‘Valuing the Voluntary and Community Sector’ NAVCA Conference 2006

1. ‘Valuing the Voluntary and Community Sector’NAVCA Conference 2006 Emma Whittlesea, Director 20th September

2. Programme • Introductions & Welcome • The Challenge: Valuing the Voluntary and Community Sector • The Learning: The Audit Commission Area Profiles pilot process • The Guidance: How to capture good quality data • A Data Source: How to utilise GuideStar UK • Your Experience: Profiling the local voluntary and community sector in your area • Questions

3. Introductions and Welcome • SUSTAIN Consultancy Ltd • GuideStar UK • Workshop aims

4. 1. The Challenge: Valuing the VCS How do you define value? • Economic and social value How do you define the Voluntary and Community Sector? • What do you need on the ground? The top down definitions don’t work and are changing. How do you capture and update information on the VCS? • The purpose of this workshop Who is interested? • NAVCA members and LSPs, Local Government, Office of Third Sector, HM Treasury etc. Why are they interested? • Knowledge is power - to monitor and shape policy and funding programmes, to assist in delivery, to help support the work of infrastructure organisations

5. Your experience? Show of hands: • Have you undertaken or are you planning to undertake any mapping studies? Think about: • Do you think your knowledge / evidence base is fit for purpose?

6. 2. The Learning Audit Commission Area Profiles • VCS is 1 component of 6 in the Area Profiles model • National Reference Group: researchers and practitioners from the Audit Commission, Home Office, NCVO, NAVCA, CAF, GuideStar UK, WCVA (LGA and IDeA later) • The Guidance: Developing and testing guidance to help capture good quality data, profile the local VCS, identify and describe the extent and contribution of the local VCS to ‘quality of life’ • Partnership working: Encourage and support capacity building, and securing and improving involvement of the VCS in a full range of activities

7. Audit Commission Area Profiles Project

8. Area Profile Pilots • Phase 1 Pilot - October 2003 to April 2004 • Phase 2 Pilot - April 2005 to March 2006 • Six pilot areas: • Birmingham Voluntary Service Council • Chester Voluntary Action • Liverpool Council for Voluntary Service • West Cornwall Community Network • Interlink Rhondda Cynon Taff • Selby District Association of Voluntary Service

9. Key Policy Links Not just Audit Commission Area Profiles • Local Area Agreements • PSA 6 on the VCS • A lot of potential players and interests: LGA, IDEA, ODPM, DCLG, NAVCA, NCVO etc. • ODPM Local Strategic Partnership agenda • Cabinet Office – Office of the Third Sector • HM Treasury Charity and Third Sector Finance Unit • Change Up – Capacity Builders • Compact Plus

10. Change Up / Capacity Builders • Complementary to Change Up / Capacity Builders - sector’s capacity to contribute and develop relationships with partners • Supports the 6 principle areas of activity • Collection of fundamental basic information on the VCS to support improved ICT, finance, governance, performance improvement, workforce development and volunteering • Can build on the work to improve the quality of the VCS in terms of capacity and skills

11. 3. The Guidance: Why should you use it? • Data and information - knowledge is power • Plenty of anecdote – but the evidence base is weak • Represent interests – understanding • Inform service delivery and decision making • Co-ordinate local VCS databases • Demonstrate the value and case for funding • Can find organisations and groups • Helps local organisations – publicity/networking • In the long run empower the sector • Clear and consistent national approach

12. Six Stages • Getting Ready (Section 4) • Database systems (Section 5) • Developing a local VCS database (Section 6) • Profiling the local VCS (Section 7) • Communicating the results (Section 8) • Reporting (Section 9)

13. A) Getting Ready • Leadership • Terms of reference for the partnership • Research reference group • Involving the local voluntary and community sector in the project • Resources and skills • Defining the scope of the project • Timetable (Appendix 2) • Action plan

14. Your experience? Show of hands: • Have you undertaken or are you planning to undertake any directory or database development? Think about: • How comprehensive do you think your directory or database is?

