‘valuing the voluntary and community sector’ navca conference 2006 emma whittlesea, director 20...
TRANSCRIPT
‘Valuing the Voluntary and Community Sector’
NAVCA Conference 2006
Emma Whittlesea, Director
20th September
Programme
Introductions & Welcome The Challenge: Valuing the Voluntary and
Community Sector The Learning: The Audit Commission Area Profiles
pilot process The Guidance: How to capture good quality data A Data Source: How to utilise GuideStar UK Your Experience: Profiling the local voluntary and
community sector in your area Questions
Introductions and Welcome
SUSTAIN Consultancy Ltd GuideStar UK Workshop aims
1. The Challenge: Valuing the VCS
How do you define value? Economic and social value
How do you define the Voluntary and Community Sector? What do you need on the ground? The top down definitions
don’t work and are changing.
How do you capture and update information on the VCS? The purpose of this workshopWho is interested? NAVCA members and LSPs, Local Government, Office of Third
Sector, HM Treasury etc.Why are they interested? Knowledge is power - to monitor and shape policy and funding
programmes, to assist in delivery, to help support the work of infrastructure organisations
Your experience?
Show of hands: Have you undertaken or are you planning to
undertake any mapping studies?
Think about: Do you think your knowledge / evidence base is fit for
purpose?
2. The Learning
Audit Commission Area Profiles VCS is 1 component of 6 in the Area Profiles model National Reference Group: researchers and practitioners
from the Audit Commission, Home Office, NCVO, NAVCA, CAF, GuideStar UK, WCVA (LGA and IDeA later)
The Guidance: Developing and testing guidance to help capture good quality data, profile the local VCS, identify and describe the extent and contribution of the local VCS to ‘quality of life’
Partnership working: Encourage and support capacity building, and securing and improving involvement of the VCS in a full range of activities
Audit
Commission
Area
Profiles
Project
Area Profile Pilots
Phase 1 Pilot - October 2003 to April 2004 Phase 2 Pilot - April 2005 to March 2006
Six pilot areas:– Birmingham Voluntary Service Council
– Chester Voluntary Action
– Liverpool Council for Voluntary Service
– West Cornwall Community Network
– Interlink Rhondda Cynon Taff
– Selby District Association of Voluntary Service
Key Policy Links
Not just Audit Commission Area Profiles Local Area Agreements PSA 6 on the VCS A lot of potential players and interests: LGA, IDEA,
ODPM, DCLG, NAVCA, NCVO etc. ODPM Local Strategic Partnership agenda Cabinet Office – Office of the Third Sector HM Treasury Charity and Third Sector Finance Unit Change Up – Capacity Builders Compact Plus
Change Up / Capacity Builders
Complementary to Change Up / Capacity Builders - sector’s capacity to contribute and develop relationships with partners
Supports the 6 principle areas of activity Collection of fundamental basic information on the
VCS to support improved ICT, finance, governance, performance improvement, workforce development and volunteering
Can build on the work to improve the quality of the VCS in terms of capacity and skills
3. The Guidance:
Why should you use it? Data and information - knowledge is power Plenty of anecdote – but the evidence base is weak Represent interests – understanding Inform service delivery and decision making Co-ordinate local VCS databases Demonstrate the value and case for funding Can find organisations and groups Helps local organisations – publicity/networking In the long run empower the sector Clear and consistent national approach
Six Stages
A. Getting Ready (Section 4)
B. Database systems (Section 5)
C. Developing a local VCS database (Section 6)
D. Profiling the local VCS (Section 7)
E. Communicating the results (Section 8)
F. Reporting (Section 9)
A) Getting Ready
Leadership Terms of reference for the partnership Research reference group Involving the local voluntary and community sector in
the project Resources and skills Defining the scope of the project Timetable (Appendix 2) Action plan
Your experience?
Show of hands: Have you undertaken or are you planning to
undertake any directory or database development?
Think about: How comprehensive do you think your directory or
database is?
B. Database systems
Defining your requirements Choosing an appropriate database system Training, change management and people Maintaining your database system Appendices 3, 4, 5 and 6
C. Developing a Local VCS Database
Identifying and collecting existing databases e.g. Online survey for all LIOs
Agreeing the design of the master database Adding databases together to create the master Cleaning the master database Sharing database information Using information from GuideStar UK Filling gaps in the master database Updating information / collecting standard core
information (common registration form - Appendix 1)
Exercise 1
Appendix 7 lists some of the types of bodies most likely to have databases that include voluntary and community organisations. Working through this form will help you identify what data already exists.
Please look through Appendix 7 and tick those you work closely with or have exchanged database information.
Tick those you think you could or should be working closer with.
Capturing good quality data…
Case Study
Herefordshire and Worcestershire “Universe” of voluntary and community organisations
based on local databases and data from GuideStar UK
Core economic and social data on registered charities available from GuideStar UK
All organisations invited to complete an online survey to capture economic data from other voluntary and community groups, and other data to support activities of LIOs.
Utilising GuideStar UK…
A Data Source
D. Profiling the local VCS
Your experience?
How was your profiling work done?
Show of hands: From your profiling/mapping work with just a report,
or did you also capture data that could be stored in your database and used for future analysis?
Think about: The methodology, timing and cost? Did / will it meet your longer term needs and wants?
The Problems
Longevity Lack of consistency in the methods used to carry out
research – no basis for comparison Lack of agreement about the scope / definition Lack of consistency in collection and presentation of
basic factual information e.g. descriptions of what organisations do, who they serve, method of calculating response rates
Appendix 9 has information on some mapping studies and some suggestions for further reading
Profiling the VCS
Using the data you have collected Master database is the key to understanding your
local VCS - source of information Means to gathering additional information - mailing
list or sampling frame Up to date good quality and relevant information Analyse the data you now hold – main characteristics Principal feature of the guidance is the registration
form at Appendix 1 which has core standard fields for gathering the data
Appendix 10 provides a template on how you can use the core information to produce a descriptive report
Assessing Impact
Core information describes main characteristics Assess impact of the sector Demanding and cumulative task Build up understanding over time Gathering contextual and additional information
– Use existing information– Interview key players– Conduct focus groups with a sample– Carry out more detailed research with some or all
of the organisations in your database
Exercise 2
Appendix 12 is a form asking some specific questions to help collate and summarise contextual information
Please look through Appendix 12 and consider how much you already know about the context in which the VCS operates locally
Tick those you think you would need to do further work or investigation on
E. Communicating the results
Often and well – maximise its utility Use all existing networks Use as a common information platform – an evidence
base for all Engage with local media Share experiences of profiling with others – share the
learning Archiving of information and reports
F. Reporting
Consider the following:
Types of audience Local Government, practitioners, funders, service
users
Types of report Printed publications – summary and full reports Web based reports
Presentation Events, conference etc.
Evaluation of the Guidance
Can be used in whole or in part - flexible and can adapt to suit approach and resources
Structured approach and advice useful Guidance has provided the basis and impetus for
local work, often in partnership Provided useful results and improved information and
understanding locally Timeframe required 6-12 months Needs adequate resources and planning
Where can I find it?
Getting to know your local voluntary and community sector - A Guide to Area Profiles
Guidance and tools (forms, checklists, timetables, templates etc)
Published by NAVCA as a PDF document in June 2006
Available from: – www.navca.org.uk (over 900 views to date)
– www.audit-commission.gov.uk/area profiles
Questions & Discussion
Any issues that need feeding back to NAVCA?
Contacts
Emma Whittlesea
SUSTAIN Consultancy Ltd
01752 663288 / 07775 845939
Les Hems
GuideStar UK
0207 632 0217 / 07836 780067