To receive updates from the voluntary sector.
Minutes:
The Chair amended the order of proceedings to consider this agenda item, in advance of agenda item 15.
In response to a query from Councillor Dee about the Gloucester Gateway Trust, Catherine Kevis advised the Forum that conversations had taken place with Mark Gale, Chief Executive of Gloucester Gateway Trust. It had been too soon to have generated the necessary funds but the project was heavily involved in local communities.
She gave news of a new project bid from the Voluntary and Community Sector which had got through to the second stage and was called ‘Going the Extra Mile’ and was a county wide project. The money would originate from the European Fund and Lottery Fund and would encourage economically inactive people back into employment. The project was contributing to the community and a delivery plan was being prepared.
Councillor Dee commented that when proposals for the Gloucester Gateway Trust had been discussed, emphasis had been made that profits generated would go to local communities and this should not be lost.
Councillor Brown reported that he had attended a presentation by the Chief Executive of Chase Associates. It had been confirmed that six local organisations would benefit from the profits but these would not be known until the end of the year.
Catherine Kevis added that GAVCA had continued to hold Forums in Gloucester and a number of special events had taken place. The Managing Director had attended an event held at Oxstalls Tennis Centre in September 2015. Groups had been divided into workshops and looked at funding and ways of working better together with Gloucester City Council.
Another event had been organised in October 2015 to discuss the budget for 2016/17 which had been attended by Jon Topping, Head of Finance. This event also included three leaders from local organisations who shared their experience of adapting their model to include trading activities as part of their income. Catherine explained that not all organisations were able to trade and sell their services; this was particularly true of social care providers working with vulnerable people with little income. Robin Agascar commented that it was important to recognise the different types of organisations and that not all could trade to raise revenue.
Catherine Kevis added that a Funding Fayre had been organised to take place on 7 March 2016 at Cheltenham Pavilion. It is hoped this event would showcase the diversity of funding available to community groups and organisations.
A GAVCA survey had been undertaken and 19 organisations from Gloucester had responded. The outcome was that 44% had an income of £20,000 or less and 68% had an income of £100,000. The key outcomes from the survey was that organisations required the following advice and support:
· Fundraising / finance
· Marketing / promotion
· Working with businesses
The Forum noted the Aston Project and Great Expectations and the current consultation to develop the Hate Crime Strategy. Robin Agascar commented that there had been a lot of activity during the Hate Crime event and referred to the development of the county wide strategy. He added that a Hate Crime Summit would be held.
Robin Agascar advised the Forum that funding for a GayGlos youth group had been received from the Police Crime and Commissioner’s office and a small grant received from the City Council. Robin explained how supportive the Commissioner had been of local communities and how engaged he was.
Anne Whitworth advised the Forum that the Law Centre continued to provide legal advice and representation. A new website, GAIN (Gloucester Advice Information Network), had been launched which would provide guidance and support on various issues and also ensure advice was readily accessible for everybody.
The Law Centre and Citizens Advice Bureau were unsure how much funding they would receive.
In response to a question from Councillor Brown, Anne Whitworth confirmed that the Law Centre continued to work closely with the Chinese Women’s Guild.