Quality Awarded

As part of the AGM proceedings on the second day of the conference seven Local Infrastructure Organisations (LIOs) were were formally awarded their Quality Award from NAVCA.

This externally evaluated award recognises the quality of the outcomes achieved by the LIOs that are delivering services to groups in their area. They are not a test to see if LIOs score highly in a set of tasks but are there to visibly show that these organisations are providing quality services.

Three organisations were present to receive their awards, Watford CVS, Gloucestershire Association for Voluntary and Community Action and Herefordshire Voluntary Action.

The other four members presented with their Awards were Keighley Voluntary Services, Tameside Third Sector Coalition, Voluntary Action Coventry, and York CVS. A further ten members have also achieved their Quality Award’s since the AGM in 2007.

For more information about the award presentation see the news page and to see how to take part in the scheme visit the NAVCA Quality Award page.

Sherwood CVS

No, we didn’t create a new CVS at the conference, well not a real one (that would have caused a stir). As part of the “NAVCA projects, NAVCA projects riding through the glen” workshop, Bill Freeman, the NAVCA Director of Development painted a picture of a staff meeting at a fictional (Sherwood) CVS.

Bill Freeman introducing Sherwood CVS

After working through the usual agenda items every meeting of this type has – minutes of the last meeting (45 minutes), coffee rota (20 minutes), oh and responding to three items of national policy (10 minutes) ! the meeting moved to any other business where a number of staff members asked for support in their project work. Each concern was answered with a helpful signpost to service from NAVCA … well what did you expect, it was a NAVCA projects workshop!.

The project work NAVCA has available is shown in the slideshow from this workshop.

NAVCA Projects workshop

After the presentation each of the projects hosted round table sessions where they were available for short consultations and discussions about their areas of work. These were kept to 15 minutes each so that as many people as possible could visit as many tables as possible.

I was on the Regional Champions table (or ‘Much the Miller’s Son Table’) together with Sam, the champion from the North East and Miles the champion from London.

We had many interesting discussions, which seemed to fit the theme on my own blog that local infrastructure organisations still need support to get over the basics of ICT procurement advice, support and training, but I was pleased to hear that the message is being given to funders about supporting the full cost of ICT – including training and ongoing support.

We also talked about use of forums / message boards, but how Social Media could be even better in engaging with communities that organisations are looking to reach out to in new and innovative ways.

This picture shows a general view – in full flow. There are also a larger number of pictures from this session in the Flickr photo page.

September 17th – Social Media Workshop

Firstly the AGM and the business of the day for NAVCA, then off to various workshops – I’m off to listen to Jude Habib from Soundelivery talk about Podcasting ….

…. which turned out to be a lot more than just Podcasting in fact!

The session covered the whole range Social Media tools that are available for infrastructure organisations to promote to their members.

Jude’s slideshow is here.

As someone with some knowledge of Social Media I tried to put myself in the shoes of an infrastructure organisation grappling with how to reach out to their members, how to engage communities in their work and generally how to be more effective and efficient.

Various participants shared their thoughts on the subject – which ranged from bewilderment, fright and lack of understanding to an interest if the benefits could be presented to them simply.

We heard podcast recordings both from Jude of young people she had worked with and examples from within the room of organisations using video to be more effective at gathering meeting feedback and using Facebook for supporters to show their support. Interestingly a significant number of people said they used Facebook for personal reasons – but had not seen its potential in a work context.

A clear message from Jude was Content, Content, Content – and it’s easy to see how the written Content (paper and emails) we all currently use can be enhanced to get our messages across in a fully three dimensional way. Listening to the podcast of the children on the beach or the young mother walking around here housing estate it was easy to feel transported into that situation and more connected to the messages they were putting across.

If we also use the audio Content (through a podcast) and video Content (through video and picture sharing websites) we have the potential to say so much more and connect with so many more people. As these media are two way communication channels the power to collaborate and be responsive to what people want is enormous.

I have put together a quick FAQ of Social Media definitions that you can read on-line or can be downloaded for your own use. For more in depth case studies see the booklet put together by the Media Trust which you can also read on-line or download in PDF format (944Kb). Printed copies of the booklet can be obtained by contacting your Regional ICT Champion.

Greg Clark – Shadow Minister for Charities, Social Enterprise and Volunteering

Greg Clark, who is also a Facebook user, but a little more anonymous as there are 155 others to choose from!

