Thrive April 2011

Supporting Voluntary & Community Action

March / April / May 2011

Inside Voscur’s Magazine The new Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly Localism Bill – Opportunities for VCS Thanks to Children and Young People VCS Representatives Alternatives to Redundancies Sustainable Funding: Across the Income Spectrum Alive! – new Charity Connecting with Older People in Residential Care

Image: Alison Hunte, Bernash Residential Care Home

Bristol Children and Young People’s Plan 2011-2014 Community Groups are Part of ‘Two Wheeled Revolution’

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Welcome

Contents 4 Editorial 5

New Members

6–7

Have Your Say

8-9

19

Member Profile Alive! – new Charity connecting with Older People in Residential Care

20-21 Children and Young People

The new Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly

Bristol Children and Young People’s Plan 2011-2014

Sector News

Member Profile: The Station – after an Uncertain Wait

Localism Bill – Opportunities for VCS but no Consultation

22–23 Equalities

VCS Organisations unite in Light of Cuts Exploring Future Support for Community Buildings Thanks to Children and Young People VCS Representatives

10-13 Training and Learning Alternatives to Redundancy

ow to use the Equality Act 2010: H The Public Sector Duty

24

ommunity Groups are part of C ‘Two-Wheeled Revolution’

25 27

Improving Commissioning Processes

Developing ICT Tweeting your Work

Upcoming Training and Learning Dates

14-15 The Compact

Green Pages

Volunteering Bristol A new Era

16-18 Funding Pages Sustainable Funding: Across the Income Spectrum

Keep up to date with Voscur online:

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

www.facebook.com/voscur

twitter.com/voscur

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 13 March / April / May 2011

www.voscur.org

3

Editorial

Dear Members and Friends, The government has placed much

and support on debt, housing,

emphasis on, what it sees as the

benefits, immigration, family law

increasingly important role of

and more – and this is just a taste

the voluntary and community

of what’s likely to come. A new

sector to deliver its ‘Big Society’

website –

vision. A flurry of policies and

www.voluntarysectorcuts.org. uk

consultations on the Localism Bill

– has been created to enable VCS

including the Community Right to

groups to report and highlight

Challenge and Community Right to

cuts to their funding, so that we

Buy – assets of Community Value

can build up a national picture.

(see www.voscur.org/news/

Please report any cuts affecting

localismconsultations) suggest

you and your organisation.

exciting opportunities for VCS. However it appears that many VCS groups will be too preoccupied with struggling to survive to be able to grab these opportunities.

Whilst one part of the government is creating these ‘opportunities’ another is kicking the ‘funding stool’ away from many VCS groups who are providing the very activities and community led services that the government says it wants to see everywhere.

Cuts on both national and local government are impacting on VCS groups providing front line support; those working with the most vulnerable are particularly affected. In 2011/12 reductions in the Home Office funded Drug Interventions Project will affect Bristol VCS organisations, some Bristol City Council VCS funded community organisations will see a 7% reduction in their funding,

If your group is facing difficulties and in need of support – do get in touch. (See the insert ‘Creating a new Voluntary and Community Sector Support Service’.)

Wendy Stephenson

The difficulties facing the voluntary and community sector highlight the need for the sector to speak out with a strong and influential voice. This month – as part of the new VCS support service we’ll be developing the new VCS Assembly (see details on page 6) to help ensure the concerns of the VCS are heard and action is taken to influence decision makers in Bristol. I hope that all VCS groups will become involved in the new VCS Assembly during the coming months and make sure it genuinely is representing you and making an impact for you on the issues that matter.

others have been asked to find

Wendy Stephenson

10-15% savings. Cuts to legal

Chief Executive

Key to symbols Equalities Article Training Information & Resources Event

aid will restrict access to advice

4 www.voscur.org

March / April / May 2011 Issue 13

New Voscur Members

Who’s Joined Voscur Recently?

Above and Beyond

Freeways Trust

Sparc Teams

0117 927 7120

01275 372 109

07751 617814

www.aboveandbeyond.org.uk

www.freewaystrust.co.uk

www.sparcteams.com

All Nations Community Services

Independent Advocacy Volunteers

Stokes Croft Museum

0117 939 8130

www.iavbristol.org.uk

www.stokescroftmuseum.co.uk

Migrant Rights Centre Bristol

Tambora Foundation

Anglo-Iranian Society

07582 412353

07866 226797

0117 924 5525 / 07912 984998

www.migrantrights.org.uk

www.tamborafoundation.org

Punjabi Virsa School

The Severn Project CIC

0117 965 5639 / 07735 021625

0117 955 6736

07866 936495

sue@all-nations.org.uk

www.aisbristol.org.uk

Association for Alternative and Complementary Medicine 0117 230 2931

www.thesevernproject.org

Ronald McDonald House Bristol

Transition Mentoring

0117 908 1375

07740 354189

Bristol & SW Bereavement through addiction

www.rmhbristol.com

eleanor@transitionmentoring.

0117 973 7132 www.bereavementthrough

Saxon Road Greenspace Group

addiction.com

07952 777637

Tynings Field Shared Harvest

saxon-road-green-space.

0117 909 0440

Business over Breakfast (BoB) Clubs – Wessex Region

blogspot.com

she-fox@hotmail.co.uk

07817 170348

Social Anxiety West

Waasila

www.bobclubswessex.com

0117 230 7735

01781 328456

email@sawest.org

www.waasila.org

com

Easton Community Centre 0117 954 1409 liz@eastoncommunitycentre. org.uk

Somali Education Development society of Bristol (SEDSOB) abdi.omar@sedsob.org.uk

Ecomotive 0117 924 1263

South West Academies

www.ecomotive.org

0117 985 7262 ken_fyfe@yahoo.co.uk

Issue 13 March / April / May 2011

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5

Have Your Say

A new VCS Assembly for Bristol The new VCS Assembly for Bristol will be launched in Autumn 2011. An opportunity for the voluntary community sector (VCS) to respond to the challenge ahead.

Across Bristol, voluntary and

working with children and young

the development of a new VCS

community organisations are

people, older people, equalities

Assembly. That will help get your

witnessing significant changes and

and other vulnerable groups,

views across to strategic decision

challenges in almost every field of

to protecting the environment,

makers on the issues that matter

work – in health, care, education,

animal welfare, providing

to make sure the VCS has a strong

planning, and many more areas.

housing, health care, debt

and influential voice.

