GAVCA

At the January 2012 meeting of the Grants and Community Services Forum, at which representatives from the VCS can discuss issues of interest to the VCS with elected members and officers from the City Council, both partners shared updates on the work they are doing to support voluntary and community groups in the city. Key points highlighted were:

• The Council's 5 year money plan is now more fluid due to more uncertainty in future funding. However, the budget for 2012-13 is pretty much as expected. Comments from the VCS that there was very little information provided for the budget consultation on which to form and opinion, was noted
• In an effort to reduce form-filling bureaucracy and also make more visible the work in the VCS that is supported by the City Council, there will be a public showcase of council-funded groups in the spring, consisting of an event in Kings Square and also an exhibition in St Michaels Tower. This was welcomed by the VCS reps, who were pleased how an idea that had originated from the VCs Forum, had been taken on and developed by the City Council to reach a wider audience.
• The Council has confirmed that it will be offering grants to organisations for youth projects again this year after the success of last year's funding round. More information is likely to follow around March.
• Contrary to the original plans for funding advice services, these groups will not have to got through a competitive bidding round for funding next year, but existing agreements will continue.
• The report produced by GAVCA on the impact of public spending cuts on the VCS generated considerable discussion, particularly around the need for more effective brokering of the potential skills on offer from volunteers and the needs of organisations and also around the question of whether to concentrate support to groups on providing training to up-skill people with new skills (such as writing funding bids or marketing) or providing these services for them so that they can concentrate on the core work of their charity.
• The City Council is keen to support volunteering and encourage its members and staff to offer their skills to the VCS as volunteers. A brokerage system based on individuals offering their skills for groups to choose from, rather than groups offering volunteering opportunities they have identified they need, was welcomed by all as possibly more effective: GAVCA is hoping to develop such a new system in the coming year.
• Plans for a VCS hub at Chequers Bridge are progressing frustratingly slowly, but Sally will keep members and groups informed when there is any more news.

For more information, contact Sally Pickering at GAVCA on sallyp@gavca.org.uk or Pauline Reynolds, Chair of the Grants and Community Services Forum, on glosaca_1@hotmail.com