Thrive June-July-August 2010

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