The government is driving

advice, community transport and

forward ‘change’, ‘modernisation’

community buildings. Together

Get involved

and ‘liberation’. However it is

we play a valuable part in almost

We’re looking for members of VCS

described, it’s going to impact

every sector and neighbourhood

groups to volunteer to be part of

on the VCS.

of the city.

a steering group to develop the

Whatever your point of view

The wide diversity in the VCS is

about individual proposals, there

one of its strengths – but it can

is no argument about the fact

also present challenges, such as

that there are some big changes

when trying to ensure that the

on the horizon which will have

VCS has a collective strong and

implications for the sector. Since

influential voice. The new VCS

the general election, a torrent

Support Service opens up the

For more information or to

of policy initiatives has emerged

opportunity to create a more

volunteer for the new VCS

from central government.

effective way to get the sector’s

Assembly steering group contact:

The sector’s ability to respond

voice heard and be able to

Matthew Symonds, email:

to this new agenda has been

influence decisions that affect us.

matthew@voscur.org or call

compromised as it is faced with

by the combination of a worldwide recession, local and national

The VCS Support Service in Bristol

deficit reduction plans and the

will provide the potential for the

ending of many established

VCS to harness the expertise and

funding streams.

knowledge within the sector and

groups. This has been made worse

In Bristol, VCS organisations are involved in everything from

6 www.voscur.org

group will meet monthly between April and June to guide the development of the Assembly and to make sure it’s set up to meet the sector’s needs.

0117 909 9949

Preparing for the opportunities and challenges ahead

fewer sources of funding for VCS

new VCS Assembly. This steering

use it to inform and influence decision makers. Over the next few months we’ll be supporting

March / April / May 2011 Issue 13

Have Your Say

Some of the opportunities and challenges facing the VCS

Dates Neighbourhoods Network

Issues affecting VCS groups in neighbourhoods

Meeting

The Localism Bill is set to radically alter the local policy agenda with,

Thursday 31 March, 2011

the government anticipating and proposing that the VCS should have

(10am-1pm)

a bigger role. Whether it’s the community right to challenge to deliver public services, the right to buy assets of community importance or the proposed creation of neighbourhood plans.

Issues affecting groups involved with children and young people The government launches the National Citizen Scheme pilot later this year and in Bristol the new Children’s Plan will come into effect.

The removal of education maintenance allowance (EMAs), the rise in tuition fees, and closure of Future Jobs Fund could mean there are

For details visit: www. voscur. org/Neighbourhood NetworkMarch2011 or contact Matthew Symonds email: matthew@voscur.org or call 0117 909 9949 Health and Social Care Network Meeting

fewer opportunities available for young people post 16, with a greater

May 2011 – details to be

need for specialist services from VCS groups.

confirmed

Issues affecting groups involved with health and social care

Children and Young Peoples

New statutory Health and Wellbeing boards involving new local

Tuesday 14 June, 2011

HealthWatch groups (evolved from the current LINks to represent

(1:30-3:30pm)

people who use health services) are to be introduced. The transfer of commissioning of about 80% of the £100bn annual National Health Service budget to General Practitioner (GP) Consortia and the

Network Meeting

For details visit www.voscur.org/ CYPNetworkJune2011

responsibility for public health passing to local authorities from 2013

or contact Asma Ahmad, email:

will mean big changes for VCS groups involved in H&SC.

asma@voscur.org or call 0117 909 9949

Issue 13 March / April / May 2011

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7

Sector News

Localism Bill – opportunities for VCS but no consultation The Localism Bill published by the government in December includes proposals of interest to the voluntary and community sector. The proposals have been published as a ‘white paper’ and presented straight to Parliament,

Community Right to Buy – Assets of Community Value Local authorities will be required to maintain a list of assets of community value. Communities will have the opportunity to nominate the assets that are most important

Barbara Janke might become Bristol’s first executive Mayor

to them. When listed assets come up for sale or change of ownership, community groups will have time to develop a bid and raise the money to buy the asset.

Bristol to get a Mayor – before a referendum

to seek clarification on how VCS

Local referendums

for a referendum in Bristol (and

groups could comment on the

Local residents will be able to instigate referendums on a wide range of local issues; however local councils or other public bodies will not be bound by the result of the referendum.

11 other cities) to decide whether

rather than as a green paper which includes a period of consultation before a final decision is made in December. Voscur wrote to all Bristol Members of Parliament

bill and expressed concern that consultation on the content of the Bill was limited. Since then the government has begun consultations on parts of the Localism Bill. See www.voscur. org/news/localismconsultations

What’s in the Localism Bill?

Community right to challenge Voluntary and community organisations will be entitled to express an interest in providing any service which is supplied by a council. Once the expression of interest has been lodged, the local authority will be under a duty either to accept or reject it. If accepted, the service will be subject to a competitive procurement process.

8 www.voscur.org

Local plans Communities will be able to produce local development plans which will be approved if they receive 50 per cent of the votes in a referendum.

Find out more about the Localism Bill and how you can comment at www.voscur.org/haveyoursay/ bigsociety

The Localism Bill includes proposals

a directly elected mayor should replace the current leader of council. At present the leader of council is chosen by elected councilors only. The referendum is scheduled to take place in May 2012. However, if the bill becomes law, the present leader of council will become a ‘shadow elected mayor’ prior to the referendum.

Voscur has started a discussion on its Facebook page on whether an elected mayor would be good for the voluntary sector in Bristol.

Join the discussion at www.facebook.com/voscur or email matthew@voscur.org A campaign group in support of an elected mayor has been formed. To find out more visit http://bristolmayor.org

March / April / May 2011 Issue 13

Sector News

VCS organisations unite in light of cuts The impact of reduced public

Locality which will be chaired by

NAVCA (National Association of

funding has resulted in the

current bassac (and Voscur)

Voluntary and Community Action)

announcement that a number of

Chair Joanna Holmes. Youth

has a merger resource page

national charities intend to merge.

charity Fairbridge has announced

for VCS organisations on their

The merger of bassac (British

they will be merging with The

website: www.navca.org.uk/

Association of Settlements and

Prince’s Trust and from April 2011

localvs/lio/mergerresources

Social Action Centres) and the

will operate under the name of

Development Trust Association will

The Prince’s Trust.

create a new organisation called

Exploring future support for community buildings Voscur has supported a Community Buildings Network (CBN) for groups involved with running or managing community buildings since 2009. Several members of the CBN have been discussing the idea of a federation

for community buildings, with the possibility of sharing some resources and collective purchasing. A meeting was held in February to explore the federation idea further. Voscur will be joining with others to discuss

the possible future functions of a federation and the role of the CBN. If you would like to join the CBN email list to be kept informed of developments, contact: info@ voscur.org or call 0117 909 9949.

