Voscur Annual Report 2009-2010

Annual Review

2009/10

Chief Executive’s report Direct support provided to members has included: 33 training sessions delivered by our own staff and in partnership with Volunteering Bristol, Avon and Bristol Law Centre, Equality South West and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations; 13 inhouse tailored sessions; 75 guided funding advice sessions; 28 one to one support sessions with groups reviewing their development plans and funding applications.

Wendy Stephenson Chief Executive

Infrastructure review Strong leadership from Voscur’s board, a skilled staff team, and committed members have, this year, enabled Voscur to review its future in response to Bristol City Council’s infrastructure review.

The board has made decisions that will affect the future of Voscur and the future of voluntary sector support and development services in Bristol. Much time has been spent consulting with our members on the Council’s draft infrastructure strategy, seeking their views as to Voscur’s role in any new services, and responding to the local authority.

Services Although the infrastructure review has created extra demands on Voscur staff, we have worked hard to maintain ‘business as usual’ so that our members have not experienced a loss of services during this busy time.

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Capacitybuilders’ Real Help for Communities fund enabled us to establish a list of specialist support providers and provide bursaries for 21 groups interested in merger and collaboration. The success of this fund led to us setting up a similar arrangement with Quartet Community Foundation, which supported five smaller groups.

Our weekly e-bulletin reaches 945 subscribers and our website now attracts 23,000 unique page visits per week. We also provide specialist Children and Young People’s Organisations, Neighbourhood Partnerships, and Skills and Learning e-bulletins.

The recession, and the increased demand for services, has meant that the operating environment has been difficult for Voscur and many of its members. An important role this year was to utilise funding from the Council’s recession mitigation fund to provide recession related support for 100 groups. This included working with specialist providers to offer services such as Human Resources support and business planning.

We have been able to generate income from some of our activities – for example, our reputation for delivering high

quality Equalities training led to our being commissioned by the National Health Service Pacesetters programme to deliver a series of gypsy and traveller awareness training sessions in partnership with gypsy and traveller communities.

Influencing Voscur had an important role in the Council’s Select Committee on Third Sector Commissioning, bringing in expert witnesses from NAVCA and leading the design of a survey on commissioning from the sector, which will inform future policy making. The employment of the Compact Liaison Officer on behalf of the Compact Steering Group has enabled us to promote the value of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in the commissioning and delivery of public services.

Working with Equalities partners and the Bristol Partnership’s Director, we have revived the Bristol Partnership’s Equalities Action Group this year, so that Equalities groups again have a place at the Partnership table.

Voscur staff and members continue to be active within the Bristol Partnership: we have attended more than 50 Partnership related meetings and events this year, including meetings of the Executive Board, the Recession Resilience Group, the Migration Impact Fund Group, the Third Sector Strategy Group, the Thriving Neighbourhoods Board, the Prosperous and Ambitious Board, the Health and Wellbeing Board, the Children and Young People’s Trust Board and the Safer Bristol Board. Our

Chief Executive’s report webcast reports from meetings have been viewed almost 1000 times.

We raised the profile of the sector by getting involved in the design and delivery of the Partnership’s 20:20 week to promote the launch of its ten year plan, and ensured that there is a role for Voluntary and Community Sector organisations in the Partnership’s 20:20 plan. As part of 20:20 week we promoted the use of Free and Open Source Information and Communications Technology which has been fundamental to improving Voscur’s communications systems.

Networking Voscur networks continue to provide opportunities for people and groups to meet, learn and influence. In addition to our Neighbourhood Partnerships Residents’ Forum, Children and Young People’s Organisations Network and Assembly meetings, this year we have worked with Bristol City Council to provide a Community Buildings Network and with Clinks to provide networking opportunities for groups working within the criminal justice system.

Thanks I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Voscur

board for its leadership during these challenging times, when many are experiencing change within their own organisations; our staff team whose skills and knowledge of the sector are exemplary; our representatives to strategic partnerships and their commitment to accountability; our members (who increased in number by 60 this year, bringing the total to more than 400 at March 2010) and our funders and partners, particularly Bristol City Council, whose support for our work means that we in turn can support Bristol’s Voluntary and Community Sector organisations who are providing such valuable services in our communities in Bristol.

