Annual Review 2012-13

Annual Review 2012 - 2013


Cover photographs taken by Steve Lavelle www.stevelavell.com, an Expert Volunteer.


Highlights and AchievementsAs the economic climate continues to be challenging for the voluntary and community sector in the County we have continued to help local charities, groups and communities deliver the best possible service to their beneficiaries and residents. By being part of the local landscape, tuned into our beneficiaries needs and embracing new technology as a service delivery tool, we have been able to maintain and enhance what we offer.

The main highlights of our year include:

• Continuing support to 905 organisations by providing advice, guidance and, where appropriate, volunteer capacity.

• Working with nearly 30 communities as they seek to understand and meet the needs in their local area.

• Launching a series of self-help guides through our website to support emerging and developing groups.

• Launching funding advice surgeries at locations across the county, 14 held in first 12 months with 66 groups attending.

• 75 training and information events including our annual trustee event

• The development of a new on-line service (XchangeBucks) in conjunction with voluntary, private and public sector partners offering simpler access to support and information.

• Winning a collaborative bid to set up and incubate Healthwatch Bucks – as the champion for health and social care consumers across the County, Healthwatch Bucks has a real opportunity to make a big difference to the future of these services which are now under more scrutiny than ever before.

• Launching a Community Transport Hub across the County following a pilot in the Chilterns, providing information and signposting to community transport provision.

• Facilitation of community dialogue regarding the proposed HS2 project.

• Producing and publicising online case studies demonstrating the difference that our support has made to those we help.

Internally we have been through a consolidation of our premises with the move to a new Head Office in Monks Risborough; in parallel we have restructured our staff team to provide more efficient and joined up services.

The challenge for all voluntary organisations in the future remains significant – hence we will continue to develop our partnership working to ensure we provide the best support services possible.

I am very grateful for all the work of our brilliant staff team, under Cora Carvey’s leadership, and also the significant commitment shown by the many volunteers who support them – including my fellow Trustee Directors on the Board.

Mike Coote Chairman

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Volunteering


What We offer• Promote volunteering opportunities

• Provide online recruitment of volunteers

• Run specific volunteer recruitment campaigns

• Deliver training in how to find and retain volunteers

• Run volunteer advice surgeries

• Produce online information and resources on involving volunteers

• Help people who need extra support to become volunteers

• Help groups find people with business skills to do short term volunteer assignments and trustee roles

• Run annual volunteer trustee event

• Arrange team volunteering days for local businesses/employers

• Assist groups to set up or strengthen how they involve volunteers

• Provide consultancy on any aspect relating to volunteering.

What We offer:

The association is a national charity based in Chesham supporting people who are affected by the condition, as well as their families. It runs a network of 20 support groups across the UK.

The charity has around 3,000 members nationally and 4,000 active supporters, and a representative of the charity has credited the invaluable assistance its volunteers bring.

He stated: “With so many people to keep updated we are really grateful for the fantastic volunteer support we have in the office. Without these dedicated people we would not be able to offer the service to individuals and families and get the message out about how we can help.”

THE CARDIOMYOPATHY ASSOCIATION

One volunteer said: “I contacted Community Impact and spoke to them about what opportunities were available in Chesham.I explained that I had left work some years ago to bring up my children but now they are older I needed to move on and give something back to the community. After meeting with the charity I am pleased to say I have started working with them for three mornings per week and I must say that the people there are really very nice, and I am enjoying helping them out.”

Commmunity Impact Bucks Trustee Conference, January 2013

Volunteering

Annual Review 2012 - 2013 5

THE WELL @ LENT RISEThe Well is a Christian charity working in and around the Lent Rise area of Burnham. It runs six projects which provide resources and help to the local community including support for vulnerable individuals.

The charity asked Community Impact Bucks for support to raise its profile locally via a marketing leaflet which would encourage people to donate funds.

A professional Marketing Manager had already volunteered her time with The Well as part of her company’s employee supported volunteering initiative, via Community Impact Bucks. She was quickly able to meet them to discuss their needs

and draft the first proof. After only three days input the leaflet was completed, a printer found and leaflet available in time for a fundraising event.

The Well stated the new leaflet was more up-to-date than their existing material and a better reflection of the charity’s aims.

Community Impact Bucks was instrumental in assisting The Conservation Volunteers with one of their new projects called Wellbeing Comes Naturally.

The scheme includes a number of free environmental conservation activities in and around Aylesbury. The activities provide a framework through which individuals can

decide to take on a range of new challenges and experiences, with the added benefit that the work carried out will also improve local green spaces in and around the town.

Community Impact Bucks helped identify a number of roles and responsibilities individuals can participate in, as well as flagging up the need for health and safety talks, refreshment breaks, effective promotion of activities, support for new members and assistance in the organisation of activities.

Community Impact Bucks also advised on factors including volunteers’ lack of transport. As a result transport has been organised with accessible pick-up locations in central Aylesbury.

