update 258 /// june & july 2017 · 2018-07-24 · totally digital. find out what this means...

www.bvscupdate.org

We’re celebrating 25 years of Update magazine with our final edition

in print! Visit our brand new Update Online website to keep up with

all things voluntary and community in Birmingham...

www.bvscupdate.org

Update 258 /// June & July 2017

In this edition...

After 25 years, our last edition in print

Update celebrates its 25th year this month, and you only have to look at the cover to see how far it’s come. To coincide with the anniversary

BVSC is excited to announce that Update magazine is changing the format, by going totally digital. Find out what this means and how you can contribute (pages 6-8).

Sticking with the digital theme, Fancy Guppy’s director Michaela Hodges stresses the importance of charity campaigning and how charities and causes should embrace digital platforms to make their voices heard (see page 18).

There’s also a four-page supplement (from page 9) from Psiams Systems, that explains why not-for-profits need to invest in IT to ‘future-proof’ their organisations.

And local charity St Paul’s Community Development Trust are using a digital Crowdfunding Platform to fund the refurbishment of the Ellen Gree Narrowboat for the benefit of the community in Balsall Heath.

There’s also an update from the Matt Kendall Foundation, a trust set up just two years ago to give one-off small grants to disadvantaged young people.

And finally, we hope you continue to enjoy Update Online for many more years at bvscupdate.org.

Published six times per year by BVSC: © BVSC 2017. All rights reserved.

Editorial and advertising: Helen Cobain / 0121 678 8830 / [email protected]

Design: Cuthbert Design / www.cuthbertdesign.com

Printing: JPL Print & Design Ltd / www.jplprint.com Distribution: PA Publishing Co. / 01527 540909

Views and opinions expressed in Update are those of the individual authors and not necessarily those of BVSC. BVSC is in no

way responsible for and does not endorse goods or services supplied by organisations which advertise in Update.

Birmingham Voluntary Service Council Ltd (BVSC) is a registered charity (no. 218795) and a company limited by guarantee (no. 421688).

BVSC’s Update goes digital after 25 years in print

6 9

Technology supplement, sponsored by PSIAMS Systems

14

The Key Fund: the key to social enterprise success

13

Matt Kendall Foundation: two years on

Now is a good time to get online and campaign

All aboard the Ellen Gee with St Paul’s

16 18

Update 258 /// June & July 2017 www.bvsc.org/update-magazine

Update 258 /// June & July 2017 3

Snippets

Bags of help for St Peter’sBVSC and St Peters Housing Association (Saltley) have been selected as one of three local projects to take part in Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme!

The scheme, a partnership between Tesco and Groundwork UK, enables local communities to receive up to £5,000 towards projects benefiting the local community, using funds raised from the 5p bag levy.

The grants (£5,000, £2,000 or £1,000) are awarded in proportion to the number of votes received. Shoppers are given a token which they place in their chosen charity’s slot in the in-store Bags of Help display stand.

BVSC and St Peter’s Housing Association are planning three Team Challenges, enabling local residents to work together to improve green spaces where they live, making a positive impact on the environment and significantly benefiting the residents.

BVSC’s CSR development worker, Stephanie Bloxham, said: “The project is unique as the hard work will be carried out by the residents’ themselves. Over three days they will transform three very different green spaces into gardens that the whole community can enjoy, as well as being a haven for wildlife.”

Participant and St Peter’s resident, Enid, said: “I used to love gardening before I moved here, but it’s limited at the moment especially when living in flats. I would like a nicer garden and space to use and enjoy.”

Lisa Baker, housing services manager at St Peter’s, said: “Not only will it be a great benefit to the tenants but also the local community, including working with schools to improve the area with an opportunity to learn about wildlife.”

Voting takes place until the end of June in city centre stores.

The Springfield Project in Sparkhill helps hundreds of families in the local area through children's centre services as well as providing activities and support to adults by reducing isolation and alleviating the effects of poverty.

The project has a strong Christian ethos and holds a vision that every child, young person, parent and adult in the community should have the opportunity to reach their full potential in life. With such a diverse portfolio of work and in an increasingly difficult funding climate, they decided a film would be the best way to capture the ethos of the project and promote the work that they do.

Abigail Johnson, communications officer, said: "We knew other charities had successfully used films to showcase their work and knew it could benefit us too. After researching local production companies, we came across Iconic Productions and after meeting with their director, Sam Lockyer, it was clear they truly understood the aims of the project and how to reflect them."

Having a film crew based at the project for a full week did bring about some logistical problems. There were timetable clashes, issues with space, the need to find willing participants for interviews and the need for female film crew for the women only classes. However, all these hurdles were easily overcome with support from Iconic who put everyone at ease and were flexible and professional throughout. The project was touched by the enthusiasm of service users who couldn't wait to share their stories on film and demonstrate

Lights, camera, action: The Springfield Project on film!

the positive impact The Springfield Project had on their lives.Sue Round, deputy CEO of The Springfield Project was

thrilled with the final product: "We are so proud of the film Iconic Productions made for us. It shows the heart of our project in an engaging and compelling way. As well as putting it on our website to clearly show what we do and being able to show it to staff, trustees and volunteers at our Away Day, we've been able to use the film at presentations and meetings with potential funders and supporters. We've also been able to share it using social media to raise our profile. Although it can seem a daunting process at first, the outcome has been completely positive and well worthwhile.”

i The Springfield Project: www.springfieldproject.org.uk/about-us | Iconic Productions: www.iconictv.co.uk

Being the best you can be at workBVSC has introduced a brand new course to its training programme, called Being the Best you can be at work.

It aims to bring together a number of topics

such as time management, objective setting,

communication skills and assertiveness

into a full day’s session. All key skills that

any employee needs in order to reach

their full potential within an organisation.

The course, which is being delivered

by BVSC’s regular management and

leadership trainer, Rob Legge, is suitable

for any employees who are not yet

managing people, but who want to

develop their skills to prepare themselves

for the next step. It’s also suitable for

anyone who feels the need of a refresher.

The session takes place on Tuesday

11 July at BVSC and costs £120.

i BVSC Training: www.bvsc.org/event/being-best-you-can-be-work

4 Update 258 /// June & July 2017

Snippets

Building from Broken Pieces

Birmingham charity Breaking the Silence has been awarded more then £40,000 through The People’s Projects to support and raise awareness of those affected by domestic abuse, forced marriage and human trafficking.

