Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
promoting Employment, Education and Enterprise for disadvantaged people in West London
Our MissionHelping disadvantaged people improve their lives through
Education
Employment
Enterprise
Our Target GroupsThose most disadvantaged in society: Unemployed Low or no education Lone parents Young people (NEETs) Young and adult offenders Care leavers Older people Refugees Black and ethnic minorities Mental health difficulties
Track Record
Established 1998---charity and social enterprise
Successfully delivered over 80 projects and contracts in
Education – Skills Funding Agency (SFA), EU
Training—DWP, SFA, UK Online , EU
Employment—DWP, LDA, London Councils
Self employment/business start up—LDA, Acton Street Market, Doughnut Factory/Business Centre
Social enterprise –London Borough of Hounslow tender, Big Lottery Collaborating for Change
Working in partnership ‘’Most Big Lottery ESF opportunities are better suited to
partnership working’’.
Partnership working is encouraged because:
One single organisation cant meet multicomplex need
Different ideas to tackle problems
Local groups give greater reach and impact
Smaller organisations can benefit from larger structure
Better understanding of needs in communities
Better service for beneficiaries
Partnership structuresOne Lead organisation—
legal responsibility-signs contract
Financial responsibility—risk of clawback
Responsibility for managing partners’ outputs/outcomes
Responsible for management information systems (MIS)
Reports to Big Lottery contract manager
‘Carries the can’ if things go wrong !
Partners or ‘sub contractors’ Responsible for delivering their sub contract
outputs/outcomes
Sign Service Level agreement
Responsible for following ESF rules and regulations
Keep records for 10 years
Evidence of eligibility to take part in project
Financial scrutiny by lead partner and auditors
Risk of ‘clawback’
PROS OF PARTNERSHIPS1. Lead and other partners together can best meet
project specification
2. Range of partners have best understanding of community needs
3. Greater geographical coverage
4. Delivery in venues beneficiaries feel comfortable in
5. Greater range of expertise among staff
6. Better community and other networks
7. Strengthens your bid to Big Lottery
Difficulties of partnerships
Partners may not deliver the outputs/outcomes Partners may not be used to keeping ESF standard
evidence and case records Partners may think they can ‘carry on as usual’ once
SLA has been signed (partnership requires readiness to change )
partners may not always tell the truth!! Partners may not have the right staff required to
deliver required outputs Partners may cause problems if they don’t get funding
despite not achieving targets Partners may expect Lead to do all the work
Some thoughts from experience
Look for a trusted Lead partner Track record-- of successful delivery from previous
contracts/grants Due diligence –of lead and partners Transparency –what management fee is lead taking 10%;
15%, 25% or more!!! What are you getting for the management fee? Does lead have all the management systems and financial
systems in place? Does lead share your organisation’s Mission and values Is your Board of Trustees fully aware of your plans ? Do you have the staff to deliver your part of the project?
Performance Performance Performance
Performance management throughout is key
Lead partner must manage partners performance strictly
No ‘favours’ because of being a charity or VCS
Staff need to buy in to a performance culture
Targets, supervisions, activity and time monitoring
ESF regulations are a minefield but must be followed
Get performance right and you will deliver
Helps you build a track record for future bids
What next? Check out the Big lottery project specifications and decide if
you want to be Lead or sub partner in any
Make contact with other VCS groups who you believe can deliver
Make contact with other VCS groups who you believe will strengthen your bid—complement each other
EOI’s –get data together on your past track record; your finances, your policies and procedures
Research evidence of need ; strategies etc
Get views of your beneficiaries
Register interest on LVSC partner portal
Be prepared to write or contribute to first stage application
DWP and SFA ESIF FUNDING CONTACT PRIME CONTRACTORS
CHECK WEB SITES, E MAIL AND PHONE
REGISTER AS A POTENTIAL PARTNER
ASK LVSC ABOUT POTENTIAL MEETINGS WITH PRIMES
ATTEND DWP/SFA MARKET WARMING EVENTS
GET SOME SAMPLE EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (EOI’S) AND PREPARE
Dr John BlackmoreChief Executive
Action Acton Limited16-18 Crown Street, Acton, London W3 8SB
E [email protected] (0)208 993 9605F (0)208 993 0998
M 07967970688www.actionacton.com
BRING IT ON !!AND
GOOD
LUCK !
Q&A
