Supporting Voluntary & Community Action
June / July / August 2010
Inside Voscur’s Magazine Have your say on the future of Voluntary and Community Sector Representation Celebrate Carers’ Week New Green Capital Grants programme Neighbourhood Partnership Funds Results of Commissioning Survey
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Photographed by Paul Hayes
BIG Funding Reaches Bristol Vetting and Barring Scheme Understanding Incorporation Silver Cyclists’ Project Summer Festivals Training and Learning opportunities
Shape a life. Be a foster carer.
TACT is a well respected fostering and adoption agency. TACT will offer you excellent training with 24hr support and a break from caring when you need it. TACT pay between ÂŁ322 & ÂŁ574 per week per child as well as additional allowances for birthdays, festivals and holidays. Although fostering can be challenging it can also be very rewarding. If you believe you have the capacity and commitment to support vulnerable children and young people between 10-16 years old, then we would like to hear from you. To make a difference give us a ring now on: 0117 927 7725 or email e.graham@tactcare.org.uk
www.tactcare.org.uk
Charity no. 1018963
Welcome
Contents 4
Editorial
5
New Voscur Members
6-8
Finding Funding BIG funding reaches Bristol Charities waste time and money with poorly focused bids Local sources of funding advice
9
20–23 National Carers’ Week Bristol celebrates Carers’ Week New carers group in Henleaze
Acta youth theatre for young carers
24–25 Children and Young People The Vetting and Barring scheme
Green ICT
Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register
Connecting Bristol – Beyond Green ICT
Network meeting – Bristol Children and Young People’s Plan 2011-2014 – Needs Analysis
10–12 Have Your Say Neighbourhood Partnership Funds all round
26–27 Green Pages Bristol Cycle Festival
Your Voice – Voscur Reps
Bristol Green Capital launches new small grants programme
Your views sought on the future for VCSE Representation
13
Voscur member profile
Silver Cyclists: Cycle Project for Older People
Vox Pops Community Buildings offer a vital resource What difference does owning your own community asset make to a VCS organisation?
28–29 Festivals and Summer Events 30
Volunteer Management Project – One Year On
14–17 Training and Learning
Volunteer Support Project
Equalities Act 2010 Gypsy and Traveller awareness training BePS training and funding advice
18–19 The Compact
Volunteering Bristol
31
Constitution Corner Understanding Incorporation
32 Diary
Results of the ChangeUp survey on third sector commissioning experiences
Why not advertise? Special discounts for Voscur members. Deadlines for September/ October/ November edition of Thrive!: Monday 26 July for ads and Monday 23 August for flyers. Details of prices at www.voscur.org/magazine or phone Polly Stewart on 0117 909 9949
Thrive! is available on disc. Please contact the office if you would like to receive your Thrive! this way. The newsletter is also available online as a pdf at www.voscur.org/magazine
Disclaimer: some of the views expressed in this publication are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily represent those of Voscur. Publications, events and services mentioned in Thrive! are not necessarily endorsed by Voscur.
Issue 10 June / July / August 2010
www.voscur.org
3
Editorial
Dear members and friends You will have noticed that we list
we support our member groups
new Voscur members in each
to have clear channels
edition of Thrive! We do this to
of communication to local
highlight our members’ work
decision makers.
and the contribution that they make to the city, whether that’s delivering services, campaigning for change, advocating on behalf of others, or offering volunteering opportunities. This month’s new members are opposite, on page 5.
We have been preparing ourselves to bid for the Council’s voluntary sector support services contract and part of this will be reviewing the way that we represent the sector to decision makers. We would very much appreciate your
What an amazing range of
help in this – please see page 11
organisations! As belts are
to find out more.
tightened and budget cuts are planned it’s important to remember that these groups and
In the meantime, enjoy the summer!
others like them are the glue that
Wendy Stephenson
keeps our society together.
Chief Executive
Wendy Stephenson
“Many voluntary and community organisations play an important role in designing and delivering public services, identifying need and in helping people and communities to make informed decisions about public services. Many provide vital services to vulnerable communities which should not be seen as a ‘soft target’ for public spending cuts.” Stuart Etherington, NCVO in his recent letter to our new Prime Minister.
A note for your diaries – we have decided to move the date of our Annual General Meeting from 20 October to 24 November. This is because by that time the Council will have decided which organisations will be delivering voluntary sector support
Equalities Article
services in Bristol. So, whether
Voscur endorses and supports
it’s a Voscur led partnership or
that statement, and whilst we
another organisation, we will use
recognise that savings will need
the opportunity of our Annual
to be made – these should not
General Meeting to let you know
be made at the expense of the
what’s happening.
most vulnerable people in society.
Key to symbols
Training Resources Event
That’s why it’s important that
4 www.voscur.org
June / July / August 2010 Issue 10
New Voscur Members
Who’s Joined Voscur Recently? Art-E-Motion: A not-for-profit
Bristol U3A: An autonomous
Pride Bristol: Established to set
organisation providing facilities,
organisation associated with
up an annual festival to celebrate
events and workshops in the
the Third Age Trust. Offers a
LGBT life in Bristol, and create
community. Currently providing
programme of educational and
and support sports and art
visible art and inclusive art
leisure activities for retired people.
opportunities for LGBT people in
projects. Email: urbanalaguna@
Email: secretary@bristolu3a.org.uk
the southwest Visit: www.pridebristol.com
blueyonder.co.uk
Happy City Initiative CIC: Aim to make happiness the aim of life
Southville Primary School PTA:
1st Bristol Muslim Scout Group:
across Bristol and shift from bad
A PTA Committee, made up of
A scout group and community
news to celebrating and spreading
parents and teachers who carry
organisation that caters for the
success. Working locally to help
out activities to help raise money
needs of children and adults
people direct their attention
for Southville Primary School
primarily from ethnic minority
towards building on successful
children.
backgrounds. Meets at the Scout
solutions.
HQ in Muller Road, Horfield. Contact Amir Cheema, Scout
Visit: www.happycity.org.uk
leader, Tel: 07779 349566
International Organisation for
Bluebell Nurses: A new charity
A not-for-profit, charitable
based in Bristol. Raising funds to
organisation. Core goals and
provide the first ‘Bluebell Nurse’
mission to help bring about
in Bristol to support mothers and
community cohesion, fight social
families affected by post-natal
deprivation and poverty, and to
and ante-natal depression.
promote peace and harmony
Visit: www.bluebellnurses.org Tel: 07767 324003 BrAMS (Bristol Avon Multiple
Visit: www.southville.bristol.sch.uk
Solidarity and Social Action:
among religious groups in Bristol. Email: iossa@live.com Email: iossa@live.com
Sclerosis): A centre of excellence
Our Stories make Waves: An
Would you or your
which offers new MS treatments,
African diaspora Bristol based
organisation like to
new drug trials and leading Stem
collective of artists working
join Voscur?
Cell Research with a full team of
across diverse art forms including
research doctors. Information
playwrights, film makers,
covering all aspects, symptoms
musicians, actors and painters
and treatments for Multiple
who together develop innovative
Sclerosis.
projects for public performance,
Visit: www.brams.org.uk Tel: 0117 340 2992
Issue 10 June / July / August 2010
exhibition and education. Visit: ourstoriesmakewaves.co.uk
To read about the benefits of Voscur membership and to join visit: www.voscur.org/joining or phone the Voscur office on: 0117 909 9949 www.voscur.org/joining
www.voscur.org
5
Finding Funding
BIG Funding Reaches Bristol Many of Voscur’s member groups
• Improved rural and urban
Because so many organisations
qualify for Big Lottery Funding,
environments, which people
are eligible to apply, the success
which supports projects which
are able to enjoy
rate for Reaching Communities
meet one or more of BIG’s four outcomes: • People having better chances
• Healthier and more active people and communities The Reaching Communities
in life, because they are able to
programme can provide
get training and development
organisations with up to
to improve their skills
£500,000 over five years for a
• Stronger communities with people working together to
has so far been pretty low. But recently there has been some good news for Bristol’s Voluntary and Community sector as two organisations have been awarded Reaching Communities funding.
range of costs including running
Visit: www.biglotteryfund.org
costs/overheads.
