Supporting Voluntary & Community Action
December 2010 / January / February 2011
Inside Voscur’s Magazine Advice Centres Assess Impact of Cuts Computer Recycling Scheme SOFA Launches Office Furniture Initiative What is Bristol Youth Links? Bristol Wi-Fi Hot Spot Initiative New Local Enterprise Partnerships Big Society Strategy for Third Sector Announced Why Monitor and Evaluate? Bristol Gets Ready to Go PoPP! European Year of Volunteering
Image: The Kingswood Foundation
Big Lottery supports Serenity House
Band practice at The Urban Academy – Out of School Arts Activities for Young People. See page 22
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 Members
6-7
Sector News
19
Bristol City Council’s Equalities Impact Assessment
20-21 Finding Funding
New Resources for Mental Health and Learning Difficulties
Regional Transition Fund announced How to maximise your organisation’s income
Community Learning, Employment and Skills Partnership Local Enterprise Partnership
8–10
22-23 Children and Young People What is Bristol Youth Links?
Have Your Say
Events
Supporting a stronger Civil Society Big Society strategy for charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises announced
24
Pride of Place Project
11 Compact Commissioning developments at Bristol City Council
12-13 Advice Services Advice centres assess impact of cuts
14-15 Training and Learning Monitoring and Evaluation – the basics
Equalities
Children and Young People – Member profile Urban Academy – Out of school arts activities
25
Developing ICT Computer recycling and community Wi-Fi hot spots
27
Volunteering Bristol Challenges and opportunities ahead
28 Diary
Take Part – Training sessions
16-18 Member Profiles SOFA project launches office furniture initiative Serenity House – Bristol Alcoholism Recovery Service
Why not advertise? Special discounts for Voscur members. Deadlines for March/ April/ May 2011 edition of Thrive!:
Thrive! is available on disc. Please contact the office if you would like to receive your Thrive!
Tuesday 1 February for ads and articles. Friday 18 February
this way. The newsletter is also available online
for flyers. Details of prices at www.voscur.org/magazine or
as a pdf at www.voscur.org/magazine
phone Polly Stewart on 0117 909 9949.
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 12 December 2010 / January / February 2011
www.voscur.org
3
Editorial
All change or more of the same? The New Year is a time to embrace change, yet as 2010 draws to a close we approach 2011 with an expectation that we will be embracing more change than we could ever have expected just twelve months ago.
In little over six months the
government’s ‘Big Society’
change for us. As Thrive! goes
coalition government has
proposals for community
to press, the details are not yet
enthusiastically driven forward
organisers, what they might
finalised, but please visit our
the ‘Big Society’ agenda and its
mean for Bristol and how Bristol’s
website for more details.
key aim of putting people, not
voluntary and community sector
the state, at the heart of
might, working with residents,
decision making.
take a lead.
This ‘Big Society’ agenda is likely
January is always a good time to
organisations in Bristol during
to have significant implications
start something new and with
the coming year, Voscur remains
for the Voluntary and Community
2011 designated the European
committed to supporting the
sector, with the anticipation that
Year of Volunteering, Voscur will
sector to survive and thrive.
the draft Localism Bill (due to be
be working with Volunteering
published in December) will give a
Bristol to support the sector.
much bigger role to the Voluntary
The free ‘Take Part’ sessions
and Community Sector and Social
running until March provide an
Enterprise in the delivery of
opportunity for people to get
what are currently public sector
involved in decision-making.
services.
will be playing an increasingly
wonder who is making these
important role in the coming
decisions and how you can have
year, with proposals announced
your say about them. In February
by the council in November, for
we’re running a free information
them to take decisions on, for
session with the Parliamentary
example, how the money paid by
Outreach team to help answer
developers to mitigate the impact
these and other questions, see
of development is spent. For more
page 17 for more details.
and staff we hope you have a restful Christmas break, and a Happy New Year. Best wishes from the Voscur team.
Key to symbols Equalities Article Training
Voscur is not immune to change either and the new support
The Neighbourhood Partnership
service for the Voluntary and
Residents’ Forum meeting in
Community sector that will start
January will be discussing the
in February 2011 will be a major
4 www.voscur.org
On behalf of the Voscur board
With so many changes taking place at a national level, you might
quickguide-NPS106
changes are on Voscur and Voluntary and Community
Neighbourhood Partnerships
details visit: http://tinyurl.com/
Whatever the impact of the
Resources Event
December 2010 / January / February 2011 Issue 12
New Voscur Members
Who’s Joined Voscur Recently? Skate Club: A voluntary organisation that uses skateboarding to engage young people aged 13-19. They run a one day a week open access skate club at Wicklea Youth and Community Centre. They are hoping to expand to two days a week before the end of the year as well as offering a mobile skate park that can get to other youth clubs around Bristol. Visit: www.skate-club.co.uk
St Mungo’s: St Mungo’s opens doors for homeless people. The Compass Centre in Bristol provides emergency accommodation, support towards recovery and help to prevent rough sleeping. They run over 100 projects and help thousands of people make life changes every year. In Bristol this includes Street Outreach team, Pathways to Employment team and Wellbeing Service offering one to one and group work with psychologists. Tel: 0117 944 0581 or visit: www.mungos.org
Bristol Education Support Project: Provides extra educational support to school age children to help develop their learning skills and to raise the level of their educational achievement. They offer cultural and confidence building classes to mainly Somali students. They also provide information, advice and guidance to parents and carers in relation to their children’s educational development. Email: clahiyare@hotmail.com
Bristol Foundation Housing: Aims to provide supervised accommodation to encourage and support homeless people (or those at risk of homelessness) and/or at risk of offending to live more fulfilled lives. They do this by providing a unique mix of secure supervised accommodation together with support. This support takes the form of providing advice, information and assistance with the practicalities of day-to-day living. They are building capabilities for coaching and mentoring to help their tenants access education and employment.