Chair’s Introduction This year has been both fascinating and tough for Voscur, as it probably has been for many of our members. It has presented Voscur with some difficult choices, particularly in working through the commissioning process for infrastructure organisations.

We are very hopeful that the new delivery and Voluntary Sector Assembly model we have developed through consultation with members and stakeholders, will be a dynamic and effective structure for years to come. We hope it will strengthen the sector in Bristol.

There are many people to thank for their support during the year including our members and partners. I would also like to thank the staff for their contribution, which has been above and beyond normal expectations, and also fellow board members who have been very constructive.

Joanna Holmes Chair

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Strengthening the Sector “The fact that I had Eva to help me through the session was a massive help to me today.

Without her help I would have been lost.”

Laura Francis, Hope’s Place

“The hardest part of the application was formulating the outcomes so that the whole of our service was described. We could not have done it without Voscur’s help.”

Sally Walker-Cousins, Serenity House

Funding and Income Generation The impact of Voscur’s Funding Advice work in 2009-2010 was to increase local knowledge and understanding of fundraising and commissioning opportunities, tools and techniques and to help secure over £500,000 for the local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE).

Eva Pollard, Voscur’s Funding Advisor, delivered 75 funding advice and outreach sessions to local VCSE organisations. Many included guided searches of grant finding databases, and advice on governance, strategic planning and organisational development, in recognition that business development is an integral part of fundraising. 85% of service users report improved skills/application of skills and improved quality of service delivery.

Eva also worked with 28 local groups on a one-to-one basis, including proof-reading applications and advising on specific funding-related issues.

At least eight local groups received income following funding advice provided by Voscur in 2009-2010. This brought in around £595,400 to Bristol’s VCSE. Many other groups are still waiting to hear whether their applications have been successful.

Finance and Funding Training and Learning Voscur delivered 13 training and learning events in 2009-2010 to 215 participants, on a variety of funding and finance issues.

The Get Ready to Trade course, delivered in partnership with NCVO’s (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) Sustainable Funding Project, helped participants to understand the benefits of trading to enable them to diversify their income streams.

A new course, Prove it!, was developed in partnership with Bristol City Council’s Consultation, Research and Intelligence Team. It equipped groups with skills and resources to prove to funders that there is a need for their project.

Through our Sustaining the Sector partnership with the Black Development Agency, Voscur delivered several joint events. Our Funders’ Fair was attended by 70 participants, representing a range of local organisations.

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Strengthening the Sector “This is one of the most useful and informative training courses I have ever attended.”

Noelle Rumball, BREAD Youth Project

“I have useful information and support from the team and feel that I could come to Voscur any time I need to.” (anonymous)

Funding and Commissioning Opportunities Voscur keeps the VCSE updated on local information on commissioning and procurement. We created opportunities for local groups to communicate with commissioners, including engaging Bristol City Council’s Strategic Director of Resources to deliver a presentation at the Funders’ Fair on the Enabling Commissioning Framework.

191 new funding opportunities were promoted weekly through Voscur networks, website and e-bulletin. We supported local groups to register on the Bristol e-Procurement System, from which they may receive tender alerts. We also joined NAVCA’s (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action) Tender Support Project which enables inexperienced groups to access funding for professional support with tender writing.

Finance Forum Two Finance Forum meetings took place for finance workers within the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector. The themes looked at types of insurance cover required and tips for preparing annual accounts.

Sally Walker-Cousins, Chairperson of Serenity House and Peter Heneghan, Executive Director of Serenity House, with the Big Lottery confirmation letter

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Strengthening the Sector

“Attending the Speaking with Confidence course was a real catalyst of change for me; the trainers were truly inspiring and by the end of the day I knew that I was holding myself back. As a result of the course I started delivering training and was able to apply (and get) my dream job in Learning and Development, I wouldn’t have done any of this without the Voscur team!”

Emily Proom – United Housing Association

Voscur Training and Learning Voscur training and learning aims to improve skills and support our members to improve the quality of their service.

Our course programme has developed this year in response to requests from our members. We have run accredited courses in health and safety and first aid and other new courses such as developing business plans and identifying and managing risk, an introduction to communications and the media and effective minute taking.

