Sector News and Events
Successful project shows the value of support organisations in Somerset
A project that has supported 562 community groups in Somerset over the last two years, bringing in over half a million pounds of funding, has ended.
‘Strengthening the Voluntary Sector in Somerset’ was a two-year, Big Lottery-funded project that created 6 Development Worker posts, who have given advice and support to hundreds of community groups and organisations. This included developing funding applications for projects, helping groups to plan action to make them stronger, and giving advice on governing documents and trustee development.
Examples of those supported include;
ß Brompton Regis Village Hall were helped to successfully apply for £100,000 of funding to refurbish the hall, that will both extend the life of the hall and widen the events it can host.
ß Frome Youth Council were helped to secure £3986 from Flourish Homes to create a Youth Café in the town.
ß South Somerset Disability Forum were helped with reviewing their constitution and employment contracts. This leaves them in a stronger position to cope with any employment challenges.
ß Dulverton Young People’s Project received £10,324 after significant help with six funding applications.
Matt Day, SCIPP’s Development Officer, said “Alongside the excellent work of the Development Workers across Somerset, which proves the value of ‘on the ground’ support workers, the project has also delivered funding packs for community groups and a network for the adult health and social care sector, which will be launched in October by Compass Disability Services. All involved in delivering the project should be very proud of its achievements, and it showed that organisations in Somerset can work together to complete a large project of this nature”.
The project was the final one being delivered by Somerset Community Infrastructure Providers Partnership (SCIPP), which closed at the end of August, and local delivery partners. These included four Councils for Voluntary Service (CVS) organisations and Somerset Racial Equality Council.
The closure of SCIPP due to a lack of funding leaves Somerset without a VCS infrastructure support organisation at this crucial time of budget cuts, when better coordination and collaborative-working could have helped the sector to continue providing quality services to Somerset’s communities.
However, SCIPP has given a small amount of funding and staff time to support other organisations in the sector to develop a joint bid to the Government’s Transforming Local Infrastructure fund, which if successful will result in innovative new services for community groups and organisations.
Examples of those supported include;
ß Brompton Regis Village Hall were helped to successfully apply for £100,000 of funding to refurbish the hall, that will both extend the life of the hall and widen the events it can host.
ß Frome Youth Council were helped to secure £3986 from Flourish Homes to create a Youth Café in the town.
ß South Somerset Disability Forum were helped with reviewing their constitution and employment contracts. This leaves them in a stronger position to cope with any employment challenges.
ß Dulverton Young People’s Project received £10,324 after significant help with six funding applications.
Matt Day, SCIPP’s Development Officer, said “Alongside the excellent work of the Development Workers across Somerset, which proves the value of ‘on the ground’ support workers, the project has also delivered funding packs for community groups and a network for the adult health and social care sector, which will be launched in October by Compass Disability Services. All involved in delivering the project should be very proud of its achievements, and it showed that organisations in Somerset can work together to complete a large project of this nature”.
The project was the final one being delivered by Somerset Community Infrastructure Providers Partnership (SCIPP), which closed at the end of August, and local delivery partners. These included four Councils for Voluntary Service (CVS) organisations and Somerset Racial Equality Council.
The closure of SCIPP due to a lack of funding leaves Somerset without a VCS infrastructure support organisation at this crucial time of budget cuts, when better coordination and collaborative-working could have helped the sector to continue providing quality services to Somerset’s communities.
However, SCIPP has given a small amount of funding and staff time to support other organisations in the sector to develop a joint bid to the Government’s Transforming Local Infrastructure fund, which if successful will result in innovative new services for community groups and organisations.
Posted 19/09/2011 by matt
