Kingston Voluntary Action
Annual Review 2013 to 2014
Children & Young People Project Our project has provided regular seminars, workshops and Children and Young People’s Network meetings to facilitate positive cross sector working on issues such as child poverty, provide safeguarding training and improve access to mental health services for children and young people. What next:
Harriet and Holly joined us for Children’s Commissioner’s Takeover Day in 2013 . The day gives children and young people the chance to work with adults for the day and be involved in decision-making. Harriet and Holly spent the day at KVA learning about safeguarding responsibilities in the borough and voicing their views on cyberbullying and how to keep young people safe on the internet.
We’ll work with the Safe Network to ensure organisations can access quality Safeguarding training. An event on fuel poverty is planned for children and young people’s organisations to look at practical strategies to help families.
In 2014 we celebrated the impact of family organisations during Small Charity Week, capturing their stories with our new podcast social media: www.audioboom.com/ KingstonCYPNetwork
Get in touch cwd@kva.org.uk 020 8255 3335 www.kva.org.uk www.audioboom.fm/KingstonCYPNetwork
Health & Social Care We continue to represent the voluntary sector within local health care partnerships, providing workshops on a number of key issues, including the Better Care Fund. We have worked closely with local authority colleagues to develop a local Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and ensured ‘community voice’ is included in its delivery. Our second annual health conference brought together 90 people from across the Kingston Strategic Partnership to focus on fuel poverty.
What next: A key focus is to continue to work with statutory colleagues to agree ways to deliver the Better Care Fund, including seven-day and seven-night working, self-care management and carers’ support.
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Community Development Network attendees
Giles Read There were so many organisations that came today and it reinforces that there is a wealth of knowledge in the borough...I was also impressed by just the general enthusiasm and want for change that was in the room. 2014 Annual Health Conference interviews and presentations online at http://bit.ly/1t7Wj6c
"I know that what you most want is to see services improve as a result of your input. I'm pleased to say that your positive feedback about the idea of alternatives to ambulances has contributed to rapid progress”. Rachel Bartlett, Director of Integrating Care, Kingston CCG
Get in touch health@kva.org.uk 020 8255 3335 www.kva.org.uk
Capacity Building We have continued to offer specialist one-to-one advice and training on setting up an organisation, quality, policies and procedures, good governance, outcomes frameworks and finding funding.
“Simon’s advice and guidance has been incredibly helpful and he has been able to explain to us in very simple terms, some complicated governance structures...also in the necessary steps needed to develop a coherent strategy and business plan that will enable the organisation to become even more sustainable”. Marcus Cabeca Head of Axe Capoeira UK
What next: With our City Bridge Trust funding coming to an end in 2014 we’ll be seeking further funds to deliver this vital support.
KVA has supported 41 local organisations to have one year’s free registration on popular fundraising website Localgiving.com. Since 2012 they have raised:
£60,065
143
Email & phone advice sessions
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93 face-to-face advice sessions
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557 hours of advice delivered 2014
Love Kingston Our flagship fundraising campaign has had an incredible year, with increasing numbers of businesses and individuals completing personal challenges and running successful events such as Rich Man, Poor Man and Laugh Kingston Comedy Festival.
£226,944 donated and pledged since 2012
What next: A vast array of exciting events will take place on Love Kingston Day 2015 and we’ll be securing the maximum match funding possible for the Kingston Legacy Fund by March 2015. Colemans-ctts want to celebrate becoming a founding donor of Love Kingston with an initial donation of £1,000. With an established office in Kingston for over 25 years we want to show our support for justice and people’s rights in this borough and as such Love Kingston has provided that opportunity. Missed Love Kingston Day 2014? Watch our video and see who is supporting our campaign: http://bit.ly/1uqTJyO
Get in touch elaine@londoncf.org.uk 020 8255 3335 www.love-kingston.org.uk
Superhighways
“The talk by City Bridge Trust was very inspiring and helped to think 'out of the box' when reporting to funders. All the master classes were great, I especially enjoyed the Tiny Stories one, which provided lots of media tools I have not heard of before”. “The workshops were very useful and the speakers were all very knowledgeable, engaging and passionate about their topic”. See top tweets, listen to interviews and more at: http://bit.ly/1yQwddm
Our ICT social enterprise has had an exciting, busy and challenging year that has included taking on larger consultancy projects and a new project, Impact Aloud, to help small charities and community organisations across South London monitor, evaluate and communicate their impact using digital technology. What next: Our aim is to generate increased income through consultancy and membership. We’ll also be trialling tools to find innovative solutions to measuring and communicating impact and developing new training. This is how you rated our training last year
350+
helpdesk enquiries
10 volunteers have helped us with helpdesk, onsite visits and Community Connected projects.
Get in touch impactaloud@superhighways.org.uk support@superhighways.org.uk (technical) 020 8255 8040 www.superhighways.org.uk
Community Connected Superhighways’ grassroots digital inclusion project has reached even more communities this year, working with Alpha Road Residents Association and Paragon Housing to bring computer courses to residents’ doorsteps. Graham Nash
What next: We’ll continue to work with local partners to reach more residents in need of basic online learning. This includes a range of digital learning events to help people make healthy choices using online resources.
