1. Supporting Voluntary & Community Action October & November 2009
Inside Voscur’s
Magazine
Hitting the Headlines –
Voscur’s Annual Event
Voscur Awards – last chance
to nominate
Safeguarding the Sector
Twenty’s Plenty
Social Enterprise Day
Intelligent Commissioning
Funding Opportunities
Social Class – an equality
strand?
Power to the People?
Image: Circomedia – André Pattendon
Charity Law Updates
Training and Learning
“For the last vacancies we had a huge response and
the standard of applicants was very high. We would
definitely use Voscur again.”
Circomedia recommend Voscur’s Website Jobs Page
2. 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 £322 & £574 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
3. Welcome
Contents
4 Editorial 22-23 Equalities
Social Class – an equality strand?
5 Voscur Annual Event
Different and Equal
6 Voscur and Sector News
24-25 Have Your Say — Power to the People?
New Chair for Voscur
Bristol Rape Crisis 26-27 Children and Young People
Take a Stand Gathering Voices
Voscur Children and Young People’s
9 Recession Support Network
Safeguarding the Sector
28-29 How To — Funding
10-11 Compact News Funders’ Fair 2009
Intelligent Commissioning
Web-based Funding Resources
Compact Newsletter
30-31 How To — Green pages
12 Sector News Green Maps
Schumacher Lectures
Twenty’s Plenty
Well Women
32-33 Duty to Involve
13 Member Profile Vital Role for Sector
Unchosen
34 Volunteering Bristol
14-15 Social Enterprise Week Opportunities to Volunteer
16-19 Voscur Training and Learning 35 Constitution Corner
Collaborative Working
Charitable Companies – keeping up
Voscur Learning to date with the Law
20 Vox Pops 36 Diary
Creative ways to reduce the negative
impact of empty shops on the high street
21 Voscur’s Website Working for You
Promote and Recruit via the Voscur website
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 December/January edition of Thrive!:
Monday 2 November for ads and Tuesday 24 November this way. The newsletter is also available online
for flyers. Details of prices at www.voscur.org/magazine as a pdf at www.voscur.org/magazine
or 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 7 October / November 2009 www.voscur.org 3
4. Editorial
Dear Voscur member/supporter
We are constantly evaluating The Regeneration Partnership
our work, and are reluctant recognised the importance
to yet again ask our members of community involvement in
what you think of our services, decision-making and for the first
but we want to make sure that seven years of Voscur’s life SRB
when we make an offer to the funding supported Voscur’s work.
Council to deliver infrastructure
When that funding ended in
services, we have our members
2002, Bristol City Council
behind us.
acknowledged our value by
Next year, Bristol City Council granting us a three-year service
intends to commission services level agreement. This gave some
Wendy Stephenson
such as those delivered by Voscur. stability and enabled us to apply
Voscur has been part of a group for other funding. Members
of local infrastructure providers began to ask us to provide think we should be doing? Please
that has worked with the Council support such as information visit: www.survey.bris.ac.uk/
to produce a survey, which aims and funding advice and in 2001 voscur/member2009
to find out the support needs of we registered as a Council I look forward to seeing you at
voluntary and community sector for Voluntary Service. When our Annual General Meeting and
organisations in Bristol. Using Bristol’s voluntary sector training Conference on Wednesday
the results of that survey, and organisation folded, groups asked 21 October. See page 5 for details.
feedback from discussion groups us to deliver training, which is now
and interviews, a Council project much valued by the sector. Wendy Stephenson,
group will design a commissioning Chief Executive, Voscur
Changes within the Council have
framework. This will describe how
meant that since 2005, Voscur has
the Council will (or won’t) buy
had one-year funding agreements
services like Voscur’s in the future.
(as have many of our member
Voscur was set up by groups) with the City Council.
community activists who We hope that commissioning will Key to symbols
got together and formed mean that short-term funding
the Voluntary Organisations arrangements will end and we will Equalities Article
Standing Conference on Urban once again have some stability.
Regeneration (VOSCUR) because
So, we are sorry to have to ask Training
communities in Bristol didn’t
you – we know you are probably
have a voice on the Bristol
surveyed out – please complete
Regeneration Partnership, Resources
our membership survey and tell us
which had been set up to
what you think of us, what could
manage the Single Regeneration
we do differently – or are there Event
Budget (SRB), a government-
things that we don’t do that you
funding programme.
4 www.voscur.org October / November 2009 Issue 7
5. Hitting the Headlines
Voscur Conference & AGM
Wednesday 21 October 2009, 9.30am – 2.30pm
St Paul’s Community Sports Academy, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, BS2 5NH
Voscur is pleased to welcome Councillor Barbara Janke, Leader of the Council,
to present this year’s Voscurs. Don’t forget to make your nomination for the
Voscurs at www.voscur.org/voscurs2009
We’ve got some great Bristolian prizes from local supporters for our Voscur
winners, including a balloon ride and a year’s subscription to our local listings
magazine, Venue
Debra Allcock-Tyler, the Chief Executive of the Directory of Social Change,
and an inspiring and challenging speaker, will open the event and give the
keynote speech.
We are mining the wealth of expertise within our membership who will lead
discussions on managing the media, getting a difficult message across, using
new social media and hitting the headlines.
Our media panel includes: Angela Frain, News Editor, BBC Radio Bristol; Richard Coulter,
Deputy Editor, Evening Post; Phil Gibbons, Director, Bristol Community FM and Stacy Yelland,
Community at Heart.
We know, though, that whatever we prepare for the day, the most valuable part will be the
contributions that you bring and the networking and meeting up with contacts and friends
old and new.
To book please visit: www.voscur.org,
email: polly@voscur.org or tel: 0117 909 9949.
Issue 7 October / November 2009 www.voscur.org 5
6. Voscur and Sector News
New Chair for Voscur
Voscur is independent charity, a limited proposed as chair because of her
pleased to company and a key force for leadership skills and experience.
announce that community development in
Wendy Stephenson, Voscur’s
its new chair is East Bristol.
chief executive said, “It’s
Joanna Holmes.
