Equality Analysis (EA) (formally Equality Impact Assessment)
Record Form
Revised April 2011
Department: HR and Transformation
Team or Service Area Leading Assessment: Policy and Transformation
Title of Policy/ Service or Function: Corporate SLAs and small grant programme
Proposals to introduce/ alter/ delete policy, service, expenditure etc: Alter and introduce
funding allocations
Grant funding for 2012/13 to voluntary and community organisations in Blackpool
Date of proposals: January 2011
Committee/Team: Scrutiny/Exec Committees
Lead Officer: Leanne Burnett
STEP 1 - IDENTIFYING THE PURPOSE OR AIMS
1.
What type of policy, service or function is this?
Existing
2.

New/ proposed
 Changing/ updated
x
What is the aim and purpose of the policy, service or function?
The Council makes funding available to organisations in Blackpool, currently
on an annual basis.
Applications were invited for small grants up to £5000 and renewals of SLAs
for 2012/13 in October, which were then considered by a Working Group of
the Scrutiny Committee. Their recommendations for funding formed a report
to the Executive Committee.
3.
Please outline any proposals being considered.
The Council makes annual grants and awards SLAs on an ongoing basis.
For 2012/13, the sum available for distribution was £391,800. This was the
same sum as in 2011/12.
Since the grant making process in 2011/12, the Department for Communities
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and Local Government have issued some new Best Value Statutory
Guidance, which focussed on outcomes as a result of funding given to
voluntary and community organisations. As a result the application form for
funding was revised to ask organisations to provide information on the
outcomes they anticipated achieving with the funding they requested.
At time of writing, it is envisaged that the Council will continue to support the
same roster of SLA organisations.
4.
What outcomes do we want to achieve?
The Council wishes to ensure that it receives value for money from the
funding to the voluntary and community sector, and that organisations are on
a good footing with regards to governance.
Outcomes for SLAs were negotiated with organisations in 2011/12, and
performance monitoring information has been collected quarterly for review
by the Scrutiny Committee. This information was available for Working Group
members to refer to during the decision-making process.
Members considered each application by considering the impact on local
residents, current level of financial reserves held by the organisation and the
type of work to be undertaken.
5.
Who is the policy, service or function intended to help/ benefit?
The funding is distributed to voluntary, community and faith groups that work
in Blackpool. These organisations work with local communities in Blackpool,
including vulnerable people.
6.
Who are the main stakeholders/ customers/ communities of interest?
- Voluntary, Community and Faith (VCF) organisations in Blackpool;
- Residents, especially those who are users or volunteers of organisations;
- Representative organisations for the sector eg Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde
CVS
7.
Does the policy, service or function have any existing aims in relation to Equality/
Diversity or community cohesion?
Yes, in accordance with our Single Equality Policy and the general duties
under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.
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STEP 2 - CONSIDERING EXISTING INFORMATION AND WHAT THIS TELLS YOU
8.
Please summarise the main data/ research and performance management
information in the box below.
Data/ information
11 organisations applied for SLA funding in 2012/13
Community
People with disabilities
Younger people
Advice and information
Environmental
Infrastructure support
No of orgs considered
2
3
3
1
2
40 organisations applied for small grants. Analysis of the communities
organisations support, in so far as this was outlined in their applications, is
shown below:
Community/Interest
No of orgs applying
Older people
Younger people
People with disabilities
Ethnic minority groups
Religious or belief groups
LGBT
Gender
Health
Environmental
Arts and culture, heritage
Advice and information
Safety at sea
Total
6
12
1
2
3
1
1
1
4
4
4
1
40
% of those
applying
15
30
2.5
5
7.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
10
10
10
2.5
The Council does not have an overall picture of the VCFS in Blackpool, so it
is not possible to ascertain what % of organisation in each area made an
application.
Grants were made to all SLA organisations in 2012/13. Most organisations
were given a grant rounded down to a lower amount from 2011/12. The
largest impact would be for the Volunteer Centre, with proposed reduction of
23% in 2012/13 compared to last year. At the meeting of Scrutiny held on
12th January 2012, a proposal was made to direct the remaining balance of
Voluntary Sector Funding to the Volunteer Centre, a total of £2,300 (a
reduction of 14.2%).
Small grants were made to 42% of the organisations that applied, as shown
below:
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Community/Interest
Orgs receiving
grants
Older people
3
Younger people
5
People with disabilities
1
Ethnic minority groups
0
Religious or belief groups
0
LGBT
0
Gender
1
Health
0
Environmental
1
Arts and culture, heritage
4
Advice and information
2
Safety at sea
0
Total
17
Key findings of consultation and feedback
% of those
receiving grants
17
29
6
0
0
0
6
0
6
24
12
0
Organisations were asked who would benefit from their activities and
projects, as well as how could they demonstrate there was a need for the
activities they were applying for funding for.
Applicants for small grants were also asked to attach of their Equal
Opportunities Policy with their application form (organisations in receipt of
SLAs had had their policies audited in previous years).
It was difficult to determine from the responses any robust information about
the characteristics of users, as most of the information given was anecdotal.
Of the 40 applicants who applied for small grants, 11 did not have an equal
opportunities policy. Some of those did have only very limited information
about how they ensure equal access to their activities and projects.
Key to achieving equality of funding across all sectors is ensuring a
proportionally representative cross sector feel able to apply for funding. It is
in this area that we propose to focus over the next year.
The Council consulted specifically the Manager of the Volunteer Centre
about the impact of a cut in their SLA. They noted the following likely equality
impacts:

