1. Supporting Voluntary & Community Action April & May 2010
Inside Voscur’s
Magazine
A Millionaire comes to town
Election Special – four
candidates speak about their
vision for the voluntary sector
What makes a good leader?
Making Bristol accessible to all
Bristol Children’s Trust and the
role of the voluntary sector
The Wild Goose Cafe, beneficiary of the secret millionaire. Image: Matthew Symonds
Befriending opportunities with
Time2Share
African Initiatives
Update on Big Lottery funding
Bristol e-procurement – are
you signed up?
Lower your ICT power usage
Training and learning
opportunities

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3. Welcome
Contents
4 Editorial 26–27 Secret Millionaire
Bristol projects given record amounts
5–6 Voscur News
7-8 Sector News 28–29 How to – Funding and Finance
Update on Big Lottery Funding
Third Sector Commissioning
Select Committee Bristol e-Procurement System – have
you signed up?
Bristol Partnership – draft Third
Sector Strategy Bristol City Council Development Fund
9-13 Election Special 30 How to – Green ICT
Adeela Shafi, Conservative Get it down! How to lower your
power usage
Paul Smith, Labour
Glenn Vowles, Green 31 How to – Green Page
Paul Harrod, Liberal Democrat 10:10 Taking action on climate change
14 Voscur New members 32 Volunteering Bristol
Getting people with extra support needs
15 Vox Pops
into volunteering
Follow your leader
33 Voscur Member Profile
16–17 Leadership
Go Global with African Initiatives
What makes a good leader?
34 Public Benefit Reporting
18–19 Voscur Training and Learning
A brief guide
20-21 Have Your Say
35 Constitution Corner
Di Robinson, New Service Director for
Keep up to date on Charitable Incorporated
Communities and Neighbourhoods
Organisation status
Community Buildings Network
36 Diary
22–23 Equalities – Access
Voscur Training and Events in May and June
Bristol Physical Access Chain
24–25 Children and Young People
Bristol Children’s Trust and the Role of
the Voluntary and Community Sector
Profile – Time2Share
Why not advertise?
Thrive! is available on disc. Please contact the
Special discounts for Voscur members.
office if you would like to receive your Thrive!
Deadlines for June/July edition of Thrive!:
Monday 3 May for ads and Monday 24 May for flyers. this way. The newsletter is also available online
Details of prices at www.voscur.org/magazine or phone
as a pdf at www.voscur.org/magazine
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 10 April / May 2010 www.voscur.org 3

4. Editorial
Dear members and friends
I have been working with Marvin It was heartening to be asked at
Rees (the Bristol Partnership a meeting recently what Voscur
Director) since January, to members can do to support us,
co-ordinate a series of events and many of you have contacted
under the banner of the Bristol us to send messages of support
Partnership’s 20:20 week. during the infrastructure review.
So thank you all very much – we
My motivation for getting involved
do appreciate it.
was to ensure that the voluntary
and community sector was at the Unfortunately, we are going
heart of the events programme, through this at the same time
contributing to and leading as many of our member groups
different events in different are facing uncertain futures. We
parts of the city. I hope that if will continue to provide whatever
you haven’t been involved in support we can to our members,
organising an event, you’ve been and if we can’t help you we
able to get along to one. probably know someone who can.
Wendy Stephenson
It did feel a little odd, being a Anyway, during stressful times, it’s
member of the Bristol Partnership important to keep fit, so as part
and helping to organise an events of the 20:20 week, I asked the
programme which was about Cycling City team to help me with
launching the partnership’s 10 a route to work. I used to cycle
year plan, when we don’t know everywhere, but have become
whether Voscur will be here next fearful of cycling lately, and
year or not to help deliver it. want to rebuild my confidence.
I certainly need to improve my
Like many of you, I am leading an
fitness and reduce my carbon
organisation with an uncertain
footprint, so I hope that the next
future. The most important piece
time you see me, I will be able to
of our funding jig-saw, the City
Council investment, is secure until
tell you that I have arrived by bike! Key to symbols
30 September 2010. The services Wendy Stephenson
that we provide are under review Chief Executive Equalities Article
and the Council is looking at
different ways of providing the Training
kind of support that we offer. I am
cautiously optimistic that we will
Resources
be here in one form or another,
but we will have to wait and see.
Event
4 www.voscur.org April / May 2010 Issue 10

5. Voscur News
Job Seekers Delight – Recruiters get it Right
The Voscur website jobs section Jobs on Voscur’s website were New jobs are highlighted in our
is the most popular part of viewed 22,000 times by 7,000 weekly ebulletin distributed to
our website with over 70,000 people in February 2010. Our Bristol’s Voluntary &
unique visitors a year. top job in February for a Community sector.
Development Worker post at
We host adverts for Voscur
WECIL (West of England Centre Voscur website jobs
members and other local and
for Inclusive Living) was viewed by page: www.voscur.org/
national organisations and
1000 job hunters. view/jobs
companies. An average of 60 new
jobs are advertised every month. 50% of visitors to our jobs section To subscribe to the ebulletin visit:
are from outside Bristol, giving www.voscur.org/ebulletin
advertised posts a national reach.
Voscur welcomes new Compact Liaison Officer
We’re pleased to announce that Mark says, “I am very excited
Mark Hubbard will be joining about joining the team at Voscur
Voscur as the new Compact and working with public sector
Liaison Officer from the commissioners in these times of
beginning of April. change. I am looking forward to
working with Bristol’s charities
Mark Hubbard has worked in the
and community groups to
voluntary and statutory sectors
support their partnership
for many years. He has worked
working and involvement in
for small, local community
commissioning processes.”
groups as well as regional and
national charities and for several Whilst Mark settles into his new
local authorities. He has had role, if you have any enquiries Mark Hubbard
different roles – mostly under on issues relating to the Bristol
the headings of marketing, Compact please call the Voscur
fundraising, strategic planning office or visit the Voscur website:
and project management. www.voscur.org/compact
Date for your diary – Voscur’s Annual Conference
Make sure you have the date Poverty and Social Exclusion, the the work of our members – so
for this year’s Voscur AGM and theme of this year’s annual event look out for more details in the
annual event – Wednesday 20 will be around how the Voluntary June / July edition of Thrive!
October – in your diary. Community and Social Enterprise in Voscur’s weekly ebulletin and
Sector in Bristol is tackling on the Voscur website:
To highlight that 2010 is the
poverty. We will be showcasing www.voscur.org
European Year for Combating
Issue 10 April / May 2010 www.voscur.org 5