Joanna said “I see my role as great to have a chair from an
At its meeting
helping the Board work as a organisation so firmly rooted in
on 20 July 2009, Voscur’s
team, and I anticipate that a key the community. I look forward to
board formally elected
element of the work will be to working with Joanna”.
Joanna as chair, following the
support Voscur’s chief executive
resignation of Red Cottam, The Board formally thanked Red,
in her work.” Joanna hoped that
who has left the sector to and wished her good luck for
the Board would share other
pursue other interests. the future.
responsibilities, which may have
Joanna Holmes is chief executive historically been seen those of
of Barton Hill Settlement, a
community resource centre for
the chair.
Take a Stand
Tara Mistry, Voscur’s co vice-
Barton Hill and the surrounding Life Cycle provides free cycle
chair said that Joanna had been
area. The Settlement is an parking under our Take a
Stand scheme. Voluntary
Bristol Rape Crisis
sector groups, schools,
small businesses, surgeries,
in fact almost any type of
organisation, are welcome
As a result of a local campaign, Sunday afternoons, which will to apply.
Bristol City Council prioritised be extended by the New Year.
Cycle parking enables your
sexual violence against women
Women who use the service staff or visitors to travel by
in its Area Plan, enabling them
are supported by trained, bike. It also tells the world
to fund a Rape Crisis Centre.
sympathetic female volunteers that you welcome cyclists.
The newly launched Bristol Rape who understand about sexual Organisations based in Bristol
Crisis provides a specialist support violence and its impact on or in South Gloucestershire are
service for women and girls in women’s lives. eligible for up to four stands
Bristol who have experienced free of charge.
any form of sexual violence at
For details and to apply please
any point in their lives; this
download the Bristol and
includes rape, sexual assault,
Helpline: 0117 929 8868 South Glos application form
sexual abuse, stalking and any
from our website:
form of sexual intimidation. Contact: Vanessa Powell www.lifecycleuk.org.uk or
Tel: 0117 929 956 call us on 0117 353 4580 for
They currently offer a
Email: vanessapowell@ more information.
help-line service twice a week
bristolrapecrisis.org.uk
on Wednesday evenings and
6 www.voscur.org October / November 2009 Issue 7
7. New Voscur members
Who’s joined Voscur recently?
Addiction road rides around Bristol. The aim centre. They are always looking
Recovery Agency is to promote cycling as a positive for more volunteers and are
and enjoyable experience. run by a volunteer
The Addiction Recovery Agency
management committee.
(ARA) provides treatment to To find out more Tel:
thousands of people experiencing 07783 475680 To find out more visit:
problems because of drug and www.communityatheart.co.uk
alcohol misuse and dependency. Integrate Bristol Tel: 0117 353 3995
With 80 staff and 20 volunteers Works with refugees, immigrants
ARA is now one of the largest and minority ethnic groups in Calling the Shots (CTS)
voluntary organisations in the and around Bristol. Their work Films Ltd
South West. includes: being a resource for An award-winning production
young people up to the age of company based in Bristol.
To find out more visit:
21 through advice, assistance Established in 1998, CTS delivers
www.addictionrecovery.org.uk
and organising a programme broadcast, digital video and
Tel: 0117 930 0282
of physical, educational and multiplatform projects for TV,
Special Friends Club other activities. corporate clients and education
providers. CTS have a strong
Run by parent volunteers, it To find out more Tel:
track record in talent
provides support to families who 0117 963 8173
development, documentary
have children with disabilities
and special needs via a Holiday Circus Maniacs School and factual programmes.
Activities Club. Members have of Circus Arts To find out more visit:
opportunities to join an activity Founded in 1995, Circus Maniacs www.callingtheshots.co.uk
or outing every week during is an independent circus training Tel: 0117 930 0140
the school holidays throughout school operating as a not-for-
the year. profit company. The school The Learning Curve
promotes education and health by Delivers training within the South
To find out more visit:
encouraging involvement in the West. It aims to be a centre of
www.specialfriendsclub.org.uk
arts including, circus, acrobatics, excellence in supporting individual
Tel: 07982 719839
drama, mime, dance, singing, and organisational development
Bristol Super Rider music, visual arts and multimedia. in the voluntary and community
(BSR Cycling Club) To find out more visit:
sector and in widening access for
all communities.
Provides a cycling service to www.circusmaniacs.com
people of all ages. Supports Tel: 0117 947 7042 To find out more visit:
national charitable rides and also www.learningcurve.org.uk
has sponsored rides to support Bristol Somali Tel: 01225 792500
local charities. They have Fun Days Resource Centre
for families and young people and Somali residents work
also organise on-road and off- together in the running of the
Issue 7 October / November 2009 www.voscur.org 7
8. Recession Support
Safeguarding the Sector
Local picture There are more demands on the City of Bristol College can offer
sector to demonstrate its distinct learning opportunities for staff
Voscur has been visiting
value, its efficiency and value being made redundant, and
community groups in Bristol to
for money, to assess outcomes human resources support. Social
find out their support needs. This
and outputs, and the quality and Enterprise Works can offer one
has been an eye opener to the real
quantity of services. There is off sessions on business advice
effects of the economic climate
pressure to improve performance and business planning, the
on our communities. Many groups
and no room for complacency. Ethical Property Foundation can
share the challenges of reduced
support groups with property
working hours and funding cuts. With many organisations in the
health checks.
