Compact Week planning is in full swing across the country, and we want you to tell us about your plans for Compact Week. Remember, Compact Voice offers a speaker service, and we're inviting you to let us know before 30 September if you'd like us to attend your event. Please note we do hope to be able to attend all events during this period, but cannot guarantee this - we'll let you know either way as early as possible.

We're also currently recruiting for the Compact Voice Board - we rely on a broad cross-section of constituent organisations to ensure we remain representative of the voluntary sector. Details and how to apply are on our website now, with applications closing on 1 October.

Finally there has been some interesting commentary on the role of the sector recently; Geoff Mulgan from the Young Foundation believes the state does have a role to build society; while NFP Synergy research reveals that there has been no slump in coalition support for the sector as key to delivering front-line services in difficult times.

Civilsociety 11 Aug 2010.

3SC will lead a consortium of charities in a bid to be the prime contractor for the Department for Work and Pensions Work Programme, a government scheme supporting the unemployed. Charities, including Groundwork UK, the National Housing Federation and the Shaw Trust will be part of the consortium bidding for the Work Programme.

3SC was established to bid for large public sector contracts on behalf of third sector delivery organisations. 3SC is managed by a board of ten third sector and not-for-profit organisations who bring expertise in the delivery of public services and also their commitment to securing a long term opportunity for the sector to compete in this market.

Michael O’ Toole, chief executive of 3SC said: "We are fielding a strong consortia approach with other lead organisations to enable us to get as much funding to the front line in the most straightforward way."

Read the full story at: http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/news/content/7122/consortium_3sc_to_bid_for_dwp_work_programme_with_charity_partners

Leicester, 9th September

An interactive NAVCA seminar exploring the idea of 'intelligent commissioning', seeing examples in operation and looking at how third sector organisations can influence this.

 

 "Excellent Day, Programme was varied, relevant and practical"

 

"All speakers – knowledgeable, confident and very interesting; great learning for me"

 

"Very informative and well organised event, thank you"

 

Book your place online now

Who should attend:

•  Do you... work for a local support and development organisation in the East Midlands area?
• Support local organisation involved in service delivery?
• Work with your local authority or primary care trust on commissioning?
• Work for a public body as a commissioner?
• Want to advocate intelligent commissioning in order to achieve better services?

Speakers Graeme McLaren, Institute of Pubic Care 2 regional case studies - CVP Bolsover and Voluntary Action LeicesterShire will be talking about their experiences of influencing local commissioning + YOU! - an opportunity to learn from, and network with, colleagues in the East Midlands about what they are doing to influence commissioning.

 

Further information Website:

http://www.navca.org.uk/events

 
Book online: http://bit.ly/atQ0oV

Tel: 0114 278 6636
Email: lcpu@navca.org.uk

 

Other dates include:

Cambridge 22nd September

Manchester 27th October

Leeds 24th November

Further details on the NAVCA website

A reminder that NAVCA has broadened the availability of the Tender Support Project. Local voluntary and community sector organisations anywhere in England can use the project to improve their ability to bid for public service contracts.

Visit:

http://www.navca.org.uk/localvs/lcp/tenders/tsp

 

In partnership with Michelmores law firm, this series of training days, from NAVCA's Local Commissioning and Procurement Unit, will help you to understand contract clauses and be better equipped to negotiate contract terms and conditions.

16 September, Tunbridge Wells;

17 September, London;

 6 October, Winchester;

19 October, Middlesbrough;

 24 November, Chester;

 6 December, Birmingham

 

For more information visit:

www.navca.org.uk

By David Ainsworth, Third Sector Online, 15 July 2010

 

Minister for Civil Society says his colleague Francis Maude has written to other ministers stressing this point.

Francis Maude, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, has written to ministerial colleagues asking them to consider the Compact when making cuts, according to Nick Hurd, the Minister for Civil Society.

Speaking at Cabinet Office questions in the House of Commons, Hurd said the government was "fully committed to the Compact", the agreement that sets out how public and voluntary sector organisations should treat each other.

"That is why my right honourable friend has written to ministers with responsibility for the big society agenda to ask them to consider the Compact as decisions on in-year budgetary savings and efficiencies are taken," he said.

He also told MPs that the Compact would be on the agenda when a group of ministers with responsibility for the big society met for the first time next week.

 

Hurd also said the Cabinet Office was interested in reforming commissioning to make it easier for voluntary sector organisations to compete for public sector contacts.

Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin told the Commons that longer term funding for the sector was "enormously important".
"We are moving away from the micro-management of processes in contracts and towards a very exciting new world of payment by results, so that voluntary organisations can use their talents and initiative to achieve real results," he said.

 

Click here to find out more.

 

 

 

Nominations close on Wednesday 11 August 2010.

 

To find out more click here.

Dugald, Tom, Oli, Nicole and Paul - Compact Voice

 

We've been pleased recently that a number of government ministers have publicly pledged their support for the application of Compact principles within their own departments, and we hope this message will continue to reach local authorities, many of whom have been tasked with finding further budget savings. As we've stated previously, Compact can be a valuable tool in achieving this savings in a way which gives the best opportunity for local groups to continue to be viable, gets the best value for money and protects front-line services. If you're interested, please read my blog post for more.

We're also maintaining a cuts section on our site, where we provide some guidance not only to voluntary groups, but also to public sector bodies, who we realise are under pressure to maintain service levels with decreasing budgets.