This year we have run 33 courses, some of which have been in partnership with Volunteering Bristol, Business in the Community, Avon and Bristol Law Centre, National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Equality South West to offer legal training and vital support for the sector.

Evaluation Three months after training sessions have taken place we ask people to feedback on how useful the learning has been to them and also to their organisation’s performance. 100% of people said that they would attend Voscur training again.

Volunteer Managers’ training Volunteering Bristol and Voscur have supported 112 volunteer managers from 97 organisations by offering low cost training and support through networking. We have also worked with six individuals to deliver a peer support Action Learning set.

Working together we have developed five new courses for volunteer managers and delivered a total of nine courses. As a result of these courses, volunteer managers have identified improved skills and are better able to support volunteers within their organisations.

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Strengthening the Sector In house training This year we delivered 13 in house training sessions for nine organisations. Training included: Time management, Roles and responsibilities of trustees, Get your voice heard, Fundraising and Equalities training. Our in house training offers a useful service to organisations wishing to train their whole staff/board on a specific topic.

Skills Audit

“I have found Voscur and Volunteering Bristol training I’ve attended in the last year enormously useful.

The support, friends and good networks I have made have encouraged me and the clear knowledge I have gained has increased my confidence. I, and the organisations I work for, are much better equipped to offer highquality volunteering placements”.

Working with the Learning Curve we have improved and redesigned our skills audit to make it easier to use. Since its re-launch, 123 organisations have downloaded it and several organisations attended a training session to find out more. If you would like to download a copy for your organisation please go to www.voscur.org/training/learning#audits

Trainers’ and Consultants’ Directory Voscur has a new combined Trainers and Consultants’ on-line Directory so that members and others looking for these services can quickly access contact details.

Lorna Muffet – Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust.

“I learnt a massive amount and it inspired me to set goals and take more time for myself.”

Participant on Time Management for Voluntary Action North Somerset

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Equalities and Inclusion Equalities work this year has included supporting Voscur’s members through the economic downturn and working with partners to ensure that equalities issues are considered on a strategic level.

We responded to areas of need – we produced training resources, fed views into consultations and promoted equalities good practice activities.

Training

“I was reluctant to release my staff team for this training today as we had to close down the department; now I’m so glad I did, it has been completely worthwhile. There are so many changes we will now make as a result of what we’ve learned.”

Health Service department Manager

“The training – one of the best training sessions I have attended, I want to go and share it with my team. It was so interactive, and I felt very welcomed, so informative having the use of experts. I have learnt so much.”

Health Service Manager

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Voscur worked with Equality South West to deliver a session introducing Voscur members to the Equality Bill. It is essential that Voscur members are equipped to carry out necessary amendments to their equality and diversity policies, procedures and projects. Other training included ‘Improving Diversity in your Volunteer team’ which we designed based on the good practice booklet Voscur and Volunteering Bristol produced in 2009.

Pacesetters Voscur was contracted by the NHS under its national Pacesetters programme to develop and run a series of Train the Trainer sessions, aiming to reduce barriers for Gypsy and Traveller communities accessing health services.

We worked with, and supported, members of Gypsy and Traveller communities to deliver the sessions which were attended by a wide range of health professionals. Many attendees committed to improving their working practices. They aimed to share their learning with colleagues and to use the accompanying Train the Trainer packs designed and produced by Voscur.

An outcome of this work has been the skills gained by Gypsy and Traveller community reps who gave presentations on the impact of key issues on their communities; prior to these sessions many had never spoken in public. Some are now attending training and events to present on Gypsy and Traveller awareness and needs.

Safeguarding the sector A core element of our work was to respond to members struggling in the recession.

Voscur worked with agencies and consultants who could provide specialist knowledge, such as Social Enterprise Works, Ethical Property Foundation and City of Bristol College. A key area of our offer was to link groups with partners that would assist in their strategic planning.

An overwhelming number took advantage of the support offered to consider how they might collaborate, or work more effectively in partnership with others. The impact was that 100 groups benefited from this opportunity; including one group who received substantial funding via Channel 4’s ‘Secret Millionaire’ programme, having been signposted

by Voscur.

Equalities and Inclusion “It would’ve been devastating if we had lost it all [our funding] because we know this [project] works. Now we can look forward to rolling out a best practice package to other communities so that teenage parents across the city can benefit.”