This has tightened the focus sector facing the effects of
around what groups can offer, the recession – even big names For further information about
and often means that staff and such as Shelter and the NSPCC what Voscur and other Bristol
volunteers are being stretched. are making job cuts – it is vital groups and organisations can
There are groups teetering on that third sector organisations offer please see our recession
the edge of collapse in this understand their legal obligations support page: www.voscur.org/
current climate, and some have if forced to downsize. Despite recessionsupport or contact Ruth
not survived. As organisations the Government’s announcement Pitter at Voscur: 0117 909 9949.
disappear the hard work invested of a £40m bailout for charities
to build services is being hacked earlier this year, many will face Top tips
away; retrieving what is being lost making redundancies over the Think one step ahead and plan
will be at an enormous cost. It is coming months. strategies for safeguarding your
within this context that working organisation. Here are some
together is vital. What help is available? quick tips:
There is help available – the • Ensure you are clear about
A firmer sense of number one rule is to seek which of your organisation’s
purpose support before it’s too late. activities contribute most to
The recession has instilled a firmer Voscur, with support from the your mission. If you have to
sense of purpose for many groups Bristol Partnership recession defer or cut activity you will
whose services are a lifeline mitigation fund and Quartet have a clear basis for doing so.
for individuals across the city. Community Foundation, can • Ensure your services are
Many community groups have offer help to groups that are meeting your members’ needs.
hopes to expand and develop struggling, or groups working • Analyse the demand for your
their services and it is important with individuals and communities services – bear in mind that the
to think more creatively about through the recession. Support on recession may put a different
sharing resources to achieve this. offer includes advice on funding slant on demand.
Voscur is encouraging groups to and commissioning, collaboration • Act quickly and decisively –
think about collaboration with and merger, governance support, good information systems
similar groups to strengthen their ICT, and free training places. are important alongside
services and broaden their vision In addition there are other strong governance.
for the future. organisations that can help.
8 www.voscur.org October / November 2009 Issue 7
9. Recession Support
• Consider ways to reduce costs National picture On the positive side, more
– back office suppliers and charities are now using the
Charity Times reported in July
bulk buying. recession as a management
2009 that research shows that
• Diversify your income opportunity, with 78% of
more charities are feeling the
stream and consider mergers respondents taking action as a
effects of the recession, and that
and collaboration. result of the recession, up from
56% of charities expect a decline
• Communicate with all 71% in November 08.
in their income.
stakeholders and remember this
But there has been little change
includes staff and members. The Charity Finance Directors’
in the number of respondents
• Retain and motivate your best Group, the Institute of Fundraising
who felt they had adequate
staff – try not to cut your and PricewaterhouseCoopers
financial planning systems in
training budget. research highlights that 80% of
place. In particular, only 56% of
• Be realistic and optimistic charities are expecting income to
respondents (a 1% drop from
about the increased demand remain flat or to decline.
November 08) felt they had
on your services.
Charities have seen a greater than adequate cash flow monitoring
www.nicva.org/index. expected decline in almost every systems in place.
cfm/section/General/ income stream. The exceptions are
20% are still expecting to see cuts
key/260309-Recession- statutory income, where 83% of
in services, despite the fact that
Toolkit respondents indicated no change,
36% expect to see an increase in
www.recessionsupport.org.uk/ although some 70% expect a
demand for their services.
main/index.php decline or no change.
Issue 7 October / November 2009 www.voscur.org 9
10. The Compact
Promoting the Good and
Challenging the Bad
Louise Clark, Compact Liaison Officer
In my role as Compact Liaison Officer, I am meeting commissioners
(people who are designing and buying services) and providers
(organisations that can offer services) to explain my work programme
and to make links with Compact partners.
A number of issues have already Eight Principles of Intelligent particularly those working with
been raised, which show me the Commissioning: hard-to-reach groups.
need to promote the good and 6. Ensuring contracting processes
1. Understanding the needs of
to challenge bad practice, helping are transparent and fair,
users and other communities
us all to work in a Compact facilitating the involvement
by ensuring that, alongside
compliant way. of the broadest range of
other consultees, you engage
suppliers, including considering
A key issue is the lack of with third sector organisations,
sub-contracting and consortia
knowledge of how commissioning as advocates, to access their
building, where appropriate.
processes work and of how specialist knowledge.
7. Ensuring long-term
decisions are made. The impact 2. Consulting potential provider
contracts and risk sharing,
of this is that providers either feel organisations, including those
wherever appropriate, as
disengaged with commissioning from the third sector and
ways of achieving efficiency
processes or they want to address local experts, well in advance
and effectiveness.
the reasons for not getting of commissioning new
8. Seeking feedback from
through the process, but do not services and working with
service users, communities
know what those reasons are. them to set priority outcomes
and providers in order to
for that service.
Equally, commissioners want to review the effectiveness of
3. Putting outcomes for users
make sure they are developing the commissioning process in
at the heart of the strategic
open and clear processes to meeting local needs
planning process.
providers. This is where the
4. Mapping the fullest practical The Compact needs to be
eight principles of Intelligent
range of providers with a reflected in all the ways the
Commissioning can help as a way
view to understanding the different sectors communicate
of determining if there is Compact
contribution they could make and work together. That is why
compliance taking place.
to delivering those outcomes. it is important that polices,
5. Considering investing in the procedures, partnership
capacity of the provider base, agreements, staff induction
10 www.voscur.org October / November 2009 Issue 7
11. The Compact
programmes and any work or Council is one such area. Staff
documentation refer to the working on the programme are If you need help to
Compact and that organisations developing the commissioning engage with the
sign up to the Bristol Compact. methodology for commissioners Compact, contact me
Checklists are in development and providers. They are keen to at Voscur on 0117 909 9949 or
to help organisations be ensure transparency, so have email louise@voscur.org.
Compact compliant. There will been working with me to You may also be interested in
be promotional events in the build in the eight points of looking at the national Compact
coming months to help support Intelligent Commissioning. website: www.thecompact.org.
compliance and further raise uk and Compact Advocacy can
The Compact News newsletter
awareness of the Compact. give further advice on Compact
that will be produced every two
This will include a Compact compliance: www.ncvo-vol.org.
months (current issue available via:
sign-up campaign. uk/compactadvocacy
www.voscur.org/compact) is an
I want to make the Compact more excellent place for you to share
than just good practice guidance. the Compact compliant work you
It needs to be meaningful – are doing and to promote the
something with the strength of good and give examples of where
the signatories behind it and a you have successfully challenged
tool to positively take forward the bad.
partnerships in Bristol. As we
There is a regional Compact too.
all begin to feel more Compact
At times, local organisations
confident and start to promote
provide regional services, or
good practice, we can share
may bid for regional tenders,
examples of how the use of the
so working with regional
Compact has benefited us and
structures also needs to
our service users. Where
encompass a Compact way of
Compact guidance has not been
working. The Southwest Regional
followed, we can develop a better
Development Agency is just one
way of working and not repeat
of the signatories to the regional
past mistakes.
