weston Youth Centre were all going through the CAT process.

Arrangements are also in place for Learning Partnership West to take on managing Southmead Adventure Playground and St Pauls Adventure Playground.

The remaining sites requiring a new management arrangement are: Brentry Lodge Youth Centre; Docklands Settlement; and Hillfields Youth Centre. Local discussions are taking place to determine interest and appropriate timings for CAT to be applied.

Support is available for anyone who is interested in CAT (through local charity Ethical Property Foundation). They can help community groups explore options and draw up a business plan. There is also the opportunity to request some initial funding for building repairs, alterations and transition costs from a pot of money (£400,000), allocated

for the transfer of youth and play facilities.

Where organisations have lettings agreements or are licensed to use local authority youth and play facilities, the new managing organisation will be encouraged to continue such arrangements and will be able to make a nominal charge to cover the managing organisation’s costs and overheads (not at commercial rates). The local authority and the new managing organisation will work with individual organisations to negotiate these changes and associated timings to avoid difficulties and aid a smooth transition.

Information on the youth and play sites CAT process is available at: www.bristol.gov.uk/bylcat For further information, contact Rose Richards on 0117 532 5729 or email: rose.richards@bristol.gov.uk To find out more about exciting activities and facilities for children and young people in Bristol, visit: www.goplacesdothings.org.uk and www.goplacestoplay.org.uk

January / February / March 2014 Issue 23

Improving the experience for Bristol children and families

Photo by jetheriot

Children and Young People’s Services are making changes so that children and families’ journeys through services are more straightforward. This includes a new way to ask for help with First Response. Angela Clarke, Business Change Manager in the Children First Team, explains the new developments…

First Response is the place to call if you’re concerned about a child or young person, or think they need some help. When you call, we’ll ask you questions to work out the best route for helping the child and/ or family, and record details in a ‘requests for help’ referral form. We might make a referral to our areabased Early Help Teams or to a social work team, or may give you advice about services to help families.

Our Early Help Teams are coordinating these ‘requests for help’, supporting children and families who don’t need a social worker, but still require some help. We’ve introduced these arrangements so that we can offer support to more families earlier, with First Response providing a clear pathway in to receiving early help.

The Early Help Teams and partners from health, the police and the voluntary and community sector (VCS) are working closely together so they can share local knowledge.

As part of our ‘team around the family’ approach, we’ve started using the new ‘Single Assessment Framework’ (SAF) city-wide for early help assessment. The Early Help Team may request that the person best placed to work with the family leads this assessment, to plan what help the family needs; this person could be someone within the VCS. Over time, we’ll be replacing the current range of assessment formats with the SAF. This means families will only have to tell their story once and local professionals will then share this information.

We’ll be extending the SAF to include the new Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessment and plan, part of the Government’s Special Educational Need (SEN) reforms – which include those who are disabled.

We’re currently developing this EHC plan, which will better focus on the child or young adult’s life ambitions.

Issue 23 January / February / March 2014

Professionals from education, health and social care will plan services together, along with the family, to help them do this. Because it looks at all the child or young adult’s needs, it will improve the experience of young people as they move into adulthood. The EHC plan will be introduced from September 2014; in time it will replace the SEN statement and other learning difficulty assessments. As families may contact local VCS organisations for information about these changes, we’ll keep you up to date with any developments.

You can call First Response on 0117 903 6444. For more information to changes to Children & Young People’s Services, visit: www.bristol.gov.uk/childrenfirst

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23

Working together for better health At the end of last year, Bristol was successfully chosen as one of 12 national sites to explore ways to ‘build health partnerships’ with the new Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). The successful bid was the result of a collaborative piece of work by Voscur and the Bristol CCG. ‘Building Health Partnerships’ (BHP)

As well as the above objectives,

meetings in the future to develop

is a learning programme which is

the learning programme has held

shared thinking.

funded by NHS England. The award

a series of meetings between the

consisted of a bursary of £48,000,

Bristol CCG, Bristol City Council

as well as expert advice and

and VCS organisations, to discuss

support from national consultants

the following ‘cross cutting

and Social Enterprise UK.

themes’, with a view to shared

The Bristol BHP programme is focusing on the following

understanding and collaborative working:

Social prescribing:

1. To draw together the

Bristol CCG has commissioned the

strengths of the voluntary and

University of the West of England

community sector (VCS), GPs

to research definitions and models

and Public Health, to maintain

of social prescribing. Bristol City

the independence of vulnerable

Council and Voscur are linked

people at risk of falls.

into this research. The results will be considered by the Health

provider market, enabling

and Wellbeing Board in their

smaller organisations to create

November 2013 meeting.

pathways for making bids together, and providing support for the administrative demands of such bids.

