Voluntary Action Leeds, presentation notes from infrastructure meeting 5 October 2015.

1. NCVOPresentationOutline
Voluntary Action Leeds, Richard Jackson, ChiefExecutive
I keepwonderingwhenwill be the lasttime ImentionTransformingLocal Infrastructure which(as
manyof youwill know) wasfundingwe receivedacouple of yearsago to lookat how the third
sectorin Leedssupporteditself tothrive.
As youmightexpect,VALbecame the focusof some fairlysubstantial partsof thiswork – especially
inareas that neededtobe changed.I’ll notmentionthisfurtherasmanyof youhave beenonthis
journey yourselves.
As mentionedbyChris,the challengeplacedinfrontof VALwasto become more accountable and
ownedtothe sector inLeeds – and not justto say thisbutto demonstrate itthroughourday to day
work whilstalso helpingtoensure thatthe sectorwastreatedandbehavedasan equal strategic
partnerin keyinitiativesanddevelopments.
Trusteeshave challengedthemselvestoleadVoluntaryActionLeedsintrulybecomingacity,
communityandThirdsector resource – aimingtoput organisational needssecondinall instances.
Withthisaim on mind,the culture continuestoevolve alongwiththe relationshipsandpartnerships
locally,regionallyandnationally.The principlesthatunderpinthisapproachare:
o Notcompetingif it can possiblybe avoided.
o Deliveringall of ourservicesinpartnership
o Beingvaluesled.
o Encouragingand supportingotherstotake ona leadershiprole onbehalf of the city
and/orsector.
o Ensuringwe remainaccountable toourmembershipandthe widersector.
Each year we still workwithapprox.1100 organisationsinLeedsaswe have overthe lastcouple of
yearsand inmost areas,operationally,the aimsof thisworkhaven’tchangedsubstantially,
however,the resultingcultural shiftwithinVALandthe impactonhow we do the workhas been
substantial andforme,the trusteesandthe staff team itfeelsabsolutelythe rightplace.
Like mostof you,VALsworkis wide andvariedandsome aspectshave a much higherprofilethat
others– one areaof continual growthisaroundvolunteering –ourvolunteercentre resource is
small,hostedbyLeedsCityCouncil,employinglessthatone FTEstaff memberandrun largelyby
volunteers,howeverthe demandforvolunteeringbrokerage inLeedsisenormouswithgrowth
areas inEmployerSupportedVolunteeringandwithparticulargroups –like ourGivingTime project
and muchmore recentlyworkingwithrefugee andasylumseekers.We expectthistrendto
continue.
WithoutdoubtTHE keyrelationshipforusinLeedsiswithLeedsCityCouncil –whohave a clear
commitmenttothe EnablingState andsee VALas a strategicandequal partner…introduce Beth…
Beth Logan, LeedsCity Council, Policyand Performance Manager

2. LeedsCityCouncil believesthatthe peopleof Leedsare ourmost valuable partners.The age of the
faceless beauracy that makesdecisionsforcitizensisamodel of the past,and now we continue to
developservicesthatengage andinvolve ourcitizenswith“real people”atthe Council.Thishasn’t
alwaysbeenaneasyjourney – we have had to challenge ourwaysof thinkinganddoing,whichhas
producedsome very, forus,scary ideas.Suchas we don’talwaysknow best,we are not the centre
of the universe,andactually,otherpeople candosome thingsbetterthan we do.
It has requiredafirmresolve toundertake thisjourney,andwe aren’tanywherenearfinished,but
we have recognisedthatourlocal infrastructure organisationsprovidethe essentialunderpinning
that enablesustosuccessfullynavigate these changes.We cannottalktoeach and everycitizenof
Leeds,we can’teventalkto everythirdsectororganisationinLeeds,butthe strengthof our
partnershipswithVALandothers allowsusto make informed decisionsabouthow tobestmeetthe
needsof ourcitizensandwhois bestplacedtodo that.
LeedsCityCouncil investsover£110 millioninthe 3rd
sector.That is a huge amountof money,but
actually,itsupportsonlya small partof our local 3rd
sector. Andwe also know thatmuch of that
moneygoestothe largestandmost complex andcapable organisations –there are many more
organisationsthatproduce enormousvalue forourcityandits citizensthatare run on the proverbial
shoestring.
As a Council we understandthatwe needtoengage with,andsupport,all of those organisations –a
jobwhichwe are not well-equippedtodo.That isthe value of infrastructure organisations. Theygive
us confidence thatthere isprofessional supportandhelpavailabletoall those groups;theymake
sure that theirvoice isheardat all levels;andtheyhelpusmake gooddecisionsforourcitizens –
whichsometimesmeanssome verydifficultconversationsforusand forthem.
Givenourcommitmenttothe 3rd
sector,the almost£1 millionthatwe investininfrastructure
organisationsproducesoutcomesthatfaroutweighthe sumsof moneywe putin. Our partnerships
withthemenable ustohave mature and complex discussionsabouthow we improve ourcity,and
how we work togethertotackle the inequalities andproblemswe face asacity.
Thisisn’ta cosy relationshipforanyof us. It requiresongoingeffortandcommitmentfromboth
sides. We don’talwaysagree. Andsometimeswe mayagree butbe unable to dowhat needstobe
done. Andthat relationshipisn’tgoingtogetanyeasier.We have facedfive yearsof tough
decisions,andthe nextfive yearsare goingtobe eventougher.Butitisgoingto be a future thatwe
face togetheras equal partners,because thisiswhatourcitizensdeserve –the bestwe all have to
offer.