Compact, which can be viewed at:
Some work has already begun
www.southwestforum.org.uk/
to ensure Compact compliance.
index.php?content=com
The Enabling Commissioning
Programme for Bristol City
Issue 7 October / November 2009 www.voscur.org 11
12. Sector News
From the Ashes of the Crash
Rebuilding the new economics — Saturday 17 October
Schumacher people’s pursuit of profit, creating including the Soil Association,
Lectures 2009 multinational companies and Resurgence, and the New
increasing specialisation results Economics Foundation.
Four and a half decades ago, the
in gross economic inefficiency,
green shoots of the environmental The Bristol Schumacher lectures
environmental pollution and
movement emerged following celebrated their 30th anniversary
inhumane working conditions.
the publication of Rachel Carson’s last year. One year on, in a global
Schumacher proposed using
book, Silent Spring, resulting in recession, the theme of the
localised labour and resources –
the banning of the pesticide DDT. conference is “From the Ashes of
putting people and relationships
the Crash”. This year the chosen
Fritz Schumacher’s book, Small is at the heart of what we do.
conference partner is the New
Beautiful: A Study of Economics
After Schumacher’s death in Economics Foundation.
as if People Mattered (1971),
1977, the Schumacher Society
also had a profound impact on For more information visit:
was formed together with the
environmentalists over a decade www.schumacher.org.uk
Schumacher Circle, an alliance
later. The book explained that Tel: 0117 903 1081
of like-minded organisations
Well Women Seeks Help
The trustees of Well Women Council and NHS Bristol to provide looking to expand its activities into
Information (WWI) are looking services. In recent years WWI has the field of women’s health.
for one or more local voluntary found it increasingly difficult to
The current trustees of WWI
organisations to take on recruit volunteer management
are keen to hear from
its services. committee members. In spite of
organisations that think that
this the staff have continued to
After more than 21 years they might fit the bill.
give a high quality service and
providing counselling, a drop-in
the remaining trustees have done
for health advice and information,
their best to support them.
a health project for Asian women
and many other services, the West At a recent special meeting of the
Street based organisation is being membership it was agreed that it
wound up. would be best for service users, For details please
staff and trustees to find another phone Carly Wong,
This is not due to lack of funds
organisation to manage the Tel. 0117 941 2983 or
but lack of trustees. WWI still
services. This could be a fantastic email carly@
has funding from the Big Lottery
opportunity for an organisation wellwomeninformation.org.uk
and contracts with the City
12 www.voscur.org October / November 2009 Issue 7
13. Member profile
This film season tackles a tough subject none of
us like to face, but sitting idly by and imagining it
isn’t happening is not an option.
Unchosen campaigns to raise within Bristol have started to work
awareness of human
trafficking in Bristol through
together. As part of Unchosen’s
campaign, they have facilitated
Film Listing
award-winning films, with meetings between the Police, All films have free admission.
talks by the Directors, live Bristol City Council, University Please visit www.unchosen.org.
performances and information. of the West of England and the uk for full details.
voluntary and community sector,
Human Trafficking, which includes Friday 6th November 2009, 7.30pm
resulting in the forming of the
people being forced into the
country to work and be exploited
first Bristol Active Communities UK premier —
is the second largest illegal
Against Trafficking (ACT) group, Victoria Terminus
which is based in Shirehampton.
industry worldwide, behind only Friday 13th November 2009, 7.30pm
the arms trade. Trish Davidson
La Forteresse
The five films being shown across Tel: 0117 370 6417
Friday 20th November 2009, 7.30pm
the four Fridays in November, trish@unchosen.org.uk
include the UK premier of ‘Victoria www.unchosen.org.uk Lillja4Ever
Terminus’, about the survival
Friday 27th November 2009, 4.30pm
of street kids in Mumbai; ‘La
Forteresse’, which penetrates a Ghosts
Swiss reception centre for asylum (Post Film Talk by Nick
seekers; and ‘Ghosts’, made by Broomfield)
world-renowned documentary
Friday 27th November 2009, 7.30pm
maker Nick Broomfield following
the drowning of 23 Chinese cockle Rough Aunties
pickers in Morecambe Bay in 2004. (South West Premiere)
For the second year, film Venue:
director Nick Broomfield is the Full Cinema Screen with
free festival’s patron and he will stereo sound.
once again be giving a talk about
St. Stephens Church,
his work.
21 St. Stephens Street,
Since last year’s Film Festival, Bristol BS1 1EQ
the anti-trafficking organisations
Issue 7 October / November 2009 www.voscur.org 13
14. Social Enterprise Day – 19 November 2009
A celebration of social enterprise
within Global Entrepreneurship Week
“Global Entrepreneurship
Make Your Mark running a national How can you be
Week is a shining example of
enterprise challenge competition
involved in Social
for 14-19 year olds.
Britain leading the world in Enterprise Day?
enterprise and innovation. At In 2008, RISE, the regional
Photo Competition
this time of unprecedented infrastructure organisation for
global change, I congratulate social enterprise in the South There is a great opportunity for
everyone involved in Global West, organised a series of school good, free marketing through
Entrepreneurship Week for events across the South West entering the second social
encouraging people and and Stuart Griffin from Social enterprise photo competition. In
countries to work together Enterprise Works delivered five the South West this is being run
to find new ways to succeed.” workshops in Bristol schools to by RISE.
get the young people to explore Take a photo that you think shows
Gordon Brown,
ideas for social enterprise. how social enterprise is more
Prime Minister,
Stuart will be delivering three than ‘business as usual.’ You’ll be
November 2008
workshops on Social Enterprise expected to caption your photo
Day, 19 November, to students at so use that space to tell the story
Global Entrepreneurship Week Writhlington School in Radstock. behind the image – the photo will
(16-22 November 2009) is We also hope to work with schools be judged on how it looks, but
a worldwide movement of in Bristol during the week. also on the story it tells. Email your
entrepreneurial people, with Writhlington School is a wonderful photo to: photocompetition@
millions turning their enterprising example of school based social socialenterprise.org.uk by
talents and ideas into reality. Last enterprise. The aim of their 19 October. Images must be hi-res
year, there were 24,966 events orchid project is for students to (2MB or more). The winner for
and activities run in 77 countries, set up and manage international South West England will then go
attended by more than 3.06 conservation projects based on to compete for the national
million people (644,000 of which around innovative enterprise and prize for England, judged by the
were in the UK). excellence in science, and they Social Enterprise Ambassadors.