6. Voscur News
Many Voices, Many Ears
Have you read something in Voscur staff member directly by Suscribe to our YouTube
Thrive you want to ask Voscur email. Visit: www.voscur.org/ Channel:
about, seen something in the contact#staffteam
www.youtube.com/voscur
weekly ebulletin, read an item
We’re making increasing use of
on the website or just got Or comment on Voscur
Social Media so you can engage
something you want to ask us? Media:
with us better online if that’s
Who do you call? How do you www.slideshare.net/voscur
what you prefer:
contact us?
To discuss how to use these or
Of course you can phone You can follow us on Twitter:
other IT issues you can ask any
us on 0117 909 9949, our twitter.com/voscur questions on our ICT Forum:
knowledgeable admin team www.voscur.org/forum/342
Become a fan of Voscur on
who answer the phones will be
Facebook: or phone the Voscur office:
able to help or get you through
0117 909 9949
to someone on the team who bit.ly/a2PKDG
can. You can also contact any
Asset Transfer Consultation
As Thrive! goes to press, Bristol Voscur will be working with
City Council has announced the partners to arrange an
launch of he consultation on information event on the
its Community Asset Transfer Community Asset Transfer policy
policy. This consultation will run – look out for more details on the
until Wednesday 9 June 2010. Voscur website: www.voscur.org/
news/communityassettransfer
The Council is seeking your
comments and suggestions on
the draft policy that will ultimately
lead to an agreed, transparent
process for transferring the
management and/or ownership of
a council-owned property to Third
Sector (Voluntary Community and Malcolm X Centre, St Pauls – one of Bristol’s
pilot asset transfer projects.
Social Enterprise) organisations.
6 www.voscur.org April / May 2010 Issue 10

7. Sector News
Third Sector Commissioning
Select Committee
Bristol City Council has set up a Select Committee that is looking at how the
Council commissions services from voluntary, community and social enterprise
organisations in Bristol. Councillor Helen Holland (leader of the Labour group)
chairs this committee which started meeting in December 2009 and is made up of
councillors from all parties.
What is a Select Committee? National Good Practice Key points that Pauline
The aims of a Select Committee At its meeting in February, Pauline raised were:
are to: ensure that the Council Cimantas from the National
is meeting the needs of local Association of Voluntary and Commissioners need to:
people, improve performance Community Action’s (NAVCA) • Communicate their intentions
and achieve best value, check tender support project gave a and plans
whether desired results are presentation on examples of good • Think about how
being achieved, seek out errors practice from around the country. commissioning affects
in policy, implementation and third sector organisations
This meeting also looked at
procedures, enable action to be (particularly medium-sized
examples of good practice in
taken when things go wrong, organisations)
Croydon, where commissioning
and enhance councillors’ and • Use grants and contracts
has achieved beacon status in
public involvement in the appropriately
this area.
scrutiny process. • Use competitive tendering
The Select Committee is due to appropriately
How will this Committee run until April 2010, and meetings • Think about other ways of
achieve this? are open to the public. securing value for money
The learning from all of the • And particularly relevant in
To find out more and see papers
sessions of the Committee will the current climate – are
from the meetings visit:
be put together into a report they encouraging competition
tinyurl.com/ycz2usg
that will inform the Council’s and collaboration (at the
commissioning practice. same time)? What impact will
that have?
The Committee commissioned a
survey so that local third sector
organisations could share their
Next Meetings, both to be held
experiences of commissioning
at 10am at The Council House,
(good and bad). The results were
College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR:
presented to the committee on
31 March 2010 and will form part Monday 12 April
of the final report. Thursday 29 April
Issue 10 April / May 2010 www.voscur.org 7

8. Sector News
Draft Third Sector Strategy – Your
Views Invited
The Bristol Partnership is seeking your views on its draft third sector strategy.
You can read the strategy in full here: tinyurl.com/Br3rdSS and comment on it here:
tinyurl.com/Br3rdSSSurvey until 10 May 2010.
The draft strategy talks about the Enabling Commissioning without any implied or real
benefits of a strategy and the Transformation Programme threat to funding.
challenges for the third sector. recognises the added value and • Develop an Asset Transfer Policy
It describes the local context, social benefits the third sector that sets out the conditions
the drivers for change and talks brings to local communities. under which asset transfer
about the value of the sector. • Ensure that the third sector will happen for the benefit of
is engaged throughout the communities.
What should be in the commissioning cycle, including • Promote opportunities for
strategy? early involvement in community volunteering and increase
The document lists the strategic needs analysis, consultation and awareness of the benefits
priorities as: service design. of volunteering to local
• Implement Full Cost Recovery in communities.
• Achieve mutual understanding
commissioning processes.
and awareness within and If you agree with these, or
• Ensure that the council
across the public sector and the have more ideas, then please
complies fully with the Compact
third sector. make your comments on the
and that their staff champion
• Support the third sector to strategy by visiting: tinyurl.com/
the Compact throughout
access and participate in Br3rdSSSurvey
partnership working – including
commissioning and increase its
three-year funding agreements
role in public service delivery.
being developed as standard.
• Support the effective
• Ensure that communication
representation and participation
with the Third sector is open
of the third sector in cross-
and transparent and that
sector and neighbourhood
public sector partners provide
partnerships.
information, for example,
• Ensure that the Compact is
about commissioning that is
championed and complied with
easily accessible on the web
by all partners and that there
and through BePS (Bristol
are high levels of awareness of
e-procurements Service).
the Compact across all sectors.
• Promote the independence of
• Ensure that the sector
the sector and the right of the
has access to high quality
sector to challenge partners
infrastructure services.
and act as a ‘critical friend’
• Ensure that the Council’s
8 www.voscur.org April / May 2010 Issue 10

