thrive! oct/nov/dec 2014 issue
DESCRIPTION
Voscur's quarterly magazineTRANSCRIPT
Supporting voluntary and community action Oct/Nov/Dec 2014
Supporting young volunteers
Age Friendly Streets
Pro bono property advice
Tips for collaboration
Upcoming training
and more...
In this issue:
Youth Ambassadors at Babbasa Youth Empowerment Project share their thoughts with other young people about how they can get involved in community action. Read more about supporting younger volunteers on p26-27.
Voscur’s Annual Conference and Social Impact Awards
To book your place, visit: www.voscur.org/content/voscur-agm-and-annual-conference-2014 or call 0117 909 9949.
Categories for this year’s ‘Voscurs’ include:
• Volunteer Team of the Year
• Young Volunteer of the Year
• Trustee of the Year
• Batook Pandya Award for Inclusion
• Community Venue of the Year Award
• The ‘Thanks for Supporting the Sector’ Award
• Happy, Healthy Bristol Award
“Great opportunity to celebrate the work and
achievements of the voluntary sector. Excellent networking
opportunity.” Steve Woodcock, St Pauls Advice Centre,
Voscur Annual Conference 2013
Wednesday 22 October 2014, 11am-4pmThe Bristol Pavilion, Nevil Road, Bristol, BS7 9EJ
This year, our focus is on equalities. Our guest speakers are Stephen Williams, Bristol MP and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and Alison Comley, Strategic Director of Neighbourhoods at Bristol City Council.
Conference sponsored by:
Issue 26 October / November / December 2014 www.voscur.org 3
Contents
Disclaimer: some of the views expressed in this publication are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Voscur. Publications, events and services mentioned in Thrive! are not necessarily endorsed by Voscur.
Voscur
4 Editorial
5 New members
6 Volunteering on the road to recovery
7 Age Friendly Streets
8-9 Celebrating Bristol’s Golden Agers
10-11 Equality Act 2010 – four years on, has the Public Sector Equality Duty worked?
12 Cities of Service
Support Hub
13 FundraiSING!
14-15 Measuring impact - theory of change
16-17 Upcoming Support Hub training
18 Pro bono property advice
20-21 Come together...right now
22-23 Keep calm and TUPE on
Voice and Influence
24-25 Painting the town green
26-27 ‘Investing in our own futures’ - supporting young volunteers
28-29 No Health without Mental Health - a national strategy
30-31 Hot topics for our sector - a productive VCS Assembly
Thrive! is also available online as a pdf at www.voscur.org/magazine.
If you require it in another format, please get in touch on 0117 909 9949.
Keep up to date with Voscur online:
twitter.com/voscur www.linkedin.com/company/voscur www.youtube.com/voscurwww.facebook.com/voscur
www.voscur.org October / November / December 2014 Issue 264
Key to symbols
Our information survey this year
told us that you are interested in
hearing about and learning from
local projects, but that you also
want policy and good practice
information. With a wide range of
articles covering topics as diverse
as supporting young volunteers,
measuring your impact using
theory of change and the sector’s
role in Green Capital, I believe
we’ve met that challenge in this
month’s Thrive!
Several articles highlight
volunteering projects in the
city – all of which have been set
up to get people involved and
connected. One project aims to
support people into volunteering
as part of a recovery pathway;
another encourages people to
become active citizens, carrying
out acts of neighbourliness to
help to reduce social isolation.
Black History Month and the
Celebrating Age Festival give
us the opportunity to highlight
Dear members and friends
Training
Information & Resources
Event
the Golden Agers, a group run
by volunteers that provides
social support to older people
from Black and minority
ethnic communities. Sing Out
Bristol writes about how the
organisation’s volunteers have
put together a fundraising
programme to ensure that no one
was excluded from the choir’s
activities.
Bristol’s voluntary and community
sector organisations have long
recognised and celebrated our
volunteers, without whom the
sector couldn’t function.
Those of us running charities
and social enterprises know
it’s not enough to get a
project up and running; it’s
about enthusing, inspiring and
involving local people. We are
regularly being asked to prove
our value and demonstrate our
impact to funders, investors
and stakeholders. Getting our
governance and good practice
right is an important first step for
any organisations that want to be
sustainable and resilient. Without
it, we cannot be confident of
providing first-class services to
both end users and volunteers
that support them. We discuss this
on p14-15. Our autumn training
programme on p16-17 includes a
number of courses that will help
organisations to measure their
impact and market their services.
Trustees are, of course, volunteers
and our Trustees Network meeting
in December will focus on an
important aspect of their role:
serious incident reporting and
safeguarding.
Collaboration is another hot
topic for local organisations
as resources shrink and we
look towards working more
effectively with partners. Voscur
has produced a great set of
resources for collaboration, and
our Support Hub team can offer a
comprehensive service to those of
you thinking about collaboration.
See p20-21.
Looking forward to seeing you
at our Annual Conference where
we will be awarding this year’s
‘Voscurs’ - Bristol’s voluntary
and community sector awards.
We would like to thank Unison
South West, our main conference
sponsor this year.
Best wishes,
Wendy Stephenson Chief Executive
Issue 26 October / November / December 2014 www.voscur.org 5
New members
For more information on becoming a
member of Voscur, visit: www.voscur.org/
about/joiningonline or call 0117 909 9949.
Avon Wildlife TrustWorking to protect wildlife in the West of England. www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
0117 980 0393
Bristol Academy Community League Trying to break down social barriers through American
football teams run all over the city and beyond. 0117 919 2601
Bristol Independent Mental Health Service User NetworkMembership-based mental health network to
monitor, audit and evaluate inpatient and community
MH services commissioned by Bristol CCG.
0117 976 6600
Bristol Reconnect Working with people with histories of homelessness,
addictions, mental health issues and/or offending. www.bristolreconnect.org.uk
Free Range CreativityOutdoor learning, arts and play expertise,
delivering projects, research and consultancy. 07970 748 042
Growing CreativesDeveloping community arts projects with
people who identify themselves as isolated and
unable to access mainstream arts opportunities.
07950 221 800
KTS Training (2002) Ltd Training and supporting young people to enable them
to progress into a job, apprenticeship or further
education.
0117 960 5184
Love Windmill Hill Engaging those living and/or working
in the Windmill Hill area in activities to
improve and enrich the community.
07861 399 644
Meadow Vale Community Association Working together to benefit the inhabitants
of Speedwell, and the wider neighbourhood.
0117 960 5350
Mosaic Advocacy Centre CICA range of advocacy and support services for older
people, those with mental health issues, learning
disabilities and those in contact with the criminal
justice system.
http://mosaicadvocacy.com
PAPER Artistic Development CIC Supporting and empowering long-term unemployed
young people (18-30 years old) to value their
creativity and succeed in the creative sector.
07712 293 108
The Restore TrustSupporting ex-offenders and the unemployed into
work. www.therestoretrust.org
Theatre BristolCreating the conditions in which the most inspiring
theatre can be made and experienced in Bristol.
http://theatrebristol.net/
Tiny TrowelsCreative projects for people who identify as isolated.
07950 221 800
Voluntary Arts Promoting and increasing active participation in
cultural activities across the UK and Republic of Ireland. www.voluntaryarts.org
Windmill Hill Community Orchard Improving the planting and bio-diversity and turning
this orchard into a community asset for all to use.
www.facebook.com/WindmillHillCommunityOrchard 0117 953 2455
www.voscur.org October / November / December 2014 Issue 266 www.voscur.org6
Volunteer Bristol’s newest
project builds upon its strong
track record in delivering
supported volunteering
programmes. The Sustain
project works in partnership
with Bristol Drugs Project (BDP),
as part of the wider Recovery
Orientated Alcohol & Drugs
Service (ROADS), to promote
and enable volunteering
opportunities for people with
a history of drug or alcohol
problems.
Research shows that taking part in
volunteering has tangible benefits
for people of all backgrounds, as
well as their wider communities.
Additionally, as part of a recovery
pathway we believe that
volunteering can help people to
create new routines, increase
confidence, improve skills, find
new passions, gain valuable work
experience, and therefore help to
sustain all of the positive changes
that they have already made.
