Thrive Magazine, January, February, March 2016 edition

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Supporting Voluntary Action

Supporting voluntary and community action

January/February/March 2016

In this issue: A look to the May 2016 elections VCS Grants Prospectus National Living Wage changes The Bristol Youth Strategy Working with Bristol Community Health Upcoming training and much more...

The deserved 2015 winners of the ‘Voscurs’, our Social Impact Awards.

See more online at: goo.gl/e6FI4P Photo by Liam Gast

Contents Voscur 3 Editorial 4-5

New members

6-7

Wake up to the shake-up – new VCS Grants Prospectus

7-8

Bristol welcomes refugees and asylum seekers

9

National Living Wage

10-11 Bristol’s European Green Capital – what comes next?

12

Universal Credit and volunteering

13

Making Bristol a city with a Zero Tolerance to gender-based violence

14-15 25% of council contracts to go to smaller providers?

Support Hub

20-21 No more heroes – leadership development and you 21

Support for Chinese communities

Voice and Influence 22-23 Our journey together: strategic priorities for young people 23-24 Criminal justice: what do recent changes mean for our sector?

25-27 May 2016 elections 28

Better together: working with Bristol Community Health

29

This is me: Fiona Castle, VCSE sector Advocate

30-31 Think local: Henbury, Brentry and Southmead Neighbourhood Partnership

Key to symbols

16-17 Upcoming training

Training

18

Volunteer cameraman gives local charity a needed ‘Boost!’

Event

19

20 things you need to know about ... fundraising

Information & Resources

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.

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.

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January / February / March 2016 Issue 31

Dear members and friends Looking ahead we anticipate

In the world of commissioning

change on the funding,

and procurement, Community

commissioning and the political

Support Services are set to

horizons ...

change from March this year,

During the past year, Bristol City Council has taken a radical approach to reshaping its grants offer, by working in partnership with colleagues from Bristol’s voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to develop the VCS Grants Prospectus. The Prospectus aims to bring £5m of

offering clear opportunities for our sector. We will provide support for organisations looking to take advantage of these changes and plan to put out a short survey in January to help identify support needs, so that we can respond effectively. Keep an eye on our website and in our ebulletins for more details.

Welcome to the first Thrive!

Council grants together in one

of 2016. The New Year is an

place so that the investment

With elections for the full council,

opportunity to reflect on the past

achieves a greater impact.

the Mayor and the Police Crime

and prepare for the challenges ahead.

Voscur supports this approach, which has the potential to

Commissioner in May we have begun to talk to members about the changes that they would

Last year Voscur celebrated

improve lives and opens up

success in a number of areas. We

opportunities for the sector.

were pleased to have influenced

However, it could mean big

the Mayor’s windfall budget to

changes for organisations

provide funding to support Early

currently benefiting from the

Finally, I hope to see you at our

Intervention. Launching a new

Council’s investment. To ensure

Fund It! event on 17 February – we

Manifesto for Race Equality with

that the sector has a say in the

recommend early booking!

our partners was another great

final version of the Prospectus,

achievement. We played a decisive

Voscur will host two consultation

role in shaping the city’s approach

events in early January, and is

to Social Value, and held a major

building consultation sessions

event exploring new approaches

into a number of other events

to community-led economic

to ensure as many organisations

regeneration. Sharing success

as possible can make their views

with colleagues from across the

known. Please see pages 6-7 for

voluntary, community and social

more information, and make sure

enterprise (VCSE) sector at our

that you book a place at one of

Voscurs awards ceremony has

these meetings.

like to see. Do they reflect your thoughts? See the feature on pages 25-27.

Best wishes,

Wendy Stephenson Chief Executive

become an annual highlight.

Issue 31 January / February / March 2016

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New Voscur members Bristol Dementia Action Alliance

Bristol Energy Network

Working to increase dementia awareness to

An umbrella for all community energy groups

everybody across the city and to campaign on behalf

and projects in Bristol and the surrounding area.

of people living with dementia and their carers. http://www.bristoldaa.co.uk

Activities of the network include promoting and

Bristol Diabetes Support Network

implementing renewable energy such as solar, reducing energy use through behaviour changes and house improvements (e.g. insulation), and addressing

Supporting people who live with diabetes and those

fuel poverty by helping low-income households

affected by it in Bristol through a network of five

manage energy bills (e.g. electricity and gas) and

support groups that work collaboratively.

access grants.

http://www.diabetesbristol.org.uk/ 0117 930 9986

http://www.bristolenergynetwork.org/

The Park Community Centre Ltd A hub of community, activity, business, learning, support services and leisure in Knowle.

0117 9039771 www.theparkknowle.org.uk

Accessible Transport 4 U CIC Providing physically and financially accessible transport for disabled and vulnerable people who cannot use traditional transport. All day, every day of the year.

Green High Kingsdown A community initiative (part of the High Kingsdown Residents Association), working to create wildlifefriendly gardens and provide a nature-rich environment in the city for people to get involved in and enjoy. https://www.facebook.com/HighKingsdown

Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust Manages, conserves and preserves the Clifton Suspension Bridge, a Grade 1 listed Bridge and Monument. The Trust is also responsible for the

http://www.accessibletransport4u.org.uk/ 0117 9657449

Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre that

Centre for Deaf People

and the many stories and events surrounding it.

Providing a free equipment and installation service

http://www.cliftonbridge.org.uk/ 0117 9744664

for anyone with a registered hearing loss living in Bristol. http://www.centrefordeaf.org.uk/

interprets the history of the bridge, how it works

Bristol Folk House Cooperative Ltd An adult education centre, providing a large range of

Cutler Road HBH Community Association

courses covering music, language, fitness, arts and

Running clubs for older people 60 years old and

much more. Also a live music/events venue with an

above. Making blankets for the PDSA, knitting hats,

organic cafe to boot.

making Xmas cards, playing bingo, and day trips.

0117 926 2987 http://www.bristolfolkhouse.co.uk/

0117 909 6251

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January / February / March 2016 Issue 31

Arkbound A Bristol-based social enterprise aiming

Member benefits

to promote social inclusion, community development and artistic talent. It helps writers from marginalised groups get published and produces ‘Boundless’ – a magazine that gives disadvantaged artists a platform to exhibit and promote their work.

The magazine will be distributed by homeless people, who can make income from it. http://www.arkbound.com

Women’s Aid Federation of England Working to end domestic abuse against women and children. They are a federation of over 220 organisations which provide more than 300 lifesaving services to women and children across England. https://www.womensaid.org.uk 0117 944 4411

Welcome also to our new Associate Members: Crossroads Care; North Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire Community Rehabilitation Company; Bristol Learning Communities Team; FACE (Foundation for Active Community Engagement); and Fare Shares.

For more information on becoming a member of Voscur and the range of member benefits, visit: www.voscur.org/about/joiningonline or call us on 0117 909 9949.

Issue 31 January / February / March 2016

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Wake up to the shake-up!

Bristol City Council is consulting on a new VCS Grants Prospectus – a radical new approach to grants funding for the sector.

3. Physical and emotional ill health

Photo by nadine9411 CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

4. Lifestyle deprivation (not being able to access services and opportunities in the city) 5. Low engagement (not participating in the community) 6. Physical, social and digital exclusion or isolation 7. Discrimination 8. Crime and violence What is it?

Last year, a small working group

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Overall, the grant funding is intended to result in less disadvantage and inequality among Bristol’s residents and to help those who are experiencing disadvantage to be more able to cope or manage, not just day-to-day but for the longer term.

How will it work?

Grant-funded VCSE sector organisations will be asked to address eight ‘key challenges’ (factors of disadvantage): 1. Poverty (financial poverty, food poverty, fuel poverty) 2. Unemployment and underemployment

In terms of practicalities, the grants prospectus will cover a four-year period (2017/18 to 2020/21), grants will last four or two years (depending on the consultation results) and applications should commence summer 2016. VCSE sector organisations will be invited to apply for grants of different sizes:

Small: up to £10,000 per year; up to a total of £40,000 over four years.

Medium: between £10,000 and £60,000 per year, up to a total of between £40,000 and £240,000 over four years.

Large: over £60,000 per year; total over £240,000 over four years.

