Community Transport in Wales

@CTAUK1 | Connecting Communities in Wales

#ConnectingCommunities | #CysulltuCymunedol

Community Transport in WalesThe State of the Sector (Wales) 2014:

• 140,000 individuals and 3,500 community groups are registered to use community transport services in Wales

• 2 million passenger journeys delivered in 2013 covering 6 million miles

• Nearly 2,000 volunteers carry out roles such as:o Drivingo Passenger Assistanceo Office Supporto Strategic oversight and Management

• These volunteers make a contribution worth around £1.5 million

• Approx. 94 organisations in Wales are registered as members of CTA

• Can provide support to organisations/groups operating or setting up a CT initiative

Words used to describe CT

• There are differences in the way local CT schemes and organisations describe the type of service they offer although there are some key words that are commonly used:

– Flexible

– Accessible

– not-for-profit

– Community

– Voluntary

– Safe

– Cost-effective

Reasons why CT is needed

• Reasons cited by community transport operators as to why community transport is needed :

– lack of available public transport

– lack of access to private transport options

– lack of affordable transport

– poor mobility making access difficult

– poor health or other personal reasons

(Wiltshire CT; South Gloucestershire CT).

CTA Strategic Priorities

Our Vision is of a world where people can shape and create their own accessible and inclusive transport solutions.

Our Mission is to realise this vision through three strategic priorities:

1. Championing accessible and inclusive transport.

2. Connecting people and ideas.

3. Strengthening our members and raising standards.

We are for and about

accessible and inclusive transport

Connecting Communities in Wales

@CTAUK1 | Connecting Communities in Wales

#ConnectingCommunities | #CysulltuCymunedol

Introduction

• Supported by Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020, funded by WG & EU

• Part of the Co-Operation and Supply Chain Development Scheme (CSCDS)

• The project will seek to develop a sustainable CT network through building the resilience and capacity of the sector & in doing so will make an impact on the programme outcomes of:

Rural poverty

Financial sustainability

Climate change and the environment

In-work poverty and social exclusion

Connecting Communities in Wales

The project will:

• Establish Transport Innovation Networks in North & South Wales

• Identify local transport needs in rural communities & assess capacity of CT to develop new solutions & fill gaps.

• Deliver professional training & capacity building for CT sector to adapt to changing needs and circumstances.

Project Phases

Phase1 ( September 2017- December 2018)

• Establish Transport Innovation Networks across Wales

• CT Operators and partners to analyse transport provision, identify gaps and suggest solutions

• Support partnerships to develop funding bids to take forward new Initiatives

Phase 2 ( January 2019 – December 2020)

• Further develop TINs

• Undertake Training Needs Analysis to support CTOs to capacity build –PCV, D1,CPC, MIDAS & PATS

Project Phases

Phase 3 ( January 2021 – December 2022)

• Continue to deliver specialist training and work with partnerships on sustainability

• Commence evaluation

Phase 4 ( January 2022 – August 2022)

• Wrap up training and projects

• Celebrate Project Achievements through legacy events

Phase 1 Progress – Establish TINs

The aims of the TINs are to:

• Foster collaboration and develop new transport solutions

• Undertake Data collection and analysis

• Develop Co-operation Operations (Project Partnerships)

• Seek funding to develop new transport initiatives

• Deliver professional training and capacity building

Phase 1 ProgressAnalysis of Provision, Gaps & Opportunities

• Commissioned BRO Partnership mapping exercise for the community transport sector in Wales.

• The TINs helped us to strengthen the data and BRO have finished the report – thanks to you, this work is better!

• Gaps in CT identified and useful conclusions, but also areas for further research that this work could not (and was not meant to) capture

• CTA using this work as a starting point, and further research linking this to social value, and gaps within discrete policy areas now being considered by CTA core team.

• Research and case studies will continue to be a core part of building our knowledge base and identify opportunities and gaps.