This partnership with BDP ensures
that volunteering is embedded
as an integral part of treatment
services, with information,
support and guidance readily
available to people completing
substance-misuse recovery
programmes. In addition,
Volunteer Bristol continues
to promote best practice in
volunteer management and is
available to advise local volunteer-
involving organisations on ways
of developing and improving
their practice in working with
volunteers from socially excluded
groups, so that we can all truly
benefit from a broad and diverse
volunteer base. We’re keen to
hear from volunteer-involving
organisations that would like
to work with us to increase
the volunteering opportunities
available for people in recovery.
While we continue to welcome
all members of the public to
our Volunteer Centre during
our general drop-in hours, we
can offer Sustain clients a more
personalised one-to-one service.
As there can be specific fears
or barriers to volunteering for
people with a history of drug or
alcohol problems, face-to-face
appointments with our advisers
can really help people to unpick
these and unlock their potential.
As volunteer recruitment
procedures increasingly replicate
those for accessing paid work,
support and advice through this
process teaches skills that can
eventually help individuals to
secure paid employment.
As we recognise that volunteering
can act as a bridge between
treatment and employment, we
are also developing a series of
bite-size employability workshops.
These will offer key skills and
information that can help people
to access both voluntary and paid
roles.
Information and referral forms
for accessing one-to-one
appointments with an adviser, or
for booking on to employability
workshops, can be found on our
website: www.volunteerbristol.
org.uk/volunteers/sustain
To find out more
contact Yaz Brien:
[email protected] or call 0117 989 7734.
Volunteering on the road to recovery...
Issue 26 October / November / December 2014 www.voscur.org 7
background, we might as well make
the most of them.”
Over the next year Age Friendly
Streets will be trialled in Bristol.
As the street-party capital of the
UK, Bristol is rich with neighbourly
stories and a great city for this
type of campaign.
Our campaign toolkit includes
ideas and resources for neighbours
to keep in touch and organise
informal activities between
generations. It usually starts with
hello and a chat.
You can download the toolkit
for free to make your street
Age Friendly, and also find
out about the campaign at:
agefriendlystreets.org. Do take a
look and join in!
Age Friendly Streets is a
new campaign to encourage
small acts of neighbourliness
between residents of different
ages. Chris Gittins of Streets
Alive tells us about the project
and invites us to get involved.
Run by Streets Alive, Bristol’s
neighbours and street-party
charity, Age Friendly Streets is a
response to the growing problem
of isolation, especially of older
people within our communities.
We are inviting any groups and
residents to join in and help
us encourage a new culture of
neighbourliness on our streets.
Neighbours are not a cliché, or
something on the TV. Our years of
working with residents promoting
street parties in Bristol and the UK
have shown us that knowing your
neighbours even a little makes
us all feel more at home and less
isolated.
There are many stories about
how isolation of older people is
becoming a major issue. Combined
with more mobile and diverse
lifestyles, and more fragmented
families, our ageing society is
resulting in loneliness across all
generations. To combat this we
have to be proactive and can’t rely
on bumping into people like ‘in the
old days’.
Streets Alive is a partner of Bristol
Ageing Better, a major lottery-
funded plan for age-related
solutions in our communities.
But our new Age Friendly
Streets campaign takes a multi-
generational approach. Research
by the Prince’s Trust suggests that
“more than a third of young people
in the UK aged 16 to 24 also do not
feel part of their local community”.
We have a generation gap in the UK
where suspicion and avoidance of
other ages is common.
Chris Gittins, director of Streets
Alive, says: “Neighbours are a
critical piece of the jigsaw of where
we live. ‘Communities’ can be
difficult things to join in with, but
our neighbours are right next door
– so no matter what their age or
To find out more,
contact Chris on:
0117 922 5708 or visit:
www.agefriendlystreets.org
road to recovery...
Photo provided by Age Friendly Streets
www.voscur.org October / November / December 2014 Issue 268 www.voscur.org8
October heralds in Black
History Month, a time which
offers opportunities for
additional knowledge related to
perspectives on Black history,
culture and topical observations
for predominantly African and
Caribbean communities. October
(27 September – 12 October) also
welcomes Bristol’s Celebrating Age
Festival, so we felt it appropriate
to give a focus to a few members
from Bristol’s BME elders’
organisations.
For this, we contacted Bristol’s
Golden Agers Club. Golden Agers,
which is based in Easton, provides
social support for older people
from Black/African Caribbean and
minority ethnic groups, who travel
from all over Bristol to attend.
The group meets weekly Tuesdays
and Thursdays 10am – 4pm for
socialising, advice and information,
care, support and training. Social
activities include reggae exercise
classes, sewing projects (their
work has been displayed at the M
Shed), dominoes, day trips and a
hot lunch at every session.
Gloria Morris, who, along with
other volunteers, helps to run the
group, feels it is a lifeline for some
and she checks up on members
who are absent, delivering meals
to some who cannot attend.
The group serves as a kind of
‘lookout’ in terms of members’
mental health, especially in terms
of issues such as dementia, and
supporting each other with
finding help on a more practical
day-to-day basis.
Golden Agers is also part of a
Bristol consortium including
Malcolm X Elders, Dhek Bhal and
Somali Men’s Group who work
towards similar goals in Bristol’s
BME elder communities.
We spoke to two members of the
group, Euleck Clarke and Marge
Douglas, about why they got
involved with the organisation,
what they get from it and their
own personal histories.
Euleck has been part of the group
for three years and sees it as
hugely important for combating
the social isolation that many
elders can feel. He moved to
the UK in the 1960s from his
birthplace in the Caribbean, and
on arrival first lived with a cousin.
His expectation of Britain was of
a cold country, but with the plus
side of good prospects for work.
One of his earliest careers in the
UK was as a cobbler. Over the years
Euleck has seen huge changes
in Bristol. He feels that there is
a greater sense of unity within
communities now: people socialise
more and Bristol is generally a
friendlier city. For him, though,
the club is vitally important. He
Celebrating Bristol’s Golden Agers With Black History Month and the Celebrating Age Festival taking place during October, Voscur contacted one of our city’s fantastic BME elders’ organisations to find out more about what they do and speak to some of their members, inviting them to share with us their own histories.
Issue 26 October / November / December 2014 www.voscur.org 9
has noticed that as families move
away and people pass retirement
age, without the socialisation
of regular work or friends and
family close by, many elders are
vulnerable to becoming isolated
and lonely. The group creates a
welcoming space for individuals to
interact, create, and eat together,
and for carers the group provides
some respite and a chance for
relaxation.
Marge has been part of the
group for 10 years now. She left
her home in Jamaica in 1959 at
the age of 21 and 2 months! Her
intention was to stay in the UK
for five years and then return
To find out more
about Black History
Month, visit: www.
blackhistorymonth.org.uk
to Jamaica; she never did. She
worked as a psychiatric and
general nurse for most of her life
and stayed because opportunities
for learning and work allowed her
to support her family back home.
Marge observes that when she
first arrived in the UK there was a
lot of ignorance regarding black
people. She would be stopped in
the street, people would touch
her skin and were shocked to
find that her palms and eyes
were white. She didn’t see this
as malicious but purely based in
ignorance. Many people at the
time had no knowledge of the
Caribbean and would often ask,
‘Where are you from in Africa?’
When she permanently moved
to Bristol in 1967 the Jamaican
community was so small “they
would fit into one room” and
were very tightknit and supportive
of each other. She feels British
attitudes then were less
aggravated towards immigrants
– there was no concept of ‘them
taking our jobs’ as jobs were
readily available. When she was
working in nursing she often
had friends who would move
from Jamaica to work in the local
hospitals. Marge recalls how things
were in 60s and 70s Bristol - the
working factories in Easton and
the surrounding area, the care
British people took over their
gardens (which she feels has gone
downhill sharply!), the grandeur
of Stapleton Road and the fact
that everyone left their doors
open with no fear of intruders.
But now, unlike Euleck, she feels
Bristol has changed for the worse.
The demise in factory work has
put an end to the 24-hour way
of life where individuals could
feel comfortable walking in the
city at any time among factory
workers finishing shifts at all times
of the day and night. She feels
there has been a growing lack
of respect amongst individuals
and communities that has led to
people being wary and afraid of
each other. The group counteracts
this for her; why does she enjoy
it? “Because all of the interesting
people are here!”
