Annual Report 2011/12. Voluntary Sector Scheme

Transcription

1 Annual Report 2011/12 Voluntary Sector Scheme March 2013

2 Printed on recycled paper Print ISBN Digital ISBN Crown copyright 2013 WG17668

3 Foreword The Welsh Government values our partnership with the Third Sector and continues to work closely with the sector through what has clearly been another challenging year. The impacts of the UK Government s policies were felt strongly in Wales and we continued to work closely with all of our partners to minimise the impact of the UK Government s actions where we could. We continued to support the volunteering infrastructure; and maintained the Third Sector Partnership Council to contribute to the development of Welsh Government policy and the engagement on ideas in This report illustrates the wide range of Third Sector activity, and the tremendous contribution that volunteers, staff and trustees make to our communities. The report focuses on the five main themes set out in the Third Dimension, which is our strategic action plan designed in partnership with the Third Sector to spell out the actions we have agreed to take forward in our continuing relationship with our partners in the Third Sector: Valuing voluntary action Strengthening and empowering communities Facilitating citizen voice Accelerating social enterprise Personalising public services The report also shows our funding to the Third Sector outlining funding provided by individual Welsh Government Departments. In the Welsh Government refocused the Third Sector Partnership Council so as to take forward work on several important areas for with specific groups made up from representatives from the Third Sector and Welsh Government Officials looking at: Impact of UK Government Policy Decisions on Wales European Structural Funds Post 2013 The Simpson Review a joint commitment between Welsh Government and Local Government to reform aimed at delivering improved and cost effective services to communities across Wales. Climate Change Workforce Partnerships Third Sector Skills Asset Transfer. It is intended to use 2013 as an opportunity to reflect on the way in which the Third Sector and the Welsh Government work together. Some of our ways of engaging with each other need refreshing and some of the key documents, including the Third Dimension, which underpin the relationship between the Welsh Government and the Third Sector have not been updated for several years. It is important that the working arrangements and the funding arrangements to support the sector take account of the Programme for Government and that the support we give to the sector helps us to tackle poverty in Wales. In reflecting on the relationship between the Welsh Government and the Third Sector I am keen to work collaboratively with the sector, drawing on the knowledge and experience in it. I am looking forward to the next year, working closely with the sector and setting our relationship on a firm and positive course for the future. Huw Lewis AM Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty 1

4 View from the Sector I am pleased to contribute a Third Sector perspective to the Voluntary Sector Scheme Annual Report. The report, once again, provides a snapshot of the vast range of citizen activity which is supported by and engages with Welsh Government. The extent of such activity would not be possible without Welsh Government support and it is important that both sector and government are efficient and accountable in ensuring that public money is used to benefit fully the people and communities of Wales. Equally, however, Welsh Government could not achieve its aspirations and policy objectives without a thriving Third sector, underpinned by an effective support system. These are challenging times for everyone, and I am pleased to see that the sector is responding to many new challenges, first at a grass roots level for example the rapid growth of food banks; second in its relationships with local government through the renewed interest in compacts, and also in the way it has built close relationships with Health Boards at a regional level. It is only through connecting the contributions of community, voluntary and statutory sectors that we can hope to move forward and meet the increasing aspirations of our people. The growing challenges facing communities in Wales means that it is vital to review and refresh what has been achieved over the last 10 years. It is important to look forward to the next with a realism, but also optimism based upon enduring shared values which though first set out in the original Scheme, do not fade with time. Win Griffiths OBE Chair, WCVA 2

5 Topics covered in this report This report is an overview of the Welsh Government s engagement with the Third Sector in Foreword by Huw Lewis AM, Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty 2. View from the Sector: Win Griffiths, Chair, Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) 3. How the Welsh Government works with the Third Sector 4. Themed activities: a. Valuing voluntary action b. Strengthening and empowering communities c. Facilitating citizen voice d. Accelerating social enterprise e. Personalising public services 5. Summary of Welsh Government funding for the Third Sector in More information 3

6 How the Welsh Government Works with the Third Sector The Third Sector Scheme A Unique Scheme The Welsh Government s Third Sector Scheme sets the framework for all of the Welsh Government s work with the Third Sector. It covers arrangements for consultation, working in partnership with the Sector and also funding. What is the Third Sector? The Third Sector is very broad, spanning virtually every facet of human interest. There are community organisations, self-help groups, voluntary organisations, charities, faith-based organisations, social enterprises, community businesses, housing associations, co-operatives and mutual organisations. (from The Third Dimension A Strategic Action Plan for the Voluntary Sector Scheme, or the Third Dimension ). They display a range of institutional forms, including registered and unregistered charities, companies limited by guarantee (which may also be registered charities), Community Interest Companies, Industrial and Provident Societies and unincorporated associations. Each organisation has its own aims, distinctive culture, set of values and way of doing things, but they all share some important characteristics in common, being: independent, non-governmental bodies; established voluntarily by citizens who choose to organise; value-driven and motivated by the desire to further social, cultural or environmental objectives, rather than simply to make a profit; and committed to reinvesting their surpluses to further their social, cultural or environmental objectives. 4