Advice line: 0845 4 10 20 30
tackle their problems
Read about how Serenity House and Khaas achieved their funding success.
Serenity House, Alcoholism Recovery Service Serenity House provides
Serenity House approached
be obtained. This has now been
treatment and substance abuse
Voscur last summer to ask for
secured through contracts with
education to anyone suffering
help with developing their
local health authorities who will
from drug or alcohol addiction.
application. Staff and trustees
refer funded clients to their
Its 12 Step Programme supports
accessed training and fundraising
programme. Sally feels that BIG’s
people to find a solution to their
support from Voscur. Sally
grant contributed to the statutory
addiction through a programme
Cousins, Chair of the Trustees,
agencies’ confidence in Serenity
of intervention and action for
said “The hardest part of the
House’s ability to deliver the
sustainable sobriety. They have
application was formulating the
requirements of their contracts.
been awarded £488,000 over
outcomes so that the whole of
five years to employ counselling,
our service was described. We
management and support staff
could not have done it without
and to develop an outreach
Voscur’s help.”
service to deliver sessions across Bristol.
Serenity House are looking for two to three partners with premises where they can
The Reaching Communities
provide outreach sessions.
funding will not cover their total
They can be contacted at
costs and a condition of the
recovery@serenityhouse.org.uk
award was that match funding
6 www.voscur.org
June / July / August 2010 Issue 10
Finding Funding
Khaas Khaas offers support to disabled
Over 50% of Khaas’ Management
children of South Asian origin and
Committee members are service
their families and carers, through
users, and this is important
provision of a variety of services
evidence that their beneficiaries
including playschemes, support
are helping to develop and
groups, benefits advice and
manage their services. BIG have
positive activities. They have been
recently announced some changes
awarded £218,000 over three
to the Reaching Communities
years for projects and activities
application process.
which support carers. This will allow Khaas to employ a part-time Carers’ Support Worker and pay for project activities; and will also contribute to their running costs.
The new outline proposal form asks more detailed questions about the need for a project and the problems it aims to solve, and about how beneficiaries are
Activities will include exercise
involved in both planning and day-
classes, cookery sessions,
to-day activities.
workshops on health-related issues, and educational courses. Access to these activities helps to overcome the isolation felt by many carers and gives them the opportunity to form friendships, learn new skills and build their confidence.
BIG resources You can find out more and download the new forms from BIG’s website at www2.biglotteryfund.org.uk/ prog_reaching_communities Voscur can offer fundraising advice including access to the Funderfinder and Grantfinder databases and proof-reading of applications. For further information please contact the Voscur office on 0117 909 9949 or email funding@voscur.org
BIG is asking more questions at this stage to reduce the amount of applications that proceed to the second stage. They anticipate that groups invited to submit a full application will then have a much better chance of success than in the past.
Khaas identified Reaching Communities as a possible source of funding during a Funderfinder session with Voscur. Frida Malik, Co-ordinator, has this advice for other groups going through the lengthy application process: “Remember that you are in a big competition with everyone else. But if you are passionate enough about what you do and really believe in it, this will come through on the form.” Khaas staff, Frida Malik (left) and Saiqa (centre) with a member of the Khaas group
Issue 10 June / July / August 2010
www.voscur.org
7
Finding Funding
Charities wasting time and money with poorly targeted funding bids
Fundraisers need to carefully research who they apply to,
For every successful
minutes to write, (a very
application there are hundreds
conservative estimate) that adds
that are not successful.
up to nearly 7 years of wasted
Research by the Directory of Social Change (DSC) indicates that over one third of applications to UK charitable grantmakers in the last year were ineligible. More than 361,000 out of a total pool of nearly one million applications were rejected because they didn’t meet the funder’s stated criteria. For example, applications for work in England going to a trust which states it only funds in Scotland. If each application took 10
effort every year. If each one
read any guidelines thoroughly and make contact with the funder to ask for advice prior to submitting an application.
were posted first class, that
DSC’s research also points out
amounts to around £141,000 just
the good news – that if
in postage stamps.
fundraisers ensure basic
DSC surveyed 2,500 grantmaking trusts and foundations and asked
eligibility, their chance of success increases significantly.
how many applications they received in their last financial year,
To read the report,
how many were ineligible, and
visit: www.dsc.org.uk/
how many awards they made. The
greatgiving
report published in May includes
Contact: Richard Lee, Directory
statistical analysis of responses as
of Social Change.
well as recommendations for how funders and fundraisers can start solving the problem.
Email: rlee@dsc.org.uk Tel: 020 7391 4881
Local Sources of Funding Advice With funding from
• devise and deliver training
to pay professional fundraisers or
Capacitybuilders and Bristol City
sessions designed to support
consultants to write applications
Council, Voscur has been able
groups’ knowledge and
for them.
to employ a dedicated Funding
understanding of funding
Adviser for the past two years
processes.
who has been able to:
Knowledge of Bristol’s voluntary sector and local funding
Capacitybuilders and Bristol
programmes also helps to ensure
City Council also fund The Black
that we can make groups aware of
information that we receive,
Development Agency to offer
the local scene, other sources of
and highlight funding
a funding advice service to its
support and link them to groups
opportunities on our website
members.
who may be doing similar work.
• sift through all the funding
and in our weekly e-bulletin; • talk to groups about their funding needs and signpost them to appropriate funders; • help groups with application forms;
8 www.voscur.org
This goes some way to support local groups offering services to local people who find
Contact Ruth Pitter, Funding Adviser
themselves in competition with
Email: funding@voscur.org
organisations who have been able
Tel: 0117 909 9949
June / July / August 2010 Issue 10
Green ICT
Connecting Bristol – Beyond Green ICT Voscur’s work with Connecting
Euro petitions. An online system
Bristol in the Green ICT project
that will enable citizens from
is only small part of the work
different European countries to
Connecting Bristol and its partners
collectively petition the European
are doing in Bristol. There are a
Parliament on shared policy issues
wide range of initiatives being
and concerns. This project builds
undertaken under the Digital
on Bristol’s leading reputation for
City umbrella, whose aim is
e-democracy.
championing a ‘people-focused agenda, which aims to increase digital inclusion, skills and learning, support economic growth and stimulate innovation in public services and the voluntary sector’.
The Digital Infrastructure project is being rolled out to provide Wi-Fi connectivity in 30 council and community buildings and libraries with the
Connecting Bristol is the city’s Digital Partnership. They are a part of Bristol City Council but work closely with the Bristol Partnership, which is the city’s Local Strategic Partnership. Their aim is to ensure that Bristol is widely recognised as a creative, smart, green and connected city. Their role is to ensure that inclusive digital participation enables the city to realise its
aim of increasing access to very
potential. Connecting Bristol grew
A review day in April gave a
high-speed ‘next generation’
out of the Government’s Digital
snapshot of progress so far and
broadband.
Challenge competition. As part of
the promise of things yet to come. 14 major initiatives were showcased.
Under the working title Innovative Data Projects, this project aims to give open access
Here’s a brief overview of some
to all the council’s raw data (from
of the initiatives and some notes
health and nutrition statistics
on the implications for Voscur
in Bristol’s school meals to
members:
environmental data from green
An EU funded home energy project, installing ICT based energy efficiency technologies
the process Bristol developed a range of assets setting out their bid and vision for the City. Visit: www.connectingbristol.org for details.
spaces), and to inspire innovative
These are just a few
use of it by at first commissioning
examples of the
digital services that are useful
Connecting Bristol
and will inspire businesses and
programme which includes even
community organisations to get
more initiatives on tele-healthcare,
involved in using the data to drive
home access and education.
improvement.