Some attendees enjoying activities at Bristol’s Golden Agers Club
www.voscur.org October / November / December 2014 Issue 2610 www.voscur.org10
The Equality Act 2010 was
introduced to cover all protected
characteristics (formerly known
as equalities strands) and to
rationalise different pieces
of equalities legislation. What
remained in the Act from previous
legislation was a public sector
equality duty (PSED).
Where applicable, the PSED
requirements are cascaded on to
VCS groups that are contracted to
deliver public sector services.
Section 149 of the Act defines the
PSED as follows:
1) A public authority must, in the
exercise of its functions, have due
regard to the need to:
a) eliminate discrimination,
harassment, victimisation and
other conduct prohibited by or
under this Act;
b) advance equality of opportunity
between persons who share a
relevant protected characteristic
and persons who do not share it;
and
c) foster good relations between
persons who share a relevant
protected characteristic and
persons who do not share it.
2) A person who is not a public
authority but who exercises public
functions must, in the exercise of
those functions, have due regard
to the matters mentioned in
subsection (1).
It also states:
3) Having due regard to the
need to advance equality
of opportunity... involves, in
particular
a) remove or minimise
disadvantages suffered by persons
who share a relevant protected
characteristic that are connected
to that characteristic;
b) take steps to meet the needs
of persons who share a relevant
protected characteristic that
are different from the needs of
persons who do not share it;
c) encourage persons who share a
relevant protected characteristic
to participate in public life or
in any other activity in which
participation by such persons is
disproportionately low.
Positive action: the Act justifies
positive action which may involve
‘treating some persons more
favourably than others’ but does
not permit differential treatment
that would otherwise be
prohibited. For example, it would
allow a bus company to offer
women-only training to encourage
women to apply for bus driver
posts.
Commissioning public services: the
local authority remains responsible
for meeting the duty but the
contractor must also meet the
duty for those aspects of the
contract which relate to public
functions.
Demonstrating compliance: the
local authority should publish
information (at least annually)
including about its employees
(if there are more than 150)
who share a relevant protected
characteristic and for other
persons affected by its policies
and practices, for example service
users.
Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA)
is a tool to ensure that proposals
do not disproportionately
affect those with protected
characteristics. Although these are
not mandatory, they are seen as
good practice. In discrimination
cases, the courts acknowledge
that a timely and carefully
conducted EqIA is one way to give
Equality Act 2010 – four years on, has the Public Sector Equality Duty worked?
Issue 26 October / November / December 2014 www.voscur.org 11www.voscur.org 11
proportionate consideration to
relevant equality matters.
Powers of the Equality and Human
Rights Commission (EHRC): the
EHRC is the regulatory body for
the Act; it can serve a notice and
ultimately apply to the courts for
an order requiring compliance
if it thinks a public body has
failed to comply with the Duty.
Yet between October 2007 and
October 2013 it had only issued
a total of six compliance notices
(three under the gender equality
duty and three under the race
equality duty) and had conducted
three formal assessments.
Cases and breaches: from July
2005 to mid-October 2013 the
High Court for England and Wales
heard 95 applications alleging
breach of the equality duties.
Of these 27 were successful or
partially successful, and six further
cases succeeded on appeal.
Review of the PSED: this was
undertaken in May 2012 to assess
its effectiveness. In November
2012, the Prime Minister
remarked:
“Take the Equality Act. It’s not a
bad piece of legislation. But in
government we have taken the
letter of this law and gone way
beyond it, with Equality Impact
Assessments for every decision
we make... We don’t need all this
extra tick-box stuff. So... today we
are calling time on Equality Impact
Assessments. You no longer have
to do them... policy makers are
free to use their judgement and
do the right thing to meet the
equalities duty rather than wasting
their own time and taxpayers’
money.”
A year later an Independent
Steering Group concluded that it
was too early to evaluate whether
the duty is ‘working as intended’
and recommended that this
should take place in 2016. Lacking
sufficient data, it had been unable
to do a cost/benefit analysis of
the PSED and the evidence it
received was either contradictory
or inadequate.
What does the future hold for
the PSED? Any major change is
unlikely before the next election.
What may already be changing,
however, is the weight public
authorities feel obliged to give to
complying with the PSED.
Will there be the comprehensive
review in 2016? It is too soon to
know what steps will be taken or
what value the next government
will give to the achievement of the
equality goals of the PSED.
For the voluntary sector: any
changes may impact on the
communities we support. There
could be less onus on local
authorities to ensure equality
principles are prioritised in
their decision making and more
complex processes for challenging
unfair policies and practices.
This article has
been adapted from
the European anti-
discrimination law review:
goo.gl/oA7Olz
Pho
to by B
ig Dub
ya CC BY 2.0
www.voscur.org October / November / December Issue 2612 www.voscur.org12
Cities of Service
The concept was devised by Mayor
Bloomberg in New York City in
2009 and since then has grown
to involve 170 cities across the
US. What cities of service share
is a commitment to look at how
far volunteering and social action
can be used to meet citywide
priorities. The approach lays a very
heavy emphasis on the impact
that is being achieved through
volunteering – not a moment
of a volunteer’s time should be
wasted, and it should be possible
to measure the impact they are
achieving.
Over the past three years this
approach has been moved across
the Atlantic with the emergence
of Team London, which has built
on the undoubted success of the
(Olympic) Games Makers in 2012,
and ‘Count on Me’ in Madrid.
On 10 September, the new
Minister for Civil Society, Rt.
Hon. Brooks Newmark M.P., and
George Ferguson, Mayor of
Bristol, formally launched the
service plans of the seven newly
participating UK cities - Bristol,
Kirklees, Plymouth, Portsmouth,
Barnsley, Swindon and Telford &
Wrekin.
Though essentially an American
concept, the idea of Cities of
Service draws on many of the
principles of active citizenship that
we are keen to promote in Bristol.
Bristol has a long tradition of
volunteering and social action
and has been actively exploring
how far citizens can play a role in
running their neighbourhoods.
Across the city, local residents are
taking action and meeting local
needs. What attracted me to my
current role with Cities of Service
is the idea that we can take the
commitment and enthusiasm of
the people of Bristol and apply it
to the issues that affect the city
as a whole.
To start with we are going to
focus on two priorities: the needs
of our children (in particular those
who have fallen behind with their
reading skills) and preventing
social isolation amongst our older
residents (in particular those who
have been bereaved).
We will be starting small, making
sure we’ve got the process
right, and then plan to scale the
programme up to reach as far
across the whole city as possible.
For me, volunteering is just a part
of what we are seeking to achieve
with Cities of Service, enabling
people to take action in all sorts of
ways to benefit their communities
and the city as a whole. I hope
that over the coming two years
we can build the concept of an
‘active city’, where all our citizens
are encouraged and able to play
their part in the life of their city,
on their terms.
On 10 September, Bristol officially became a ‘City of Service’. Dominic Murphy, Chief Service Officer, Bristol Cities of Service, tells us more about the movement, and what being a City of Service will mean for Bristol.
For more information,
contact Dominic
Murphy: dominic.
Pho
to by M
osm
an Library CC B
Y 2.0
Issue 26 October / November / December 2014 www.voscur.org 13
Support Hub
Sing Out Bristol
rehearse every
Tuesday evening in
central Bristol and are always
interested to meet new
singers or others who wish to
support the work of the choir.
For more information, visit:
www.singoutbristol.com
FundraiSING!Sing Out Bristol has been making beautiful music whilst tackling isolation and promoting inclusion in Bristol since 2007. Nick Stephenson, Performance Lead at Sing Out Bristol, tells us more about the group and shares some of the successful tactics that they use to raise vital funds...
We are a choir based in the
lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGB&T) communities
of the region with objectives to
remove isolation and promote
inclusion. Worthy aims, I’m sure,
but there’s something hugely
satisfying and enjoyable too: we’ve
grown from six people meeting in
front rooms to the largest LGB&T
community organisation in the
South West; and we’ve always
valued the ‘community’ nature
of the choir – we don’t audition,
we try to be accessible, we have a
social life outside of rehearsal, and
our charitable/fundraising aims are
about bringing people together.