9. Election Special
The X Factor
Before June 2010 the Prime Minister will be required to call a general election. In
anticipation, Voscur asked four new Bristol prospective parliamentary candidates from the
leading parties for their views on the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector
(VCSE) in Bristol, and if elected, what they would do to ensure the local VCSE thrives?
Each of the prospective in influencing public decision- The deadline for your name to be
parliamentary candidates was making. added to the electoral register
invited to write 400 words for in time to vote in the May local
To read the full NAVCA pre-
Thrive! with the option of up to elections is 20 April 2010 (your
election manifesto ‘Strong
800 words on the Voscur website. name would be added by
Independent Roots’ visit:
See each of the candidates’ 28 April 2010).
tinyurl.com/ykgaoy3
contributions in full at:
To find out more about
www.voscur.org/haveyoursay/ No vote, No voice registering to vote call Bristol
election2010
Local elections will take place City Council electoral services on
in Bristol on Thursday 6 May, (0117) 922 3790 or visit:
Who’s my candidate?
and a General Election must also www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/
At the time of going to press,
take place before the end of content/Council-Democracy/
the date of the general election
June 2010. Democracy-Elections/register-to-
has not been announced. When
vote.en
it is available, and once the To be eligible to vote, your name
deadlines for local and for general must be on the electoral register.
election candidate’s nominations
has closed, full details of all the
candidates will be available on
the Bristol City Council website at
www.bristol.gov.uk/elections
A pre-election manifesto for
the third sector
NAVCA have launched a pre-
election manifesto calling on the
public sector to support voluntary
groups amid expected spending
cuts. It calls for five policy pledges
from the next government:
Commit all local public bodies
to fund local infrastructure so
it can support communities
Issue 10 April / May 2010 www.voscur.org 9

10. Election Special - Conservative
Adeela Shafi
Prospective Conservative Party Candidate
The First Sector (commonly known as the Third Sector)
As somebody who has always had close links with the voluntary
sector, both as a volunteer and as a Management Committee
Member in various posts, I am only too familiar with both the value
of the Third Sector as well as the challenges it faces.
A voluntary organisation is more recognised the value of the Third creating a level playing field
often than not the first port of Sector, which, in its simplest between voluntary sector and
call for vulnerable individuals form is the community pulling private providers.
and families, and it is only if together to deal with issues
As someone who is committed
these organisations are able to relevant and local to them. To
to the work of the voluntary
appropriately, signpost or work cut the bureaucratic burden on
sector and the role of volunteers
with that person, that there is smaller charities and ensure less
I have signed the ‘Support the
any chance of an issue being money is wasted on red tape,
Volunteering Pledge’.
dealt with. the Conservatives would reform
the Gift Aid system of tax-free Tel: 0117 9736812
For this reason it is vital that
charitable giving. Email: adeela@adeelashafi.com
the Third Sector is appropriately
funded and listened to. All too To help more needy groups benefit
often it is the government that from voluntary sector expertise,
dictates what is best funded in we would let voluntary groups
the voluntary sector, usually at the play a major role in running local
expense of the service user and services like Sure Start.
of the organisation providing that
To encourage more people to
service. The number of times I
dedicate time to charity work,
have seen voluntary organisations
we would lead by example in
having to alter their service to fit
Government, giving all central
the funding criteria is countless.
government employees an annual
It is demoralising and skews the
volunteering leave entitlement.
actual needs of the community
And to ensure voluntary groups
to reflect what the government
get the funding they need, we
thinks a community needs. That
would scrap the rules which
has to be wrong.
prevent them from making a profit
The Conservative Party has long when working for the Government,
10 www.voscur.org April / May 2010 Issue 10

11. Election Special - Labour
Paul Smith
Prospective Labour Party Candidate
I have worked in the voluntary sector for 20 years and value its
ability to innovate, trailblaze and reach people in a way the private
and statutory sectors do not manage. It has also become a spiritual
home for me due to these qualities.
Having run two national charities, growth. I would hope this
both of which were involved would continue but would
in supporting other charitable want to preserve the creativity
organisations, I understand and flexibility of the sector to
the frustration with short term undertake work which adapts to
initiatives and the ease with which, meet real needs in imaginative
when under pressure Government and flexible ways. I would also
departments and local authorities support funding for infrastructure
cut funding to the sector. organisations with the capacity to
lead and develop the sector.
I favour simplification of VAT
and other tax systems affecting I am excited by the expansion of
the sector and longer term genuine social enterprises and
funding with a clearer link to having taken my organisation
outputs and less focus on through the Social Enterprise Mark,
overbearing monitoring systems. I would be promoting the vital role
The government has devolved of this part of the sector.
too many services to expensive
and bureaucratic QUANGOs; Email: thepaduan@aol.com
I strongly support passing Website:
more of this funding to third bristolwestlabourparty.org.uk
sector organisations (and local
Blog: bristolwestpaul.
Government).
wordpress.com
Under Labour, the voluntary
Twitter: bristolwestpaul
and community sectors have
experienced unprecedented
Issue 10 April / May 2010 www.voscur.org 11