That massive level of activity really succeed. Over 60 students At the time of writing (August)
covers every aspect of are involved in the project, meetings are being held with the
entrepreneurship. In the UK which supplies orchids to Kew Regional Development Agency
there has been a strong focus Gardens and the Eden Project and to develop the programme of
on entrepreneurship and young conservation projects in South activities for Entrepreneurship
people, with organisations such as America and Asia. Week in Bristol so there will be lots
14 www.voscur.org October / November 2009 Issue 7
15. Social Enterprise Day – 19 November 2009
of opportunities to participate. evidence clear social aims and trading social enterprise, so it is
Social Enterprise Works will be achievements, and whose profits worth keeping an eye on these
holding free drop-in support and assets were used to support new developments.
surgeries during the week and the those social aims and generate at
Elaine Flint
Voscur Assembly held that week least 50% of income from trading.
Social Enterprise Works
will have a social enterprise theme.
As a trading social enterprise
Visit our websites for more details: Tel: 0117 907 0080
ourselves, Social Enterprise Works
www.socialenterpriseworks.org
has been awarded the Mark and
or www.voscur.org
joins a number of other Mark
holders in Bristol including SOFA,
Social Enterprise Mark Social Enterprise Works
Watershed, Bristol Community
The Social Enterprise Mark that provides support to new
Transport and many more. The
was developed here in the South start and existing social
new national Mark will have the
West will be going national on enterprises. Lots of resources and
same criteria for full accreditation,
Social Enterprise Day. The Mark tools for business development
but may also have a second level
was developed for qualifying are available on our website.
for organisations that are working
organisations which could www.socialenterpriseworks.org
towards being a sustainable,
Issue 7 October / November 2009 www.voscur.org 15
16. Voscur Training and Learning
Collaboration — should you do it?
‘…all charities should consider seriously and imaginatively whether there
are ways in which they could do more and better for their users by
working together.’
The Charity Commission, ‘Collaborative Working and Mergers’ (2003)
What is collaborative What are the potential • Complexity in decision-making
working? benefits and risks of and loss of autonomy
The Collaborative Working Unit collaboration? • Diverting energy and
resources away from core
at The National Council for Collaborative working is not
aims – mission drift
Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) right for every organisation.
• Damage to or dilution of your
defines collaborative working Carefully identifying any issues of
brand and reputation
as partnership between two or concern will help to establish if
• Damage to organisation
more voluntary organisations. collaboration is appropriate.
and waste of resources if
Organisations can work together
Benefits include: collaboration is unsuccessful
in a spectrum of ways from
informal networks, through joint • New or improved services
What areas do you need
delivery of projects to full merger. • Wider geographical reach or
to consider?
access to new beneficiary
What forms does groups
You should think through all the
collaborative working take? • Financial savings and better
implications before you start
working collaboratively. With
• Separate organisations use of existing resources
planning, you can manage the
maintain their independence, • Knowledge, good practice
risks. Consideration of what is
but work jointly on some and information sharing
best for your beneficiaries should
activities or functions • Sharing the risk in new and
underlie all your thinking. Trustees
• Organisations with resources or untested projects
must ensure their organisation
expertise offer assistance to • Stronger, united voice
acts legally and that professional
other organisations. • Better co-ordination of
advice is taken where relevant.
• A new organisation to work organisations’ activities
jointly on some activities or • Mutual support between Allow yourself enough time to
functions organisations make an informed decision. It is
• A group structure where a better to identify obstacles early
Collaborative working should
‘parent’ organisation governs and not to proceed, than invest in
enable you better to meet
a group of ‘subsidiary’ a fruitless partnership venture.
beneficiary need.
organisations
• Merger to form a new
Risks include:
organisation working as one
• Outcomes do not justify the
body on all activities
time and resources invested
16 www.voscur.org October / November 2009 Issue 7
17. Voscur Training and Learning
Questions you should 3. Do you both see your
consider respective inputs and Further advice
1. What are you hoping to
outputs as fair? and support
4. Do other organisations
achieve through collaboration? Collaboration
have experience of working
2. Are you sure that collaborative Support skills for
with them?
working is the best way to development workers
achieve this aim?
Overcoming Obstacles Tuesday 6 October,
3. Who proposed the idea? Do
Wednesday 7 October
they have a vested interest? If you decide you want to go
4. Do your Trustees and Chief ahead, there may still be obstacles Barton Hill Settlement,
Executive support the idea? in the way to a successful 43 Ducie Road, Bristol BS5 0AR
5. Does it fit within your collaboration. These include: Tel: 0117 955 6971 or email:
organisation’s charitable personalities; competition garyb@bartonhillsettlement.
objects as stated in your between partners; lack of org.uk
governing document? information and experience;
6. Do your plans for lack of resources, especially The National Council
collaborative working fit at decision-making stage and for Voluntary
your strategic vision, values resistance to change. You can Organisations
and current priorities? overcome these obstacles by Tel: 0800 2798 798
ensuring there are:
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/
How will the working
• Good personal relationships collaborate
relationship work?
• Compatible cultures or an
www.askncvo.org.uk
You may have in mind a potential understanding of different
partner that you already know and cultures Charity Commission
trust. However, it is important to • Written agreements contact centre
compare organisational culture • Experience of change
Tel: 0870 333 0123
and working practices. You management, leadership
will also need to consider your and vision Email: enquiries@
organisation’s culture, financial • Resources charitycommission.gsi.gov.uk
management, public relations and • Clear and agreed mutual www.charitycommission.gov.uk
what effect collaboration will have benefits
on your public profile and the • A focus on the big picture Information in this article is taken
from National Council for Voluntary
staff you need. • Careful planning Organisation’s Collaborative
Working Unit.
