100713 GOSE Big Society presentation to Consortia Coordinators July 2010Mark Walker
What is this Big Society stuff all about? Is it a smokescreen for Government cuts or a game-changing attempt to change the way our communities are run?
Vicky Westhorp of GOSE provided an excellent summary of what it's all about at a Capacitybuilders meeting of the Coordinators of ChangeUp Consortia in the south east. In other words people who work in the voluntary and community sector at a local level.
This presentation covers a lot of the background as well as the latest news and announcements.
Please use the comments space below the presentation to ask questions or add your thoughts about what is being proposed. I've offered to help moderate a discussion via this page, and/or via the email forum for the Coordinators [contact me for details]
Mark Walker
ICT Champion for the third sector in south east England
Blandin Foundation Project: an Application for Sustainable BroadbandAnn Treacy
The Blandin Foundation talks about their ARRA broadband stimulus fund application to the TISP (Telecommunications and Information Society Policy) Forum
100713 GOSE Big Society presentation to Consortia Coordinators July 2010Mark Walker
What is this Big Society stuff all about? Is it a smokescreen for Government cuts or a game-changing attempt to change the way our communities are run?
Vicky Westhorp of GOSE provided an excellent summary of what it's all about at a Capacitybuilders meeting of the Coordinators of ChangeUp Consortia in the south east. In other words people who work in the voluntary and community sector at a local level.
This presentation covers a lot of the background as well as the latest news and announcements.
Please use the comments space below the presentation to ask questions or add your thoughts about what is being proposed. I've offered to help moderate a discussion via this page, and/or via the email forum for the Coordinators [contact me for details]
Mark Walker
ICT Champion for the third sector in south east England
Blandin Foundation Project: an Application for Sustainable BroadbandAnn Treacy
The Blandin Foundation talks about their ARRA broadband stimulus fund application to the TISP (Telecommunications and Information Society Policy) Forum
Going local:
How will the localism agenda affect your campaign strategy?
How far will central government want to go?
How far will they get?
Power to local state or Power to the People?
Simon Gillespie: Building a fair and sustainable care systemThe King's Fund
Simon Gillespie, Chair at the Care & Support Alliance, discusses why social care needs to be reformed and gives an overview of the care and support White Paper and the key recommendations identified by the Dilnot Commission.
Making the links: BME (Black, Minority Ethnic) Women, Gender-Based Violence, ...FEANTSA
Presentation given by Marai Larasi, Sumanta Roy, UK at a FEANTSA Research Conference on "Migration, Homelessness and Demographic Change in Europe", Pisa, Italy, 2011
Going local:
How will the localism agenda affect your campaign strategy?
How far will central government want to go?
How far will they get?
Power to local state or Power to the People?
Simon Gillespie: Building a fair and sustainable care systemThe King's Fund
Simon Gillespie, Chair at the Care & Support Alliance, discusses why social care needs to be reformed and gives an overview of the care and support White Paper and the key recommendations identified by the Dilnot Commission.
Making the links: BME (Black, Minority Ethnic) Women, Gender-Based Violence, ...FEANTSA
Presentation given by Marai Larasi, Sumanta Roy, UK at a FEANTSA Research Conference on "Migration, Homelessness and Demographic Change in Europe", Pisa, Italy, 2011
Community development - a different way to think about local economiesJulian Dobson
This is a presentation given to the Local Government Information Unit's economic development learning network in London on 26 January 2010. I was asked to explore how community development and economic development are linked and the implications for economic development practitioners of a community development approach.
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what are the implications of social media, the Internet and new technologies for community engagement and how do traditional and new ways of engagement complement each other to create new opportunities through Gov 2.0 initiatives and co-production?
Slides from Gill Millar, Regional Youth Work Unit at Learning South West presented at Sout hWest Forum's ESF collaboration workshop in Exeter, 1st April 2015
Managing EU Projects - a perspective from Westward Pathfinder CEO George Curry delivered at South West Forum's st April Building Better Opportunities event
Introduction to the Heart of the South West LEP and EU Funding. Presentation delivered at South West Forum's EU Funding - Get the Latest... on 19th March 2015
Normal Labour/ Stages of Labour/ Mechanism of LabourWasim Ak
Normal labor is also termed spontaneous labor, defined as the natural physiological process through which the fetus, placenta, and membranes are expelled from the uterus through the birth canal at term (37 to 42 weeks
This slide is special for master students (MIBS & MIFB) in UUM. Also useful for readers who are interested in the topic of contemporary Islamic banking.
How to Build a Module in Odoo 17 Using the Scaffold MethodCeline George
Odoo provides an option for creating a module by using a single line command. By using this command the user can make a whole structure of a module. It is very easy for a beginner to make a module. There is no need to make each file manually. This slide will show how to create a module using the scaffold method.
Delivering Micro-Credentials in Technical and Vocational Education and TrainingAG2 Design
Explore how micro-credentials are transforming Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with this comprehensive slide deck. Discover what micro-credentials are, their importance in TVET, the advantages they offer, and the insights from industry experts. Additionally, learn about the top software applications available for creating and managing micro-credentials. This presentation also includes valuable resources and a discussion on the future of these specialised certifications.