If you want more information or
as a ‘living laboratory’. As part of
E-Inclusion Computer Recycling
would like to get involved with the
this project, Voscur has electrical
– create a citywide mechanism for
supply monitoring equipment
making refurbished PC’s available
available to groups with their own
to low-income households and
premises and dedicated power
voluntary sector organisations.
supplies. Contact Sean Kenny at
The scheme will start by recycling
Find out more about how the
Voscur for more details:
redundant council PCs.
voluntary sector can benefit on
in social housing, addressing fuel poverty and digital inclusion issues. This project is running mainly in the Filwood area
seank@voscur.org
initiatives you can follow progress and contribute at the Connecting Bristol Blog (www.connectingbristol.org).
Voscur’s ICT pages: www.voscur.org/ict
Issue 10 June / July / August 2010
www.voscur.org
9
Have Your Say
Neighbourhood Partnership Funds all round Within the budgets that Bristol City Council has devolved to the 14 Neighbourhood Partnerships (NP) is a ‘wellbeing fund’ to spend on anything that the NP feels will improve local wellbeing. £10,000 has been allocated to each ward so a two ward Neighbourhood Partnership has £20,000 and a three ward NP has £30,000. contribute their ideas or vote and comment on other suggestions. More than 30 suggestions have been put forward so far; people have until 30 June to contribute to the debate. The most popular suggestions will be taken forward by the Neighbourhood Partnership.
Find out more Celebrations to mark the restoration and reopening of Arnos Vale Cemetery, one of the projects supported with wellbeing funding from Brislington Community Partnership
In the Brislington Neighbourhood
theatre performances held in
Partnership area the wellbeing
Sandy Park shops, the Arnos Vale
funding has supported scores
Cemetery reopening celebrations
of local groups, but in addition
and healthy walks – all promoted
to providing funding, Brislington
as part of a year long Festival of
Community Partnership (the
Brislington.
local NP) has used the wellbeing fund to promote a celebration of Brislington.
round of Brislington wellbeing funding is 16 June 2010. For more details of how to apply visit the Brislington Community Partnership website: www. brislington.org/funding/index. html
Cabot, Clifton and Clifton East
For more details on the ‘It’s
Neighbourhood Partnership has
my Bristol’ NP pilot visit:
decided to encourage younger
www.itsmybristol.org
All the events funded by the
people to give their views on how
wellbeing fund in Brislington are
£15,000 (half) of its wellbeing
being invited to be part of the
funding should be spent. In
2010 ‘Festival of Brislington’. The
partnership with the Bristol
wellbeing fund has helped 16
Partnership the NP has set up an
groups already and has supported
online discussion group called
events including the ‘Shop local’
‘It’s my Bristol’ where people can
10 www.voscur.org
The deadline for the next
To find out more about wellbeing funds, contact your local Neighbourhood Partnership Area Coordinator – visit www.voscur. org/haveyoursay/np for contact details.
June / July / August 2010 Issue 10
Have Your Say
Power and influence – who has it and how do you get to it? Nationally, we have a new Conservative and Liberal Democrat Coalition government. Locally, we have seen the creation of 14
sector at different partnerships
Wednesday 14 July*
in the city. We recognise that
3:30pm-5:30pm at @Symes,
times are changing, new decision
Hartcliffe
making bodies are emerging and people are communicating in different ways.
Neighbourhood Partnerships. In
We’d like you to help us to take
addition, the Bristol Partnership
a fresh look at what we do to
involves people from the public,
support you and to get your
business and voluntary sectors.
message across to the decision
But who are they? What decisions
makers in the city. That’s why
can these different bodies take?
we are asking you to come along
Where is the power in Bristol?
to one of three workshops that
Voscur organises network and
will help us plan the best ways of
Monday 19 July* 6-8pm at The Greenway Centre, Southmead *The workshops are identical – you only need to attend one.
Find out more or book a place at one of the workshops at www.voscur.org/networks/
doing that.
assemblies or contact Matthew
people from its membership
Wednesday 14 July*
matthew@voscur.org or phone
to represent the voluntary
11am-1pm at the CREATE Centre,
0117 909 9949
assembly meetings, and elects
Symonds by email:
Hotwells
Thriving Neighbourhoods board strengthens links with Neighbourhood Partnerships In April, the Thriving
and Di Robinson (Bristol City
Neighbourhoods Board (TNB)
Council Service Director for
agreed to invite reps from
Neighbourhoods) intend to draw
each of the 14 Neighbourhood
up a clear outline of the role of
Partnerships to attend the TNB.
Neighbourhood Partnership reps.
Ben Barker (chair of the TNB)
Voscur will be convening short
pre-meetings for residents and voluntary community reps to the TNB immediately before each meeting. For more details contact Matthew Symonds at Voscur, email: matthew@voscur.org or phone on 0117 909 9949.
Bristol Partnership Your Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector representatives will be attending the following meetings during June, July and August: Name of Board Bristol Partnership Executive Board Children and Young Peoples Trust Health and Wellbeing Board Prosperous and Ambitious Board meeting Safer Bristol Partnership Thriving Neighbourhoods Board meeting
Issue 10 June / July / August 2010
Dates 8 June and 20 July 19 July 21 July 7 July (tbc) 29 July 15 June, 15 July and 17 August
To find out more about the Voscur reps or these meetings visit www. voscur.org/representation Matthew Symonds at Voscur Email: matthew@voscur.org
www.voscur.org
11
Have Your Say
Petitions get more teeth Local people can now demand their councils take action on underperforming schools and hospitals, drink disorder, anti-social behaviour and other concerns under new rules giving real power to local petitions.
The new statutory duty on
and give a real boost to
councils will mean that they will
democratic engagement.”
have to respond to petitions for the first time and tell local people what action is going to be taken to address their concerns. Every council will now have to set out clearly how local people can submit both paper and electronic petitions. Popular petitions will
Toby Blume, Chief Executive of Urban Forum. The new statutory guidance for petitions sets out exactly how councils will be expected to respond to all petitions, especially on four key areas:
trigger a debate of the full council
• underperforming schools
or require a senior council officer
• alcohol related crime and
to answer to scrutiny hearings. Bristol was one of the first councils in the country to launch
disorder • underperforming hospitals • anti-social behaviour
e-petitions in 2004. Over 190
The new guidance will mean that
e-petitions have been submitted
popular petitions will require
since they began, with a total of
either a debate in full council or
73,725 signatures collected. The
a response by a senior council
most popular petition so far has
officer at a scrutiny hearing. The
attracted over 10,200 signatures,
changes follow a survey by the
backing a campaign to save the
Local Government Association
Bristol – Bath railway path.
(LGA) which found that only 28%
“This is an important tool to
of councils guarantee a response
Petitions have long been a popular way for local people to influence decision-makers. Image: h de c
Find out more about e-petitions – sign in and see how to start your
to petitions.
own at: epetitions.bristol.gov.
local decision-making. Petitions
The duty to respond will apply
uk/epetition_core
are a tried and tested way for
to paper petitions from 15 June and electronic petitions from 15
Find out more about the new
citizens to raise their concerns and make their opinions known.
December 2010.
increase citizens’ influence over
statutory guidance on petitions at www.communities.gov.uk/
Giving people the right to get
publications/communities/
a response to a petition will
dutyrespondpetitionguidance
increase public accountability
12 www.voscur.org
June / July / August 2010 Issue 10
Vox Pops
An Asset to the Community? Bristol City Council is currently consulting on its draft Community Asset Transfer policy, which deals specifically with the management and ownership of assets by local communities. The closing date for comments is Wednesday 9 June 2010. During May, we asked three voluntary, community sector organisations running community buildings in Bristol to tell us:
What difference would or does owning your own community asset make? “Avonmouth Community Centre Association has its building on license from Bristol City Council. Having a longer term relationship with the building is allowing us space to think ahead; in terms of community development this is a positive thing creating scope for a bigger vision.” Alv Hirst Avonmouth Community Association
“BCC has given us a Tenancy at Will, which is a licence to occupy. We’re negotiating with Bristol City Council to move towards some kind of long term lease arrangement. Having a longer term arrangement means the local community feels it has taken control of the community centre; ownership would be a step further. In terms of applying for capital improvements to the centre, having ownership and long term control would help us to secure these funds”. Liz Jones
“I have worked in senior roles in the voluntary sector for over 12 years. On each occasion I have sought for my organisation to own its own assets. The Vassall Centre Trust is the first organisation where that is the case. It gives us an enormous sense of security, both from a financial and tenure viewpoint, and provides a solid core from which to develop our work. Nationally, it makes us one of the strongest organisations led by disabled people.”