Phase 1 ProgressSupport Organisations

When asked how C.C.i.W. could support Projects/Organisations:

• CTO's want more information regarding what support is available

• Better Co-Ordination between CTA, C.C.i.W. and CTO's

• Support and Advice on finding and obtaining funding

• Innovation to provide operators with the tools to engage effectively with a wider range of users

• Support for effective marketing and raising awareness of the services offered by CTO's

Phase 2 Plans

Undertake Training Needs Analysis

• Drivers – Driving Skills, Customer Support(including older people), H&S, First Aid, Communication

• Transport Co-Ordinators - Database, Booking Systems, H&S, Driver Training & Transport Legislation

• Finance & Admin- Cashflow, ICT, Accounts Packages

• Voluntary Boards – Legal & Financial Structures & Responsibilities, Governance

Phase 1 ProgressSupport Partnerships to Develop Funding Bids

• Anglesey Partnership

• Rural Conwy Community Car Scheme

• Health and Disability Groups Transport Partnership

• Wrexham Transport Forum and Vehicle Brokerage

• South Wales Projects

• Other projects in development...

Top tips for writing a

successful funding bid!

16th October 2018

Sabina Dunkling-

Development Officer CVSC

Introduction

Development Officer @CVSC

Development

Training

Governance

Organisation set up

Gwynt y Môr Fund

Third Sector Support Wales

(TSSW)

Core activities:• Enabling and supporting• Being a catalyst• Engaging and influencing

We have four pillars of activity that make up our universal offer, these are:• Volunteering• Good governance• Sustainable funding• Engagement and influencing

Our work is broadly focused on the common themes of:• Information and advice• Learning and development• Networking and communication• Shaping, influencing and building the social capital and resilience of the sector• Raising the profile of the sector

A network of support In North Wales

Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham

Community and Voluntary Support Conwy

Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council

Flintshire Local Voluntary Council

Mantell Gwynedd

Medrwn Mon (Isle of Anglesey)

Support can be provided around:

Funding

Governance

Trustee recruitment

Training

Policies and procedures

Project development

Business planning

Volunteer recruitment, retainment and management

And much more!

Top ten tips!1) Check your organisation/project is eligible to apply and that you are within

the deadline

2)Be clear but concise - Give facts and figures and all relevant information, don’t

go over word limits. Remember the person assessing your application may have

many to look at many and need information set in a way thats easy to find.

3) Check exactly what information and documentation the funder wants, and

make sure you provide it- including policies, accounts, bank statements etc. If

they aren’t available for any reason state this and reason why.

4) Tell the funder who you are- Briefly explain your organisation’s background,

activities and aims early on in the application. If you are new to the funder, show

/ prove to them that they can trust you to deliver the proposed project by

showing history of other projects delivered and support from other organisations

and service users as appropriate.

5) Tell the funder about your project- Ideally have a conversation BEFORE you

write your bid- what you aim to do, how, why, when and by whom. Explain how

your project fits in with the local identified priorities like place plans, needs

assessments, local demographics etc. Also how it will dovetail/work alongside

other projects in the area, make sure there is no duplication.

6) Explain to the funder how you identified costings- include quotes as necessary

and what will be achieved for this input and how any shortfall will be met. Also

include plans for media coverage and acknowledgement of the funding. Outline

your plan for evaluation and impact analysis too. Social return on investment?

External evaluation?

7) Case Studies - Bring a human element to the bid, who you have helped

previously and the difference it has made to them - ideally in their own words

even a link to a short video

8) Get someone to check your bid, a colleague or local CVC officer……….

a “critical friend” !

Summary

Try to have a conversation with the funder before starting a bid. Once

eligibility is confirmed then put together a proposal with all the information

required by the funder- in a clear, concise way avoiding jargon and acronyms.

Make sure there is a clear, identified need for your project. Show evidence of

this.

Acknowledge any potential challenges as well as the positive results aimed for

.

Cost up your project- make sure all bases are covered but don’t be greedy in

your ask it must show value for money ie essential v desirable in this

competitive climate.