In June the choir travelled
to Dublin to take part in an
international festival of LGB&T
choirs called Various Voices.
Eighty choirs performed over
four days; the social and learning
opportunities were huge and Sing
Out Bristol took best possible
advantage of both. We attended
a similar event in London in 2009
and learnt so much that we
wanted to get as many people to
Dublin as we possibly could. So,
over two years, a small group of
us worked through a fundraising
programme which included
applying for grants, asking for
donations and developing our own
fundraising events.
Our objective was to ensure
that no one was excluded from
attending the festival for reasons
of finance, and to our surprise we
were successful in achieving this!
What worked for us?
1. In the first instance we were
really clear about what the choir
was about, what inclusion and
participation meant to us. We
reviewed the choir objectives:
what do we come together for?
What outcomes do we want to
achieve in our communities?
2. We worked really hard at
understanding what the benefits
of attending Various Voices
would be – what learning and
development opportunities were
available (including social ones),
and how they would help meet
the choir’s objectives.
3. We also looked at how the
choir has changed over the
years; we undertake a thorough
annual diversity survey so had this
information to hand. This has also
led to the choir being very clear
about how it wants to change and
develop in the future.
Being really certain about these
three things and having done
this groundwork meant that it
was relatively simple for us to
complete application forms and
write to organisations asking for
sponsorship. It also helped us to
build good feedback – linking the
responses we had from the choir
to our development objectives.
Now all we have to do is make
sure we build on the amazing
opportunity that taking the choir
to Dublin gave us and give back to
Bristol...
www.voscur.org October / November / December 2014 Issue 2614
Your organisation aims to
make an impact on people and
communities, perhaps even to
change the world. You believe
in your work and can see that it
makes a difference, but can you
clearly demonstrate the impact
that you make? More and
more organisations are using
a ‘theory of change’ approach
to explain how they make an
impact and more funders value
this information.
When spending money
on a project, funders and
commissioners want to know what
outcomes will be achieved with
the money that they are spending.
However, on top of asking what
will be achieved, funders are
increasingly interested in the
detail about how an organisation
will make that impact. This is
where a ‘theory of change’ can be
useful.
Most organisations have thought
about the long-term goals of
their work and the outcomes they
are aiming to achieve. A theory
of change takes this thinking
further and sets out a roadmap
of how the long-term goals will
be achieved, including all of the
building blocks that contribute to
this.
A theory of change is usually
summarised by drawing a one-
page diagram such as the example
opposite, which is quick to read
and understand. This creates a
clear view of your work, breaking
it down into simple steps that
capture key aspects of what you
do.
Used well, it should give you a
clear and testable understanding
of how change will occur, a
framework for monitoring and
evaluation, and provide the
basis for both accountability and
learning.
Measuring impact - theory of change
The approach starts by thinking
about what you want to achieve,
not what you are already doing,
so you begin with the problem
you’re trying to solve (including
the underlying causes) and your
long-term goals (which should be
realistic and clearly defined).
Working backwards, you then
identify the steps needed to
achieve these goals, including
outcomes (the changes that need
to take place along the way) and
activities (the things that need to
happen to achieve these changes).
You then put things in order,
looking at causes and effects to
enable you to establish the links
between your outcomes. You
should question whether one
outcome really does lead to the
next and what your reasons are
for believing that. You also link
activities to show what effect your
work has.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3The other key things to consider
and include in a theory of change
are:
1. Underlying assumptions or
evidence – for example, you may
assume that a service user will be
supported by their family, or that
regularly attending a day-centre
session will enable a person to
make new friends.
2. What else is needed? Does the
success of your work depend on
other stakeholders or resources
being involved?
3. Indicators and targets – What
specifically will you measure?
A good theory of change
can reveal whether your
organisation’s current activities
make sense, given your goals;
which activities and outcomes
you can achieve alone and which
you cannot; plus how to measure
your impact.
Issue 26 October / November / December 2014 www.voscur.org 15
Problem: that your
beneficiaries face
Activities: the services you deliver
Outputs: what the service
provides
Outcomes: changes
you want to achieve
Evidence: why you think one outcome
will lead to another and cases where
it will not
Ultimate goal:
what the organisation is trying to
achieve
GP identifies individual is
lonely
Individual spends less time alone
Social confidence
building sessions delivered
Individual is partnered
with an activity buddy
150 lonely people receive
six social confidence
building sessions
Factors that increase
loneliness are identified
Sector evaluations
indicate that this will
improve social confidence by
80%
Factors that increase
loneliness are
addressed
Individual gains social confidence
Individual’s personal
motivation to socialise increases
Individual’s peers/friends/
family members provide
encouragement
Lonely individuals
have increased
self-esteem
Lonely individual’s
social skills are improved
An example theory of change in practice:
Key:
A theory of change can help your organisation, because:
• It can be a great basis for a strategic plan, because it works methodically from the need you are trying to
address to the change you want to achieve.
• It provides a theoretical framework for measuring a charity’s impact.
• It can also be used to think more broadly about how different organisations within a sector are working
together, and how they could achieve greater impact through collaboration.
Need more help and support? Voscur can help! For information on a training course
in October, visit: goo.gl/1D8T23. For further resources, visit: goo.gl/GdtQqV. Our
development workers can also provide support and advice. Call us on 0117 909 9949.
www.voscur.org October / November / December 2014 Issue 2616
Upcoming Support Hub trainingWriting Small Fundraising BidsWednesday 1 October 2014, 9:30am - 3:30pm
Make it easy for funders to say “yes” to your bids.
Whether you want £200 for a community event or
£2,000 for new equipment for your services, you need
a strong, clear proposal. This one-day course will take
you through the essentials for writing a strong bid
that’s appealing to funders, and how to avoid the most
common pitfalls.
Preventing Injury to Children and Young PeopleWednesday 8 October 2014, 1pm - 3:30pm
With around 13,500 preventable childhood injuries
being treated by emergency departments in Bristol
every year, this is a big issue for families and those who
work with them. Get the most up-to-date knowledge
about serious childhood injury and how to prevent it in
the course of your work. This free session includes an
experiential tour of the Lifeskills centre.
Commissioning: Building and Maintaining Relationships when Working Collaboratively Tuesday 14 October 2014, 9:30am - 1pm
There are many advantages to working collaboratively,
but there are pitfalls too. This training will explore the
common issues which can arise when working together
and will identify strategies for avoiding breakdowns
in working relationships. You will learn about a simple
tool which helps to identify and analyse the risks. This
session will give you opportunities to make links with
other voluntary and community sector organisations
who are interested in collaborating.
CrowdfundingThursday 16 October 2014, 9:30am - 12:30pm
Fundsurfer makes crowdfunding simple. Develop a
fully formed project or idea and learn how to create,
market, manage and promote your crowdfunding
campaign to achieve success.
Supervision Skills for Volunteer ManagersWednesday 5 November 2014, 9:30am - 3:30pm
Supervision is a formal way of supporting volunteers
on a one-to-one basis or in groups. This course is for
people with some existing experience in managing
volunteers and who would like to know more about
how to offer supervision effectively.
Making Your Message Mighty - the Power of Words Thursday 6 November 2014, 9:30am - 12:30pm
Your communication processes are powerful tools of
your organisation. Find the right words and identify
powerful stories to interest the media, support a
funding bid, recruit the right people, engage through
social media or enliven your website content.
Hot Shots – the Power of Images Thursday 6 November 2014, 1pm - 3:30pm
What do your images say about your service? This
course will show you how to take great photographs
and showcase your organisation’s activities. Some
basic camera, photography and computer skills will be
beneficial but not essential.
An A-Z of HRTuesday 11 - Wednesday 12 November 2014, 9:30am - 3:30pm
This two-day masterclass, delivered by Cornhill HR,
covers the essentials of employing staff; it will guide
you through best practice in recruitment, employment
law, redundancy, sickness and absence, storing
staff records, employee relations, performance
management and appraisals.
Finance Forum: PensionsThursday 13 November 2014, 10:30am - 12:30pm
A chance to meet others with financial responsibilities
and find out what is happening in the world of finance.
