Systems and Structures of the ICS

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25 VCSE organisations attended the latest virtual Network Session on the current developments within the ICS in Northamptonshire.

The slide deck can be seen here

What is the ICS?

It’s a way of providing better healthcare to the residents of Northamptonshire by working in a more integrated fashion, which includes the VCSE sector as key deliverers of services.

It works at a Point of Place, known as Local Area Partnerships or LAPS, which will serve population sizes of between 30 and 50,000.

It is a requirement of any ICS to work with and tailor services to local community needs and priorities.

Whilst there are 4 clinical priorities within Northamptonshire (shown in the slide deck) the ICS is about the Wider Determinants of Public Health.

Organisations are encouraged to read and digest the contents of the slide deck. Any queries, concerns, challenges, or opportunities should be relayed to VIN in the next 2 weeks by E Mailing info@voluntaryimpact.org.uk and placing ICS in the subject Line. These responses will be collated and relayed to the two Directors of Place within West and North Northamptonshire.

 

A view from the Turret on Connections

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The Simplest of Connections are often the best

 This week I have seen examples of how the simplest of connections often provide the most value to individuals within communities. The first was a trip to Northamptonshire MINDs new hub – a great space packed with passionate and skilled staff and volunteers. They talked to me about their various projects, and how they were keen to connect individuals to services, largely around the subject of health and wellbeing but not exclusively. And boy is it needed….

I have said this hundreds of times over the past 3 months but it’s worth saying again. COVID19 has exacerbated an already frightening story of mental ill – health: 21.3% of adults over the age of 18 have clinical signs of psychological distress. Depression amongst adults has nearly doubled over the past 24 months, and with a cost-of-living precipice around the corner these statistics will worsen. The current economic crisis is an inconvenience for the affluent, it’s a worry for those who work and its frightening for the most vulnerable and disconnected. The hub that MIND have will enable those individuals to seek support and solace over a cup of tea, and I have committed to supporting them with volunteering advice and signposting moving forward. I wish them every success. From these small connections I am hopeful that individuals within our communities can gain back some self-esteem and aspiration.

In a similar vein, VINs veterans’ coffee morning brought together those with an armed forces background: One story stuck in my head: Two veterans sat next to each other over a cup of tea and realised that not do they live in the same building, but on the same floor, yet have never spoken or passed the time of day. They now plan to visit and support each other on a regular basis.

Simple connections are what the VCSE is excellent at forging: It will be a fundamental part of the new Integrated Care System that such small connections continue and grow to help arrest some of the health inequalities we currently face: It goes beyond copious pages of strategic development and policy formulation which communities often struggle to understand and engage with.

Never underestimate the power of small.

 And if you are interested in volunteering for MIND they have several opportunities, from Peer Support Volunteers through to Volunteer Counsellors. If you are interested, please contact enquiries@northamptonshiremind.org.uk

As they say, whether you have 2 hours or 10 hours per week to spare, they would love to hear from you.

 

A View from the Turret on Bank Accounts

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So you want to open a bank account?

That seems like a simple thing that most charities would want to do at some point in their organisational journey. You would think that the banking industry would welcome charities with open arms (large and small) as it provides good business, makes perfect and logical sense and is potentially philanthropic by its very nature and the connections it could create. How wrong could you be?

Everyday I hear of the struggles which charities are experiencing in both opening and maintaining a working bank account. This applies across the UK as equally as it does in Northamptonshire.

NAVCA, NCVO and others have been surveying community-based organisations about their banking experience and have highlighted four key themes which I recognise only too well.

Services that charities need are increasingly unavailable.

Services that are available are not suited to the way that charities operate.

Charities often encounter poor customer service.

Online banking is not designed for or accessible to charities.

Speaking from VINs own personal experience of the last two years, we have made at least 4 complaints against our well know high street bank for poor systems and shocking customer care. Whilst we have received compensation on nearly every occasion, they don’t seem to improve or even appear to want to.

If any organisations in Northamptonshire are struggling to open or maintain a working bank account, please let us know at info@voluntaryimpact.org.uk placing Banking in the subject line. We will forward your concerns to NAVCA as they open negotiations and debate with the banking industry.

Community Foundation shares its Impact Report

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The latest impact report from Northamptonshire Community Foundation can be found here: IMPACT REPORT FINAL 22.06.2022.pdf (ncf.uk.com)

Page 18 of the report (entitled voices from the sector) echoes many of the issues reported to VIN on a regular basis.

Sustainability moving forward is a real issue for our sector, with many smaller charities digging deep into their reserves to survive or at the point of closure. An increasingly competitive funding market makes it harder to access and maintain funds. Fewer funders now fund core activities and there is still the issue of funding short termism rather than funding longevity which gives organisations an opportunity to rebalance following COVID. The nature of volunteering is changing, with more volunteers attracted to short term campaigns or appeals rather than longer term commitments. With the cost-of-living crisis ever present, people at work are having to work harder for longer with little extra time to volunteer. Staff and volunteer fatigue within the sector is an ever present, as is the skill drain to other sectors exacerbated by the range of pressures on family household incomes.

