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 Practical help for the VCS

Cutswatch: ACEVO’s microsite

ACEVO’s microsite www.cutswatch.org.uk has been set up to provide guidance and support to third sector organisations through public spending cuts. The site aims to provide up-to-date news, case studies, guides and information on how to positively deal with spending cuts, along with links to useful events and services. Suggestions are welcomed as to what other support organisations seek and what else should be added to the site.

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Free financial guidance for local authorities, April 2010

Councils throughout London have been granted free access to the Financial Services Authority's (FSA's) Money Made Clear and Money Guidance campaigns. Money Made Clear provides printed and online material and bespoke group training sessions to raise levels of personal financial capability for both staff and residents. Money Guidance provides one-to-one appointments to talk individuals through the financial planning techniques that are relevant to their personal situation, but without promoting financial products.

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Ten task force steps to saving money, March 2010

Ten steps that councils could take to save money have been set out by a task force appointed by the government in December 2009.

The task force chairs, Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese (Lab) and Lewisham LBC elected mayor Sir Steve Bullock (Lab), urged councils to take a ‘Total Place’ approach to spending and cut out duplication in two tier areas.

The 10 steps the task force identified were:

  • Council services must be focused on the customer. They come first.
  • Take a Total Place approach to frontline services.
  • Make services more efficient - cutting out waste and unnecessary duplication. Especially in two tier areas.
  • Check performance against others and learn from who is doing it better.
  • Buy goods and services in groups and use that buying power to create local benefits and involve the third sector.
  • Reduce the number of council buildings by locating more services together.
  • Motivate staff to help to perform to the best of their ability.
  • Make managers leaders of innovation to improve services.
  • Streamline management. Consider splitting senior posts with other councils or PCTs.
  • Share professional expertise and ensure council staff are able to be flexibly deployed.

Sir Steve said: “There are real savings that can be made locally by fundamentally changing the way our public services are delivered. “To make this happen councils will need to lead a process of change across the public sector that involves both service users, staff, residents and the third sector.” He added: “Central government departments will also have to change by giving vastly greater autonomy to their frontline if we are to seize this opportunity.”

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Pro bono property advice, January 2010

Charity Property Help is a service supported by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveryors (RICS) to assist charities and voluntary organisations with free support and guidance on all property matters in the UK.

Launched in partnership with The Return Foundation, NCVO and CFDG, Charity Property Help offers registered charities and voluntary organisations a one hour consultation with an RICS regulated member firm free of charge, on property maintenance, environmental issues, lease, renewals and tenancies, and planning issues. BTCV recently saved £850,000 on a property lease after enlisting the help of this service.

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Merger and Collaborative Working, November 2009
Charity Commission

This Charity Commission guidance includes some case study examples of collaborative working and mergers and:

  • Illustrates different forms of collaboration and partnership and describes both the formal and informal structures that a number of charities might use in working together.
  • Describes what a merger means in practice for a charity and also covers key considerations for trustees: costs, the role of the Chief Executive and the legal issues that might arise.
  • Is concerned with the issue of 'due diligence' – a technical term used to describe how a charity should assure itself that merging with a new organisation is in the best interests of the charity and is a good “fit”.

For further information contact 0845 3000 218 or visit the Charity Commission website or download:
1. CC34 - Collaborative Working and Mergers: An introduction
2. RS4 - Collaborative Working and Mergers

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Model of collaborative working – Sharing back office services, November 2009
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO); Collaborative Working Unit

Voluntary and community organisations should ensure they explore collaboration or merger from a position of strength and plan early, identify potential partners, and make informed decisions about whether and how to proceed with collaborative projects.

Working with others can offer opportunities to:

  • Deliver new, improved or more integrated services
  • Make efficiency savings through sharing costs
  • Develop a stronger, more united voice
  • Share knowledge and information.

NCVO’s guidance 'Should you collaborate? Key questions’ offers a checklist to help decide whether to embark on formal collaborative working or merger. It identifies the key issues for consideration, provides an idea of where problems or complications may lie and enables organisations to make informed decisions.

For further information contact 020 7520 2440 or email collaborate@ncvo-vol.org.uk

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Outsourcing Back Office Services in Small Nonprofits: Pitfalls and Possibilities, August 2009
Meyer Foundation and Management Assistance Group

This report examines the administrative, finance and other office support needs of small VCS groups. It examines the reasons and conditions for outsourcing as well as the constraints and shows how to evaluate the options.

Key findings include:

  • Outsourcing may not offer short-term cost savings but can offer significant long-term benefits and cost savings.
  • Small to mid-sized organisations can be complex and may have significant un-met needs; few current business models for outsourcing are suitable.
  • Sourcing specialized skills at a reasonable cost, lack of time to find and contract with providers, and negative past experience are the main reasons given for not outsourcing back-office services.
  • A significant opportunity exists for entrepreneurs sensitive to the non-profit sector’s needs particularly in the areas of human resources, marketing and communications, and financial planning.
  • There are ideas for donors, charities, back-office service providers, and business entrepreneurs with a framework for evaluating outsourced back-office services.

Executive Summary
Full Report

For further information contact: Amy K. Harbison.

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Funding Your Organisation Sustainably - Three Top Tips, April 2009
NCVO (published by Futurebuilders)

Futurebuilders advises that:

1) Sustainability should be viewed as an approach rather than an guaranteed income stream.
2) Income should be sought that is stable over the long term from a wide range of sources.
3) Income should be suitable i.e. linked to your mission, within your area of expertise and is timed to fit your needs; and sufficient.

Please also see: NCVO’s Sustainable Funding Project website

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Partnership Academy and Business Brokers Programme, March 2009
Business in the Community

Business in the Community’s Partnership Academy and Business Brokers programme provides networking, training and support to all those involved in building better partnerships between business, the public services and the voluntary and community sector to achieve sustainable Neighbourhood Renewal.

For further information contact Susan Hinchcliffe 020 7566 8650 or susan.hinchcliffe@bitc.org.uk

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ProHelp, February 2009
Business in the Community

ProHelp involves more than 1,000 professional firms committed to making a difference in the community by offering free advice and support. It provides opportunities to impact locally whilst accessing a national network and is the largest national provider of pro bono support in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. As it is the only national multi-sector professional firm network it is able to provide members with opportunities to meet with and work alongside other professions. It also provides a valuable 'one-stop' resource to community organisations seeking support.

For further information contact 020 7566 8650 or email information@bitc.org.uk

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Programme Related Investment, February 2009

Programme Related Investment (PRI) is when charities invest in other charities that share their primary purpose. One way in which charities may pursue their charitable purposes is through the provision of loans, loan guarantees or the subscription or purchase of shares or through the letting of land and buildings. This is a form of social investment. Such investments may generate a financial return, but the charity's main objective in making them is to help its beneficiaries and further its aims and mission.

The Charity Commission website includes Useful Guidelines on Charities and Social Investment which explain Programme Related Investment more thoroughly.

Please see also the links below for further information:

• Programme Related Investment
• How Programme Related Investment works
• Programme Related Investment in the future
• Further information on Programme Related Investment

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Help in kind, February 2009

Times like this are a great reminder of the value of working practical assets harder.  Companies that can offer meeting space or surplus furniture or equipment help the VCS a lot.  One service which brokers brand new goods (toiletries, clothing and shoes, cleaning supplies, household appliances, toys and educational items, office supplies, tools, computer supplies) between manufacturers and voluntary and community groups is In Kind Direct. Click here for further information.

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