Issue 26 October / November / December 2014 www.voscur.org 17
Being an Even Better TrusteeThursday 13 November 2014, 6pm - 9pm
Focused on governance, managing risk, effective
meetings and how to make the most of the skills in
your trustee team. This course is designed to support
your development beyond the basics of being on
a board. A natural follow-on for people who have
previously attended ‘Being a Good Trustee’ or have
some trustee experience.
Good Customer Services for Office Based StaffWednesday 19 November 2014, 9:30am - 3:30pm
The course offers the opportunity to reflect on the
service you provide to internal and external customers.
You will be given tips and techniques to develop your
expertise to delight your customers and deal with
customer complaints and challenging behaviour. This
course is practical and delivered in an imaginative and
engaging way at your pace.
Mind the Gap: How Decisions are Made in the CityThursday 20 November 2014, 12pm - 2pm
What goes on in the corridors of power? Bristol has a
number of locally based institutions both formal and
informal that make decisions that have an impact on
our communities. As community and voluntary sector
activists it is important that we understand what these
organisations are and how they make decisions.
Basic Book-keepingTuesday 25 November 2014, 9:30am - 3:30pm
This course will give an overview of prime entry
books (cash basis), typical income/expenditure
streams and transactions for small VCS groups. It will
include practical completion of a set of books, bank
reconciliations, a case-study-based facilitator-led group
exercise to demonstrate a basic key financial control
for any organisation and review of Charity Commission
receipts and payments entries for the annual return.
Theory of Change: Taking Your First StepsThursday 27 November 2014, 9:30am - 3:30pm
This course will guide you through the key steps
to develop systems that can determine your
organisation’s impact and the changes which result
from it. This session will be extremely beneficial
to your project planning, funding applications and
project evaluation.
Mind the Gap: How You Can Influence Decisions that are Made in the CityTuesday 2 December 2014, 12pm - 2pm
This practical lunchtime workshop will give you the
tools to influence decisions that are made in the city.
This session will focus on how you can identify your key
issues and what you want to achieve, find out who has
the power/resources to address these issues and build
allies and partnerships. Utilise campaigning or lobbying
techniques and plan what you’re going to do and do it!
Trustee Network: Reporting Serious Incidents and Whistleblowing Tuesday 9 December 2014, 6pm - 8pm
What should trustees do when they are aware of
serious problems in their charity? This network
meeting will look at a case study and will give you the
opportunity to discuss the pros and cons. Join trustees
from charities operating in the Bristol area and share
your experiences.
Early-bird rates available!
To book, or for further training beyond December, please go to: www.supporthub.org.uk/training-hub or call us on 0117 909 9949.
www.voscur.org18
Pro bono property adviceWith over 40% of charities
seeing their building as their
greatest risk*, the availability
of high-quality property advice
is essential to maintaining
much-needed voluntary and
community sector (VCS)
services across the city.
The risk is increased if your
organisation is not incorporated,
as then it is the individual trustees
or management board that will
own the freehold, leasehold or
tenancy for your building.
Property can present a host
of potential challenges for VCS
organisations and knowing exactly
where to turn can save your
organisation’s resources. Here are
some of the pro bono options
available:
The Royal Institute of Chartered
Surveyors (RICS) aims to provide
high-quality property advice on a
wide range of topics to the VCS.
The service offers a minimum
one-hour consultation with a RICS-
regulated firm free of charge,
visit: goo.gl/xEVM3v.
CAN Mezzanine offers free advice
to charities and social enterprises
that includes reviewing existing
accommodation; buying and
selling property and lease-related
issues; and landlord-and-tenant-
related disputes.
For more information visit: goo.
gl/e2Hht1.
Ethical Property Foundation
gives independent, ethical advice
by taking a holistic approach,
offering wide-ranging support
that is initially free of charge. For
full details visit: goo.gl/74Ua86.
The Community Asset Transfer
(CAT) process is one way to secure
a property to deliver much-
needed services and support to
your local community. Recognising
that CAT can seem daunting
the Support Hub at Voscur has
developed an advice sheet to
guide you through the process,
visit: goo.gl/KA8Bqb.
Property and more… Some
organisations may need more
than property advice or even
something completely different.
LawWorks for community groups
offers free legal advice in four
ways: free legal assistance;
factsheets; clinics; mediation. For
information on how LawWorks
could support your community
group, go to: www.lawworks.org.
uk/community-groups.
If the process of buying, renting,
leasing or managing a building
falls outside of the expertise of
your management board, the free
support available can help provide
the best protection for your
organisation.
* source: Third Sector
Ph
oto b
y DA
XKO C
C BY 2.0, g
oo.glo
L8Sdq
October / November / December 2014 Issue 26
For more information,
contact Voscur’s
Support Hub team on:
0117 909 9949.
Have a happy, healthy team
In response to requests from the organisations we support, Voscur’s service – delivered in partnership with Cornhill HR – provides tailored support to local voluntary and community sector groups about day-to-day human resource management. Areas include:
For further details, call: 0117 909 9949 or visit: www.voscur.org/content/HR-support
Human Resources & Employment Law Support Service
Photo by peteself CC BY-SA 2.0
“Cornhill HR really put us on the right track – the adviser was very
clear, really made sure we understood the
details, very supportive, and made lots of calls.”
HR Service user, 2014
•TUPE (employee transfers)•Redundancy•Dismissals•Disciplinary and grievances•Pension auto-enrolment
www.voscur.org October / November / December 2014 Issue 2620
Over the last year, Voscur has been
participating in Building Health
Partnerships – a joint project with
NHS England, NAVCA (Voscur’s
umbrella body), the Bristol
Clinical Commissioning Group
and Bristol Public Health. Bristol
was successful in a competitive
process to win project funds and
became one of just 12 projects
across the UK.
The purpose of the project
was to build new partnerships
and demonstrate the value of
the voluntary and community
sector (VCS) in health delivery.
Voscur worked on three different
approaches: preventing falls
among older people, to maintain
their independence; using social
assets to improve diabetes
prevention and treatment in Asian
and Somali communities; and
building the provider market by
supporting the collaboration of
smaller, specialist organisations.
For the third approach, Voscur’s
Support Hub has produced a
suite of materials to support
organisations to work together so
that they can deliver health and
other public services.
These materials are designed to
support VCS organisations in three
types of collaboration:
• Peer partnerships: those
involving a number of broadly
similar organisations in
terms of size, resources and
influence.
• Public partnerships: those
where a funder requires one
or more collaborative bids per
geographic/local authority
area, each led by one
organisation, and leaves it to
the stakeholders in that area
to organise the relationships
between themselves.
• Prime partnerships: those
with a prime contractor, or
lead agency, that holds a
main service contract with
the public commissioner,
and is typically larger than
its partners, and has more
resources and more influence.
Including briefings, workshop
plans, document templates and
references to real examples, the
resources are intended to be as
practical as possible in:
• Providing practical information
to inform planning and
decision-making about
collaborations.
• Providing practical activities
and template documents as
starting points for the various
stages of putting together a
real collaboration.
• Giving organisations more
confidence and determination
to enter into discussions
about collaboration, rather
than reject collaboration
as an option without due
consideration.
The materials are presented in an
order that loosely matches stages
in a commissioning cycle, from
strategic planning to contract
negotiation. We have done this
so that organisations can dip
in, according to their level of
development of collaboration, and
so that collaboration is considered
in a logical sequence. The diagram
on the next page indicates
steps towards partnership
and some of the resources
available. You can access the
full toolkit at: www.voscur.org/
collaborationresources
Come together...right nowVoscur has been working on a range of collaboration projects in recent months. We want to share the learning from this work with other local groups, to encourage them to come together, share their expertise and resources and deliver stronger, interconnected services in the city.
Issue 26 October / November / December 2014 www.voscur.org 21
Voscur’s Support Hub offers a range of services to help Bristol VCS organisations improve
their capacity, sustainability and quality. Support offered includes one-to-one support with
a development worker, intensive support over a period of time, facilitation of discussions,
and strategic/business planning. Our support can be provided to organisations that are
collaborating with others – please contact us on 0117 909 9949.
Steps towards collaboration Important thoughts and questions Resources in our toolkit
Internal evaluationA partnership might be best. Are
we ready? What are our options?
• Is a partnership what we
need?