The People’s Projects is a partnership between the Big Lottery Fund, ITV, STV and The National Lottery that gives the public a say in awarding National Lottery funding to local projects across the UK.

Breaking the Silence will help women move from victims to survivors using creative arts therapy, including drama, creative writing and music, individual face-to-face and telephone counselling, reflection sessions, and group and peer support.

It aims to help women move from victims to victors and be restored from the pain and experience they have suppressed. Participants ultimately become mentors for others who are looking for a life free from abuse.

i Breaking the Silence: www.btsuk.org

New rates for BVSC advertisingThe BVSC Communications team are introducing a new set of fees for advertising services, starting from 1 July 2017.

We’ve made changes to advertising events and training, so we can open this service up to more organisations, individuals and community groups.

Jobs: The fee to place a job on our popular Third Sector Jobs page will be £49 per job (discounts apply for multiple adverts – see below).

Events and training: Advertising fees vary according to how much you charge (per person) for your event or training. If you charge £20 or under you can advertise for free. If you charge £20 to £149, we’ll charge £20 for your advert and if you charge £150 and above your advert will cost £49. If you want to advertise a large number of events or training courses on a continual basis, we can offer a fee of £90 per month in place of one-off bookings.

Classified adverts: Rates are negotiable – get in touch for details.

All adverts placed with us are automatically included in the e-bulletin for that week. If you would like e-bulletin repeats, these are charged at £15 per repeat. There is a 20% discount if you buy 3 or more adverts on the same day.

i Richard Dawson, BVSC: 0121 678 8835 / [email protected]

Small grants for local groups that are working to bring neighbours together to develop relationships and improve their communities.

The Near Neighbours programme offers small grants of between £250 and £5,000, as seed funding for local groups and organisations working to bring together neighbours, and to develop relationships across diverse faiths and ethnicities to improve their communities.

The Fund is available in areas that are multi-religious and multi-ethnic within specific parishes. The Fund has two key objectives:

• Social interaction – to develop positive relationships in multi-faith areas.

• Social action – to encourage people of different faiths and of no faith to come together for initiatives that improve their local neighbourhood.

Projects must fall into at least one of the following three broad categories:

• First Encounters that develop new relationships between people of different faith and ethnic communities and encourage the development of mutual understanding – initiatives which begin the process of developing friendship and neighbourliness.

• Everyday Interactions that support regular interactions, repeatedly bringing people together and encouraging families and individuals to come together to share life – building flourishing and sustainable friendships and relationships.

Near Neighbours Fund opens in England• Civil Engagement which brings together people from

different faith or ethnic communities to work together to change their neighbourhoods for the better – enabling diverse communities to transform their neighbourhoods.

To be eligible, projects must:

• Bring together peoples of two or more different faiths and/or ethnicities, to build friendships and develop relationships of trust.

• Work locally to bring together people who are living very locally (ie, in the same street, estate or neighbourhood).

• Work sustainably so that long-term and natural relationships grow, that will last beyond the period of funding.

• Work to improve the community with people working to make their communities a better place to live.

• Involve diverse people in planning and implementation – involving people from more than one faith group and/or ethnicity in planning and implementing the proposal.

Charities, religious organisations, community interest companies, social enterprises and groups of individuals focusing on community benefit can apply. Preference is given to applications from small faith or community organisations with a turnover of less than £150,000.

Applications will be accepted until the deadline of 17 November 2017.

i Near Neighbours small grants: www.cuf.org.uk/ near-neighbours-small-grants

http://www.cuf.org.uk/near-neighbours-small-grants

http://www.cuf.org.uk/near-neighbours-small-grants


Snippets

With the intention of working in partnership with Dudley MBC and potentially other statutory bodies across the West Midlands, Stourbridge based charity, CVT (Camphill Village Trust) has announced the launch of a brand new Shared Lives Scheme.

With substantial cuts to adult social care budgets, there is increasing demand on commissioners up and down the country to identify innovative models of care that are not only cost effective, but also provide better outcomes for people in terms of mental and physical wellbeing. At present, there are 153 schemes across the UK, supporting approximately 13,000 people through 8,500 Shared Lives Carers.

Shared Lives is sometimes described as ‘foster care for adults with disabilities’, but it is so much more than that. Shared Lives carers are carefully matched to support a person from within their home to develop the practical skills to have greater independence, encourage new social networks, build self-esteem and confidence and lead the same ordinary domestic life at the heart of the community as you or I.

(USE-IT!) is a fantastic Birmingham-based initiative to bring together people and their community assets. It helps residents to maximise employment, social, educational and well-being opportunities in the areas between and including Ladywood and Summerfield, and Cape Hill and Smethwick.

Partners including BVSC and other voluntary and community sector organisations, the Initiative for Social Entrepreneurs (iSE), Birmingham City Council, Birmingham University, Birmingham City University, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust and Sandwell Council, are engaging with local communities. Together, they are:

• Enabling residents with professional health-related qualifications from other countries to access jobs in the NHS, filling vitally needed positions

• Providing opportunities for citizens to realise their potential by starting their own businesses

• Encouraging those wanting the opportunities to influence local decision-making in planning, community activities and local investments, etc, to access free training to create evidence that will strengthen the resident voice.

These points are just three areas that contribute towards creating happy, resilient and influential communities and neighbourhoods. Underlying all of these activities is our work in mapping community assets, from people, to informal gatherings to organisations. We’re joining the dots to enable citizens to know exactly where to go and what to do when they want to make a difference, need help, want to make friends or seek new life opportunities.

The initiative will be run in the community until the end of 2019, thanks to our city winning over £2.5m from the European Union’s Urban Innovative Actions competition. Urban Innovative Actions

USE-IT: Unlocking Social and Economic Innovation Together!

supports regeneration approaches that recognise the talents and resources within communities and enable them to secure a lasting positive impact on the lives of city-based residents. Last year’s competition saw almost 400 applications submitted with 18 winners, including Birmingham – the only UK city to win an award!

USE-IT! presents an exciting, engaging and fun opportunity to Birmingham’s voluntary and community sector organisations. At the heart of the USE-IT! ethos is the view that our city contains a lot of talent, energy and enthusiasm, and that the more we understand the people and organisations around us, the stronger we’ll all be in partnership. The project also approaches the world from a holistic perspective-people need to be contented and happy physically, emotionally, socially, economically and financially. Strong communities are therefore those that can join up activities that support their members in all of these ways. Voluntary and community organisations are at the heart of creating a better world and being in the USE-IT! network will help you find new opportunities and like-minded people and teams.