THE CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS

A representative of The Well said: “Our volunteer has

done a brilliant job and now wants to help us with a few

other things we have been struggling with. We couldn’t

be happier! We will definitely use Expert Volunteers in

the future. It is a brilliant way to match up people with

relevant skills to help organisations such as ours. It is a

fantastic service.”

Commmunity Impact Bucks Volunteer Thankyou Event, 2013

A representative of The Conservation Volunteers

said: “Community Impact has been of great help in

getting volunteers for the new project. When it learned

about Wellbeing Comes Naturally, it did not hesitate

to provide me with good advice as well as volunteers

interested in joining in with the practical conservation

activities. The on-going help has been pivotal in the

project and very much appreciated!”


What We offer:• Diagnostic Health Checks to enable groups

to identify areas they need to work on

• Comprehensive online self-help guides

• Help with funding and governance issues via a funding blog, funding advice surgeries, training courses, business planning and other one to one support

• Deliver relevant training

• Provide facilitation and other consultancy support

• Send fortnightly e-bulletins with latest information updates

• Speak up for VCS groups in relation to proposed policy and programme changes

• Run annual Voluntary and Community Sector conference

CASE STUDIESCASE STUDIESSupport for Groups

Commmunity Impact Bucks Rural Issues Workshop, January 2013

BUCKS COUNTY COUNCIL BUDGET CONSULTATIONWhen Bucks County Council (BCC) sets its budget each year the resulting findings are subject to review by a Scrutiny Review Group. This group takes evidence from representatives from various sectors before making recommendations to the council’s executive for any changes.

A representative from Community Impact Bucks was called upon to give evidence to the Scrutiny Review Group at the start of the year, in relation to the draft budget on the Voluntary and Community Sector. This was the second year running that BCC had asked for Community Impact Bucks assistance.

It is clear to see the council values and appreciates the role Community Impact Bucks has played in the process – especially as the Scrutiny Review Group had recommended to Cabinet that an extra £250,000 be included each year for the next two years to develop the capacity of the voluntary and community sector in Bucks. The cabinet also recommended that it would continue to develop a joined-up approach to working with and supporting the voluntary and community sector in the county. A representative from Community Impact Bucks was called upon to give evidence to the Scrutiny Review Group at the start of the year, in relation to the draft budget on the Voluntary and Community Sector. This was the second year running that BCC had asked for Community Impact Bucks assistance.

It is clear to see the council values and appreciates the role Community Impact Bucks has played in the process – especially as the Scrutiny Review Group had recommended to Cabinet that an extra £250,000 be included each year for the next two years to develop the capacity of the voluntary and community sector in Bucks. The cabinet also recommended that it would continue to develop a joined-up approach to working with and supporting the voluntary and community sector in the county.

CASE STUDIESCASE STUDIES


Support for Groups

RESTORE HOPERestore Hope is a Latimer-based charity dedicated to increasing and advancing social action within its local community and beyond it. One of the charity’s directors attended a workshop at Community Impact Bucks annual showcase, and was inspired to get volunteers with skills in business involved in the organisation.

He met with the Community Impact Bucks Expert Volunteer Coordinator and as a result of that meeting found a range of roles within Restore Hope that needed filling. Once these assignments were identified three Expert Volunteers were found. Between them they created a new logo for the organisation, completed a funding application and carried out graphic design work. Community Impact Bucks also directed the group towards a funding surgery as well as an Invest in Your Volunteers training course.

The director said: “Community Impact Bucks is a brilliant resource. It has linked us to several Expert Volunteers who have been invaluable in helping us advance in specialist areas. “I am so impressed by what has been achieved in such a short period of time. I’m also impressed by the speed, efficiency and work ethic of the team at Community Impact Bucks. Without this support, much of the progress we are making simply wouldn’t be happening.”

An IQRA spokesman said:“We were pleased with the end product. The Expert Volunteer was helpful and committed and knows his work well. He has a good knowledge of writing business plans and was also able to write a financial plan for our charity.”

The Expert Volunteer said:“I enjoy volunteering my business experience and undertaking work which is relatively simple for me but which is involved I can see how much of a difference my help can make.”

IQRAIQRA-Bucks Asian Women’s Association serves the Asian community in the Aylesbury Vale area, offering information on parenting, advocacy and other advice. It aims to educate Asian women to become more independent and become better integrated into the community. Recently IQRA became registered as a charity and needed finance to proceed with their project.

It was able to use the skills of a Community Impact Bucks Expert Volunteer to write a business

plan, compiled over a period of several weeks. The plan was ready in time for the deadline for funding submissions.

Community Impact Bucks Annual Review 2011 - 2012Annual Review 2012 - 20138

Communities

What We offer:• Tools to enable communities to engage

with local people

• Support with community led planning, neighbourhood planning and other forms of community engagement

• Information and advice on community buildings and community transport

• Support throughout the process of securing affordable rural housing

• Help to set up community initiatives such as pub lunch clubs or men in sheds

• Run direct services such as moped loans, gardening and a bulk oil buying scheme

• Provide a custom converted mobile media studio for hire (i van)

BOURNE END, COMMUNITY LED PLANThe village of Bourne End was needed to devise a Community Led Plan. This plan underpins a community’s vision for itself across all aspects of social, environmental and economic life. Such plans are produced by and for communities, based on a detailed survey and consultation.

