NCVO/GMCVO Autumn Conference 2010 - workshops

Morning workshops

View Afternoon Workshops

AM1

Localism, localism, localism

The Government is committed to devolving power to the most local level, giving individuals a say in decisions that affect their lives and giving greater freedom to local councils to decide what is best for their local areas. What will the council of the future look like? Should it be more like Easy Jet or John Lewis? This workshop is an opportunity to explore how local government is changing and how this will impact on the relationship with voluntary and community organisations.

Speakers include:
Belinda Pratten, Head of Policy, NCVO

AM2 

What Now? Equalities and Human Rights

Join us to explore the broader equalities agenda and what impact a change of government has had on equality and human rights.

• where does equality and human rights sit within the framework of the proposed vision of a Big Society?
• will the secondary legislation that’s required to support some of the more meaningful provisions set out in the Equality Act materialise and if so, how?
• and what does the future hold for the UK Human Rights Act?

Speakers include:
Shakirah Ullah, Diversity & Access Coordinator, GMVCO

Chaired by:
Assia Shah, Board Member, GMCVO

AM3

Growing the Big Society through Community Enterprise

*FULLY BOOKED*

Our workshop will look at the role of community and social enterprise in growing the Big Society. We will present the findings of research exploring the nature of community and social enterprise in the North West region including five diverse case studies which might be considered to be ‘high performing’ in particularly challenging communities and contexts. The workshop will particularly explore the support needs of community enterprise and how locally based voluntary and community groups make the 'enterprise transition'.
 
The workshop will include a presentation of research findings, a presentation by at least one of the case studies featured in the research and plenty of opportunity for discussion and debate about some of the key issues raised.

Speakers include:
Ed Cox (right), Director, IPPR North

Chaired by:
Ian Taylor, GMCVO
 

New media for social change

This introductory workshop on new media and campaigning will help you to think about how using free tools such as blogging, Twitter, Facebook and online video – alongside traditional methods – can help you to deliver a more effective campaign. We will guide you through the campaign cycle and begin to identify which of these online technologies are most appropriate for getting your message out there, inspiring your supporters and evaluating your campaign. A case study from People’s Voice Media will show how organisations have made a real difference using new media.

This workshop is suitable for people who are new to using new media tools for campaigning and influencing policy. There will be a chance in the workshop to ask us and the other participants your questions about new media.

Speakers include:
Louise Brown (second right), ICT Development Officer, NCVO
Read Louise's blog & follow her on Twitter
Gary Copitch (first right), Chief Executive, People’s Voice Media

Surviving in a time of cuts

*FULLY BOOKED*

Public sector cuts are happening, but how they will affect our sector is still uncertain. At times like these a proactive approach is vital. But what can realistically be done to prepare? Using smart, simple techniques, this interactive workshop will help your organisation to develop meaningful scenarios and realistic responses; and identify ways it can save money.

Speakers include:
Donald Ritchie (right), Strategy and Impact Advisor, NCVO
Andrew Wileman, Founder partner of OC&C and author of the bestselling Driving Down Cost – How To Manage and Cut Cost Intelligently

Afternoon workshops

View morning workshops

PM1

Speaking the same language - The benefits of international exchange for organisations and communities

What are the benefits to local organisations and their communities in taking part in international projects? This session will explore the opportunities and challenges of working across borders for organisations from the UK. The British Council will offer an overview of their Active Citizens Programme as a route for local organisations to work internationally; Bury Third Sector Development Agency will share their hands-on experience of taking part in a community development exchange programme between Bury and Mirpur in Pakistan; and NCVO will offer an insight into their innovative European online mentoring project: ‘Participation for Change’.

Speakers include:
Marie Brookfield, Co-ordinator, Bury Third Sector Development Agency

David Knox, Social Development Advisor, British Council

Chaired by:
Arjun Singh-Muchelle, European & International Campaigns' Manager, NCVO

PM2

Small is beautiful – sustaining smaller providers through contracting

This workshop will benefit any organisation looking to include smaller providers in their contracting arrangements.  You will have the chance to see how the new Greater Manchester Third Sector Health & Wellbeing Consortium is providing opportunities to enable this to happen through its business model and membership prospectus. These will be presented along with the Health Partnership’s online Directory of local health providers.

Speakers include:
Neil Walbran, Health Partnership Officer, GMCVO

PM3

Productive Collaboration

When resources are tight and needs are great, how do we both build, and sustain delivery? What matters in not more initiatives, but greater impact.
How can we work collaboratively to deliver the greatest collective impact for all our beneficiaries?
This will be an interactive session, drawing on practical work and developmental thinking in the area but also inviting input and dialogue from participants. 
 
Speakers include:
Esther Ridsdale, Collaborative Working Development Officer, NCVO
Professor John Carlisle, Sheffield Business School, Chair of Cooperation Works Ltd and Alliance of Deming Consultants

Identifying unmet need - the implications for future funding

Explore and discuss the Young Foundation’s influential 2009 report on the changing landscape of need in the UK - Sinking and Swimming: understanding Britain’s unmet needs. The report identifies where the most acute needs are, how they interrelate and draws on the implications for policy, philanthropy and public action. As voluntary and community organisations it is crucial that we understand how the findings of this report will:
• shape funders thinking

• influence new funding streams
• and form priorities for future action.

Speakers include:
Will Norman (right), Principle Research Associate, Young Foundation - Co-author of Sinking and Swimming: understanding Britain’s unmet needs
Brian Whittaker, Director, LankellyChase Foundation - one of the 13 funders of the programme

Measuring Social Value 

*FULLY BOOKED*

Understanding, and actively managing, the value that your organisation creates is just as important as knowing its income and expenditure. It can help you recognise the good work your organisation does and communicate this to funders, donors and supporters. This interactive workshop will tell you how the idea of Full Value can help you appreciate your organisation’s full social and environmental impact. Learn about, and try, practical techniques including the Social Return On Investment (SROI) model which you can use to express your organisation’s impact in financial terms.

Speakers include:
Donald Ritchie (right), Strategy and Impact Advisor, NCVO