Thanks to Children and Young People VCS Representatives Fran Harrison, Fairbridge West, the Voscur VCS representative on the Children’s Trust Board and the Bristol Youth Links Board is stepping down in this role as she is starting a new job. On behalf of the sector, Voscur would like to thank Fran for her dedication and commitment to ensuring the VCS voice has been heard at a

Issue 13 March / April / May 2011

strategic level. We wish Fran all the best in her new venture.

John Pendlington, Children’s Scrapstore, the Voscur representative on the Raising Attainment Delivery Group, has stepped down due to work commitments. Thanks to John for providing a VCS input at these meetings.

14-19 Partnership Board and is now leaving. Many thanks to Trevor for his valued contribution over the years and best wishes for the future.

Finally, our thanks also go to Lorraine Milliard, Wellspring Healthy Living Centre, who has stepped down as the EC3 locality partnership rep.

Trevor Jones, Young Bristol, has been a crucial member of the

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9

Voscur Training and Learning

Alternatives to Redundancy Funding cuts and loss of contracts will mean that many of us will have to tighten our belts – this means that organisations will be looking to cut costs. Redundancies might be the first cost-cutting option that people think of, but there are other options that you could consider.

The case for considering alternatives to redundancy

Some alternatives available to you

without a really clear business

If you can keep skilled and

Consult. Ask the views of your

matter.

knowledgeable staff, you won’t

staff or trade union – they may

Reduce hours. You could agree

need to re-recruit later when the

have some good thoughts about

with some, or all of your staff,

economic climate improves. Re-

how the organisation could run

to reduce hours for a specific

recruiting is expensive, in terms

more efficiently and save costs.

period. Part-time working may

of advertising, management time,

Involving them also demonstrates

well be preferable to being made

induction and training costs.

that you value their thoughts.

redundant.

Making staff redundant is also not

Remove overtime. If your

Tap into your reserves. Assuming

free of costs – if employees have

organisation pays overtime,

there is agreement from all

two years service or more, you will

removing it is a simple way to cut

trustees of the organisation and

need to pay statutory redundancy

staff-related costs.

subject to financial advice, you

Freeze recruitment. Instead

could use some of your reserves.

of recruiting, consider (where

This shouldn’t be an alternative to

possible) training up your existing

seeking appropriate cost savings,

staff to take on the required

though, or a means of avoiding

work. Offer vacant posts as an

tough decisions.

The impact on staff that remain

alternative to redundancy, after

Offer sabbaticals. You could offer

can be high – they may feel

appropriate consultation.

a period of unpaid leave. Some

Freeze pay. A pay freeze is likely to

employees may even welcome a

be preferable to jobs being lost.

period of time off, knowing that

pay at a maximum pay of £400 per year of service (this new figure has been introduced in February 2011). Employees aged 43 or more are entitled to more than this.

unsettled and morale may suffer.

There is of course also the human cost; no one wants to go through the distressing process of

Cut pay. If you need to, you

redundancies, if it can be avoided.

could consider negotiating a pay

10 www.voscur.org

case, so take advice on this

they will still have a job at the end of the period.

cut with employees. You cannot

Communication and

do this without the agreement

consultation. Whatever option

of each of your employees and

you are considering, make sure

March / April / May 2011 Issue 13

Voscur Training and Learning Further information Redundancy Handling – Acas www.acas.org.uk/CHttpHandler. ashx?id=877&p=0 National Association of Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) has a model redundancy policy you can adapt: www.navca.org. uk/about/navcapolicy/ For information on changes in Employment Legislation visit: www.sandy-a.co.uk/ employment.htm#weeklypay Voscur is looking at putting on some free HR sessions on managing redundancy and downsizing your organisation within the new infrastructure service, visit: www.voscur.org/ training

Image by: JohnSeb

There are a number of legal

with your employees. They may

What to do if you need to consider redundancies

have other ideas, and getting

It is sensible to develop a strategy

follow if you are contemplating

them involved will help to maintain

for redundancy so that it is there

redundancies amongst your

morale and commitment.

when you need it. Make sure

workforce.

Remember also your long-term

you understand the law, have

Information taken from

reputation and responsibility

thought about things in advance

National Council for Voluntary

to act as a fair and sympathetic

(at least three months before you

Service (NCVO) Workforce

employer. Get advice to help you

anticipate redundancies may take

Development Sheet

make sensitive and considered

effect) and establish a procedure

http://tinyurl.com/5wunfo7

choices.

to follow. In particular, make sure

you consult and communicate

obligations you will need to

you consult about redundancies and use fair and objective selection criteria.

Issue 13  March / April / May 2011

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11

Voscur Training and Learning

Voscur Spring Training and Learning To book onto any of our courses, please go to www.voscur.org/ training or call Voscur on 0117 909 9949.

Free places may be available to your organisation. To find out more, please call Sophie Bayley on 0117 909 9949.

Improving Diversity in your Volunteer Workforce

Training Skills for Volunteer Managers

Thursday 3 March, 9:30am-3:30pm

Wednesday 16 and Wednesday 23 March, 9:30am-4:30pm

The Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Bristol, BS10 5PY This session will cover equalities and socially excluded communities; who you are reaching and who you are not; equalities communities in Bristol; legislation supporting volunteering of equalities communities and the benefits of a diverse team.

Fully booked

St Werburghs Community Centre, Horley Road, St Werburghs, Bristol, BS2 9TJ This two day training course is for Volunteer Managers who deliver training to a diverse group of volunteers.

It will give you hints, ideas and some theory to be a more effective trainer.

Speaking with Confidence FREE

To go on the waiting list please email lucy@voscur.org

Wednesday 9 March, 9:30am-3:30pm

“It was a very in-depth course, well organised and delivered really well. Very good course. Full of lots of activities and I liked the resources to take away”

The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2QQ This practical session will help you explore some of your fears and barriers to public speaking; how to put together presentations and cover skills needed to speak in public.