7 We believe there is a strong case for viewing bodies with these characteristics as a distinctive sector one that makes a huge contribution to the social, economic, cultural and environmental well being of Wales. Its breadth is recognised in clause 2.1 of our statutory Voluntary (Third) Sector Scheme in which the sector is described as including voluntary organisations, community groups, volunteers, self-help groups, community co-operatives and enterprises, religious organisations and other not for profit organisations of benefit to communities and people in Wales. The Third Sector Partnership Council engaging with the Sector The Third Sector Partnership Council (TSPC) comprises representatives of 25 identified categories in the Third Sector and three representatives of the Wales Council for Voluntary Action. The TSPC has provided a valuable forum for discussion of strategic and cross-cutting issues. A record of TSPC meetings is available online at Bi-annual Ministerial Meetings with the Third Sector The cycle of twice-yearly meetings between each Minister and relevant Third Sector networks has continued to provide the basis for dialogue with the Sector in each policy area. Supporting the Third Sector To support the infrastructure for the Third Sector in Wales, the Welsh Government allocates core-funding under the Partnership Agreement. This supports the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), the County Voluntary Councils (CVCs) and the Volunteer Centres all of which contribute to the promotion and support of volunteers throughout Wales. There is a volunteer centre in each local authority area in Wales, plus 12 Centres covering the large rural county of Powys, making a total of 33. All are Third Sector organisations and are either independent groups or part of the County Voluntary Council, but they work to a common standard of service. 5

8 Thematic Action We have Group our engagement with the Third Sector into five themes. This section of the report provides a few examples of how we have worked with the Sector to deliver activities in support of the themes shown. The activities shown are by no means the sum of our engagement; more of a flavour. 6

9 Valuing Voluntary Action We recognise that volunteers are the foundation of the Third Sector. Volunteering provides the opportunity to meet new people, to learn new skills, to develop new interests, and to be part of the community. The Welsh Government is promoting and supporting volunteering in a variety of ways: The continued support of an employee volunteering initiative within the Welsh Government. The provision of long-term core funding to support all Volunteer Centres under the 5-year Partnership Agreement. The funding of a national volunteering website hosted by the WCVA, which lists current volunteering opportunities in Wales. The promotion and encouragement of volunteering through our GwirVol and Volunteering in Wales grant programmes. Examples of voluntary action: The Welsh Government provides funding to a variety of Third Sector voluntary organisations, including both established national organisations and smaller developing organisations, to support an equally diverse range of projects aimed at reaching and supporting our often seldom heard and marginalised communities throughout Wales. This funding is provided through the Inclusion Grant and Advancing Equality Fund. The Inclusion Grant has funded a project which aims to help refugee and asylum seeking children, young people and families who have arrived in Cardiff, to start a new life in the area and to help them integrate within their host communities. The project is seen in part as a stepping stone which enables children, young people and families to interact with other community groups and activities within and around Cardiff and wider. The project helps to decrease isolation experienced by children, young people and families who are refugees/asylum seekers, facilitating their welcome into the local communities and living in Wales. Part of the Welsh Baccalaureate was carried out by a group of first year Health & Social Care students from Coleg Powys, Newtown. They managed to raise over 600 for the Wales Air Ambulance. The team took part in a variety of fundraising activities, holding a cake stall and raffle before Christmas They also completed a sponsored bike ride around Lake Vyrnwy. 7

10 The Welsh Government supports volunteering in a number of other ways and one example of this is outlined below: The Volunteering in Wales Fund The Volunteering in Wales Fund is a scheme funded by the Welsh Government to promote Volunteering in Wales. The Fund is administered by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA). The aim of the Volunteering in Wales Fund (ViWF) discretionary grant scheme is to: Support projects whose aims are mainly achieved by the use of formal volunteers Support not for profit organisations whose primary purpose is the recruiting, training and placing of volunteers Encourage good practice in volunteering; and Encourage projects in areas where volunteering is under-developed because of location of the project, or the type of volunteering activity. Examples of grants provided to organisations through this scheme in can be seen below: Ponthafren Association An award winning charity based in Montgomeryshire offering help, support, information and education to anyone experiencing mental health issues, social exclusion or isolation and their carers. One of the leading Third Sector mental health organisations in Montgomeryshire with centre in Newtown/Welshpool and an outreach service in Llanidloes supporting over 300 members. The ViWF project The Value of Volunteering overall aim is to increase the range of volunteering opportunities examples include mentors, out of hour s volunteers, recovery planners, gardening and course facilitators. The project is in its second year of funding. 8