We warmly invite you to get in touch and find out what we can do together. We look forward to working with you!

i USE-IT: www.uia-initiative.eu/en/uia-cities/birmingham / Social enterprise and social production: [email protected] / Matching jobs skills in the community with NHS demand: [email protected] / Community researchers: [email protected]

Shared Lives: ‘foster care for adults with disabilities’

CVT is currently in the early stages of setting up

the new scheme, but would like to hear from you if

you can help promote the scheme or identify people

who may be interested in becoming involved.

i Dean Barnshaw, Shared Lives at CVT: 07984 896010 / [email protected] / www.cvt.org.uk/sharedlives


BVSC’s Update

goes digital

BVSC’s Update goes digital

BVSC’s Update magazine celebrates a milestone birthday this year – 25 years of ‘all things voluntary and community’ in Birmingham. The anniversary coincides with an exciting development which will see Update switch to a new digital format, Update Online.Update first hit desks in June 1992 when it was a modest four-page black and white newsletter. The first edition introduced Update as “BVSC’s new monthly newsletter covering policy and development issues for voluntary agencies in Birmingham.” Over the years Update has

evolved and developed, enjoying several makeovers that reflected not only the changing face of BVSC but changes in design and communications more generally. The last key transformation came in 2005 when we introduced the 20-page, full colour magazine-style format.

BVSC has an almost complete archive of Updates which make for fascinating reading. Pre-dating digital media, the early editions focussed mostly on policy as well being an essential notice board for events and services. The very first edition for instance included a lengthy piece explaining key legislation relating to the 1992 Charities Act.

In 1992 there were also several references to the introduction of a UK Lottery (launched two years later to great fanfare by Prime Minister John Major). The strength of opposition to a UK Lottery was very evident in those early



editions. Update reported that NCVO and others believed the Lottery would have “a dramatic, even ‘catastrophic’ effect on donations to charities.” Two decades on it is hard to imagine where many not-for-profits would be without it!

Why the switch to digital?Apart from obvious cost savings – design, print and postage – we feel it’s time to capitalise on the technology and social media available. And the truth is printed media has its challenges. There are timing issues and copy deadlines to work to, so advance planning is essential, and sharing content presents more issues. Yes, it’s possible to share a link to a PDF version of Update, but there’s an awful lot of clicking and scrolling involved before people get to the page you want them to read.

So Update is taking on a new digital magazine format and called Update Online. In creating the online version we’ve taken many elements of style and content from the printed magazine format that our readers have come to recognise and (hopefully) enjoy, such as the ‘spotlight’ features, ‘practice’ articles and case studies. But Update Online offers many advantages over the print version. For a start, it’s much easier to read on a mobile device, and there is the ability to search for past articles, browse by topic, listen to audio versions (where possible) and occasionally to view additional video content. Here are a few more advantages:

• Single articles can be more easily shared, either

through links in emails or bulletins, or via social

media channels such as Twitter and Facebook.

• Timing is no longer an issue. Your articles can

within reason be shared straight away. No

more planning around copy deadlines!

• Detailed statistical analysis, or tracking, will allow us

to monitor how you use Update Online and what

content is of most interest. We can then produce/

source more of what you want to read.

• You can access Update Online from any mobile

device and dip in an out at your convenience.

• Articles added to Update Online will become part of

a permanent resource that can be easily searched by

browsing categories or carrying out word searches.

When is the change happening?Update Online is already available at bvscupdate.org.

Thanks to the dedication of our volunteer Brendan, we’re

delighted to be able to share a number of archive articles too.

Particularly those focussing on good practice, for example,

human resource management, communications, leadership

and governance. Over time this resource bank will grow!

June 1992 January 1995 May 1997 February 2001

April 2001 October 2005 October 2010 February 2017



Continuing your subscriptionThe June/July edition will be the final edition in print format, so to continue your subscription you will need to sign up and decide how regularly you would like to receive alerts. To subscribe you simply follow these steps:

1. Enter your email address in the Subscribe box on the Home page at bvscupdate.org

2. You will receive a confirmation email from BVSC Update Online. Click on the Manage your subscriptions button and choose when you would like to receive new content alerts: either immediately new content is posted, on a daily basis or once a week.

Alternatively, we will be sharing articles via Twitter and Facebook, as well as in our Weekly e-bulletins which are sent out every Friday. If you don’t currently receive the BVSC e-bulletin you can sign up at www.bvsc.org/e-bulletin.

Contributing to Update OnlineWe’re committed to making Update Online an invaluable resource for the whole of the not-for-profit sector in Birmingham – somewhere you can go to be inspired as well as inspiring others.

So please share your stories with us! Whether you represent a small community group or a larger charity, we know you have a unique story to tell, so please get in touch by emailing [email protected]. If you’re not sure where to start we’ve put together a brief guide to help you get started (turn to ). We suggest you also browse current and archive content for more inspiration.

And finally…There are a few people who have been involved in the production of Update for many years to whom we would like to extend our sincere thanks. To Ian Cuthbert for his amazing eye for detail and punchy headlines; Alan Lane for the consistent high quality (and timely) printing; and Ann Bett, for being the final link in the chain and ensuring swift and efficient delivery edition after edition. And finally of course thanks to everyone who has contributed articles over the years – please keep your content coming to Update Online!

i Update Online: www.bvscupdate.org / [email protected]

Who can contribute to Update Online?Any third sector organisation in and around Birmingham can submit an article for Update Online. So, if you’ve never written an article before, here’s a brief guide to get you started:

What should you submit? Anything that is of interest to the voluntary sector in Birmingham – we encourage contributors to think outside the box! Some of the more popular topics with our readers include:

‘Good news’ stories | Did you recently put on a successful community event? Did you and/or your organisation complete a community project? Or maybe you are just about to launch one that you feel will make a real difference in your community. We are particularly looking for any ‘good news’ that demonstrates the dynamism and vibrancy of Birmingham’s third sector.

Best practice | Are you an expert in your chosen field? We get regular contributions relating to a range of topics including project management, marketing, management and more!

