NVSC - Newham Voluntary Sector Consortium
May 17, 2004
Relationship - What Relationship?
by Sarah Ruiz, NVSC Director
Once upon a time, there were Council Committees, some of which made decisions on voluntary sector grants. Officers presented reports on the applications and Elected members were allowed to ask questions, officers would respond, and sometimes there would be a debate and the public were able to see and hear what went on. We applied to the Council each year for funding, grants officers wrote their reports on each project, copies were sent to the organisation well in advance of the committee and the project concerned were able to make comments on the report prior to committee approval.
Most importantly, groups knew well in advance what the recommendations would be, so they would be able to either lobby their local Councillor, or make alternative funding arrangements. The Voluntary sector knew where we stood. We abided by the rules, Conditions of Grant Aid - the jointly agreed document to which both the voluntary sector and the Council had agreed. These days have long gone and whilst I am sure we would not want to re-embrace all of the old protocols, we do need more transparency in the present process.
But there have been some positive changes, which include an open grants round, 3 year funding for some groups and tapered funding for others. But the present process is still a mystery. For example, it has been suggested that projects who have had their grants cut, be referred to Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF). Even more of a mystery given that there is no process to facilitate this. Why would NRF pick up the Council cuts? Hopefully, the impending Compact will help by once again stipulating the terms of the relationship between the Council and the sector. As a sector, we need to diversify our funding streams, we need to become far more proactive, work together and fully understand that Council funding is not for life. Gone are the days of expecting our sole funding to come from the Council. We need named officers and we need to be able to have honest discussions with them without fear of losing our funding if things go wrong. I am sure I speak for the majority of projects when I say that robust monitoring is needed, with jointly agreed outputs, outcomes and more than an annual visit. Our monitoring officers should be able to support and advise on funding strategies, look at the governance and encourage real development. They should be our critical friend.
It can be done, but there needs to be commitment, respect for our work and recognition that we are the Third Sector and not merely the cheap option.
Back to Work Fares Scheme
If you're an agency working with people looking to get back into work this may be of interest to you. Running till mid June this pilot scheme aims to assist people moving into a new job after being on benefits. Eligibility is for those on a low to middle incomes and receiving or entitled to the government's Working Tax Credit.
The Back-to-work fares scheme aims to cut the cost of travel in the capital for those returning to work for the first six months in a new job. The scheme is available to people living in the boroughs of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, The City of London, Hammersmith and Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow. Even though the scheme ends in June, as long as people are accepted for the scheme prior to the end date, their fares assisted travel will continue for the full six months. Applicants must live in one of the qualifying boroughs, have recently moved into work from one of the following benefits: Income Support, Job Seeker's Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance and receiving Working Tax Credit or the higher rate of Child Tax Credit. Those not currently receiving working tax credit but think they may be entitled can get advice from the Inland Revenue or their local Citizens' Advice Bureau. Application packs are available from your local job centre or online at the GLA website www.london.gov.uk (search for Back to Work scheme). There is a special free phone helpline on 0800 298 3926.
FREE Broadband
CIPs Business services are offering FREE Broadband Internet connection to all small and medium sized Enterprises! They will reimburse your Broadband costs as long as it does not exceed 512kbps, and if you own or are employed by an SME based in the objective two area within Newham, or a member of the Newham Chamber of Commerce.
All you need do is complete a minimum of 8 hours of on-line training per month! Broadband is up to 10times faster than the standard dial up. You get quicker file downloads, but best of all you can free up your phone line whilst on the Internet! Hundreds of courses are available in Business Skills, IT, Finance, Mentoring, Management and much more. If you are interested in signing up for this one-year offer please complete the online registration form for VLC, Virtual Learning Centre, at www.cip- sonline.com Click on VLC, then 'Apply online'. Finally, type BROADBAND where it asks you for a username. For further details, contact their call centre on 0845 650 4244.
Voluntary but Not Amateur
The seventh edition of this industry standard has been completely revised to cover all the relevant changes in legislation. This includes changes in employment and finance law, company law, the requirements of the Charity Commission, and the Disability Discrimination Act.
There is information about accessibility, data protection and copyright as they apply to the use of the internet and electronic media. Authors: Jacki Reason and Ruth Hayes Published by London Voluntary Service Council Price: £28 including P&P. Available from publications@lvsc.org.uk or telephone 020 7700 8124 for further information.
Community Champions Fund
The Community Champions Fund supports the work of local people to encourage others to get more involved in renewing their neighbourhoods. Grants average £1,200, with a minimum grant of £50 and a maximum grant of £2,000 available, with the next round beginning in June 2004.