January / February / March 2016 Issue 31

Clock image by Alan Cleaver CC BY 2.0

of people from the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector and council officers formed to co-design a new approach to grants. The proposal was to combine all different council grant funds and processes into a more coherent package with one standardised process, the idea being that those funds would be used more strategically and more powerfully and achieve a far bigger impact. From April 2015, that working group has developed a proposal – the new VCS Grants Prospectus, which will describe in one document what council funding will be available (from April 2017), what needs to

be achieved, what will be expected from funded organisations and the processes for applying.

Make your voice heard A consultation has been launched on the new VCS Grants Prospectus, which runs until 23 February 2016. As this is likely to be one of the biggest ever shake-ups of how the council awards grants to our sector, making sure it is fit for purpose is crucial. Now is the time to take advantage of this opportunity to shape what it looks like, for your group, and our sector as a whole.

Bristol welcomes refugees and asylum seekers There are a number of local voluntary and community sector groups offering support to refugees and asylum seekers in Bristol. Borderlands is one such group and this year was the proud winner of the ‘Volunteer Team of the Year Award’ in the 2015 Voscur Social Impact Awards.

You can have your say through an online survey, and/or by attending one of the several consultation events (details in information box below).

Voscur is organising two half-day events on behalf of the Council to consult the voluntary and community sector on the Prospectus in January 2016:

Tuesday 12 January 2pm – 4:30pm The Park, Knowle, Bristol Thursday 14 January 10am – 12:30pm The Vassall Centre, Fishponds, Bristol.

Booking for these free events is essential (see booking details below).

Have your say To complete the online survey and find out about other consultation events, visit: goo.gl/DgzF6A To book your free place on Voscur’s two January events, visit: goo.gl/CJeFl6

Article written

by Hilary Jones, Chief Executive at Borderlands.

One of the most discussed topics of 2015 is the huge numbers of asylum seekers seeking safety in other nearby countries and some making the dangerous journey to Europe at levels not seen since the end of World War II. The

numbers arriving in the UK are comparatively tiny; however, Bristol, as a City of Sanctuary, has been one of many places to offer welcome and help to those arriving here.

Borderlands is one of a network of local charities offering specialist support to asylum seekers and to those who are awarded “refugee status” by the UK Home Office – which means they have the right to stay here, usually for three years initially.

What started out in 2011 as a desire to offer a simple hot meal to asylum seekers and refugees has today turned into a list of support services that includes English language, Maths and IT classes, listening support, translation support, acupuncture, and hosting specialist advice agencies including free legal advice, primary healthcare, crisis support and support in contacting family in other countries. Borderlands still offers a free hot meal service as well, as this is a great way to engage and support vulnerable people.

Borderlands and its group of tireless volunteers offers invaluable services to this group of people who have faced traumatic life experiences that have forced them to abandon their families and flee their jobs, homes and countries. The UK Immigration and Asylum System is described as ‘notoriously slow’, and asylum claimants can wait years to have their case reviewed and get a decision on whether they can have refugee status. Asylum seekers are banned from work by law, paid or unpaid, and if their Continued on next page...

Issue 31 January / February / March 2016

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Continued from last page... initial claim for asylum fails (most commonly for lack of hard evidence), they receive no financial or accommodation support. Destitution, chronic poverty and mental and physical health problems are widespread as a result.

Those who are awarded refugee status find gaining worthwhile employment very hard and commonly accept jobs that are well below their qualifications and experience. This low-paid work only traps refugees in poverty.

Asylum seekers and refugees face great challenges and lead difficult lives that are often hidden from public view. Borderlands offers help to people who may see themselves as lost or abandoned in a confusing culture and who need support to find their way to more fulfilling lives.

Jamal had a heart condition and lived quietly with his family in northern Iraq, but in 2013 he left behind his wife and two little girls to seek safety for all of them in another country. It took Jamal two years to walk to Calais and from there he entered the UK by clinging to the underside of a lorry until it stopped at a service station on the M4 where he asked for help. Like many asylum seekers, Jamal lost contact with his family.

When he arrived at Borderlands he frequently cried in despair and, already slim, he lost a dramatic amount of weight. He had been told by immigration officials that his was a high-priority case and his

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A group learning English with support from Borderlands

application would be looked at urgently; but many months later he was still waiting for an answer and his health further declined.

Borderlands helped him to make contact with his family and he was overwhelmed with joy on hearing his wife’s voice. In the last few weeks Jamal has heard that he will be offered refugee status, but this stage will take months, while his family face danger thousands of miles away and Jamal lives with the fear that it will be too late to save them.

Who can access Borderlands’ services?

If you are seeking asylum in the UK or you have become a refugee in the last one or two years, you are welcome to contact Borderlands or just come along to the drop-in on Mondays and Tuesdays.

How you can help Borderlands also accept referrals from other services, such as charities, health services and selfreferral.

There are a number of organisations in Bristol who offer support to refugees and asylum seekers. These include: Bristol Refugee Rights www.bristolrefugeerights.org Bristol Hospitality Network https://bristolhospitalitynetwork. wordpress.com/ Refugee Action http://www.refugee-action.org. uk/in _ your _ area/bristol Refugee Women of Bristol www.refugeewomenofbristol. org.uk For a comprehensive list, visit: www.voscur.org/support _ refugees To list your services on this page, call Jess Lewin on 0117 909 9949

For more information about Borderlands and its services, visit: www.borderlands.uk.com

January / February / March 2016 Issue 31

National Living Wage A new, legally required National Living Wage for all workers aged 25 or above will be introduced in April 2016, but what is it?

Photo by skintdad.co.uk CC BY-NC 2.0

Article written by Andrew Cowler, Regional Publicity Manager at Acas South West.

National Minimum Wage, National Living Wage or Living Wage?

The names are similar, but they are quite different things.

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) was introduced in 1999 and there are different levels based on age. These rates will continue for apprentices and workers aged 16-24 and an extra 50 pence an hour will be applied for workers over 24 years old – that is the National Living Wage. The Low Pay Commission is responsible for setting the levels of the NMW and the new National Living Wage.

The Living Wage is a voluntary rate set by the Living Wage Foundation, which is currently £8.25 an hour outside of London.

What will the National Living Wage be?

The rate set for April 2016 is £7.20 an hour and is expected to exceed £9 an hour by 2020. This represents an increase of 11% from the current NMW rate of £6.70.

Can I only hire people under 25 to save money?

It is unlawful to discriminate against current or prospective

employees based on age – including in job adverts or interviews. Likewise, dismissing an employee because they qualify for the National Living Wage could lead to legal action for unfair dismissal and potentially age discrimination.

While different treatment based on age can sometimes be legally justified, it is not possible to use economic factors as the sole reason.

I can’t afford to pay the National Living Wage, what can I do?

Acas recognises that pay is an important factor in workplace relations. There are many different opinions concerning the potential impact of the National Living Wage for businesses. One view is that the National Living Wage could save employers the costs of staff turnover and absence, as loyalty and productivity may increase due to the extra pay.

Issue 31 January / February / March 2016

Our advice is to start making plans early to accommodate this new legal requirement and consult with your workforce at every step along the way, as your employees can provide ideas that you may never have thought of and potentially make the changes easier.

How Acas can help Our local advisers can help you consult with staff and find a way forward. We also run regular employment law updates.

For more details, visit: acas.org.uk/ southwest You can find expert guidance about pay at acas. org.uk/pay and acas.org.uk/ nmw

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Photo by Monkey Boy42 CC BY-NC 2.0

Bristol’s European Green Capital – what comes next?

A lot happened in Bristol in 2015; it was a remarkable year for the city. Bristol won the title of European Green Capital because of all the environmental organisations and activities which were already here, as well as its aspirations to be greener.

When we talk about impact, or legacy, it’s hard to provide facts and figures. We know that thousands of Bristolians attended events, created art installations, took part in workshops. We know people planted trees, improved the energy efficiency of their homes, upcycled furniture and bicycles, greened their streets and enjoyed local food. Of course some of this would have happened anyway, but the Green Capital award was the catalyst for many new initiatives which will continue this year and well into the future.

The Bristol Green Capital Partnership – an independent leadership organisation whose aim is to make Bristol “a low-carbon city with a high quality of life for all” – is a case in point. During 2015 their membership more than doubled. At the time of writing, 850 local organisations had

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Photo by forkhandles CC BY-ND 2.0

Article written by Andrew Garrad, Chair of Bristol 2015.

pledged to help Bristol become “a low-carbon city with a high quality of life for all”. To carry forward the momentum of the Green Capital year, the Partnership has launched the ‘Better Bristol’ campaign in partnership with Crowdfunder UK, which hopes to raise over £1 million for projects and businesses with social and environmental impact.