Case studies | Often volunteers like to write about their experiences – or perhaps one of your service users has an inspiring story to tell.

Campaigns | Use Update Online as a platform to campaign on an issue you and/or your organisation is passionate about.

TOP TIP Please include any multimedia you have (video, audio, images etc.) as this encourages readers to really engage with your content

How should you write it? Use a natural, lively style of writing that will capture the reader’s attention. Sticking to short, concise sentences often enhances readability. An introduction and conclusion will help to frame your article and make it easier to read.

Then outline facts: what, who, where, when? The main body of your article should be broken up into paragraphs, preferably with regular sub-headings.

TOP TIP The first line of your paragraph should summarise the rest of the paragraph; ideally someone should be able to get the point of your article by reading first paragraph sentences and nothing else!

Try to use one or more of the following as part of your article:

• Case-study(s)

• Statistics and evidence

• Short quotesOnce you have completed your article, proof-read it

and check that it conveys the intended message.

TOP TIP Reading articles to yourself out loud might sound silly but it’s a really effective technique for proof-reading.

There’s no minimum or maximum word count, although the most successful articles are mostly between 600-1200 words. It is recommended to split lengthy articles up using sub-headings to improve readability and comprehension.

Where possible, include some good quality, digital photography. This will help bring your piece to life. The best photographs of people are those showing facial expressions or action. Try to avoid standard poses to camera such as line-ups or presentations.

Articles about your organisation is a useful resource to impress funders and to share with trustees, volunteers, staff and service users – make sure at the end of your articles you include some sort of ‘call to action’ and the contact details of your organisation.

Harness the power of digital

technology

TECHNOLOGY SUPPLEMENT | SPONSORED BY PSIAMS SYSTEMS www.psiams.com

The pace of technological change is fast and getting faster. Technology doesn’t wait for organisations to catch up. All too often we see out-dated and inefficient systems that drain resources and potential.

Keeping up with the latest tech is no longer about using the right digital tools and tactics – it’s now a governance and strategy issue – a key part of staying competitive, relevant and secure.

49% of charities lack basic digital skills.”

The Lloyds Bank UK Business Digital Index 2016 found that 49% of charities lack basic digital skills, with the smallest organisations, employing less than 10 people, faring worst. It also links digital maturity and organisational success, finding that charities that are more digitally mature are 28% more likely to report an increase in turnover or funding than those who are not.

PSIAMS empowers voluntary sector organisations to improve the way they work internally, externally and collaboratively through technology led solutions. We understand the sector because we’re part of it.

Inside this spotlight, you’ll see examples of how our systems are generating cost savings for clients by modernising their working practices and supporting the delivery and impact measurement of complex services. You’ll also find our top tech tips and be able to assess your organisation’s skills using the Tech Partnership’s Basic Digital Skills Framework.

Do you need an IT strategy?Quite often we think of IT when we need to replace a computer, set up a website or we need a database. It’s normally, reactionary. IT or software should be part of your development plan and be considered for any solution you may want to implement.

Investing in IT to ‘future-proof’ your organisation is perhaps a better way to look at this. More and more


we are being asked to report information with an outcomes focus and not in isolation of other data. So a key strategy is to bring data into one place or make sure different data can be connected into one place.

That one place is normally going to be some form of CRM / MIS (Customer Relationship Management / Management Information System), but it’s important to make sure that CRM/MIS does more than just one thing.

Having a flexible and adaptable system means you can always respond to change and different demands placed on your organisation’s data needs. It’s possible to connect every bit of data you will need, you just need time and a strategy to do this; and it doesn’t have to be years...it can be quite quick to achieve these goals.

When it comes to data the first thing you should ask is how can I get a single source of truth, rather than multiple versions of possible truth from multiple people and systems. If you can’t do that, then you may well need an IT strategy.

by Mark Ellerby

DirectorPSIAMS Systems

This is a section heading



About PSIAMSWhat is PSIAMS?PSIAMS is a software and IT social enterprise but we’re pretty different from other providers of CRM or impact measurement systems. We get to know our customers and the end users of your services; we are here to help you engage with them better using technology.

How did it come about?PSIAMS was first developed to support the work of Clinical Commissioning Groups working with the VCSE sector in order to demonstrate the difference their investment was making in terms of social impact, social value and social capital...key things commissioners are interested in.

Why consider a PSIAMS system?Our work is not just about putting information into a system… we connect solutions together. Imagine a system that can include web services, marketing, peer-to-peer support and referrals to other services; all digital. This saves huge amounts of time and allows valuable resources to be re-directed to frontline services. PSIAMS can be delivered at both a single and multi-organisational level, ideal for consortia working.

How many organisations are you working with?Around 45 health and wellbeing organisations across the West Midlands are now using a PSIAMS system, but it can be customised to any type of organisation, service or project. Existing clients include Changes UK, Beacon Centre, Langstone Society, Lunch on the Run, Dudley Mind and Age UK Dudley.

What impact has the system had so far?Our greatest impact has been the way organisations work and think about data and outcomes; whether that’s moving from paper to digital or office to mobile. Our clients are also more outcomes focussed. Interestingly, we are now being asked to develop more commercial solutions to support income generation activities.

What does a PSIAMS system cost? A bespoke PSIAMS system with 10 user licences will cost around £7,500 including post build support for 12 months. A system like PSIAMS on the open market would cost up to £25K and come with expensive IT support contracts.

What about on-going support costs and updates?We’re not one of those companies that charge a fortune to make small changes. PSIAMS is a flexible system that can change with your organisation. We've already developed over 250 software solutions for our customers… if we don't have what you are looking for, we can source it or write it for you!

What we are about...

CRM/MIS(Customer Relationship Management/

Management Information System)

“All your data in one place”

SHARING environment

e.g. documents, links, ideas

LEARNING environment

e.g. groups,

teams, CPD

CHANGE environment

e.g. way of

working

SOCIAL environment

e.g. chatter,

collaboration

Customers Staff AssetsOrganisation

£400,000 investment

from Dudley CCG

Established 2013

45+ VCSE organisations have a bespoke PSIAMS system

Developed 250+ solutions

for clients:client tracking,

assessment tools, outcomes measurement,

volunteer management, HR

Average cost of a system

£7,500

Typical build

6-12 weeks

Get in touchFor more information about PSIAMS or any of the articles featured in this supplement please get in touch.