Supervision Skills for Volunteer Managers New - Low Cost Tuesday 29 March, 9:30am-3:30pm The Gatehouse Centre, Hareclive Road, Bristol, BS13 9JN Supervision is a more formal way of supporting volunteers through one-to-one or group catch-ups and can be key to retaining volunteers and improving their impact. This new course will be run by Voscur and Volunteering Bristol as part of the Volunteer Management project.

12 www.voscur.org

March / April / May 2011 Issue 13

Voscur Training and Learning

What do School Governors do and how can you take part? FREE Thursday 31 March, 7pm-9pm Colston Hall, Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR This informative and practical session is aimed at anyone who might be interested in taking up an active volunteer role in a local school. It will explore the role of a school governor, explaining responsibilities and rewards.

Recruitment of Volunteers Wednesday 4 May, 9:30am-3:30pm Windmill Hill City Farm, Phillip Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4EA This course will be run by Voscur and Volunteering Bristol as part of the Volunteer Management project. The session will cover volunteer motivation; barriers to volunteering; recruitment techniques and processes; developing adverts for volunteer roles and action planning.

“This course was well organised and the trainers thoroughly knew their subject. Well done.”

Issue 13 March / April / May 2011

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13

Bristol Compact

Improving commissioning processes Over the last few months, Bristol City Council and the Bristol Compact have been working closely on several important commissioning developments that will help the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector engage with commissioning.

Mark Hubbard, Bristol’s Compact Liaison Officer, provides a progress update.

The Select Committee took evidence from December 2009 to May 2010 and produced its Final Report in July. The report has been approved by the Council and Cabinet and its 11 recommendations are being implemented, some of which are described in the highlights below.

In my opinion, the work of the committee and its Report and Recommendations were valuable.

It really helps to have elected members championing best practice and the implementation of

and NHS Bristol, so our findings and recommendations were ‘reality checked’ as we progressed.

It is encouraging that our recommendations have been agreed by Council and Cabinet, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. I hope local organisations will help us track commitment.”

Councillor Helen Holland (Leader of the Labour group of Bristol City Councillors, Chair of Select Committee on Third Sector Commissioning)

their recommendations will effect positive change. I hope that VCSE organisations experience these improvements in their relationships with the Council.

“We chose “Third Sector Commissioning” for in-depth scrutiny by Select Committee, developing policy and recommendations working closely with VCS partners. Local authorities (and other public sector) are moving increasingly to commissioning local organisations to deliver services, and we wanted to look at best practice. VCS representatives sat alongside councillors, officers

14 www.voscur.org

Recommendation 1.

Championing the Third Sector

funding” – is being incorporated into the Enabling Commissioning Framework (ECF). This will mean that procurement activities may lead to grants in kind, outcomesbased grants or open tendering.

These options will be considered in each commissioning process and applied according to the particular service area.

Recommendation 5. Sharing Learning and Development Part of the implementation of the ECF is a comprehensive training programme for elected members, service and commissioning managers. The programme has been informed by a training needs

The Leader of the Council is now

analysis and includes peer support,

the lead member within the

based on specialist commissioning

Cabinet for the VCSE sector. A

expertise. The differing cultural

network of Compact Champions

approaches of public and VCSE

is also being developed – these

sectors are included in the

will be points of contact for VCSE

programme.

organisations in their relationships with different parts of the council.

Recommendation 2.

Commissioning and Grants

Recommendation 6.

Support during the Commissioning Cycle This recommendation states that

This recommendation – “a

the involvement of the VCSE sector

‘mixed economy’ which includes

in all stages of the commissioning

commissioning, competitive

cycle should be mandatory. This

grant processes and direct grant-

will mean that the VCSE sector will

March / April / May 2011 Issue 13

Bristol Compact Recommendation 10.

Decommissioning Decommissioning Guidance has been developed under the ECF and has been used in some council departments already. This means that all decommissioning decisions will be evidence-based and placed in context of strategic reviews and commissioning processes.

For more information, contact Mark Hubbard, Compact Liaison Officer Tel: 0117 909 9949 Email: mark@voscur.org Or visit: www.bristolcompact.org.uk

throughout the commissioning

Recommendation 8.

Improving Communications

process. In addition to being

The imminent publishing of

involved in the early stages of

‘commissioning intentions’ (the

service design and specification,

services that Bristol City Council

potential service providers will be

(BCC) will commission during

supported at the later stages of the

2011/12) is a direct result of this

– the council’s guidance for

commissioning cycle so that they

recommendation. This is important

commissioners to standardise

are able to understand the process,

as it will enable VCSE organisations

commissioning processes. More

timescales and regulations, and

to allocate resources to engage

information: www.bristol.gov.

engage to win contracts.

with future commissioning

uk/commissioning

processes.

Final Report and

be engaged at the start of and

Recommendation 7.

Capacity Building

Enabling Commissioning Framework (ECF)

Recommendations of the

The select committee recognised

Recommendation 9. Accessing the Commissioning Process

the need for capacity building

This recommendation – to develop

support to enable VCSE

a “fully accessible alternative to

organisations to engage with

BePS” – was controversial due to its

commissioning. It identified some

demand on additional resources.

priorities for development and

BCC has instead worked to improve

– BCC’s online system for

some of these are included in the

BePS, based on VCSE sector

registering interest in

new VCS Support Service delivered

feedback and concerns, and the

commissioned services and

by Voscur. There is also some

new version will be live in April 2011.

receiving notifications.

discussion of targeted support in

It is possible that a paper based

https://procurement.bristol.

specific commissioning processes –

application option will be offered

gov.uk/supplierselfservice/

to respond to sector-specific issues

for any small grants processes.

pages/public/front.cmd

Select Committee can be seen at www.bristolcompact.org.uk/ thirdsectorcommissioning Bristol E-Procurement System (BePS)

and needs.

Issue 13 March / April / May 2011

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15

Finding Funding

Sustainable Funding: Across the Income Spectrum.

Income options available to voluntary and community organisations What is sustainable funding?

Sustainable funding isn’t about locating one ever-lasting source of income. It is an approach that begins with strategic planning and takes account of opportunities to diversify funding across a range of income streams available to the VCS. Sustainable funding can range from donations and grants through to contracts and trading.

Loan finance can also be used to develop capacity and invest for the future.