Global Hope Academy: Provides an educational service for Somali children in Bristol. Promotes cultural and social events in order to encourage the full and positive integration of Somali children into British society. Provides study support (homework club) for English, Maths and Science. Children spend time on learning opportunities and academic and enrichment activities which build the children’s confidence and self-esteem. Children are taken on trips to the countryside and to the Science museum in London. For more information email: info.globalacademy@gmail.com
African and Caribbean Young Enterprise (ACYE): Their objectives are to support the development of local enterprise initiatives, particularly minority ethnic owned enterprise. Improving and developing the skills of the community by providing relevant and good quality training, events and other types of support. Visit: www.youngblackbusiness. ning.com
Visit: www. bristolfoundationhousing.org.uk
Issue 12 December 2010 / January / February 2011
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5
Sector News
New Resources for Mental Health and Learning Difficulties Well Aware is The Care Forum’s free open access database. It contains the details of 1000s of health, wellbeing and community services in Bristol. It now has two extra resources available. Its new Learning Difficulties
documents for mental health
Resource is a comprehensive
professionals and people with
collection of practical information
mental ill health trying to
for people with learning
overcome employment-related
difficulties and their carers.
discrimination and find or
The resource is laid out in Easy
keep a job.
Read format and designed to make access to the most relevant information quick and straightforward.
Like the database itself, these resources are completely free to use. They can be accessed from any internet connection at
Its Mental Health Employment
www.wellaware.org.uk, or by
Portal also has a new addition
ringing the Well Aware team on
– a library of useful background
(freephone) 0808 808 5252.
Big Society Award Announced The Big Society award has been created to recognise individuals, groups or organisations that are demonstrating the Big Society in their work or activities. Who can make a nomination?
to ensure that nominations are
Anyone, including people
independent and supported.
who benefit from the group,
You can, however, encourage
organisation or individuals
others to nominate you.
activities, may make a nomination.
For more information email:
Please do not nominate your
OCS.Info@cabinet-office.x.gsi.
own group, organisation or
gov.uk, please type “Big Society
yourself, i.e. the organisation
award” in the subject area.
that your work for or group that you volunteer in, as they need
6 www.voscur.org
Or tel: 020 7276 6087
Visit: http://tinyurl. com/39dl3oa
(for nominators).
December 2010 / January / February 2011 Issue 12
Sector News
Community Learning, Employment and Skills Partnership (CLESP) Official launch event Monday 13 December, 9:30am-2pm, Exeter This free South West Forum event
Speakers and contributors include:
is for Voluntary, Community and
Adrian Bailey, Director, Regional
Social Enterprise organisations
Employment and Skills Board,
wishing to participate in a new
Helen France, Skills Funding
regional consortium.
Agency, Stephen Woollett, South
This event is especially for organisations seeking a partnership route into the
West Forum, Tim Ward, Learning Curve and Brian McInally, Hartcliffe and Withywood Ventures.
up-coming European Social
To book please visit:
Fund tenders put out by the
www.southwestforum.org.uk
CLESP Membership Grows Within the last few months, over 70 Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations have been confirmed as members of CLESP. All are based in the South West, have an active interest in skills, and want to use joint working to access the larger skills, learning and employment contracts on offer. New members are welcome – for a membership pack and form visit: www.learningcurve.org.uk/ Aboutus/News/newsclesp
Skills Funding Agency.
A LE(A)P into the future The Government has given the
South West Regional Development
Greg Clark, the Minister for
Green light to 24 new Local
Agency which will then be
Communities and Decentralisation,
Enterprise Partnership (LEP)
scrapped.
has said the Government would
areas including the West of England LEP that will incorporate Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire local authority areas. Local Enterprise Partnerships will be partnerships between local authorities and businesses and will play a key role in promoting local economic development.
To take the West of England Local Enterprise Proposal forward, an interim ‘shadow’ board will be established which will be tasked with setting up the Local
welcome the involvement of voluntary organisations in negotiations to establish new public-private partnerships aimed at boosting local economies.
Enterprise Board itself, shaping
Voscur has already raised the
the delivery arrangements and
issue of Voluntary, Community
leading further discussions with
and Social Enterprise involvement
Government. The Interim Board
with this board and will be seeking
will be holding a conference early
to ensure that the sector is
in the New Year to inform, engage
represented at this level.
From 2011, Local Enterprise
and secure the contribution of a
Partnerships will take over the
wider group of businesses and key
promotion of economic growth
organisations.
previously carried out by the
Issue 12 December 2010 / January / February 2011
www.voscur.org
7
Have Your Say
Supporting a Stronger Civil Society The Government has launched a major consultation called Supporting a Stronger Civil Society, on the role of infrastructure services like those provided by Voscur. This is to inform its Big Society strategy for charities, voluntary groups and social enterprise.
Supporting a Stronger Civil Society tells us that
reminding business of the
What will Voscur do next?
importance of supporting the
Voscur will be writing directly
‘…accessing infrastructure
day to day work of local charities,
to our members and asking you
support is associated with
focusing on that which makes the
to complete a short survey so
positive outcomes, including a
difference rather than looking for
that we can make an informed
substantially higher likelihood of
eye catching initiatives to support.
response to the consultation
success in grant applications and bidding for contracts’
How useful are bursaries? We support the use of bursaries
The consultation asks 10 questions
for accessing technical or very
– we have summarised these and
specialist support. However, a
NAVCA’s views (which we endorse)
local brokering service delivered
below.
by skilled development workers
How can online services for frontline groups be improved? It is important that local voluntary organisations and community groups can find and access the
before 6 January 2011.
is essential to the effectiveness of bursaries. Care needs to be taken to ensure that the bursaries benefit the groups in need of support and not the support
To see the full
providers.
consultation and to find out more, please visit:
of what is available so local groups
How can ‘expert intervention’ support areas that are lacking ‘social capital’ and develop stronger civil society?
get the greatest benefit from the
NAVCA interprets social capital
vast array of information available.
for Voluntary and Community
as both the glue that binds
Action. NAVCA awarded Voscur
communities together and the
(which is a NAVCA member) a
bridges that provide links between
quality mark in 2008. NAVCA
communities. An area has weak
estimates that its members
social capital when it both lacks
support around 100,000 local
local infrastructure support and
voluntary and community
individuals do not have sufficient
organisations each year.
information they need when they need it. There is a vital role for local infrastructure organisations to signpost and check the quality
How can working with business be improved? Any help from government to increase support from local businesses is welcome. Government can help by
8 www.voscur.org
www.strongercivilsociety.org.uk
Jargon buster NAVCA: National Association
skills to create this glue.
December 2010 / January / February 2011 Issue 12
Have Your Say
Government announces Big Society strategy for charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises The Office for Civil Society has launched a strategy to support charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises.