Call: 01384 217055Email: [email protected]: www.psiams.com

For tech news, tips and advice follow us on Twitter

@PSIAMS

PSIAMS Systems Ltd specialises in technology led solutions that empower voluntary sector organisations to maximise their efficiency and measure their impact.


www.psiams.com TECHNOLOGY SUPPLEMENT | SPONSORED BY PSIAMS SYSTEMS

Social prescribing: Demonstrating impact

Integrated Plus is a social prescribing project being delivered by Dudley CVS as part of Dudley’s New Models of Care agenda.

The project targets people at high risk of hospital admission and those who are frequent attenders of medical services. It aims to the address the underlying reasons for their health and wellbeing problems and helps them connect to their communities.

Link Officers visit people in their homes, assess their needs and prescribe non-clinical services and activities appropriate to their needs, and offer in-depth support when people are in crisis, waiting to access services or have an urgent need.

PSIAMS co-produced a bespoke system with Integrated Plus to manage, track and speed up the brokerage of support with other organisations, securely sharing data between them.

Integrated Plus uses the ‘social triage’ functionality within PSIAMS, a unique ‘whole person’ assessment across 11 areas (Finance, Safety, Physical Health, Mental Health, Drug / Alcohol, Education, Employment, Household, Life Skills, Sexual Health and Relationships/Community) able to monitor the individual’s progression as they access services.

In 2015/16, Integrated Plus supported 956 individuals and made 2,808 referrals. Interventions and outcomes were all recorded and managed through PSIAMS, which shows the project has:

• Saved the wider health and social care economy £375,000 (based on data from 44 clients) supported

• 91% reported improvements in finances and debt

• 61% reported improvements in housing situations

• 30% reduction in inappropriate GP visits

• 76% of referrals were made to local voluntary and community organisations

• 92% of GPs and other health clinicians feel that Link Officers are pivotal to multi-disciplinary teams and representing the voluntary sector.

We have supported almost 1,000 people through the Integrated Plus

Service and we needed to know not only how we helped the clients and our stakeholders, but also the financial impact we made on the local health economy. PSIAMS gave us the ability to not just do our job, but also do it effectively and efficiently. They are very responsive to our needs ... whether it’s a simple change or the addition of a new feature. It’s not just the practical development of the system, but also the support we get from the team on reporting, data analysis and impact measurement.”Kate Green, Integrated Plus Manager

i Integrated Plus: www.integratedplusblog.com

Going digital: Langstone Society

Langstone Society, a disability charity that provides care and supported living services in Dudley, was a solely paper based organisation when they started working with PSIAMS. Use of digital technology was minimal so our work with the charity involved major changes to their working practices and culture as we helped them go digital, go mobile and go paperless.

PSIAMS supported Langstone Society to go digital by:

Providing a cloud based system that could hold all the organisation’s data in one place (service user, assets, staff, volunteer, outcomes data)

Converting all paper records into digital format

Enabling records to be accessed and updated remotely

Exploring introduction of Office 365

Trained 35 members of staff to use

Monitoring and outcomes reports are now easy and quick to produce using customised forms, reports and dashboards in PSIAMS

Improved workflow / automation e.g. reminders

Major reduction in paper use

Freed up office space

Increased staff productivity

More accurate records and outcomes data

Access to real time data

Thinking about sharing and collab-orating on documents

Early indication of problems and ability to identify and share good practice

It’s the best thing that Langstone Society has done for years. It’s made

updating client records so much easier ... when I’ve been in a health appointment ... I can just type in the updated plan and there it is, instantly on their file! Before, admin was a bit of a pain; I had to plan time to go back to the office (it could be days) and get out a file and fill it in all by hand.” Langstone Society Community Support Worker

i Langstone Society: www.langstonesociety.org

These changes have led to:

Assess your digital skills The Basic Digital Skills Framework*, developed by Doteveryone and the Tech Partnership, sets out five areas of digital capability essential for any organisation to participate fully in the digital world.

Take five minutes to review the framework and see how your organisation is doing...

1. Managing informationFind, manage and store digital information and content

• Store digital information on suppliers and customers

• Search for new suppliers to find the best deals

• Understand who uses your website

• Discover potential growth opportunities for your business

2. CommunicatingCommunicate, interact, collaborate, share and connect with others

• Maintain customer and client relationships

• Use social media to promote your business and connect with new customers

• Improve your customer service by providing accessible product information and answers to frequently asked questions.

3. TransactingPurchase and sell goods and services, organise finances, register for and use Government digital services

• Maximise your selling potential through a website

• Save time by applying for government business permits and licences

• Receive payments or donations

• Protect yourself from fraud or scam

4. CreatingEngage with communities and create basic digital content

• Save on business travel and be more efficient by using video conferencing

• Use business support websites and basic how to guides

• Quickly understand which products and services work based on online feedback

• Interpret simple analytics to improve website performance

• Get solutions to problems from safe, accurate sources

5. Problem SolvingIncrease independence and confidence by solving problems using digital tools and finding solutions

• Create an informational or e-commerce website

• Create content (pictures, logos, text) to promote your organisation and reach customers

• Use social media and create communities to engage with customers

• Create resources to improved employee skill levels

*Source: www.thetechpartnership.com/basic-digital-skills



Capturing the voice of the child

When we were asked to draft a participation strategy for children

and young people in Dudley Borough, we wanted to find a way of reducing duplication and over consultation.

PSIAMS came up with Chatterbox – a professional co-working space where staff and professionals can share information, iZone – a local, trusted, information portal co-designed with children and young people, and Care n Share, a peer to peer special educational needs project for young people, parents and guardians to share their stories and improve support.

PSIAMS has created an environment for change. Now we’re providing solutions to the local authority. We’ve got data that is readily available. Case studies in video and what children and young people’s services need in terms of care planning, service improvement, service design and strategic planning.” Nicki Burrows, Children and Young People, Dudley CVS

i Dudley CYPF Network: www.dudleycypfnetwork.net

Tech tips from PSIAMSMake sure you are supported – We all like to keep using our favourite version of a browser or software, but by not keeping up to date with ‘supported’ versions you put your computer and your data at risk. Still use Microsoft Explorer? Explorer stopped being supported in January 2016 ... so time to move on! You don’t necessarily need to keep to the latest version, but you should make sure the version you are using is still supported by the software company and that it’s safe.

