Scotland Funders Forum Minutes of 29 th meeting, held 26 th March 2013 Big Lottery Fund, 4 th Floor, 1 Robertson Street, Glasgow

Transcription

1 Scotland Funders Forum Minutes of 29 th meeting, held 26 th March 2013 Big Lottery Fund, 4 th Floor, 1 Robertson Street, Glasgow Present: Keith Wimbles, Convenor, Voluntary Action Fund (KW) Alison Campbell, Cattanach Charitable Trust (AC) Mary Craig, Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland (MC) Richard Davison, Scottish Natural Heritage (RD) Fraser Falconer, Children in Need (FF) Gillian Lithgow, Youthlink Scotland (GL) Judith Lowes, Comic Relief (JL) Stephanie Kerr, People s Postcode Trust (SK) Jackie Killeen, Big Lottery Fund (JK) Fiona Malcolm, Scottish Government Third Sector Division (FM) Alan Miller, Sportscotland (AM) Susan Murray, SCVO (SM) Anna Moore, Heritage Lottery Fund (AMo) Kate Pearson, People s Postcode Trust (KP) Alison Smith, Scottish Local Authority External Funding Officers (AS) In attendance: Evelyn Boyd, Big Lottery Fund (EB) Fiona Grant, Big Lottery Fund (minutes) (FG) Alex Johnston, Big Lottery Fund (AJ) Steven Marwick, Evaluation Support Scotland (SM) Carolyn Sawers, Big Lottery Fund (CS) Jane Whitworth, The Cranfield Trust (JW) 1. Welcome and approval of minutes KW welcomed everyone to the 29 th meeting of the Scotland Funders Forum. The meeting welcomed Jane Whitworth from The Cranfield Trust and Steven Marwick from Evaluation Support Scotland. The minutes were approved as an accurate record of the meeting. Apologies were received from: Nick Addington, Foundation Scotland Alastair Davis, Social Investment Scotland Susie Dye, Paul Hamlyn Foundation Kenneth Ferguson, The Robertson Trust Karen McGregor, Firstport Andrew Muirhead, Inspiring Scotland Jo Rideal, Esme Fairburn Foundation Brenda Russell, Scottish Government ESF Division Hazel Thoms, Scottish Legal Aid Board Don Williamson, Shared Care Scotland 1

2 2. Collaboration and Working Together KW informed the meeting that this is a new standing item on the agenda. The discussion on collaboration will focus on case studies and sharing learning. KW gave an update on the capacity building work stream. The meeting noted that following on from the survey of members last year the group met again in January to discuss the survey results. The group will meet again in April to develop how in practice resources can be shared. VAF will continue to co-ordinate the work stream and work out what can practically be achieved with a broad range of funders. An update will be provided at the next meeting. ACTION, KW to give a further update at the next meeting AJ gave an update on the investment workstream. The meeting noted that following the discussion at the last meeting about the pilot PSP project in Dundee the Robertson Trust has lead the work on this over the last few months. Dundee City Council is committed to the project which will replicate the model used in schools in Dunfermline. Four funders were involved in early discussions The Robertson Trust, Big Lottery Fund, Esme Fairburn Foundation and Foundation Scotland. It has been challenging to manage expectations and coordinate timely discussions and consideration by boards and committees of all the funders. There are lessons to be learned from this process that will be written up and shared with the Forum. JK asked about the timescales for the work. AJ responded that discussions are continuing and the the potential delivery organisations aspiration if t begin delivery on the ground in October. ACTION, KF to give a further update at the next meeting AJ to produce a lessons learned report 3. The Gathering 2014 KW informed the meeting that the Forum had successfully delivered a workshop and resourced a stand at this year s Gathering. It has been agreed that this will be an annual feature of the Forum s public and awareness raising work. AJ led a discussion about starting the planning for the Gathering During discussion the main points raised were: What are the benefits to the Forum in attending and is the Forum s attendance good value for money A lot of work went into planning for the 2012 Gathering and this reached more people. The Forum needs to plan ahead showcasing our capacity building work and things funders are interested in mixed in with some elements of the 2012 themed workshops. Funders could have their own stalls at the Gathering and the Forum stand might promote the work of the Forum not individual funders. At local funding fayres people attending ask questions about specific funding opportunities. At a national event like the Gathering their needs to be a different set of communications for a different audience There may be a need to rethink our approach and the messages we want to get across at the Gathering. It was decided that there should be a working group to take this forward even if they only met virtually. KW stated that he would be involved in the group. 2

3 ACTION, all to AJ if they would like to be involved the Gathering working group. AJ will give an update at the next meeting. 4. Scotland Funders Forum & Scottish Grant Makers Trust Joint Event KW informed the meeting that last year we agreed to explore more joint working and engagement with other Forums. As part of this work we have begun planning for a joint event with the Scottish Grant Makers Trust with Evelyn Boyd from Big Lottery Fund leading on this. EB informed the meeting that she had had an initial meeting with the planning group, which is made up of members of both the Funders Forum and the Scottish Grant Makers Trust. The meeting noted that the event will take place in September. The focus will be on how small amounts of funding can make a big impact (following on from Beneath the Radar) in particular looking at smaller grassroots/community organisations. As part of the event jointly branded materials/resources will be developed that can be used by all funders, for example, hints and tips to improve funding applications. KW requested that members EB with some feedback and ideas about this event ACTION, all to EB with feedback and ideas about the joint event. 5. Role of the Funders Forum Frontline KW informed the meeting that now the Forum s membership review has been completed the role of the Frontline needs to be considered. A discussion paper was circulated to members in advance of the meeting. It was agreed that the Frontline needs a clear and more specified role and it should develop its own terms of reference. During discussion the following points were also raised: Peers support should be included in any new Terms of Reference The Frontline is important and has a key role to play. It does a lot of work that is valued by the Forum The role of the Frontline could be included in the terms of reference of the Forum The Frontline should be able to choose their own issues and push up issues to the Forum as well as influence its work Members of the Forum need to be aware that they can have members on the frontline ACTION, EB and the Frontline members to work up terms of reference and come back to the next meeting of the Forum. 6. Welfare Reform KW welcomed Fiona Malcolm to the meeting. FM gave an update following on from the Welfare Reform workshop that had been held in February hosted by the Scottish Government. The meeting noted that: The workshop had been attended by a wide mix of funders The Scottish Government are keen to get some practical messages out to the sector 3