Finally, we've had many people ask us at our regional events if now is the time to refresh their Local Compact. We believe that this is up to individual areas and partners, but we'd encourage you to at least read the refreshed Compact and use it as a starting point for discussion(s) about how well your own one is meeting your needs; and if it is - why not share this with others either here or through Compact Voice?

To view the September edition of Compact Voice click here.

For those of you not taking advantage of school holidays, we thought we'd send a quick briefing on Compact news. Firstly, our partners at the Commission for the Compact have released a briefing note on the economic and social benefits of applying Compact principles - these are early findings ahead of the full report due at the end of summer 2010.

We also encourage you to read more about how Merton partners have handled cuts to the area together - there are some valuable lessons for other parts of the country where cuts may still be coming.

We're happy to announce that applications for our Priority Areas Programme - where we provide tailored help and advice to get your Local Compact working harder for you, is now open. Be one of the first to apply for this free service, or find out more.

Finally, the Compact Awards are on again in 2010 - if you feel your area has performed strongly this year, why not apply?

Lincolnshire’s third sector (voluntary & community organisations, charities, social enterprises, co-operatives and mutuals) has a total direct economic impact of £410 million.
This estimate of economic impact means that the value of the Third Sector in Lincolnshire is greater than the Hotels and Restaurants sector, and approximately 27% the size of the wholesale and retail sector.
This and additional key information is available in the recently published report -The Economic Significance of the Third Sector in Lincolnshire. The full report and an Executive Summary are available on Lincolnshire County Council’s website – http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/healthycommunities but for further information please contact Bev Finnegan, Healthy Communities, Lincolnshire County Council on 01522 550516.

The Equality Act brings together nine  separate pieces of legislation into one single Act simplifying the law and strengthening it in important ways to help tackle discrimination and inequality. Implementation of majority of the Equality Act will begin on 1 October 2010.

 

Equality Act 2010: What do I need to know? is a series of summary guides and "Quick Start" guides to the key changes in the law, produced by the Government Equalities Office in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce, Citizens Advice and the Equality and Diversity Forum, to support implementation of the Act.

 

These simple guides set out clearly what the new laws will mean for business, the public sector, the voluntary sector and the public, helping people understand their new responsibilities and rights.

 

The voluntary sector guide can be found here.

Chief executives body will provide advice on how to minimise the impact of spending cuts Sector chief executives body Acevo has launched a website designed to monitor public sector cuts to third sector organisations.
Cuts Watch provides information about cuts and sets out action that voluntary sector leaders can take as funders’ budgets are reduced. The website also has information on how organisations can negotiate with funders, challenge poor funding decisions and demonstrate their impact.

An Acevo spokeswoman said third sector leaders were increasingly worried about how the cuts in public spending would affect them and the people they supported. The spokeswoman said that the site would be providing particular information about mergers and collaboration.

There would also be a section where members could share examples of how they had demonstrated to the government ways of reforming services rather than making straightforward cuts.

 

To view the June 2010 edition of Compact Voice News click here.

This is a special bulletin following concerns people have raised at our regional events, and through our helpline about a period of substantial cuts to local funding.

 

For more information click here.

To view the May 2010 edtion of E-Compact News please click here

 

Items of interest include:

New Ministers and Office for Civil Society

Compact case studies

Total Place and the Compact

Compact Voice regional implementation event

 

Too often the Compact is seen as just a set of principles and commitments; something a local authority draws up with the voluntary sector, pays lip service to and name-checks every now and then, but doesn't seem to make any real difference. While the drawing up of a local Compact and putting in place a framework such as a Compact Implementation Group are good starting points what really matters is trying to imbed a Compact way of working. This means agreeing on the principles and then building on this by working together effectively from the beginning and puttings things right when they go wrong.

Click here to read the full briefing.

The overall aim of this training is to enable voluntary organisations to develop realistic funding bids for projects and to successfully deliver these projects through effective monitoring and evaluation.

The content is suitable for voluntary organisations looking to submit tenders to their local authority for projects, but is also relevant for those seeking project funds from grant sources.

The courses are aimed at voluntary sector managers with responsibility for this area of work, who may have recently taken on this role, or who wish to refresh their knowledge of these topics.

Each course will be delivered in an interactive way using real-life examples to illustrate key points. Practical exercises will enable participants to apply course ideas to their own organisation.

The courses are unaccredited but participants will receive a certificate of attendance from Boston College.

The trainer will be Ruth Holmes, of Holmes Consultancy Services, who has extensive experience of designing and delivering practical training courses for the voluntary sector.

1. Building a Business Case for Your Project

18th June 2010

• What do we mean by a business case and why should we produce one?
• Key steps in putting together a business case for your project
• Main sections in a business case
• Criteria for assessing a business case 
• Quality, reliability and added value in a business case
• Tips on writing a successful business case

 2. Monitoring and Evaluating Your Project 

2nd July 2010

• Key terms and concepts on monitoring and evaluation
• Importance of monitoring and evaluation for effective project delivery 
• Measuring outcomes and agreeing performance indicators
• Setting up effective systems for monitoring and evaluation
• Communicating and managing change within a voluntary organisation

Venue: Boston College Management Centre

Time: 9.30am - 4pm

Cost: £17.50 per delegate, per session

 

For more information please contact Lorraine Lenton on

Tel: (01205) 315905

Email: lorraine.l@southlincscvs.org.uk