12. Election Special - Green Party
Glenn Vowles
Prospective Green Party Candidate for Bristol East
Green policies on the Voluntary, Community and
Social Enterprise Sector (VCSE)
Fighting for equality, sustainability, democracy, local community,
self-reliance and cooperation is inherent in being Green. We want:
fairness for all; to meet needs and provide plentiful opportunities
now and in the long term; openness and accountability; strong
and empowered local communities and economies; all people and
sectors working together.
VCSEs compete against vastly We would lay the basis for a distinctiveness to compete
better-resourced competitors, cultural shift in favour of VCSEs for contracts.
often on an unequal playing through a charter for volunteers
Good funding, effective capacity
field. Risk taking and innovation and carers, outlining the statutory
building, full cost recovery is
is a key characteristic of many right to time off for education,
what VCSEs need. Full and proper
VCSEs, putting them at the public service and voluntary
participation in decision-making
cutting edge: building civil society; work. Greens would introduce a
and proper use of the sector’s
strengthening democracy; minimum income level beneath
expertise in shaping communities
discussing and acting on issues; which no-one could fall, but
and meeting needs is vital to the
contributing to the economy; upon which people could live –
sustainable society Greens aim for.
helping people transition into jobs; a Citizen’s Income – financially
creating jobs; developing skills; underpinning volunteering. Website: http://
researching, developing; linking vowlesthegreen.blogspot.com
We would ensure Government
communities.
policy across all departments
Our policies commit us to: reverse recognises the contribution of
centralisation and empower local volunteers, and fosters a culture
authorities and VCSEs to help each which promotes and supports
other much more. Greens want volunteering as a key part of
quality education and training community life.
programmes which increase
All elected Greens pressurise
sector capacity at all levels. We
statutory authorities to abide by
would provide sustainable funding
Compact guidelines. We want the
to VCSEs and redesign the banking
divisive past few decades reversed
system with more emphasis
so that there is no artificial
on local communities and re-
separation between large and
circulating money throughout the
smaller VCSEs and no sacrifice of
local economy.
12 www.voscur.org April / May 2010 Issue 10

13. Election Special - Liberal Democrat
Paul Harrod
Prospective Liberal Democrat Candidate for Bristol East
The voluntary, community and social enterprise
sector is one of the jewels in Bristol’s crown.
I am the co-founder of Aspire, a social enterprise that creates full-
time employment for ex-homeless people, and which is still going
strong today. We could have picked no better city to begin such an
ambitious project than Bristol!
Today I am a board member of not just an outsourced arm of It is time to build on what has been
the Bristol Enterprise the State. achieved in the past decade, but
Development Fund which has a also to set VCSEs free – and with it
Part of the answer lies in opening
long history of supporting new bring a revival of local Government
up procurement rules – so that
community organisations. and greater democratic
Councils can contract with a local
accountability.
Nearly ten years ago I was on social enterprise rather than having
the first steering group of the always to go with the lowest cost Email: paul@paulharrod.org.uk
Government’s Social Enterprise private sector alternative.
Unit. So I have first-hand
It also lies with giving Councils and
knowledge of this Government’s
elected councillors, greater powers
support to the sector.
to invest in and regenerate our
However that has not been towns and cities. This would mean
accompanied by any commitment that VCSEs can be integral parts
to localism, nor any real innovation of a wider strategy for localised
in the way public services are public service delivery rather than
delivered or Councils are allowed just having to seek out funding
to operate. opportunities from yet more arms-
length Government agencies few
In reality, this Government has
may have even heard of.
been more wedded to central
control from Whitehall than any I helped set up Aspire in 1999.
in living memory. Since then the opportunities for
social enterprises have grown
If VCSE organisations are to thrive
exponentially. Yet they are still
they need to have the freedom to
kept in their box by a
develop, to take risks and to invest
Government machine that rules
in new opportunities. They are
from the centre and does not
trust in local autonomy.
Issue 10 April / May 2010 www.voscur.org 13

14. New Voscur Members
Who’s Joined Voscur Recently?
Alive! (Alive Activities Limited): www.bristol.gov.uk/arts Recycling Network UK, Furniture
Provides activity workshops for Tel: 0117 922 2000 Reuse Network, Community
people living in residential care Composting Network and London
– older people, those living with Envision: An award-winning Community Resource Network.
degenerative illnesses, physical national youth education and Provides development support,
disabilities, learning difficulties or empowerment charity which guidance and information and
more serious mental disorders. works with 16-19 year olds in represents community sustainable
schools and colleges to help them resource management groups.
To find out more visit: realise their own capacity to make
www.aliveactivites.org a difference. To find out more visit:
www.realliance.org.uk
Bangladesh Association: General To find out more visit: Tel: 0117 9071727
advice agency which is open to www.envision.org.uk
all. Main users are Bangladeshis Tel: 0121 722 7685 The Travel Foundation: The
and advice is provided in Bangla, leading resource for the travel
Sylheti and English. Peacemakers, Prayer Patrols: industry on sustainable tourism.
Aims to eliminate street crimes An independent charity, funding
To find out more visit: through the Prayer Patrols. and managing projects around the
www.bangladesh-association. Engages local residents, world, showcasing best practice.
org/association empowering them through
Tel: 0117 951 1491 training to identify the needs and To find out more visit:
Address: 539 Stapleton Road, to be part of the solution. Also run www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk
Eastville, Bristol BS5 6PE awareness sessions with schools Tel: 0117 927 3049
Bristol Hospital Education and work alongside the Police and
The W.A.S.P.S. Estate
Service: Provides education for other community projects.
Improvements Committee:
children who are too ill to attend To find out more email: info@ A voluntary community group set
mainstream school. prayerpatrol.org.uk or phone the up to “work to improve the quality
To find out more visit: 24 hour helpline: 07939 025724 of life, and the environment for
www.bristol-cyps.org. all residents of: Whitehall Road
What If – Youth Theatre: and Avenue, Alder Drive, Sycamore
uk/schools/contacts/
Provides accessible community Close, Plummers Hill, St George.”
bristolhospitaleducationservice
arts facilities for teenagers Represents about 100 elderly/
Bristol City Council – Arts, in Oldland Common and the disabled residents of the new
Festival and Events Team: surrounding areas. pre-fab estate.
Supports and organises events To find out more contact To find out more email:
across Bristol. Runs workshops Ben Searle, email: stella_hender@yahoo.co.uk
and other activities. Also provides keemananman@hotmail.com Tel: 07706 678921
advice and funding to young Tel: 07910 668258
artists and Key Arts Providers in
Bristol, e.g. the Watershed. REalliance CIC: A partnership
of four networks: Community
To find out more visit:
14 www.voscur.org April / May 2010 Issue 10