11 St John Cymru Wales Wales leading first aid charity established in 1918 now has some 4,900 volunteers -70% of who are young people. The volunteers provide vital first aid and community care for some 10,000 people attending some 10,000 events in Wales annually. The ViWF project is called Welsh Community Recruitment Project. It supports 6 part-time Community Recruitment Fundraisers to work alongside first aiders to recruit and fundraise. Volunteers have been trained in: First Aid at Work which is HSE accredited and volunteers have the opportunity to gain a NVQ level 1 in customer service. Fellowship volunteers have the opportunity to NVQ level 1, 2 and 3 in business and administration. The project has helped to place St John Wales at the forefront of local volunteering and has reduced any perceived barriers to volunteering with the encouragement of all ages to participate. Further information on this grant including how to apply for funding (and other sources of support) can be found at the WCVA s website at the link below 9

12 Empowering Communities Communities First is the Welsh Government s Programme for supporting communities in the most deprived areas of Wales. In November 2011 the Minister for Local Government and Communities announced that going forward (from 2012), Communities First would be a Community Focussed Tackling Poverty Programme and operate under the three strategic outcomes of Healthy Communities, Learning communities and Prosperous Communities. There will be fewer, larger Communities First areas than previously, known as Clusters and covering an average population of 10 15,000 people. Each Cluster will be focussed on the most deprived communities in Wales, and the programme will concentrate on supporting the most deprived individuals, families and groups in those areas. As at the time of publishing this report, the Minister for Local Government and Communities has announced the formation of 52 Clusters, representing all the communities considered eligible for inclusion in the new Communities First Programme, which together will receive around 75 million up to March The funding will support a range of community based projects and activities led by a Delivery Team for each Cluster. Some Examples of the work undertaken in are: The TOMs (Tripping-Out Minis) are young people, aged 9 16 years, who volunteered with Plas Cybi Communities First Partnership. The TOMs work hard all year round: weeding, litter-picking, painting, fundraising, bag-packing and helping to organise events such as the Christmas Fayre and LL65 Live Fun Day. In return, they earned points (1 hour = 1 point) which they could trade in for trips. In 2011, the TOMs have been to the Deeside Ice-Rink, to Alton Towers, to the Heryri camp site in Snowdonia, to the Action Camp in Tenby and to Cineworld in Llandudno. TOMs is a great place to learn new skills, make new friends and earn fantastic trips. In The Hub Project made up of a team of 11 youth workers, worked with young people living in Communities First areas across the Caerphilly Borough area. The team met with young people out on the streets, in local community centre s and also from The Hub Bus. The project worked with young people to get them more involved with activities in their local community, supported young people to have their say and get their voice heard and involved young people in developing their community so it is a better place to live. Other Welsh Government supported activities: The Inclusion Grant has funded a project run by a voluntary sector organisation, aimed at working with Gypsy and Traveller young women and girls in the West Wales area, assisting them in training and education to develop the participative skills of Gypsy and Traveller women and teenage girls from the area. The Advancing Equality Fund provided additional capacity for a voluntary sector organisation to support an advice and advocacy service in an existing Welfare Benefit Team. This helped provide a whole person approach to overcome the problems, perceived stigma, and the complex bureaucracy of completing Welfare Benefit application forms. CyMAL grants were also aimed at developing cultural/heritage hubs in the community by modernising local libraries, museums and archives. A Library gives the local community an opportunity to develop their own skills e.g. developing people s ICT skills to digitise local history material. 10