VIN will continue to work with NCF and other funders in an attempt to draw these issues out and raise their profile. As we move into an Integrated Care System (with its emphasis on People and Places) VIN will work tirelessly to ensure the new constructs of Local Area Partnerships are the right vehicles for the work, properly represented with the ability to make changes at a local level which involves communities.

West Northamptonshire Council UKSPF Investment Plan Survey

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West Northamptonshire Council is responsible for preparing a UKSPF Investment Plan, which will be submitted to Government by 1 August, to secure a 3-year core funding allocation of £5.4m.The primary goal of the UKSPF is to build pride in place and increase life chances across the UK. To this end, the Council welcomes ideas from relevant organisations to inform its Investment Plan. However, we expect this funding opportunity will be over-subscribed. There is no guarantee that investment proposal suggestions will be successful and/or included within the Plan.All responses must be submitted by 29th June at 5pm.The Council strongly recommends all consultees to familiarise themselves with the background information and associated national guidance documents provided on the government’s webpage here.To access the survey, please click here. Your responses will be treated as confidential and in compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements.Please note that during the survey you will be prompted to upload a spreadsheet outlining the expected spend if you are proposing a project to fulfil the interventions of the Investment Plan. To access the spreadsheet please click here and for any other queries regarding this form, please contact maria.ioannou@hatch.com. For further questions, please contact West Northamptonshire Council at Economy@WestNorthants.gov.uk.

The Health Inequalities Plan 2022 – 2026

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The Integrated Care System across Northamptonshire has published its Health Inequalities Plan.

This plan describes Northamptonshire’s vision to work with communities to ensure that people living in Northamptonshire have the opportunity to thrive, to access quality services providing excellent experiences and optimal outcomes for all.

The long-term ambition is to see:

  •  An increase in healthy life expectancy.
  •  A reduction in health inequalities.
  •  A reduction in premature mortality.
  •  Improved community cohesion.

Plan content can be viewed here: Northamptonshire-Health-Inequalities-Plan-2022.pdf (poverty-truth.org.uk)

The Local Northamptonshire context can be seen between pages 12 and 16.

The aims and objectives of the plan can be seen from page 17.

Any Voluntary Sector comments about the plan should be made to info@voluntaryimpact.org.uk. Please Place HIP in the subject heading.

Comments will be sent through to the current Directors of Public Health across the two Authorities.

 

VCSE Assembly

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To view more information about the VCSE Assembly view our leaflet below.

VCSE Assembly Leaflet

U18 Better Starts Grant

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Local community groups can apply for grants of between £500 and £1500 to support a broad range of activities that contribute to improving children’s lives and contribute towards transforming local communities. The funding is being made available through round 2 of the Asda Foundation’s Under 18 Better Starts Grant. As a result of the cost of living crisis, the focus for round 2 funding is on ensuring children are supported during the summer. It could be providing essential food over the school holidays or a new uniform and sports kit ahead of the new school year, etc.

Applications should be made through each local Asda store’s Community Champion.

Applications can be submitted at any time up to the 19th August 2022.

Click here to read more : https://www.asdafoundation.org/how-to-apply

 

Business planning and strategy

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Watch our short video that explains how to write a business plan or organisational strategy.

A simple strategy called ‘Six Critical Questions’ helps when thinking about business planning. To get the most out of these questions, they should ideally be discussed as a group with trustees, staff, and volunteers.

Here are the six questions.

Why does your organisation exist?

Our core purpose is what gets us out of bed and keeps us inspired. This question aims to achieve a simple line or two that effectively defines your overarching mission. Organisations need to give this some considerable thought though, it’s not as simple as it sounds.

How do we behave, what are our values and how do we live by them?

Values define who we are and are captured in the way we behave and how we do business. Ask yourself what your core values and organisational beliefs are, and then think about how these translate into the workplace.

What do we do?

Can you describe what you do clearly and accurately, in a way different audiences can understand? This sounds simple, but many organisations struggle to define this. A great starting point is to list your projects and activities. In the process of listing, you begin to gain organisational understanding.

How will we succeed?

This is your effective and operational business plan or strategy. There are many paths to success, and strategy is about choosing yours. Rather than having every detail mapped out, you can try having three ‘strategic anchors’ that fit your organisational profile and make sense to all, that can inform day to day decisions. When we are clear on our strategy, it’s much easier to distinguish between opportunities and distractions, decide what’s important and what’s not, make day to day decisions and choose what to focus on.

What’s most important right now?

When organisations have different teams that pursue different agendas, the result can be chaotic, frustrating, or confusing. Organisations can do anything they wish, but they cannot do everything right now. Decide what you are going to focus on and what’s going to make the biggest impact on your core purpose.

Who must do what?

In an organisation, this is about roles and responsibilities. Trustees and chief executives generally make important decisions and include staff and volunteers in this process. It’s the sum of the parts which is important.

You can find out about these six questions at www.voluntaryimpact.org.uk/resources.

Help the Homeless

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Applications are accepted quarterly for capital projects that assist individuals in their return to mainstream society, rather than simply offering shelter or other forms of sustenance.

Up to £5,000 is available to small and medium-sized charities with an annual turnover of under £1m. the next deadline is 15th November. Visit the website for further detail and an application form

Applying for Funding — Help the Homeless (help-the-homeless.org.uk)