Thrivejuly2009

Supporting Voluntary & Community Action
!
July/August/September 2009

Inside
Voscur’s
Magazine
Nominate for the Voscur
Awards

Summer Festivals

Love Parks

Funding Opportunities

Recession Support
Sculpture developed to promote furniture re-use - see page 22

Golden Agers’ Tyntesfield Quilt

Bristol Based Nationals

Tackling Age Discrimination

Constitutional Advice

Training and Learning

Third Sector Survey

Issue 6 July / August / September 2009

Shape a life.
Be a foster carer
TACT is a well respected fostering and adoption agency. TACT will o er you excellent training with 24 hour
support and respite care when you need it.
TACT pay between £322 & £574 per week per child as well as additional allowances for birthdays, festivals
and holidays.
Although fostering can be challenging, it can also be very rewarding. If you believe you have the capacity and
commitment to support, vulnerable children and young people between 10 -16 years old, then we’d love to
hear from you.
To make a di erence call:
0117 927 7725.
Email: e.graham@tactcare.org.uk
www.tactcare.org.uk

Charity Number: 1018963 July / August / September 2009 Issue 6

Welcome

Contents
4 Editorial 24 - 25 Summer Festivals
5 Voscur Annual Event 26 - 27 Children and Young People
6 Voscur News - St Werburghs City Farm - Summer Camp

Campaign Award Sexual Health Services for Young People

7 New Voscur Members 28 - 29 How To - Funding
Tax Effective Giving
8 - 10 Sector News
Office of the Third Sector Survey 30 - 31 How To - Green Pages
Keep Infrastructure Local Love Parks

Free Support for Merger and Is Bristol Prepared for Sustainable
Collaboration Growth? - Bristol Development Framework
11 Recession Support 32 Volunteering Bristol
12 - 14 Equalities - Older People Good Practice Promotes Higher
Tackling Age Discrimination Standards
2009 Celebrating Age Festival 33 The Compact
A New Treasure at the National Trust Compact Liaison Officer
15 Equalities What is the Compact?

Femocracy 35 Constitution Corner
16 - 19 Voscur Training & Learning Operating for the public benefit?

Training - why bother? 36 Diary
Voscur Learning
20 How To - ICT
Reduce your ICT carbon footprint
21 Voscur Shadowing programme
22 - 23 Bristol Based Nationals
Furniture Re-use Network

Why not advertise? Thrive! is available on disc. Please contact
Special discounts for Voscur members. the office if you would like to
Deadlines for October 2009 edition of Thrive!:
receive your Thrive! this way. The
Tuesday 1 September for ads and Monday 21 September
for flyers. Details of prices at www.voscur.org/magazine newsletter is also available online as a pdf
or phone Polly Stewart, sub-editor, on 0117 909 9949 at www.voscur.org/magazine

Disclaimer: some of the views expressed in this publication are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily represent
those of Voscur. Publications, events and services mentioned in Thrive! are not necessarily endorsed by Voscur.

www.voscur.org 3

Editorial

New Council pledges support
for our sector
Question: Who said
Support from
“ The voluntary,
Recession
community and social
enterprise sector has an Mitigation Fund
Details of the support available
important part to play in
from the Capacitybuilders Real
understanding local need, Help For Communities fund can
and is often best placed be found on page 10 of Thrive!
to deliver activities, Voscur was concerned that this
services and support that support is only available to groups
best meets the needs with an income of over £150,000

of some of the most per annum. There are many
groups in the city who don’t Wendy Stephenson
vulnerable groups in
reach that threshold, but are also
our city”? wide has the potential to benefit
vulnerable at this time.
the most vulnerable groups and

Answer: Voscur, in partnership with City
people working in the sector in
Bristol. We will keep you informed
Councillor Barbara Janke, Leader of of Bristol College, applied to
of the support on offer through
the Council, in the last issue of Thrive!

the Bristol Partnership recession our e-bulletin, website and this
mitigation fund to help us offer magazine.
Councillor Janke also told us that
support for our members who
the Liberal Democrats want to bring Wendy Stephenson,
don’t meet the Capacitybuilders
decision-making closer to the people Chief Executive, Voscur
criteria, but are nevertheless
through: building on Neighbourhood
vulnerable to the effects of the
Partnerships; working to find ways key TO SymBOLS
recession. We will be offering
to transfer assets to the third
sector, and are committed to help with issues of redundancy,
Equalities Article
strengthening positive working collaboration and merger, skills

relationships through the Compact. development and training.

The local election has resulted in a It was a difficult decision as to
? Training

Liberal Democrat majority running whether to apply to this fund as
the council. We very much look Voscur member groups, did, of Resources
forward to helping the Council put course, also apply to this fund.
its commitment into practice in the On balance we thought that the Event
coming months. support that we could offer city-

4 www.voscur.org July / August / September 2009 Issue 6

Voscur Annual
Conference and AGM
Hitting the Headlines – Promoting the Value of your Work

Wednesday 21 October 2009
9.30am – 2.30pm
St Paul’s Community Sports Academy

Keynote Speaker: Debra Allcock-Tyler, Chief The Voscur Awards:
Make your nominations in the following
Executive, Directory of Social Change
categories
1.The Most Active Community Activist
2.The Community Venue of the Year
Media panel and workshops to help you
3.The Most Innovative/ Engaging Project
promote your organisation
4.The ‘I Will Survive’ Award
Stalls to showcase your organisation
5.The ‘Thanks for Supporting the Sector Award’

Last year’s ‘Thanks for Fran Harrison, Manager of many in the voluntary sector,
Supporting the Sector’ award Fairbridge West said… our premises need a lot of
winner John Bos said… “We work with some of the most improvement. John gave advice
“My prize was an invitation to challenged young people to about where we could get free
lunch at Fairbridge West. The motivate and build confidence help in doing just that. This led to
young people showed me around to move on to positive things in us receiving ProHelp support and
the premises and explained the life. Our prize was an invitation help from architects to improve
many activities and projects, to lunch cooked by our young the building.”
which Fairbridge delivers: I began people at one of our ‘Come Dine
to understand something of With Me’ sessions. Further details on the Voscur
the fantastic work that’s being website: www.voscur.org
done with some of Bristol’s most “John showed why he had Email: polly@voscur.org
disadvantaged teenagers.” received the Voscur; typical of Tel: 0117 909 9949