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PCs refurbished for resident use
“I don’t really like using computers very much but I’m sensible enough to realise that life can’t really go on unless you are using them. You’re always at the back of the queue and if you don’t do things online then it takes a long time. I’ve found this course most helpful and it’s helped my confidence a great deal”.
We’ve also provided advice on a range of mobile devices so people can ‘try before they buy’ tablets they’d like to use at home.
Get in touch info@communityconnected.org.uk 020 8255 8040 www.communityconnected.org.uk
Go Kingston Volunteering Our volunteer centre continues to develop and promote volunteering throughout the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
It’s been a busy year, including events such as volunteer speedmatching and outdoor promotional events alongside our partners Kingston First and Kingston Hospital. “Go Kingston Volunteering continues to provide a very personal service, connecting willing volunteers with organisations who really benefit from their help. They understand our organisation’s needs and keep in regular contact. They also provide us with useful links to other organisations and opportunities to share good practice, which supports Staywell in providing a great environment for volunteering”. Rachel Furze Central Services Manager Staywell
What next: Go Kingston Volunteering will continue to develop a ‘Kingston Volunteering Group’ involving Voluntary Services Overseas, Kingstonfirst, Kingston Hospital, Staywell,Kingston Rotary Club and Kingston University. The partnership is developing a quality assurance kite mark for volunteering organisations throughout the borough to ensure volunteers get the same high quality experience across the partnership and feel valued as members of 'Team Kingston’. Ros Morgan, Chief Executive Kingstonfirst
Get in touch info@gokingstonvolunteering.org.uk 020 8255 8685 www.gokingstonvolunteering.org.uk
Buddy Scheme Our volunteers have made a huge difference to the quality of life enjoyed by service users who have mild to moderate learning disabilities or are on the Autistic Spectrum. What next: Plans for next year include a pantomime trip for volunteers and their buddies. Dave Pearch “So we initially met up about 6 months ago and it was myself, his mum and his current carer. And we just met for a coffee. I was warned that he may be a bit shy around me but within five minutes we’d hit it off”.
Yvonne Tracey “If you’re thinking about doing it, do it. You’ll get just as much out of it, I think, as you give”.
12
buddy pairs
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Get in touch
h
buddyscheme@gokingstonvolunteering.org.uk 020 8255 8685 www.gokingstonvolunteering.org.uk
Kingston Eco-op Eco-op’s packing workshop remains highly popular, close to reaching full capacity in the last year. In addition to offering work experience and skills development in the bicycle repair workshop and Fairtrade Snack Box Scheme, Eco-op has developed a staff and volunteer supported peer -to-peer training scheme. This ranges from IT training, a book club
at Kingston station, craft work and more. What next: With two volunteers now trained as cycle instructors, we’ll offer training not only to existing clients but also to local schools and in the community. We’ll also be trialling music services this year.
£2,000 “Kingston Eco-op provided a quick and professional envelope-stuffing service to help us send out fundraising leaflets to a tight deadline.” Jenny Roman Chief Fundraiser
SPEAR London (homelessness charity)
raised by the Eco-op poppy-making team
£12, 800 raised through bicycle sales 2013 to 2014
£1,273
raised by the Snackbox team
Get in touch chris@kingstoneco-op.org.uk 020 8942 5503 www.kingstoneco-op.org.uk
New Futures and next steps In 2014 Kingston Voluntary Action set up The New Futures 1 Forum in response to the change of administration at Kingston Council and the Thames Agreement between Richmond and Kingston Council. The two developments call for new ways of working in the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in Kingston. New Futures 1 Forum was the first meeting held to explore how we can best work with the new administration to support our local community. What next: We’ll devise an action plan to address the key challenges raised at the meeting:
Kingston Voluntary & Community Sector Strategy This year we have worked hard with our partners on developing a strategy that sets out a vision for how our vibrant and diverse sector can work together for:
Within the sector: Speaking with one voice; Showing the value and impact of our work; Collaborating and competing effectively. Within the community: Gaining respect and engagement with Councillors and Officers; Helping them to do their job; Safeguarding the future of grants. We’ll be organising New Futures 2 Forum with the VCS Strategic Partners to monitor progress against our shared objectives. We want to encourage small VCS groups to get involved. “a thriving local voluntary and community sector whose role and contribution as strategic partners is recognised and valued for its economic, social and environmental contribution”.
Community Connected is an example of effective community development and engagement on the new VCSS website: http://bit.ly/1E58Z40
Next steps: An action plan is now being developed to turn the vision into a reality. Regular updates will be available through an e-newsletter and the newly developed website: www.kingstonvcss.org.uk
Thank you to everyone in Kingston upon Thames for their commitment to our community; with a special thanks to our staff and volunteers for always bringing a smile to local people in time of need.
info@kva.org.uk
020 8255 3335
www.kva.org.uk
Charity no: 257551
We are extremely grateful to all our funders for their support