The strategy follows three ‘core
to contribute to the ‘Big Society’.
components’ of the Big Society
Increasing the efficiency of Gift
agenda:
Aid, encouraging Civil Servants
Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society
neighbourhoods more power to
launched the strategy in October
take decisions and shape their
saying that,
area. The strategy says that
“Civil society groups cannot be
5000 Community Organisers will
immune from public spending
be trained over the lifetime of
reductions which are necessary
this parliament (subject to the
for the whole of society. But
outcome of the Comprehensive
our vision for a Big Society,
Spending review).
with more diverse providers
Opening up public services
right to form a co-op or mutual,
of public services and greater
The government says it wants
supported by a new network of
power for communities to
charities, social enterprises and
advice and mentoring
make local decisions, brings
co-operatives to have a much
• Giving local communities the
huge opportunities to charities
greater role in running public
right to buy or bid to run
voluntary groups and social
services. The strategy says this
community assets
enterprises.”
will involve opening up more
“The Building a Stronger Civil
contracts to the third sector
endowments to encourage
Society strategy gives a clear
and could involve existing public
giving
plan for government support to
service becoming co-ops or
charities, voluntary groups and
social enterprises. Health and
commissioning so the most
social enterprises as they adjust to
Social Care, the Criminal Justice
efficient and effective charities
a new relationship with the state.
System and Welfare to work are
can get a fair chance to bid for
It’s important that we hear from
highlighted in the strategy.
public contracts
the front line about the kind of
Promoting social action
support that will really help them,
The full strategy can be
Citizen action, encouraging
which is why we are launching a
seen online at: tinyurl.com/
volunteering and increasing
consultation.”
BigSocietyVCSEstrategy
philanthropy are cited as ways the
Empowering communities Giving local councils and
to undertake community service, establishing a National Citizen Service (Youth volunteering) and a Community First fund for disadvantaged areas are also highlighted in the strategy. Plans in the strategy include: • Reducing red tape for small organisations • Giving public sector staff the
• Continuing to match fund local
• Modernisation of public service
government wants more people
Issue 12 December 2010 / January / February 2011
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9
Have Your Say
Bristol gets ready to go PoPP! The Thriving Neighbourhoods Board of the Bristol Partnership is finalising details of the first Bristol Pride of Place Project (PoPP) awards that will take place in 2011. The PoPP awards are intended to
So far, four award categories have been confirmed: Stronger Communities (sponsored by Voscur and the Black Development Agency)
celebrate the positive things that
Outcomes might include, for example: processes to make local people
local people, working together
better informed about the NP and local issues; give opportunities to
with voluntary and community
develop local pride, volunteering, and other types of involvement etc. To
organisations and/or public
what extent has the NP encouraged the formation of local groups; taken
sector partners, have achieved to
action to reduce inequalities, and supported/sponsored local events.
improve their local community. The awards are based around each
Local Environment
of Bristol’s 14 Neighbourhood
(sponsored by SITA)
Partnerships (NP).
Outcomes might include improving recycling rates or reducing flytipping.
The awards will help to showcase
They might be focused on improving green spaces with trees, clear-ups,
the successful result or outcomes
encouraging bio-diversity or on improving local streets by reducing dog
from partnership working. For
fouling, fly posting, for example, or clearing derelict land.
each award category there will be a panel of judges who will look at
Health and Wellbeing
the evidence provided from each
(sponsored by NHS Bristol)
NPs entry and award specialist
Outcomes might include actions to improve mental health, promote a
categories (such as commended
healthy life style including, for example, encouraging healthy eating and
or highly commended) and award
physical exercise.
an overall winner (a sort of ‘Best in Show’ award). The PoPP winners will be
Learning (sponsored by City of Bristol College)
announced at an awards
Outcomes might include projects to encourage younger people to
ceremony in summer 2011 and
remain in education or the focus might be on older people both in skill
there will be an exhibition of all
development and for personal self-fulfilment. How have local people
the PoPP nominations in the new
developed skills by being engaged with the NP and with community
M Shed (formerly the Industrial
activity?
Museum).
Full details of these and any other awards categories, plus details of how a Neighbourhood Partnership can enter for the different awards are expected to be announced before Christmas 2010. Visit: www.voscur.org/haveyoursay
10 www.voscur.org
December 2010 / January / February 2011 Issue 12
Bristol Compact
Commissioning Developments at Bristol City Council
For more information:
Over the last few months, Bristol City Council and the Bristol Compact have been working closely in 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.
Enabling Commissioning Framework This will include a comprehensive set of guidance, templates and checklists for use by council commissioners in all commissioning processes. The framework incorporates Bristol Compact principles and guidance as well as the recommendations from the recent Select Committee on Third Sector Commissioning. This development aims to standardise Bristol City Council’s commissioning practice and this, in turn, will support VCSE organisations to engage and win contracts. A process and standards for decommissioning is also included. This will ensure that, where services are no longer required, service users are considered, services have robust exit strategies and organisations are supported in other commissioning processes. Further information about the commissioning framework and developments within Bristol City Council: www.bristol.gov.uk/ commissioning
Commissioning Intentions In response to VCSE sector feedback, in January the council will publish details of services that it intends to commission during 2011/12. Such forward notice of commissioning intentions will allow VCSE service providers to prepare for specific commissions, form partnerships and allocate resources. Bristol Compact will be working with commissioners to build capacity in specific VCSE sectors and support the engagement of VCSE organisations in commissioning.
BePs system upgrade The new improved version of Bristol City Council’s e-Procurement System (BePS) will be online by April 2011. The new system has incorporated feedback from VCSE service providers and aims to be more user friendly. Its library function, for example, will allow providers to upload their policies and procedures once and select relevant documents for each tender process (rather than upload them all each time).
Issue 12 December 2010 / January / February 2011
Visit: www.bristolcompact.org.uk or contact Mark Hubbard, Compact Liaison Officer, tel: 0117 909 9949, email: mark@voscur.org The Bristol Compact is an agreement between the Bristol Partnership and the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector to improve their relationship for mutual advantage and community gain.