Campaign Award

Campaigners recognised for
influencing decision makers
Voscur is delighted to matthew Symonds, Development Disability equality Forum (DeF)
announce the winner of the manager of Voscur said: - campaign for self-determination.
2009 award is Bristol theatre The campaign set out to stop the
company Show of Strength, “ Campaign groups, like Council handing over the DEF
who organised a campaign for Show of Strength, to another disabled people-led

survival after they were told demonstrate that local organisation without consultation
people really can make and to ensure that the Forum
their funding was about to be
members could explore options
withdrawn. The award was changes and influence
and decide their own future.
decided by an online vote, decision makers.
which attracted over 500 votes. Volunteers and community
Save Grove Woods – campaign to
groups across Bristol give preserve local woodland.
Sheila Hannon from Show of a huge amount of time The campaign set out for Grove
Strength said:
and effort to improving Woods, Blackberry Hill, Stapleton to
the city and to making be compulsorily purchased from its
“ Show of Strength
sure that the views of existing owner and be a designated
Theatre Company is wildlife reserve.
local people are heard.”
thrilled to win this
award as we’ve been Feet for Purpose
campaigning against a Runners up were: Involved Bristol Older Peoples’
funding cut for nearly Peoples Republic of Stokes Croft Forum, Age Concern Bristol and
a year. Our first appeal Campaign for community Bristol City Council Linkage in
regeneration of Stokes Croft as a working together with NHS Bristol.
to the city council
cultural quarter. The campaign has Their work was to review current
was rejected but we
successfully raised the profile of services and recommend changes
continued fighting and Stokes Croft and got people talking to improve basic foot care for older
a second appeal is still positively about the area. They people living in Bristol.
being heard. Thanks to have improved the appearance
all the people who’ve of the area with urban art; Read more about all the
been supporting us since successfully lobbied for the refusal campaigns at http://
last July, and who voted of a number of unsuitable planning www.voscur.org/brispart
applications and started discussions nership#voscurcampaigns
for us to win the award ”
with the city council on the future
of the area.


New Voscur members

Who’s joined Voscur recently?

Life Cycle UK Briefings (16 so far), organise the themselves in difficult situations.
Enables people to take up cycling to Schumacher Award and Promote Whatever the reason for their
improve their health, communities, Human Scale Sustainable Development. situation, they help them out.
environment and overall quality of To find out more visit: Catch22 works with their families
life. Life Cycle UK aims to inspire www.schumacher.org.uk and their communities wherever
people and to equip them with and whenever young people need
the skills, the knowledge and the BARS (Bristol them most; in schools, on the
confidence to make cycling part streets, in the home, at community
of their everyday lives. They run
Alcoholism Recovery centres, shopping centres, in police
practical activities such as cycle Service) stations, and in custody.
training, awareness-raising events, Serenity House delivers the To find out more visit:
help with bike maintenance, cycle Recovery Dynamics programme, a www.catch22.org.uk
maps and organise conferences and non-medical 12-Step treatment for
seminars. alcoholism and other addictions. Charity Search
To find out more visit: They are an addiction treatment Charity Search delivers a free advice
www.lifecycleuk.org.uk resource for the City recognised by service which helps older people in
NHS Bristol; and part of the alcohol financial need receive the support
strategy team.
Creative Kids To find out more visit:
that may be available to them
from charitable sources. They aim
International www.serenityhouse.org.uk to help them independently with
A Bristol based organisation that
dignity and peace of mind.
works with children and young
people in Bristol, the South West
Catch22 To find out more visit:
Catch22 is a national charity that www.charitysearch.org.uk
of the UK and in Zambia (Africa)
works with young people who find
through hands-on visual art activities.
To find out more visit:
www.myspace.com/
creativekidsinteranational

The Schumacher
Society
Promotes sustainable systems for
social, economic and environmental
development. They organise
an annual Bristol Schumacher
Conference, publish Schumacher Life Cycle UK

Issue 6 July / August / September 2009 www.voscur.org 7

Sector News
Office of the Third Sector Survey –
what does it tell us?
Bristol Third Sector organisations give their judgement on support from local statutory bodies
The Local Area Agreement (LAA) third sector organisations think What next?
describes the way the Bristol that statutory bodies have on their How can Bristol improve its NI7
Partnership members will work success. performance?
together to improve the quality Here are some ideas:
of life for people in Bristol. One The most important factors are • Develop a third sector strategy,
of the targets in Bristol’s LAA is the degree to which third sector which is supported by the Bristol
National Indicator 7 (NI7) ‘an organisations can influence Partnership
environment for a thriving third local decisions that affect them • Consult the sector and the
sector’. (in Bristol 13% are very or fairly Bristol Partnership on its NI7
satisfied), and the degree to which action plan
To find out whether partners are local third sector organisations • Raise awareness of the Compact
providing an environment for a have dealings with statutory bodies • Ensure that local community
thriving third sector, in 2008 the (in Bristol 32%). groups can influence
Office of the Third Sector national Neighbourhood Partnerships
survey asked the following question:
Only 18% of respondents to the and that communities are
“Taking everything into account, Bristol survey received funding in involved in shaping services
overall how do the statutory the form of a grant from the local through involvement in
bodies in your area influence your council, 3% from the local NHS commissioning processes
organisation’s success?” body, 1% from the police or fire • Share its asset transfer strategy
authority. 65% received funding • Improve its consultation
The full results of the survey are from none of these sources. processes so that groups know
now available. Looking at the how their responses to these
results for Bristol, you might 41% of the respondents to the will shape and improve services
assume that Bristol groups don’t Bristol survey said that the main • Invest in the sector for the long-
areas where they carry out their
think that local public sector term – let’s have some stability.
activities are either internationally,
partners influence their success, Visit www.voscur.org/node/5223
nationally and regionally – so
but unpicking the results, a
the main focus of their work is
different picture emerges. Jargon buster
not in Bristol.
Statutory sector: Public bodies,

What do Bristol Not surprising then that Bristol’s
funded by government with legal
responsibilities.
groups think? NI7 score is low, when relationships
with local statutory bodies are Third Sector: The Government’s
The headlines tell us that 14.7% of
not a priority for many of the term for voluntary, community and
respondents to the Bristol survey
respondents. However, for Bristol social enterprise organisations.
think that the statutory bodies in
to be judged to provide an
their area have a positive influence National Indicator 7: Environment
environment for a thriving third
on their organisation’s success. for a Thriving Third Sector – target
sector, we need to increase our
The survey also identifies which within the Local Area Agreement.
score by 4.4 percentage points to
other factors have the most impact reach a score of 19.1% when the
on the degree of influence that survey is repeated in 2010.

