ESF Capacity building

Target group: See below

Project start date: January 2004 - December 2004

Aim: To effectively allocate European Social Funds to provide capacity building support to voluntary and community sector organisations. These were allocated to 8 specific areas, plus funding for contract management of the funding.Some of the projects were delivered by all 6 CVS, others by only one or more.

V & C Organisational Development Skills

Organisations and individuals (staff, Trustees & volunteers) received training programmes, 1:1 support with developing policies and procedures specific to their organisation and the services they deliver. These included, level 1 capacity checks, business plans, fundraising strategies, contract & premises management, promotion and 1:1 support to businesses to encourage their involvement in volunteering.

Internal CVS Development

This area supported the CVS to develop their Business Plans for the next 3-5 years (including consultation events with local V&C organisations), Trustee Board development, new marketing strategies, IT strategy, improved CVS information systems, including website developments, job evaluation policy & procedure and new staff performance review and appraisal systems. These activities enabled the CVS to improve their organisational management and long term infrastructure support for their local members..

Activities in Accessing Funding & Exit Strategies for project sustainability

Activities in Accessing Funding & Exit Strategies for project sustainability: Activities in this area included: fundraising advice, community accountancy, business planning, social enterprise awareness and the Co-Financing Community Advisory Group. The latter project was facilitated by the CVS Partnership office and specifically supported V&C organisations in receipt of LSC Co-Financing Funds. Through this funding a website was developed and a database of the V&C sector learning providers.Workshops and training events and bi-monthly steering group meetings were also held. The project aimed to improve the LSC’s understanding of the role the V&C play in delivering learning and training and assist them in improving their co-financing procedures and funding arrangements.

Preparing Organisations for Quality Standards

Sutton CVS supported a small number of organisations to work towards achieving the PQASSO quality standard. Through this support staff and trustees gained new skills and developed their organisations to achieving between level 2 & 4 of PQASSO.

Voluntary Sector ICT Skills

This funding enabled the CVS to provide intensive ICT support to a small number of organisations, including a comprehensive ICT health check, ICT training, technical advice / trouble shooting, ICT newsletter and improved website for the Superhighways Project.

Project Management Skills

This area primarily supported senior CVS staff to access high level management skills training and some sector specific training, eg: Playwork Degree.

Developing & Delivering Community Learning Programmes

This funding enabled the existing LinC projects to continue beyond August 2004. Additional capacity building and grants programmes were promoted to local groups. Some funding was made available for community tutor training.

Activities Supporting the sharing of Good Practice & Learning

This funding enabled some CVS to organise local events to bring V&C Organisations together to share their good practice & promote their work to local funders and commissioners of services. The CVS Partnership also organised a one-day conference for CVS staff to promote the work of the Partnership and enable CVS staff to share their own experiences and working practices across the CVS. This was the first time all CVS staff had come together to network and learn from each other. The aim was to enable the CVS Partnership to be more effective in its operation and ensure CVS resources and services were utilised and delivered in the most effective way for the benefit of local V&C organisations.

Funding: London South Learning & Skills Council, European Social Fund

Key contact : Richmond Council for Voluntary Service: action@richmondcvs.org.uk;
South London CVS Partnership : info@slcvspartnership.org.uk

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