Sufficient: there never seems to be enough money, but understanding your costs properly allows you to make informed decisions about accepting contracts or undertaking project work.

The Funding Mix Thinking about a wider range of funding sources can help your organisation diversify its income and become more financially sustainable in the long-term.

Gift economy: Giving and public fundraising is about asking people for money or donations to continue the charitable aims of the organisation or to run specific projects. There are many ways to generate income through giving and public fundraising, for example membership fees, street collections, fundraising events, payroll giving, Gift Aid, legacies and corporate sponsorship.

Grant funding: Many VCS organisations could not exist

How can I achieve sustainable funding?

In order to be sustainable your funding needs to be: Stable: it’s important to have a mix of income streams so that if one ends it doesn’t threaten your organisation’s viability overall.

Suitable: there is a wide range of funding and finance options which are appropriate for different situations. Understanding what each can offer, and ensuring there is a good match between your objectives and the type of funding or financing you are seeking, is essential.

Image by: jaytay

16 www.voscur.org

March / April / May 2011 Issue 13

Finding Funding without grant funding in some form; this can be a valuable way of enhancing budgets. Some organisations depend on grants entirely. But keeping all your eggs in one ‘funding basket’ is not recommended. Funders are the first people to discourage you from becoming dependent on them.

Structured market: The delivery of public services under contract is one option that VCS organisations may consider; this offers many opportunities and longer contracts than traditional funders. However, the process is legally binding for both parties and you should choose contracts carefully, making sure the intended outcomes are in line with your organisation’s mission and aims and that you have the right skills and resources to tender for and manage public sector contracts.

Open Market: Trading is not about turning VCS organisations into commercial businesses, but enabling them to become more financially sustainable. All trading is associated with selling goods or services on the open market.

Think about what you can sell: your assets; your people skills; your property? How can you sell it and who will buy it?

Assets: both physical and invisible, can be used in a variety of ways to assist VCS organisations achieve long-term financial sustainability.

Underused equipment, room space and staff skills can be used to raise income. You could rent out a spare office as public

Issue 13 March / April / May 2011

meeting space, allow members of the public to use your photocopier or fax for a small fee, turn an unused computer room into a resource centre for the community or provide administration services for other organisations in the area.

Look out for Voscur’s new training course on the Funding Mix – Diversifying your Income www.voscur.org/training or call Sophie Bayley on 0117 909 9949

Loan finance: The availability and accessibility of loan finance to VCS organisations has increased considerably in recent years. Loans are used where large amounts of money are needed to buy property, land or equipment, or to establish new projects and ventures. Alternatively, as organisations develop new income streams, such as contracting or trading, they may also require significant investment to create new services. Wherever investment is needed to drive organisational growth, loan finance may be a viable option.

Loan finance is not an income stream but a financial enabling tool. It is not a replacement for grants but is simply seen as another way to finance an organisation. Loan finance should only be considered if it will benefit your organisation and appropriate structures and systems are in place to repay it.

Income spectrum online tool NCVO’s Funding Central website has an on-line tool to help you to explore your current income streams and assess whether a more diverse funding approach may benefit your organisation.

The tool will require you to provide information about your sources of income; it will then indentify your level of risk and provide you with suggestions about how to investigate opportunities across the income spectrum: www.fundingcentral. org.uk/page.aspx?sp=6183

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17

Finding Funding Sustainable Funding: Across the income spectrum Income options available to voluntary and community organisations

Donor

Funder

Purchaser

Consumer

Gift Economy

Grant Funding

Structured Market

Open Market

Philanthropic giving, voluntary donations, pure charity. Provides unrestricted income for an organisation to use at their discretion to further their charitable aims.

Usually restricted funding provided to deliver specified outputs and/or mutually agreed outcomes. Grant funders are likely to want to monitor what is done with their investment and have clear expectations about what will be achieved.

Philanthropic giving, voluntary donations, pure charity. Provides unrestricted income for an organisation to use at their discretion to further their charitable aims.

Philanthropic giving, voluntary donations, pure charity. Provides unrestricted income for an organisation to use at their discretion to further their charitable aims.

ASKING

EARNING

Different income types are accessed and managed

Within the range of options there is enormous variety

in different ways and involve different relationships

and possibility. Sustainable funding can involve all

with the individual or organisation supplying the

these income streams, or a more limited range –

funds. As you move across the spectrum from

diversification across the spectrum, or if that is not

left to right – from asking to earning – the level of

possible or appropriate, within a particular stream.

expectation regarding what is received in return for the income increases.

The key to sustainability is knowing which streams are the right ones for your organisation to explore and how you can develop the capacity to be able to secure and manage them.

Source: http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/uploadedFiles/NCVO/What _ we _ do/Sustainable _ Funding/About _ SFP/Income _ Spectrum.pdf

18 www.voscur.org

March / April / May 2011 Issue 13

Voscur Member Profile

Helping care home residents feel Alive!

Alive! is a new charity dedicated to connecting with older people living in residential care.

Sadly, we have all seen examples of older people sitting in front of a communal TV for hours on end.

Tim Lloyd-Yeates at Harefield Hall Residential Care Home

Many care home residents endure long hours of non-activity, some

The focus of the workshops

making music using the touch

locked in their own personal world,

is on treating participants as

screen.

rarely relating to or speaking to

valuable individuals and finding

others. Alive! is a new charity

commonality in each group by

which offers care home residents

identifying shared experiences,

a breath of fresh air and a change

as well as aiding reminiscence

from their normal routine with a

through singalongs, poetry, verse

range of interactive workshops

and monologues, quizzes and

to stimulate their wellbeing at

physical games such as giant

all levels: physically, mentally,

balloon play, being in a percussion

emotionally and spiritually.

band, and conducting the

Alive! was started a year ago by

orchestra.

The results can be astonishing; Tim has seen introverted, isolated people join in and break down barriers between themselves, care staff and other residents.

People who are no longer able to hold a conversation sing whole songs, and one lady who had not spoken for several weeks suddenly amazed everyone by reciting the

Director Tim Lloyd-Yeates, and

Alive! is pioneering reminiscence

whole of William Wordsworth’s

now has a regular client base of

and life story work using the

poem ‘Daffodils’, reducing Tim

over 40 homes in Bristol, Bath and

internet and other visual and

and the care home staff to tears

North East Somerset and South

physical materials from times past

of emotion and joy.