I am proud of what was achieved during 2015. And I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Bristol for taking part in what was undoubtedly a very special year. That said, it would be naïve to think that we have been able to engage the whole city in our efforts, no matter how well intentioned those efforts might have been, so there is more work to be done, particularly with our more marginalised communities.

I would hope that we might strive to better engage with these communities as the city moves

into future activities in 2016, working with partners such as Voscur to ensure the legacy of European Green Capital is relevant for the whole city.

The true success of Green Capital will be in everyone’s continued efforts and the pride taken in improving local communities and the city as a whole for the generations that follow.

So while Bristol’s calendar year as the UK’s first European Green Capital has come to an end, the journey to become one of the world’s most environmentally friendly cities is actually gaining momentum. As the Bristol 2015 strapline rightly stated, Bristolians are ‘in it for good’.

If you have any queries or comments, you can email: hello@bristol2015.co.uk

January / February / March 2016 Issue 31

Case study 1: Green art projects bring communities together Reaching all corners of Bristol and engaging with over 10,000 people, the Bristol 2015 Neighbourhood Arts Programme brought together multiple communities to tackle green issues creatively through 14 unique art projects.

Residents identified the most pressing environmental concerns and tailored briefs were created for each of the 14 neighbourhood partnership areas.

The arts project for Greater Bedminster, the Ashton Vale Hub, brought together over 800 people of all ages for a series of indoor and outdoor nature-themed activities, including art workshops at a weekly community cafe, a gardening group and street

Youngsters enjoy a nature-themed art stall at the Ashton Vale Hub

art installations with the youth club. The hub is not a physical space; it is a community-centred programme that enables residents to be creative and an active part of changing the social and physical landscape of their neighbourhood.

The artist, Elise Hurcombe, used nature as the inspiration to grow and nurture community engagement and spread ideas and enthusiasm in a residential area where it was difficult to bring people together.

By the end of 2015, the activities had prompted a significant increase in bookings at the cafe and the local youth club, which faced possible closure earlier this year, is now thriving. Residents have come together to keep the community cafe going on a monthly basis until at least May 2016. For more information, visit www.bristol2015.co.uk/nap

Case study 2: Bike exchange keeps families moving The Bristol 2015 grants programme distributed almost £2 million to 187 grassroots projects right across the city.

One of the strategic grants was given to the APE Project, a nonprofit organisation passionate about the importance of play and its ability to transform the lives of individuals and communities. Its Children’s Bike Exchange enables families to exchange damaged or outgrown bikes at a very low cost in their local primary schools, at city-wide events or

Guy Dobson and Rachel Davies from the APE Project

at their workshop in St George.

The bicycles are repaired by young offenders, apprentices and APE Project mechanics to ensure they’re in perfect order and of a suitable size for the new owners.

This project has made a positive

Issue 31 January / February / March 2016

impact on a huge number of families in 2015, and the good work promises to continue with a call-out for larger children’s bikes to keep the exchange going. For more information, visit http://apeproject.co.uk

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Universal Credit and volunteering Article written

by Ian McIntyre, Universal Credit Project Manager at Bristol City Council.

Since December 2015, Universal Credit has been rolled out across Bristol. This is a new workingage benefit that is to replace six working-age benefits and tax credits over the next few years.

At the moment, Universal Credit can only be claimed by single people who do not have any children and are looking for work. There are also numerous conditions that will affect eligibility to claim, including the type of accommodation that people live in. People can check their eligibility and make a claim for Universal Credit online using the GOV website. Existing benefits can still be claimed by those who are not eligible to claim Universal Credit.

We expect new claims for Universal Credit to roll out for all households who would have been entitled to any of the benefits that it replaces after March 2017. This includes workers and households who are not required to seek employment. The Department for Work and Pensions will eventually move people onto Universal Credit if they have not had a change in circumstances. This is likely to be after 2018.

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Universal Credit and volunteering In order to get Universal Credit, the person claiming and their partner must sign a claimant commitment, which details what they are expected to do for benefit. This will include looking for work (usually for as many hours per week as you are expected to work). The claimant

Volunteering can count toward up to half of the hours claimants of Universal Credit are expected to be looking for work. commitment will vary according to household circumstances. For voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector groups working with service users who may wish to claim Universal Credit, we advise that you encourage them to discuss their individual circumstances with a work coach at Jobcentre Plus.

For individuals who volunteer, the hours that they do so can be deducted from the number of hours they are expected to look for work in the claimant commitment. This can be for up to half of the expected hours. For example, if they are expected to look for work for

35 hours per week, up to 17½ hours of volunteering can be deducted from the claimant commitment. They should discuss any requirements around evidence with a work coach.

As these changes are implemented in Bristol, we think it important that VCSE sector groups are aware of how the introduction of Universal Credit may affect some of their volunteers. The hours they volunteer may change and some new procedures may need to be followed in order to document their volunteering hours. More information may become available around this and we advise that you keep an eye on the websites below for more information.

Useful websites: www.bristol.gov.uk www.gov.uk www.citizensadvice.org.uk You can find out about local advice services at: www.acfa.org.uk If you are an individual who is interested in volunteering, or a local organisation in need of volunteers, then why not visit: www.volunteerbristol. org.uk to find out what support is available.

January / February / March 2016 Issue 31

Making Bristol a city with a Zero Tolerance to gender-based violence Photo by USAID Asia CC BY-NC 2.0

Article written by Charlotte Gage, Partnerships Project Officer at Bristol Zero Tolerance

In March 2015, a group of people from across Bristol met to pledge to make Bristol a Zero Tolerance City. This group included the Mayor; both Vice-Chancellors of the universities; Directors of major Bristol businesses; Avon and Somerset Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner; and Bristol News and Media.

By signing the pledge they all committed to working towards making Bristol a city with a Zero Tolerance to gender-based violence, abuse, harassment

There are also many specialist voluntary sector services in Bristol providing support and advice around gender-based violence, and this is a chance to highlight their work.

What can you do?

Getting involved in the Bristol Zero Tolerance initiative is an opportunity to highlight the great work that you are already doing around equalities in your

and exploitation. Bristol is the

Since last March there has been

organisation, and develop this

first city in England to take on

a city-wide bus stop campaign,

work further.

this challenge, following in the

street stencils during the 16

footsteps of cities such as Boston

Days of Activism Against Gender-

and Glasgow, and hopefully it

Based Violence campaign, and

will inspire others to implement

discussions on what a Zero

similar initiatives.

Tolerance City could look like.

What is Bristol Zero Tolerance?

Various organisations have signed up to the pledge and begun

International Women’s Day is coming up again on 8 March – what better a time to get involved and sign up? In order to eradicate gender-based violence, we need to have a shared understanding, approach and commitment.

Bristol Zero Tolerance brings

developing their own action plans.

together existing action on

These could include ensuring

gender-based violence across the

that internal policies contain

city and encourages and supports

appropriate measures to support

groups to sign up and take action.

people who are experiencing

There is a lot happening in Bristol

gender-based violence, awareness

already, such as the ‘This is Not

raising about what support is

an Excuse’ campaign with the

available, and training for staff.

council and police, and campaigns

Ideas and support are on offer to

For more information, visit:

on consent and safety in bars/

organisations to enable them to

clubs run by the universities.

implement their action plans.

www.bristolzerotolerance.com

Issue 31 January / February / March 2016

Spread the word about the initiative and encourage other organisations to sign up and take action.

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25% of council contracts to go to smaller providers?

Recent progress on Bristol’s Social Value Policy should translate into tangible change for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations in winning public service contracts.

Photo by Paleololigo CC BY-SA 2.0

The Public Services (Social Value) Act was passed in January 2012 and was intended to level the playing field for social enterprises in the world of commissioning and procurement. Many in the VCSE sector thought that the Act represented potential for a shift in VCSE sector experiences of commissioning and procurement, so that organisations would win public service contracts and deliver benefits for their beneficiaries in the community.