Sector News

Be vocal - Keep infrastructure local
Important survey will determine future support – make sure your views are heard.

Bristol City Council has launched retained to support and represent instead ensure that the support
its infrastructure support survey, the sector at a local level. that Bristol groups get is high
the findings of which will play a quality and responsive to local
large role in determining what There is a long history of need.
support will be available for local community activism in Bristol -
organisations and groups. Please Voscur was started by community We encourage you to complete
complete the survey - your views activists, and has grown in response the questionnaire and if you
are vital to ensure you don’t lose to members’ needs. We are think that there is a need for a
services you need and value. governed by a board that is elected local infrastructure organisation,
from and by our membership and please say so.
The Council is changing the way that we have structures in place so that
it funds organisations like Voscur our members can represent the
(local infrastructure organisations) sector at strategic bodies in Bristol.
and will be commissioning Find a link to this
infrastructure services such as those Unfortunately, in some parts of the questionnaire and
offered by Voscur, from next year. country commissioning has been information about
used to reduce services to local consultation meetings at
To help them to do this, the groups, and national organisations www.voscur.org/node/5263,
Council has produced a have won contracts to represent contact Keith Houghton on (0117)
questionnaire that is designed to and support local groups. Some 922 4746 or email k.houghton@
find out from front-line local authorities have chosen not bristol.gov.uk to get hold of a hard
organisations (our members) what to support local organisations that copy. If you would like to talk to
kind of support services you need. seek to represent the sector from a Voscur about the survey, please
position of local knowledge. contact Wendy Stephenson on 0117
We think it’s important that local We hope that Bristol City Council 909 9949 or wendy@voscur.org
infrastructure organisations are won’t take that route, but will


Sector News

Free support for merger
and collaboration
Capacitybuilders Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund

Does your organisation Phase Two – Grow Together:
benefit people affected by the From October 2009, grants of up
recession? Could you work more to £10,000 will be available to help
closely with other organisations organisations buy the professional
to increase your impact, and specialist support and advice
extend your reach, generate they need to make collaboration
more income and reduce your or merger happen, such as audit/
overhead costs? Capacitybuilders accountancy fees to carry out due
is offering bursaries to help diligence work or legal fees.
viable third sector organisations
be more resilient to the impact To be eligible, organisations
of the economic downturn. must have turnover in the range
To assess your eligibility and
of £150,000 to £750,000 and
apply for this fund visit
Phase One – Know your needs: be delivering recession related
www.modernisationfund.org.uk
Frontline organisations will be able services.
to apply for bursaries of £1,000
As a separate part of the this
during June and July 2009. Closing Organisations must be wholly or
fund, Futurebuilders are offering
date for applications is 17 July primarily engaged in one or more
loans of £30,000 and above to
2009. Bursaries will pay for two of the following areas:
organisations with existing plans for
days of professional support to • Theme 1 – Wellbeing and health
collaboration and merger or who
help organisations increase their • Theme 2 – Advice, information
wish to take forward other activity
impact and become more resilient, and guidance
to help prepare their business for
including through working more • Theme 3 – Loss of income,
difficult times. (For information,
closely with others. training and skills
follow the link above).


Recession Support - Triodos

Recession Support
economically challenging times Triodos Bank, enables successful
can be the prompt we all need to applicants to visit another organisation
reassess our finances, look at where already undertaking similar activity
we can reduce costs and also to share learning from their
consider new ways of generating experiences. One of the scheme’s
income. Leaner times can help us earliest recipients was Swindon
to find new perspectives on what Children’s Scrapstore, who visited
we’re doing and why we’re doing it. Bristol Scrapstore to explore the
This can open up new possibilities, option of setting up an online shop.
particularly for charities and social
enterprises as they revisit how A new venture will probably
their activities really contribute to require new funding. With greater Shared learning: Bristol Children’s
Scrapstore hosts an Only Connect visit
their core mission. competition for grants, less spare
cash in people’s pockets and bank will want to see that you
By thinking strategically, banks less willing to lend, securing have thought your plans through
reassessing income, expenditure, this might present challenges of carefully, properly assessing the risks
activities and resources, you may its own. Social lenders however, involved. Balancing Risk, created
find that precious time, energy still have money to lend and are by Triodos and Sayer Vincent is a
and money are being expended actively supporting charities and tool designed to help you do just
on activities that don’t really meet social enterprises. this. And remember to talk to your
the needs your organisation exists bank. Social lenders in particular will
to address. At the same time, you Triodos Bank recently provided a probably have seen similar projects
may identify opportunities to both loan to Broadway Lodge in Weston before and will be able to give you
generate additional income and Super Mare to help them expand useful feedback about your plans.
better realise your mission. their range of services, enabling
them to better meet the needs of Louise Davey
Embarking on new activities can their clients through a financially Relationship Development Manager
be a daunting process, so planning sustainable venture. The charity louise.davey@triodos.co.uk
and risk assessment are vital. has been successfully providing Tel: 0117 980 9788
Thankfully plenty of resources are addiction treatment, counselling
available to help you. and support since 1974 but saw Resources
the opportunity to further support www.triodos.co.uk/
NCVO’s Sustainable Funding clients by offering housing at balancingrisk to download
Project, for instance, offers a the third stage of recovery as a risk assessment tool developed by
wealth of information on how they progress from residential Triodos Bank and Sayer Vincent
to make your organisation more programmes into independent
financially sustainable. If you are living and employment or training. www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/sfp/
considering a new venture, their for resources offered by the
Only Connect Scheme, funded by Before agreeing loan finance, the Sustainable Funding Project


Equalitites - Older People

Tackling Age Discrimination

I am sure that you, like I, believe that age discrimination and unfair
treatment based on age have no place in a fair society.

