DRAFT
Dynamic Inclusive Communities Forum
Preamble
In October 2007 the Scotland Committee of the Big Lottery Fund recommended the establishment of a forum to provide context and guidance to its investment through its ‘Dynamic and Inclusive Communities’ programme (DInC), to ensure maximum benefit. This programme is designed to achieve the following outcomes:
1)Voluntary and community sector networks offer better, more consistent and wider-reaching services
2)Voluntary and community sector action is more vibrant, connected with communities and able to champion change
3)Voluntary and community sector organisations are better managed, better governed and deliver better services
4)Improved equalities knowledge and practice across the voluntary and community sector
5)People and communities have more power over their lives and more say in decisions that are made about them.
The ‘Supporting Voluntary Action’ (SVA) programme delivered by SCVO and local councils of voluntary service is a significant part of DInC, and will be complemented by other investments in the third sector’s thematic infrastructure.
The Big Lottery Fund and its partners, SCVO and Scottish Government, recognise that the outcomes, above, while challenging, are achievable if addressed with both ambition and realism.
This terms of reference sets out the basis upon which the forum will operate during the period to 31 March 2011, being the duration of DInC funded programmes. The forum will involve SCVO, BIG and include other national partners, chaired by an independent nominee.
Terms of Reference
Aim
The Dynamic Inclusive Communities Forum aims to nurture and sustain dynamic, inclusive communities throughout Scotland by supporting the development of conditions and an infrastructure through which healthy and vigorous voluntary and community sector activity can occur.
A principle feature of the above is to support the implementation of Supporting Voluntary Action and other DInC initiatives through learning and guidance. It will assist in shaping future sectoral development and improve and enhance connections and synergy across sectors and interests.
Accountability
Supporting Voluntary Action is funded by Big Lottery Fund and delivered by Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisation in accordance with a grant offer made by BIG to SCVO on 23 October 2007. In such delivery SCVO is supported by a Supporting Voluntary Action Management Group, comprised of representatives from CVS and national and local government. The SVA Management Group has no executive responsibility for Supporting Voluntary Action. SCVO is solely accountable to BIG for the application and expenditure of funds pursuant to the grant
Accordingly the Forum acts solely in an advisory capacity to BIG, SCVO and Scottish Government to consider the progress of Supporting Voluntary Action and to identify any barriers to, or further support required for achieving the Aim.
Objectives
The initial objectives of the Forum are to:
- Assess the progress of Supporting Voluntary Action in building capacity within the Third Sector including consideration of such progress in the context of the Scottish Government’s investment in the Third Sector
- Identify potential obstacles to the implementation of Supporting Voluntary Action and to anticipate future changes in the environment that might impact such implementation
- Consider any required policy developments to support the Third Sector’s growth in capacity and its sustainability
- Identify best practice and learning from SVA that can be applied for the Aim
- Encourage collaboration and partnership working in a more engaged and effective network of organisations to support the Third Sector
Further objectives (from September 08)
- Assess the further DInC investments made by the Scotland Committee of the Big Lottery Fund and their potential to add value to SVA, and potential for greater effectiveness through collaboration
- Assess the investments made by Scottish Government and other funders in third sector infrastructure and potential for greater effectiveness through collaboration
- Identify best practice and learning from DInC and Government investments that can be applied for the Aim
- Identify best practice and learning from DInC and Government investments that can be applied for the Aim
Membership
The Forum comprises [14] members who are involved in the Third Sector as either funders, intermediaries, frontline organisations and consumers of frontline organisations’ products or services and funders.
Each member has agreed that in participating in the Forum they shall not be acting in a representative capacity of the organisation that they are associated with but agree to contribute their skills, expertise and experience to the work of the Forum. In their participation in the Forum, each member is committed to:
- Openness and transparency in the work of the Forum
- Adding value through the Forum’s work rather than replication of the work of other bodies
- Equality of opportunity in all aspects of the work of the Forum
The Chairman of the Forum shall not be employed by a funder, intermediary or frontline organisation within the Third Sector but should have an involvement in volunteering.
If required, sub groups of the Forum can be established to consider specific issues.
Details of the Members are set out in Appendix 1.
The Forum shall meet quarterly, such meetings to be held at such times to facilitate the work of SVA and other relevant programmes. Details of action/next steps are set out in Appendix 2.
Outputs
The Forum shall conduct an annual review of its work and shall produce an annual report that shall be submitted to BIG, SCVO and Scottish Government in the first instance and shared with wider stakeholders, including the SVA Management Group, national intermediary organisations and local authorities.
Appendix 1
Chairman of SCVO
Chairman of BIG
Chairman of CABx
Chairman of VDS
Chairman of one of the members of Scotland Funders’ Forum
COSLA
Chairman of Scottish Environment Link
Chairman of Voluntary Health Scotland
Chairman of Community Care Providers Scotland
Chairman of Youthlink Scotland
Chairman of CVS acting as representatives on SVA Management Board
Chairman of Social Enterprise Coalition
Volunteer/user of CVS services
Chairman of Forum
Appendix 2
Action/Next Steps
a.Mapping Exercise – given our objectives it is important that all members of the Group have a common understanding of the current infrastructure to support the Third Sector and community/voluntary action.
b.Initial meeting (Secretarial support and venue required)
c. Establish secretariat- support for the work or the forum
- Forward agenda – schedule 3 meetings to set us on our work:
The first meeting (May) would be to bring everyone together, explain the role and terms of reference of the Group, provide an update on SVA and identify any other issues. This might be a “ clearing of the air” session to ensure we do have buy in and to identify potential road blocks to progress. This meeting should also consider likely changes in the external context (eg the implementation of the Scottish Government/CoSLA concordat) that may impact on its aims.
The second meeting (September) would be held when the Map is available to debate its findings, identify issues and determine where the Group should focus its own efforts. Decisions by the Scotland Committee of the Big Lottery Fund on further DInC investments will form part of this map. As part of that meeting we should debate and agree the impacts and KPIs that we would use to measure success.
The third meeting (January) would be held to explain where the Group does propose to focus its efforts to a broader audience. It would be helpful if a Minister could attend for part of that meeting.
Thereafter we would schedule meetings at such times to support relevant work plans and I would anticipate no more than 4 meetings per annum.