Some issues became apparent quickly: the Act was light on detail – it was just three pages and, more importantly, it contained no definition of social value. In fact, its requirement was simply for the consideration of how what is being procured “might improve the economic, social and

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environmental well-being” and how that might be secured.

The lack of definition and detail, coupled with major changes in local authorities, meant that progress was slow or sluggish from the outset. Many local authorities have struggled to implement and realise social value, but some have taken the opportunity of social value to improve their outcomesbased commissioning practice and help the shift away from counting things to affecting real change for people and communities.

In that context, Bristol Compact/ Voscur has been working hard behind the scenes to keep social value on the agenda. We know that the VCSE sector in and around Bristol already delivers much social value – in social outcomes, by working with

volunteers, by levering additional resources, and more. Voscur wants those contributions to be recognised and, most importantly, valued in commissioning/ procurement processes so that VCSE sector organisations win more public contracts and continue to have impact with people and communities.

We believe that VCSE sector organisations are best placed to deliver, and that social value is a means to help that happen.

Draft Social Value Policy Voscur has worked with commissioners on this agenda for some time and, most recently, has been actively involved in a Bristol City Council (BCC) working group that produced a draft Social Value Policy and toolkit for consultation.

January / February / March 2016 Issue 31

Many local authorities have struggled to implement and realise social value, but some have taken the opportunity of social value to improve their outcomes-based commissioning practice and help the shift away from counting things to affecting real change for people and communities.

The draft policy is a good start and some positive highlights include: • “We will set a target to achieve at least 25% of the Council’s total procurement spend with small to medium businesses, social enterprises and voluntary/community organisations and will be ambitious in our endeavour to improve on that figure.”

• “Apply a 10% weighting to social value during the tender process.”

• “Undertake targeted work with diverse suppliers”, which are defined as “Small and medium sized enterprises, black, minority ethnic owned enterprises, those with majority ownership from a group protected by legislation and voluntary and community sector organisations.”

VCSE sector response We held a Social Value and the VCSE sector consultation event in October 2015, which was attended by representatives of more than 50 organisations.

The feedback from that event was presented in a collective VCSE sector response to the consultation (see info box). The main points raised were:

• Support for the draft policy and the 25% target of all contracts to go to smaller providers.

• Request for more than 10% of criteria in tenders to be allocated to social value and clarification of quality and cost criteria.

• Agreement with the principles (creativity, flexibility, collaboration, leadership, sustainability) and suggestion of a new principle: local.

• Clarifications of definitions of the terms local, micro, small and medium.

Other areas of discussion were: • Outcomes and measurement of social value.

• Bid candy and requests for commissioners to define expectations of relations between providers.

• Readiness and capacity building – support needed for providers to measure and describe social value.

• Cultural change in BCC’s commissioning/procurement.

• How lasting impact/change can take many years more than short-duration contracts.

Issue 31 January / February / March 2016

• Partnerships and collaboration – clarification of commissioners’ expectations of provider collaborations and their support needs.

In summary, we are confident that feedback from our sector will result in positive changes to the way BCC commissions services.

Changes to processes under this policy should mean that more VCSE sector organisations can be involved and, ultimately, win public service contracts to deliver important services for people and communities.

Have your say The consultation on the draft Social Value Policy runs from 12 October to 8 January 2016 – there is still time to have your say: https://goo.gl/jUk0C1

To see the VCSE sector’s consultation response: www. voscur.org/Bristolcommissioning To see the ‘Storify’ feed of the discussions taking place on Twitter at our October 2015 event, visit: goo.gl/mpIqcS

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15

Upcoming Voscur training Top Tips for Tenders

Preventing Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace

Wednesday 13 January 2016, 9:30am – 12pm This workshop, run with Bristol City Council, will highlight some of the common errors that are made and what you can do to improve your chances of success in winning contracts. These tips apply to many contracts and tender processes, not just Bristol City Council. Get the basics right and you’re off to a “Excellent good start.

Thursday 4 February, 12pm – 2pm

An introduction to the legal, psychological and organisational risks when bullying in the workplace goes unchecked. We will look at some of the causes, the warning signs and ways to improve your organisation’s culture. This briefing is particularly relevant to those session organisations in a process of change. a perfect

Supporting and Retaining Volunteers Tuesday 19 January 2016, 9:30am – 12:30pm Volunteers are the backbone of many organisations, so how do you make sure you build and retain an engaged and enthusiastic team?

This session is designed to equip

pitched at level. Good balance of facilitation-led info and group work.”

Past participant, Being a Good Trustee

you with tools to enable your volunteers to flourish both as individuals and as part of your organisation’s work. Discussing motivations and barriers to volunteering, this is the perfect training for anyone in a role that supports volunteers – an opportunity to share ideas about how to keep volunteers and think about how your organisation can provide positive, stimulating volunteer opportunities.

Being a Good Trustee Wednesday 27 January 2016, 6pm – 9pm Governance has never been more crucial; in challenging times, a strong board is essential to survive and thrive.

Yet many trustees are unclear of their duties and boundaries with staff. This course sets out trustee roles and responsibilities and suggests tools to help ensure your board leads your organisation’s impact.

16 www.voscur.org

Being an Even Better Trustee Wednesday 24 February 2016, 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.

Leading from the Front – A Three-Day Course for Managers Wednesday 2 March, Wednesday 9 March, Wednesday 16 March 2016, 9:30am – 4pm This course is designed to help you take a bolder approach to your leadership role. Do you struggle with the daily dilemma of achieving success amid constant demands? Are you maximising your skills to attain the impact you desire? This course could be a springboard for change.

Through interactive sessions, leaders and senior managers will experience a highly regarded research-based leadership model that addresses the three core leadership priorities of setting strategic direction, delivering results, and building and sustaining relationships.

January / February / March 2016 Issue 31

Fund It! 2016 Good Customer Services for Office-Based Staff

£

£

£

an ch

This 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.

s er g nd in d u ge is as F n d h n fu ha ge c

Thursday 10 March, 9:30am – 3:30pm

£

ra nd Fu

with Big Lottery Quartet and more!

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

£

Good Practice in Social Media

£

£

£

Issue 31 January / February / March 2016

£

training-hub or call us on: 0117 909 9949.

£

please go to: www.supporthub.org.uk/

£

To book your place or to find out more,

£

Early-bird rates!

n u la ds yo d p ee w an n .. ho ch ing o . so ar nd to ... e u e £ es ur f ang £ r o £ y ch to

Over the course of the day we will look at HR processes related to informal or formal performance management, methods to engage staff, and coaching skills to get staff resolving problems themselves. The format will be informal and conversational, so bring along any issues you may be dealing with for discussion.

£

Wednesday 23 March, 9:30am – 3:30pm

£

Building a Cohesive Team: Managing Underperformance and Encouraging Problem Solving

£

This interactive workshop will encourage you to reflect on the kind of things you share – updates, chitchat, sales pitches – and help you avoid some of the common pitfalls. As well as providing some guidance principles, you will be given examples of how enjoyable and productive using social media can be.

£

Thursday 17 March, 10am – 1pm

» » » »

Sharpen your pitch for major donors Create a strategy that’s right for you Set up a trading arm to earn income Communicate the impact of your work

17 February 2016 at the Watershed July for 16th Early-bird rate*: £60 per person / £95 2 attending from the same organisation To book Book your place now! goo.gl/avQ5rH *for bookings made 4 weeks before the course date.

(Standard Cost: £80 per person.)

Volunteer cameraman gives local charity a needed Boost!

Article written

by Nick Ruff, General Manager at Network Counselling and Training

Network Counselling and Training (Network) first got in contact with Voscur’s Boost! project back in March 2015. We were in need of support to raise the profile of our training programme, and with virtually no marketing budget and an already overstretched staff resource, we were lost as to where to start.

Voscur has such a depth of experience working with charities and none of our issues were new to them. In our first conversation with the Support Hub team, they helped us to untangle what our priorities were and suggested some routes forward. One of these was to apply to Voscur’s ‘Boost!’ programme.

Boost! matches highly skilled volunteers, from a variety of professional backgrounds, with an organisation in need of specialist support. We wanted to produce a video to promote our work that would tie in with national ‘Listening Day’. As well as a promotional tool, we wanted this video to be a resource for local communities, giving general tips on listening well. Our hope was that through social media, we

18 www.voscur.org

One of the illustrated images used in Network’s ‘How Do You Listen?’ video

could create a buzz about the video and reach new people.

