‘The Big Squeeze in Tower Hamlets’ conference report

Background

‘The Big Squeeze’ campaign, coordinated by London Voluntary Service Council (LVSC), ran from November 2008. It aimed to map current sources of Voluntary Sector income and collate detail of the impact of the recession on communities and on the Sector’s own capacity to survive and to stretch to cover more work.

At local level, Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets (VCTH) encouraged groups to contribute to the LVSC campaign. On 25th March 2009, VCTH, in conjunction with LVSC, organised a conference hosted by Toynbee Hall, to bring together local voluntary and community groups to share their experiences of how the current recession was affecting their own organisation and the local communities that they serve.

The conference also offered local groups the opportunity to meet with representatives from organisations that have previously, or are currently funding voluntary sector projects within Tower Hamlets.

This report summarises the main discussion points, key messages, and suggested outcomes to emerge from the Conference.

VCS Infrastructure

The conference highlighted concerns about the current state of Voluntary Sector infrastructure within Tower Hamlets

  • Properly resourced Voluntary Sector infrastructure is not in place and is badly needed. There is currently no Council for Voluntary Service.
  • The need for clear and consistent information sources for Voluntary Sector groups
  • The need for a clear and consistent voice to represent the Sector
  • The importance of regional support for Tower Hamlets at present, signposting etc.

Capacity building needs of Voluntary sector organisations in Tower Hamlets

Specific issues that groups currently need help with are;

  • Funding applications
  • Policies and procedures
  • Recruiting committee members/trustees
  • Bookkeeping and finance

How do we network better?

  • Using email bulletins from other sources (e.g. LVSC have some policy ones open to all)
  • Mapping existing services outside Tower Hamlets available to Tower Hamlets groups.
  • LVSC making groups' details available to others in Tower Hamlets.

Current support available to Voluntary Sector organisations in Tower Hamlets

  • VCTH provides training and good practice advice in volunteer management
  • LBTH quarterly funding bulletin
  • LVSC products and services leaflet
  • Signposting further support, e.g.
  • Acevo offers recession help online
  • NCVO – ‘Help your organisation survive the down turn’
  • In the absence of a Council for Voluntary Service in Tower Hamlets, there are many organisations in neighbouring boroughs that can provide useful and relevant information. These include: NAVCA City & Hackney Health & Social Care ForumEnfield Community Empowerment Network (ECEN) Hackney CVSRedbridge CVS, Haringey AVCWaltham Forest Voluntary ActionTower Hamlets 4 Community

Key messages

For funders;

  • That all funders operating in TH consider and respond to this report - what more direct support can they provide in the interim?
  • To be as flexible as possible in the current climate.
  • Perhaps when next funding rounds are due, all funders operating in Tower Hamlets could commit to running open capacity-building workshops relating to their fund when details are released.

For the Local Authority;

  • That LBTH disseminates more information to local groups about the progress of the current Third Sector Strategy consultation process.
  • That LBTH’s funding bulletin, although currently useful, should have a greater local focus.

For Voluntary Sector organisations;

  • Research funding applications thoroughly and demonstrate evidence of meeting genuine needs, avoiding duplication of services.
  • Explore the possibility of working in partnership with other organisations.
  • Think creatively about how they engage volunteers and to respond quickly to potential volunteers recently made redundant in order to harness their skills.

For everyone;

  • An effective local infrastructure is vital to almost everything.
  • ‘Traditional' Voluntary Sector needsremain as important now, as during a recession.

Suggested outcomes

  • The outcomes and key messages from this conference form part of the LVSC BIG Squeeze report.
  • LVSC to write to LBTH and ask what their plans for infrastructure investment might be going forward, and whether there is anything LVSC could do to support that.
  • That this report is circulated to; LBTH staff with key responsibilities for the Third Sector, Tower Hamlets Change Up Consortium members and made available to Voluntary Sector organisations via the VCTH website.