Manager, Easton Community Centre
Andy Rickell Chief Executive, Vassall Centre Trust
Find out more: To find out more about the Community Asset Transfer policy visit: www.bristol.gov.uk/cat
Issue 10 June / July / August 2010
Community Buildings Network meeting, Thursday 17 June, 9:30am-1pm Fishponds Village Hall, Beechwood
Road, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 3TR. Organised jointly by Voscur and Bristol City Council For full details visit: voscur.org/ networks/communitybuildings
www.voscur.org
13
Voscur Training and Learning
The Equalities Act 2010 “It may be true that legislation cannot change the heart but it can restrain the heartless” Dr Martin Luther King
The new Equality Act which
or charities that they propose to
comes into force in October
fund do not discriminate”.
replaces a number of previous anti-discrimination laws such as the Race Relations act, the Sex Discrimination Act and the Disability Discrimination Act.
This Act will affect our members, who we expect will be looking for support to help them interpret the Act. Equality South West is running an event in Bristol in June
Equality South
In their response to the Equality
to explain the implications of the
West event
and Human Rights Commission
Act (see details in box). If you miss
consultation on the Equality Act
that one, Voscur will be running a
2010, the Charity Law Association
session on the Act in the autumn
working party warned that
and will be working with Avon and
The Equality Act 2010 Explained
once the Act becomes law in
Bristol Law Centre to produce a
22nd June – The Vassall Centre,
October, charities will need to
guide to the Act for our members,
Bristol (Afternoon)
identify and provide evidence of
which we will publish in our next
“a disadvantage or a legitimate
magazine.
aim that the restriction on their
This session is looking to address the following questions:
beneficiary class addresses, or risk
What do employers need to
challenge under the Act.”
do to prepare for the Equality
The types of charities that could
Act 2010?
be affected include religious
How does the Act affect
groups, organisations for
organisations in the public,
immigrants, charities that work
private and third sector?
with older people, and groups
What are the priorities in
that promote sports to particular
your area?
nationalities. The lawyers also said that the Act would affect grantmaking charities, “which will need to be confident that projects
14 www.voscur.org
Contact: Moira Anderson Email: moira.anderson@ equalitysouthwest.org.uk
June / July / August 2010 Issue 10
Voscur Training and Learning
Gypsy and Traveller awareness training sessions to promote Gypsy and Traveller history month Britain’s 300,000 Gypsies, Roma and Travellers have lived, worked and travelled throughout Britain for over 500 years, yet have been almost entirely written out of British history. Go to most museums, libraries and schools and nothing about their history and culture is kept or taught.
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history month this June aims to show that if people do not realise the role of Gypsy and Traveller communities in Britain’s past, they will never accept their crucial part in Britain’s future. Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month celebrates culture and
Training sessions
action planning to improve your
Gypsy and Traveller communities
communities
experience high levels of discrimination, higher numbers of
Who should attend?
health related issues and a lower
Those providing front-line services
life expectancy than many other groups. How much do you know about
history by tackling negative
Gypsy and Traveller communities?
stereotyping and prejudices. It is
How are your services reaching
a partnership between Gypsy and
Gypsy and Traveller communities?
Traveller communities and those in public sector agencies as well as Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector organisations.
How could you improve your work to make it more inclusive? Voscur is running two multiagency sessions which aims to: • Explain the history and culture of Gypsy and Traveller
Visit:
services to Gypsy and Traveller
communities • Provide you with an opportunity
or planning policy from public sector agencies and the VCSE. When: Tuesday 15 June, 1pm-4pm Barton Hill Settlement Wednesday 14 July, 10am-1pm Federation of City Farms Cost:
£15.00
To book please visit our website: www.voscur.org/training For further information please contact:
www.grthm.co.uk for
to discuss issues with reps from
Voscur: 0117 909 9949
more details of national
Gypsy and Traveller communities
or Visit: www.voscur.
Gypsy and Traveller history month.
Issue 10 June / July / August 2010
• Assist with approaches and
org/training
www.voscur.org
15
BePS (Bristol Electronic Procurement Systems) Training & Funding Advice BePs is the e-procurement system for Bristol City Council. Voscur and the Black Development Agency (BDA) have arranged a series of sessions to guide your organisation through the process and to offer funding advice. Dates
Venue
Wednesday 9 June (pm)
The Gatehouse Centre
Thursday 17 June (am)
Barton Hill Settlement
Wednesday 7 July (am)
The Greenway Centre
Thursday 16 September (am)
Mede Community Centre
Tuesday 28 September (pm)
Langley Centre
Thursday 30 September (am)
Vassall Centre
Thursday 21 October (pm)
Black Development Agency
Each session can cover:
Cost: FREE
1. Registering on the Bristol Electronic
Please specify preferred session Book early as places are limited
Procurement System 2. Funding Advice 3. Grant Finder Search
Morning sessions (9:30am-1pm)
Afternoon Sessions (1pm-4:30pm)
Sessions delivered by BDA and Voscur
9:30am-10:30am
1pm-2pm
Six 1 hour slots available per day
10:40am-11:40am
2:10-3:10pm
Sessions needs to be booked in advance
11:50am-12:50pm
3:20pm-4:20pm
To book a session please contact: Charlene on 0117 939 6645 / charlene@blackdeva.org.uk or Liz on 0117 909 9949 / liz@voscur.org
Please check our Websites: www.voscur.org and www.blackdeva.org.uk For up to date information on Training, Events, Surveys, Publications, and relevant Policy updates
Funded by:
16 www.voscur.org
June / July / August 2010  Issue 10
Voscur Training and Learning
Training and Learning Opportunities Full details of all courses can be found on our website www.voscur.org/training where you can also book your place. You can also call the Voscur office on 0117 909 9949 to find out more about booking and FREE places.
First Aid in the Workplace
Gypsy and Traveller Awareness
Wednesday 23 June, (9:30am-4pm)
Tuesday 15 June
The Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead, Bristol, BS10 5PY
Wednesday 14 July See p15 for details
This accredited one day course will give you a basic introduction to First Aid. By the end of the course, candidates will be able to demonstrate the essential knowledge and skills needed when dealing with First Aid emergencies in the workplace. Trainer: Brian Hibbert – BHTS Limited Cost: Full Members £70 / Associate Members
BePs Training and Funding Advice – Bristol Electronic Procurement Systems Between Wednesday 9 June – Thursday 21 Oct See p16 for details
£90 / Non-members £140 (Includes £15 accreditation fee)
Supervision skills 29-30 June, (9:30am-4:30pm) Salvation Army, Hassell Drive, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, BS2 0AN Working in the VCSE sector, many of us face the task of supervising staff without having been trained. This popular two-day course will equip
Look out for our Free legal and HR training coming up! In June and July we will be running sessions with professional businesses from Business in the Community on:
you with the skills and knowledge to deliver
• Disciplinary and Grievance procedures
effective supervision.
• Managing and Procuring Buildings.
Trainer: Susan Moores – Independent
To find out more go to
Consultant
www.voscur.org/training or call
Cost: Full Members: £100 / Associate
Sophie Bayley on 0117 909 9949
Members: £145 / Non Members: £220
Issue 10 June / July / August 2010
www.voscur.org
17
The Compact
And the commissioning survey says… good progress, further improvements needed There’s a lot of talk about the commissioning of public services to the Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector. In February 2010, the Bristol ChangeUp Consortium surveyed third sector experiences of being commissioned and presented its findings to Bristol City Council and other commissioners. Mark Hubbard, Compact Liaison Officer, describes the key findings and what happens next. In February, Bristol City Council’s
positively acknowledged by some
Select Committee on Third
respondents to the survey.