13 The Welsh Government funded a scheme, via the Welsh Language Board s programme of community grants, to encourage and increase the use of Welsh in Aman Tawe. One of the priorities during the year was establishing four Language Power Hubs across the area. This involved volunteers from the local community and from community organisations working together to plan various activities. These were aimed at increasing the opportunities for children, young people and adults to enjoy activities through the Welsh language. In March 2012, the Black Association of Women Step Out (BAWSO) and the Henna Foundation supported two training events. These were run by the Department for Education and Skills and dealt with Culturally Mediated Community Cohesion and Safeguarding. The events took place in Newport and Llandudno. The events were in response to a need, identified by education professionals, for deeper understanding of certain aspects of safeguarding, including the threat of radicalisation. Speakers and workshops covered: radicalisation, including right wing extremism; community cohesion; the Getting on Together (GOT) project; children missing education; human trafficking; female genital mutilation; honour based violence and forced marriage; CTA Wales is a membership organisation for community transport operators in Wales and is part of the Community Transport Association UK (a national charity). It provides advice, representation, training and enterprise support to its member organisations that are involved in delivering community transport services and is recognised as a spokesman for the sector by the UK Government and devolved administrations; CTA Wales received Welsh Government funding to help to deliver the Community Transport Concessionary Fares Initiative Pilot and helped to coordinate transportation for the Paralympics teams based in Wales to assist their training for the 2012 Games. 11

14 Facilitating Citizen Voice The Welsh Government has continued to encourage and enable people to develop the confidence to raise issues that cause them concern with relevant bodies. Third Sector organisations have helped to facilitate this. Our Communities First programme provided support to develop and deliver The Hub Project in the Caerphilly Borough area, made up of a team of 11 youth workers, worked with young people living in Communities First areas across the Caerphilly Borough area. The team met with young people out on the streets, in local community centre s and also from The Hub Bus. The project worked with young people to get them more involved with activities in their local community, supported young people to have their say and get their voice heard and involved young people in developing their community so it is a better place to live. The Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification gives learners an opportunity to volunteer, either in their local community or further afield, through the Community Participation element of the Core. Learners must complete between 15 and 30 hours in an appropriate activity, depending on the level at which they are studying. In academic year , there were some 70,000 learners, following Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification courses, at over 200 centres throughout Wales. In April 2012, Welsh Government published its Strategic Equality Plan (SEP), with eight equality objectives. The SEP was formed through extensive public consultation and engagement including a variety of focus groups and events enabling us to hear and take on board the real needs and concerns of our communities, including Third Sector voluntary organisations and those groups representing the protected characteristics under the Equality Act Third Sector organisations played a key role in stakeholder groups for key elements of the upcoming Housing Bill Licensing Scheme for Private Sector Landlords and Letting and Management Agents. Meetings have been held on a regular basis since October A formal consultation on the proposals ended in August Bodies and individuals from the Third Sector were also invited to the various workshops and the Treftadaeth Conference to provide views about the development of the Heritage Bill. Cadw ran three roadshows during October and November 2012 in conjunction with the WCVA and CyMAL to seek the views of the Third Sector and local communities. The consultation workshops also informed the Minister s Historic Environment Strategy. 12

15 Accelerating Social Enterprise Social enterprises are increasingly relevant in the modern economy in providing solutions for new and citizen focussed methods of delivering public services. The focus is on investing in infrastructure, research and development and improving the conditions within which business operates. During social enterprises in Wales were supported: With skills development support including basic skills training, and a suite of workshops and courses to help the workforce develop specific business skills. With free advice and support to help start a business including taster sessions, modular workshops, advice surgeries and one to one support with special help for individuals who are unemployed or otherwise disadvantaged. With guidance and information including best practice guides and help to find wider support from the private sector, Third Sector and elsewhere. With local information and advisory support, including guidance on resource efficiency and equality and diversity via the Regional Centre Service; With advice and assistance on selling products to the public sector and major contractors, including supplier development support, How to Tender workshops and Meet the Buyer events. By promoting social enterprise within our entrepreneurship campaigns, including use of case studies and role models. With the support of 3.6 million match funding from the Welsh Government, the Wales Co-operative Centre is delivering its 5 year 7.2 million Social Enterprise Support Project across all Convergence areas. As at the end of organisations, 95 individuals and 72 enterprises had received assistance through the project. In addition, in the Wales Co-operative Centre continued its service into Competitiveness areas. The Business Succession and Consortia project which is supported by the Welsh Government continued into This project aims to make it easier for employee groups to purchase the business which employs them. As at the end of , 28 organisations, 15 individuals and 4 enterprises had received assistance through the project. The Welsh Social Enterprise Coalition (WSEC) continued to receive funding during from the Welsh Government. For a new one year funding was granted to the Development Trusts Association Wales, Social Firms Wales, and the Wales Co-operative Centre to provide sector specific support services to social enterprises. Urdd Gobaith Cymru has been creating activities to provide experience of the world of work and of developing enterprise, through the medium of Welsh. The Urdd worked with the Welsh Government to access funding under the Reach the Heights: Routes to the Summit European Social Fund (ESF) project. This has meant new provision across the Convergence area of West Wales and the Valleys, allowing young people to develop their own ideas, while learning more about the world of work and running a small business. 13