Equalities Action Group The process of establishing equalities partners on the Bristol Partnership and reviving the Equalities Action Group (EAG) was an ongoing commitment which Voscur did not allow to slide off the agenda.

We worked with reps from Voscur equalities membership and partners from public sector agencies to establish structures for an effective and influential equalities voice at strategic levels in the city. The aim is to develop an EAG that is productive in supporting and scrutinising strategic practices and policy.

Hartcliffe and Withywood Teenage Parents’ Project

Deana Stone (front left) and others from the Hartcliffe and Withywood Teenage Parents’ Project, with Secret Millionaire, Dawn Gibbins (centre)

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Representation and Networking

Voscur has worked in partnership with Clinks, the organisation that supports offenders and their families, to pilot a Criminal Justice Network

Networks – Empowering Communities Voscur received funding from Equality South West through its ‘Empowering Communities’ scheme which enabled us to run two network events. The events gave members the opportunity to debate issues of equalities and community cohesion and to discuss ways in which equalities could influence both strategic and neighbourhood decisions.

Views were fed in to the process towards re-launching the Equalities Action Group. Members also discussed the Bristol 20:20 Plan, the work of Neighbourhood Partnerships and had the opportunity to promote their own work.

Beyond Survival – BME Strategy Champion The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) selected Voscur to be part of their BME (Black Minority Ethnic) Strategy Champion programme. Working with NCVO and other agencies across the country, we have identified strategies for strengthening the position of BME groups in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector.

As a response to this, the second phase of the work in 2010 – 2011 will enable us to share this expertise and knowledge, and also provide oneto-one support for groups which support BME communities.

Representation With over 400 members working across every area of Bristol, Voscur members make a huge contribution to the city.

Voscur supports representatives to the Bristol Partnership (the Local Strategic Partnership) and its five themed partnership boards (Children & Young people, Health and Wellbeing, Prosperous and Ambitious, Safer Bristol and Thriving Neighbourhoods) to ensure that the views and concerns of the Voluntary Community sector (VCS) are part of strategic decision making in Bristol.

With the impact of the recession being felt across the city, reps have championed the importance of the VCS organisations that deliver

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Representation and Networking “Thanks to you and your VCS colleagues for your commitment, expertise and determination to help Bristol deliver high quality children and young people’s services” Annie Hudson, Strategic Director for Children, Young People and Skills, Bristol City Council.

services to those most in need. The expertise and knowledge that VCS reps contribute has been recognised and appreciated by other members on the Bristol Partnership.

Keeping the VCS informed To make sure that Voscur members can raise issues or concerns with the reps and find out what issues they are discussing, we produced over 20 reps’ video reports. By using social media channels such as You Tube, Twitter and Facebook in addition to the Voscur website and Thrive! magazine, we have kept the VCS informed and involved faster. In the past year reps video reports have been viewed nearly 1000 times.

Networking Being informed of the issues that affect you and your organisation and learning from other people’s experience are essential parts of creating a thriving Voluntary and Community Sector in Bristol. In 2009/10 Voscur has continued to support a number of specialist networks offering support to our members.

In addition to the established Children and Young People’s Network we have continued to work in partnership with others to develop new networks. The Community Buildings Network (CBN), run with Bristol City Council has provided a forum for those involved with running community venues in Bristol. The CBN has met in different venues around Bristol, highlighting some of the 100 plus venues that make up the CBN. The Network has helped to raise awareness of important policy issues affecting community buildings, such as the Council’s draft Asset Transfer Policy as well as highlighting available resources to support their work such as promotion and marketing advice from the ‘Visit Bristol’ tourism and conference office.

This year, in response to the needs of our members, Voscur has worked in partnership with Clinks – the organisation that supports offenders and their families, to pilot a Criminal Justice Network to improve coordination between organisations and agencies involved in this field.

Fifty people attended the first of a series of meetings and identified priorities for future work including developing a Criminal Justice section of the Voscur directory, more information about the commissioning of Criminal Justice services and further networking opportunities. Voscur is working with partners to respond to these priorities.