• ICT tools
Consider these questions
Finally don’t do this alone, speak
1. How might formal
to others who have done it, get
collaboration change an
legal advice when needed and
existing relationship with
get in contact with NCVO for
your partner?
further support.
2. Do you have clear, shared
aims for the collaboration?
Issue 7 October / November 2009 www.voscur.org 17
18. Voscur Training and Learning
Welcome to Voscur Learning
This term we have lots of new courses and events; some free and some low cost as well as a new early
bird scheme to help you pay for our courses. The early bird scheme means that full members get 10%
off the cost of our courses if they book at least 1 month before the event (this does not cover our
volunteer managers’ courses)
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.
Recruitment of Volunteers New session covers governance, skills of trustees, risk and
liabilities and effective meetings.
Thursday 1 October 2009 (9.30am - 3.30pm)
Black Development Agency, Single Equalities Bill New
Russell Town Avenue, Redfield, Bristol BS5 9LT
Wednesday 14 October (10am - 1pm)
This session is for people who manage volunteers
This session will cover basics of the new Single
and would like to know more about effective
Equalities Bill and will give you a chance to consider
recruitment. It will cover volunteer motivation;
how the duties for public sector bodies impact on
barriers to volunteering; recruitment techniques
your organisation and your users. There will be tasks
and processes; developing adverts for volunteer
and exercises that you can take back and use within
roles and action planning.
your own settings in terms of best practice.
Trustee Series 1 – Why am I on
CWDC (Children’s Workforce
the committee?
Development Council)
Tuesday 6 October 2009 (10am - 1pm) Common Induction: Generic
The Federation of City Farms, The GreenHouse, Multi-Agency Training
Hereford St, Bristol BS3 4NA 19 & 20 October and 10 & 11 November
This course will give anyone who has the role of a 2009, dates and venue to be confirmed.
trustee a basic overview of their legal duties and This is for practitioners in the Children’s Workforce,
responsibilities and is ideal if you have just become a working at NVQ Levels 3 & 4. It will cover principles,
trustee or just want to brush up on your skills. values and legislation; understanding Children
and Young People’s (CYP) development; building
Trustee Series 2 – Good Governance –
relationships and communicating with CYP and
How to be a better Trustee.
keeping CYP safe from harm. This is a pilot run by
Tuesday 13 October 2009 (10am - 1pm) Bristol City Council. Four grants are available from
The Federation of City Farms, The GreenHouse, Voscur for the cost of supply cover, contact Emma
Hereford St, Bristol BS3 4NA Rice: emma@voscur.org for details. To book a place
This session complements ‘Why am I on the contact Julie Upson, email:
committee?’ and looks in greater detail at how Julie.upson@bristol.gov.uk
Trustees can be more effective in their role. The
18 www.voscur.org October / November 2009 Issue 7
19. Voscur Training and Learning
Retention and Support of and methods of Full Cost Recovery, to ensure that
Volunteers New (Full) your funding applications take account of how new
projects impact on your existing services.
Tuesday 20 October 2009 (9.30am - 3.30pm)
For people who manage volunteers and would like to
Working Together – Child Protection
know more about how to support and retain them.
Level One Training
This session will cover the importance of: induction; Monday 23 November 2009 (9.30am – 4pm)
other ways of supporting volunteers; supervision; The Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road,
why people stop volunteering; recognition and action Southmead, Bristol BS10
planning. To add your name to the waiting list please
This is for anyone who has frontline responsibility
email: lucy@voscur.org
for the protection and safeguarding of children and
particularly for anyone working with young people.
Improving Diversity in your
It will cover definitions, signs and symptoms of
Volunteer Workforce New
abuse, multi-agency child protection procedures and
Wednesday 11 November 2009 guidelines and how to make a referral to social care.
(9.30am - 3.30pm)
The Park Centre, Daventry Road, Knowle, Monitoring and evaluation – an
Bristol BS4 1QD introduction New
For people who manage volunteers and would like Wednesday 25 November 2009
to diversify their volunteer workforce. It will cover (9.30am - 3.30pm)
equalities and socially excluded communities; looking @ Symes Community Building, Peterson Avenue,
at who you are reaching; equalities Communities in Hartcliffe, Bristol BS13 0BE
Bristol; legislation supporting equalities volunteers
This new training will help you understand monitoring
and the benefits of a diverse team.
and evaluation (M&E). It is for people who are quite
new to M&E and who want to know about outcomes
Supporting your Volunteer
and indicators, ways of collecting information, the
Board New
questions you need to ask and how to use the data.
Tuesday 17 November 2009 (9.30am - 1pm)
Black Development Agency, Russell Town Data Protection & Confidentiality New
Avenue, Redfield, Bristol BS5 9LT Thursday 26 November 2009
This is for chief executives or managers who would (6.00pm - 8.00pm)
like to support their volunteer board more effectively.
Burges Salmon LLP, Narrow Quay House,
This session will cover roles and responsibilities of
Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4AH
trustees; the management / governance split; skills
This session, run by Burges Salmon Solicitors, will
audits for board and other support; how you can
consist of a run through of the Data Protection Act
retain your board and how to improve meetings.
and the law of confidentiality considering practical
Full Cost Recovery applications for organisations.
Wednesday 18 November (9.30am - 3.30pm) If you want to book onto any of our events
Barton Hill Settlement, Ducie Road, Barton Hill, or training then go to www.voscur.org
Bristol BS5 0AX where you will find more information, or call
This course will give you an introduction to the theory us on 0117 909 9949.
Issue 7 October / November 2009 www.voscur.org 19
20. Have Your Say - Vox Pops
Creative Ideas for Empty Shops
As the recession bites, neighbourhoods are suffering from empty shop units. Bristol is one of 57 cities
to receive more than £50,000 from the government to help areas hit hardest by the recession find
creative ways to reduce the negative impact empty shops are having on the high street.
We asked Voscur members what they think this money should be used for, and whether they think that the
voluntary and community sector could make good use of empty shop units in Bristol.