• What does working in
partnership mean?
Assess structuresWe’re ready to collaborate. How
do we choose a structure?
• Choosing a partnership
structure
Find partners Who can we best work with?
• What can small
organisations contribute
to partnerships?
• Selecting a lead agency
• Meeting potential
partners
Provisional commitment
We want to work together. What
key principles and requirements
should we agree first?
• Memorandum of
Understanding
Partner evaluationWe’re ready. What about our
partners?
• Preparing for
collaboration
• Partner information
• Due diligence
Formalise the
collaboration
We’re all ready. How do we make it
formal?
• Lead and partners
agreement
• Joint working agreement
• Consortium collaboration
agreement
Bid / tenderWe won the contract. Should
we sign it?
• Introduction to contract
law
• Example public body
contract and grant
www.voscur.org October / November / December 2014 Issue 2622
The transfer of employees between service providers (TUPE) arises in commissioning processes and is relatively new to many VCS organisations. There is confusion and it deters some from bidding to deliver public service contracts. Mark Hubbard, Compact Liaison Officer, describes some recent changes that should make TUPE easier for VCS organisations.
What is it?
Essentially, TUPE (short for ‘Transfer
of Undertakings (Protection of
Employment) Regulations’) is the
process that protects employees’
continuing employment and terms.
It applies in two situations: (1)
when a business or undertaking is
transferred to a new employer (for
example, merger or acquisition)
and (2) upon a service provision
change, that is, when a service that
was provided by one organisation
changes to being provided by
another.
VCS organisations involved in
commissioning processes are likely
to come across the latter – either
as the current employer (that held
a service delivery contract) or new
employer (that has won a contract
to deliver services). In this case,
it is possible that employees of
the former contract holder could
transfer to the new organisation.
Those employees would retain their
terms and conditions.
Why is it important to know about?
There have been several recent
commissioning processes where
the transfer of employees has been
difficult and presented problems for
VCS organisations. Examples include:
• No workforce information
available for bidders – the lack of
information about employees’
terms (salary, payscale) has
made it difficult for bidders to
draw up detailed budgets and
proposals.
• Lack of consistency amongst
commissioners – in some cases,
commissioners have given views
on the application of TUPE; in
others, providers have been
advised to form their own views.
• Lack of familiarity of TUPE
amongst VCS organisations
– many VCS organisations,
particularly smaller, local,
specialist organisations, have
not previously been involved
with TUPE. Lack of familiarity
effectively means that energy
and resources are diverted
to this process, away from
developing innovative services.
Another important thing to note
is that, as of January 2014, TUPE
KEEPCALM
TUPEON
AND
Issue 26 October / November / December 2014 www.voscur.org 23
has changed significantly. The
UK government has amended
TUPE with the new Collective
Redundancies and Transfer of
Undertakings (Protection of
Employment) (Amendment)
Regulations 2014. This was part of
the government’s employment law
review, which aims to ensure that
employment laws offer maximum
flexibility for employers and
employees.
What has changed?
There are many things to note
and those most relevant to VCS
organisations are briefly described
here.
• Service provision changes – the
new regulations state that, for
TUPE to apply, the new services
should be “fundamentally the
same” as the previous services.
This means that there will still be
debate about whether or not
TUPE applies.
• Changes to terms and
conditions – a disputed change
in work location was deemed
automatically unfair previously;
this has been removed.
• Changes to collective
agreements – new employers
will be able to negotiate
changes to terms previously
negotiated through collective
agreements one year after the
transfer (as long as the change
is no less favourable to the
employees involved).
• Links to collective agreements
are now static – the new
employer will be bound by
the collective agreement in
place on the date of transfer.
If, for example, local authority
employees transferred into a
VCS organisation, their terms
on the transfer date would
apply; any subsequent changes
to local authority workforce
terms, such as payscales, would
not apply to the previously
transferred employees.
• Redundancy consultation –
previously, each employer was
required to consult separately.
It is now possible for both
employers to hold pre-transfer
redundancy consultation about
the transfer and redundancies
at the same time.
• Employee liability information –
former employers must provide
information (including identity,
age, employment details) to
the new employer 28 days
before the transfer (rather than
the previous 14 days).
What has Voscur done about tackling TUPE-related issues?
Voscur and Bristol Compact
continue to work to improve
commissioning so that VCS
organisations can win contracts
to deliver public services. The
following activities address some of
the issues with TUPE.
• TUPE support for
decommissioned services –
we provided support for six
organisations whose drug and
alcohol services were being
decommissioned last year.
• Voscur’s HR service – provides
specialist advice on HR matters
including TUPE.
• TUPE guidance for
commissioners – Bristol
Compact co-wrote Bristol City
Council’s TUPE Guidance for
Commissioners. This guidance
standardises commissioners’
approach to TUPE, including
a TUPE questionnaire and
a requirement to facilitate
the collation of workforce
information from a provider
market without TUPE
experience.
There is still work to be done. VCS
organisations need to become
more familiar with things like TUPE
to engage with commissioning
and win public service contracts.
Commissioned contracts need to
include ‘early disclosure’ clauses so
that employee liability information
must be shared at a meaningful
time in the commissioning cycle:
28 days before contract start date
is better than 14 but still woefully
inadequate; disclosure prior to
bidding would be most helpful. We
are working on these things.
Useful links
TUPE Changes, January
2014: goo.gl/eBVUh1
TUPE Guidance for
commissioners: goo.gl/IcfZEh
Voscur’s HR service:
goo.gl/90YFDo
www.voscur.org24
Painting the town greenActivists filled St Werburghs community centre for an intensive day of debate and action planning when 100 small voluntary and community sector groups working in sustainability across the city’s most excluded communities came together to Paint the Town Green.
Assistant Mayor Gus Hoyt, Bristol
Green Capital (BGC) co-chair Liz
Zeidler and Bristol 2015 Company
Chief Executive, Kris Donaldson,
addressed the audience on their
vision for Bristol as European
Green Capital 2015.
The event, supported by Bristol
2015 Company, comprised
panel discussions and question-
and-answer sessions with key
members of Bristol Green Capital
partnership and Bristol 2015
Company. Discussions on food
poverty and food production;
reduce, reuse, recycle; fuel
poverty and community energy
solutions; and reclaiming green
spaces were the key workshop
themes.
Participants got to grips with
Bristol Green Capital objectives
and the role of the local voluntary
and community sector in working
with partners to achieve them.
Sustaining the legacy of this
initiative was a high priority.
The purpose of the event was
twofold: groups not already
linked in to BGC activities had
the opportunity to raise issues
they felt Green Capital partners
should act on and at the same
time enhance their organisations’
profile and promote their
activities.
Voscur was pleased to be able
to involve many groups not
previously connected with the
BGC agenda, working at grassroots
levels with local communities to
increase sustainable living.
Delegates from local groups
included those working with
refugees and asylum seekers
and in disadvantaged wards.
During the panel debate some
expressed concern that Bristol
2015 Company would sidestep
their local knowledge and contacts
and opt to engage with more
high-profile, public sector activity.
Bristol 2015 Company assured
delegates this would not be the
case.
Voscur is meeting with BGC and
Bristol 2015 Company and other
stakeholders to plan the next
steps.
To read about some of
the ideas proposed at
the event and our next
steps, visit: goo.gl/Qrw7lN
Are you doing ‘green’
work in the city? Do
you need help with
funding this work?
Voscur and the Big Lottery
Fund are holding two half-day
events in Bristol to increase
local awareness of the Big
Lottery’s Awards for All (A4A)
programme. The sessions are
aimed at community groups
across Bristol who are already
delivering or are in the process
of developing local green
projects, to support them to
take part in and celebrate the
Bristol Green Capital Status
throughout 2015.
Details of the events:
15 October 2014
21 October 2014
10am - 3:30pm, Southville
Centre, Beauley Road,
Southville, Bristol, BS3 1QG
To book, visit: goo.gl/ynpnIs
Photos overleaf by Louise Wender,
www.louisewender.com
October / November / December 2014 Issue 26
www.voscur.org 25
“Good, thought provoking, community
focused. Great networking
opportunities.”