Boost! matched us with a cameraman who had experience working with charities. The team work hard to make sure the ‘contract’ agreement is really clear to everyone from the word go and that everyone’s expectations are well managed.

Richard, the volunteer, was a pleasure to work with – patient and professional. He guided us through the filming and editing of our video ‘How Do You Listen?’ with patience and we learnt a great deal about the process. The unexpected bonus of making the video was that it brought the organisation together, as almost everyone got stuck in and helped.

Charities are operating in an increasingly competitive world, and the offer of help from highly skilled individuals who simply want to give something back really is a boost.

If you find a good match for your organisation’s needs, Boost! really can help a short-term project happen. Since we launched the video on national Listening Day, we have already seen a rise in enquiries about our introductory listening skills courses and our CPD day courses.

We want to say a big “thank you” to Richard and to the Boost! team for all of your support. We would also like to thank Sally Arthur, Animator and Designer, who also made this video possible.

To watch Network’s video, go to: www.network.org.uk If you think you could benefit from having a Boost! volunteer, call Volunteer Bristol on 0117 989 7734 or email boost@ volunteerbristol.org.uk for further information.

January / February / March 2016 Issue 31

Support Hub

20

Article written

by Philippa Cox, Community & Events Fundraiser at Frank Water

Be informed

1. Attend fundraising workshops or conferences. There will always be something or someone who will offer a new insight.

2. Consider membership of the Institute of Fundraising or join one of their regional groups and LinkedIn groups – goo.gl/2lMJWx

3. Join a mentoring scheme.

4. Attend Voscur’s

things you need to know about ... fundraising

might not always have the results you hope for, but with a thorough evaluation you will have lots of learning.

perspective can reignite your passion – volunteer with another department or attend a talk given by a colleague.

Be inspired

Be legal

10. Sign up to newsletters of other charities.

With an increased spotlight on charities, make sure that the legal side of your organisation is covered

“Fund It!” conference in February 2016 (see link in info box).

5. There are lots of free resources – check out NCVO, SOFII, FundsforNGOs, Funding Central, UK Fundraising, Small Charities Coalition, FSI and Voscur’s resource hub (goo.gl/Wzf43C) to name a few.

Be creative

6. Give your donors a variety of ways to get involved.

7. Adapt your events to keep them fresh and interesting.

8. Make use of social media to engage with your donors in different ways.

9. Don’t be afraid to try new

11. When attending events, check out what other charities are doing – go to their stall and chat with their volunteers.

16.

With an increased spotlight on charities, make sure that the legal side of your organisation is covered.

17. Make sure you are adhering to data protection regulations.

18. Make sure your internal financial controls are robust.

19. Make sure your

12.

Ask your donors for feedback; this will also bring them closer to your organisation.

Be grateful

Always thank your donors promptly – there are lots of ways to do it

volunteers are also up to speed.

20. Keep up to date with HMRC regulations, especially with Gift Aid.

13. Always thank your donors promptly. There are lots of ways to do it: a phone call, a handwritten note, a formal receipt and letter. Whatever is appropriate and genuine.

14. Show donors what a difference their donations will be making.

15. Making time to view your organisation from a donor

Voscur is hosting its popular ‘Fund It!’ event in February 2016 (see details on p17).

The Bristol Fundraising Group meets on a monthly basis in central Bristol. Email philippa@frankwater.com for more information.

things if your budget will allow. They

Issue 31 January / February / March 2016

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19

Support Hub

No more heroes – leadership development and you Photo by Scott Kinmartin CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Article written

by Sandy Starkey and Caroline Matthews, cofounding partners, StarkeyMatthews.

Bristol’s voluntary and community leaders are acutely aware of the breadth of responsibilities, functions and competencies encompassed within their important and demanding roles. Achievement from our leaders is expected across three key domains: the strategic, operational and interpersonal.

service users, volunteers,

or team. Contemporary research

funders and a whole variety

shows that the best way to

of stakeholders. By creating

provide full leadership capability

alignment between organisational

is to assemble a group or team

Setting strategic direction is one

purpose and each individual’s

that comprises different people

of the essential leadership tasks.

activities, leaders are able to

with complementary skills. To

Once set, the values, purpose,

make the most of everyone’s

be effective, leaders need to be

vision and mission become the

contribution.

skilled at collaborating with those

rallying cry of the organisation and provide its high-level plan. It’s this

Where are you as a leader?

who bring different skills and competences. Accountability and

direction that gets people onside

However, research shows that

transparency is key to supporting

– supporters, staff and volunteers.

few, if any, leaders are strong in

this collaboration.

As well as being big-picture strategic thinkers, leaders also need to be operationally savvy.

all three areas. So where does that leave leadership in your organisation?

No one person in an organisation should feel that the challenge and responsibility of leadership

The high-level plan needs to be

Personality affects how all of us

is theirs alone. Great leadership

broken down into objectives and

behave and participate – some

is most likely to be achieved

tasks so that different teams

traits make us more effective at

and sustained through strong

and people can develop, deliver

particular activities than others

leadership teams, clearly aligned

and monitor the organisation’s

– and this is no different for

to strategy, with complementary

services.

leaders. Personality traits are

skillsets and effective teamwork.

Of course, none of this happens without people. Leaders must also create and sustain strong, healthy relationships with employees,

20 www.voscur.org

very difficult to change and it’s very rare for one person to excel in all the capabilities needed to successfully lead an organisation

In many ways the voluntary sector is ahead of the curve.

The inherent culture and values

January / February / March 2016 Issue 31

convenience or preference,

Support for Chinese communities

many leaders do attempt to do

The Chinese community has grown rapidly in recent years and

it all on their own. Feelings of

Bristol and Avon Chinese Women’s Group (BACWG) stands alone in

isolation amongst voluntary sector

Bristol as the only organisation that specifically helps the Chinese

leaders are well documented.

community at a grass-roots level.

embedded in the sector attracts those with a natural propensity towards collaborative working.

However, out of necessity,

This is compounded by the fact that leaders often put their own development needs below those of their team, although the role of leader is critical to the ongoing development and success of individual organisations and the sector as a whole. Strong leadership is vital for the voluntary and community sector in Bristol.

What are you doing to strengthen your leadership?

BACWG exists to support the health and social care needs of Chinese women and their families in Bristol and the surrounding area. Services include one-on-one advice and support, a helpline, information workshops, peer support groups, English language courses and conversation clubs, cultural awareness training and a Carers Support Service. The effectiveness of this work is clear, with 80% of their service users reporting a reduction in their stress levels and 95% feeling better informed about how to get support.

BACWG contacted Voscur’s Support Hub asking for help and support, as the group was considering a change of name. While working intensively with a Support Hub development worker, it became apparent that BACWG’s existing legal structure was also no longer the right fit for

Voscur has introduced a new

the group. Voscur supported the group to develop an action plan to

training programme for leaders

address both of these issues. Steps included a facilitated session for all

starting in March 2016. ‘Leading

trustees; a session with a development worker looking at the process

from the Front’ is a highly

of becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation; and support with

interactive three-day leadership

drafting the new constitution, which included the development worker

development programme for

arranging for a solicitor to give comments in relation to a specific

voluntary sector CEOs, senior

clause.

managers and leadership teams.

We hope to see many of you there.

With Voscur’s support, the group decided on a change of name to more accurately reflect the organisation’s purpose and beneficiaries and so increase their reach and impact. BACWG also decided to incorporate in order to better manage risk and prepare themselves for future opportunities, and were left with a clear framework for

To book your place on Leading from the Front, visit:

achieving these changes.

www.supporthub.org. uk/leading-front

Voscur streamlined that information and was a great reference point

“Voscur really helped move us along to bring about the changes we were looking for,” said the group. “It was good having someone who could be a sounding board; the internet is vast and confusing whereas for us.”

For more information on the support available through Voscur’s Support Hub, visit www.supporthub.org.uk or call 0117 909 9949.

Issue 31 January / February / March 2016

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21

Our journey together:

strategic priorities for young people

As well as ensuring that services meet the needs of children and young people, the strategy is a way of coordinating provision, ensuring that limited resources are maximised and there is better partnership working to create opportunities to bring in additional resources.