“I would “We’re “Church Road
strongly advise fortunate in in Lawrence
that retail Hartcliffe and Hill has had
outlets be Withywood as many empty
made available we’ve had the shop units that
for the community to use for Symes Avenue shops boosted have been taken over by local
any kind of activity but make but there are smaller shops in Somali people. Empty shop
it easier for them to use. Red the area that could probably units could be really good for
tape is a barrier – try and cut do with support to get more new local business starts ups.
down on the red tape through custom to their area. In St Organisations like Bristol East
the council and make access Paul’s (where I work) there are Side Traders could help to get
(to empty shops) a bit better. quite a few shop units that are empty shops filled again.”
In Brislington it would be really not being used and a massive
nice to see shops used to building – Westmorland House Dave Hobson,
display some local artwork that is derelict, that people
Barton Hill Settlement
and also as a showcase for have been trying to get
what’s actually available to developed for several years.
the community.”
The use of some of these
empty shops for studios and
Liz Venn, to promote art has been
Brislington Neighbourhood favoured within St Paul’s
Partnership community. I think also giving
new small businesses the
opportunity to use empty
units on a temporary basis to
see if the business that they
wanted to get going would
actually work, would be a
really good idea. It would be
great to support projects
helping young people with
small business.”
Tracy Edwards Brown,
Hartcliffe and Withywood
Community Partnership
20 www.voscur.org October / November 2009 Issue 7
21. Voscur’s Website Working for You
Promote and Recruit
via the Voscur website
Jobs Page opportunities. We have recruited On-Line Diary
a number of people via the
Voscur job ads “effectively reach Add your event to our on-line
Voscur website and would highly
skilled local people actively diary www.voscur.org/event
recommend it!”
looking for new opportunities”
Bridget Gillespie, Bristol Noticeboard
Recruiting or looking for a job – Drugs Project
Advertise on our noticeboard
look no further than the Voscur
www.voscur.org/view/
website – here’s what some of “The system is quick and easy to
classified-ads
our advertisers say: use and we have had a lot of good
and relevant applications thanks to
“For recruitment advertising
Ebulletin
the Voscur website. The staff are
Circomedia have used Voscur on always helpful.” Keep in touch with the latest
a couple of occasions and have news, publicise your own event,
Terry Jones, Survive
been delighted with the service. meeting or announcement via
For the last vacancies we had a “I have used Voscur’s online the Voscur ebulletin.
huge response and the standard job advertising service on
To subscribe to the Voscur
of applicants was very high. We two occasions. I found it very
e-bulletin visit:
would definitely use Voscur again.” easy to use and the inputting
www.voscur.org/ebulletin
William Pritchard, Circomedia of information was very
straightforward. It is a very quick To submit your news, email 75
“The application process to way to advertise a job to a wide words, including contact details
advertise with Voscur is extremely range of people and is good to: stephanie@voscur.org
easy and the staff at Voscur are value for money for member
always helpful. The response to organisations.”
an advert on the site is always Lynn, St Werburghs City Farm
positive and the site itself is
easily accessible.” Our jobs pages get over 138,000
Lyn Campbell, Single Parent views a year. Jobs are added on a
Action Network (SPAN) daily basis; you won’t believe how
Please contact Polly
little it costs to advertise your
Stewart to discuss how
“We regularly advertise with job, especially if you are a Voscur
your organisation can
Voscur as its easy to use, member. To find out more go to
make the most of Voscur’s
affordable and most importantly, www.voscur.org/view/jobs
website: 0117 909 9949 or
effectively reaches skilled local
email: polly@voscur.org
people actively looking for new
Issue 7 October / November 2009 www.voscur.org 21
22. Equalities
Social Class — An Equality Strand?
Socio-economic duty
Is social class likely to become an
equality strand? The Government
is introducing a Duty on public
service providers to take in to
account social mobility when
planning and developing services.
Social class is an issue that
the delivery of public services or employment are far more likely
most of us tend to have strong
such as education and health, to go to prison, each one costing
opinions about; it often causes
and the immediate impact of between £15,000 and £50,000 per
passionate debate and is an
the economic downturn can year for each prison place.
aspect on which individuals get
negatively affect the life chances
judged, stereotyped, and have Allowing public bodies like health
of individuals.
assumptions made about them. authorities to take into account
It is a major cause of disadvantage Considering socio-economic deprivation in their area will
and discrimination. Here is the disadvantage will be important in help them properly tackle issues
Equality and Human Rights driving social mobility. Educational such as preventing heart disease
Commission’s (EHRC) response to success is the most important and obesity-related illnesses,
the social economic duty outlined contributor to life chances. potentially saving the NHS money
in the Single Equality Bill. in the long term.
According to research released
‘We welcome the government’s The Commission’s role will be
by the Government’s Social
decision to require public to use the legislation and
Mobility Commission research,
authorities to consider socio- powers currently available, such
three-quarters of judges
economic disadvantage in as the public duties and the
and 70% of finance directors
the planning and monitoring Human Rights Act, in order to
were independently schooled,
of the services they provide. create social change. It will
as were 45% of senior civil
The Commission was an early assess the impact of particular
servants and 32% of MPs. At
supporter of this provision forms of disadvantage
the other end of society 85%
because we believe to ignore through using a consistent
of white boys from low
socio-economic disadvantage measurement framework.
socio-economic groups do
means you ignore some of the
not get five decent GCSEs.
most deep-rooted discrimination For more information on
in the UK’. the EHRC’s response to
Failing to tackle the root causes the Bill in relation to the
Socio-economic disadvantage
of this inequality early on in life Equality strands please see:
is one of the many complex
could cost the taxpayer more in www.equalityhumanrights.com/
structural causes of discrimination
the long term, for example, young legislative-framework/equality-
and inequality. Factors such as
people who aren’t in education bill/summary-of-our-response
changes in the labour market,
22 www.voscur.org October / November 2009 Issue 7
23. Equalities
Different+equal
The University of the West of The different types of EIAs you will previously the impact may have
England (UWE) has produced need to think about are: been negative.