I was pleased to be asked by the Secretary of State to undertake a
national review with Sir Ian Carruthers, Chief Executive of NHS South
West, on what practically needs to be done to implement the Equality
Bill. Sir Ian and I will be specifically focusing on the critical issue of age
discrimination in health and adult social care.

Research shows us that there is age discrimination in some health
and adult social care services. What is important in this review is that
we get a comprehensive picture from across the country and gather
opinion about what needs to be done to deliver the changes required
by the new legislation.

I am currently working closely with the Department of Health and
Jan Ormondroyd listening to the views from a wide range of related agencies and
organisations. In October this year we will be publicly announcing the
Voscur asked Jan Ormondroyd,
recommendations of this important review and I would like to update
Chief executive of Bristol City
you then with the key findings and recommendations.
Council to tell us about her
role in tackling age
I am looking forward to the challenge, but most importantly I am
discrimination in adult health
focussed on bringing about real improvements and working to
and social care. Here’s
eliminate age discrimination.
what she told us:

See Single Equality Bill
insert in this issue of
Thrive!



2009 Celebrating Age Festival
Grants Available to organisations that would like to the finale. Full details of the terms
take part in the festival. and conditions and how to apply
help you take part are available from James George,
monday 28 September to
This is an opportunity for your email: james.george@
Saturday 3 October
group to promote its activities for bristol.gov.uk, tel: 0117 352 5068.
older people under the umbrella of
Now in its third year, Bristol’s annual
‘celebrating age’. This can be to The festival is organised
event to celebrate the massive
raise awareness of an existing by Bristol’s Older People’s
contribution older people make to
group or activity or a special one Forum in partnership
the city and their local communities
off event for older people in your with the city council,
will take place from Monday 28
community. The only criteria Voscur, The Care Forum,
September to Saturday 3 October
for local involvement is that the Black Development Agency (BDA)
2009 with a finale at The Council
proposed event is fun and open to and the Primary Care Trust (PCT).
House on Saturday 3 October.
all older people. Anyone interested in getting
involved or who would like more
In order to widen the event to
Small grants are available to groups information should contact
include local community and group
and organisations that want to take Sarah Salter, 0117 903 7899,
activities, applications are being
part in the festival by putting on sarah.salter@bristol.gov.uk
invited from local groups and
an event in the week leading up to



A New Treasure at Tyntesfield House
Gloria Morris, a member of the Golden Agers’ group, describes how
the group reacted to this commission from the National Trust.

It has been a wonderful achievement and quite exciting
to have been commissioned by the National Trust at
Tyntesfield House to do this hanging for the Old Mill
building.

The Golden Agers worked on it with excitement and put
their all into it. The Golden Agers were also excited to have
been invited to the ceremony to see it being hung and
to share the experience with all the other people who
attended the launch ceremony, including meeting the
dignitaries from Tyntesfield House.

Our tutor who has been working with us now for quite a
few years, was very helpful and stood by us whilst we were
creating the quilt and helped with the research. We, the
Golden Agers enjoyed the sessions we ran to create the
quilt. We are continuing to design and make further quilts
and will have something to display for the Celebrating Age
Festival in October.

We are grateful for Voscur’s help as it was Voscur who first
suggested Tyntesfield House contact us for this project. The
group have now been quilting for about 10 or 11 years and
look forward to many more years!

Gloria Morris, Golden Agers.

Detail of the Golden Agers’ Quilt


Equalitites - Femocracy

Your vote is your voice!

This is the message that the
Fawcett Society is sending to
to women from minority ethnic
groups up and down the country.

The European and local
government elections are now
over but sadly many women from
minority ethnic groups missed their The Femocracy campaign is launched

chance to get their voice heard.
political exclusion, Femocracy Voice and encourage them to
has published Your Voice, a free register to vote.
Women from minority ethnic guide to democracy for women
groups are one of the most from minority ethnic groups, with If you work with women who
excluded groups from formal useful information on how to want a louder political voice,
political decision making processes access political power. It has been then help them to get heard
and are not accessing the tools developed to build understanding with your Voice. To download
of political power. They are less of how democracy is organised, or request a limited number of
likely to be registered to vote and how politics impacts on their lives free copies of the guide, visit
also tend to be less engaged with and how they can take part and www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/
mainstream politics than white influence decision-making through
femocracy.
women and men from minority exercising their right to vote.
ethnic groups, explained Joella
Hazel, who works for the Fawcett A General Election may be
called at any time. To help make Fawcett Society is
Society and leads on a project on
sure women from minority the UK campaign for
minority ethnic women’s political
ethnic groups do not lose their women’s rights. For more
empowerment, called Femocracy.
opportunity to decide who runs information on Fawcett
the country, Femocracy is working please visit:
Femocracy helps women from
minority ethnic groups engage with grassroots groups that directly www.fawcettsociety.org.uk or the
service women from minority Bristol Fawcett website at:
in politics and use their political
ethnic groups to promote Your www.bristolfawcett.org.uk
voice. To help address their


Voscur Training and Learning

Training – why bother?
In difficult times, with increasing cuts in budgets, we know that the first
thing to go is staff training, so why bother training at all?

So how can you make your organisation a learning
“ Personally I’m always ready to learn, organisation?
although I do not always like being Firstly, you can look at the skills that you have and
taught.” Winston Churchill consider the skills you need. Secondly, you provide
training and learning for staff, analyse how effective
that has been and finally start the process again!
‘Don’t cut your training budget’ was one
recommendation for surviving the recession • How are training needs identified in your
given by Ben Kernighan from National Council for organisation?
Voluntary Organisations. The National Association • How do you know what skills gaps your
for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) organisation has?
agrees with this and highlights that it is more • Do you audit the skills of your staff, volunteers
important than ever that organisations invest in and board?
their staff.
One way of finding out the skills you need is by
In times of economic downturn, your staff may be looking at your organisation’s work for the coming
your most valuable asset and training them should be year. Identify what roles are changing, what new work
seen as a long-term investment. you will be doing and identify learning to go with that.
You can find out the skills staff and volunteers need
There are many benefits to training, for example: through:
• Increased staff and volunteer morale and • Annual appraisals
confidence leading to better working • Supervision
• Increased staff and volunteer motivation • A skills audit
• Reduced turnover of staff and volunteers and
improved loyalty There are many ways to find out, but never assume
• Staff and volunteers able to be more effective in people’s skills – ask them.
their roles
Organisations that offer well-planned training will If you think about what training you are going to need
become more effective and on their way to becoming annually, then you are more likely to have the skills
‘learning organisations’. within the team to support the work.

