NVSC

The East London CVS Network (ELN) is an informal partnership comprising the 10 Councils for Voluntary Service in the boroughs of Redbridge, Havering, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Newham, Lewisham, Barking and Dagenham, Greenwich, Bexley and the City of London, which themselves represent over 10,000 voluntary, community and faith organisations.

The East London CVS Network exists to support and enhance the work of borough based CVS in East London so they can better engage with strategic agendas.

The East London CVS Network is a strategic agency.   They do not deliver any services directly to voluntary and community organisations in East London. Instead they are involved in developing policy and encouraging voluntary and community sector [VCS] involvement in a number of areas:

It has been suggested that the sense of gravity is shifting eastwards out of central London as more jobs are created in the East London boroughs.   More people are living in Medway towns or in the outer boroughs and commuting into either the city or East London.   This trend looks set to continue with the successful bid to hold the 2012 Olympics in East London, and with the Thames Gateway regeneration programme.  The implications for the VCS in East London is that there will be more people potentially accessing their services, and that those people may not be accessing services where they live but where they work. ELN’s strategic work includes the following areas which are of particular interest to the sectors in Newham.

Workforce development is the process of making sure that you, your colleagues, your trustees and volunteers have access to all the skills and tools to help deliver the best possible services to your community. This might mean formal certified training, on-the-job training, informal training, or that you work with a mentor who will help you address specific issues within your organisation.

Supporting the VCS in East London to make the most of the 2012 Olympics

Advocating on behalf of the sector is the Big Opportunity Steering Group that oversees a project of the same name and project co-ordinator post hosted by London Civic Forum. In June 2007 the project launched the ‘Big Opportunity’ the offer made on behalf of the VSC to the Olympic delivery agencies and statutory bodies. Members of the Big Opportunity Steering Group and working with each of the Council for Voluntary Service [CVS] within the host boroughs, the East London CVS Network is working to:

• Improve the sectors opportunities to maximise the benefits of the Games through working in partnership with local CVS, strategic third sector organisations and public bodies
• Increase the sectors opportunities for engagement with public sector bodies concerned with the Games
• Secure VSC representation on the strategic boards overseeing the implementation of the East London CSP

Commissioning and Procurement

Commissioning and Procurement seems to be on everybody’s agenda of late.  This can be a complex and scary topic to many organisations, but it is something that we all need to consider. With many local authorities moving away from traditional grant funding, organisations may find themselves competing for the funding that they may have been receiving for many years.

The Government is encouraging the greater use of voluntary and community sector organisations in the delivery of public services. The voluntary and community sector has a long tradition of meeting unmet needs   As a result, it has accumulated a vast amount of information, understanding and expertise in the provision of many different services.

We need to ensure that this is harnessed for the provision of public services in ways which enhance the lives of people who live, work, study and play in East London.

The pressure on public sector organisations to commission services from Voluntary and Community Organisations [VCOs] has increased dramatically following the Treasury’s Cross Cutting Review in 2002.  Also, the development of the Compact between Government and the VCS, and between the public sector and the VCS at a local level, has attempted to strengthen the relationship between the public and voluntary sectors and promote a mutual understanding and respect.

Thames Gateway Research

The East London CVS Network is a partner in the Thames Gateway London Partnership Third Steering Group commissioned research “Building a World-Class Third Sector in the Thames Gateway” determining how the voluntary and community sector can contribute to the economic development, social inclusion, equality, health and sustainability of the Thames Gateway.  The research concentrates on the role of the sector:

Proposed East London 3rd Sector Training Providers Consortium

East London CVS Network has secured funding from Capacity Builders to develop the leading Third Sector Training Providers Consortium for East London. Hosted by Redbridge CVS, East Tenders has set out an ambitious agenda that aims to ensure 3rd Sector organisations have increased opportunities to compete for learning and skills contracts.
To achieve this aim East Tenders will identify funding opportunities, develop partnerships, coordinate tenders and provide a contract management service.

The East Tenders team are keen to hear from experienced training providers in East London and Waltham Forest that may be interested in becoming delivery partners.

If you would have any queries or would like further information please contact Aileen Shrimpton at East Tenders. Telephone: 020 8514 9614 or Email: aileen@redbridgecvs.net

ELN have a very comprehensive website, with some very useful documents to download – www.elcvsnetwork.org.uk.