Bristol Compact training: Different Ways of Collaborating Thursday 20 January 2011, 9:30am-3pm Partnership working and collaboration are often presented as solutions to increase value for money and for VCSE organisations facing cuts to funding. This session includes different models for collaborative working, resources to enable successful collaborations and ways to resolve issues and difficulties. Trainers: Elaine Flint and Julie Ellison, Social Enterprise Works Bristol Compact training coming up in the New Year: • Costing Your Project • Getting Ready to Trade For details visit: www.voscur.org/training
www.voscur.org
11
Advice Centres
Bristol Advice Centres Assess Impact of Cuts “There is no doubt that living on less money when you are already poor is much harder than living on less money when you are wealthy”
No-one can have missed
people to claim entitlements that
cases but will be available for
the ongoing debate about
are rightly theirs.
some debt and housing matters.
whether or not the proposed cuts recommended by the June budget and the October Comprehensive Spending Review will have a disproportionate impact on the poorest and most vulnerable in society. Whichever way you choose to read it, there is no doubt that living on less money when you are already poor is much harder than living on less money when you are wealthy; people in receipt of a range of benefits will unarguably be living on less money. To put it starkly, if you receive £1000 per week and receive a 10% cut you still have £900, if you receive £100 you have £90. Advice agencies across Bristol are already struggling with the upsurge in clients seeking help and it looks like things are going to get worse. We are already concerned that the rhetoric in the press about the deserving and the undeserving poor, for example, will derail a lot of good work undertaken in the city, particularly by the city council welfare rights unit (WRAMAS) to encourage
12 www.voscur.org
Already in excess of £50m1 from the city goes unclaimed particularly by the elderly, people
Visit www.justice.gov and click on consultations, for more information.
from BME (Black Minority Ethnic)
The Financial Inclusion Fund which
communities and those with
provides funding to six agencies
mental health problems. This
in the city to help people manage
we know will be exacerbated
debt is due to end in March 2011
by changing and more complex
with no sign of replacement.
rules and where waiting times are
Credit should go to Bristol City
already lengthy. For example 32%
Council and NHS Bristol for ring
of Employment Support Allowance
fencing the budget to the main
claims go to appeal2 (with 40%
providers of advice but how long
of these being awarded to the
they will be able to sustain this is
claimant), some of which are
open to question.
taking more than 15 months to process. Indeed much of the work of advice agencies is about dealing with the failures of agencies and their systems, resulting in fewer people being helped.
Smaller agencies offering advice remain subject to the review of the General Grants Investment Fund by BCC, and others who have no dependence on local authority funding are already looking at
We have already seen in 2010/11
severe reductions in services or
cuts in the Legal Aid budget for
prospective closure.
housing and welfare benefits advice in the city. The Government consultation which seeks views on their proposals for the reform of legal aid in England and Wales is open until 14 February 2010. The proposal indicates that legal aid will be cut for welfare benefits
There is much talk nationally about replacing face to face advice with internet access, despite the fact that 30% of the population does not have home access to the internet and even those who are adept at using the internet, young people3, do not see it as a way to
December 2010 / January / February 2011 Issue 12
Advice Centres
resolve their difficulties. A recent
The fact is that the range of
Against this background fewer
independent study has also shown
advice given in the city is complex
people, especially the most
that people want face to face
and that complexity requires
vulnerable are going to be able to
support4.
people who have considerable
secure their rights and we will all
training and experience in dealing
be poorer for that.
In the face of this, how will people’s rights be defended? The
in these areas.
National Pro-bono Centre opened
We are fortunate in Bristol to
its doors recently, but whilst pro-
have agencies that work together
bono work is helpful, it cannot
well, who focus on providing free
possibly make up for the proposed
and independent services in the
cuts to legal aid, nor can lawyers
best interest of the client in a
skilled in one area of law easily
confidential, non-discriminatory
turn their hand to other areas.
way, bringing in over £8.2 million
Volunteering is also an important piece of the advice jigsaw; agencies already take on volunteers to support generalist advice work and cannot take more
Thanks to the Advice Network for contributing this article. Advice Network 84-88 Colston Street Bristol BS1 5BB Tel: 0117 929 2153
annually5 in previously unclaimed benefits and awards. Information on agencies and the services they offer can be found on advicewest.org.uk
on because of the retraction
All agencies are striving to look
in the jobs market as current
at alternatives and options but
volunteers are not moving on.
these are inevitably limited.
Issue 12 December 2010 / January / February 2011
1. Bristol City Council Welfare Rights and Money Advice Service estimate 2. DWP Working Age Benefits Division ESA Work Capability Assessment Official Stastistics July 2010 3. Opening Doors to Young People (Youth Access July 2010) 4. Shopping Around – What consumers want from the new legal services market (Jures, June 2010) 5. Advice Network Benchmarking Report of major advice agencies October 2009
www.voscur.org
13
Voscur Training and Learning
The Basics of Monitoring and Evaluation unclear about the purpose of
Mostly organisations collect data that shows:
monitoring and evaluation.
Outputs – what is directly
Monitoring and evaluation is
produced by a service or a
useful not only for funding
project? For example: the
purposes but more importantly
number of people who attended
to prove that your organisation
a training session.
Many organisations are
is making a difference to the people it is set up to support.
Outcomes – the benefits, changes or difference that you make to
What is the difference between
your service users. For example:
monitoring and evaluation?
improved health or better
Charities Evaluation Service*
employment opportunities.
definitions are as follows:
The information you collect
Monitoring
is informed by the aims and
This is about collecting
outcomes of your project.
information that will help you answer questions about your project. It is important that this information is collected in a planned, organised and routine way. You can use the information you gather to report on your project and it will help you to evaluate. The most important part of collecting data is that organisations need to be clear about what information they need to collect and why they are collecting it.
To find out more go to: Charities Evaluation Service* Aims to strengthen the voluntary sector through offering free and below-cost support and services to charities and community organisations.
Evaluation This is about using the monitoring
Visit: www.ces-vol.org.uk
and any other information you
Tel: 020 7713 5722
collect to make judgements about
National Council for Voluntary
your project. It is also about using the information to make changes
Organisations (NCVO)
and improvements.
– How to Monitor and Evaluate
Monitoring and evaluation of your
Visit: www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/
service is important because it
strategy-impact/learn/impact/
helps you to identify how well your
measuring-impact/how-to-
service is doing, what you need to
monitor-and-evaluate
improve and whether you are on
Tel: 020 7713 6161
course to achieving what you are
Contact Voscur
set up to do.
Ruth Pitter
It will also help you to show how effective your organisation is and ensure that both funders and the general public know that you are benefiting those people who use
E-mail: ruth@voscur.org or Sophie Bayley E-mail: sophieb@voscur.org Tel: 0117 909 9949
your service.