The needs identified through the consultation and published data focus on these core actions, linked to the key priorities identified

by Bristol City Youth Council’s manifesto 2015-17: 1. Healthy body, healthy mind • Promote and create positive, fun and challenging opportunities to help young people develop their confidence, creativity and

22 www.voscur.org

Photo kindly submitted by the Bristol Steiner Academy

The idea of a shared youth strategy for Bristol was first presented to the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector by Bristol City Council, at the Children and Young People’s Network event in November 2014. Following a year’s development by a steering group of VCSE sector organisations, presentation at the Children and Young People’s Network meeting in February 2015 and wide consultation with children, young people and professionals, the strategy ‘Our Journey Together: Strategic Priorities for Young People’ is ready for use.

resilience and enhance their health and wellbeing.

• Enhance the support available to improve young people’s physical and mental health in the city, including early intervention, counselling and support for groups most likely to experience mental health issues and activities to combat obesity, smoking, and drug and alcohol misuse.

2. A child-and-young-peoplefriendly city • Work with children and young people to secure a green and sustainable future for Bristol, and enable young people to achieve sustainable, affordable housing in the city.

3. Young people active and safe in their communities • Ensure young people have a

strong voice and are actively involved in their communities.

This includes volunteering and mentoring opportunities, young people involved in decision making, as well as ensuring there are aspirational role models for young people to identify with.

• Take a combined approach to building young people’s resilience and confidence to combat practices that put young people at risk, including all forms of bullying, gangs and violence, drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, child sexual exploitation, environmental factors, FGM, racism and discrimination, and homelessness.

4. A curriculum for life • Help all young people make positive informed choices

January / February / March 2016 Issue 31

Criminal justice What do recent changes mean for our sector?

The next steps will be to encourage providers, commissioners, funders and statutory agencies across the city to become part of the strategy, establish realistic plans to achieve priority actions, monitor progress on these, report back to young people and other stakeholders, and keep the energy going to develop new ways of working.

The strategy has come at the right time for the sector and is well aligned with the manifesto for the Bristol City Youth Council.

Voscur and Bristol City Council, along with the steering group, are hosting a conference to launch the strategy on Tuesday 26 January 2016.

For details about this event, and the youth strategy, visit: goo.gl/xXqs4q

Photo by Jobopa CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

that lead to interesting and inspiring careers through a ‘curriculum for life’ that includes financial education, good-quality work experience and sustainable employment and training opportunities, body confidence, relationship and sex education, equalities and stereotyping, bullying, and keeping safe.

Article written

by Louise Clark, Development Worker at Clinks

The last year has seen significant changes in the criminal justice landscape, particularly related to commissioning and funding changes.

Most significant has been the largescale reforms through Transforming Rehabilitation, with changes in the leadership and ownership of probation services and resettlement provision in prisons. Former Probation Trusts have been split into Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs), which manage offenders that pose a low-medium risk of harm to the public, and the National Probation Service (NPS), which manages those who pose a high risk. Supervision has been extended to offenders who are released from short prison sentences (less than 12 months), with a new range of ‘rehabilitation activity requirements’ that are at the disposal of the courts, via CRCs and the NPS. A reorganisation of the prison estate introduced ‘resettlement prisons’, where people will be transferred to an establishment closer to home for (at least) the last three months of their sentence. They will be provided with rehabilitation and ‘through the gate’ resettlement services, provided by CRCs and the NPS. What is clear from the Early Doors report (published by Clinks and NCVO in 2015) is that some lack of clarity remains about what services Continued on next page...

Issue 31 January / February / March 2016

23

the voluntary sector will be delivering, or how they will be resourced to do it. In addition the pace of change has been slower than many in the sector anticipated, leaving organisations in a state of limbo, though a small number of larger voluntary sector organisations have secured contracts with CRCs to deliver services. The level of NPS engagement with the voluntary sector is largely unknown at present.

All of this has meant that the voluntary sector is facing some confusion amongst funders and commissioners around what CRCs and the NPS will resource. They report that some independent charitable funders and local commissioners are questioning whether they should fund certain interventions on the basis that these should be funded by CRCs and/or the NPS, and in some instances they appear to be cutting funding for offender rehabilitation and resettlement services. This uncertainty obviously impacts heavily on the sector’s staff retention, business planning and sustainability of services.

The Police & Crime Commissioners elections in May 2016 could bring changes to the local commissioning environment for voluntary sector organisations working in criminal justice. PCCs have responsibility for setting local community safety priorities

24 www.voscur.org

Photo by Ben30 CC BY-SA 2.0

Continued from previous page...

and commissioning services to meet these. The time in the runup to their election is therefore important for organisations to engage with candidates, highlighting the needs and priorities of the individuals and communities they work with.

There is potentially further change on the horizon, with possible local devolution under the provisions of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill. Under the Bill there are proposals for more combined authorities, more local mayors and also for the functions of a police and crime commissioner in some areas to become part of the Mayoral office remit. There would be devolution of financial matters, local authority functions and power transfer, all of which could impact on the courts, prisons and probation, as well as in areas affecting those in the criminal justice system such as offender health.

In the last year Clinks members have shown that the sector remains as creative, innovative

and flexible as ever, in order to best meet the needs of its users. Despite further expected reductions in government budgets and criminal justice policy changes, there will remain expertise and energy in the sector to work in partnership with criminal justice agencies and commissioners to help influence direction, develop provision and support those most in need.

With the Youth Justice Review, prison education review, potential for increased prison governor autonomy, closure and building of prisons and the PCC elections, there will be plenty to keep us all busy.

Don’t forget that you can get monthly policy briefings as a Clinks member and read more about our and our members’ thoughts on specific aspects of criminal justice via our blogs.

Find out more at: www.clinks.org/ criminal-justicepolicy-and-practice

January / February / March 2016 Issue 31

Image by FutUndBeidl CC BY 2.0

May 2016 elections On 5 May 2016 local elections will take place in Bristol.

Bristolians will elect both a mayor for the city and 70 ward councillors.

Article written by Thom Oliver (left), University of the West of England, and David Sweeting (right), University of Bristol.

This is the first time that the mayor and all councillors have been elected simultaneously, and the first time that the citizens of Bristol have a direct vote on whether the current mayor, George Ferguson, should stay in office, or whether he should be replaced by another candidate.

The mayoral system of governance is new to the city. For electing the mayor, voters have a first and second preference. If a candidate gets more than 50% of first preference votes, they win. If no candidate receives more than 50% of first preferences, all except the top two candidates are eliminated.

The second preferences of the eliminated candidates are allocated to the top two, and the winner is the candidate with the most votes after the second round of counting.

The first mayoral election in Bristol’s history was held on 15 November 2012. It attracted 15 mayoral candidates, more than in any other mayoral election in England. A total of 90,273 votes were cast, representing a voter

turnout of 27.9%. George Ferguson won the contest after two rounds of counting, polling 37,353 votes in total. The runner-up was Marvin Rees, the Labour Party candidate, who polled 31,259 votes. Both are standing again, alongside candidates from all major parties.

How has the mayoral system worked in practice? Research carried out by the city’s two universities, called the Bristol Civic Leadership Project (www. bristolcivicleadership.net), showed that there were staggering increases in terms of perceptions of having visible leadership of the city, but more modest improvements for matters such as trust and representation under mayoral governance. Much also depended on who was asked – councillors were generally much less impressed with the new system than other stakeholders, and different parts of the city tended to think differently about the way the system works.

There are also changes to how, where and when we vote in Bristol for councillors. A boundary review aiming to ensure that councillors represent wards of approximately the same size has resulted in a redrawing of the boundaries of council wards across the city. Many remain unaffected, but some people may have moved into a neighbouring ward, meaning the place they vote may change and

Issue 31 January / February / March 2016

even the name of their council ward. Multiple member wards mean you could now be represented by one, two or three councillors, meaning you may be able to place multiple crosses on your ballot paper.

Also, the city is changing from elections ‘by thirds’ to ‘all up’ or ‘all out’ elections, ending the cycle of near-constant elections and the incremental slow change that has defined the political landscape of the city for so long. On 5 May 2016 we will select all 70 councillors, and we won’t vote for them again for four years.

Finally it’s worth noting the system of voter registration has changed, moving to a system where people are individually required to put themselves on the register – it used to be done on a household basis.

