Richmond upon Thames

Council for Voluntary Service

Change Up for the 21 st Century

Latest actions by RCVS in relation to the ChangeUp agenda – September 07

Following the thorough internal review of progress against the 2005 ChangeUp Action Plan in December/January, a sector wide consultation was undertaken in April. 480 questionnaires were distributed from which a good response was received.

We asked a detailed list of questions about the organisation so that we can build a better picture of the voluntary and community sector activity in the Borough of Richmond. We wanted to identify support needs in the management of organisations, equal opportunities, training, IT etc. Next you told us how far you were satisfied with the premises and facilities you are using and the extent to which you are involved in partnerships and are ready for commissioning. And finally we asked you to rate our current services and suggested new ones.

The information gained was used as the start point for discussion at the Strategic Planning event in June attended by over 70 staff, trustees and volunteers.

A full report on this Consultation – Planning for the future – together – has been published in the Summer issue of the Bulletin on pages 8-11. Follow this link to read the bulletin on-line

Your views will now inform our Strategic and Business Plans for the coming years.

The I CT Centre is now well established and available for use by individuals for learning and by groups to support their administrative needs. The team, supported by highly skilled volunteers from HE courses, are constantly developing and refining innovative ways to assist in meeting the information needs of the sector.

Currently the centre is organising the distribution of 70 donated pcs to the sector. Read more about this and how you can apply on the rcvsict centre website. Systems are being set up with the Council to take advantage of its generous offer of free ICT training for local groups and volunteers to study for the European computer driving licence (ECDL). The publication of a print and an on-line directory of local VCOs is nearing its launch date.

The needs of the sector for infrastructure support through information, practical assistance, capacity building and representation are constantly evolving and it is RCVS’ aim to ensure that we encourage organisations to keep us informed of how best we can support them and that we are both innovative and responsive in fulfilling our role.

Consortium Development Fund Self-Assessment

In order to continue to receive Capacitybuilders Funding (see below) Richmond ChangeUp Steering Group is required to undertake a Self-Assessment exercise, and also to form itself into a consortium. The Government wishes to measure the success and ‘value for money' of ChangeUp project funding. The ChangeUp Steering Group was set up in 2005 at the time of the initial ChangeUp action plan and consists of representatives from LBRuT, PCT, and Voluntary & Community sector organisations, including KSOs.

Preparation for Self-Assessment has already started with a first meeting to carry out a PEGS analysis. That is to identify the political, economic, geographic and social issues locally regionally and nationally that either currently or in the future, have an influence on the work of the voluntary sector.

The final stage is the facilitated self-assessment meeting on 8 th October. Detailed information has been sent to the members of the Steering Group who will make the final collective decision on the progress made in the six modules : Stakeholder Engagement, communication, the consortium team, skills and knowledge, mainstreaming equalities and performance management.

Forming a consortium will be considered after Self-Assessment as it is sensible to await the outcome of the current review of the number of consortia in London. It may be that larger units (such as the sub-regional South London CVS Partnership) will prevail and Richmond will be funded through them.

Capacity Builders manages the ChangeUp programme to improve infrastructure support

Capacitybuilders is a non-departmental public body set up in April 2006 to take over management of the ChangeUp programme and to work with other funders to develop strategies and influence policy on building the capacity of the third sector. It exists to help create a more effective third sector and it does this by working to improve support for third sector organisations.

Capacitybuilders ”works in partnership with Government and other infrastructure bodies to help voluntary and community organisations work more effectively together”.

Capacitybuilders Vision

Our overall aim is to help create a more effective third sector.

We want every third sector organisation to be able to access high quality support that meets their needs when they need it

By improving support we will strengthen the sector increasing its ability to create a better quality of life for individuals and communities.”

The established Hubs – Finance, Governance, ICT, Performance, Volunteering, Workforce – are being reviewed and more may be added. They also promote the SkiLD Training Programme.

See www.Capacitybuilders.org.uk for more information. ChangeUp website will be closed in August 07.

Background to ChangeUp

The Home office launched ChangeUp in 03/4 with the aim of strengthening the third sector by 2014. This was to be achieved by radically improving the support available to third sector organisations. The government committed in principle to a 10 year investment programme, with significant new expenditure now agreed to 2011.

The aim of ChangeUp is that by 2014 the needs of frontline voluntary and community organisations will be met by support that:

• Is available nationwide;
• is structured for maximum efficiency;
• offers excellent provision;
• is accessible to all;
• reflects and promotes diversity;
• and is sustainably funded.

The Futurebuilders Fund provides vital investment to frontline voluntary and community organisations to help develop the services they provide to the public organisations so building their capacity to increase the scale and scope of their public service delivery.

The first stage proposed to invest in a minimum of 225 exemplar schemes that would demonstrate the distinctive approach and added value that the sector can contribute to improving public services. The Government's aims for Futurebuilders programme are to:

• overcome obstacles to efficient service delivery
• modernise the VCS for the long term
• increase both the scope and scale of VCS service delivery.

In May 07 the Cabinet office published a discussion paper related to the second phase of the Futurebuilders Fund – to distribute £65m of funding to third sector organistions over three years, from April 08 to March 2011. In this new phase the government wishes to “ensure it continues to enhance the third sector's ability to transform people's lives.” Campbell Robb, Director General of the Office of the Third Sector, has said: “Futurebuilders is now established as an important and innovative source of finance for third sector organisations who wish to deliver public services”.

For more information go to : http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_releases/070525futurebuilders.asp

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