You are not logged in

Resilient responses promise stronger future

28/05/2009

Back to list

Today’s difficult economic climate is challenging for everyone – and not least for third sector organisations as they face increased demand for services amid financial pressures. But some key stakeholders take the view that charities and voluntary organisations can not only survive the recession but emerge from it greatly strengthened, if given appropriate support and direction.

Stephen Bubb of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) describes the sector as immeasurably stronger, more resilient and more influential than in previous recessions and believes it could be a vehicle for economic recovery.

Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive of the National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is similarly upbeat, saying charities that are versatile and willing to adapt should be able to cope with the extra challenges. And Liam Byrne, MP and Minister for the Cabinet Office, commenting in March, anticipated innovative and effective ideas from a new government taskforce set up to examine how businesses and the third sector can collaborate during the global downturn. It would, he said, identify “yet more ways that we can work together to build strong communities throughout the nation”.

The taskforce has been formed in line with a recently announced action plan from the Office of the Third Sector that will provide fresh funding and support so that volunteers, charities and social enterprises can deliver extra help to communities that need it most during the recession. The Government aims to build the strength of such organisations so that they are stronger than ever.

Capacitybuilders’ contribution

Capacitybuilders has contributed to this plan to build third sector resilience by making funding available at local, regional and national level for targeted support activities.

“We are committed to ensuring our programmes are of maximum benefit to third sector organisations during the recession, enabling the sector to deliver real help to local people in need,” says Matt Leach, Capacitybuilders’ CEO.

“We are doing this by adapting the focus of existing programmes and, where necessary, reallocating funding to new forms of support.”

Resilience grants

Capacitybuilders is concentrating its help in this regard on the workstreams set up under its National Support Services programme, tasked with improving the support available nationally to  consortia that provide support at local and regional levels.

To help consortia respond to new demands, it offered a one-off additional grant payment so they could gear up to ensure the right support was in place locally for frontline organisations. Those Resilience Support Grants have been used in many ways, according to local need, and have included help with training in environmental efficiency, advice on employment rights, and guidance on fresh engagement with economic funding streams. Become a member of this website and you can search for members in receipt of the Resilience Support grant and read their member profiles to find out about activities made possible using the grants.

National support

At national level, Capacitybuilders has reallocated uncommitted resources from 2008-09 for investment in a package of immediate support for the sector. This allows the national workstreams to pull together additional resources and information that will assist support organisations within the sector in targeting the direct help needed by the recession-hit frontline.

For example, the Human rights and employment workstream is providing an online assessment tool and induction programme for people wanting to volunteer or to transfer their skills into the third sector. It is also mapping key services and resources region by region to help support providers signpost effectively. The Governance and leadership workstream is publishing practical and legal guidance to help organisations involved in collaboration and merger. When available these resources will be made available in the tools library of this website.

The Modernising volunteering workstream is working on good practice case studies showing how volunteering can be successfully linked to employability. It is also providing training courses focused on employer-supported volunteering in the recession. And the Responding to social change workstream is making available a range of useful articles and tools online (http://delicious.com/3s4/downturn)

The case studies, tools and events will also be shared in this website.

Editorial note:

Sources used –

1. Stephen Bubb quote from a Guardian article, 16 March2009

2. Stuart Etherington quote from NCVO press release, October 2008

3. Office of the Third Sector website

4. Briefing note from Capacitybuilders

5. Resilience support grants snapshot