14 www.voscur.org
December 2010 / January / February 2011 Issue 12
‘We want to see communities all over the country in which high numbers of people are actively engaged in making their neighbourhood better and are giving something back.’ David Cameron, Prime Minister
‘Take Part’ is a series of training and learning sessions to help you to gain skills, knowledge and confidence and become an empowered citizen who is able to actively contribute to your community, influence public policies and services.
Free: Take Part Spring Training and Learning events ‘What do school governors do and how can I take part?' Wednesday 26 January 2011, 7pm - 9pm 'Engaging with Parliament' find out what happens in Parliament and how you can take part Saturday 19 February 2011, 9.30am - 1pm 'What is a Neighbourhood Partnership and how can I take part?' Thursday 24 February, 6 - 8.30pm Speaking with Confidence Wednesday 9 March 2011 - 9.30am-3.30pm Take Part training and learning courses are free of charge but places are limited so booking is essential. Take Part is supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government and run by Voscur, the organisation supporting voluntary and community action in Bristol. Find out more at www.voscur.org/haveyoursay/takepart or call Voscur on (0117) 909 9949.
Voscur Member Profile
Office furniture initiative launches despite economic uncertainty Bristol is widely acclaimed as one of Britain’s, if not Europe’s, greenest cities. Amongst the many organisations based in the city which have helped to gain this reputation is SOFA Project. Set up by a small band of committed people in the early 1980s with the aim of providing donated furniture to families on low incomes, the organisation has grown and diversified and added an environmental aim to its original charitable objects. As both a charity and social
furniture donated by organisations
sent there by container to help
enterprise (SOFA Project was
who want to minimise their impact
improve the lives of people in
one of the first organisations
on the environment through
these countries.
to be awarded the Social
ensuring that their surplus office
Enterprise Mark) SOFA Project
furniture is not sent to landfill
has been looking to expand
sites as waste. As a result SOFA
and diversify its services to
Office can sell this furniture
meet changing demands and
at very low prices, and as the
market opportunities. In 2005
furniture has been donated it
the organisation set up its
is not subject to VAT. As part of
Revamp operation in response
its social mission SOFA Office
to new European guidelines on
will also offer a discount of 15%
the disposal of waste electrical
on display prices to Voluntary,
equipment, and now reconditions
Community and Social Enterprise
donated electrical appliances
organisations.
such as fridges, cookers and
The new venture is very much in keeping with the aims of the Bristol Green Capital programme (www.bristolgreencapital.org) which is encouraging organisations to improve their environmental sustainability and reduce their carbon emissions. The city’s ambitious target is a reduction of 21% by 2020 from a base year of 2005. In the financial year 2009/10 the work of SOFA Project meant
SOFA Office has been developed in
that 478 tonnes of furniture and
partnership with Green-Works, an
domestic appliances were diverted
award-winning social enterprise,
from landfill sites – this equates
and Social Enterprise Mark holder,
to reducing carbon emissions by
who have pioneered the re-use,
approximately 380 tonnes. The
re-manufacture and recycling
SOFA Office initiative is forecast
of office and school furniture.
to save a further 355 tonnes of
In line with the ethos of both
office and school furniture from
organisations the new venture
landfill in its first year of operation
SOFA’s most recent initiative is its
has created 10 new jobs and
– the equivalent of 255 tonnes
diversification into office furniture
work placements. Schools and
of carbon emissions – making
which was launched in September
communities in Ghana and Sierra
sense from both a business and
2010. SOFA Office offers a wide
Leone will also benefit as some
environmental perspective.
range of good quality office
of the donated furniture will be
washing machines for sale in its 3 shops. More recently SOFA has established partnerships with some of the leading manufacturers of electrical appliances to sell ‘graded’ new appliances and end of stock products.
16 www.voscur.org
December 2010 / January / February 2011 Issue 12
Voscur Member Profile
SOFA Office is open to both the public and organisations from Monday – Friday 9:00am-4:30pm at St Vincent Works, Silverthorne Lane, St Philips, Bristol BS2 0QD. Tel: 0117 972 0889. Website: www.sofaproject.org.uk
Issue 12 December 2010 / January / February 2011
www.voscur.org
17
Voscur Member Profile
Serenity House – Bristol Alcoholism Recovery Service (BARS) Serenity House, has recently received a substantial Reaching Communities Big Lottery grant which means that they are able to make their services more easily accessible. A registered charity, Serenity House – BARS, is committed to providing non-medical treatment, information and education, through the Recovery Dynamics® 12 step community based model over a twelve week period (with flexible starting dates) to any person suffering from addiction who has a desire to get well. This is regardless of their ability to pay for services. This scheme has been successfully
Terry Troake & David Comer, two of the staff team Sally Walker-Cousins, Chairperson
running for seven years. Their
Working in Partnership
number at the moment, sit in a
purpose is to inspire clients with
Serenity House has secured a new
pleasant classroom setting where
the knowledge to complete a
contract working in partnership
they work through the Recovery
process that enables them to
with Safer Bristol which will
Dynamics® sessions. Their venue
become happy and productive
help consolidate their efforts in
offers a walled garden, perfect for
members of society and to carry
the City on behalf of the most
quiet times and conversation.
the message of recovery to those
vulnerable groups. They are
who still suffer from addiction.
also working in partnership with
Within the Service they offer the following: • Education and information • Treatment • Continuing care • Relapse prevention • Employment guidance • Counselling • Volunteer & Mentor training • Recovery Dynamics Counsellor training • Get fit – keep fit • Specialist referrals
18 www.voscur.org
North Somerset Council and are extremely grateful for their enthusiastic endorsement of their programme.
Volunteering Opportunities Anyone keen to gain new skills, knowledge and experience in this field is welcome to contact them with a view to Volunteer Training.
Their programmes’ rolling start
For more information
dates mean that clients are able
write to:
to join at any stage. This allows for a flexible schedule which gives their clients the opportunity to
43 St Nicholas Street, Bristol, BS1 1TP
reach the end goal of recovery.
Phone: 0117 927 7839
The programme runs from
Email: recovery@serenityhouse.
Monday to Friday from 10:00am
org.uk Visit: www.serenityhouse.org.uk
to 2:00pm. The group, 16 in
December 2010 / January / February 2011 Issue 12
Equalities
Equalities Impact Assessments – The approach taken by Bristol City Council
Equality Act 2010
and they anticipate what impact
can contact activists directly.