Gloucestershire. The workshops

to stimulate residents’ memories

generally last for one hour, and

and promote discussion as well

Tim aims to conduct them at two

as being the first organisation

or three different homes each

to offer Cognitive Stimulation

For more information about

day. Alive! engages with people

Therapy in the South West. The

Alive! contact Tim Lloyd-Yeates,

who are very old, people living

charity is also at the forefront of

Executive Director on

with Dementia and/or Alzheimer’s,

using iPads to help older people

0117 377 4756 or

physical and/or learning

and those living with memory

tim@aliveactivities.org

disabilities, and degenerative

difficulties to access the internet

or visit www.aliveactivities.org

illnesses such as Parkinson’s or

and unleash their creative

Motor Neurone disease.

potential by painting pictures or

Issue 13 March / April / May 2011

The cover image shows an Alive! workshop.

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19

Children and Young People

Bristol Children and Young People’s Plan 2011-2014

needs assessment. Participants at two VCS Children and Young People’s Network meetings last year had the opportunity to feed into this needs assessment.

Delivery of the plan will be guided by a set of principles which are shared across the Children and Young People’s Trust and by priorities identified from the needs assessment, which have been grouped under four key themes: Theme 1: Keeping our children and young people safe

Image by: cuellar

Theme 2: Tackling the causes and

The Bristol Children and Young People’s Plan will inform commissioning and delivery decisions over the next three years in a wide range of agencies. The draft plan, produced by The Bristol Children and Young People’s Trust, has already been strongly influenced by contributions from the voluntary and community

effects of child poverty Theme 3: Ensuring that all our children and young people achieve to their full potential

sector (VCS) and there is still time to comment.

Theme 4: Improving our shared

As those in the VCS are well aware,

achieved – through partnership/

the needs of children and young

recent significant national policy

joint working.

changes and the recession have people and their families in Bristol

Better outcomes for children and families

and also the organisations that

The plan sets out how better

serve them.

co-ordination between CYP

affected many children, young

VCS agencies are currently faced with numerous challenges:

service providers can achieve better outcomes for children and families. Working in partnership

• a shifting policy landscape

can add value to the work

• organisational change

undertaken by individual agencies,

• increasing demand for services

by sharing priorities no agency

• a reduction in resources.

could address alone.

It is crucial that these are managed

The plan places a particular focus

in order to protect the outcomes

on issues where performance

for children and young people.

needs to be improved or where

The Children and Young People’s

improvements have not been

plan sets out how this can best be

sustained, as highlighted by the

20 www.voscur.org

understanding and planning for people.

The plan also refers to details of actions that are set out and monitored elsewhere e.g Bristol Safeguarding Children’s Board Plan, Child Poverty strategy, Community Cohesion strategy and Youth Housing Delivery Group Action Plan.

For details, view the full plan at http:// bristolchildren. wordpress.com/draftplan Post your comments on the site until Friday 18 March, or alternatively email your views to: childrensneeds.assessment@ bristol.gov.uk

March / April / May 2011 Issue 13

Voscur Member Profile

After an uncertain wait … the Station

that young people need to access like counselling, sexual health or careers advice. The Station will be a safe, neutral place, accessible by public transport and will be open at times when young people need it, especially at weekends and evenings.

The Station is a £5.75m partnership project and will deliver a 32,000 sq ft facility for all young people in Bristol. Key partners who have been instrumental in the vision include: Young Bristol, Bristol City Council, GWE Business West, Fairbridge West, Basement Studio and the Real Ideas Organisation. Young people have been engaged throughout the process too. From concept to design, the young Client team are ensuring that it really will be a vibrant youth centre for all.

A new youth project planned for

Sandy Hore-Ruthven, Chief

the Old Fire Station on Bridewell

Executive of the Kingswood

Island in the centre of Bristol is

Foundation said, “We are thrilled

getting myplace funding and is

at the news and that we can

now going full steam ahead. This

continue with our plans. So much

inspirational partnership project,

hard work and planning has gone

headed up by the Kingswood

in to the Station to make this

For more about partnership opportunities at The Station contact info@kfl.org.uk or telephone 0117 947 7948.

Foundation, had been plunged in

a world class centre for young

For other information contact:

to doubt with the Government’s

people and we thank everyone

public spending review but the

involved for their efforts, support

recent funding announcement has

and belief in the vision.”

The Kingswood Foundation, 20 Old School House, Britannia Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 8DB

meant the waiting and lobbying has been worth it.

The Station will host state of the art technology and equipment and

Support for the Station has been

will give young people, including

overwhelming at all levels. MP’s

those from disadvantaged

from all parties supported the

backgrounds, a place to go. It will

scheme, whilst a vocal Facebook

provide workshop spaces, theatre

campaign has allowed the public

and dance studios but as well as

to show its desire for the dream

being a hub for creativity. It will

to be realised.

also host a range of other services

Issue 13 March / April / May 2011

Emma Williams, Marketing & PR Manager email: emma.williams@kfl.org.uk t: 0117 303 0078 or Sandy Hore-Ruthven, Chief Executive email: shoreruthven@kfl.org.uk t: 0117 947 7948

www.voscur.org

21

Equalities

How to use the Equality Act 2010: The Public Sector Duty A guide for voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations The Equality Act 2010 updates,

gender equality duties. The new

• taking steps to meet the needs

simplifies and strengthens Britain’s

duty replaces and extends these.

of such people when they are

equality laws. It introduces broadly similar provisions across all forms of discrimination – age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation (these are called the protected characteristics).

The Act gives VCS organisations some powerful tools they can use in advocacy, service delivery and campaigning work.

The public sector equality duty has two parts: a general duty and specific duties. The general duty is most important because it has clear goals for public bodies.

These are: • eliminating discrimination and harassment; • advancing equality of opportunity; • fostering good relations on each of the specified protected characteristics.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Previously some public bodies

What is this?

gender duties to mean that

The Act requires public bodies to take account of equality, discrimination and good relations between groups in the way they make policy, deliver services, buy goods and services and employ people. This duty, expected to

have incorrectly misinterpreted the existing race, disability and they must always treat everyone exactly the same; leading to some damaging decisions, such as for example, that groups providing

• encouraging people to participate in public life or in any other activity in which their participation is low.