an easy-to-use tool to help you
Adverse impact: assessing if You can use the tool (which
carry out equalities impact
decisions or services although is produced as a set of cards
assessments (EIA) on your work
seemingly benefiting a range of with a series of questions to
and services.
groups, might cause a specific work through) with your board
We tend to think of EIAs as a group to experience an unequal or members, or staff team.
remit for statutory services, but negative impact
it is good practice for voluntary
Differential impact: assessing how For more information
groups to think about the impact
different groups might experience and a pack of the cards
of changes, particularly in this
your service, even though it may please contact: Angelina
economic climate when changes
not cause any negative impacts Carrozza, Equality and Diversity
could have severe effects on
Manager, Human Resources,
individuals and communities who Positive impact: assessing if, or
UWE Bristol. Email:
use our services. how, changes in decisions or
angeline.carrozza@uwe.ac.uk
services might impact positively
Tel: 0117 328 1641
on a specific group where
Bristol Equalities Network
13 October, 2009, 1pm – 3.30pm, The St Werburghs Centre, Horley Road, St Werburghs, Bristol BS2 9JT
The next Equalities Network agreeing a proposal that can be attend to discuss the council’s
will focus on Equalities and taken to the Bristol Partnership current strategy on community
the Bristol Partnership, and Executive, drawn up from wider cohesion in Bristol.
community cohesion. consultation and subsequent
Lunch is provided but you will
working group meetings.
A series of meetings have taken need to book.
place this year to discuss Equalities The process of equalities
To book your place please visit:
representation on the Bristol representation on the Bristol
www.voscur.org
Partnership. The process has been Partnership will be discussed at
slower than expected; many of the next network meeting and
those involved in trying to move participants will be updated For more information
the process forward are doing so on the current situation. The please contact
with limited capacity. Equalities Network will be held on Ruth Pitter on
13 October, from 1pm to 3.30pm. ruth@voscur.org or
Discussions have been moving
emma@voscur.org
on with Linda Prosser, the Bristol Jon House, Deputy Chief Executive
Tel: 0117 909 9949
Partnership Director, about of Bristol City Council will also
Issue 7 October / November 2009 www.voscur.org 23
24. Have Your Say
Power to the people?
Council proposals for devolving more decision making to neighbourhoods were unveiled at the
September meeting of the Neighbourhood Partnership Residents Forum (see Voscur quick guide
insert to the proposals in this issue of Thrive! or online at www.voscur.org). We asked residents from
community and voluntary organisations across Bristol who attended the meeting for their instant
reaction to the proposals.
“I think that equalities and how they are going “Most of it was
giving more say to ensure that the equalities stuff that I’ve
over how money groups are represented on expected but
is spent to more these different forums and we’ve been
people is partnerships. I think you’re going asking ‘can you
generally a good idea. to have to be very careful that please write this down’ so it’s
I fear that the amounts of money it isn’t just tokenistic. There is a quite nice to see some of it
are fairly small, that decisions may history of local people saying ‘oh written down. In that sense I feel
end up being fairly small and that that doesn’t affect me, I don’t buoyed up slightly. It’s good, a
people may end up feeling that need to be involved – other good step forward.”
they still haven’t got the clout people will do that’ and there
Ben Barker, Greater Bedminster
that they would like to have. I also being an elite few that will end
Community Partnership
feel that the big, big challenge up doing the actual work. I think
is to get ‘the man in the street’ NP need to develop a much more
to want to be involved in their public face, be more open to “It feels like
local neighbourhood.” the community as a whole. I just we’ve been here
think it’s a massive undertaking, before. What I
Ches Chesney, Old Market
understand it will take a long time wanted to hear
Community Association
to roll out. Whether it will work or was how much
not remains to be seen.” money each neighbourhood has
“On the one been allocated, but that didn’t
Gabbi, Hartcliffe and Withywood
hand what I have come out of the meeting and
Community Partnership
heard and we’ve been told it won’t be
understood in decided until next February. It’s
principle I think is interesting that we’re having so
brilliant, in practice I’m very many neighbourhoods and so
sceptical. I think if the community many people are complaining
actually gets behind this I think it about how large some of these
could work but there is a lot of neighbourhoods are. I do think
ironing out to do. My major that more people need to be
concern is where they put more involved on a lower level.
24 www.voscur.org October / November 2009 Issue 7
25. Have Your Say
It’s coming, it’s been dictated “It made me “Trying things
by the council, that’s what it think about the out, evolving,
feels like.” funding of the learning that
Neighbourhood kind of thing, I
Lisa Blackwood,
Partnerships and really like the
St Pauls Unlimited
the structure of them and it made approach. The detailed stuff that
me realise how they’ve developed people were asking about , people
“There is still differently across Bristol. I do feel always ask those questions at this
quite a lot of that the present council is very stage don’t they, that will
work to do in committed to listening to local hopefully be in place eventually
terms of communities and as far as possible and is going to be a lot of work to
developing a putting their views into practice.” do, a lot of cultural change for
structure that’s not necessarily people, a lot of business planning
Anne Green, Sea Mills Community
the same across the city but a but it’s still quite exciting.”
Association (SCAF)
structure that is more workable
Fran Stewart, St George
than what we’ve got at the
Neighbourhood Partnership
moment. I felt quite strongly that “I think it’s a
although it’s good, for example, in great idea
Shirehampton we’ve got SCAF providing
which is a good structure and enough funds
we’ve got very good workers, it are put aside to
seems that the ordinary resident enable each ward to operate with Find out more
that doesn’t belong to a particular their councillors, to keep the
To find out more
group is pushed out and we want bureaucracy down and to get the
about the council’s plans for
to find some ways of rectifying action going.”
Neighbourhood Partnerships
that. It’s only the beginning and
Martin Graham, Lockleaze Voice and Neighbourhood Committees
I’m hoping that there’s going to
and how you can have your
be more really because there is an
say visit www.voscur.org/
awful long way to go.”
brispartnership/np or call
Val Jenkins, Shirehampton Matthew Symonds at Voscur on
Community Action Forum (0117) 909 9949
Issue 7 October / November 2009 www.voscur.org 25