Greg Clark

Key points from the Green Paper on the 3rd Sector (which can be dowloaded from the site)

• Communities are not ‘hard to reach’ if you are working closely with them.
• Lightly specified contracts focussing on outcomes rather than imposing procedures.
• Take and accept risk taking.
• Grants are really important and should be preferred over contracts.
• Crucial that existing capacity building organisations such as CVS’ and infrastructure organisations are supported (not just the tempation to set-up new organisations doing “a Logo, a Launch and a Lunch).
• CVS’ should be recognised not just for the services they provide, but the leadership they give too.

How best do we deliver capacity building services?

You can watch the highlights of the speech by Greg Clark online in the box below, or over on the NAVCA YouTube video channel.

Later in the day Greg Clark was also interviewed. Click on the arrow to listen on-line to the interview

or download it to listen to later from here (11.9MB – 12 minutes).

Peter Wanless – Big Lottery Fund

Peter Wanless from Big Lottery Fund, who I’m pleased to hear is a Facebook user and fan of ‘Dogs die in hot cars’ … and it seems Dolly Parton !

Peter Wanless

Really keen to stress the fund and the regional officers are there to help the 3rd sector in submitting quality applications that make recipients able to make a difference in their communities. If this consultation and feedback process isn’t working then they would be keen to know.

The BLF also wants to hear from orgainsations and have its future direction partly shaped by what is working and what doesn’t work so well to focus on outcomes that will have the most impact.

We should be ‘a pleasure to do business with!’

You can watch the highlights of the speech by Peter Wanless online in the box below, or over on the NAVCA YouTube video channel.

Later in the day Peter Wanless was also interviewed. Click on the arrow to listen on-line to the interview

or download it to listen to later from here (15.2MB – 14 minutes).

September 16th

Welcome to Nottingham, or ey up m’duck !

East Midlands Conference Centre

Just getting ready for the welcome and first part of the programme introduced by Helen Voce the Chief Execeutive of Nottingham CVS.

All about Nottingaham, including the Goose Fair, the Football teams and the technology of Nottingham, the ‘Games City’ conference and the Homeshoring Project – which is a part of DC10plus.

You can watch the slideshow of this presentation in Slideshare. Just click on the arrows to take you through.

NAVCA projects, NAVCA projects riding through the glen

News has reached me via the Sheriff of Nottingham that this session at 2pm in the programme on 16th September is going to be a “little different”. The last thing anyone wants after a hearty lunch is a dull slide presentation just going through “here’s what we do and how you can use it”. Instead of this and through role play (!) by NAVCA staff, this session will be more of a “here’s what you do and here’s how we help”.

There will also be plenty of opportunities during the Round Table session to quiz in depth staff from the range of NAVCA projects on offer.

What I’m unclear about is if the role play extends to the Chair of the session actually dressing up as the Sheriff of Nottingham … you will have to come along to find out!

Peer Group Session

Chief Officers of NAVCA members have a ‘peer group’ session on Tuesday 16th September from 12 noon to 1pm. Only an hour so we need to be focussed to use the time well. Please use this blog to suggest the topics you would like to raise with your peers. If you prefer to be confidential please email me kevin.curley@navca.org.uk

Can we meet and not talk about Capacity Builders!

See you in Nottingham.

Kevin Curley

Wish you were there ?

Thoughts of a summer break are no doubt much more exciting than planning what you will do at the NAVCA Conference. Although it is still just under two months away there is already interest here from people wanting to meet-up and network (OK informally chat!) to others with similar interests.

In the Open Space slot Stefan Kuchar would like to meet with others interested in a Self Assessment Governance Framework and as part of the Peer Sessions Ruth Morgan is looking for others to network with.

If any of these interest you or you are looking to make links with others please visit the Networking “mini-site”, log in and leave your details. Trust me – the more the merrier!

Enjoy the summer holidays … and if any one sees the sun please get in touch !

Kevin Curley – Conference bookings open

It will soon be NAVCA Conference time again. This year we’ve got Peter Wanless the new Chief Executive at the Big Lottery Fund coming. So, your chance to lobby him about the funding you think they should provide for the local sector – and for local infrastructure.

We’ve also got Greg Clark MP speaking. He’s the Conservative Shadow Minister for Charities, Social Enterprise & Volunteering. The Conservatives have just published their Green Paper on ‘The Future of Voluntary Action’ so again it’s a chance to respond to their ideas. One controversial Conservative idea is that infrastructure funding should be given to frontline groups so that they can choose where to buy their support from. I bet you’ve got a view on that!

At our popular drinks reception we’ll be launching ‘The Get Skilled Workbook’ – a brilliant NAVCA guide to creating a learning and development plan for your organisation. Free wine, a free handbook and great company.

And don’t forget that for the second year I’ll be organising the after dinner break dancing competition for the over 50s. See you on the dance floor…

Kevin