This new law, which came
this could have on equalities
In June and September 2010
into force in stages, starting
communities.
they held six training sessions to
in October 2010, replaced all
If they anticipate there could
existing equality law, including
be a negative impact, then
the existing public sector duties.
they plan into the design of the
From April 2011 there will be a
project or contract different
new public sector equality duty,
ways of lessening the impact. This
which will cover disability, race,
could be positive action such as
sex, gender reassignment, age,
improving access arrangements
sexual orientation, marriage and
and/or changing the way they
civil partnership, religion or belief,
design the service.
pregnancy and maternity.
identify there could be a
have to demonstrate how they
significant impact on an equalities
have taken into account the
community, then they proceed to
impact of equalities in the design
a full Equalities Impact Assessment
of key policy and service delivery
and as part of this they consult
initiatives. The method they use
with equalities communities. In
is to undertake Equalities Impact
2009, the council undertook 70
Assessments.
Equalities Impact Assessment
It is about making sure that the
and consulted equalities communities in 18% of these. In the Council’s single equality
are the best possible outcomes
scheme 2010-13, they aim to
for all communities.
involve equalities communities in
Equalities Impact Assessments
Assessments.
screenings of strategic proposals,
outcomes of whatever they plan
Bristol City Council begin their
get involved in Equalities Impact
If at this screening stage they
Public sector organisations also
What is an Equalities Impact Assessment?
explain to communities how to
at least 50% of Equalities Impact Assessments by 2013.
If you would like to get involved please contact:
by identifying what needs to
The Council is looking to develop
be achieved by the proposal
a comprehensive list of people
(for example, a policy, contract,
who want to get involved in
Or contact: Jo McDonald on
project, review, programme)
consultation, to make sure they
0117 922 2662.
Issue 12 December 2010 / January / February 2011
equalities.team@bristol.gov.uk
www.voscur.org
19
Finding Funding
Transition Fund Announced The Cabinet Office has launched a new £100 million Transition Fund to help the charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises that are affected by public spending cuts to make necessary adjustments so that they can continue to play an important part in public service reform and the Big Society Agenda.
The Transition Fund will help civil society organisations which deliver high quality public services to be more resilient, agile and able to take opportunities presented by a changing funding environment. The Office for Civil Society has appointed BIG Fund (non-Lottery funding operation of the Big Lottery Fund) to administer the fund. They will be holding briefing events in Bristol on 14 December 2010 and Exeter on 15 December 2010, for civil society organisations which meet the criteria below and are interested in applying to the Transition Fund. The briefing events are open to charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises which meet the following criteria: 1. Civil society organisations with an income of between £50,000 and £10 million 2. At least 60% of your income is from taxpayer funded sources 3. You must spend at least 50% of your taxpayer funded income on service provision in at least one of the following areas – health and social care; homelessness; education and training; offender rehabilitation; welfare to work/
20 www.voscur.org
4. 5.
6.
7.
8.
employment services; children and families; debt counselling and legal advice Your free reserves must not be more than six months You face significant cuts; you will experience cuts of least 30% of your taxpayer funded income in 2011/12, as compared to your most recent set of signed annual accounts The minimum grant size is £12,500 and grants will meet no more than half your taxpayer funded income. This means that you will have lost at least £25,000 The majority of the grant expenditure will be on change activities You are delivering the majority of your services in England
Please note you are not eligible to apply if you: • are primarily providing infrastructure services to civil society organisations – by this we mean that the majority of your work is providing information, advice, training and other support that helps voluntary and community groups do their work better. Further eligibility information
is available from their website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/ transitionfund The deadline for registering for these events is Monday 6 December, however, you can contact them to see if there are places still available after that date. Email: transitionsw@ bigfund.org with your name, phone number, organisation, address and any access requirements. Demand will be high and registration is limited to one person per organisation. Spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Please indicate which two hour session you wish to attend: 14 December at 10am – Bristol 15 December at 10am – Exeter If you are unable to attend a briefing session, all the information you need on eligibility and applying is available on their website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/ transitionfund Event booking enquiries: 01392 849700 Programme information enquiries: 0330 303 0110 Textphone: 0845 602 1659
December 2010 / January / February 2011 Issue 12
Finding Funding
Funding for the Future – how to maximise your organisation’s income Voscur’s Funding Fair, 2010, proved a great success. For those who were unable to attend the event, there are full details of all the presentations on the Voscur website: www.voscur.org/fundingfair2010 Members may find these useful
pilot project will start in January
to make their funding plans and
2011 and will run for 2 years.
applications more robust and
Searching for Suitable and Sustainable Funding Funding Central is a free
sustainable. Below are highlights
Visit:
website for charities, voluntary
from some of the presentations.
www.quartetcf.org.uk
organisations and social
Tel: 0117 989 7700
enterprises, managed by the
Quartet Community Foundation Deb Appleby, Chief Executive of Quartet Community Foundation,
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). It offers
Statistics and Data
outlined Quartet’s work across
Sarah McMahon from the
four authorities in the West
Consultation Research and
of England, raising funds to
Development team of Bristol
distribute to groups across the
City Council outlined how using
area. Last year, Quartet gave away
statistics and data can improve
1,202 grants, making it the largest
your funding applications. Funders
independent grant maker in the
often want you to demonstrate
West of England. The average
evidence of need.
access to thousands of funding and finance opportunities and a wealth of tools and resources to develop sustainable income strategies appropriate to need.
Visit: www. fundingcentral.org.uk
grant is less than £2,000. Quartet is involved with the new
You can find statistics
website www.localgiving.com.
and make comparisons
This aims to address the problem
with users of your
of 85% of online giving going to
service to the wider population
only 5% of charities. This website
in Bristol by visiting the following
hopes to improve that statistic
websites for key sources of
by helping smaller organisations
evidence:
to raise money online. Visit the
www.bristol.gov.uk/statistics,
website for details. Quartet is also developing a
www.bristolpartnership.org/ intelligence
‘Youth in Transition’ programme, which supports young people in the transition from primary to secondary school. It is hoped a
Issue 12 December 2010 / January / February 2011
www.voscur.org
21
Children and Young People
What is Bristol Youth Links? Bristol Youth Links aims to provide a range of services for all young people aged 13-19 and for those up to 24 with additional needs to build resilience, self-reliance and their ability to manage their personal and career development, including learning.