Spring clean your data – Schedule a regular spring clean of your data. Over time data can become out of date or even redundant so keeping your computer free of unnecessary data and files will help maintain it’s efficiency. However, you also need to remember that throwing things in the recycle bin actually does not get rid of them ... so spring clean, but remember to empty your trash!

Live life in the cloud – One way to keep your computer speedy is to put everything in the Cloud. Cloud computing has had a mixed reception from people but now it’s becoming recognised as a safe alternative to storage on PC, USB, office server or disk. In fact, storage in the Cloud can have real benefits; access data from anywhere, keep data up to date in real time and work collaboratively.

Little things make all the difference – Your keyboard can provide many quick shortcuts to help you do or recover things. For example, how many times have you closed a window or tab when you didn’t mean to? No worries, just try this little tip on your keypad: press Control (PC) or Command (Mac), plus Shift, and T, together ... watch that old window re-appear. Google ‘keyboard shortcuts’ for more ideas.


Key Fund’s story began in South Yorkshire in 1999. Hit by the collapse of coal and steel industries, we wanted to find new ways of breathing life back into our neighbourhoods – to support new enterprises, create jobs and bolster these once proud communities.

And so, Key Fund was formed by a group of like-minded social entrepreneurs and philanthropists.

Key Fund’s mission is to provide ‘the right kind of money at the right time’ for the development and growth of sustainable and impactful community and social enterprises that are unable to secure support from elsewhere.

Key Fund delivered a £60,000 loan to Birmingham-based Citizen Coaching to expand its services and reach.

Citizen CoachingCitizen Coaching works to help people achieve better lives through accessible and affordable counselling, anger management and skills development. It also operates two social enterprises that offer apprenticeships, work experience and employability: Citizen Click and Citizen Home.

Their storyMartin Hogg held a senior position running pubs, restaurants, clubs and hotels, overseeing 600 employees. As a trained counsellor, he began to see the impact of alcohol and violence on the lives of his customers and employees working at the ‘coalface’. He set up Citizen Coaching in 2005 with an ambition to enable people to live better relationships at home and work through coaching and counselling techniques.

Citizen Coaching became a CIC in 2010. Unlike the NHS, which in some locations only offers limited Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, often with a large waiting list, Citizen Coaching offered flexibility around the number of sessions, location and timings, methods of counselling and choice of counsellor to fit around the person, rather than a prescribed approach.

By 2013, Martin began to explore ways to expand to meet client demand. In 2015, a Key Fund loan of £60k allowed

The key to social enterprise

success

Funding

him to replicate the initial counselling business at a second location, recruiting more counsellors, and freed his time to secure new contracts, including adding counselling for victims of crime, supported by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner. Support from Big Lottery Fund enabled an additional 500 people to receive anger management. Martin’s time was also used to develop relationships with two local consortia. These relationships should see additional contracts worth £90,000. The investment also saw an increase in counselling sessions to 7,500 per year.

Expanding to offer employability and training services to people, Martin launched Citizen Home – an online and retail shop in Birmingham, featuring locally-made crafts. He has also developed Citizen Click – a digital and design service – which gives young people volunteering and internships; to date four apprentices have become full-time employees.

Martin’s ability to innovate and spot market opportunities, and deliver quality services at affordable prices, have become the bedrock of the business.

Turnover is now at £250,000 per year, with eight full-time employees and 28 freelance counsellors.

Social ImpactFor every £1 invested in Citizen Coaching’s mental health services there is a return of £7 (reduction in hospital visits, less anti-social behaviour, reduction in homelessness and crisis intervention, better relationships, access to employment and training). The service offers free sessions to those unable to pay; with over 90% of clients reporting a significant increase in their well-being.

i The Key Fund: www.thekeyfund.co.uk

Key Fund stood out from all the social finance suppliers

because they took time to listen, understand our business model and offer the right amount of finance needed that was affordable. I also wanted our business to go to the Key Fund as it’s a social enterprise itself, and would re-invest profits to help others.” Martin Hogg, CEO, Citizen Coaching


Matt Kendall Foundation

Matt Kendall

Foundation: two years on

Not everyone makes such an impact at such a young age, but Matt Kendall did. That’s why his work and the charity set up in his name is continuing to go from strength to strength.

The swell of emotion and support from across Birmingham led Matt, aged just 35, to set up a grant-giving charity just weeks before he lost his two and half year battle with incurable oesophageal cancer.

The youth and community worker had spent his whole adult life in Birmingham and loved the city’s energy and diversity. But he was constantly frustrated about the city’s social divides, and about young people’s inability to get into jobs and training – not through any fault of their own – but because they just didn’t have basic finances.

He believed that no-one’s life should be put on hold because they don’t have the money that most of us take for granted. He saw that just a small amount can make a huge difference to the young people not in education, employment or training in our city.

Now two years after his death, the Matt Kendall Foundation is really making a difference to Birmingham’s most disadvantaged 16 to 25 year olds. The charity provides one-off grants of up to £500 to pay for a range of support that a young person might need – from training and travel to education courses and equipment.

And it’s a good job too. The number of young people not in education, employment or training in Birmingham remains stubbornly high, despite the city having one of the youngest populations in Europe and despite the tremendous work of voluntary organisations across the area. So, plenty to be done then.

“Matt made a difference to more people’s lives than anyone ever realised,” said the chair of the board of trustees, Sophie Wilson, “From all across the world, but nowhere more so than in Birmingham – from Aston and Nechells to Kings Heath. Bringing communities together and unblocking the barriers to community social action really was his forte.

“When we realised that Matt was nearing the end of his life, we spent a long time thinking about how we could channel the incredible support for Matt, as well as the deep sadness at the loss of such an extraordinary human being, into something more positive that built on his own passion and belief in

young people. That’s how the Matt Kendall Foundation was founded. Matt was there for the first two weeks of the charity’s development; he created the aims and objectives with us, he charged us with the responsibility to make a difference and carry on his work, and we remain guided by him to this day.”

And with the last bi-monthly board meeting seeing 12 submissions from young people considered by the foundation’s trustees, word really is starting to get around.

“As with any charity run by volunteers who also have full-time jobs, it took a while to get going. But we’re really getting there now. We’re so delighted. It is such an honour to be a part of turning people’s lives around. In just two years we’ve raised over £60,000 with our fantastic supporters and we’re putting that money to good use.