15. Vox Pops
Follow your leader
With both a general and local election coming up Bristolians will be helping to choose
the people who will be leading our city and country.
During March, we asked three Third Sector leaders to tell us:
What makes a good leader?
As Chair of I think you Kevin Curley
Voscur, I think have to believe identified the
the important in your mission steps that a
qualities and share your new leader of
of a good passion; have a voluntary or
leader are to understand a clear long term direction community sector organisation
and be committed to the but be open to new ideas. could take in order to be
work of the voluntary and The object is to create the effective in their work:
community sector; including trust and the space for your
A good leader should invest
the values, independence and collaborators to co-author
in their trustees so that they
distinctiveness of the work we the future and share in the
understand the vision and are
all do. achievement.
there to give support. They
I also think we need to work www.watershed.co.uk need to get to know their
even better and more closely members, users and funders
together and to do this we Dick Penny and build the confidence of
need honesty and clarity. I Chair of the Bristol Partnership members by keeping them up
think leadership also involves and Director of the Watershed to date with developments
us all being brave, venturing Media Centre and ask for their feedback. Put
from our comfort zones to income generation into place,
ensure that the sector plays an being aware that it can take 12
important and necessary role months to bring a return.
alongside the people of Bristol.
www.navca.org.uk
www.bartonhillsettlement
.org.uk Kevin Curley
Chief Executive, NAVCA
Joanna Holmes (National Association for
Chair of Voscur’s Board of Voluntary and Community
Directors and Chief Executive, Action)
Barton Hill Settlement
Issue 10 April / May 2010 www.voscur.org 15

16. Leadership
Leadership
When the best leader’s work is done the
people say, “We did it ourselves”
Lao Tzu
The role of a leader in a voluntary There are some activities that our services, the role of the leader
or community sector organisation you can do in the shorter term, is particularly important.
is a tough one. It may be the Chair such as environmental scanning
Another important leadership
of your management committee and networking which can
skill is to help the group deal with
that you look to for leadership, enhance your knowledge in ways
conflict and tensions and so keep
or the chair may delegate the that will help you contribute to
up the morale and commitment
leadership role to the paid the leadership of your group.
of the group.
manager or director. The health of
Knowledge alone is not enough
your organisation will owe much As a leader you will be a focus for
to be able to persuade – you
to the knowledge and skills of the the expectations of the group
have to be able to communicate
people in these roles. that you lead. When things are
knowledge skilfully. The art
going well, this is great, but when
What sort of knowledge of communication is another
things go wrong, the experience
contributes to the effective important leadership skill.
may be uncomfortable. It is
leadership of your As well as persuasion, you may common for a group to blame
organisation? influence through being a role its leader(s) if things go wrong.
You need knowledge of the model. This is another aspect of You will need to be able to take
group’s environment, in particular leadership, particularly in terms criticism and absorb some of
the opportunities and threats of establishing shared values the anxieties and tensions of the
that the group is likely to face. and standards of performance, group without overreacting. If you
You will need an understanding of behaviour and interpersonal can realise that this is a natural
the organisation’s strengths and relationships. and inevitable process, then you
weaknesses, a knowledge of what will be better prepared.
has worked well in the past and in Leadership in difficult times
The leader’s behaviour is
what circumstances. Any group will face anxieties,
important in maintaining cohesion
conflict and tensions at different
Much of this knowledge will be and morale. If you can keep a
times. As the recession begins to
acquired through experience, and, sense of proportion about the
bite, budget cuts have to be faced
if your budget allows, through problems facing the group, and
and with increased demands on
management training. maintain your own sense of
16 www.voscur.org April / May 2010 Issue 10

17. Leadership
enthusiasm and humour you will Voscur Summer
help the group cope positively
Training – Focus on
with its problems. Acknowledging
Leadership
the anxieties and fears which will
arise from time to time, without Our summer training programme
giving in to the attitude that aims to help local voluntary
the situation is hopeless, will and community sector leaders,
help the group to see that every whether you are a manager of
Jargon buster:
problem also has new creative staff or volunteers, or a volunteer
yourself on a trustee board. Environmental scanning =
opportunities.
There are courses in roles and identifying and keeping up
The strategic function of responsibilities of trustees, dealing to date with environmental
leadership is also important in with difficult issues in volunteer changes that could be relevant
maintaining morale. A group management, staff contracts and to the strategy or tactics of your
that has a clear sense of where handbooks, time management, group or organisation.
it is going and what it is trying to and understanding collaboration.
achieve, and that believes this to
be important, is more likely to be See over the page for more
Keep up to date
happy and motivated than a group information.
with sector news by
that does not.
subscribing to:
The above article has been
Voscur: www.voscur.org/
adapted from the Open Business
ebulletin
School Voluntary Sector
Management Programme. Third Sector: www.thirdsector.
co.uk/bulletins
NCVO Foresight Drivers:
www.3s4.org.uk/drivers
And Thrive! of course.
Issue 10 April / May 2010 www.voscur.org 17