Additionally, public bodies must take account of disabled people’s impairments even where that involves treating disabled people more favourably than others.

Public authorities must tackle existing inequalities; they will need to find and use evidence about those who are disadvantaged and what problems exist in relations between different groups. The duty does not require public bodies to meet the demands of any or every group.

certain ethnic groups could not

Commission (EHRC) Code of

be funded.

Practice and other guidance for

intended to prevent institutional

advancing equality means:

public bodies may also be helpful for VCS organisations: http://tinyurl.com/6zrbdd8

• Removing or minimising disadvantages people

Public bodies already have

suffer linked to a protected

separate race, disability and

characteristic;

22 www.voscur.org

protected characteristic);

The Equality and Human Rights

The Act makes clear that

equality in practice.

others (who do not share that

services only to women or only to

come into force in April 2011, is discrimination and advance

different from the needs of

March / April / May 2011 Issue 13

Equalities

Image by: jyoseph

How can VCS organisations use the public sector equality duty?

The duty is a vital tool for VCS organisations working on equality, diversity and good relations as a way of holding public bodies to account and to challenge decisions.

Holding public bodies to account • Public bodies must involve relevant VCS organisations when they consider and select equality objectives and make plans. If not, VCS organisations should point this out because

be consulted about the equality impact of proposed policies or

implement either the specific

decisions.

or the general equality duty.

The new act will ensure that a public body must look at the equality impact of its decisions.

There should be opportunities for VCS organisations to challenge these equality impact assessments if they believe they are wrong or based on inadequate or inaccurate information. Impact assessments of proposals for spending cuts are particularly important. The EHRC has produced some helpful guidance in this area: http://tinyurl.com/6zrbdd8

authorities cannot achieve the

Challenge plans and decisions

equality duty’s goals without

If an organisation believes that

doing so. Additionally, it will help to improve decision making and can also help save money.

• VCS organisations can ask to

• Alert the EHRC to any failure to

The EHRC has a range of powers such as carrying out assessments and requiring action plans, or bringing court proceedings.

• If a public body is failing to fulfill the general equality duty, this can be challenged in court by way of a judicial review by any organisation that can persuade the court it has a sufficient interest in the issue. There are time limits for seeking judicial review.

a public body is not fulfilling its public sector equality duty, it can do a number of things:

This article has been produced by the Equality and Diversity

see assessments of the equality

• Challenge public bodies directly,

impact of decisions on policies

drawing attention to the legal

Forum (www.edf.org.uk/blog).

and services before those

standing of the equality duty

The full version can be found on

decisions are made; relevant

and failure to apply it can be

Voscur’s website: www.voscur.

VCS organisations can expect to

challenged in court.

org/equalityact2010

Issue 13 March / April / May 2011

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23

Green Pages

Community Groups are part of ‘two-wheeled revolution’ Ben Hillsdon, Communications Officer for Cycling City, explains how community and voluntary groups have worked together with Bristol’s Cycling City Project.

Cycling is good for Bristol. When

resources, more ‘customers’ are

people cycle more they help

able to develop their mechanical

reduce congestion, improve air

skills and build themselves an

quality, become healthier and

affordable and sustainable form

make Bristol a more pleasant

of transport.

place to live.

Over the last two years Cycling

Many voluntary and community

City has invested in 22 community

organisations are set up on the

projects and several hundred

same basis - to inspire greater

community events, helping the

social good and improve the

city in its push to get more people

standard of living in our cities.

saddled up and biking towards a

Recognising this, the Cycling City

brighter future.

project has worked closely with a range of organisations through Bristol and supported grass roots, community-led cycling initiatives with grants and resources.

Although Cycling City funding comes to an end in March 2011, the city’s ambitions for cycle growth certainly won’t. As the number of bicycles on our streets

Since 2009 we’ve been funding

continues to rise and Bristol’s

small events and community

cycling culture continues to grow,

projects, as well as initiating larger

so too do the opportunities for

projects such as city cycling

more community groups to get

courses for adults (delivered by Life

involved. A two-wheeled revolution

Cycle UK) or Bristol Cycle Festival

is happening in our city and

(coordinated largely by a volunteer

everyone is invited to get involved.

steering group).

More about Cycling City’s

Bristol Bike Project works with

community involvement can be

groups who do not have the

found at: www.betterbybike.info/

opportunity to buy their own

work-in-the-community

bicycles. James Lucas and Colin Fan applied for a Cycling City grant which they used for tools, cycle locks and lights. With these

24 www.voscur.org

Image by: Bristol City Council, 2010

Some of the other voluntary and community organisations have received funding through the Cycling City Project • LifeCycle UK • St Werburghs Community Project • Upper Horfield Community Trust • Baggator • Lawrence Hill Community Bike Loan • Friends of the Earth • Cycle Tourists Club • Bristol Cycle Campaign • Lawrence Weston Young Action • Play and Early Years Training Unit (PEYTU) • Emmaus • Windmill Hill City Farm Find out more about these Cycling City funded community projects at: www.betterbybike.info/ cycling-city-community-fund

March / April / May 2011 Issue 13

Developing ICT

Tweeting your work The fastest growing communication medium in the last 12 months has been the Twitter phenomenon. Initially set up for “microblogging”, it allows its users to send and read other users’ updates. Organisations and their staff and volunteers have been successfully adopting it to promote their work, cover their activities and raise funds.

As with other forms of

• Write more DOs than DON’Ts.

communication, your organisation

Empower your audience with

may need to have a policy for

what they can do, not what

tweeting its activities. The good

they can’t do. Simple stuff

news is that it doesn’t need to be

like: DO be honest. DO use

too specific: it can apply to how

appropriate privacy settings.

you interact on the internet in

DO share content that is

any form, commenting on blogs

publicly available.

or setting up a news page on Facebook.

Follow Voscur on Twitter: http://twitter.com/voscur

What should you have in your policy?

Voscur staff tweeting

• Who is the policy for? Start

@matthewsymonds

with writing a policy for your employees. It may help to focus on a single employee, perhaps

@seankenny

For more information on Twitter see: www.voscur.org/ict/twitter

To “tweet” about your group you will need a Twitter account. It’s very easy to set up!

Step 1 – go to www.twitter.com Step 2 – click on the “sign up” button

the one most involved with

For case studies, resources and

social media. Don’t worry about

worksheets on social media in

Step 3 – complete the simple

expanding or altering the policy

general visit: www.wearemedia.

form with your name, user-name,

for different audiences such as

org/beginner

password and email address

board members or volunteers until you have a good basic policy written.