4 There are opportunities for funders and organisations to be creative and seek solutions to make a difference There are opportunities for organisations to work in collobration to build on what is already happening in communities and share good practice There will be ongoing liaison between the Scottish Government and the Forum on this issue. During discussion the main points raised were: Charities are concerned about the uncertainities around welfare reform. They are aware there will be demands made on them but not sure what format they will come in. It is key that funders share knowledge within the Forum of the impact they are having on the ground. Funders can learn from one another to make small changes to funding that can have a bigger impact on the ground. There needs to be an information exchange with the Scottish Government. KW informed the meeting that this will be a standing item on the agenda. 7. The Cranfield Trust KW welcomed Jane Whitworth from The Cranfield Trust to the meeting. JW gave a presentation on the work of the Trust and building resilience within the voluntary sector. During the presentation she highlighted: The current demand for support from the voluntary sector The Trust s response to the changing needs of their clients What influence funders can have on the sector. MC asked if organisations self refer to the Cranfield Trust. JW responded that were a lot of self referrals. JL stated that risk/assessing cash flow, one of the issues highlighted in the presentation could be a useful topic for a focussed meeting for the Frontline. ACTION, AJ to follow up with JW and the Frontline AC asked how volunteers are matched to organisations and if the partnerships always work. JW responded that in the vast majority of cases the volunteers and organisations work well together. There is an initial meeting to discuss whether they can work together. The skills of the volunteer are matched to the needs of the organisation. KW thanked JW for her presentation. ACTION, AJ to circulate the presentation 8. Evaluation Support Scotland KW welcomed Steven Marwick from Evaluation Support Scotland (ESS) to the meeting. SM gave an update on areas of work relevant to the Forum. During the presentation he highlighted: 4

5 Evaluation Support Scotland s work with funders and their strategic plan for ESS s involvement with Inspiring Impact, a UK-wide project supporting funders and funded organisations to better understand and communicate their impact The next steps for the harmonising reporting work the Forum has been involved in, including a harmonising reporting badge for funders who are committed to improving reporting. During discussion the main points raised were: That strong links between the Forum and ESS should be continued That measuring and communicating impact is a challenging issue for Funders and one worth working on. It was suggested that ESS could work with the Forum to focus the social impact workstream Impact could be a topic for a future meeting of the Forum Members were enthusatic about a harmonising reporting badge if it is done in a voluntary and incremental way. SM clarified that is more of a pledge to show that funders are committed to improving reporting. ACTION, AJ to circulate the presentation and explore implications for the Forum s work around continued links, future topics and harmonising reporting. All members to AJ with ideas for continued links with ESS 9. Finance KW informed the meeting that given the shift in the membership structure, which now includes fees, finance will be a standing item on the agenda. The secretariat will report back to the Forum at each meeting on the status of the Forum s finances. The meeting noted that invoices for 2013/14 fees will be issued in the couple of weeks. 10. Membership Requests KW informed the meeting that the Forum had received membership requests from Edinburgh & Lothian Health Foundation, which is a registered charity within NHS Lothian and Go For It Fund, which is a part of the Church of Scotland. The Forum approved both of the membership requests. 11. AOB KW informed the meeting that VAF had been appointed to deliver the contract for Violence Against Women 11.2m per year over the next 3 years. He requested that members contact him if they fund projects or services in this area. VAF will be organising an event for organisations tackling violence against women to allow them to find out where the funding opportunities are. ACTION, all to contact KW with examples of projects or services they fund in this area. KW informed the meeting that VAF are looking at developing funding to tackle secretarianism. Focussing on community-based approaches and supporting organisations. ACTION, all to contact KW if they can share learning of funding in this area 5

6 KW requested that if members have any ideas for relevant future topics and speakers at the Forum that they contact him. ACTION, all to contact AJ with relevant ideas for future topics and speakers. Action Who Page KW to give a further update on the capacity building work stream KW 2 at the next meeting KF to give a further update on the investment work stream at the KF 2 next meeting AJ to produce a lessons learned report from psp pilot process AJ 2 All to AJ if they would like to be involved in the Gathering All 3 working group all to EB with feedback and ideas about the SFF/SGMT join All 3 event EB and the Frontline members to work up terms of reference and come back to the next meeting of the Forum. EB 3 AJ to follow up with JW about risk/assessing cash flow as focussed AJ 4 meeting for the Frontline Circulate Cranfield Trust Presentation to members AJ 4 Circulate ESS presentation to members and explore implication s AJ 5 for the Forum s work around continued links, future topics and harmonising reporting All to AJ with ideas for continued links with ESS All 5 All to contact KW with examples of projects or services they fund All 5 around tackling violence against women All to contact KW with examples of project that tackle sectarianism All 6 All to contact AJ with relevant ideas for future topics and speakers All 6 6