Julie Evans Community
Learning West
“Very good mix of groups and
individuals. Glad to see both ‘green’ and
community/grassroots participants - all willing
to talk and listen.”
Martin Fodor, Make your home eco
“Well planned. Has enabled me to have a
plan to change things.”
Ella Davidson, Places for People.
www.voscur.org October / November / December 2014 Issue 2626
Young volunteers have a vast
amount to give to voluntary
and community organisations,
yet a lot of charities are missing
out on this opportunity.
“If charities don’t support young
volunteers, then we are not
safeguarding our own futures by
supporting the next generation of
volunteers and, more importantly,
we’re missing out on all the
benefits that young volunteers can
bring to our organisations,” said
Rebecca Brookman, Volunteering,
Citizenship and Social Action
Manager at the Jewish Lads’ & Girls’
Brigade, in a recent Guardian article
on youth volunteering.
The benefits of volunteering
for young people can include
making new friends, improved
health and wellbeing, influencing
strategy and services, gaining
new skills and experience and
utilising volunteering as a route to
education and employment.
National data from vInspired.com
(a UK website which helps young
people find volunteering roles, and
helps charities find new recruits)
shows that between March 2013
and April 2014, 25,570 14- to
25-year-olds logged on to browse
opportunities. Of these, 15,678
young people were accepted on to
volunteering opportunities. Local
data for Bristol, obtained from
Volunteer Bristol (now merged with
Voscur), shows that in 2013, 583
local young people between the
ages of 15 and 18 years and 1,993
young people between the ages of
19 and 25 years either applied or
made enquiries about volunteering
positions.
The incentives around volunteering
are clear for young people, but
what is in it for organisations?
Along with the increase in capacity
that all volunteering provides,
involving young volunteers
in particular can have its own
benefits. Involving young people
in decisions and planning (either
on management committees
or specific task groups) allows
organisations to gain a different
perspective which can be especially
useful for those which aim to
involve or benefit young people.
Young people could also bring a
strong set of skills, for example in
areas of new technology, software
and social media. If the voluntary
sector can offer flexible roles that
are of interest to young people,
and be creative in how they reward
and incentivise volunteering, then it
could well be a win-win situation.
We approached two local
organisations, Babbasa Youth
Empowerment Project (BYEP) and
The Prince’s Trust, and asked them
to tell us how and why they involve
young volunteers.
Poku Pipim Osei, Programme
Lead, BYEP, writes:
“BYEP is a Bristol-based social
enterprise empowering young
people (16-25), from mostly inner-
city communities, to pursue their
professional ambitions.
“Young people are at the heart
of what we do, and part of how
we engage them is through
volunteering on our projects.
We typically involve our young
volunteers in all phases of BYEP
projects - from design to delivery.
We call these young volunteers
BYEP ‘Youth Ambassadors’.
“Our Youth Ambassadors are
invaluable. They provide us with
intelligence around key youth
issues and trends, as well as views
‘Investing in our own futures’ - supporting young volunteers
Issue 26 October / November / December 2014 www.voscur.org 27
on activities that would appeal to
their peers. They also contribute at
a strategic level through the youth
leader on our board.
“Besides making new friends,
acquiring work experience
and learning about workplace
values, we have now introduced
an accredited certificate to
acknowledge the contribution of
our youth ambassadors. To further
make it a win-win relationship, BYEP
also offer all Youth Ambassadors
additional support to access
further training or employment.
We are also normally happy to act
as their referee. All young people
interested in volunteering are
encouraged to get in touch.”
Hayley Court, Volunteering and
Secondment Manager at The
Prince’s Trust, says:
“The Prince’s Trust is the UK’s
largest youth charity. We use
volunteers to support young
people into work, education,
training or volunteering themselves.
Our Young Ambassadors empower
young people to actively participate
in the work of The Prince’s Trust,
engage with public decision making
and inspire other young people,
Ph
oto
s provid
ed by B
YEP
BYEP’s Website:
www.byep.org.uk
The Prince’s Trust’s website:
www.princes-trust.org.uk
For information on our
Children and Young People’s
Network, contact Asma
Ahmad on 0117 909 9949.
while helping to develop leadership
and communication skills.
“Young Ambassadors undertake
roles including speaking to a
range of audiences, supporting
outreach and programme delivery,
and contributing their views to
influence government and help
shape services for young people.
“Working with young people can
help them to develop transferable
skills that may help them gain
future volunteering or employment
opportunities.
“The benefits to The Prince’s Trust
of using volunteers are huge - we
simply would not be able to do
what we do without volunteer
support. We do not have the
capacity for staff to support young
people post programme and this
is a key stage in young people’s
personal development when it
is important that they keep up
their motivation to gain a positive
outcome.”
Tiff Ridd, 25, has been volunteering
for The Prince’s Trust as a Young
Ambassador since November 2013.
She says: “Volunteering for The
Trust has given me a big confidence
boost because I’ve been able to
share my personal story with large
audiences at a range of events –
something that I never would’ve
considered before. But, I’m happy
to do it because The Trust has
supported me so much; it’s great
to give something back and inspire
other young people to find out
how it can help them.”
Volunteering is just one way in
which we can value the voices and
skills of young people in Bristol.
Other local examples include the
Bristol Safeguarding Board, the
Youth Select Committee, Youth
Mayors, and the BME Youth Forum,
facilitated by Bristol City Council,
Bristol Youth Links team and
Listening Partnerships, which is part
of the West of England Centre for
Inclusive Living.
www.voscur.org October / November / December 2014 Issue 2628
There are many surprising facts
about mental health, which were
identified in a 2012 report by the
London School of Economics,
‘How mental health loses out in
the NHS.’
• Among people under 65,
nearly half of all ill health is
mental illness.
• Mental illness is more
debilitating than most chronic
physical conditions.
• Only a quarter of those
with mental illness are in
treatment, compared with the
vast majority of those with a
physical condition.
• The cost of psychological
therapy is low and recovery
rates are high.
• Mental health accounts
for 25% of the country’s
combined ‘burden of disease’
(taking into account economic
impact), yet receives only 13%
of NHS expenditure.
The national strategy focuses
on action at a local level. The
reasoning is that working at a
local level will act as a catalyst
for change in communities. Local
leaders can tackle the causes
of mental and ill health, and act
quickly and effectively to improve
services.
At the heart of the strategy is
a recognition that if we are to
improve the mental health of
the nation we need not only to
provide good services but to
change society’s attitudes towards
mental health, and that everyone
has a part to play in shifting
attitudes.
Bristol activity includes initiatives
like ‘The Little Book of WOW (5
Ways of Wellbeing)’, ‘The Wellbeing
Workplace Charter’ and the
promotion of national initiatives
such as ‘Time to talk, time to
change’.
Local stakeholders were also asked
to create their own mental health
charters and a set of pledges,
based on the following objectives:
• More people in Bristol with
Mental Health problems to
recover.
• More people in Bristol with
mental health problems to
have good physical health.
• More people in Bristol to have
positive care and support.
• Fewer people in Bristol to
suffer avoidable harm.
• Fewer people in Bristol
to experience stigma and
discrimination.
• More people in Bristol to have
good mental health.
A large meeting was hosted in
June 2014 by The Care Forum,
who have been working with
Bristol Public Health on the
initiative. The aim of the meeting
was to encourage organisations
to set up their own pledges and
to discuss current activities, local
gaps and needs. A further meeting
is planned for the autumn. Notes
and presentations of the meeting
can be found on The Care Forum’s
website: www.thecareforum.org/
pagebristol-adults-events-archive.
html
Caroline McAleese of The Care
Forum said of the meeting
and the mental health charter
initiative: “The vibrancy of the
mental health voluntary sector
No Health without Mental Health – a national strategy In 2012 the national strategy ‘No Health without Mental Health’ was launched which, in summary, stated that if we are to improve people’s mental health and wellbeing, everyone needs to play their part.
Issue 26 October / November / December 2014 www.voscur.org 29
and the breadth of local expertise
within mental health services was
clear at the No Health Without
Mental Health event in June.
Workshops showcased many of
the high-quality local voluntary
services that support people with
mental ill health and highlighted a
general shift towards prevention,
recovery, reducing stigma and
working towards the No Health
Without Mental Health objectives.