For more detailed information on delivering micro-credentials in TVET, visit this https://tvettrainer.com/delivering-micro-credentials-in-tvet/
Executive Directors Chat Leveraging AI for Diversity, Equity, and InclusionTechSoup
Let’s explore the intersection of technology and equity in the final session of our DEI series. Discover how AI tools, like ChatGPT, can be used to support and enhance your nonprofit's DEI initiatives. Participants will gain insights into practical AI applications and get tips for leveraging technology to advance their DEI goals.
Strategies for Effective Upskilling is a presentation by Chinwendu Peace in a Your Skill Boost Masterclass organisation by the Excellence Foundation for South Sudan on 08th and 09th June 2024 from 1 PM to 3 PM on each day.
A Strategic Approach: GenAI in EducationPeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
Macroeconomics- Movie Location
This will be used as part of your Personal Professional Portfolio once graded.
Objective:
Prepare a presentation or a paper using research, basic comparative analysis, data organization and application of economic information. You will make an informed assessment of an economic climate outside of the United States to accomplish an entertainment industry objective.
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
“ Big Society” and the invitation to run the government of Britain? Urban Forum works to influence national policy to bring about effective change for local communities, by acting as bridge between policymakers and the community sector. We undertake research and policy development, produce information and runs events, all designed to inform policy-making and to support community groups to influence decision-making. In the run up to the election we set out a number of policy asks in the form of 10 Big ideas for 2010 entitled “The Road to May the 6th” - continuation of driving theme and driver theory test First - look at the new coalition’s priorities Second - look at how the new coalition measures up to our policy asks around Involvement and influence. Finally - a think about some of the challenges and opportunities for the voluntary and community sector in the wake of the new government. Early days First things first though and a couple of warm up slides to begin with
As we know it wasn’t a landslide victory for the Tories by any means! The good news was that it was bad news for the far right parties who were hoping that loss of faith in the political system was going to boost their success. The BNP gained no seats and lost nearly half of all their councillors. These results are hugely encouraging for those working with communities, striving for greater equality, tolerance and inclusivity - and we can’t sit back and become complacent now!
Anyway back to the coalition – Clegg and Cam have merged into what is fondly being badged by some as the Condemns!
So who are some of the key figures for the VCS to look out for and what messages are they conveying? Well – we’ve got Nick Hurd as the new Charities Minister, (Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner). It’s also worth mentioning that Nick championed the introduction of the Sustainable Communities Act and so he get’s a thumbs up for being Green (not a member of the Greens mind you) Note - the Tories said before the election that it would be renamed the Office for Civil Society
Then we’ve got Eric Pickles - the new Secretary of State for CLG. In the Con-Lib government agreement the parties are committed to a "radical devolution of power and greater financial autonomy to local government and community groups. This will include a full review of local government finance.“
Hot off the press – in an open letter to Sector from Nick Hurd, the new Coalition has laid out a number of quick wins (priorities) partly based on their Green Paper last Year – entitled “Voluntary Action in the 21 st Century” and expanding on some of their manifesto details: They are planning to focus on three key issues: Making it easier to run a charity, social enterprise or voluntary organisation Getting more resources into the sector & strengthening its independence and resilience Making it easier for sector organisations to work with the State
Making it easier to run a charity, social enterprise or voluntary organisation The launch of a joint task force between the cabinet Office and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills promises to reduce the amount of regulation, monitoring and reporting small orgs How to reduce Reduction of bureaucracy around Gift Aid Improving the effectiveness of VCS infrastructure - which is sort of code for a move towards infrastructure organisations having to prove their value for money.
The creation of a Big Society Bank - in a bid to get more access to strategic capital to social entrepreneurs the from unclaimed bank assets – this will be aimed at market intermediaries who are supporting innovative charities and social enterprises “ Fair Deal on Grants” - with 3 core elements: a) Reforming of the Big Lottery Fund to ensure that 100% of it’s grants go to charities and VCO (as opposed to statutory organisations) . Encouragement for better practice in Government grant making including greater transparency in expenditure; access to easier online info around which grants are available and c) a new ‘Community Grant programme” for neighbourhood groups in the most deprived areas of the UK - using the revenue (estimated at £160M ) from the Future Builders fund and based on match-funding. Inspiring more volunteering of civil servants as well as training an army of 5000 Community organisers to galvanise social action and launch an annual “Big Society Day” to encourage more volunteering. Launch a flagship “National Citizen Service’ programme for 16 year olds to give them the skills to be ‘active citizens’. Finally – more opportunities for VCOs, co-operatives and social enterprises to deliver better public services across a broad range of policy services – new schools, rehab of offenders, welfare to work, public health, energy efficiency: They say they are “open to any willing and credible providers”……
The government want to see longer term contracts and consistency based on outcomes rather than micro-management. Encouraging the participation of smaller organisations to tackle the toughest social problems and “not for dividend organisations” to bid on the basis of price (not cost and so to be free to earn a return on investment if they’re saving taxpayers money). Office for Civil Society to sit within the Cabinet Office and replace the OTS to take a lead role in delivering the Big Society Agenda. They also plan to retain the commission for the Compact as an independent monitor to ensure the gov has no breaches.