“These are young people who have a plan and the energy to get into work, and have tried everything they can to get there. The financial barriers are just too high. That’s where we come in.”

Grants that change lives Once jobless, homeless and desperate, Natalie used her grant to get the experience she needed in the US to get her dream job as a football coach.

“Since returning back from America in October 2016, I passed my driving test first time (!) and began working (!!) in a primary school as a Sport Mentor supplemented by some childcare work. I also coach at Leicester City Football Academy every weekend and manage my own under 8’s team.

“Without the grant I don’t know where I’d be now. I had an unbelievable experience in America, but moreover I learnt the professional skills and gained the confidence I needed to make a living out of my passion. My plan is to own my own football academy and help others to follow their dreams, like the Matt Kendall Foundation did for me.

“I can’t believe how great my future looks now.“

Serena and Milly Both young people were based at St Basil’s accommodation and needed specialist equipment and support to get on and complete courses in beauty therapy.

Thanks to the grant from the Matt Kendall Foundation, Milly was able to complete her practical assessment and will be starting her own business as a beauty therapist. She’s doing so well that she’s even moved into independent accommodation.

Serena has been successful in gaining a place in Birmingham University College of Food and enrolled to

Matt made a difference to

more people’s lives than anyone ever realised.”


Matt Kendall Foundation

start her degree in September 2017. She has also moved into her own independent accommodation and passed all her practical and theoretical exams with distinction.

St Basils’ worker Ade Duncan said: “Thank you so much for your assistance as without your generosity, these two hardworking young people would have been unable to achieve the education and independence they crave and desire.”

The Matt Kendall Foundation is now calling out to all youth and community and family professionals working in Birmingham in either a paid or voluntary capacity to find out more about the application criteria and help young people to apply.

“This really is the way that community professionals can see improved outcomes for the work they do,” continued Sophie, “even when there is increasing pressure on everyone’s budgets.

“Our Ambassador programme is really informal, and we don’t ask for any additional resource – just an hour of your time to find out more and to feedback to us – to make sure that our criteria continue to reflect the support that young people need.

“We’ve noticed that for a variety of reasons, some young people find it difficult to apply for a grant, even if they fit the bill perfectly. That’s where the Ambassadors come in – by identifying the young people that could really benefit and supporting their application.

“So I’m sending a rallying cry to all voluntary and public sector professionals in Birmingham – let’s make a real difference together!”

The next year will see the Matt Kendall Foundation focusing on developing new links with organisations and encouraging as many young people to apply for a grant as possible.

The foundation would like to officially thank the Kendall family for their continuing support and direction over the last two years, and to their hundreds of supporters – both professional and personal – across the city.

Work with Matt Kendall FoundationAre you a voluntary organisation that would benefit from a partnership with the Matt Kendall Foundation? Get in touch to let them know – you can find contact details below.

i Matt Kendall Foundation: www.themattkendallfoundation.org / [email protected] / @MK_Foundation_ /

@themattkendallfoundation #MKFworks / www.linkedin.com/in/themattkendallfoundation

i MKF Ambassadors: www.themattkendallfoundation.org/ambassadors

It’s easy to apply...Applying to the Matt Kendall Foundation couldn’t be easier and Trustees consider applications every other month. If an application is urgent we will make every effort to consider grants straight away.

Young people can apply in a number of ways for a grant of up to £500 through our website:

• By video or audio clip

• By short written statement.

The Foundation may write to a nominated sponsor or MKF Ambassador to find out more information about the young person’s circumstances, if needed.

Each application is considered on its own merit, but for further guidelines on what we will and won’t fund please refer to the website.

i Apply now: www.themattkendallfoundation.org/apply


St Paul’s Community Development Trust has, since 1973, worked with Balsall Heath and Birmingham communities, providing education, recreation and life-long learning to some of the most vulnerable groups in society. Situated in one of England’s top 10% most deprived wards, the Trust aims to improve opportunities and quality of life for all accessing their services.

St Paul’s recently embarked on an exciting project to refurbish a beautiful narrow boat, the Ellen Gee. This will enable the Trust to give families, young people, the community and volunteers the chance to be part of a unique experience in the middle of Birmingham.

Youth and community groups have had the opportunity to experience educational, environmental, residential and leisure activities aboard the 70ft narrow boat, moored at Hockley Port, for many years and ownership of the Ellen Gee was transfered to St Paul’s from Birmingham Youth Services in December 2010.

Hundreds of people in Birmingham will have fond memories of their experiences aboard what was once named Youth Afloat, along with the skipper John Welsh.

The narrow boat accommodates 12 people at any one time however, but the current layout is restrictive – with fixed bunks – and does not lend itself well to group work.Having already secured funds to have the boat’s exterior repainted, on 6 May the Trust launched a crowd funding campaign, kindly supported by MP for Hall Green, Roger Godsiff. They need to raise £30,000 by the end of June and the funding will enable it to undertake a major refurbishment of the interior of the boat and fully modernise the facilities.

As part of the project the Trust wants to provide an outdoor educational experience for school children – and especially to give those pupils who have difficulty coping in a traditional classroom or educational environment – alternative ways of learning. It will give children the opportunity to connect with nature, learn about the city’s heritage and provide a quiet space for nurturing and support in order to learn.

The project will provide children and families with an experience they are unlikely to have had prior to visiting to St Paul’s. Many of the families associated with St Paul’s and the local community do not have the opportunity to go beyond their neighbourhood. Having the boat available, moored less than three miles away, enables St Paul’s to provide a very different experience. Being able to provide residential opportunities, but close by, provides reassurance to parents who are anxious about their children staying away from home.

The Ellen Gee will form part of St Paul’s health and well-being services, which also include a city farm, a community centre and a children’s centre. Families have access to a package of support and a suite of services to support their different health needs – physical, emotional and psychological.

St Paul’s is striving to bring people together, through active participation, those in the community experiencing loneliness, isolation, social exclusion or just needing peace and time away. The learning of new skills, through the potential volunteering opportunities on the boat, helps develop confidence and, potentially, employability. Taking part in volunteering helps with physical health as it gets you out of the house and active – being more physically healthy also reduces stress. Building social connections and meeting people helps to relieve stress and anxiety which helps to reduce depression. The experience also supports emotional well-being, developing self-esteem and self-worth, and being healthier and happier reduces the likelihood of developing long term, debilitating illnesses and therefore reducing the demand or need for medical support.