Learning organisations Often training needs are identified but are
“ A Learning Organisation is one in which
not acted upon. This is generally because
people at all levels, individuals and some organisations do not see training as part
collectively, are continually increasing of the organisational development process. If you
their capacity to produce results they start a process with staff then you need to
really care about “ . Richard Karach follow it through.

July / August / September 2009 Issue 6
16 www.voscur.org

Voscur Training & Learning
How can you meet the need with
little money?
There are many ways to deliver
learning and training is only one.
Some options are:

• Attend Voscur Network meetings
• Shadow other people in your
organisation
• Use mentoring and coaching
• Attend free or low cost Voscur
courses (bursaries are available)
• Read publications, magazines
and books that can help you in
your role
Look at Voscur The Voscur diary is regularly

?
• Share skills within your
courses here: updated with events and
organisation
www.voscur.org/training network meetings.
• Use web based toolkits and
www.voscur.org/event
resources
Download Voscur Skills
Audit: www.voscur.org/training/
Why do people attend Voscur
learning#audits
training?
Voscur Networks:
Many people come onto Voscur
Ladder4learning supports and Community Buildings:
training with specific needs for their
facilitates development and www.voscur.org/net-
organisations, so we run training
learning for people and works/area_networks
that is up to date and responds to
trends within the sector. Voscur is organisations in the community
and voluntary sectors and social Finance Forum: www.voscur.
focused on the long-term
enterprises org/networks/FWTforum
sustainability of the sector and
our courses reflect that. www.ladder4learning.org.uk/
Children and young People:
www.voscur.org/networks/
Many people who come on to Leading on Learning - a hands
children
Voscur training comment on on guide for line managers:
feeling less isolated through Campaign for Learning: www.
Voscur Assemblies: www.voscur.
knowing that other people from campaign-for-learning.org.uk/cfl/
org/networks/assemblies
the sector need support too, it’s a assets/documents/Informatio-
great chance to network! nandfacts/Line%20Managers%20
Sources: NAVCA circulation booklet.pdf
June/July 2009



Welcome to Voscur Learning
Voscur’s open courses are developed with our members in mind, but we recognise the need for
courses specially tailored to your organisation. Voscur can run in-house courses on many topics,
so if you are thinking about learning, get in contact with Sophie Bayley on 0117 909 9949 or
email: sophieb@voscur.org and find out what we can do for you.

We haven’t finalised all our courses yet for the autumn, but they will be out at the end of July so
keep an eye on our website, ebulletin and mailings from Voscur.

Speaking with Confidence

New Course
Tuesday 14 July (9.30am - 3.30pm)
at The Greenway Centre, Doncaster
Road, Southmead, Bristol, BS10 5PY
This session is aimed at people who need
more confidence, skills and practice of
speaking in public. This practical
session will cover: exploring some of your
fears and barriers to public speaking, how
to put together presentations and some
of the skills needed to speak in public.
You will be asked to deliver a mini
presentation on the day.

Collaboration and Merger
New Course

Wednesday 15 July (9.30am -
3.30pm) at
Windmill Hill City Farm, Philip
Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4EA
This workshop, facilitated by NCVO’s
collaborative working project, will look
at collaboration and merger and how it
can work for you. Among other things
it will cover the benefits, obstacles and
challenges for collaboration and the legal
implications of collaboration and merger.
“ It was a great session - trainers were excellent,
friendly and open. Venue was good ”



Changing Employment Contracts
Free Course

Legally
Monday 20 July (6pm - 8pm) at Beachcroft,
Portwall Place, Portwall Lane, Bristol BS1 6NG
This free session will help you get to grips with
changing contracts of employment. Run by an
Employment Law solicitor from Beachcroft, it will
cover what a contract is, language used, how to
change them and the risks associated. You will have
time to get your questions answered.

How to develop an Equalities and Getting Ready for Enterprise
New Course
New Course

Diversity Policy Thursday 24 September (9am - 4.30pm) at
Tuesday 21 July (9.30am - 3.30pm) at Windmill Hill City Farm, Windmill Hill, Bristol,
Wellspring Healthy Living Centre, Beam BS3 4EA
Street, Barton Hill, Bristol, BS5 9QY Now, more than ever, it is important that
This session will help you to look at Equalities and organisations look at different ways to generate
Diversity policies, what you need to have in them, income. This workshop, facilitated by NCVO’s
how to develop one and how to make sure that it Sustainable Funding Project will enable you to
is a live document in your organisation. It will cover respond to the recession by helping you to: explore
issues such as legislation, the new Single Equality ideas for social enterprise products or services;
Bill and monitoring and evaluation. understand the skills and resources needed to put
a trading idea into practice and get constructive
feedback and advice on your trading idea.

