The South West Forum has been supporting over 70,000 social purpose organizations in the region since 2000. It provides services like conferences, workshops, networking opportunities, and advice on areas such as demonstrating impact, influencing policy, and developing partnerships. Recent work has focused on themes like the Big Society, health reform, and involving voluntary groups with Local Enterprise Partnerships. The Forum aims to strengthen and enable voluntary groups through supporting collaboration, communication, and representation of the sector's views.

1. South West Forum Supporting.
Voluntary groups to be
effective, collaborative influential
and independent.
 Local authorities and public
agencies to have strong
partnerships with voluntary groups.
 Businesses to work with
voluntary groups to mutual advantage.
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2.  South West Forum has been
supporting the South West’s 70,000
social purpose organisations since 2000.
 The Forum has an excellent
reputation nationally and we work
closely with other similar networks in
England through Regional Voices
 We believe that the work of voluntary
groups is fundamental to an effective
and healthy democratic society
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3. Supporting and enabling groups to
be better at doing what they want
to do drives all our work.
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4. We provide support, advice and consultancy in many fields
but our key areas of expertise lie in:
Organising conferences, workshops and other events
Developing and managing networks
Independent facilitation and chairing
Brokering and supporting consortia and partnerships
Advice and workshops on demonstrating impact
Training and support on voice, influence & campaigning
Policy interpretation, analysis and advice
Advice and support on commissioning strategies
Support on contracting & sub-contracting relationships
Developing online resources and social networks
Voluntary sector involvement in new structures
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5. Key achievements and activities during 2010 and 2011
Big Society
9 local Big Society Roadshow events across the
region attracting over 500 people
House of Commons reception for South West MPs
Vital and Voluntary - An action agenda for strong
and dynamic South West voluntary and community
organisations sent to all SW parliamentary candidates
before the election and all MPs after.
Understanding Big Society and Localism Conference
for the public sector
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6. Key achievements and activities during 2010 and 2011
Impact
Proving Our Value research
projects commissioned from
local university/voluntary sector
partnerships.
Online links and ‘signposting’
to resources and tools for
measuring impact in place by
end 2011.
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7. Key achievements and activities during 2010 and 2011
Voice
Who’s Listening to the Big Society
report published
Successful programme of workshops
for workers supporting the voice of
voluntary organisations, including Equal
Voices, Equal Rights event and training in
the Axis of Influence frameworks.
Support, advice, workshops to 19 local
networks on voice and influence
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8. Key achievements and activities during 2010 and 2011
Influencing health reform
4 consultation events on health and social care reform
including 2 Future Forum listening and engagement
events. Input reflected in national Future Forum report
Constructive “roundtable” event on voluntary sector
involvement in Health and Wellbeing Boards. Will use
this model for other policy discussions.
Major South West conference, Healthy Communities,
in November 2010 with Richard Wilkinson, author of
The Spirit Level as a keynote speaker.
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9. Key achievements and activities during 2010 and 2011
Working with LEPs
The Vital Link, research report on
voluntary and social enterprise
involvement in LEPs, published and
widely circulated including to LEP Board
members.
Supported 5 local LEP roadshow
events across the South West. LEPs with
Social Purpose report from these events
published Autumn 2011.
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10. Key achievements and activities during 2010 and 2011
Collaboration and networking
Built the Community
Learning, Employment and Skills
Partnership (CLESP) to help voluntary
groups secure Skills Funding Agency and
other contracts. Now has over 120
members.
Supported the South West network for
local authority officers working with the
voluntary sector – valued by
participants.
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11. Key achievements and activities during 2010 and 2011
Information and communication
Regular specialist e-bulletins available
to all via our website
Monthly newsletters sent to all
members
Disseminating the latest news, stories
and policy updates via Twitter (800
followers and rising), Facebook and
LinkedIn
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12.  41 conferences, workshops and seminars since 2010 – attracting over 1800 people
 Regular communication with over 2000 individual and 1200 organisation contacts
“Inspiring, fun, very well
delivered, empowering”
“I don’t usually give 10/10 but I
couldn’t think of what could
have been better”
“Lots of new information and
positive suggestions”
“So relevant to where we are at
as an organisation”
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13. South West Forum
Unit A1, The Innovation Centre, University
of Exeter, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RN
01392 247901
admin@southwestforum.org.uk
www.southwestforum.org.uk
@southwestforum
South West Forum
South West Forum
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