Thrive Oct/Nov 2010

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

www.voscur.org

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

www.voscur.org

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