Full details of autumn courses – coming
“ Good delivery, relevant, good use of
soon www.voscur.org To book and for
presentation and exercises. Helpful
more details go to www.voscur.org/
networking ” training or contact Anna Polanek at Voscur on
0117 909 9949, email anna@voscur.org


How To - ICT

Reduce Your ICT Carbon Footprint

With global warming still from an extensive database that ICT use. We will look at your current
heading the international is being produced for Connecting IT infrastructure and plans and
agenda, and the Transition Town Bristol. advise on changes that might
movement gaining pace steadily be needed to reduce power
locally and nationally, it can Voscur has been chosen to lead consumption and prolong use of
seem a little at odds with the in this area because of our track existing equipment, plus WEEE
growing carbon emission levels record over the last two years, (Waste Electrical and Electronic
of ICT use across the planet. hosting the Social Source South Equipment) www.environment-
West conference promoting free agency.gov.uk/business/topics/
In fact at times it seems to run software and the Give One In Get waste/32084.aspx
at cross-purposes to the digital One Back! project to promote awareness and your legal
inclusion efforts of government responsible recycling and use of responsibilities in this area. We
initiatives and voluntary groups’ refurbished machines within hope to save you money, improve
aim to ‘upskill’ excluded individuals the sector. your efficiency and save the planet
and communities. Of course all at the same time!
ICT does not have the “dirty Free software is optimised to run
industry” profile of road haulage efficiently on older hardware, so
or the airlines, but it is a massive machines that currently seem
consumer of power and the unusable can be given a new
production line is one of the most lease of life, work like new again
poisonous on the planet. By some and keep going for a few more
estimates it is set to overtake the years. There has been a growth in
Aviation industry as a polluter companies and social enterprises
by 2010! offering support in this area, and
nationally and locally the free
Connecting Bristol is leading on software movement ethos lines up
developing a series of strategies very well with the values and ethos
that businesses and organisations of the voluntary, community and
can implement to ‘green’ their social enterprise sector.
offices, their supply chain and their www.transitionbristol.net
day to day operations. Voscur has Voscur will be running a series www.transitiontowns.org
agreed to promote this work in the of Green ICT surgeries using the
voluntary sector in Bristol and we database and championing the
hope to be able to offer help and adoption of Environmental Policies
advice from summer onwards on in third sector organisations that
reducing your ICT Carbon footprint specifically target emissions from


Voscur Shadowing programme

Councillor Shadowing – a View Inside
24 councillors, senior managers and shadows signed up for our 2009 scheme - a learning
experience for everyone involved. This year people had the opportunity to shadow councillors
and senior officers, gaining a greater understanding of how the Council works on all levels.
Outlined below are the experiences of three people who got involved:

has allowed me to understand
what is involved with the
Pete Tiley, Age
process. I will be talking with Concern Bristol
others in the Somali community
to encourage them to become “ I shadowed a councillor.
councillors.”
This involved talking from
our respective experiences,
rather than sitting in on all
that a councillor does. It was
(left to right) Yassin Mohamud with Cllr
Barbara Janke, Cllr Jon Rogers, Cllr Shirley Helen Holland, interesting and valuable and I was
Brown and Ed Davey MP able to appreciate the pressures
Leader of the
a councillor works under. I made
Yassin Mohamud, Labour Group a valuable relationship with

Voscur “ I have always found shadowing
someone on the inside of local
government, and could make
one of the best ways to get a
“ I shadowed Shirley Brown, Liberal feel for a job, and also to get points and raise issues in a direct
Democrat councillor for Ashley Ward. I to know someone fast - as way. As and when time allows we
went with Councillor Brown to canvas working together for a day will continue with our dialogue.
residents in the Ashley ward. It was demands trust and openness
interesting to see how she discussed on both sides. As usual, I felt I would like to see the scheme
local issues, and explained the work that I learned a lot from my expanded; it is an invaluable way
she had undertaken in the area. shadow, so it is never just a for the council to make links with
one-way process. Shadowing
people in Bristol outside formal
When Councillor Brown was first cuts through any mystique
channels, and to inform us all
elected in 2004, she was the first that surrounds the position of
Black Minority Ethnic Liberal Democrat about how individuals within
elected representatives.
councillor in Bristol. the council go about their jobs.

I hope that Voscur will find ways Shadowing would provide a great
The most valuable lesson I have to continue to run this scheme, experience for young people
learned is that anyone can become a and I have already got my name who want to find out about local
councillor. The shadowing experience down for next time! ” politics. ”


Bristol Based Nationals

Sculpture developed to promote Wombles used to promote furniture FRN signs partnership to promote the
furniture re-use in London with re-use at national event sector with the National Housing
Oliver Heath its designer Federation

Furniture Re-use Network: Alleviating
material poverty and tackling climate change.

Bristol is the base for a longer want and make them much more of a community
number of national charities: available to people on low incomes. development focus.

Sustrans; Federation of City FRN also works at the national level
Farms and Gardens; Soil to influence Government policy, In many ways these organisations
Association and others. The and is part of a European network are a microcosm of the FRN
Furniture Re-use Network doing the same in Brussels. membership and represent the
(FRN) is perhaps slightly less range of activities in the sector.
known than these illustrious In Bristol it has four members:
organisations but runs its work SOFA which specialises in FRN provides free specialist advice
across the UK from its offices in providing electrical goods; Emmaus to all of its members, usually via
Old Market, on the first floor of that links its previously homeless the web, email or telephone.
the SOFA Project building. companions to its work of The organisation tends to meet
providing second hand furniture groups on a local level to support
The FRN is a national infrastructure and reconditioned bicycles; coordination of activities, locally
organisation with over 300 SPACE which provides furniture there is a group for projects in
members across the UK. Its work free of charge to homeless the old Avon area, and to address
is to support and co-ordinate the families moving from temporary issues around local authority
work of charities that collect mainly housing into their first home and relationships.
household items that people no Rework in Knowle West which has


Furniture Re-use

It is sometimes an embarrassment buried or incinerated. parent charities. FRN also has a role
to be in Bristol, as it is one of the in highlighting the alternatives for
few major local authorities that The FRN also has a trading subsidiary, people on low incomes.
refuse to pay recycling credits to FRN Enterprises (FRNE) which
the third sector. FRN managed to brokers deals with manufacturers, The focal point for FRN is its
achieve a change in national retailers, and waste companies annual conference which brings
Government guidance three years to extract reusable items from together delegates from around 100
ago, which it has helped to the waste stream. This could be organisations to share ideas, network
implement across the country, customer returns from a retailer, and learn about good practice and
but Bristol City Council has warehouse damaged goods (usually new thinking in the sector.
stubbornly refused to pay. packaging) from manufacturers
or items cleared from hotels The recession has led to an increase
In many parts of the country FRN undergoing refurbishments. in the number of people buying
members are running the bulky Currently 35 organisations, including from the re-use sector but this has
waste services for local authorities, the SOFA Project, are subscribers to not been matched by an increase in
hugely increasing the amount of FRNE and undergo a full audit from donations. There are fewer people
goods rescued or recycled and FRN staff to determine their legal, moving house, which has slowed
hope remains that Bristol will also logistical and managerial capacity to down the replacement of furniture
take this route when it comes to take contracts on. and electrical items.
renew its waste contract. The
organisation has a dedicated team The key focus for the sector is
that specialises in supporting both helping people on low incomes, Furniture Reuse Network
local authorities and voluntary this is about providing items at the www.frn.org.uk
groups in developing a service lowest cost organisations can afford Provides an up-to-date list
specification and business model rather than the maximum they of all organisations operating in the
to transfer collection services to can get away with, this sets re-use country and has 20,000 visits each
month from people either looking
organisations able to re-use items projects aside from charity shops
to donate or to purchase furniture
that otherwise would be crushed, which exist to make money for their