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Representation and Networking Quotes from Neighbourhood Partnership Residents Forum (NPRF) attendees:

“One of the most useful things was meeting with people from other neighbourhoods as all Neighbourhood Partnerships seem to be proceeding differently” “I felt I’ve learnt more than at other meetings I have attended”

Neighbourhood Partnerships Voscur’s work has helped to strengthen the Voluntary and Community sector’s contribution to Neighbourhood Partnerships, helping more people in Bristol to ‘influence decisions’ that affect them.

As the 14 Neighbourhood Partnerships have become more established and new decision making powers and budgets were devolved, we have helped provide information, advice and support to local residents and voluntary and community groups and those who would like to become more involved in the Neighbourhood Partnerships.

The Neighbourhood Partnership Residents’ Forum (NPRF) has facilitated information sharing and learning between the 14 Neighbourhood Partnerships. 149 residents have attended these meetings in 2009/10.

Over 90% of those surveyed who have attended a NPRF said that they found them to be beneficial (with over 60% finding them ‘very beneficial’). The monthly Neighbourhood Partnership e-bulletin has helped inform even more people about what Neighbourhood Partnerships are, what they are doing and how they can get involved.

There are now over 950 recipients of the NP e-bulletin.

The Bristol Compact After successful fundraising on behalf of the Bristol Compact Steering Group, Louise Clark was appointed in April 2009 to the brand new role of Compact Liaison Officer.

Working under the Bristol Compact Steering Group and based at Voscur, Louise’s role was to raise the profile of the broad range of local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations with commissioners, and identify an increased number of organisations from which to commission services.

Achievements during the year were: the provision of a series of wellattended training events to support Bristol’s VCSE sector’s engagement in commissioning processes; the establishment of relationships with commissioners in Bristol City Council, NHS Bristol and other public sector agencies, and developing Compact guidance documents to help commissioners and VCSE organisations.

Louise was also able to advocate on behalf of VCSE organisations when specific processes were not in line with Compact guidance.

Louise moved on to other things during the year and the post was covered by Ariaf Hussain, a secondment from Bristol City Council’s Community Development team. As the year ended the new Compact Liaison Officer, Mark Hubbard, took up the post.

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Children and Young People

Children and Young People’s Network

Sandra Meadows VCS rep on the Bristol Safeguarding Children Board and Workforce Strategy Group

Voscur Children and Young People’s Network has a membership of 268 Voluntary and Community Sector groups that work with children, young people and families. The Network members have been kept informed of national and local policy, legislation, events, training and funding through the monthly Children and Young People’s ebulletin.

Children and Young People’s Network meetings also keep organisations informed of key strategies and provide an opportunity for members to influence and input into strategies and action plans that improve outcomes for children and young people in Bristol.

Network meetings this year focused on teenage pregnancy, Children’s Centres, the re-specification of youth provision, 14-19 Strategy, Children’s Workforce Strategy and Children’s Trust Governance arrangements. The last two meetings have been held jointly with the Care Forum.

Over the last year, there has been a drive to increase influence and representation on Strategic Boards. This has resulted in the election of new Voluntary and Community Sector Representatives on the ten Locality Partnerships; these are joint representatives, who are supported by Voscur and the Care Forum. We have continued to support representatives on the other Strategic Boards such as the Children’s Trust Board, the workstreams and associated Partnership Boards.

Fran Harrison Children and Young People’s Trust Board and Bristol Youth Links Project Board

This year, Voscur ran free Children’s Workforce training as part of the Children’s Workforce Development Partners’ Programme funded by the Children’s Workforce Development Council. This included; Bristol e-Procurement System training and four Child Protection Level 1 training courses particularly for young people’s organisations. These proved to be very popular, with a total of 82 members attending.

The future plans for the Children and Young People’s Network will need to ensure that Voluntary and Community Sector organisations continue to receive the required support and influencing opportunities, so that outcomes for children, young people and families are achieved.

“Discussions very useful, great to have an opportunity to voice our opinions” Aimee Mukherjee, Voscur Children and Young People’s Network Meeting

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Safeguarding the Sector “We have reduced our IT related power usage to a fifth of its previous level using Green ICT solutions” Anthony Kennedy of CSV Environment

ICT support Voscur’s Green ICT1 project has been running since a survey in October 2009 allowed us to calculate the ICT carbon footprint2 of the Bristol Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise sector using a method developed by the Carbon Trust3 for Bristol City Council.