15. B. Database systems • Defining your requirements • Choosing an appropriate database system • Training, change management and people • Maintaining your database system • Appendices 3, 4, 5 and 6

16. C. Developing a Local VCS Database • Identifying and collecting existing databases e.g. Online survey for all LIOs • Agreeing the design of the master database • Adding databases together to create the master • Cleaning the master database • Sharing database information • Using information from GuideStar UK • Filling gaps in the master database • Updating information / collecting standard core information (common registration form - Appendix 1)

17. Exercise 1 Appendix 7 lists some of the types of bodies most likely to have databases that include voluntary and community organisations. Working through this form will help you identify what data already exists. • Please look through Appendix 7 and tick those you work closely with or have exchanged database information. • Tick those you think you could or should be working closer with.

18. Capturing good quality data…

19. Case Study Herefordshire and Worcestershire • “Universe” of voluntary and community organisations based on local databases and data from GuideStar UK • Core economic and social data on registered charities available from GuideStar UK • All organisations invited to complete an online survey to capture economic data from other voluntary and community groups, and other data to support activities of LIOs.

20. A Data Source Utilising GuideStar UK…

21. D. Profiling the local VCS

22. Your experience? How was your profiling work done? Show of hands: • From your profiling/mapping work with just a report, or did you also capture data that could be stored in your database and used for future analysis? Think about: • The methodology, timing and cost? • Did / will it meet your longer term needs and wants?

23. The Problems • Longevity • Lack of consistency in the methods used to carry out research – no basis for comparison • Lack of agreement about the scope / definition • Lack of consistency in collection and presentation of basic factual information e.g. descriptions of what organisations do, who they serve, method of calculating response rates • Appendix 9 has information on some mapping studies and some suggestions for further reading

24. Profiling the VCS Using the data you have collected • Master database is the key to understanding your local VCS - source of information • Means to gathering additional information - mailing list or sampling frame • Up to date good quality and relevant information • Analyse the data you now hold – main characteristics • Principal feature of the guidance is the registration form at Appendix 1 which has core standard fields for gathering the data • Appendix 10 provides a template on how you can use the core information to produce a descriptive report

25. Assessing Impact • Core information describes main characteristics • Assess impact of the sector • Demanding and cumulative task • Build up understanding over time • Gathering contextual and additional information • Use existing information • Interview key players • Conduct focus groups with a sample • Carry out more detailed research with some or all of the organisations in your database

26. Exercise 2 Appendix 12 is a form asking some specific questions to help collate and summarise contextual information • Please look through Appendix 12 and consider how much you already know about the context in which the VCS operates locally • Tick those you think you would need to do further work or investigation on

27. E. Communicating the results • Often and well – maximise its utility • Use all existing networks • Use as a common information platform – an evidence base for all • Engage with local media • Share experiences of profiling with others – share the learning • Archiving of information and reports

28. F. Reporting Consider the following: Types of audience • Local Government, practitioners, funders, service users Types of report • Printed publications – summary and full reports • Web based reports Presentation • Events, conference etc.

29. Evaluation of the Guidance • Can be used in whole or in part - flexible and can adapt to suit approach and resources • Structured approach and advice useful • Guidance has provided the basis and impetus for local work, often in partnership • Provided useful results and improved information and understanding locally • Timeframe required 6-12 months • Needs adequate resources and planning

30. Where can I find it? • Getting to know your local voluntary and community sector - A Guide to Area Profiles • Guidance and tools (forms, checklists, timetables, templates etc) • Published by NAVCA as a PDF document in June 2006 • Available from: • www.navca.org.uk (over 900 views to date) • www.audit-commission.gov.uk/area profiles

31. Questions & DiscussionAny issues that need feeding back to NAVCA?

32. Contacts Emma Whittlesea SUSTAIN Consultancy Ltd 01752 663288 / 07775 845939 emma.whittlesea@sustainconsultancy.co.uk Les Hems GuideStar UK 0207 632 0217 / 07836 780067 les.hems@guidestar.org.uk