Issue 6 July / August / September 2009 23

Summer Festivals

Bristol Islamic Cultural Fayre

Best of the Festivals
Throughout the summer a host of community festivals is taking place in Bristol.
Here are just some of the events taking place in the coming months.

July 2. When: September
St Paul’s Carnival Saturday 22 August, Henstock
When: Saturday 4 July 12pm to 6pm When: Saturday 18 July,
Where: St Paul’s – various locations Where: Urban Park, Barton Hill 1pm to 4.00pm
What: Celebrating its 42nd What: As the ten-year New Deal Where: South Bristol Sports Centre
Anniversary this year, the carnival for Communities funding in Barton (Old Imperial Ground), West Town
has become one of the UK’s best Hill, Lawrence Hill, Redfield and The Lane, Bristol, BS14 9EA
cultural oriented events. The Dings comes to an end, Community What: The Neighbourhood
theme for this year’s carnival is at Heart is planning to celebrate all Partnership is supporting the
‘Leaders of tomorrow’ that’s been achieved. This will be organisation of a community
a chance for anyone who has had festival for the Stockwood and
For more details contact St Paul’s any involvement with Community Hengrove area, which is being
Carnival on (0117) 944 4176 or at Heart over the years to come called ‘HenStock’. The festival
email: info@stpaulscarnival.co.uk together and reflect on the journey aims to bring together the local
or visit: www.stpaulscarnival. that this part of inner east Bristol community with service providers
co.uk/home.html has been on and the improve- (both statutory, voluntary and
ments that have happened. There community sector) who work in
will be music, food, art workshops,
August complementary therapies, games,
the area. There will be a number of
attractions and family orientated
Community at Heart
stalls and a chance to see faces old activities on the day.
Two Summer Fetes
and new from this ten-year project.
1. When: Saturday 15 August,
For more details contact Ariaf Hus-
12 noon to 6pm
For more details contact Stacy sain on (0117) 903 6434 or email:
Where: The Dings Park, off Oxford
Yelland on (0117) 377 3638 or ariaf.hussain@bristol.gov.uk
Street, St Philips, Bristol
email: stacy.yelland@
communityatheart.co.uk

24 www.voscur.org

Summer Festivals

Bristol Festival activities and events at venues August
When: Launch Party Friday 18 right across the city:
September, Festival Saturday 19 Bristol Islamic Cultural Fayre,
and Sunday 20 September For more details contact Sarah eastville Park, eastville
Where: Harbourside Salter on (0117) 903 7899 or email: Sunday 9 August, 12 – 5pm
What: The Bristol Festival Sarah.salter@bristol.gov.uk or Find out more: www.bmcs.org.uk
Community Group was brought visit:
to life in 2007 by a group of www.bristol.gov.uk/celebratingage Bristol Ballon Fiesta, Ashton
passionate local volunteers Court estate
interested in ensuring the survival Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 August
of a community festival for the Find out more:
city. Now entering its second year, More Summer www.bristolfiesta.co.uk
the Bristol Festival focus will be Activities
on highly skilled performers and Henbury fun day, Crow Lane,
musicians from the local area; a Henbury
celebration and showcase of talent
July Saturday 22 August
The Phoenix Festival
from the Southwest region.
Sunday 12 July
Find out more: www.commu- September
For more details visit:
nityatheart.co.uk/?page_id=198 Party in the Park - celebrating
www.thebristolfestival.org
the centenary of Dame emily
Barton Hill Fun Day Park, Bedminster
October Saturday 18 July Sunday 6 September
Celebrating Age Festival Find out more: Find out more: groups.yahoo.
When: Monday 28 September – www.communityatheart. com/group/dame_emily_park/
Saturday 3 October co.uk/?page_id=198
Where: The Council House, College
October
Green, Bristol, BS1 5TR and venues The Big Lunch Stapleton Road Street Party,
around Bristol. Sunday 19 July Stapleton Road, easton
What: Now in its third year, Find out more: Saturday 3 October
the Celebrating Age Festival www.thebiglunch.com Find out more: www.eastoncom-
goes from strength to strength
munitypartnership.org.uk
in championing the over 50’s. Southmead Festival Glencoyne
The main festival day (Saturday Square, Southmead Promote your community events
3 October) will include, Saturday 11 July 10am – 4pm Are you having a community
entertainment, discussions, festival or event during the
demonstrations, stalls and much Bristol Harbour Festival 2009 summer? Make sure you put them
more. Other festival events will be Friday 31 July – Sunday 2 August, in the Voscur online diary. We also
taking place in the week before the Bristol Harbourside promote events in the diary in our
festival (28 September – 3 October) Find out more: weekly e-bulletin.
when older people will be able to www.bristolharbourfestival.co.uk To post your events visit
sample and enjoy lots of different www.voscur.org/event


Children & Young People

St Werburghs City Farm -
Summer Day Camp
St Werburghs City Farm is an immersed in fun, interactive games
independent registered charity and teambuilding.
that works in partnership with
the local community to provide They will learn how to make fire by
high quality educational, friction, hazel pencils, how to build
recreational and environmental a shelter out of natural materials,
services and resources within a paint each others faces, go pond
working farm. dipping and look at their findings
under microscopes. They will learn
We aim to promote health and about the water cycle, birds and
well being for all by providing wild animals, make pizzas in the
opportunities for people to meet, cob oven, make paper and do The camp is designed to teach
learn, play, build relationships and other art projects. key stage 2 and 3 curriculum in a
celebrate the changing seasons. fun, thematic, hands on way and