The fund is designed to increase the skills levels of individuals to enable them to act as inspirational figures, community entrepreneurs, and community mentors/leaders, in order to increase community involvement in regeneration and learning activity. An emphasis is placed on supporting individuals who have already shown leadership in stimulating community activity, or who have ideas for encouraging greater community activity. The Fund will also support small-scale community inspired projects as part of supporting potential champions who have not previously sought funding. The Fund also encourages older (50+) volunteers to get involved in helping their communities. Types of activity funded is very small-scale but can make a real difference in communities. The fund has for example, provided training in giving presentations, or enabled individuals to attend conferences that are relevant to what they are trying to do in their community. Large capital purchases of equipment of more than £1,000 will not normally be funded. For further information contact Cathy or Ida at the Scarman Trust on 020 7713 9306.
Instant Muscle
Do you work with people who are- unemployed and live in Newham....? Instant Muscle are a training provider which helps disadvantaged people get back to work.
We are different, as we have staff dedicated to helping people bridge the gap between home and work by developing your inter-personal skills, self-esteem and confidence. Our recruitment consultant can help you on a 1to1 basis, assisting with CVs, interviews, work placement and job matching. We have an excellent track record in assisting people back into the workplace. All we ask from you is a commitment to a certain amount of hours per week. To find out more please call Yana on 020 8555 4628
Winning the Funding Game
NVSC has organised a free two day Fundraising course that will benefit small to medium sized voluntary, faith and community organisations in Newham. Taking place on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th May from 9:15am to 1:00pm, the course will teach you how to developing effective funding strategies for your organisation, how to Identify a unique selling point for your project, understand how to write and present information effectively, how to write a sample proposal for a small project and much much more.
Places are limited so book early to secure your place. If you book a space and DO NOT turn up, faile to cancel or do not send someone from your organisation to take your place, your organisation will be invoiced £25. Venue: Ithaca House, 27 Romford Road, Stratford. Contact either Deb Cozier or Ali Ahmed on 020 8522 5353 or 8522 5354 to book your place. Refreshments will be provided.
Soul in the City comes to Newham
The 2004 Soul in the City event has been endorsed by some of the countries leading public figures, which include Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens and the Archbishop of Canterbury. And now, Soul in the City is set to hit the streets of Newham. Taking place between July 26th and August 6th.
The event will see 15,000 young Christians from all over the UK (and overseas) take part in community projects, sports initiatives, concerts and other events across Greater London. Devised in conjunction with over 600 of London's Churches (145 in the East), the 'Soul in the City' event will try to meet the needs of London's many and varied communities, help to create lasting change. Soul in the City organisers Soul Survivor piloted a similar initiative in Manchester in 2000, where they linked up with the Greater Manchester Police, and a number of Christian charities and local Churches, to mobilise an impressive 11,000 young volunteers to run various community projects across the city, with effects that have lasted long after the initiative ended. In one crime hot spot 700 young people cleared 210 tonnes of rubbish. During the project there was a drop in crime that continues to make an impact on crime reduction. Newham is something of a hub for Soul in the City, with the East London Office based in the shadow of West Ham Stadium. Newham has also seen two large events in the build up to Soul in the City both of which were attended by 1,000 strong crowds representing local people from many different cultures and denominations. At the end of July hundreds of young people from all over the UK and beyond will join with local young people to make a difference in the communities of Newham. 38 Newham churches from all ethnic backgrounds are already on board and gearing up for this initiative. Some of the Soul in the City projects that will be happening this summer include teams working with Newham Police to target three areas South of Newham Way to improve the environment and reduce petty crime and vandalism A 'Because you're worth it' drop in beauty parlour will be running a female led team that will offer free beauty treatments to local young women. Another team hope to work with Newham Council to tackle areas such as the footbridge linking East Ham and Manor Park, clearing, tidying and creating a mural to add something special to the area. Sports and street dance projects will be running across Stratford and Plaistow. Elsewhere don't be surprised if you see a volunteer out on the streets of Newham ready to do a good turn for you! Further information can be obtained by contacting Soul in the City on 020 8586 6600 or visit the website at www.soulinthecity.co.uk
BT Community Connections Awards
BT Community Connections is a nationwide award scheme, which connects community and voluntary groups to the internet.
In the last two years of the scheme more than 3,400 winning groups have benefited from internet access. In 2004/5 a further £1.3 million worth of internet-ready computers and IT equipment will be awarded to an additional 1,200 deserving groups across the UK. In addition, BT is pleased to be working with Microsoft(R) who are donating software including Microsoft Office as part of an enhanced winning package. Any group or individual that can show how an award will benefit its community or voluntary group can apply for a BT Community Connections award. Every recipient will receive a package worth approximately £1,300 including an NEC multi-media computer, Microsoft software and a contribution towards the cost of one year's internet access. To find out more apply online or download an application form visit www.btcommunityconnections. com or for a postal application pack write to, BT Community Connections, PO Box 4500, London, W1A 7LF. There are 2 rounds and applications should be submitted prior to either Thursday 27th May 2004 or Thursday 2nd December 2004. Good Luck!
We're on the Move...
