A new voluntary and community sector support service

At the end of February, the new voluntary and community sector (VCS) Support Service contract between Bristol City Council (BCC) and Voscur came into effect. The new service will launch formally in autumn, but before then you will begin to see some changes.

There is still much work to be done behind the scenes, developing the service and managing a period of change, so you will not notice major changes at first.

What will be different about the new service?

The new service will make it easier for groups to find support. Instead of having to go to different organisations to find the support, training, advice, information and representation you need, these will be brought together and accessed through the new service.

Something else that will be different is the information that we will ask you to provide us with, before your organisation is able to access support. We will need to ask for some information about your organisation and about the type of support needs that you have. It’s important that we can identify groups ‘most in need.’ After the support has been provided, we will follow this up to find out what difference our support has made to your organisation.

This is because we want to ensure that we are offering high quality services, and we need to provide evidence of the difference that the service has made.

Can anyone access the new support service?

Some services will be open to all, but parts of the service will be targeted to offer extra support to those in need and to certain groups. Click here to find out more

How will I get support for my organisation?

For the time being groups can access services via the Voscur website at www.voscur.org or by calling 0117 909 9949. Later this year we will be launching a new website and with effect from May 2011 we will be moving to city centre location (see below for details).

What if I don’t have access to the website?

You will be able to get access to the service via phone, at events or at a pre-arranged meeting.

The new VCS Support Service at a glance

News, information and resources

Fortnightly e-bulletin including news and updates
New website (from Autumn 2011) bringing together resources and information as well as access to all VCS Support Services
Regular policy updates
New searchable VCS directory providing information on VCS organisations in Bristol.

Capacity building support

Organisations that meet certain criteria will be offered one to one development support

Training

An annual programme of 40 training and learning sessions
New courses to meet a variety of needs in the sector to include legal updates, marketing and HR support
Training and learning offered at different levels
More free training places for organisations who meet the criteria
A variety of new training providers and professionals to deliver learning to the sector

Voice and Influence

More joined up thinking between VCS organisations working across different service areas and neighbourhoods – in a new VCS Assembly - to be launched in Autumn 2011.
Three Assembly networks to bring people together so that they can influence the changing agenda in Health and Social Care, Children and Young People’s Services and Neighbourhoods.
Support to ensure that equalities groups are involved in the Assembly and each Assembly Network.

Support services for those most in need

The new service has been set targets by the council to ensure extra support is provided to those voluntary and community groups and organisations most in need. These include groups that:

are experiencing financial or operational difficulties
serve socially excluded communities
serve equalities communities
have identified a gap in service provision for a new and emerging group
have an income of less than £50,000 per year.

There are also specific targets to ensure that equalities groups and groups working with children and young people can access the new VCS Support Service.

Helping to shape the new VCS Assembly

We have recruited representatives from VCS groups and organisations to a steering group to help develop and finalise proposals for a new VCS Assembly (to be launched in autumn 2011). The steering group will meet between April - June. If you would like more information about the Assembly Steering group email matthew@voscur.org or call 0117 909 9949.

Click here for more details about the new VCS Assembly

Click here for details about how VCS representation will be supported and developed within the new VCS Support Service