Sector Commissioning asked the Bristol ChangeUp consortium to undertake a survey. The committee required up-to-date, Bristol-based information about the relationship between public sector commissioners and VCSE sector organisations so that it could draw up proposals to help improve commissioning relationships. This research focused on the VCSE sector’s experience of Bristol City Council’s commissioning. The findings are also relevant in the VCSE sector’s relationships with other public sector bodies, including Avon and Somerset
voluntary sector infrastructure
described their organisations
organisations and hear together
as ‘social enterprises’ and had
about the experience of
annual turnovers greater than
commissioning in Bristol. We
£100,000. This means that the
have learned about concerns
voice of smaller, less resourced
and support needs, and the
organisations was not heard in
worries from smaller third
the survey – an important fact in
sector organisations that they
considering the survey results.
might be getting left behind.
Many organisations felt confident
We have also heard Best Practice
about delivering services and over
from Croydon and Birmingham
half of the respondents were
Council, and from NAVCA, and
already contracted or had service
their stories echoed those we
level agreements. This is clear
heard from the Change-up
evidence that some organisations
survey. We are now drawing
are engaging successfully in
up recommendations to take
commissioning processes.
to Council, and look forward
There are, however, several
Service and Bristol NHS.
causes for concern. One third of
Good progress has been made by some parts of BCC whose commissioning practice has been
18 www.voscur.org
members, to sit alongside
The majority of respondents
Constabulary, Avon Fire & Rescue
Key findings
“We were keen as elected
to presenting these to a wider audience.”
the respondents, for example,
Councillor Helen Holland (Leader
reported that they had not bid
of the Labour group of Bristol
in any commissioning processes
City councillors), Chair of Select
and they cited their reasons as:
Committee on Third Sector
unclear information, poor match
Commissioning
June / July / August 2010 Issue 10
The Compact of service specification with ‘charitable’ work, low expectation of success. Of those that had bid in
considered at all stages respond to VCSE sector’s
of the Report or have
support needs
questions/comments
commissioning processes, most
The select committee has heard
described the experiences as ‘not
evidence from many sources
good’, citing the following themes:
and is working on its final report.
short deadlines, especially time
That report will go through
needed to form consortia and the
several BCC processes prior to its
complexity and inconsistency of
consideration by the full Council
processes.
in September and, after their
What happens now?
If you would like a copy
• Infrastructure organisations
about commissioning, please contact Mark Hubbard (mark@voscur.org) or visit www.voscur.org/compact
endorsement, will be turned into an action plan.
The Report presents a set of recommendations, which include the following:
Decision-makers: • Commissioning needs city-wide
In response to feedback,
strategic ownership
a series of Autumn/
• Additional research needed
Winter training events is
to understand small VCSE
being planned:
organisations’ experience and
• Commissioning for Beginners
readiness for commissioning
• Commissioning and Outcomes
• Publicise commissioning/
• Costing your project
procurement/grant-funding opportunities in one place
Jargon Buster
Commissioners:
The Bristol Compact is the local
• Incorporate all principles of
version of the Compact – an
Intelligent Commissioning and
agreement between the Bristol
Bristol Compact into all BCC
Partnership and the voluntary,
commissioning practice
community & social enterprise
• Enable more time in
(VCSE) sector. It aims to improve
commissioning processes for
their relationship for mutual
the formation of consortia
advantage and community gain. The Bristol Compact covers
• Getting ready to tender • Bristol E-procurement • Commissioning and Legal Issues • Different ways of collaborating Also, there will be several ‘meetthe-commissioners’ events that will focus on networking between specific commissioning managers and potential service providers.
Third sector organisations:
main themes: Shared Principles,
• Review ‘commissioning’ in
Resources and Commissioning,
Visit www.voscur.org/compact
Equalities and Community
for more information.
strategic planning processes • Engage with commissioning processes to ensure that VCSE
Cohesion, Volunteering and Resolving Complaints.
organisations’ perspectives are
Issue 10 June / July / August 2010
www.voscur.org
19
National Carers’ Week
Bristol Celebrates Carers’ Week with a Range of Events A Life of My Own 2010 is the tenth year that Carers’ Week has been held in its current format. Organised by a consortium of seven national charities, over 100,000 carers take part in the thousands of activities held in every part of the UK.
Carers’ Week 2010 will highlight: • Why supporting carers is crucial
‘The team that delivers the services to support carers’ Staff at the Princess Royal Trust Carers Centre, for Bristol and South Goucestershire
• How carers miss out on things others take for granted • What needs to be changed The theme, A Life of My Own, will enable carers to talk about many parts of life that many others take for granted, for example, family
are not limited to ) Carersline
carers. In addition, the Trust works
(0117 965 2200 10am – 1pm), a
in partnership with statutory
telephone service which provides
organisations and provides
information and advice and acts as
support to Carer Representatives,
a referral point to services within
involved in influencing and
the centre and outside agencies.
directing policy in the two local areas. Carers and professionals can
occasions, going on holiday, a
There is also one-to-one support
meal out, even just chilling out
and advocacy available to suit the
for an evening with no worries or
individual needs of carers in both
responsibilities. Carers will speak
Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
about what they need to have a
Each year the Centre holds events
life of their own, including:
which coincide with the national
Carers’ Week
carers week, whilst Carers’ Groups
activities:
• Access to relevant and practical information, to help them with their caring role • The opportunity to take a break when they need it
Please see the box below for details.
and trips run throughout the year to offer carers peer support and
For details of Bristol and South
time out.
Gloucestershire Carers’ Week
The Carers Centre offer training
• Support at times of crisis
courses for carers and has a new
• Financial support
Bristol health team working with
The Princess Royal Trust Carers’
sign up to receive their newsletter.
GP Practices and the Trusts.
activities Please contact admin on 01179 392563 for general enquiries or see the website for the details of all their events in Carers’ Week. (Some need to be
Centre provides a range of
The Young Carers team provides
booked.)
support services for unpaid
individual, group and family
www.prtcarerscentre.org.uk
family carers. These include, (but
support and activities to 80 young
20 www.voscur.org
June / July / August 2010 Issue 10
National Carers’ Week
Calling Carers in the Henleaze Area If you are caring for a family member or friend at home it can be a full time job. Getting together with other carers
needs of an aging or dependent
chance to meet new people, share
and sharing the experience might
family member or friend at home.
experiences of caring and find
offer a welcome relief from the feeling that you are all alone in your situation. Swapping stories, sharing experiences and hearing how others have found support and finding out what help is available, could offer new ways of approaching the daily caring role. In the Henleaze area there are many people who care for the
The Trinity-Henleaze United
support.
Reformed Church has been
If you would like to come along
building a new community hall,
to find out more there will be
to be called “The Bradbury Hall”,
a launch meeting on Thursday
in the centre of Henleaze. Work
10 June, at the new Bradbury
is nearing completion and one of
Hall in Waterford Road, from
the first new groups to be offered
10am until 12noon. The speaker,
there will be a carers’ group.
Grace Wiltshire of the Princess
The Henleaze Carers’ Group is open to all carers. It will offer the
Royal Carers’ Centre, will share some experiences of the positive support a Carers’ Group can offer. Grace will speak at around 10:30am and you are welcome to call in as you are able. The plan is to offer a Henleaze Carers’ Group on the second and fourth Thursday mornings of the month between 10am and noon at the Bradbury Hall. You are welcome to come along. For further information contact Monica Rudston on
The Bradbury Hall under construction at the Trinity Henleaze United Reformed Church
0117 942 6095.
Community Buildings offer a vital resource Many local Voluntary and
The Community Buildings
as the opportunity for groups to
Community sector organisations
Network, coordinated by Voscur
meet with others who also run
use community buildings as a
in partnership with the Bristol City
community buildings.
place to meet.