We have now moved to our new offices in Burford Road, and whilst the move has been exciting, the introduction of new ICT technology has proved challenging!. A mere few hundred yards away from our previous office base on the Romford Road, our new offices have provided us with the much needed additional space required to recruit new staff. Already in post is Trainee Development Worker Irfan Tailor, (pictured right), who along with the existing Faith Development Worker Jacqui Connor, and the new staff will make up our new Development Team. Adverts for the new posts are on the home page.
We are also pleased to announce the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund - Community Chest and Community Learning Chest Grant is now also administered via NVSC. NRF staff Deb Cozier and Ali Ahmed have now become part of the NVSC family and an additional 3 outreach workers are being recruited. All Community Chest enquires can be made by contacting either Deb or Ali on the Community Chest Hotlines: 020 8522 5353 or 8522 5354. Future Developments Other exciting projects include a Multi-Faith Conference taking place in October that will include a vibrant display of cultural dance, music, a special guest speaker and hopefully some of Newham's more nationally well known residents. All faith groups are invited to attend and we are currently looking for faith and faith based groups to participate. Contact Jacqui on 020 8522 5356 Wednesday's and Thursday's only for further details. Workshops will also explore the topic of faith and young people in a contemporary society. Community Information Events Also in the pipeline are a series of Community Information Events that will bring 2 Community Forum areas together. The idea behind these events is to enable local groups in local communities to reach out to local people and to generate a greater understanding amongst local residents of the services and support offered by voluntary, faith and community groups in their area. The first of these events is anticipated to take place in July bringing together Custom House & Canning Town and the North Woolwich & Silvertown Forum areas. If you are a service provider in either of these forum areas and are part of a voluntary, faith and/or community group, we would love to hear from you. Both events are anticipated to start in the afternoon running through till approximately 7.30 - 8.00pm. Both events are free and include refreshments with the Faith Conference also including an evening meal. And Finally... If you have not received one of our snazzy 'We Have Moved' cards, please amend your records. The new address is :
Burford Business Centre
11 Burford Road
Stratford E15 2ST
Andrea Chott NVSC Communications Officer
Positively Inner London
When it comes to government funding, some of you may have heard Newham's Mayor - Sir Robin Wales complain about the fact that Newham is treated as an 'outer London' borough. The 'London scale' was first introduced in the County Boroughs of East Ham and West Ham in 1938 and ever since Governments have referred to Newham as 'outer London'. Yet today Newham clearly has all the characteristics of an inner London borough.
Most academic or research bodies already regard Newham as inner London along with many government departments and the Department for Education who also seem a bit confused, but none the less, they treat Newham as inner London for certain expenses and outer London for others! Even the most recent policy paper from 10 Downing Street shows Newham to be inner London. Never-the-less the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister resolutely holds on to tradition. Some work has recently been done to calculate the cost to Newham. It shows that if Newham was treated like neighbouring Tower Hamlets or Greenwich the Council would receive an additional £58 million each year. That's enough to employ 1000 more teachers and teaching assistants, nearly 300 extra social services staff and still give £70 to every Newham resident! Even if Newham received a fraction more of this money each year, it would go a long way towards boosting our vital services, and could mean additional resources for the voluntary sector. In October, the Learning and Skills Council - the government agency responsible for education for the over 16s - became the latest body to decide that it considers Newham to be inner London. But the decision only served to illustrate how illogical the situation is. St Angela's and St Bonaventure's, the two Newham schools with sixth forms, will now receive inner London funding for their work with the over 16s, but outer London money for teaching the younger children. Newham is the youngest and most ethnically diverse borough in the whole country. It's a vibrant, exciting place, full of potential. But for this potential to be realised Newham needs fair funding. Therefore, Sir Robin Wales has asked for a meeting with Nick Raynsford MP, the Local Government Minister in the spring and will be raising this issue with him directly. In the last NVSC mailing, you will have received a postcard for supporters of the campaign. These will be presented to the Minister when Sir Robin meets him. The more he is able to present, the stronger the case he can make. So, if you have not already done so, please take a moment to fill in the card and return it. You can get an online version at: www.newham. gov.uk/aboutus/innerlondon index.htm or ring Nick Williams on 020 8430 3662 for further information.
Bringing French Flair to the East End
East London now has its first Resident Services Organisation (RSO) thanks to funding from the West Ham and Plaistow New Deal for Communities. The Big Eastern RSO set up in late 2003 has been running its HandyVan service, offering affordable DIY services to local residents.
Based on a French idea the RSO is run as a social enterprise, is neighbourhood based, employes local people, provides a local services and is accountable to residents. With the main aim being to provide a local, trusted and quality service DIY at reasonable rates. The Big Eastern HandyVan's first task will be to run the 'Safe & Secure' project in the NDC area, aimed at improving home safety and security for older people and is a free service to NDC residents over 60, but is available at reasonable rates to Newham residents. Unlike the 'Safe and Secure' project, the HandyVan service is not free of charge but is available to all residents in Newham at reasonable rates. For further information contact Glynis on 020 8586 9493.