Volunteering Champions Group 2014
The Volunteering Champions Group brings together a range of people who have a stake hold, expertise and interest in volunteering
and who aspire to the vision of Joining the Dots: A triple impact volunteering strategy 2010-2015;
“… that Brighton & Hove is a City where residents feel inspired to volunteer and participate in community activity, have the
opportunity to do so and are celebrated and recognised in their efforts”
Background
The Volunteering Champions Group originates from the Volunteering Strategy Steering Group. This steering group was brought
together to develop the Brighton & Hove City Volunteering Strategy – Joining the Dots1 - and from therein provided oversight for its
delivery, ensuring that volunteering remained on City agendas.
At the beginning of 2012, engagement in the Transforming Local Infrastructure Programme was identified by the steering group as a
key way in which volunteering support services could achieve a more joined-up arrangement with partners as well as allowing for
some gaps in delivery to be met. The culmination of this work is the launch of Brighton & Hove Community Works which brings
together four key sector support organisations: the Volunteer Centre, Skills Exchange, Performance Development Service and
Community and Voluntary Sector Forum.
In line with these developments, the steering group agreed that Brighton & Hove Community Works took continued responsibility
and leadership around the furthering of the Volunteering Strategy and that the Community Works’ Business Plan should where
possible speak to the aims and objectives of the Strategy, aligning its own activities accordingly, collaborating with others who lead
delivery in other volunteering areas and providing secretariat to the work.
The steering group dissolved its current format, and reconvened in the form of a Volunteering Champions Group, enabling a
refreshed membership to continue to contribute towards the volunteering agenda.
1
http://volunteeringstrategy.wordpress.com/
September 2014
1
What is the purpose of the Volunteering Champions Group?
To bring together a wide range of volunteering expertise and perspectives which inform the future development of
volunteering activity in the City including the suite of volunteering support services delivered by Brighton & Hove
Community works
To provide an ambassadorial function for volunteering where key messages are taken out to key stakeholders and decisionmaking networks; ensuring that volunteering remains on the agenda of city-wide plans and at the heart of the discussion
To participate in start-finish volunteering task groups where possible and appropriate
To provide a ‘reference’ panel with where volunteering developments or position statements can be tested and from which
sector expertise, input and opinion can be drawn
To work collaboratively towards positive volunteering outcomes for the City and encourage others similarly
To ensure that the contribution and value of volunteering and community activity is championed and celebrated in the City
Relevant strategies, partnerships and supporting structures
The Volunteering Champions Group will necessarily be alert to key city strategies, partnerships and structures in order to be
effectively of influence and inform its own activities.
I.
II.
-
Joining the dots: City Volunteering Strategy 2010-2015
This will be a standing agenda item on the agenda for the Volunteering Champions Group
-
Volunteering Strategy Working Group
Members will be invited to participate in a variety of working group(s) to progress activities around the Volunteering
strategy
-
Brighton & Hove Connected – Sustainable Communities Strategy
Formerly the Local Strategic Partnership, this structure has adopted the Volunteering Strategy as one of its flagship areas to
support over the next 2 years
III.
IV.
-
Brighton & Hove City Council – Third Sector Policy
formally sets out the council’s recognition of and need for a thriving and diverse Third Sector.
September 2014
2
V.
Community Engagement Strategy and Framework
VI.
VII.
Community Development Strategy
-
Linking and collaborating with Community Works
The group is chaired by a Trustee of Community Works, co-ordinated and supported by several staff members. Vi emerging
from the group will inform Community Works volunteering developments through these links as well as engaging the group
in more formal consultation.
What are the expectations of members?
It is expected that members will:
Be committed in their contribution to the group – including attendance at group meetings and timely responses to other
communications
Be pro-active at bringing relevant volunteering issues to the Champions Group via meetings or through interim
communications
Where possible, model the collaborative approach to achieving volunteering outcomes in the City
Take opportunity where possible and appropriate to fly an ambassadorial flag for volunteering across their networks, area of
activity or interest
Who can join the group?
The aim is to encourage group membership from as diverse a range of volunteering stakeholders as possible including members
from local volunteering and community support agencies, statutory and business partners, commissioners and representation of
specialist volunteering areas and communities of interest and identity.
How will the group operate?
Brighton & Hove Community Works will provide secretariat and administrative support to the group. This will include convening
twice yearly meetings with a minimum of 4 weeks notice of date, time and venue. A record of meeting contents will be produced and
circulated to the group within 3 weeks of meeting.
September 2014
3
Brighton & Hove Community Works staff or volunteers may liaise with group members interim meetings in accordance with the
aims of the group.
It is encouraged that group members bring information ‘in’ to Community Works that is pertinent to volunteering and liaise with
other group members around volunteering issues that enable the common vision to be achieved.
September 2014
4
Current Membership
Alison Marino
Brighton & Hove Community Works
Ann Hickey
East Sussex Credit Union
Beth Thomas-Hancock
Active Student, University of Brighton
Charlie Allsebrook
Edward Starr Trust
Fabia Bates
Survivors Network
Gina Rogers
Active Sussex
Helen Graham
Royal Pavilion Estate
Ian Chisnall
Faith Groups Representative
Katharine Russell
The FED Centre for Independent Living
Jayne Thompson
Age UK Brighton & Hove
Jess Crocker
Brighton & Hove Food Partnership
Joanna Hill
The Trust for Developing Communities
Keith Beadle
The Embrace Project
Liz Cadman
Economic Team, Brighton & Hove Council
Michaela Rossman
Macmillan Cancer Support
September 2014
5
Matt Day
Brighton & Hove Impetus
Michelle Pooley
Communities and Equality Team, Brighton & Hove Council
Mick Barry
Community Base
Tessa Craven
Advice Strategy Project
Ryan Edwards
Sport and Leisure, Brighton & Hove City Council
Sally Polanski
Brighton & Hove Community Works
Simon Newell
Brighton & Hove Strategic Partnership
Sue Shaw
Volunteer Centre Brighton & Hove
Vicky Watson
Brighton & Hove CAB
September 2014
6