Bourne End’s Forum asked Community Impact Bucks to a meeting to present the Community Led Planning process to them. A Members’ Forum was created with a Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary who focused on information gathering with a working party taking on specific themes and surveys reporting back to the main group on a regular basis.

Residents were kept informed via leaflets and posters, and encouraged to have their say. The summary document produced has received excellent feedback from all that have read it.

DOWNLEY PHARMACYCommunity Impact Bucks Community Development Team assisted the Parish Council and community of Downley with the Community Led Planning process which produced the village’s Community Plan.

As part of the process several events were held and a household survey was distributed. The responses showed that a pharmacy in Downley was still high on the ‘wish list’ for the majority of residents. Wellbeing Pharmacies Ltd was looking for an outlet and got in touch.

The company was sent a copy of the Downley Community Led Plan, which featured input from Community Impact Bucks parish representatives met with Wellbeing Pharmacies to find a way forward. The company decided to establish an outlet in the village and held an official opening in mid-2012.

The Chairman of the Members Forum said:“Our forum wanted to provide a voice for the people of Bourne End and to generate a fact based action plan reflecting their views. Bringing local community groups together was key to achieving these aims. To that end the clarity of advice from Community Impact Bucks and their ability to guide us to useful contacts proved to be invaluable.”

Funded jointly by Buckinghamshire County

Council and the Buckinghamshire NHS Trust,

Community Impact Bucks has set up the

Community Transport Hub as a one stop shop for

information, advice and guidance on community

transport providers in Buckinghamshire. From

Dial A Ride to community car schemes, minibuses

for hire to transport schemes for young people,

call the hub to find out who can help. If there are

no suitable services in your immediate area at the

moment we can work with the local community

towards setting one up. The Hub has taken 1395

calls since it went countywide in September

2012.

We were contacted by an elderly gentlemen

living in Marlow who needed to attend the

Churchill Hospital in Oxford every day for a 2

week period. He had been quoted a return daily

fee of £80 by a local taxi firm. We put him in

touch with the Wycombe Dial-A-Ride service and

also the Marlow- British Red Cross Voluntary Car

Pool. He was able to arrange transport between

the two services which saved him a considerable

amount of money and gave him peace of mind

he could attend his appointments.


Communities

COMMUNITY TRANSPORT HUB

OIL BUYINGFor many ‘off gas’ areas of Buckinghamshire

and rural Milton Keynes central heating systems

run on oil. Community Impact Bucks offers a

collective oil buying scheme covering this area

enabling individuals, businesses and community

buildings to benefit from reduced prices through

the power of bulk buying.

It is part of a scheme covering 22 counties in

England. The order is still supplied by local firms

but the price is reduced because of the buying

power of placing large orders for numerous

purchasers.

On receiving their first delivery through the scheme one Buckinghamshire householder said:“I thought I was getting a good deal by being loyal to my supplier, but it turned out that they were just charging me more. My first order was with the same company and I saved more than 10p per litre“.Thank you so much, I’ve had to buy much more oil than usual this year because of the poor weather and thanks to you I have saved quite a bit. I’ve recommended you to my friends and to the local church who also use oil.

Total income for the year £1,029,454. The

principal single source of funding has been

obtained through a grant from the local

authorities to support Infrastructure and Advice

activity. Other funding has been obtained from

a number of funders including Bucks County

Council, Aylesbury Vale District Council, Chiltern

District Council, Wycombe District Council, ACRE,

various Housing Associations, and the Big Lottery

Fund.

Benefits in kind received from South Bucks District

Council and Bucks County Council.

Financial Reports



Financial Reports

Total expenditure for the year £1,044,652 before

one off financial adjustments of £109,000 (not

included in the pie chart). The principle area of

expenditure is people: during the year the average

number of full and part time employees was 29,

the same as the previous year, and no employee

earned more than £50,000.

The summary financial information shows the income raised for our activities and the amounts spent on our charitable activities. The information is taken from the full financial statements for approval by the trustees on 24 September 2013. In order to gain a full understanding of the financial affairs of the charity, the full audited financial statements, trustees’ annual report and auditors’ report should be consulted. Copies can be obtained from the charitable company or downloaded from the charity commission website: www.charitycommission.gov.uk

Signed on behalf of the trustees

Mike Coote Chair of Trustees

Community Impact Bucks

6 Centre Parade, Place Farm Way Monks Risborough, Buckinghamshire HP27 9JS

0845 389 0389

[email protected] www.communityimpactbucks.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 1070267 - Registered Company Limited by Guarantee No. 3508718


Documents

Annual Review 2012-13