To make sure you don’t lose your right to vote, visit: www. gov.uk/register-to-vote

With full city-wide council elections and elections for the Mayor and the Police and Crime Commissioner just around the corner, we’ve asked prominent community and voluntary sector activists to share their views on the key issues, challenges and opportunities facing the sector. Continued overleaf...

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25

Pete Levy, the Restore Trust “These elections will be the entire voluntary and community sector’s opportunity to make sure our collective voices are heard. We can join together to raise the profile of our individual and collective organisations and reach out to the city’s residents that need us the most. This is our opportunity to let the future Mayor, Police and Crime Commissioner and local politicians know that we are here. We must ask those seeking election to recognise and engage with all sections of our community and provide solid indications of their understanding of the issues we deal with on a daily basis. We already have skills, experience and compassion across a range of challenging issues. Elected individuals can work with us, and recognise the work we do in partnership with others to ensure that we can help them improve the quality of life for people in Bristol.”

Steve Sayers, Windmill Hill City Farm “The potential for major political change in the city, with perhaps a new set of mayoral priorities, is simultaneously exciting and unsettling. In the same year that the City Farm celebrates 40 years serving its community, there is, however, also a sense of ‘plus ca change…’. Despite decades of (no doubt sincere) political messages to the contrary, the gaps between rich and poor continue to grow, whether measured in health, prosperity or life experience. In a political climate that seems comfortable with abandoning large numbers of people to their (deserved?) fate on the scrap heap of life, we need to redouble our efforts to provide the services and facilities that help to those in society who most need it and to counter, with words and deeds, the rhetoric that eats away at the cohesion of our society.”

Sandy Hore-Ruthven, Creative Youth Network “Creative Youth Network and services for young people will be affected by the priorities of the new Mayor. Young people have been affected more than most others in society by the cuts, and there is a danger the new Mayor will see youth services, projects and support as a low priority when the cuts come. The Mayor must make the choice to protect a vulnerable group of people who have no vote or say in who governs the city.

An investment in young people is an investment in the future of Bristol, its prosperity, happiness and cohesion.”

Elaine Flint, Wellspring Healthy Living Centre “Wellspring Healthy Living Centre, serving the diverse local communities in Lawrence Hill and Easton, would like to see the Council and Mayor give leadership and commitment to challenging the health inequalities experienced in our communities. They need to tackle the chronic underfunding of inner-city GP practices, to focus public health priorities on inequalities and ensure that mental health services are delivered in styles that are acceptable to our diverse communities, not in ‘one size fits all’.

“They also need to ensure there is investment in our Children’s Centres and Early Years Services to tackle the rising levels of child poverty, and adequate resourcing of care for our older and disabled community members who are experiencing diminishing levels

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January / February / March 2016 Issue 31

of support. We are a rich city and it is a scandal that we cannot focus our resources on our disadvantaged areas to ensure that we tackle the differences in life expectancy and quality of life that are so well documented.”

Gill Nowland, One25 “The next mayoral elections will provide the opportunity to ensure Bristol’s extensive, creative and vibrant voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector is recognised for the value it brings and impact it has within Bristol.

“By working in partnership with the VCSE sector, the Council can ensure Bristol’s most marginalised and vulnerable communities are supported. The VCSE sector can support the Council by ensuring equality groups and Bristol’s most disadvantaged communities get the support they need. By working hand in hand, the Council and VCSE sector can ensure high-quality and cost-effective services not only exist in Bristol but are sustainable and impactful.

“In the commissioning of services, it is vital that the voluntary sector is treated fairly and not discriminated against during the procurement process. By listening to and improving communication with the VCSE sector, the Council and newly elected Mayor can ensure realistic and achievable opportunities exist for both small and large VCSE sector organisations. Commissioners can work to ensure a fair system exists for all those involved in the commissioning process, particularly for the second- or third-tier providers in the contract.”

Valerie Mower, Breathing Fire Theatre Company “We want a Mayor and a council that will commit to protecting the small arts sector and get fully behind the Manifesto for Race Equality to improve the quality of life, and the life chances, for BME communities in Bristol.

“Currently, it appears that a high percentage of funding is awarded to large arts providers while smaller groups are left pecking at crumbs; we have found it easier to secure funding from outside of our city than we have from within.

“We work with a range of communities, with a specific focus on Black women of African Caribbean descent. Through our work, we see first-hand the wealth of talented BME artists and their willingness to share their art with the city. While it’s great that Bristol has such a vibrant arts scene, we need to champion the contribution of BME artists more to keep these artists and their talents in the city.

“Through our work we deal with issues that are affecting local communities, such as mental health, discrimination and poverty. The right political climate must be created for meaningful collaboration between communities and decision makers to realistically tackle inequality in Bristol.”

Make sure you’ve registered to vote; you can do that at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote Don’t forget the election will be held on Thursday 5 May 2016 – whoever you vote for, make sure you vote!

Issue 31 January / February / March 2016

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27

Better together

Working with Bristol Community Health In 2014 Simon Stevens, the

Together with BCH we plan a VCSE

Chief Executive of NHS England,

sector survey in early 2016 to:

produced his Five Year Forward

• Establish the VCSE sector

View for the future of the NHS.

perspective of working with BCH

He said the NHS was ‘the proudest

– where are the relationships

achievement of our modern

and how strong are they?

society’, but that it needs to adapt

• Identify good-practice case

to the modern world. There are big changes in health demands:

studies – demonstrate the

long-term conditions rather than

benefits to patients of

illnesses with a one-off cure now

working with and in the local

take up 70% of the health service

community.

budget. There is a desire for the

• Identify gaps in working

NHS to be a better partner with the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector and local communities.

relationships – where can health were with national charities such

be improved by linking BCH

as Diabetes UK. Local charities,

to VCSE sector activities and

such as The Park, were venues

services?

We want to take this vision

for services, and others such as

forward locally in Bristol, so we’ve

Bristol Somali Resource Centre

been talking to Bristol Community

and Golden Agers were in touch

Health (BCH) about how they work

with health advice and outreach

with the voluntary and community

services. BCH Community Learning

sector and local communities.

Disabilities Team had formal

BCH deliver 35 communitybased health services, for example community nursing

and informal relationships with

organisations to look at stronger relationships to BCH.

and social care in the future, and a competitive re-tender of

restructuring they are now a

fully understood. ‘Relationship’

Community Interest Company.

is an easy word to use, but

They employ over 1,100 people

understanding what it means in

and 97% of their services are

practice is important. We want

delivered in people’s homes or

to highlight good-practice case

community settings.

studies and identify areas where stronger relationships will improve patient care and strengthen VCSE sector activities and services.

community health services in 2017, now is a great time to strengthen relationships with Bristol’s largest not-for-profit health community interest company.

Keep an eye on our website for the survey which we will publish in January 2016.

January / February / March 2016 Issue 31

Image by Christiana Care CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

relationships, however, is not

28 www.voscur.org

and create space for VCSE sector

organisations.

of-life teams. Following NHS

VCSE sector organisations. Many

early summer to explore the results

With moves to integrate health

The strength of those

half had working relationships with

Voscur will hold a conference in

an impressive 48 VCSE sector

teams, diabetes care and end-

Looking at BCH services, at least

Following the survey BCH and

This is me

Fiona Castle, VCSE sector advocate on the Bristol Children and Families Partnership Board Fiona works for Imayla CIC, which offers learning opportunities for young people, families and groups, combining creative arts and environmental activities. With a background in both statutory and voluntary sectors, she became an Advocate to support local development at a policy and service delivery level on behalf of the sector.

What propelled you to become a VCSE sector Advocate?

I believe in the value of an informed and trained sector with a

to people and communities in need and acting on those voices.

There’s more than one way to peel an egg!

nature – walking along the Frome Valley from Eastville Park, up through Oldbury Court past the playground (every community should have one!) and on to a

collective voice and have benefited from Voscur’s support.

What do you think is the secret to being influential?

What are the top things that the Board has been working on that are relevant to the VCSE sector?

I could say I wish I knew or it’s a secret! Listening well, offering rather than shouting ideas and opinions, and believing in the good of people to bring out the best in them.

What was the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

If you could pick one example of seeing, with your own eyes, lives changed by the voluntary sector in Bristol, what would it be?

What makes you happy?

Increasing Early Intervention work across the city and improving partnership, synergy and communication between the agencies, organisations and sectors.

