Case Studies

This organisation had recently been involved in the negotiation with the District Council of the representation of the local community's views regarding a local park. The organisation were keen to have a document setting out terms of reference for the District Council and organisation discussing the local issues together.

The organisation already had a template drawn up which they were hoping to use. The objectives of the document were discussed with the organisation to establish what the document was intended to achieve. I supported the organisation by making constructive suggestions for the layout, and content of the document. Including ensuring the document had an appropriate title to ensure it was clear, who the terms of reference were between.

The organisation now has a set of Terms of Reference that they were happy with, and that they could propose were used with the District Council.

The Polish Community Worker approached me to discuss what support could be provided to a group of Polish individuals, who were potentially looking to set up a new local community association.

I met with the Expanding Communities Worker and members of the local Polish Community to discuss what their thoughts were around setting up a new local group. I was able to explain in detail, areas that they might like to consider around setting up their new group.

An information sheet was provided to the individuals outlining UK law and structures around voluntary sector organisations.

English is not the individual's first language and it was therefore invaluable to have the Polish speaking Community Engagement worker present to help explain any of the more complicated areas.

The individuals all took the information away, and decided they wanted to get more people involved before they took their ideas any further.

They benefited from being able to have face to face contact with an individual who could discuss all of the areas they might need to consider. They also had the opportunity at the meeting and after to ask any questions.

A local parent with a background in cooking professionally had been offering her time to local schools delivering cooking activity workshops to local children. In the main this activity had received no external funding; however donations of food were made by a local supermarket.

The organisation had recently found that demand for the service had been increasing, whilst the resources available to deliver the service had remained consistent.

The organisation wanted to expand its service and therefore felt it needed to apply for grant funding. In order to do so, the organisation needed to become constituted, elect a committee and open a bank account.

The organisation explained the background to their work, it became apparent that the group were not constituted. Template constitutions were provided for the group to decide which would suit them most appropriately. The process leading up to holding an inaugural meeting was also explained in detail.

The group, would if they could, have continued working the way they were, not constituted, with no committee and no bank account. The organisation was really run by one person, meaning that the prospect of electing a committee of at least three people was a little daunting.

As a result of our working together I believe the group are not constituted and continue to offer cooking classes in the local area.

A blind association in West Sussex wanted an evaluation of their Listening and Information Service undertaken with a report that could be used to help future direction of the service and evidence for funding.

I agreed a brief and parameters of research with Chief Officer; carried out 1:1 interviews, observations, desk research, telephone enquiries with a range of stakeholders from staff, clinicians, members and professional bodies.

One of the problems I encountered was a very short time in which to do a thorough job and write up results.

An independent evaluation report was written and will be presented to the association's trustees by their CEO.

The association has benefited by having this evaluation because it has brought together their case studies, statistics and the independent interviews together in one document.

People need to talk about their experience of being diagnosed with visual impairments, and the service does more than listen. They give practical advice and help, and are fully qualified.

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is keen to use the CVS for making contact with community and voluntary groups on an ongoing basis.

They would like to source different channels to make contact with groups and individuals to help communicate their safety advice and practical help to the whole community.

Fire officers attended the recent Information Exchange event held in Burgess Hill.

As a result they made contact with several groups from the BME community and made some good networking contacts, eg; with an housing association Neighbourhood Investment Officer.

The Fire & Rescue Service have used the CVS before to help disseminate information to the Voluntary Sector Community.

This is a good example of partnership working.

As a result emails were exchanged giving further contacts to the Fire & Rescue Service to help them reach some 'hard to reach' groups in West Sussex they had not so far contacted.

Several groups with similar interests in Worthing were seeking help with funding and attracting new recruits, but not wanting to compete with each other.

I worked in partnership with WNCA, and Worthing Museum invited all groups to an open forum where their suggestions and concerns were aired. Heritage Lottery attended and gave individual advice. Regular meetings have been facilitated by EESI and the groups are now formalising themselves as Worthing Heritage Alliance - voting in post holders, making an action plan, promoting events and attracting funders. The Musuem is hosting these.

I encountered problems by turning a negative attitude into a proactive approach.

The Alliance will become self sustaining by the end of 2010.

An action plan to raise the profile of Worthing as an area of heritage interest is now underway.

With my input they were able to be more strategic in their approach through our facilitating their partnerships.

They have learned that updating and maintaing an accurate membership list of contact details prior to becoming formalised is important. Not everyone wants to/has access to internet and email and expect postal mail.

This organistion specifically wanted help with a potential venue for housing this project and to look at some potential funding. I met with the volunteer project leader to discuss their needs and requirements.

I encountered structural uncertainties with consitution and no bank account as such. I guided the leader to appropriate policies and gave her a Business Plan Template.

The organisation now have the confidence to proceed after some guidance from myself.

This group of individuals from the Portuguese community had identified a gap in community facilities, events etc being delivered to their community. The group of individuals required help in setting up a brand new group in the Crawley area from scratch.

A meeting was held where we discussed the aims of the organisation, and what the group were hoping to achieve by setting up this new initiative.

The process of setting up a new group was explained in great detail. Including governing documents, committee roles, bank accounts etc.

Over the period of two months, together we were able to work through all that is needed to set up a new organisation. Over several meetings and conversations we were able to develop a draft constitution.

When I met with this group of individuals, they all felt quite daunted by the prospect of setting up a group. They felt that it would involve a lot of work, and was going to be too complex for them to understand. Through meeting, we were able to talk through what the process would involve and I could answer all of their questions and concerns.

The group held their inaugural meeting on february 14th. They now have around 70 people on record who have expressed interest in being involved.

Work is ongoing with this group, and now that they are a constituted, formal organisation with an elected committee we will soon be looking at potention sources of funding for their work.

The steering group chair emailed to thank me for my help in helping to make this project go ahead and for all the hard work involved.

A basketball group from Crawley approached me to look at funding. A member of the team had been individually funding the project for several months. No governance was in place, meaning that the group could not apply for funding.

The group were made aware of voluntary sector group structures which would enable them to be able to apply to grant funding. The group were helped through the process step by step including drawing up a suitable constitution, electing a committee and opening a bank account. The group are now being supported to apply for funding.

The group have now set up as an officially constituted organisation and are able to apply for funding/receive membership fees etc. to continue running their activity.

The benefit from having EESI on board ensures the individual will no longer need to continue self funding the group.

This African organisation had been constituted since May 2009, however they had never applied for grant funding. The sole income had been from membership fees which the members were finding increasingly difficult to commit to due to the recession.

A meeting was held to establish what the organsiations priorities were. Sustaining the services for their community was very important. Using the information gathered through speaking with the group a funding search was carried out highlighting local grants that would be appropriate for the organisation to apply to. The organisations chose one grant in particular to apply to first and the EESI worker was able to go through the funding process with the group step by step.

The organisation submitted an application for funding.