Our aim was to help to reduce the environmental impact of the Voluntary sector in this area, while saving groups money and improving efficiency. The project allowed us to set up ICT forums to answer questions and a Green ICT section for the website where we have promoted ideas and strategies for “greening” your ICT (500 unique page views since October 2009 and growing).

Voscur ran two surgeries for groups to find out about Green ICT resources and learn how to use the solutions database developed by Connecting Bristol, and offered one to one support sessions to follow up in this area. We have also developed a Green ICT pack downloadable from our website.

Our work with Volunteering Bristol has been effective in creating a “social network” for volunteer organisers in Bristol. If you work managing volunteers in Bristol you now have access to a growing network of 30 professional volunteer managers with a library of resources including: latest news, a diary of events and training, photos, videos and newsletters plus special interest groups for development and discussion of particular topics of interest.

We have continued to develop our website and database, and have over 10,000 contacts in the Voluntary, Statutory and wider areas that have an impact on our work. Our website deals with nearly 4000 requests a day – the content is constantly changing. We are also tweeting4 to over 100 followers and have a growing Facebook community too.

Jargon busting references: 1. ICT – Information and Communications Technology.

2. Carbon footprint – the total set of greenhouse gases emissions caused by an organisation, event or product 3. The Carbon Trust UK – specialist support to help cut carbon emissions: www.carbontrust.com 4. Tweeting – Twitter is a text based social networking and microblogging service.

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Information Services

Supporting Voluntary & Community Action

December 2009 & January 2010

Getting the correct information at the right time is essential for Voscur members. Voscur’s information service helps promote our work, and that of our members, and is a valuable source of information on current national and local government policy affecting the sector.

To help keep our members informed, our information is provided in many ways – face to face, over the phone, printed, online through our website and through social media channels such as Twitter, Facebook and You Tube.

Inside Voscur’s Magazine Bumper Recession Support Edition Protection for your Organisation Freebies and Resources New Advice Services Available 10 New Year Resolutions for a Thriving Third Sector Green Pages Cycling City

The Voscur newsletter, Thrive!, reflects our aim of supporting a thriving Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector in Bristol. The all colour magazine includes information on members’ activities, good practice, legal updates from Avon and Bristol Law Centre, and a regular Volunteering Bristol feature.

Changing Face of 14-19 Education

Image: Creative Kids International

Training and Learning

Thrive Dec09-Jan10 - vis1.indd 1

Thrive!

23/11/2009 11:15

E-bulletins

A huge thank you for all the articles in Thrive! magazine about carers in Carers’ Week – fantastic.

Much appreciated by all of us at The Carers’ Centre.

Grace Wiltshire, The Princess Royal Trust Carers Centre

Our weekly Voscur e-bulletin promotes voluntary and community sector events across the city and offers timely and relevant information on a weekly basis to over 945 subscribers.

We launched our Neighbourhood Partnerships e-bulletin in 2009, which now goes out to over 1140 subscribers. Our targeted Children and Young People’s monthly e-bulletin is a source of information to Bristol’s children and young people’s groups and reaches 313 subscribers.

Our information services were enhanced this year by the addition of the Voluntary Value e-bulletin, a partnership arrangement with South West Forum to promote and disseminate information about European Social Fund programmes.

Website The Voscur website continues to be well used and relevant, now attracting an average of 23,000 unique page visits per week. It is continually updated to include the most recent and relevant information to support and strengthen Bristol’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector. Voscur is aware of the positive impact of an accessible, effective and interactive website which is easily navigable. As well as news features and pages for each area of Voscur’s work there is a jobs page, a noticeboard and a diary where members can promote their activities.

Voscur’s Training and Learning opportunities are promoted through our website and those wishing to book places can do so via the website.