Council, helps support Voluntary,
The buildings are used for services such as lunch clubs, youth groups and day care facilities - all of which
Community and Social Enterprise organisations that manage or .run community buildings.
are locally based for the people
The Network provides
who need and use these services
information and advice as well
Issue 10 June / July / August 2010
The next Community Buildings Network meeting will be held on: Thursday 17 June, 9:30am-1pm at Fishponds Village Hall, Beechwood Road, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 3TR
www.voscur.org
21
Health and wellbeing – at your fingertips! Well Aware is a new, free information resource for everyone in Bristol. The Care Forum and six local authority/NHS partners have come together to develop a comprehensive database of health, wellbeing and community resources in Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Anyone can use www.wellaware.org.uk – its user-friendly format makes it easy to find support for a friend, family member, client or patient – or for yourself. Whether personal health services, a lunch club or social group, help round the home or in the garden, dentistry, advice, counselling or any other form of support – all you need to find it is just a few clicks away. The website can also be searched for services for carers, support for particular disabilities, culturally specific services and more. A dedicated section helps find information on employment for anyone with mental health difficulties. Even if you can’t access the website directly yourself, you can still use it by getting in touch with the Well Aware team on (freephone) 0808 808 5252 or info@wellaware.org.uk instead.
The new project builds on several years’ work by The Care Forum’s Room 102, Spot On and Purple Pages services. It is completely free to use and be listed on. Its records are regularly checked and updated to keep them up to the minute. It already contains the details of over 5,000 different health, wellbeing and community services, ranked by relevancy, with no advertising.
Go to www.wellaware.org.uk to start using it today!
National Carers’ Week – Voscur Member Profile
Laughing Panthers and Who Cares? Youth Theatre for Young Carers “…a time to be young again, a time to play and leave adult responsibilities at home and have the support of other young people in similar situations” Acta Community Theatre empowers people to create their own original theatre and delivers participatory arts projects with communities most at risk and most in need in and around Bristol.
Huria Hussein in the Acta Production, ‘The Box’ .
Acta has organised several
young cares who first took part
Acta has been delivering a youth
residential trips, which have been
in Who Cares? ten years ago
theatre group for young carers
key to the work of the youth
continue to participate today.
for over 11 years. Their work
theatre. Being part of the youth
One is now an apprentice on Who
with young carers started as a
theatre has opened up new
Cares? and another is part of our
partnership with Barnardos in
opportunities for many members,
touring community theatre group.
1999 to offer an opportunity for young carers to meet other young people in a relaxed, creative and fun environment and work towards their own original theatre
“… it is great to see the positive effect the group has had for many young people…
pieces.
one youth theatre member
Eleven years on, our Who Cares?
young again, a time to play and
Youth Theatres cater for 10 -19 year olds across Bristol and surrounding areas. The older Who Cares? group for 14-19 years olds has recently been joined by the Laughing Panthers; a group for younger carers aged 10-13. Both groups meet at the Acta Centre in Bedminster and are funded by Bristol City Council.
Issue 10 June / July / August 2010
told me ‘it’s a time to be leave adult responsibilities at home and have the support of other young people in similar situations’. Many have made long-lasting friendships and feel their self-confidence and self-esteem has been boosted.” Ingrid Jones, Acta’s Senior Drama worker and facilitator.
Contact Details: Who Cares? Youth Theatre for 14-19 year olds, 6.30pm-8.00pm Laughing Panthers, for 10-13 year olds, 5.00pm-6.30pm Both on Thursdays, at the Acta Centre, Gladstone Street, Bedminster, BS3 3AY. Free Transport is provided for both groups – new members welcome! Contact: Email: info@acta-bristol.com Tel: 0117 953 2448
www.voscur.org
23
Children and Young People
The Vetting and Barring Scheme The Vetting and Barring Scheme
most NHS jobs, Prison Service,
Bristol Association for
(VBS) was established as a
education and childcare.
Neighbourhood Daycare
result of the Bichard Enquiry,
Employers also face criminal
(BAND) offers an Enhanced CRB
which recommended that all
sanctions for knowingly employing
check service and will offer an
those who work with vulnerable
a barred individual across a wider
ISA registration service to its
groups should be registered.
range of work.
Bristol based member groups.
The VBS is a partnership of
Employers, local authorities,
the Criminal Records Bureau
professional regulators and
(CRB), Independent Safeguarding
other bodies have a duty to refer
Authority (ISA) and Access
to the ISA, information about
Northern Ireland.
individuals working with children
respond within 2-3 days. You can
or vulnerable adults where they
visit their website for further
consider them to have caused
details: www.bandltd.org.uk/
harm or pose a risk of harm.
crb_checks.html
is responsible for the decision-
The VBS is designed to ensure that
Paul Dielhenn, Coordinator at
making and maintenance of two
anyone who presents a known risk
BAND has produced a list of key
barred lists for England and Wales
to vulnerable groups is prevented
points, which include:
and Northern Ireland, covering the
from working with them and is an
• ISA registration is a legal
Children and Vulnerable Adults’
additional recruitment tool. It is
requirement for new staff
sectors. The ISA was created as
not a guarantee that an individual
members (paid or unpaid)
part of the VBS to help prevent
is suitable for the position.
and those changing roles,
The CRB is responsible for the application and monitoring elements of the scheme. The ISA
unsuitable people from working with children and vulnerable adults.
Please note that the new programme from the coalition Government includes a review of
The ISA will make independent
the Vetting and Barring Scheme,
barring decisions and place or
so there will be changes.
remove individuals on either the ISA’s Children’s Barred List or the ISA’s Vulnerable Adults’ Barred List, or both. The three former barred
Due to the volume of enquiries being received, please direct all enquiries via: crbchecks@ bandltd.org.uk or voicemail: 0117 914 3007. BAND aims to
working in Regulated Activity from November 2010 • ISA registration can be requested for new staff members and those changing roles in Regulated Activity from July 26 2010
For further information
• Employers will be able to check
on the scheme you can
the ISA status of those applying
contact the VBS call
for work, on line free of charge
lists (POCA, POVA and List 99) are
centre on 0300 123 1111 and/or
being replaced by these two new
visit these websites:
with or without Enhanced CRB
Criminal Records Bureau website:
check, Enhanced CRB is £36. No
ISA-barred lists. It is a criminal offence for
www.crb.homeoffice.gov.uk/
individuals barred by the ISA
faqs/vetting_and_barring_
to work or apply to work with
scheme.aspx
children or vulnerable adults in
Independent Safeguarding
a wide range of posts including
Authority: www.isa-gov.org.uk
24 www.voscur.org
• CRB’s charges: ISA check £64
charge for unpaid/volunteer staff. It’s likely that registered bodies who must process CRB and/or ISA applications will add an admin fee
June / July / August 2010 Issue 10
Children and Young People
Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register Did you know that organisations or individuals providing services or activities for children may be eligible to register with Ofsted on its Voluntary Childcare Register (VCR)? Registering on the VCR can provide many benefits. These benefits include:
These benefits may mean that
• Parents/carers are reassured
numbers of children using the
that safeguarding standards are
provision could increase and may
being met and that the welfare
help improve its financial position
of their children is a priority • Eligible parents/carers will be able to get help with the costs of using the provision through Working Tax Credits and employer supported childcare vouchers • Local authorities will pass on details of the provision to parents and/or schools looking for activities for their children
Bristol City Council have contracted BAND Ltd to provide free advice, guidance and training
In addition
for organisations interested in
• Bristol City Council offers
registering on the Ofsted VCR.
support and training to
For further information please
provisions that are registered
contact Julie Bassett at BAND Ltd
with Ofsted
on 0117 9542148 or
• Schools that use external
Email: Julie@bandltd.org.uk
organisations to provide extended services are being encouraged to work only with provisions registered with Ofsted
Children and Young People’s Plan for 2011-2014 Joint Children and Young People’s Voluntary and Community sector Network Meeting Tuesday 29 June, 1pm-3:30pm The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2QQ Bristol Children’s Trust is gathering information for the Children and Young People’s Plan for 2011-2014. It is essential that Voluntary and Community sector organisations providing services for children and young people are part of this process. Voscur, The Care Forum and Bristol City Council would like to invite you to a joint meeting where the Voluntary and Community sector will have the opportunity to identify the priority needs for children and young people in Bristol. This needs analysis will help to shape the delivery of services to meet the Every Child Matters outcomes for children and young people between 2011 and 2014. Alison Jackson and Andrew Turvey from Bristol City Council, will present on the current context, particularly in relation to Child Poverty. To book a place, please contact Emma Rice at emma@voscur.org, 0117 909 9949 or visit www.voscur.org for more information.