The Bristol Youth Links Board is responsible for developing this strategy, and is a predominantly
5. integrating quality and performance systems 6. efficiency savings which
Targeted Universal: Some young people’s circumstances place them at
local authority group that is
reflect the current economic
risk of achieving poor outcomes
chaired by the Service Director of
conditions and public sector
in later life. Bristol Youth Links’
Education Strategy and Targeted
spending
services will be designed to ensure
Support, Bristol City Council. The group reports to the 14-19 Partnership Board, which is under the Children’s Trust. There are two Voluntary and Community Sector
A proposal arising from the review recommends that services are
Targeted Support:
the city.
Some young people will need
The services that will be
Frances Harrison.
commissioned during 2011/12 will fall under the categories of universal, targeted universal and targeted support. Some
The aim of the recent review was
services may be remodelled or
to improve outcomes for young
decommissioned.
people in Bristol by: 1. the development of a robust mixed market of Bristol Youth Links service providers 2. strengthening the influence of young people and their families 3. strengthening arrangements to identify, assess and meet the needs of vulnerable young people early in the context of their everyday lives 4. making services more
of young people are met.
based in three area hubs around
representatives, Jo Stallard and
The Bristol Youth Links Review:
the specific needs of these groups
personalised support if they show evidence of an early intervention need and are unable to access universal Bristol Youth Links services. These young people will be allocated a key worker. A Bristol Youth Links ‘Market Testing’ event will take place on
Brief Definitions:
Wednesday 12 January (see p 23
Universal:
for details).
All young people who live in Bristol will have easy access to Bristol Youth Links services that are based in their communities and/ or within the city and provide:
For details about other Bristol Youth Links Board meetings, visit: www.voscur.org/networks/ children/reps
• A range of enjoyable and exciting structured activities • Information and personalised advice, guidance and support
accessible to all young people,
• A range of ways to have their
ensuring equality of access to
say in developing services
vulnerable young people
22 www.voscur.org
December 2010 / January / February 2011 Issue 12
Children and Young People
Commissioning:
Joint Voluntary and Community Sector CYP Network Meeting:
Invitation to Bristol Youth Links market testing event
Times are changing, where next for CYP in Bristol?
12 January 2011, 2:30-5:00pm and repeated 6:00-8:30pm.
Wednesday, 8 December 2010, 1:00-3:45pm, The Vassall Centre, Gill Ave, Bristol, BS16 2QQ
Following the Bristol Youth Links review, Voluntary and Community Sector service providers are invited to this market testing event. The commissioners will present a potential vision of how future services could be delivered to young people. They will be seeking feedback, views, opinions, and interest in supporting the Council to deliver the best possible services for young people in Bristol.
Speakers include Annie Hudson, Strategic Director, Children, Young People and Skills, Sean Bolt, Service Director of Education Strategy and Targeted Support and Alison Jackson, Service Manager, Children’s Trust and Commissioning.
To book a place, email Sarah Evens: sarah.evens@bristol.gov.uk by 4 January 2011.
Find out about national and local policy direction and how it might affect VCS services for children and young people in Bristol, particularly in light of the Comprehensive Spending Review. For more information visit: www.voscur.org/trainingandevents
Need some space?
Offices for community projects are now available at a busy hub in East Central Bristol, where a number of voluntary organisations are currently based.
Enjoy the benefits Easy access to the city centre Bus route nearby A thriving shopping street Car parking and bike racks for visitors Secure bike racks for tenants Outdoor courtyard Access to shared kitchen and toilets Reasonable rates and service charge Short or long term let Contact Tracy on 903 9975 to arrange a viewing Issue 12  December 2010 / January / February 2011
www.voscur.org
23
Voscur Member Profile
The Urban Academy Out of School Arts Activities for Young People
The Urban Academy is the
Trust, the Kingswood Foundation
Kingswood Foundation’s
has been able to convert an old
programme of open access arts
swimming pool into an impressive
and performing arts activities for
complex.
young people. Urban Academy classes are open to all young people aged 13-19, and all sessions cost just £2. The project aims to provide high-quality arts tuition in an area recognised as being economically deprived. The Academy has developed innovative projects such as Arts4Life, Urban Academy and the award winning, Youth4Youth.
There are a range of purpose-built youth arts spaces including Studio 1, a professional dance space with sprung floor, the newly refurbished Studio 5, a dedicated youth arts space which includes chill-out room – a large multi-purpose space equipped with PA, stage lighting, video projector and laptops with software for music production,
All Urban Academy tutors are
video editing, digital art and
professional arts practitioners
animation.
with long experience of working with young people from a wide range of backgrounds. Tutors have included singer/songwriter Patrick Duff (lead singer in Bristol legends Strangelove), Thomas Brooman CBE – the musical director of WOMAD
The Urban Academy will shortly be launching the Fusion Dance Company, a performance company for young people with disabilities, which will perform regionally and nationally.
for over 20 years and DJ / producer
Young people can drop in to
Josh Tucker (Jawa).
sessions without booking. A full
All Urban Academy sessions are held at the Kingswood Foundation’s site on Britannia Road, Kingswood. Thanks to funding from the Social Enterprise Investment Fund, South Gloucestershire County Council and a grant from the Lankelly Chase
24 www.voscur.org
programme of Urban Academy activities can be found at
If you would like more
www.urbanacademy.co.uk and for
information about the
any questions contact Joe Evans,
space available to hire
Artistic Director on 0117 947 7948 email: jevans@kfl.org.uk
or further information about the projects for young people visit: kingswood-foundation.org.uk or call 0117 947 7948.
December 2010 / January / February 2011 Issue 12
Developing Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Computer Recycling and Community Wi-Fi Hot Spots Bristol City Council has launched two complementary initiatives that will benefit Voscur members.
The Computer Recycling scheme This scheme aims to refurbish
to promote the project to their
over a 1000 computers that the
service users to increase take up.
council would, in the past, have
Over 100 machines were already
sent for destruction and recycling.
allocated at project launch.
They will then be sold for £35 through Voscur member, Byteback Computer Recycling, to families on low incomes and other digitally excluded groups.
For more information contact Kevin O’Malley at Recycled Computers (CH/404), FREEPOST SWB535,
Groups can apply for the
Bristol BS1 5BR or visit:
computers if they are finding
www.connectingbristol.org/
it hard to source good quality
recycledcomputers
computer equipment from elsewhere.