The Ellen Gee project will enable the Trust to support the most vulnerable members of the community who present with many personal challenges. Integral to their health and wellbeing services the narrowboat will be a safe haven, providing an alternative ‘therapy’ to mainstream health services.

Alison Moore, head of children’s services at St Paul’s, said: “This is an exciting time for the Trust as we expand our services, creating a complete health and wellbeing model for users, incorporating the Ellen Gee, City Farm and Community Hub.”

We would love to hear from anyone who has past history with the Ellen Gee. Maybe you were a teenager when John Welsh was the skipper. Do you have more recent stories to tell?

You might be interested in volunteering on the boat, let us know or if you have some time to spare and have skills to offer. You could consider offering your time as part of the reward scheme with the crowdfunding campaign. If you are a group or organisation who would like to hear about hiring the boat, please get in touch.

Youth and community

All aboard the Ellen Gee

Youth and community


Go to the crowdfunding site, watch the video

and hear first hand why the Ellen Gee is so

important for families in Birmingham.

i St Paul’s Community Development Trust: 0121 464 4376 / [email protected] / @myellengee

i Make a donation: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/all-aboard-the-ellen-gee


Campaigning

Now is a good

time to get online

and campaign

A couple of months ago, Acevo launched their new report on charity campaigning, Speaking Frankly, Acting Boldly. It’s a great read and I recommend looking it up, writes Michaela Hodges, director of Fancy Guppy.

It talks about the importance of charity campaigning, how it’s part of the sector’s legacy, and that charities “must work together to refocus, reframe and reclaim charity campaigning”. The final section – What next? – discusses the role of government, the Charity Commission, and civil society. And I want to add something else into the mix, another oft discussed topic nowadays – digital.

Being able to win hearts and minds, raise awareness, change public opinion, and lobby decision makers, is essential to the work that the sector does. From the Suffragettes to No More Page 3, campaigning has changed our world for the better time and time again.

Third Sector recently cited campaigners Eglantyne Jebb and Dorothy Buxton as two of the ‘founding mothers’ of the voluntary sector – in 1919, they established the Save the Children Fund. To raise awareness of the fund, Jebb held a stunt in Trafalgar Square handing out leaflets with images of starving children and the headline ‘Our Blockade has caused this – millions of children are starving to death’. She was arrested and fined, but was so passionate about her cause that she convinced the prosecuting counsel to make a donation!

In more recent times, a number of charities working with children have been using digital to campaign, fundraise, and deliver services. Take, for example War Child’s hard hitting game-style video, Duty of Care: Protecting Children in War, which enables you to see what children in war zones experience on a daily basis. Or, the donation terminals which last year were placed in a number of restaurants in London and Oxford, allowing customers to make a contactless card donation to Mary’s Meals, helping to feed school children in developing countries. Or just two months ago, the launch of Childline’s new app For Me, which provides young people with access to counselling directly through their smartphone.

In many ways not much has changed, good things have stayed the same – passionate people campaigning to make change and raise awareness of their issue. What has changed is how we can do this. There are more options

available to us now, and I think that’s exiting. What would Jebb have done if the internet existed in her time?

Campaigning is the bread and butter of a lot of organisations, but when it comes to making use of digital and campaigning online, in much of the sector knowledge is lagging behind. Almost half (49%) of charities in the UK lack basic digital skills, and 70% of charity staff think their organisation’s reputation will suffer if they don’t embrace digital. Upskilling the sector on digital campaigning could help us all to live in a fairer, safer, happier world. You only need to look at examples of some organisations making fantastic use of online campaigning to see the potential – Thames Valley Police’s highly amusing and effective Tea and Consent, the Salvation Army South Africa’s controversial response to #TheDress, and Great Ormond Street’s moving One Day at GOSH video, to name but a few.

There are important things to think about when it comes to campaigning during an election period and ensuring you’re complying with the law, but that doesn’t mean we can’t campaign at all. In fact, a recent survey by Sheila McKechnie Foundation found that 86% of respondents think that over the next year charities should be campaigning more than they currently are, not less.

To go back to Speaking Frankly, Acting Boldly, writing about the report in the Guardian last month, Acevo CEO Vicky Browning argues that not only can charities campaign during the election, but that they should, saying: “The only way that this election is going to return a government that understands the needs and opinions of a diverse range of communities is through hearing the voice of charities.”

With the general election just over, and a whole crop of freshly elected MPs in place, this might be a great time to try and get your issue on the agenda. And I believe that with the right things in place, anyone with passion and a cause can get a campaign going online. Which is why I’m running a free live online training session on how to plan an online campaign. If you’d like to learn more about online campaigning, join me on Wednesday 21 June at 1pm, when I’ll be sharing everything you need to get started. You can find more information about it at www.fancyguppydigital.com/online-campaigning and I hope to see many organisations and individuals from Birmingham at the session.

I look forward to seeing a lot of fantastic campaigning in our city over the coming weeks and months.

Michaela Hodges is director of Fancy Guppy, an organisation working with nonprofits to help them make more use of digital in their work – be it campaigning, comms, fundraising, marketing, or events.

i Fancy Guppy: www.fancyguppydigital.com


Campaigning

Campaigning is the bread and butter of a lot of

organisations, but when it comes to making use of digital and campaigning online, in much of the sector knowledge is lagging behind. Almost half (49%) of charities in the UK lack basic digital skills.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE AND OTHER BVSC COURSES AND TO BOOK YOUR PLACE:www.bvsc.org/bvsc-training-courses 0121 678 8830 | [email protected]

TRAININGCOURSESMonday 3 July & Monday 5 September 20179.30am to 1.00pm (each day)

‘Just about managing’: A complete programme for Managers (Day one of two day course)Trainer: Rob LeggeMANAGEMENT

£249

Tuesday 11 July 2017 9.30am to 3.00pm

Being the best you can be at workTrainer: Rob LeggeKEY SKILLS

£120

Monday 18 September 2017 9.30am to 1.00pm

Unconscious bias and equality and diversity trainingEQUALITY

£70

Tuesday 19 September 2017 9.30am to 3.00pm

Advanced coaching skillsTrainer: Osman SabirCOACHING

£120

update 258 /// june & july 2017 · 2018-07-24 · totally digital. find out what this means...

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