• Refer to your other policies.

Step 4 – search your address book for people you know who might already be on Twitter.

Don’t crowd it with too much

You’re now an official

information. Stay focused on

Twitter user.

the social media issues.

Issue 13 March / April / May 2011

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25

IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY  Spouse/ Fiancé Visa  Visa Sponsorship Statements  Visitors/ Family Visa  Visa Extensions/ Transfers  Dependants Visa  Indefinite Stay Visa  Students – Points Based System  Certificate of Approval  Work Permits – Points Based System  European Nationals (EEA)

 British Passport  Attesting Documents  Home Office Travel Documents  Employer or Educational Sponsor License  APPEALS: Referral Panel  Home Office Related Correspondence  Home Office Related Research  British Nationality FREE ADVICE DURING SURGERY TIMES MONDAY AND SATURDAY BETWEEN 10-12

CONTACT: MR ZAHEER SHABIR LLB (HONS) ON 07711957425 All instructions are fee paying and confidential.

SUITE 14A, THE OLD CO-OP SHOP, 38-42 CHELSEA ROAD, EASTON, BRISTOL BS5 6AF

During May Voscur will be moving to a new centrally located office in the same building as Volunteering Bristol and Quartet Community Foundation.

Our new address will be: Voscur Royal Oak House Royal Oak Avenue Bristol, BS1 4GB

For more details visit www.voscur.org

T: 0117 9413991 E: hmzs.pab@hotmail.com

Your sector, your story Do you have a story about your organisation you would like to share? We’re keen to feature the work of the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in future publications. This could be: • Good practice case studies • Examples of VCS achievements • Innovative projects and ways of working If you would like to write an article to help others learn from your experiences, please contact Voscur by email: info@voscur.org or call 0117 909 9949

Advertise your jobs with Voscur Voscur’s popular jobs pages are viewed over 20,000 times each month. A quick and easy self-service means you can add your jobs to our website at any time. New jobs are highlighted in our ebulletin and distributed to Bristol’s Voluntary & Community sector members.

‘Wellspring has used the Voscur website for both salaried and volunteer recruitment. It is well regarded as the place to visit when looking for voluntary sector jobs in and around Bristol and represents good value for money. We recently recruited volunteer trustees and had an outstanding response of which the majority of interested candidates had seen the vacancies through Voscur.’

Ian Lawry, Chief Executive Officer Wellspring Healthy Living

Costs: Image: guz_007’s

Full Members £30 per job Associate members £65 Non-members £100

www.voscur.org/view/jobs

26 www.voscur.org

March / April / May 2011 Issue 13

Volunteering Bristol

Volunteering in Bristol: a new era We are entering a new era for volunteering in Bristol. If I say the words ‘cuts’, ‘Big’ and ‘Society’ then you probably get the idea. Things are changing and if Volunteering Bristol wants to continue to support individuals, organisations and society at large, then we need to change too.

We link organisations that need

support needs to take their first

help, with individuals who have

steps into unpaid work.

time. There is a great interest in volunteering: every month we have over 15,000 visits to our website. And there is no shortage of demand from organisations: at any one time we have around 700 different volunteer vacancies available.

But you are also likely to see the introduction of charges to use some of these services. It has been estimated that every £1 spent on volunteering within an organisation can be worth up to £30. For over 40 years Volunteering Bristol has provided

There is, however, a shortage of

a valuable service to the voluntary

cash to support the service which

and community sector. Our

brings these two needs together:

challenge for the future is to

the Volunteer Centre.

provide a service to a standard

Over the coming months, you will see changes at Volunteering

To do that we need your support,

Bristol as we, like everyone else,

your ideas and, ultimately, your

try to do more for less.

custom. So, if you are a Volunteer

We hope you will see our service becoming slicker; more effective at finding the people that you need, when you need them; more integrated with other organisations such as Voscur; and more high-profile. There will be a brand new programme which

Stephen Dale

which organisations would pay for.

Manager, a Chief Executive, a

To find out more please contact me by email: steve@bristolvolunteers.org.uk or call 0117 9897734.

Trustee or a volunteer, we will be approaching you tell us what you think of what we are doing now, and what you feel we should be doing in the future. We hope that you will work with us to help meet challenges that we face.

recruits highly skilled volunteers

Stephen Dale, Chief Executive,

to help build the capacity of your

Volunteering Bristol

organisation, as well as (fingers crossed) a service which provides a buddy to help people with

Issue 13 March / April / May 2011

www.voscur.org

27

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 — March / April / May / June 2011 March 2011 Thursday 3 March Improving Diversity in your Volunteer Workforce The Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Bristol, BS10 5PY (9:30am-3:30pm) Wednesday 9 March Speaking with Confidence The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2QQ (9:30am-3:30pm)

Thursday 31 March What do School Governors do and how can you take part?

Colston Hall, Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR (7pm-9pm)

April 2011 Wednesday 6 April Action Learning Set for Volunteer Managers Venue to be confirmed (10am-3pm)

Monday 14 March Bristol Compact Training – Commissioning for Beginners Barton Hill Settlement, 43 Ducie Road, Barton Hill, Bristol, BS5 0AX (9:30am-1pm) Wednesday 16 and Wednesday 23 March Training Skills for Volunteer Managers St Werburghs Community Centre, Horley Road, St Werburghs, Bristol, BS2 9TJ (9:30am-4:30pm) Monday 28 March

May 2011 Wednesday 4 May Recruitment of Volunteers Windmill Hill City Farm, Phillip Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4EA (9:30am-3:30pm) Date and venue to be confirmed Health and Social Care Network – part of the new VCS Assembly

Ten Steps to The Perfect Tender – Compact Training Venue to be confirmed (9:30am-3:30pm)

Date and Venue to be confirmed

Tuesday 29 March

June 2011

Supervision Skills for Volunteer Managers The Gatehouse Centre, Hareclive Road, Bristol, BS13 9JN (9:30am-3:30pm)

Tuesday 14 June

Thursday 31 March

Community Buildings Network

VCS Children and Young People’s Network Venue to be confirmed (1:30pm-3:30pm)

VCS Neighbourhoods Network Venue to be confirmed (10am-1pm)

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

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