Sandwell Council of Voluntary Organisations Setting the Scene
- Slides: 7
Sandwell Council of Voluntary Organisations Setting the Scene Presentation by Mark Davis, Chief Executive Officer 5 November 2010
Sandwell’s Voluntary & Community Sector • Rich, diverse, broad spectrum, active across all of Sandwell’s communities • Includes local volunteer-led community groups, charities, social enterprises – many different shapes and forms • ‘Third Sector’, ‘Civil Society’ – changing terminology • At its heart – driven by local concern, owned and governed by local volunteers, flexible and responsive to need • Plays a role as both provider to, and advocate for, the local community
Sandwell’s Voluntary & Community Sector Headline figures: • 764 VCS bodies known to SCVO as active in borough • 565 independent local organisations • 420 small volunteer-only groups • 265 rely on grants from local statutory organisations • Plenty more yet to be found!
Word from the Front Line A year ago 196 VCS leaders said: • Demand for services booming (+72%) • Capacity increasing (+31%) • Sustainability diminishing (-15%) • Biggest threats: • Public sector cuts (51%) • Lack of full cost recovery (36%) • Increased demand (27%) • Over-regulation (21%)
How Can We Turn the Tide 282 completed Support & Development Needs Survey: • 81% funding & fundraising • 84% would welcome a web-based funding portal • 3 Cs – Bids & tenders (30%), collaborative working (20%), consortium working (17%) • Working with volunteers, marketing, networking, higher profile • Mirrored in training needs. . . plus first aid, health & safety and food hygiene • Thematic training revolves around safeguarding and abuse
Challenges and Opportunities • Big Society and Social Enterprise • Move towards contract culture – ‘privatised’ sector • Recognition of VCS role in delivering preventative services • Challenges to collaboration / increasing competition • Huge political change – eg health white paper • Individualised budgets and services • Blurring of boundaries – volunteering, private sector involvement, ‘provider arms’ of public bodies • Change is constant
The Big Issues • Organisations need to know who they are and why they exist • Increasing need and demand v fewer resources • Public sector shedding risk v VCS not designed to accept • Direction of travel towards contracts and away from the soul of the VCS • Everyone says VCS increasingly vital v still small voice • So, how will The Big Society work?
