Collaborative Working news

• Collaborative Working Conference - last few places!
• Featured Workshop - Collaborative HR 

Other news         

• NCVO Fundraising Conference 
• New Resource kit for collaborative public service delivery

• Consortia Business Plans live on Capacitybuilders' website 
• Merger - Learning from the USA 
• Survive and Thrive - Skilling up for changes in the Housing with Support sector 
• Count Me In – involving beneficiaries and users in campaigning 

You can join the Collaborative Working Team mailing list by emailing your contact details to collaborate@ncvo-vol.org.uk

Collaborative Working news

Achieving together: Collaborative Working Conference 2008

Book now at: www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/collab08 

There is still time to book a place at NCVO’s third annual Collaborative Working Conference which takes place in London later this month. Presenting cutting edge thinking about the practice and potential of collaborative working, there are opportunities to hear about key lessons and new opportunities from keynote speakers, and to network and exchange ideas and experiences with peers. 

Keynote speakers:

Dr Siv Vangen, Senior Lecturer in Management, Open University 

"Achieving Collaborative Advantage: Understanding the challenge and making it happen" 

Nigel Newton Sawyerr, Collaboration Manager, bassac 

Nigel will speak about the various elements of bassac's Collaboration National Support Service programme.

Simon Berry (Chief Executive, ruralnet|uk) will summarise the key issues arising from the conference and draw out implications and opportunities for the practice of collaborative working. 

A stimulating series of workshops will cover: 

• Collaborative HR
• Merger
• Web 2.0 technologies and collaboration
• Joint tendering for public service contracts
• Associate Charity Models
• Joint fundraising and project delivery 

NB.  We have a limited number of bursary places available, to enable small organisations to attend. If you would be interested in this please call Gareth Coles on 020 7520 2441 or Sue Beckett on 020 7520 2440 for more information.

Date: Wednesday 22 October 2008
Time: 10.00am to 4.00pm
Venue: Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD

Featured workshop: Collaborative HR

Beyond a Helpline or Beyond Hope?

This workshop will present the evaluation results of a pilot project designed to provide effective HR support to small and medium sized voluntary organisations. ‘Beyond a Helpline’ was set up by the London Housing Foundation, with the active involvement of a number of smaller agencies: it ran for two years and assisted 13 agencies over that period. The pilot used a larger voluntary organisation (Broadway Homelessness and Support) to provide a combination of policies, procedures, training, advice and support to the smaller agencies (up to 30 staff). Independent evaluators were appointed to keep track of the pilot from inception and a wonderfully full picture of the trials, tribulations, successes and learning points has resulted.

Speakers:

• Kevin Ireland (Compendium Consulting; at the time Executive Director of the London Housing Foundation and initiator of the project)
• Helen Giles (Director of HR at Broadway)

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Other news

NCVO Fundraising Conference

19 November 2008
London  

NCVO’s first ever Fundraising Conference will give you a broad picture of the key elements involved in successful fundraising. The conference will take you through the fundraising journey, ending with a success story for inspiration. With networking opportunities and interactive workshops, you will get top tips to apply to your own organisation’s fundraising.

• For more and to book visit:
  www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/fundraising08 
  Email matt.gilfeather@ncvo-vol.org.uk 
  Or call 020 7520 3160

New resource kit for collaborative public service delivery

Hact (Housing Associations Charitable Trust) have recently published a resource kit to help local, community-based housing support providers to thrive within the emerging Supporting People framework by developing collaborative approaches to tendering and delivering services. It draws on the direct experiences of six partnerships who Hact supported with practical help, facilitation and some financial support under their “Collaborate” project. Consisting of eight worksheets, the kit provides information about strategic development, different collaborative approaches, how to influence procurement processes, developing collaborative bids and implementation issues.

• The resource kit is available to download here 

• Alan Cripps (Managing Director, Neadon Consulting - working with HACT) will share key learning from the project at the Collaborative Working Conference 

Consortia Business Plans live on Capacitybuilders' website

In 2007-08 Capacitybuilders launched the Consortia Development Fund to support local and regional partnerships of support providers to:

• review and develop the consortia as robust partnerships 
• look to the longer term and how to improve sector support in their areas, developing strategic plans to 2014, with more detailed business plans to 2011

The strategic and business plans formed part of an assessment of consortia's progress, and on this basis the majority have now been awarded three year Consortium Development Grants to support their role as strategic partnerships developing the right support for the sector in their areas.

The Business Plans (available to download on a region-by-region basis from their website) include evidence of local need, and priority outcomes and projects, many of which have received funding from Capacitybuilders Modernisation Fund. 

Merger – Learning from the USA

The Center for Nonprofit Strategy and Management at Baruch College, City University of New York has launched a Working Paper Series which includes the following paper on merger: 

• Bowling Together: Anatomy of a Successful Association Merger
  Julie Pietroburgo, Southern Illinois University and Stephen P. Wernet, Saint Louis University

Survive and Thrive - Skilling up for changes in the Housing with Support sector

Regional events, November 2008

Sitra, Hact and the National Housing Federation are working together to bring a series of events to providers and commissioners of Supported Housing that will provide an opportunity to reflect on the changes impacting on the Housing with Support Sector.

Core changes are afoot – and these events provide an opportunity to get to grip with the latest thinking on key agenda issues including:

• Procurement – Hot issues for both providers and commissioners
• Commissioning Frameworks and Service Models – Exploring how providers and commissioners are working together and building collaborative approaches for Supporting People services
• Levelling the playing field – Understanding the role of Government Offices, Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships and Local Strategic Partnerships
• Pathfinder feedback – Where are we now with Local Area Agreements and Area Based Grants

Dates & venues  

11th Nov 08     Manchester, Lancashire Cricket Club
17th Nov 08     London, Methodist International Centre
20th Nov 08     Birmingham, Repertory Theatre 

Bursary places

Hact, with support from Communities and Local Government, are offering reduced rate places to small providers supporting 50 or less service users and/or employing 10 or less FTE staff. Please note that there are limited bursaries, and these will be available on a first come first served basis. 

• Click here to download the conference brochure and booking form
• Click here to download a word version of the booking form

Count Me In – involving beneficiaries and users in campaigning 

Involving those who you represent and placing them at the heart of your campaigning is not only positive and desirable but a can be a source of legitimacy and accountability that strengthens your campaigns. Campaigning Effectiveness have consulted with campaigners across the sector to develop resources to support and inspire you in devising an inclusive campaigns strategy to make a greater impact. It draws on lessons from real campaigns including Speaking Up, Leonard Cheshire Disability and Merton Parents for Better Food in Schools. 

• Visit the Count Me In web pages