Visit: www.voscur.org

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Voscur Board, Reps and Staff Voscur Board Members 2009/10

Voscur Representatives in 2009/10

Joanna Holmes (Chair from June 2009) Barton Hill Settlement

Bristol Partnership Executive Board Wendy Stephenson – Voscur

Paul Hazelden (Vice Chair) Crisis Centre Ministries

Safer Bristol Partnership Board Alex Raikes – Support Against Racist Incidents

Tara Mistry (Vice Chair)

Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board Sally Gapper – North Bristol Advice Centre

Ian Steele (Treasurer) Max Beseke Citizen’s Advice Bureau Mobs Timi Biu Bristol Partnership Against Racial Harassment Robin Corser Langford Global Accessible Holiday Service Heather Malcolm (from October 2009) Bristol LGB Forum John Pendlington Children’s Scrapstore Red Cottam (Chair until June 2009) Clare Hall (until October 2009) Eco Adventure Sports Fran Harrison (until October 2009) Fairbridge West

Prosperous and Ambitious Partnership Board Elaine Flint – Social Enterprise Works Thriving Neighbourhoods Partnership Board Simon Bale – Churches Council for Industry and Social Responsibility Children and Young People’s Partnership Board Fran Harrison – Fairbridge West The Compact Steering Group Wendy Stephenson – Voscur Paul Madine – Volunteering Bristol

Workstream groups 14-19 Education and Skills Trevor Jones – Young Bristol Prevention and Early Intervention Dom Wood – 1625 Independent People Joanna Holmes – Barton Hill Settlement Raising Attainment John Pendlington – Children’s Scrapstore

Other Children and Young People’s Strategic Groups Bristol Safeguarding Children Board Sandra Meadows – Play and early Years Training Unit Early Childhood Services Strategic Partnership Amy Halls – Play and Early Years Training Unit Flexible Learning Group (14-19) Troy Transka – The Basement Studio Parent Services Advisory Board Hannah Wilcox – YWCA

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Voscur Board, Reps and Staff Youth Stakeholder Strategy Group / Bristol Youth Links Board Fran Harrison – Fairbridge West Jo Stallard – BREAD Youth Project

Locality Governance Boards

Voscur Staff Wendy Stephenson Chief Executive Ruth Pitter Equalities Manager

There are joint voluntary sector reps on the 10 Locality Governance Executive Boards. They meet once a term and oversee extended school partnership and multi-agency work for the Locality Partnerships.

Rebecca McDougall Resources Manager

Visit: www.voscur.org/networks/children/reps

Sophie Bayley Workforce Development Coordinator

Other Partnerships Bristol Green Capital Group Henry Lawes – Fairbridge West Bristol Older People’s Partnership Debbie Clark – Bristol Care and Repair Lindsay Hay – Bristol Care and Repair

Matthew Symonds Participation Manager

Sean Kenny ICT Development Worker Asma Ahmad Children and Young People’s Organisations Development Worker Eva Pollard Funding Advisor Hannah Parker Neighbourhood Learning Coordinator Compact Liaison Officers: Louise Clark (May – November 2009) Ariaf Hussain (interim secondment) (November – April 2009) Lucy Fletcher Administration Support – Events and Training Elizabeth Gorman Change Up Administrator Stephanie Guirten Administration Support (Participation and Ebulletins) Yassin Mohamud Clerical Assistant Denise Martin Administration Support (Membership and Finance) Emma Rice Administrator (Equalities/Children and Young People) Polly Stewart Administrator to the Chief Executive

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Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2010 Restricted (£)

Unrestricted (£)

Total 2010 (£)

Total 2009 (£)

Grants & commissions

165,198

264,850

430,048

515,589

Lead body grants

103,274

-

103,274

100,276

1,516

15,782

17,298

13,490

8,975

8,975

11,304

Newsletter/website income

11,534

11,534

12,980

Membership income

14,756

14,756

14,635

Reimbursement of costs

5,500

5,500

2,730

Miscellaneous

1,370

1,370

1,720

149

149

4,179

269,988

322,916

592,904

676,903

51,096

-

51,096

39,238

147,016

249,725

396,741

399,813

Volunteer & activity costs

51,728

35,134

86,862

42,232

Newsletter & directory costs

15,830

13,388

29,218

25,650

Office costs

24,063

52,760

76,823

72,372

Total resources expended

289,733

351,007

640,740

579,305

(Deficit)/surplus for the year before tax and transfers

(19,745)

(28,091)

(47,836)

97,598

-

-

-

-

2,288

(2,288)

-

-

(17,457)

(30,379)

(47,836)

97,598

Funds at the start of the year

52,194

206,082

258,276

160,678

Funds at the end of the year

34,737

175,703

210,440

258,276

Income

Fees receivable: Training programme Facilitiation Other income:

Interest receivable Total incoming resources Expenditure Grants payable to partners Staffing & management costs

Taxation Transfers Net movement in funds

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Copies of Voscur’s Report and Financial Statements to 31 March 2010 are available on request from the Voscur office.

