Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum

Voluntary sector advice, brokerage & communications

Archive for category Feedback

Read our rep reports

Aug 6

Posted by john in Feedback | No Comments

Cornwall VSF nominates representatives to sit on many public sector boards and partnerships, representing the views of the sector to decision-makers at Cornwall Council and other large organisations such as the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust.

Sitting on partnerships including Environment Kernow, Inclusion Cornwall and the Cornwall Strategic Partnership Executive Board, reps undergo specialist representative training, and have an important role in developing the relationship between the public and voluntary sectors.

They also report back to the sector via the Cornwall VSF website. You can read their latest reports at http://cornwallvsf.org/representation.

Opportunities to become a VSF representative often become available. Check the website for details and contact Lydia Billson on 01872 241584 or lydia.billson@cornwallvsf.org if you are interested.

Put the VCS on the agenda of the proposed Local Enterprise Partnership

Aug 3

Posted by john in Feedback | No Comments

Cornwall Council is holding a consultation on the proposed Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which is expected to play a key role in local economic development in Cornwall as a replacement for the South West Regional Development Agency.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , ,

Real Influence Matters

Aug 2

Posted by Ian Jones in Feedback, Policy, Research | No Comments

This research report takes a qualitative look at people’s feelings of influence. It uses the Values Modes methodology, which looks at how the values that we each hold impact on our feelings and views about the world.
The report is the result of qualitative research into feelings of influence, carried out by The Campaign Company on behalf of the London Empowerment Partnership.
It highlights that residents have different values and these inform their feelings and mean that they approach issues in different ways.
The summary report highlights the recommendations under the headings of:
• understanding motivations and expectations
• breaking down cultural barriers
• enhancing front line engagement
• integrating communication
• people and outcomes first, mechanisms afterwards
• taking influence beyond the town hall.
Its key findings include:
• most people are interested in reactive influence, solving particular problems, and may not be satisfied with their experiences in this regard
• many mechanisms used by local authorities are proactive, so looking to address wider issues. Those people who do seek to have a proactive influence, are often attempting to address issues which are outside the scope of local institutions
• this results in an ‘influence gap’
• people cite the biggest factors to not getting involved are lack of information and not having been approached to take part.

Summary

Full Report

Voluntary sector asked for ideas on doing more for less

Jul 29

Posted by john in Feedback, Policy | No Comments

Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, and Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd, have written an open letter to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors asking them to contribute their ideas to help reduce the deficit. They are being asked to share ideas about how they can help reduce the deficit directly with the Office for Civil Society.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , ,

Trustees – have your say on safeguarding

Jul 23

Posted by john in Feedback | 1 Comment

IVO (Independent and Voluntary Sector Children’s Workforce Development Network) is conducting a survey of trustees to assess safeguarding provisions for children and young people in Cornwall.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags:

Cherry Martin reports on the Children’s Trust Management Team

Jul 22

Posted by Mark Richardson in Feedback | No Comments

Voluntary sector representative Cherry Martin, of the Pre-School Learning Alliance has posted her latest report on the workings of the Children’s Trust on the VSF representation site.   The report covers the latest meeting of the newly renamed Children’s Trust Management Team.  Issues discussed include progress against the improvement plan agreed following the poor OFSTED report, the impact of £3million cuts to the current year’s budget for Children’s services, health sector changes including GP commissioning, workforce reform and the future of the ‘Choices’ project.  You can read more by following the link above.