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Sandwell - Sandwell Council for Voluntary Organisations

About

THe aims of the Sandwell Council for Voluntary Organisations are to capacity build the local voluntary and community sector in Great Bridge and to deliver skills that will enable sustainability.

Phases 1 & 2 are now complete and from the intensive work undertaken by the SCVO Fair Share Development Worker with support from the BBCCF Fair Share Trust Development Worker, the attitudes of the small voluntary groups in Great Bridge are beginning to change.

There has been considerable resistance to formalisation of small “un-constituted” groups. Even the possibility of £1,000 from the Community Chest for those with a governing document and a bank account is not enough to change this local culture. However other groups have embraced the opportunity to gain strength through collaboration, this is going to be important in the formation of the Friends of Great Bridge as it will involve smaller groups coming together to join ‘Friends of’ and the setting up of a new legal entity.

Another networking opportunity was organised on 26th November and built around developing interest in the Friends of Great Bridge and the launch of the Community Chest. Sixteen people attended altogether and two fire officers, two ladies who lead the Tiptonics Dance Group and the Denbigh Play-scheme and the owner of the Great Bridge Hub expressed their interest in attending an introductory meeting to identify key actions for Friends of Great Bridge. The meeting will be in early 2012 at a venue to be arranged.

The Great Bridge Community Forum has been approached but is unable to lead on this initiative at present. They are working with SCVO’s Strategic Engagement Officer to deliver a Networking Breakfast meeting at the Great Bridge Hub on 31st January 2012. She has been briefed about Haines Branch Walk developments and with her understanding of the structures, mechanisms and faces of the local authority they hope that they can begin to move the “Friends” forward. Community Chest.

The SCVO Development officer attracted match funding of £10,000 to the £10,000 contributed by the FST. After administrative costs are deducted the Community Chest totalling £18,000 will be distributed in the form of small grants directly to grass roots groups with incomes below £15,000 per year. The Community Chest was launched with a presentation on Saturday 26th November at Great Bridge Hub. All groups known to the Development Officer were invited via 36 letters, 27 emails and a number of phone calls and visits. Application packs were given to all 16 attendees and support was given on the day by SCVO and FST development officers. Since the launch intensive support has been provided by the SCVO Development Officer. Four complete applications are in hand and 5 more are receiving support. Appointments are in the diary for the return to business in mid-January. Supporting applications will occupy development worker time until the closing date on 3rd February 2012. A panel consisting of a representatives from SMBC, one from SCVO and a local person, will be convened by SCVO and we expect to release grants to successful applicants by the end of March 2012.

The development officer will continue with health checks for groups and provide one to one support including sourcing funding, information on legal structures, developing management committees or basic business planning advice to enhance the sustainability of local groups and add to the overall health of the Sector Evaluation.

The final activity will be the evaluation of the project. They are exploring the possibility of working in partnership with a neighbouring CVS to independently evaluate each other’s area, thereby ensuring objectivity, along with real knowledge of Fair Share Trust’s work. They will ensure the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods to capture the impact that the project has had on VCS groups and their beneficiaries in Great Bridge. They will compile a report which will be available to the Fair Share Trust panel, local groups and community members of Great Bridge. SCVO will use the report to inform future local work.

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