If you could wish one thing for the voluntary sector in Bristol, what would it be?

That the sector was seen as a skilled and equal-delivery partner across the city.

What would make the biggest difference to improving equality in society?

We’re in difficult times – fairer income distribution, more culturally sensitive and diverse service delivery, moral news and food industries, broader and more inviting learning environments.

In Bristol in particular: listening

I can’t pick one, my mind doesn’t work that way! I hear and see so many times the results of the energy, commitment and skill across the sector working for better conditions for individuals, families and communities across our city. So many people going the extra mile – sometimes when they’re really tired!

coffee shop in Fishponds.

If you have to make a decision and it’s a really hard choice, either option will probably work for you. :)

The natural environment, cooperation and sensibility. Coffee and a quality piece of cake.

Tell us one thing about you that people would never guess.

I survived a tree falling on my tent last year; I feel I might have used one of my lives. I wonder how many I’ve got!

For more information about our VCSE sector Advocates,

What is your favourite spot in Bristol and why?

video updates and to get in

Here’s two! City based: cycling through Castle Park at night towards Bristol Bridge. Out into

voiceandinfluence.org.uk/

Issue 31 January / February / March 2016

touch with them, visit: www. advocates

www.voscur.org

29

Henbury, Brentry and Southmead Neighbourhood Partnership On having a cunning plan

The Neighbourhood Partnership

their road with the Lawrence

At the recent Citywide

Plan came afterwards. This took key issues from the Southmead

Weston £1 million Big Local funding as a spur, they knew

Community Plan and drew heavily

that producing a plan doesn’t

on the information from the

automatically bring funding and

Southmead Survey to shape its

resources in its wake. And yet …

Neighbourhood Partnership Conference on 24 October 2015, residents from Ambition Lawrence Weston (Mark Pepper) and Southmead (Deana Perry

priorities.

and Trenna Blundell) presented

Henbury and Brentry residents

a workshop on the Lawrence Weston and Southmead Community Plans.

Some interesting questions followed about how Community Plans and Neighbourhood Partnership Plans work together.

Why have all these plans? What

had seen Southmead’s success and decided at their Community Conference in February 2015 to produce a Henbury and Brentry Community Plan of their own.

So a priority to support Henbury and Brentry Community Council to achieve their Plan was also

happens if these plans are in

included in the NP Plan.

conflict? Which plan has more

Working together – and learning

‘authority’?

The Community and Neighbourhood Plans support and reinforce each other. The process of working together to create them has enriched working relationships and provided a strong focus.

from Southmead’s experience –

showing the world that you know

Henbury and Brentry applied to

what you want to achieve and

Southmead NP’s experience

the First Steps programme. This

why does make a powerful focus.

Almost as soon as it launched its

In the beginning … came the

funding (£2,500) has been used to deliver a survey (350 replies)

Plan, the Southmead community

and a community plan event, and

was picked as one of only 14

Lawrence Weston developed its

we’re now writing the first draft of

across the country to receive

Community Plan in 2013 and

the Plan. This has been achieved

£200,000 over three years under

succeeded in drawing down

almost entirely by resident

the Fourteen Programme (money

£1 million from the Big Local as a

volunteers, supported by their

flowing from the 2012 Olympics

result. Southmead residents were

Councillors and the NP.

and 2014 Commonwealth Games).

inspired by this success to create

What a difference a Plan makes

• The Southmead Fourteen

Henbury, Brentry and

Southmead Community Plan.

their own Southmead Community Plan, through Southmead Development Trust. The NP backed

That’s a lot of plans, you might say – but what difference does it

them with Wellbeing Funding and

make?

hands-on support.

When Southmead set off down

30 www.voscur.org

Fund and NP Wellbeing Fund are supporting the Communication chapter of the Community Plan by funding a Communication worker

January / February / March 2016 Issue 31

Pupils at Badocks Wood Primary School making music from litter for the community’s litter bins

post and the creation of a

dog mess and fly-tipping.

Plans to add value and support

database of all community

When the Green Capital Arts

the resilience of communities to

activities in Southmead.

programme came to Henbury,

take charge of their own destiny

This will fuel a new ‘What’s

Brentry and Southmead it

and future development.

on in Southmead’ app and

made sense to ask them to

website and a coordinated

work with the community’s

communication programme

existing priority – and our

embracing the Mead

streets will now have 18

newsletter, noticeboards,

musical bins, decorated as

digital communication and

Be Proud bees, which will

the all-important word-of-

make a unique piece of music

mouth communication which

every time you use them. The

Lawrence Weston Community

drives information sharing in

music has been created on

Plan: www.ambitionlw.org/

Southmead (the survey told us

instruments fashioned from

ambitionlworg/link/main/one/

that).

litter by 400 school children in

wordpress/community-plan/

seven local schools.

Henbury, Brentry and

• Henbury and Brentry’s

Southmead Community Plan: www. southmeadcommunityplan. co.uk

aspirations for their Parks and

The Community and

Southmead Neighbourhood

Open Spaces will be developed

Neighbourhood Plans support

Partnership Plan:

by the Neighbourhood

and reinforce each other. The

www.bristol.gov.uk/

Partnership to add depth to

process of working together to

neighbourhoodpartnerships

their emerging Community

create them has enriched working

Plan. The priorities will

relationships and provided a

The Fourteen Fund: http://

influence how the NP will

strong focus to connect ideas,

use new Section 106 and CIL

aspirations, services, community

contributions over the coming

organisations and individuals

years.

into a whole which really can be

• The NP Plan has a priority to support the Be Proud of BS10 campaign, created by local residents to reduce litter,

greater than its parts. In Henbury,

quartetcf.org.uk/grantprogrammes/southmeadfourteen-small-and-mediumgrants/ Community action tools and

Brentry and Southmead the

support at:

Neighbourhood Partnership Plan

http://mycommunity.org.uk www.justact.org.uk/forums

can draw from the Community

Issue 31 January / February / March 2016

www.voscur.org

31

Voscur Ltd. Royal Oak House Royal Oak Avenue Bristol BS1 4GB

Tel: 0117 909 9949 Fax: 0117 933 0501 Email: info@voscur.org Web: www.voscur.org

Voscur training and events January 2016 Date

Time

Event/training

Location

12th

2pm – 4:30pm

Bristol City Council and Voscur’s Grants Prospectus consultation event

The Park

13th

9:30am – 12pm

Top Tips for Tenders

The Station

14th

10am – 12:30pm

Bristol City Council and Voscur’s Grants Prospectus consultation event

The Vassall Centre

19th

9:30am – 12:30pm

Supporting and Retaining Volunteers

The GreenHouse

26th

11.30am – 3:30pm

Conference: Our Journey Together: Strategic Priorities for Young People

M Shed

27th

6pm – 9pm

Being a Good Trustee

St Werburghs Centre

28th

9:30am – 12pm

Health and Social Care Network Meeting

The Park

February 2016 Date

Time

Event/training

Location

4th

12am – 2pm

Preventing Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace

Royal Oak House

17th

10am – 4pm

Fund It! 16

The Watershed

23rd

10am – 12:30pm

Social Investment and Bristol’s VCSE Sector – workshop 2

The Park

24th

10am – 12pm

Children and Young People’s Network meeting

Barton Hill Settlement

24th

6pm – 9pm

Being an Even Better Trustee

St Werburghs Centre

March 2016 Date

Time

Event/training

Location

2nd, 9th and 16th

9:30am – 4pm

Leading from the Front – A Three-Day Course for Managers

The Station

8th

2pm – 4:30pm

Social Investment and Bristol’s VCSE Sector – workshop 3

The Vassall Centre

9th

6pm – 8pm

Joint Trustee Network & Finance Forum

tbc

10th

9:30am – 3:30pm

Good Customer Services for Office-Based Staff

The Gatehouse Centre

17th

10am – 1pm

Good Practice in Social Media

Knowle West Media Centre

23rd

9:30am – 3:30pm

Building a Cohesive Team: Managing Underperformance and Encouraging Problem Solving

Create Cente

Keep up to date with Voscur online:

f l i x /voscur

/voscur

/voscur

/voscur

For details of all the above training and events, visit: www.voscur.org/events/ upcoming/voscur

Voscur is a registered charity and a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. Company no. 3918210. Charity no. 1148403.

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