Main Farm Site is focused specifically on transition

Summer Day Camp Children will also spend time at
age children going from primary to
secondary school.
This summer, St.Werburghs City the main farm site, where they will
Farm is proud to present its very collect eggs from the chickens,
The cost for camp is £125 per week
first Summer Day Camp for 9 to help feed and muck out the
per child. We may be offering some
12 year olds. The camp will be held animals.
financially assisted places, please
weekly during August, starting
contact the office for more details.
from Monday 3 August until Friday Staff will be taking children on
21 August, from 9 – 4pm daily. nature trail explorations in the local
area where they will identify wildlife

Boiling Wells Nature with binoculars and take part in
other fun trail games.
Reserve More
Children will spend time at the
Boiling Wells Nature Reserve,
On Tuesdays, the farm café is Information
hosting fresh pasta and tomato Please contact Victoria Siddle-Virok,
located approximately five minutes sauce cookery classes and summer the Environmental Education and
away from the main farm site. camp children will get to take their Youth Work Manager on 0117 9428
There is a larch barn for indoor creations home to enjoy with their 241, youth@swcityfarm.co.uk, or
space and two acres of land families. visit www.swcityfarm.org
to enjoy where children will be

26 www.voscur.org

Children & Young People

Sexual Health Services
Young People can Trust
Voscur’s Children and young June 2009 saw the launch of
For up-to-date details
People’s June Network meeting the first annual training bulletin
on 4YP training visit:
focussed on the engagement of outlining all the free training
www.4ypbristol.co.uk
young People. Jessica Boydell available through 4YP and
from Connexions explained that Opening Doors for the children
research had shown that young and young people’s workforce in The next Voscur Children
people in Bristol were unaware Bristol. The Multi-disciplinary Sex and young People’s
of what sexual health support & Relationships and Substance Network meeting will
was available. In 2007, 4yP was Misuse Training Programme for focus on the re-specification of
launched to bring together Professionals Working with Young Bristol City Council Youth and Play
health services for young people People covers all training taking Services. Time: 10am - 12.00.
and to make them easily place until July 2010 and is offered Venue to be confirmed..
accessible. on a multi-agency basis across Further details will be available on
Bristol. the Voscur website:
Such support is crucial since: www.voscur.org/networks/
40% of teenage mums have no The Training Bulletin details children or contact Asma Ahmad,
qualifications; 22% are likely to be courses including Level 1 Sex email: asma@voscur.org
in poverty at the age of 30; they and Relationships, Level 1 Tel: 0117 909 9949
are 50% less likely to breast feed; Substance Misuse, Abortion, Sexual
three times more likely to smoke Exploitation, and a variety of sexual
during pregnancy and at higher health training aimed at different
risk of partnership breakdown. 4YP equalities groups, including young
work so far has included: improving people with learning difficulties,
access to contraception and girls and young women, boys and
sexual health services; specialist young men, and those from Black
youth workers at Brook (Boys and and Minority Ethnic, and lesbian,
Young Men, vulnerable groups); gay, bisexual and transgender
supporting teachers in schools and communities.
developing new resource packs.
To get hold of your copy, email
4YP also has a website and provides your address to Mandy Parry on:
free training for professionals amanda.parry@bristolpct.nhs
working with young people.

www.voscur.org 27

How To - Funding and Finance

Tax Effective Giving – it’s not
boring, its Free Money!
An overview of some ways that tax effective giving can raise
unrestricted funds for your organisation.

Gift Aid The declaration must contain simplest form an audit trail for Gift
HMRC estimates that charities are the donor’s full name and home Aid would contain a copy receipt
missing out on £700 million of address, the name of the charitable for the donation, a declaration and
unclaimed Gift Aid every year. Gift organisation, and a confirmation a copy of a bank paying-in slip.
Aid allows charitable organisations by the donor that they have paid HMRC recommends that all Gift
to reclaim tax on donations enough tax to cover the amount Aid records are kept for at least 6
from UK taxpayers, increasing reclaimed. Declarations can be years.
the amount the charity receives completed in writing, over the
without increasing the cost to the phone, online, by fax, email or For further information,
donor. Charities reclaim basic rate text message. Oral and online and to download a mode
income tax, which at 20% equates declarations must be confirmed in Gift Aid declaration form,
to 25p in every pound. This is writing. There is no official Gift Aid www.tax-effectivegiving.org.uk
boosted by 3.2p Transitional Relief declaration form, so declarations
paid by the government. can be incorporated into
Payroll Giving
promotional material and direct
Payroll Giving can provide a source
A further 25p in every pound may debit forms.
of regular, reliable income to UK
be claimed from donations from charitable organisations. Donations
higher rate taxpayers. Higher rate To claim Gift Aid, organisations
are deducted automatically from
taxpayers may themselves claim must register with HMRC,
employees’ weekly or monthly
back the difference between requesting a Gift Aid registration
gross salary. As they are pre-
the basic rate of tax that the pack and reference number. If you
tax deductions, this reduces the
organisation claims and the are not registered with the Charity
amount of Income Tax and the
higher rate they pay – another Commission, HMRC will require a
donor receives immediate tax relief
25p. In practice, most higher rate copy of your governing document
on their donation. A donation of
taxpayers choose to nominate a to check you are eligible for Gift
£10 will cost a basic rate taxpayer
charity to receive the additional tax Aid. Organisations can make as
£8 and a higher rate taxpayer £6.
benefit instead, increasing a £100 many claims per year as they like,
donation to £153.20! but if more than one
In 2006-07 over 640,000
is made they must all be for at
employees used Payroll Giving
For a donation to qualify, the least £100.
to make donations worth almost
donor must be a UK taxpayer, £90 million. All employers are
have paid enough tax to equal HMRC has the right to inspect Gift
encouraged to offer Payroll Giving
the amount of tax reclaimed, and Aid records, so it’s important to
to their staff and over 10 million
confirm a Gift Aid Declaration. maintain a clear audit trail. In its
employees have access to Payroll


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