18. Voscur Training and Learning
Welcome to Voscur Learning
Leading in the voluntary and community sector means that we need a range of skills – most of us don’t
have specialists to deal with human resources issues, or help us to think strategically. This term our
course programme aims to address some of the practical challenges of leadership. We are currently
planning sessions on supervision, and disciplinary and grievance procedures, so please check our
e-bulletin and website for more information. To find out more about any of the courses listed below or
to book on to any course please go to www.voscur.org/training
Voscur recognises that you may need courses tailored for your organisation. We can run in
house courses on many topics. Contact Sophie Bayley on 0117 909 9949 for details.
How to deal with difficult issues in NEW – LOW COST
Time Management for
volunteer management FULL Volunteer Managers
Thursday 1 April, 9:30am-1pm Friday 23 April, 9:30am-3:30pm
The Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Windmill Hill City Farm, Philip Street,
Southmead, Bristol, BS10 5PY Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4EA
This session will help you to support your Volunteer managers often have difficulties with
volunteers and think about how to use effective balancing many tasks. This session will give you
communication, problem solving and setting hints and tips to help you manage your time
boundaries to help you identity and manage more effectively.
difficult issues in your role.
Trainer: Sophie Bayley – Voscur
Trainers: Sophie Bayley – Voscur and Jenny Idle
– Volunteering Bristol
Employment Practice Network
NEW – FREE
Event: Staff contracts and
Trustee Series 1: Why am I on handbooks (Voscur in partnership
the committee? FULL with NCVO)
Wednesday 21 April, 6:30pm-9:30pm Wednesday 28 April, 2pm-5pm
Barton Hill Settlement, 41-43 Ducie Road, Barton Hill Settlement, 41-43 Ducie Road,
Lawrence Hill, Bristol, BS5 0AX Lawrence Hill, Bristol, BS5 0AX
This course will give anyone who has the role of Are you puzzled about staff contracts? What’s
a trustee a basic overview of their legal duties the difference in status between an employee,
and responsibilities and is ideal if you have just a worker and a consultant – what about
become a trustee or just want to brush up on volunteers? Understand the documents you
your skills. need in place at work, with this whistle-stop
tour of staff contracts, agreements and
Trainers: Sophie Bayley – Voscur and Graham
handbooks. To book on this course please go
Partridge – Avon and bristol Law Centre
to www.ncvo-vol.org.uk or call Emma Allford
on 020 7520 2496.
Trainer: Cornhill HR
18 www.voscur.org April / May 2010 Issue 10

19. Voscur Training and Learning
Trustee Series 2: Good Governance supporting equalities volunteers and the
– How to be a better Trustee benefits of a diverse team.
Wednesday 28 April, 6:30pm-9:30pm Trainers: Sophie Bayley and Ruth Pitter –
Barton Hill Settlement, 41-43 Ducie Road, Voscur
Lawrence Hill, Bristol, BS5 0AX
This session complements ‘Why am I on the Understanding Collaboration and
NEW – FREE
committee?’ and looks in greater detail at how your responsibilities – a session for
Trustees can be more effective in their role. The Trustees
session covers governance, skills of trustees, risk
Thursday 27 May, 10am-12:30pm
and liabilities and effective meetings.
Barton Hill Settlement, 41-43 Ducie Road,
Trainers: Sophie Bayley – Voscur and Graham Lawrence Hill, Bristol, BS5 0AX
Partridge – Avon and Bristol Law Centre
Voscur, in partnership with NCVO. Working in
collaboration with other voluntary organisations
Financial Management for the can make your organisation more effective,
Non-Financially Minded efficient and resilient. This session for people on
the board of voluntary, community and social
Thursday 6 May, 9:30am-3:30pm
enterprise sector organisations will cover drivers
Withywood Centre, Queens Road, for collaboration; duties and responsibilities; and
Withywood, Bristol, BS13 8QA different models of collaboration.
This practical course looks at example
Trainer: NCVO’s Collaborative Working Team
accounts of voluntary organisations. It will help
participants to make sense of their year end
accounts, communicate more effectively with First Aid in the Workplace
ACCREDITED
their auditor or independent examiner, and to
Wednesday 23 June, 9:30am-4pm
know what questions to ask. The course will
Venue to be confirmed
also help participants to present accounting
information to others and to use financial This accredited one day course will give you a
information more effectively. basic introduction to First Aid. By the end of
the course, candidates will be able to
Trainer: Chris Hickey – Phoenix Associates
demonstrate the essential knowledge and skills
needed when dealing with First Aid emergencies
Improving Diversity in your in the workplace.
Volunteer workforce Trainer: Brian Hibbert - BHTS Ltd
Wednesday 12 May, 9:30am-3:30pm
Windmill Hill City Farm, Philip Street,
Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4EA
This is for people who manage volunteers and
would like to diversify their volunteer workforce.
It will cover equalities and socially excluded
communities; looking at who you are reaching;
equalities Communities in Bristol; legislation
Issue 10 April / May 2010 www.voscur.org 19

20. Have Your Say
An Opportunity to Build on
Successful Work
We asked Di Robinson, the new Service Director for Communities and Neighbourhoods
to tell us a little about herself and the opportunities of her new role
My new role as Service Director for worker, for Bristol City Council,
Communities and Neighbourhoods based in Knowle West – my first
will start at the end of March. I am real introduction to working
really looking forward to getting with communities on their issues
back to Bristol and working in and priorities within their own
my home city on an agenda so neighbourhoods – I was hooked!
close to my heart. I have spent
From that point I worked
11 years of my public sector
for Bristol in community or
career supporting and developing
neighbourhood related roles
community and neighbourhood
for seven years, before being
working in one way or another.
appointed in Gloucester. I have
This role offers the opportunity
also worked in the voluntary and
to build on the successful work
community sector for four years
already happening across many of
Di Robinson
and a wide variety of private
Bristol’s communities and support
sector roles before that.
the delivery of some really exciting
developments. I have been working with key
colleagues over the past couple
Prior to this job I have been
of months to get up to speed as
working in Gloucester, most
much as possible before starting
recently as the lead for the
in Bristol, but I imagine my first
Customer Experience strand of a
couple of months will be very
large transformation programme
much focussed on getting to grips
for Gloucestershire County
with all the new responsibilities
Council, and for the previous four
of the new role, including getting
years as Neighbourhood Manager
out to see the new Partnerships
for a Pathfinder programme in
in action, meeting local
Gloucester City.
councillors, communities and
Some people may know that community organisations to hear
my first public sector job was about what is working well and
as a Community Development what isn’t so far.
20 www.voscur.org April / May 2010 Issue 10