16 Personalising Public Services Improving engagement is one of the Welsh Government s priorities. The Welsh Government is committed to supporting disabled people by promoting greater access to services and providing opportunities that will enable them to participate in, and contribute fully to, society. A Framework for Action on Independent Living for disabled people was published for consultation in September The Framework builds on the Manifesto for Independent Living produced by Disability Wales in The aim of the Framework is to promote the rights of disabled people in Wales and to enable their full participation in society. The Community Cohesion Strategy for Wales has emphasised the need for local Community Mapping and led to the Welsh Government commissioning Sheffield Hallam University to undertake further research and evaluation to produce guidance to support local authorities in mainstreaming community cohesion underpinned by the Community Cohesion Strategy for Wales. The guidance was published in October 2012, and offers practical ways to mainstream cohesion with the development of a single planning process within community strategies, building on good examples from across Wales and the UK. In , the Department for Education and Skills undertook a significant amount of preparatory work with WCVA, to enable them to deliver 1000 job opportunities for young people aged 16 24, as part of Jobs Growth Wales. The Third Sector strand of Jobs Growth Wales offers help to young people who require a more supported employment environment, as they enter the labour market for the first time. Five hundred of the opportunities will offer direct, subsidised employment with a Third Sector organisation. The remaining 500 opportunities will provide both subsidised employment and additional funding to organisations that can create jobs requiring more intensive support. Preparatory work has been undertaken in , while the jobs themselves will be delivered in Cadw funds the Civic Trust for Wales to arrange Open Doors events each September. Many local voluntary and civic groups were involved in organising and staffing these events. As part of the initiative, selected Cadw sites offered free entry. Cadw encouraged local historical groups to engage with the development of the Interpretation Plans for Wales by running workshops to discuss themes and storylines. The Welsh Government provided a total of 9.6 million toward 222 projects via its Community Facilities and Activities Programme (CFAP). Part of this funding went to each of the County Voluntary Councils to run localised Small Grant versions of CFAP, taking decisions to the local level, and helping to improve local facilities. 14

17 Funding for the Third Sector The Welsh Government provides funding for Third Sector organisations through procurement of services and grant in aid. Grant in Aid Welsh Government has four types of grant funding: Strategic core funding of national organisations; Specific project funding at a national level; Support to partnerships or national (all Wales) intermediary bodies in order for them to support specific projects at a local level; Start up funding for national organisations or networks or, through intermediaries, for local organisations. Procurement Procurement is the acquisition of good and services from third party suppliers under legally binding contractual terms, where all the conditions necessary to form a legally binding contract have been met. Such contracts benefit the contracting authority and are necessary for the running of its business or its statutory duty. Information on available contracts can be found on the Welsh Government s Sell2Wales website: 15

18 Code of Practice for Funding the Third Sector The Welsh Government s Code of Practice for Funding the Third Sector (the Code) governs how the Welsh Government and its agents should approach funding of the Sector. The Code sets out the types of funding that the Welsh Government provides, the principles upon which funding decisions should be based, and the terms and arrangements under which funding should be offered. Welsh Government Sponsored Bodies and local authorities are encouraged to develop their own codes of practice on funding the Sector. 16

19 How much did the Welsh Government spend on the Third Sector in ? The Welsh Government has agreed to supply a breakdown of its payments to the Third Sector each year. In the Welsh Government spent 340 million on direct funding of the Third Sector. The chart below does not include indirect payments made to Third Sector organisations where the Welsh Government has provided funding to another organisation, for example a local authority, which may have subsequently funded Third Sector organisations. 648, ,206, ,511, g h a b 16,574, ,084, a b Business Enterprise Technology and Science Education and Skills c c Health Social Services and Children d 42,507, d e Local Government and Communities Strategic Planning Finance and Performance f Sustainable Futures f e e 17,381, g WEFO 204,010, h Other 17

20 More information For information on Welsh Government support for the Third Sector, visit: You can find copies of Third Sector Partnership Council papers, previous Annual Reports, the Third Dimension A Strategic Action Plan on the Voluntary Sector Scheme, and the Code of Practice for Funding the Third Sector etc there. Alternatively contact the Third Sector Unit at thirdsectorqueries@wales.gsi.gov.uk, or telephone number For information about volunteering, please go to or visit your local County Voluntary Council or Volunteer Centre. For information about other grant programmes, please contact Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) on (0800) Their website is Or alternatively visit 18