Issue 10 June / July / August 2010
www.voscur.org
25
Green Pages
Bristol Cycle Festival “ Why don’t we all get together and organise the best ever cycling festival, here in Bristol ?” This is the idea behind the rapidly emerging ‘Bristol Cycle Festival’. The ball is rolling – anyone and everyone who loves bikes and cycling can join in to make this festival a reality in September 2010. Voluntary and community groups are invited to join in the first Bristol Cycling Festival taking place this September. The more that join in, the better the festival will be.
Here’s how to start: Get Involved Think of an idea for a great bikerelated event you want to run
Bike-related performances, Talks;
as part of the festival. Festival
History of cycling and whatever
organisers are open to anything
else you can think of...
– if it involves bikes, is reasonably easy to set up, and you think a good few people will enjoy it, go for it. Here’s a few suggestions of what people are thinking already:
The Bristol Cycle Festival will take place between 11 – 25 September 2010 in and around Bristol. The current core team are just some enthusiasts who got
Guided rides; Silly races – Bike
together to organise a festival as
films; Fun bike competitions –
they love bikes. They have some
jousting? Pedal raft building?;
financial support from Bristol City
If you’d like to find out
Arty bike events; Practical
Council Cycling City team. A small
more or have got an
demonstrations; workshops;
grants scheme will be introduced
idea for the cycling
Bike powered shows; Exhibitions;
at the launch meeting, which aims
festival, visit:
Artworks; Safety demonstrations;
to facilitate your events!
www.bristolcyclefestival.com
Cycle games; Bike amnesty;
26 www.voscur.org
June / July / August 2010 Issue 10
Green Pages
Bristol Green Capital Launches New Small Grants Programme Bristol City Council and the Momentum Group have created a new small grants programme for community and grass roots initiatives that help make Bristol “A low carbon city with a high quality of life”. Final details are still being agreed, but an outline of what the fund will look like, will be available soon.
• Who can apply? • What kind of project will
The launch of the Green Capital Initiative
the programme fund? The Bristol Green Capital Initiative
multinational businesses that
• How much can I apply for?
is part of the Bristol Partnership.
have a base here in Bristol. The
• When are the funding rounds?
It is made up of over 110 pledgers,
decision-making and governing
who range from a number of
body is called the Momentum
Voscur member organisations
Group. The group chooses
through small, one-person
projects each year and sets the
sustainability practitioners, to
focus and direction of the year’s
Bristol institutions like the Zoo
work.
and universities and successful
For the answers to these questions and more information visit: bristolgreencapital.org or if you do not have access to a PC or the internet, phone the Green Capital Team on 0117 922 4379.
Silver Cyclists: Cycle Project for Older People Silver Cyclists is a new project
Each ride will be accompanied
funded by Bristol City Council.
by an instructor/ride leader and
It is aimed at encouraging older
a volunteer ride coordinator. The
people to cycle. Potential riders
scheme is a pilot, initially starting
will be those who can cycle but
in Easton, Lawrence Hill and
who have maybe not done so
Bedminster.
for a while. It will be mixed ability with rides of various lengths and abilities.
Issue 10 June / July / August 2010
For further information, contact Julie Hares on Julie.lifecycleuk@ googlemail.com or 0117 353 4588.
www.voscur.org
27
Festivals and Summer Events
Best of the Festivals
July
Throughout the summer a host of community festivals and events are taking place across Bristol. Here are just some of the events taking place in the coming months. St Paul’s Carnival
June Avonmouth Fun and Fab Family Youth Health Day When: Saturday 12 June, 10am to 3pm
When: Saturday 3 July Flower Show and a brand new Front Garden Competition too. For more information visit: www.eastonartstrail.co.uk
Centre, 257 Avonmouth Road,
Grand opening of the Integrated Youth and Play Project
BS11 9EN
(formerly Lockleaze adventure
What: Free interactive fun event,
playground)
offering information and activities
When: Saturday 12 June,
Where: Avonmouth Community
for parents and young people 0 to 19 years. There’ll be a chance to try cheer leading, have your bike checked by the bike doctor, ride
11am to 4pm Where: Lockleaze Integrated Youth and Play Project
Where: St Paul’s – various locations What: Now in its 42nd year, the carnival has become one of the UK’s best cultural oriented events. The theme for this year is ‘Heroes & Sheroes’. For more details visit: www.stpaulscarnival.co.uk Tel: 0117 944 4176 or email: info@stpaulscarnival.co.uk
Southmead Festival When: Saturday 17 July, 11am to 4pm
on the wacky bikes, find out about
What: Grand Opening celebration,
child resuscitation and safety, how
music and dance performances
food affects mood, get home
from local young people, face
disability access alterations and
painting, circus skills, five-aside
What: Glencoyne Square will
much more. For more information
world cup tournament, world food,
come alive with live music and
Tel: 0117 982 7445 or Email:
complementary therapies and
performances, workshops, street
info@avonmouthcca.org
chance to have a look around the
stalls and games. This theme of
new building.
the Festival is Village Fair – Bat the
Easton Arts Trail
For more information contact the
When: Saturday 12 and
Youth and Play Team, Bristol City
Sunday 13 June, 11am to 6pm
Council, Tel: 0117 903 8464
Southmead
Rat, Striker, Hook a Duck and many more fun games! For more details email: southmead. festival@yahoo.co.uk
Where: Easton What: The Easton Arts Trail 2010
Where: Glencoyne Square,
takes place in 30 different venues.
Promote your community events
This year there is a blooming
Are you having a community festival or event during the summer?
marvellous theme for the trail
Make sure you put them in the Voscur online diary. We also promote
including Art & Flowers Up Front,
events in the diary in our weekly e-bulletin. To post your events visit
featuring our very own Chelsea
www.voscur.org/event
28 www.voscur.org
June / July / August 2010 Issue 10
Festivals and Summer Events August
More Summer Activities: July The Big Lunch When: Sunday 18 July
Pride Bristol When: Saturday 21 August,
Where: City wide Find out more: www.thebiglunch.com
What: Pride is a celebration of
Bristol Harbour Festival 2010
the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
When: Friday 30 July – Sunday
Transgender (LGBT) community.
1 August
This will be the biggest Pride in
Where: Bristol Harbourside
will feature international music acts, theatre, DJs, high-end fashion and community -based performance. There’s something for everyone, all set against a backdrop of the castle ruins and river Avon.
synonymous with the city as Brunel’s Suspension Bridge. Estimated to boost the local economy to the tune of £10 million each year, it is run by a not-forprofit organisation. Find out more:
Where: Castle Park, Bristol
Bristol to date, this free day festival
become an icon for Bristol, as
www.bristolfiesta.co.uk
September
What: The festival will showcase
Celebrating Age Festival 2010
Bristol’s circus and street theatre
When: Saturday 11 September,
talent, with street performers from
10am to 4pm
all over the world. At the centre of the Harbour Festival are the ships and boats. Tall ships, feature
Where: The Colston Hall, Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR
vessels and hundreds of private
Find out more: www.bristol.gov.
For more details visit
boats, anchor up for the festival,
uk/celebratingage
www.pridebristol.com or contact
providing the backdrop to the
Leighton de Burca –
entertainment.
The Bristol Festival
Pride Director by email
Find out more:
When: Saturday 25 and Sunday 26
leighton@pridebristol.com
www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk
September Where: Lloyds Amphitheatre,
Summer 2010 Big P, Hartcliffe When: Every Wednesday 28 July to 25 August, 12 noon to 4pm Where: Willmott Park (near Spacemakers) and The Core What: All activities are free and include den building, junk modeling, football, art and
August Bristol Islamic Cultural Fayre Eastville Park, Eastville When: Sunday 1 August Where: Eastville Park Find out more: www.bmcs.org.uk
Harbourside What: The Bristol Festival 2010 will feature a jam packed programme of music, arts, circus, theatre and comedy. A celebration of Bristol culture and showcase of local talent. Find out more:
crafts, drama and boxing. Light
Bristol Balloon Fiesta
refreshments available for a
When: Thursday 12 to
small charge.