“We hope a further mental health
event - ‘Spectrum’, being led by
Bristol Public Health in October,
of which The Care Forum, Voscur,
Safer Bristol and Mental Health
Bristol are partners - will build on
some of the work around mapping
of services that was discussed
at the No Health Without Mental
Health event in June.”
Other local activities include a
new ‘mental health concordat’:
a pact between hospitals, police,
ambulance services and the local
authority to ensure those in
mental health crisis are supported
appropriately.
Following on from the national
strategy another important
national document was published
by the Department of Health in
January 2014 - ‘Closing the Gap’.
(www.gov.uk/government/
publications/mental-health-
priorities-for-change).
This document highlights the gaps
in services for those with mental ill
health, and the document sets out
25 priorities for change. At a local
level Avon and Wiltshire Mental
Health Partnership, NHS Trust,
launched ‘Bristol Active Life’ which
supports people in community-
based activities, with a focus on
physical activities. The programme
has supported over 600 people
locally, and has run sessions for
sports workers on mental health
issues.
There are many local and national
resources available; a selection
includes:
• The Little Book of Wow (5
Ways of Wellbeing – 5 Great
Tips for Improving Personal
Wellbeing). For copies contact
Blanka Robinson (see next
bullet).
• No health without mental
health initiative, for more
information contact Blanka
Robinson at Bristol Public
Health: Blanka.Robertson@
bristol.gov.uk
• Bristol City Council
Workplace Wellbeing Charter:
www.bristol.gov.uk/
wellbeingcharter
• Time to talk, time to change
– a national campaign to
encourage everyone to start
talking about mental health
problems. Visit: www.time-
to-change.org.uk
• www.mentalhealth.org.uk
(sign up to their Facebook
page to receive useful
updates and information
on mental wellbeing:
www.facebook.com/
mentalhealthfoundation)
• The national strategy: www.
gov.uk/government/
publications/the-mental-
health-strategy-for-england
Ph
oto b
y Earl - Wh
at I Saw 2.0, C
C BY-N
C-SA 2.0
www.voscur.org October / November / December 2014 Issue 2630
Over 100 voluntary, community
and social enterprise activists
gathered at the Trinity
Community Centre in Lawrence
Hill in July of this year to take
part in Voscur’s assembly event
organised on behalf of the
city’s voluntary and community
sector (VCS).
The agenda for the day combined
three policy discussions, followed
by three training opportunities.
The first group discussed
possible changes to the City
Council’s voluntary sector grants
programme.
Voscur’s CEO, Wendy Stephenson,
and Board member Joanna Holmes
led this discussion. Di Robinson,
Service Director, Neighbourhoods
and Communities, gave the City
Council’s perspective. She said:
“The Council is committed to
ensuring there is an open and
transparent discussion and to
getting to a place where grant
funding gives the best impact for
our communities and is visible for
communities to see in one place
where spend is going. We are
committed to retaining a grants
‘pot’ but want to ensure spend is
efficiently managed and supports
the council priorities.”
A full discussion followed. The
City Council will, of course, carry
out a formal consultation on any
proposed changes.
The second workshop focused
on “How can we improve
commissioning?”
Mark Hubbard, Compact
Liaison Officer, talked about
improvements to commissioning
practice to date, and highlighted
some of the problems that the
sector still faces:
• Commissioning practice
is inconsistent across the
Council.
• There is a perceived bias
against small, local, niche
organisations.
• There are conflicting messages
about collaboration.
Recommendations from this
session included training for
commissioners, standardisation of
(good) practice and a clear, easy-
to-find policy on services that will
be commissioned.
Voscur was asked to help small
VCS groups to work with larger
groups and facilitate more public
involvement with the process.
Voscur is now working directly
with the City Council at strategic
director level to ensure that these
issues are addressed.
Hot topics for our sector - a productive VCS Assembly
Issue 26 October / November / December 2014 www.voscur.org 31
Paul Hassan introduced the
third workshop, which posed
the question “How can the
sector engage with the new
opportunities afforded by the
Local Enterprise Partnership?”
The LEP has allocated £6m against
the specific activity of: ‘Removing
barriers to employment’. This
includes £3m ‘opt in’ Big Lottery
Funding. The VCS is in the best
position to ensure those facing
multiple barriers to economic
activity are brought into the
mainstream.
Voscur, Voluntary Action North
Somerset, South Gloucestershire
CVS, Social Enterprise Works,
Quartet, the Care Forum, the
West of England Rural Network
and WESPORT have set up a
partnership to ensure social
inclusion funds are allocated to
the VCS sector to tackle economic
exclusion.
The audience asked questions
around how the funds would be
allocated and eligibility criteria.
Paul Hassan talked about an event
scheduled for 2 October 2014
which would begin the process of
answering these questions.
After a short break, the Assembly
split into three training workshops.
Paula Cannings from Voscur
delivered an entertaining
workshop to allow delegates to
explore key issues in negotiation
processes.
Jonathan Crutchlow and Ruth
Summersbell from Lloyds Banking
Group ran a session on working
with the private sector, and
took delegates on a tour of the
different ways we can engage
with the private sector, from
funding to volunteer support.
Finally Max Boon from Spirit PR
introduced delegates to a range
of techniques and approaches
to get the best out of the local
media.
Despite difficult acoustics at
times, the attendees found
the topics relevant and useful.
The Assembly concluded with a
networking lunch provided by
FareShare South West.
For information and
resources from the
day, along with minutes
from the workshops, visit:
goo.gl/V6oq1m
For more information
on the VCS Assembly
and how to get involved,
contact Paul Hassan on
0117 909 9949 or email:
I find learning and networking with colleagues in the voluntary sector very valuable to my work.Attendee, VCS Assembly, July 2014
“”
Photos by Louise Wender, www.louisewender.com
For details of all the above training and events, and those taking place beyond December, visit: www.voscur.org/training-and-events
Voscur Ltd. Royal Oak House Royal Oak Avenue Bristol BS1 4GB
Tel: 0117 909 9949 Fax: 0117 933 0501 Email: [email protected] Web: www.voscur.org
Voscur is a registered charity and a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. Company no. 3918210. Charity no. 1148403.
Printed on 100% recycled paper using vegetable-based inks
October 2014Date Time Event/training Location
1st 9:30am - 3:30pm Writing Small Fundraising Bids Phoenix Social Enterprise
2nd 9:30am - 1pm The Voluntary and Community Sector and the Local Enterprise Partnership: Next Steps
The Station
8th 1pm - 3:30pm Preventing Injury to Children and Young People The CREATE Centre
14th 9:30am - 1pm Commissioning: Building and Maintaining Relationships when Working Collaboratively
Easton Community Centre
15th 10am - 12pm Children and Young People’s Network meeting - Children and Young People’s Community Health Services’ draft commissioning plan - what are your views?
Barton Hill Settlement
16th 9:30am - 12:30pm Crowdfunding The Greenhouse
22nd 11am - 4pm Voscur Annual Conference and Awards The Bristol Pavilion
November 2014Date Time Event/training Location
5th 9:30am - 3:30pm Supervision Skills for Volunteer Managers St Werburghs Centre
6th 9:30am - 12:30pm Making Your Message Mighty - the Power of Words The Gatehouse Centre
6th 1pm - 3:30pm Hot Shots - the Power of Images The Gatehouse Centre
11th - 12th 9:30am - 3:30pm An A-Z of HR St Werburghs Centre
13th 10:30am - 12:30pm Finance Forum Royal Oak House
13th 6pm - 9pm Being an Even Better Trustee Barton Hill Settlement
19th 9:30am - 3:30pm Good Customer Services for Office Based Staff The Gatehouse Centre
20th 12pm - 2pm Mind the Gap: How Decisions are Made in the City Royal Oak House
25th 9:30am – 3:30pm Basic Book-keeping St Werburghs Centre
27th 9:30am – 3:30pm Theory of Change: Taking Your First Steps Easton Community Centre
December 2014Date Time Event/training Location
2nd 12pm - 2pm Mind the Gap: How You Can Influence Decisions that are Made in the City
Royal Oak House
9th 6pm - 8pm Trustee Network: Reporting Serious Incidents and Whistleblowing
TBC
Voscur training and events