Kevin O’Malley, Project Manager
Byteback can advise on all IT related activities tel: 0117 370 6456 or visit:
at Connecting Bristol, is keen for
www.byteback.org.uk
voluntary and community groups
The second new scheme is the Community Wi-Fi hot-spot initiative called ‘B-Open’ This is about community wireless
idea is that community wireless
internet access: Wi-Fi. The first
Internet access will encourage
Getting on line
stage of this scheme saw the
more people to test out getting
Research commissioned by the
launch of over 30 hot-spots.
online in supportive venues and
Government Digital Champion,
Initially only council buildings and
discover the benefits of being able
Martha Lane Fox, highlights
libraries were involved, but the aim
to use the Internet. Additionally it
that poorer households can
is to increase the number of hot-
is hoped the hot-spots will provide
save money by being on line
spots to over 80 in the coming
access to many city workers who
and that Government and Local
months and many community
have to move around Bristol
Authorities can also achieve
buildings and community centres
during the day as part of their
efficiency savings by maximising
have been identified to receive
jobs.
take-up of on line and digital
A map of the council’s free Wi-Fi
services.
this connectivity. There is no charge for using the
hot-spots is available from www.
Wi-Fi at these centres and the
bristol.gov.uk/wifi
Issue 12 December 2010 / January / February 2011
www.voscur.org
25
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Volunteering Bristol
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead 2011 European Year of Volunteering This promises to be an exciting and challenging 12 months. As organisations adapt to the new political and economic climate the
Jenny Idle with a volunteer
role of volunteers and successful volunteer management are set
in a structured environment.
us with a wealth of knowledge
to be increasingly high profile.
Throughout 2010 record numbers
from facilitating the Excellence
Volunteering Bristol will be working
of volunteer managers attended
in Volunteer Management
hard over the coming months to
the forum and it is hoped that it
Programme and their previous
understand the challenges and
can expand as a strong, engaged
work as assessors for the Investing
the opportunities presented by
forum in 2011. Membership rates
in Volunteers quality standard.
the ‘Big Society’ agenda and the
are modest and may even be free
cuts to public services. We will
depending on the size and sector
be adapting our organisation and
of your organisation as we are
our services to ensure that we
keen to involve more volunteer-led
are able to support volunteers
organisations.
and volunteer managers into the long-term. We hope you will take full advantage of the opportunities below.
Volunteer Management Conference 2011 Following last year’s very successful Volunteer Management
A participant from last year commented: “Fantastic! So well organised, relevant and engaging speakers, interesting workshops” The conference is a whole day event and will be held in the Mansion House in Clifton. Price
Volunteer Organisers’ Forum
Conference, Volunteering Bristol
Need help with your volunteers?
are hosting another jam-packed
Want to find out how other groups
conference on 8 March 2011,
manage their volunteers? The
focusing on how volunteer
Volunteer Organisers’ Forum (VOF)
managers need to adapt to their
is inviting new members to join
changing environment. The day will
and share their experiences with
include a presentation from Rob
To find out more contact
others in the field. The Forum is
Jackson, the keynote speaker from
Jenny Idle
a group of around 120 people
Volunteering England as well as a
Volunteer Management Support
working with volunteers in a variety
choice of 15 workshops on working
Co-ordinator
of capacities. The forum includes
with volunteers. High-profile CIPD
Email: jenny@bristolvolunteers.
people with expert knowledge of
(Chartered Institute of Personnel
org.uk
working with volunteers and meets
and Development) qualified
Tel: 0117 989 7734
bi-monthly to network, share best
trainers, Maggie Piazza and
Website: www.bristolvolunteers.
practice and identify new ideas
Felicity Dwyer will also be joining
org.uk
Issue 12 December 2010 / January / February 2011
range from £20-£30 depending on the sector and size of the group and bursaries are available. Discounts are available to VOF members.
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 — December 2010 / January / February 2011 December 2010 Tuesday 7 December Recruitment of Volunteers Black Development Agency, Russell Town Avenue, Bristol, BS5 9TL (9:30am-3:30pm) Wednesday 8 December Times are Changing, Where Next for CYP in Bristol? Joint Voluntary & Community Sector, Children & Young People’s Network Meeting Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2QQ (1pm-3:45pm)
Wednesday 19 January Insurance for Charities: what you need to know Baker Tilly LLP, Hartwell House, 55-61 Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6AD (6:00 – 8:00pm) Thursday 20 January Bristol Compact training: Different Ways of Collaborating Venue to be confirmed. (9:30am-3pm) Tuesday 25 January Retention & Support of Volunteers Venue to be confirmed. (9:30am-3:30pm)
Thursday 9 December
Wednesday 26 January
Health & Safety at Work The Gatehouse Centre, Hareclive Road, Bristol, BS13 9JN (9:30am-4:30pm)
What do school governors do and how can I take part? Venue to be confirmed. (7pm-9pm)
Tuesday 14 December (Bristol) & Wednesday 15 December (Exeter)
Thursday 27 January
Regional Briefing Sessions for Transition Fund (10am-12noon) Book by 6 December to: transitionsw@bigfund.org.uk Wednesday 15 December Neighbourhood Partnership Learning Session Trinity Centre Trinity Road, Bristol, BS2 0NW (2pm-4:30pm)
January 2011 Wednesday 12 January Bristol Youth Links Market Testing Event 2:30pm-5pm and repeated at 6pm-8:30pm. Contact: sarah.evans@bristol.gov.uk Tuesday 18 January Community Buildings Network Meeting Wicklea Centre, 281 Wick Road, St Anne’s, Bristol, BS4 4HR (10am-12:00pm)
Neighbourhood Partnership Residents’ Forum Redland Park URC, Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS6 6SA (6pm-8:30pm)
February 2011 Wednesday 9 February Volunteers and the Law Venue to be confirmed. (9:30am-1:00pm) Friday 11 February Action learning for Volunteer Managers. Venue to be confirmed. (10am-3:00pm) Saturday 19 February ‘Engaging with Parliament’ – find out what happens and how you can take part Shirehampton public Hall, Station Rd, Shirehampton, Bristol, BS11 9TX Thursday 24 February What is my Neighbourhood Partnership and how can I take part? (Take Part Training) Windmill Hill City Farm, Phillip Street, Bristol, BS3 4EA. (6pm-8pm)
For details of all the above training and events visit: www.voscur.org Company limited by Guarantee registered in England no. 3918210 Produced by circle-creative.co.uk Printed on 100% recycled paper using vegetable based inks