Reduced access to volunteering information, guidance and support.
A significant number of service users are from deprived communities
with a large proportion being unemployed. The Centre works with a
large number of users who have support needs, that being either a
physical or learning disability or poor mental health and wellbeing.
Volunteering is both positive and therapeutic, reduces social isolation,
enhances employability through skills development and improves
general health and wellbeing. The Volunteer Centre help support
people through the process of becoming a volunteer

Reduced volunteering infrastructure support to local volunteer
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involving organisations.
The majority of local volunteer involving organisations registered with
the Volunteer Centre provide frontline services to the most vulnerable
members of our community and those most in need. Organisations,
particularly those that are under-resourced, rely heavily on the
Volunteer Centre for volunteers and support in running their volunteer
programmes.
As outlined above, at the meeting on 12th January 2012, Scrutiny approved a
further £2,300 of SLA funding to support the Volunteer Centre in order to
alleviate the impact of funding reductions overall.
Discussions are underway with the TSSP regarding the retendering of the
current SLA. The TSSP Manager has highlighted that the impact of
terminating the TSSP SLA would also have impact on the delivery of CVS
operations, given the complexity of funding. The TSSP Manager welcomes
the opportunity to relook at objectives and projects within the current SLA
and are keen to realign this with the new Council vision. The TSSP Manager
has requested that the TSSP be given the opportunity to work with the
Council on this to deliver an SLA that is fit for purpose ahead of a potential
retendering process.
9.
What are the impacts or effects for Key Protected Characteristics?
An analysis of the reasons organisations not funded is attached below:
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
- 'Keep Safe and Warm' project
Wildlife Trust for Lancashire
Layton Traders Association
Blackpool Jubilee Stroke
Association
Polish School in Blackpool
Blackpool Centre for the
Unemployed
Blackpool Council for Voluntary
Youth Services
Preston and West Lancs Racial
Equality Council
Migration Impact Support Services
Aspired Futures Ltd
Windmill Youth Development Group
RNLI
Park Family Action Group
Age Concern - Central Library
Project
Noor-A-Madina
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Did not meet criteria -public sector
body
Not a priority area for members.
Direct to BEAT funding
Application not complete
Organisation holds high cash
reserves
Application not complete
Already in receipt of an SLA
Organisation holds high cash
reserves
Organisation holds high cash
reserves
Already funded by the Council
Organisation holds high cash
reserves
Organisation holds high cash
reserves
Organisation holds high cash
reserves
*Direct to Ward Councillors for
assistance
Organisation holds high cash
reserves
Application not complete
Blackpool Muslim Women's Forum
Ghouisa TV
UR Potential
Queens Park Young People's
Association (Marching Band)
Application not complete
Application not complete
Already funded by the Council
Duplication of activity
Application received after closing
date
Duplication of activity
Blackpool Pride
Over 50s Social Club
Age
50% of organisations working with older people who applied were funded.
40% of organisations working with younger people who applied were funded.
Disability
One application was received from a disability interest organisation. This was
funded.
Gender Reassignment
One application was received from an LGBT organisation. This was not
funded as the application was received after the closing date
Marriage and Civil partnership
No applications made
Pregnancy and Maternity
No applications made
Race
Two applications were received from organisations supporting ethnic
communities. These were not funded as the applications were incomplete.
Religion and Belief
Three applications were received from organisations supporting specific
religious communities. These were not funded as the applications were
incomplete.
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Sex
One application was received. This was funded
Sexual Orientation
See Gender reorientation above
12. What do you know about how the proposals could affect community cohesion?
We are not aware of any cohesion issues arising from these proposals , at
this stage. We will monitor this in consultation with key groups throughout the
year ahead.
STEP 3 - ANALYSISING THE IMPACT
13.
Is there any evidence of higher or lower take-up by any group or community, and if
so, how is this explained?
Blackpool CVS promoted the small grants programme to their members, and
we believe members also alerted groups in their wards. This would explain
the 60% of first time applicants for small grants for 2012/13.
A number of organisations who had small grants in 2011/12 did not apply –
one organisation contacted us to say their financial situation was healthy,
and they did not require additional funding.
5 organisations requested a copy of the application form, but did not go on to
make an application. One organisation was unable to submit in time, but we
did not discover any reasons from the other 4.
We may assume a element of self-selection from organisations who did not
feel they were bid-ready.
14.
Do any rules or requirements prevent any groups or communities from using or
accessing the service?
No
15.
Does the way a service is delivered/ or the policy create any additional barriers for
any groups of disabled people?
No
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The application form was in word format, which is the best format for screen
readers. It could also be printed off and completed by hand.
16.
Are any of these limitations or differences “substantial” and likely to amount to
unlawful discrimination?
Yes