Sunday 15 August
www.thebristolfestival.org
Where: Ashton Court Estate What: Founded in 1978, it has
Issue 10 June / July / August 2010
www.voscur.org
29
Volunteering Bristol
Volunteer Management Project – One Year On Volunteering Bristol recently
managers in a programme of
hosted a conference for volunteer
low-cost sessions delivered jointly
managers marking the completion
with Voscur. Also working with
of the first year of the Lottery-
Voscur, Volunteering Bristol has
A full catalogue of
funded project supporting
established peer supported action
information and advice
volunteer managers. Sixty-five
learning groups using electronic
sheets and template
delegates took part in discussions
social networking technology. The
documents for organisations to
with volunteer management
Volunteer Organisers’ Forum (VOF)
use in setting up volunteering
expert Mark Restall and Emir
is benefiting from the project’s
roles, recruiting and retaining
Kullar, training consultant for
resources so that a broader group
volunteers has been updated
Volunteering England’s Excellence
of people are now involved to
and expanded, and is available
in Volunteering Management, and
offer their advice and experience
on a CD from Volunteering
took part in 15 workshop sessions
to colleagues at meetings. The
Bristol. For more information
addressing the current issues
VOF has proved particularly
about Volunteering Bristol’s
facing volunteer managers.
useful to volunteer supervisors
work supporting volunteer-
in smaller community groups and
involving organisations and
organisations new to recruiting
groups contact Jenny Idle at
volunteers.
jenny@bristolvolunteers.org.uk
The project has progressed well during its first year with six newly written training courses attended
or telephone 0117 989 7734.
by more than 120 volunteer
Volunteer Support Project gets underway Following the successful launch
support needs, but is keen to
Contact Piers for more
of the Volunteer Support Project
involve more organisations. In
information:
at the end of March, attended by
addition to giving one-to-one
piers@bristolvolunteers.org.uk
representatives from a range of
support, he is working on a toolkit
or by phone on 0117 989 7734.
volunteer-involving organisations
for volunteer managers to help
in the voluntary and statutory
assess volunteers’ support needs.
sectors, and from organisations
He is looking for organisations with
seeking to encourage more of
experience of working with people
their service users to become
in the following areas to peer
volunteers, the project is now in
review some sections: learning
full swing.
disabilities, mental health, sensory
Email: info@bristolvolunteers.
impairments, refugees and asylum
org.uk or visit: www.
seekers, non-native English
bristolvolunteers.org.uk
Piers Cardiff is already advising a number of volunteer managers on working more effectively with volunteers who have additional
30 www.voscur.org
speakers, people recovering from addictions, ex-offenders, older and younger people.
Contact – Volunteering Bristol Tel: 0117 989 7733
Royal Oak House, Royal Oak Avenue, Bristol BS1 4BG
June / July / August 2010 Issue 10
Constitution Corner
Understanding Incorporation One issue that has emerged from training sessions, is how many people lack an understanding of incorporation, and the difference between being incorporated and unincorporated. In English law, some things are
The most common company
course on Legal Structures for
only possible for a ‘person’ to
type in the Voluntary, Community
Voluntary and Community sector
do; among these are: owning
and Social Enterprise sector is
organisations. Details will be
or leasing property, signing a
the Private Company Limited by
available on the Voscur website in
contract, or being held liable.
Guarantee; instead of owning
the autumn:
shares that can be sold, the
www.voscur.org/training
So, in order to make it possible for an organisation to do these things (i.e. own property, sign contracts and discharge a liability), the law has invented a fictional type of
members each guarantee to pay a small sum of money (usually £1 or £10), towards any debts the company might have if it folds up.
person. The organisation is treated
In return they have rights: to
as if it had become ‘embodied’
attend general meetings; to
– the word incorporation comes
make or reject changes to the
from the Latin for ‘having a body’.
company’s legal rules (called its
Just as you can have ‘characters’ in books that have personality
‘Articles’); and to appoint or recall the members of the Board.
even though they are fictional, so
The Directors of a company are
incorporated organisations have
‘protected’ because it is the
a ‘legal personality’, even though
organisation, (in its role as a legal
they are not real people.
person) that owns the property,
The most common way for an organisation to be incorporated is as a company, though the ‘Mutual Society’, such as a Co-op, is an alternative type. Corporations
signs the contracts and has to meet any liabilities. In addition it is possible to take out an indemnity insurance to further protect Directors from any personal risks.
(e.g. the BBC) can also be set up
All company Directors have
by statute.
seven specific duties set out in
There are many types of companies possible, the biggest divisions being between public and private companies, and between ‘shareholder’ and ‘guarantee’ companies.
law, and Directors can still be held personally liable if they act
Graham Partridge Community Groups
fraudulently or with deliberate
Legal Advice Worker, Avon &
neglect, and this is ‘doubly true’ if
Bristol Law Centre
the organisation is a charity. Later in the year, in partnership
Tel: 0117 924 8662 Email: grahamp@ablc.org.uk
with Voscur, I plan to run a
Issue 10 June / July / August 2010
www.voscur.org
31
Voscur Ltd. The CREATE Centre Smeaton Road Bristol BS1 6XN
Tel: 0117 909 9949 Fax: 0117 933 0501 Email: info@voscur.org Web: www.voscur.org
Voscur Diary — June / July / August 2010 June Wednesday 9 June
BePS (Bristol Electronic Procurement Systems Training) and Funding Advice Sessions The Gatehouse Centre, Hareclive Road, Bristol BS13 9JN. Afternoon session.
Tuesday 15 June
Gypsy and Traveller Awareness Barton Hill Settlement 43 Ducie Road, Barton Hill, Bristol, BS5 0AX (1pm-4pm)
Thursday 17 June
BePS (Bristol Electronic Procurement Systems) Training and Funding Advice Sessions Barton Hill Settlement, 41-43 Ducie Road, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, BS5 0AX. Morning Session.
Thursday 17 June
Community Buildings Network meeting Fishponds Village Hall, Beechwood Road, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 3TR (10am-1pm)
Wednesday 23 June
First Aid in the Workplace The Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead, Bristol, BS10 5PY (9:30am-4pm)
Thursday 24 June
Neighbourhood Partnership Learning Session: ‘Mini workshop’ with useful resources to help you engage more people in your Neighbourhood Partnership Unitarian Chapel, Brunswick Square, Bristol, BS2 8PE (6pm-8:30pm)
Tuesday 29 June
Joint Voscur and Care Forum Children and Young People’s organisations Network Meeting Bristol Children and Young People’s Plan 2011-2014 – Needs Analysis The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2QQ (1pm-3:30pm)
Tuesday 29 – Wednesday 30 June
Supervision Skills – A 2 day course Salvation Army, Hassell Drive, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, BS2 0AN (9:30am-4:30pm)
July Wednesday 7 July
BePS (Bristol Electronic Procurement Systems Training) and Funding Advice The Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead, Bristol, BS10 5PY Morning session.
Wednesday 14 July
Gypsy and Traveller Awareness The Federation of City Farms, The GreenHouse, Hereford Street, Bristol, BS3 4NA (10am-1pm)
Tuesday 27 July
Neighbourhood Partnership Residents’ Forum South Bristol Sports Centre, West Town Lane, Bristol, BS14 9EA (2pm-4:30pm)
August Thursday 26 August
Neighbourhood Partnership Learning Session Redland Park United Reform Church, Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS6 6SA (2pm-4:30pm)
For full details of the above training and events visit: www.voscur.org or phone the Voscur office on: 0117 909 9949 Company limited by Guarantee registered in England no. 3918210 Produced by circle-creative.co.uk Printed on 100% recycled paper using vegetable based inks