3. To strengthen the bridge between statutory bodies and the VCS for diabetes prevention and treatment.

(Public Health, Bristol City Council), Tony Jones (Involvement Manager, Bristol CCG), Steve Davies (Board Member, Bristol CCG), Mark Baker and Paul Hassan (Voice and Influence Manager, Voscur). It is developing in the following ways:

Falls – objective 1: Voscur has been working with Public Health and Age UK Bristol to develop a training template for VCS organisations to give staff and/or volunteers a thorough understanding of the issues around falls, knowledge of the local falls

Social value: Voscur facilitated a meeting between Bristol CCG and Bristol City Council to explore the possibility of establishing shared thinking and approaches on social value within the context of commissioning cycles. There will be further

24 www.voscur.org

steering group: Christina Gray

(Chief Executive, Age UK Bristol)

three objectives:

2. To develop a strong VCS

The work is overseen by a local

pathway, and the confidence to support and encourage people at risk to access support earlier. Ten organisations have been identified for the initial training, which is designed to be used by other organisations in the future.

January / February / March 2014 Issue 23

Building the provider market – objective 2: Voscur is developing templates, briefing papers, and training and information mechanisms for commissioning intentions.

Voscur will also be developing a dedicated web page about commissioning. Visit: Photo provided by Age UK Bristol

www.voscur.org/commissioning

Diabetes, type 2 – objective 3: Voscur is working with Public Health, Diabetes UK and the Wellspring Healthy Living Centre.

The work is focused on engaging BME communities to increase prevention of and take-up of treatment for type 2 diabetes.

A group of volunteers are being trained as ‘diabetes community health champions’, linked to community groups in the East area of Bristol.

The Building Health Partnership programme is working on both a strategic and a practical level, looking at the ways in which closer working between the VCS, Public Health and the Bristol CCG can achieve greater results on health improvements.

To find out more or get involved with the work, contact Sue Brazendale, Health and Social Care Network Coordinator at Voscur, on 0117 909 9949 or email: Sue@voscur.org

Community Support Services – Bristol City Council rethink Bristol City Council is rethinking its contractual arrangements with a range of VCS organisations covered by the Community Support Services contract.

The contract was introduced in 2008/09 and covers a wide range of non-Care Quality Commission-regulated services. Services include day services, community outreach, carer support and accommodation-based support, as well as other services. There are about 90 providers covered by these contractual relations.

Bristol City Council has been consulting with providers of these services and a questionnaire has been sent out. Plans are not yet finalised regarding further analysis or consultation, and the next steps are not happening until after Bristol City Council finalises its budget.

If your service is covered by a Community Support Service contract you should have received details and a questionnaire from Bristol City Council. If you have not heard about the plans, contact Aly Fielden at Bristol City Council: aly.fielden@bristol.gov.uk You can hear about the plans at the next Health and Social Care Network meeting, which will take place on Thursday 23 January 2014, 1pm-3:30pm, at St Werburghs Community Centre, Horley Road, Bristol, BS2 9TJ.

Issue 23 January / February / March 2014

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25

Victim Support celebrates 40 years in Bristol and beyond From small Bristol-based local start-up to wide-reaching national organisation – Rhiannon Evans, Victim Support’s Divisional Manager for Avon and Somerset, looks back at the last 40 years, and forward to the future…

Victim Support is celebrating a big

the practical and emotional

scheme was launched in Bristol.

milestone in January 2014. From

support they need. This can

In the first six months, over 900

a small, local service that started

include crime-prevention advice;

victims were referred to the

in Bristol 40 years ago, it is now a

information about the criminal

service – a large number yes, yet

national organisation supporting

justice system and what will

a tiny figure in comparison to the

victims and witnesses of crimes in

happen next; practical help with

13,000 victims referred in the last

England and Wales, with a network

compensation and filling in forms;

six months in Avon and Somerset.

of member organisations whose

and helping people to feel safe.

reach extends to Europe and

This community-based service

Many things have changed over

back in 1974 was just the start –

the last 40 years, not least the way

a range of Victim Support services

Victim Support receives referrals

we contact victims (we now use

would follow. Today, Victim

from a range of sources, including

a range of technologies including

Support’s local services include

the police, voluntary and

email, texts, Facebook and

the Witness Service, a specialist

community sector organisations

Twitter), but also the way in which

homicide service and domestic

and victims themselves. Those

we work with other partners to

violence support. The Witness

they work with have experienced

ensure we meet all of our

Service supports those giving

a whole host of crimes including

service users’ needs.

evidence at hearings in Bristol

across the world.

criminal damage or violence against themselves or their families/friends. Our trained staff and volunteers contact them to offer support, either in their own homes or a location convenient for them.