Voscur would like to thank our funders for their support: Bristol City Council: Neighbourhoods; Community Development; Children and Young People’s Services; Safer Stronger Communities. Local Area Agreement – Pump Priming Grant, Community Learning Service, The BIG Lottery Basis Programme, Bristol PCT, Capacitybuilders, Children’s Workforce Development Fund, Department of Health Innovation Fund, South West Forum, Quartet Community Foundation, Take Part, Bristol Partnership – Recession Mitigation Fund.

18 www.voscur.org

Voscur’s bi-monthly magazine, Thrive! is sent out to all Voscur members, Bristol City Councillors, Bristol libraries, Sports and Community Centres and other organisations around the city.

Supporting Voluntary & Community Action

!

May and June 2009

Supporting Voluntary & Community Action

Inside Voscur’s Magazine

Inside Voscur’s Magazine

Nominate for the Voscur Awards

Project Respect: linking generations and cultures

Summer Festivals

Commissioning Support

Love Parks

Local Election Special

Funding Opportunities Sculpture developed to promote furniture re-use - see page 22

Gypsy and Traveller Focus Refugee Week Listening Partnership to overcome bullying Funding Opportunites Summer Training Volunteering News Image: Project Respect (page 22)

Recession Support And much more…

Supporting Voluntary & Community Action

Recession Support Golden Agers’ Tyntesfield Quilt Bristol Based Nationals Tackling Age Discrimination Constitutional Advice Training and Learning Third Sector Survey

Issue 6 July / August / September 2009

October & November 2009

Supporting Voluntary & Community Action

Inside Voscur’s Magazine

Hitting the Headlines – Voscur’s Annual Event

Bumper Recession Support Edition

Voscur Awards – last chance to nominate

Protection for your Organisation

Safeguarding the Sector

Freebies and Resources

Twenty’s Plenty

New Advice Services Available

Social Enterprise Day

10 New Year Resolutions for a Thriving Third Sector Green Pages

Funding Opportunities

Cycling City

Social Class – an equality strand?

Changing Face of 14-19 Education Training and Learning

Charity Law Updates

Image: Creative Kids International

Image: Circomedia – André Pattendon

Power to the People?

Training and Learning “For the last vacancies we had a huge response and the standard of applicants was very high. We would definitely use Voscur again.”

Circomedia recommend Voscur’s Website Jobs Page

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February & March 2010

April & May 2010

Inside Voscur’s Magazine

Inside Voscur’s Magazine

Women Who Make a Difference Awards 2010

A Millionaire comes to town Election Special – four candidates speak about their vision for the voluntary sector

Apprenticeships can help your Organisation

What makes a good leader?

Making Bristol accessible to all

Commissioning Concerns Neighbourhood Committees Demystified Building Better Partnerships in Criminal Justice Communities Act for Sustainibility Skilling Up your Staff Training and Learning

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The Wild Goose Cafe, beneficiary of the secret millionaire. Image: Matthew Symonds

Tender Support Available

Thrive Feb-Mar 2010 - vis1.indd 1

23/11/2009 11:15

Supporting Voluntary & Community Action

LGBT Month

Image: Women Who Make a Difference Award Winners 2009

The text on the magazine covers is too small to read here, but if you would like to read a back copy of the magazine, please visit: www.voscur.org/magazine or phone the Voscur office for a copy, telephone: 0117 909 9949

December 2009 & January 2010

Inside Voscur’s Magazine

Intelligent Commissioning

Supporting Voluntary & Community Action

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July/August/September 2009

Thrive April-May 2010 - vis1.indd 1

Bristol Children’s Trust and the role of the voluntary sector Befriending opportunities with Time2Share African Initiatives Update on Big Lottery funding Bristol e-procurement – are you signed up?

Lower your ICT power usage Training and learning opportunities

05/11/2010 11:59

Voscur Ltd. The CREATE Centre Smeaton Road Bristol  BS1 6XN

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

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