21. Have Your Say
Laying Firm Foundations for a
Community Buildings Network
Over the past year, Voscur has worked with John Bos, Bristol City Council’s Community
Buildings Manager to establish a regular network meeting for those involved in running
community buildings (large and small) across Bristol.
At the fourth meeting of the such as Voscur, or one or
Community Buildings Network more of the existing voluntary,
in February, two proposals were community or social enterprise
discussed to help develop this organisations that specialise in
informal network into a clearer supporting community buildings.
and more organised body that Formalising the network would
could help influence both practical also require individual members to
and policy issues relating to sign up to being part of the CBN,
community buildings in Bristol. leading to the CBN having a more
representative role.
The first suggestion was for the
creation of a formal federation. More than 35 people attended
A number of existing community the last meeting of the network
organisations currently running and there was strong support
venues could create a Community to proceed with formalising the
Buildings federation. By CBN. Support for a federation
Community Buildings come in all shapes and
establishing a new organisation was not dismissed but it was felt sizes. Young Bristol building on Harbourside.
with its own trustees and staff, a it may not be the right time to
federation could work together proceed with this idea. Voscur will
and be more coordinated. A be working with the Development Find out more:
federation could take a lead Trust Association, Ethical Property Community Buildings
on issues such as negotiating Foundation and others to Network meeting on
contracts for a group of buildings, develop details for a formalised Thursday 17 June at
advising on HR issues and Community Buildings network, The Beechwood Club,
coordinating responses to policy and proposals will be presented Beechwood Road, Fishponds,
such at the councils expected and discussed at the next meeting Bristol, BS16 3TR
Asset Transfer Policy. in June. Visit: www.voscur.org/
networks/communitybuildings
The second suggestion is to
formalise the Community Buildings Or contact: Matthew Symonds,
Network (CBN). This could be led matthew@voscur.org or Tel:
by an infrastructure organisation 0117 909 9949
Issue 10 April / May 2010 www.voscur.org 21

22. Equalities - Access
Bristol Physical Access Chain
“Not just a nodding dog but one that can bark and bite too if necessary”
Bristol Physical Access Chain Typically today BPAC have been with BPAC. There have been
(BPAC) is an independent advisory groups working on: times where schemes brought to
body to Bristol City Council. All • Planning applications for public their attention have raised their
its members are disabled people buildings and sites hackles. This is where they show
who live or work in Bristol and are • Public toilets that they are not just a nodding
voluntarily giving their time to the • Taxi provision and accessibility dog but one that can bark and
work of the group. The emphasis • Paths and Parks bite too if necessary.
is on independent since this is • Public transport A common area where BPAC’s
essential to maintain meaningful • Training and advice for students opinion differs from many
two-way dialogue. and schools proposals is around the creation
So what do BPAC advise on? of shared use pathways. Members
Using skills learned from training
have made it clear that shared use
Their purpose is to ensure as in up to date research standards,
is to be considered only where
much as possible, that best BPAC advise architects and
the alternative, segregated lanes
practice is used to deliver services developers, as well as Bristol
or paths, cannot be achieved.
in buildings and places which are City Council, to determine
This has now become a national
fully accessible to disabled and achievable levels of access in
debate and BPAC has made sure
elderly people. city wide schemes.
that minimum standards need
Over the 11 years of BPAC’s BPAC have liaised on the design to be agreed and to be taken
existence they have been involved and operation of such schemes seriously. It is their view that there
in many of the schemes which as Cabot Circus, ss Great Britain, are very real risks for mobility and
have changed the face of Bristol the City Museum and Art Gallery sensory impaired people as well as
today. Members have always and new swimming pools and some older people.
taken the view that they should leisure centres. They are currently
endeavour to offer solutions fully involved with advising the Lobbying and publicity
rather than criticise without Primary Care Trust on the new BPAC can use their right to lobby
trying for resolution of the issues. hospital design for South Bristol at a local or national level on these
Experience has shown that this and the changes mooted for the issues and have featured in news
approach helps to deliver better M Shed (new museum of Bristol) articles throughout the years
services but also builds trust in development as well as many as well as speaking on radio and
the skills of the group and other projects. writing to councillors and MPs to
increases their reputation as a make their case.
Risks – shared use pathways
positive force.
However, as in life generally, Challenging poor design
there are circumstances where The main role of this organisation
people cannot agree on the right is to bring areas of concern
course of action and so it has relating to streets, spaces,
22 www.voscur.org April / May 2010 Issue 10

23. Equalities - Access
buildings the council owns or has
influence over and services that
are used by disabled or elderly
people, to the attention of those
best placed to make necessary
changes. This is not always easy
Blaise Castle Estate signage. This sign is meant to be tactile as well as visual and needs to be easily and sometimes requires diplomacy
reached from a wheelchair.
though more often tenacity. BPAC
challenge departments within
the council directly and ask them
to meet with them and account
for perceived failings. They will
combine with other disability
organisations to campaign for
better services and to correct
poor design or mistakes. They ask
for consultation to be meaningful
and the results to reflect the
desires and concerns of those
consulted.
Successful formula
Members come from all walks of
Celebrating the launch of the website identifying travel modes for disabled people in Bristol and life and use their combined life
beyond. BPAC were instrumental in advising on this. Visit: www.gettingaboutgreaterbristol.org
skills to strengthen the whole
group. This is a successful formula
which will continue to be built on
to ensure that the council and
other statutory and commercial
concerns designing the living
environment take disabled
people’s views seriously when
Job Shop car park: alternative uses for disabled parking bays when they are not occupied! designing the living environment.
Contact:
Eamon McClelland
Strategic Access Officer,
Bristol City Council
Tel: 0117 922 2315
Email: eamon.mcclelland@
bristol.gov.uk
BPAC helped to design the new entrance to the City Museum which has been a great success
Issue 10 April / May 2010 www.voscur.org 23