The idea for Victim Support started in 1972 when a man called Chris Holtom asked the question, “Does a victim exist in law?” This important question started a piece of research into what support existed for victims

It’s heartening to think that the

(something not previously

services currently being offered

considered), and from there, the

by Victim Support across the

first ideas for a support service for

country are still structured around

victims were born. The initial years

the same founding principle –

weren’t easy with funding not

local volunteers visiting victims in

forthcoming, but on 1 January

their own homes and providing

1974, the first ever Victim Support

26 www.voscur.org

Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court. Volunteers show witnesses round the court and talk them through what will happen to help make the process less daunting and traumatic. Our specialist Homicide Service supports those affected by murder, manslaughter and infanticide, working closely with police family liaison officers and other key partners to support families through this traumatic time. We have two independent domestic violence advisors who have recently received the Police

January / February / March 2014 Issue 23

“It is wonderful to reflect on how a small grass-roots organisation with innovation and passion to help can grow into a national charity that, in England and Wales alone, has supported over 25 million people.”

and Crime Commissioner’s ‘Pride’ award, along with a colleague from Bristol Next Link, for their excellent support to victims of domestic violence. We are also about to launch a pilot project to look at the use of restorative justice before someone is sentenced. Restorative processes bring those harmed by crime or Photo by Johnmuk

conflict and those responsible for the harm into communication, enabling everyone affected by a particular incident to play a part in repairing the harm and finding

Recruiting volunteers to work with victims

a positive way forward. All of

worked with us to deliver high-

these services are an excellent

quality care to victims. We are

demonstration of how far we have

looking forward to thanking

come and some of what lies ahead

these people and celebrating

in the future.

this 40-year milestone with them.

Victim Support is grateful to many

It is wonderful to reflect

organisations for their support

on how a small grass-roots

over the years, including the Avon

organisation with innovation and

and Somerset Constabulary, the

passion to help can grow into a

Avon and Somerset Probation

national charity that, in England

Trust, and the many organisations

and Wales alone, has supported

that have supported us and

over 25 million people.

If you are a victim of crime and would like support or you would like to volunteer for Victim Support, you can contact them on 0117 947 3070 or visit: www.victimsupport.org.uk If you would like further details about our 40-year anniversary events, contact Rhiannon Evans on 0117 947 3067.

Raising the Participation Age what this means for the VCS A Children and Young People’s Network meeting 5 February 2014, 10am-12pm, Barton Hill Settlement, Ducie Road, Bristol BS5 0AX.

Issue 23 January / February / March 2014

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27

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

January, February, March 2014 training and events January 2014 Date

Time

Event/training

Location

16th

9:30am-3:30pm

Retention and Support of Volunteers

@symes Community Building

23rd

10am-12pm

Finance Forum

Royal Oak House Meeting Room

23rd

1pm-3:30pm

Health & Social Care Network meeting

St Werburghs Community Centre

29th

12pm-2pm

Mind the Gap: Organisational Structures – Do You Have the Right One?

Royal Oak House Meeting Room

30th

6:30pm-9:30pm

Being a Good Trustee

Barton Hill Settlement

February 2014 Date

Time

Event/training

Location

4th

9:30am-1pm

Prove it!

Windmill Hill City Farm

5th

10am-12pm

Children & Young People’s Network meeting

Barton Hill Settlement

6th

9:30am-3:30pm

Writing Small Fundraising Bids

The CREATE Centre

12th

12pm-2pm

Mind the Gap: Improving Your Fundraising Skills

Royal Oak House Meeting Room

13th

9:30am-4pm

Fund it!

The Watershed

26th

12pm-2pm

Mind the Gap: Policies and Procedures

Royal Oak House Meeting Room

27th

6:30pm-9:30pm

Being an Even Better Trustee

Barton Hill Settlement

March 2014 Date

Time

Event/training

Location

4th-6th

9:30am-3:30pm

Managing for Managers

St Werburghs Centre

11th

9:30am-1pm

Financial Management for the Non-Financially Minded

The GreenHouse

12th

12pm-2pm

Mind the Gap: Marketing Your Organisation

Royal Oak House Meeting Room

12th

6:30pm-8:30pm

Trustee Network: Strategic Business Planning

TBC

18th

9:30am-3:30pm

Volunteers and the Law

St Werburghs Centre

20th

9:30am-3:30pm

Confident to Present and Influence

Gatehouse Centre

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

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

Printed on 100% recycled paper using vegetable-based inks