Focus on Regional ChangeUp

Action on ChangeUp - Planning the route for a successful sector

South London Consultation Event

The Action on ChangeUp event took place on 13 th February at Braithwaite Hall, Croydon Clock Tower. The focus of the event was to discuss and consult on the London Regional ChangeUp Infrastructure Plan. The event was well attended by representatives from across the statutory and voluntary sector and the programme included presentations on the London Regional ChangeUp Plan (John Routledge) and the South London sub-regional ChangeUp Plan (Jacqui Finn). The presentations were followed by facilitated "Knowledge Cafés" - participative sessions to enable participants to give views and feedback on the London Plan. These views contributed to the response that was written with regard to the draft plan and in accordance with the consultation process.

Download the response to the London regional ChangeUp Infrastructure Plan :

( Jacqui Finn , SLCVS Partnership Manager, Steve Phaure, CEO, CVA with keynote speaker, John Routledge).

(Nero Ughwujabo, BME Forum, receiving a prize laptop from Neil Roberts, LSC)

Regional Consortium

The London Regional ChangeUp Consortium has overseen a range of regional activities including mapping and researching levels of infrastructure funding, VCS networks, ‘Future Trends’ and a number of projects led by regional VCS infrastructure. These projects include support for Sub-regional BME networks, an Equalities Hub, LGBT mapping and VCS property management. For further information on this work visit the London Voluntary Service Website: www.lvsc.org.uk/changeup

The Consortium is reviewing its structure and how it will relate to the Capacity Builders agency. The current proposals are:

Role

To make regional infrastructure more effective, efficient and accessible and better able to represent the needs of frontline organisations in London, primarily through the implementation and development of the London Infrastructure Development Plan. To bring about a step change in support available to these organisations for the longer term whilst ensuring their diversity is taken account of and reflected in any changes planned. To oversee the implementation and development of Local and Sub-regional Development Plans. The LRC will ratify decisions made within the sub-groups.

Membership

The regional consortium will be chaired until September 2006 by GOL and will be a high level strategic body comprising representatives from the voluntary and community sector, funders and key regional bodies from the public sector. Representatives will have specialist or technical knowledge of the issues being addressed.

Sub-Groups

All sub-groups will take forward existing regional projects and develop proposals for new activity in line with agreed and emerging priorities within their specific area of expertise. They are the main decision making bodies. Sub-group membership should include local, frontline, small and marginalized VCO’s. The organisations named provide the Chair and secretariat for the sub-group.

Equalities – Race On The Agenda (ROTA)
Covering LGBT, Gender, Disability, Age, BME, Refugees and Faith. Not only providing support for VCOs tackling these issues but also having a scrutiny role for the whole programme.

Income Generation – Social Enterprise London
Fundraising support, social enterprise, pro-bono, private sector funding, support for VCS on procurement issues including the funder’s group, VCOs engaged in delivering services for children and young people, health services, older people, employment training, community safety and homelessness including those working across the equalities sector.

Premises – Development Trusts Association
Asset acquisition, co-location, other models of securing premises working with a diverse range of organisations to include, community, small and marginalized groups.

ICT – London Advice Services Alliance (LASA)
See paragraph under the heading ‘Sub-Groups’ above. To include community, small and marginalized groups.

Neighbourhoods – The Scarman Trust
Support in engaging with local democracy including Local Strategic Plans and Local Area Agreements; community capacity building; citizenship; support for pan-London single issue groups working at the local level; faith groups with strong links in local partnerships; equalities groups.

Volunteering – Greater London Volunteering
Volunteering support both through Volunteer Centres and other activity; links with Olympics sub-groups; equalities and diversity.

Thames Gateway and Olympics – London Civic Forum
Existing VCS groupings around these London specific themes will provide representation on the LRC.

Governance – London Voluntary Service Council
Skills support for VCOs in governance covering community, small and marginalized groups

Workforce Development and Performance Improvement – SLCVS Partnership
Skills support for VCOs in workforce development and performance improvement covering community, small and marginalized groups. Specific skills support for VCOs in diversity, finance, lobbying, campaigning and partnership working.

Advice – London Advice Forum
See paragraph under the heading ‘sub-groups’ above. To include community, small and marginalized groups.

London Civic Forum 2012 Project

The London Civic Forum (LCF) 2012 project is in partnership with London Voluntary Service Council and East London CVS network. The purpose of the project is to build the “missing link” between Games stakeholders and the voluntary and community sector.
The project is seeking to respond to Tony Blair’s invitation in April 2006

“We invite every London community organisation and voluntary group to consider what ambitions they might set themselves for 2012 – what they could achieve for themselves, and what part they could play in making London a greater city by 2012”

The project has been operational since mid January 2006. Although the current funding from Change Up expires in July 2006, London Civic Froum is committed to finding ongoing funding. Below are a few key developments for the project

• Regular contact with LOCOG through the project is to culminate with a meeting hosted by and involving LOCOG that will bring together the eight VCS infrastructure organisations from the Change Up sub-group to develop a strategic plan for ongoing VCS activity around the Games. This strategy will then develop together with LOCOG's engagement plan for the VCS.
• The Project has completed a Risk Assesment outlining risks and opportunities of involvement in the Games. Over 70% of VCO’s want to be involved, less than 40% think they will be. The biggest barrier to organisations getting involved is access to the information they need . It is clear a central point of information is necessary for VCO’s to engage.
•The project is seeking to raise it’s profile and is in the final stages of a branding exercise. The final brand identity will galvanise VCO’s and inspire them to fully consider what they can do to contribute to the Games.
• The LCF 2012 Project will start to work with the School for Social Entrepreneurs to develop “community champions” for the 2012 Games.

For more information email:
miriam@londoncivicforum.org.uk

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