No
X
If yes, please explain (referring to relevant legislation) in the box below
17.
If No, do they amount to a differential impact, which should be addressed?
Yes

No
X
If yes, please give details below.
STEP 4 - DEALING WITH ADVERSE OR UNLAWFUL IMPACT
18.
What can be done to improve the policy, service, function or any proposals in order
to reduce or remove any adverse impact or effects identified?
There is further work the Council can do before next year’s application
process.
This includes:
Work with infrastructure organisations to ensure voluntary and community
organisations are bid-ready.
Continue to refine the applications form – including incorporating feedback
from the members on the Working Group that assessed applications
Providing members with information about wider issue in the sector and other
groups providing similar services
Giving feedback on applications to organisations
Giving clear information about priorities or activities for funding
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Ensure that any unrepresented communities are engaged with during the call
for applications
19.
What would be needed to be able to do this? Are the resources likely to be
available?
Resources could be made available from existing staff time
20.
What other support or changes would be necessary to carry out these actions?
The Council could also look to extend the window for applications to ensure
that organisations are able to take advice for eg CVS about their application.
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STEP 5 - CONSULTING THOSE AFFECTED FOR THEIR VIEWS
21.
What feedback or responses have you received to the findings and possible
courses of action? Please give details below.
Officers asked for feedback on the redesigned application forms from
Scrutiny Committee members and the CVS.
The Council also offered help and advice about completing the form to
organisations over the phone. The main finding from this anecdotal feedback
is that some organisations struggled to elucidate the impact their activities
and projects had.
We will direct organisations to the CVS’s workshops on developing impact
frameworks to develop this capacity.
22.
If you have not been able to carry out any consultation, please indicate below how
you intend to test out your findings and recommended actions.
For next years’ applicants, we will also look at
Asking organisations for feedback post application about both the process
and whether they have been treated fairly.
Including a monitoring form to find out about the staff, volunteer and user
make-up
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STEP 6 - ACTION PLANNING
Please outline your proposed action plan below.
Issues/ adverse
impact identified
Proposed action/
objectives to
deal with
adverse impact
Targets/Measure
Timeframe
Responsibility
Some equality
groups are
unrepresented
in those
groups
applying
Work with
infrastructure
organisations
to ensure
voluntary and
community
organisations
are bid-ready.
Quantify the
sector in
Blackpool,
along
equalities lines
– data capture
exercise
Before
October
2012
Head of Policy
and
Transformation
Community
consultation
Before
October
2012
Head of Policy
and
Transformation
On-going
consultation
Throughout Head of Policy
2012-13
and
Transformation
Ensure that
any
unrepresented
communities
are engaged
with during the
call for
applications
Information
about an
organisations
approach to
equalities can
be anecdotal
rather than
factual
Continue to
refine the
applications
form
Identify
unrepresented
groups
Monitor
applications
made and
funded for
2013/14
Ensure groups
are signposted
to areas of
support
available
Give feedback
on applications
to
organisations
There is a
need for
ongoing
consultation
with the
Community
and Voluntary
Liaise with
CVS / equality
community
engagement
groups during
the year
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Indicate
whether
agreed
Issues/ adverse
impact identified
Proposed action/
objectives to
deal with
adverse impact
Targets/Measure
Timeframe
Responsibility
Indicate
whether
agreed
sector on
funding issues
STEP 7 - ARRANGEMENTS FOR MONITORING AND REVIEW
Please outline your arrangements for future monitoring and review below.
Agreed action
Monitoring
arrangements
Timeframe
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Responsibility
Added to
Service Plan
etc.
Date completed:
Signed:
Name:
Position:
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