24. Children and Young People
Bristol Children’s Trust and the
Role of the Voluntary and
Community Sector
Alison Jackson from Bristol City Council spoke about the Children’s Trust arrangements
and Dom Wood from 1625 Independent People spoke of his experience as a Voluntary and
Community Sector representative, at the January Joint Children and Young People’s Network
These presentations, including the Meanwhile, the Trust is completing to plan and deliver local priorities
role of VCS representatives can a ‘light-touch’ review of the in response to the Children &
be viewed at: www.voscur.org/ existing Plan for April 2010-2011. Young People’s Plan. They also aim
meetingsebulletin#previous to maintain a relationship with
The Trust Board includes senior
Neighbourhood Partnerships.
The following is a summary of the representatives of all key partners
presentation by Alison Jackson. including the voluntary and VCS representation and
community sector (VCS). VCS involvement is essential to ensure
Bristol Children & Young representatives’ reports can be that local priorities are identified
People’s Trust viewed at: www.voscur.org/ and there are improved outcomes
The Children and Young People’s networks/children/reps for children and young people.
Trust is a partnership, led by
The Trust Executive Group
the Local Authority, that brings
supports the Board by ensuring
together key agencies to improve
the Board’s priorities are
all Children and Young People’s
implemented and advising the
well-being through integrated
Board on planning, commissioning
planning and delivery of services.
and performance. The Trust has
The Trust’s priorities include three Workstream Groups: Details of VCS
narrowing the gap in outcomes, representatives,
• Prevention and Early
focusing on prevention and early including those on the
Intervention
intervention, involving children, Locality Partnership Executive
• 14 – 19
young people and parents, and Boards can be accessed at:
• Raising Attainment
planning and commissioning www.voscur.org/networks/
services. These priorities will There are other strategic children/reps
inform the Bristol Children & partnerships that feed information Asma Ahmed
Young People’s Plan. into the Trust. These all have VCS Children and Young People’s
representatives. There are also Organisations Network worker.
The Trust will be responsible for
ten locality partnerships which asma@voscur.org
writing the Children & Young
develop a better picture of local 0117 909 9949
People’s Plan for 2011-2014.
need and bring partners together
24 www.voscur.org April / May 2010 Issue 10

25. Children and Young People
Fun and Friendship – befriend a
local disabled child or young person
Although more disabled children now attend mainstream schools they may still struggle
socially and need support to go out independently.
Time2Share, a small local charity, For example, we are looking for or couples take a disabled child
was set up in 1972 to support two friends or a couple to take out with them on trips out. They
disabled children and their families two brothers out in Bedminster. also need help with other areas of
through a befriending scheme and Or perhaps you could share an their work, such as youth groups
youth groups. For the befriending interest in all things Japanese with and babysitting.
scheme, local people are linked a teenage boy in Avonmouth?
with one disabled child who has You can contact
Time2Share covers travel expenses
similar interests to them, and then Time2Share by visiting:
and the families cover the cost of
they meet up each week for a time2share.org.uk or
activities (with some support from
couple of hours. Tel: 0117 941 5868. The
Time2Share). The scheme is very
Bristol Area Coordinator
They visit regularly and spend flexible and can fit around work
is Jenny Lyus. You can
time doing something which commitments. Friends or families
find out more and apply on
the child chooses to do. Current can also get involved together,
www.time2share.org.uk
activities include cycling, going and it can work very well if families
to the cinema, going for a walk,
visiting theme parks, going out
for a meal and going shopping.
The scheme is very flexible and
many parents say they appreciate
having someone around with
extra energy! It gives children
an opportunity to have an
independent social life and a sense
that they have someone who
comes to spend time just with
them. It also gives parents/carers
a chance to have a short break
and catch up with other things.
There are currently young people
living near you who are looking
for someone to befriend them.
Issue 10 April / May 2010 www.voscur.org 25

26. Secret Millionaire
Secret Millionaire
The money awarded to three Bristol projects
recently is the highest ever given in Channel 4’s
‘The Secret Millionaire’
Left to right: One25 caseworker, Karen, with
Dawn and Director, Gill Nowland
Hartcliffe and Teenage parents have ownership which has provided services to
Withywood Teenage of the service, from the day-to- homeless and vulnerable people in
day running of the centre Bristol for 25 years. They operate
Parents Project
through to decisions made at a person-centred approach to
Christmas 2009 at the Hartcliffe trustee level. Dawn’s donation give service users the support
and Withywood Teenage Parents will allow them to continue they need to change their lives
Project - redundancy notices were delivering services for the next when they are ready. Along with
being given out and the project year, as well as to set up a satellite the café, the charity also offer
was on the verge of closing. The scheme in Easton. They are going a drop-in centre, counselling,
day Dawn Gibbins knocked at their to roll out a best practice package help people into rehab and
door was a pivotal moment in to other communities so that offers resettlement support
the organisation’s fortunes. Her teenage parents across the city to people who have secured
donation of £100,000 has saved can benefit. accommodation.
the project and given it a new
lease of life. The organisation was both Alan Goddard, Drop-in Centre
shocked and exhilarated to find Manager, said “Dawn worked in
Deana Stone, Manager, said: out that the woman they thought the café and outreach service,
“What is really great is that had come as a volunteer emerged in order to get information
Dawn chose us because she was as a millionaire and a benefactor. about what it is like to be
impressed with our good practice homeless. Dawn worked closely
and sensed the enthusiasm and Deana added her gratitude to
with the Assistant Manager, Lisa,
positive spirit of the teenage Voscur for signposting Channel
as the programme was focused
parents who volunteer at the 4 to the project as a potential
on women.”
project. Despite the climate at participant in a programme that
the time – the project was due to Voscur thought was about the At the end of the eight days,
close – there was no negativity; voluntary sector in the recession. Dawn surprised the staff at the
people were still energised and café with a cheque for £130,000,
worked together. We are like a big
Crisis Centre Ministries the largest donation ever given
family. We envisage 2010 will be a Dawn also volunteered at the out on The Secret Millionaire.
fantastic year.” Wild Goose Café, one of the Alan continued “Dawn asked
services operated by Crisis Centre that £100,000 be spent on a
Ministries, a Christian charity
26 www.voscur.org April / May 2010 Issue 10