So clearly a busy time ahead for Nick and the Office for Civil Society in delivering “Big Society” – Manifestos issue – differentiation - the new coalition’s policies are being built on the same broad foundations.
So how do the coalitions priorities measure up to our Big asks around involvement then?
Well, evidently Big Society is all about involvement…. We asked for priority to be given to activity which will involve all sections of the community and that equality impact assessments should be embedded in decision-making and community engagement activities including the implementation of the Duty to Involve. This must be central to performance of partners and agencies. Why? Because women, BME communities and other minorities continue to be under-represented in local policy making forums and few LSPs carry out equality impact assessments to monitor representation. This undermines efforts to reduce inequality and weakens the quality of decision-making. One step forward and one back and delays possible. - Neighbourhood grants in deprived areas and targeting inequalities in the health service. - There was also talk of Human Rights Act with a Bill of Rights (but risks weakening the rights of excluded groups) if rights remain unaffected then why change things? Proposal of specific funding for disabled people to become councillors and would enforce gender pay audits on companies that discriminate. Social Tariffs to assist poorer households with electricity and gas payments were floated in the Lib Dems So overall - other than the grants mentioned earlier then the proposals do seem to lack measures to support the poorest groups and involve excluded groups
All the evidence tells us that community involvement in policy-making needs to be resourced. To be fair to the coalition, which ever party had won there was always a real risk that this is an area at risk of cuts with the current squeeze on public finance. We also know that communities get “consultation fatigue as different departments run parallel engagement processes. LSPs and their partners should be required to introduce joined-up engagement strategies and to jointly resource structures for meaningful involvement. This needs to be based on existing best practice, with resources targeted for supporting the involvement of communities currently under-represented in decision-making. Currently we have a legal duty on authorities to inform, consult and involve local people in decision making across all public functions. There are initiatives such as neighbourhood agreements, petitions, participatory budgeting, petitioning and following the Total Place pilots – plans to mainstream them. So what now? – Well we can be assured that something similar to Total Place will certainly happen - in order to make cuts (efficiency savings). Well one of the eye catchers of the manifestos has been this idea of an “army of neighbourhood organisers” providing support for community groups, including enabling them to encourage decision making. We know that resources would be directed away from Futurebuilders for neighbourhood grants and the current Comprehensive Area Assessment will be scrapped, as will obviously national targets - replacing Councils with a “general power of competence”. The Lib Dems proposed Neighbourhood Justice panels giving people a say over petty criminals – but nothing on this stuff yet. The verdict – well its partly a swing to the left and all about self-help. Some big ideas and visions in the Big society and localist credentials all around from the Lib Dems – however for all of us who have been pushing involvement for years it will be interesting to see if they’ve got a secret weapon to make it happen and…..is the neighbourhood army going to be sent into battle with the necessary equipment (i.e. resources and infrastructure) so maybe – one step forward and one step back.
We still advocate that local government and the VCS should work more effectively to strengthen relationships and support activity to improve communication between cllrs and their communities. As we all know, public faith in the political system is widely recognised to be in crisis and whilst much of the focus has been at the national level, local democracy has been equally affected with low voter turn outs and low awareness of who our local councillors are or how they work! Evidence from Urban Forum research suggests that poor communication between the VCS and cllrs is a major barrier. Developing the role of cllrs to be community leaders and more directly accountable is key to building legitimacy and an effective representative and participative democracy. Our verdict….. Well it’s a bit of a mix of not much light at the end of the tunnel WHILST at the same time the Lib Dems were moving in the right direction so hopefully there may be a decent combination!! The parties are pretty much at odds with their ideas on political reform and whilst the Tories touted “collaborative Democracy” - which is really the cross party consensus on greater public accountability and mutualisation of public services (anyone up for running their own school or rail network? , the Lib Demms wanted so much more… Overall- There are promises of support for the Third Sector as well as commissioning assistance for the sector to deliver public services (with a proviso around return on investment). Rather limited ambition of national political reform and cllrs don’t really get much of a mention!
The planning process continues to seem complex and inaccessible - with the minority of people who engage in it when there’s a problem. More still needs to be done by the public and Voluntary sector to involve local people in planning at all levels form setting priorities for development and improvement through to making planning decisions and designing new developments. The Tories propose a move to “Open Source Planning “with neighbourhood development plans. Regional Plans and the Infrastructure Planning commission would be scrapped. A tariff would be paid by developers to Local Authorities for Amenities with a proportion being kept by the affected neighbourhood. The Lib Demms proposed a majour over-haul of the planning system with a much greater emphasis on local competition and community rights of appeal where decisions go against local plans. Communities would also be given new powers to protect green space. Verdict – this gets the thumbs up by us. Overall whilst open source planning sounds like an internet nightmare, there are major advances from both the parties and hard to fault. The devil as ever, will be in the detail!
So the challenges and opportunities ahead. So whilst it’s been suggested that there’s no need convincing the coalition of need to protect voluntary action – as they were all convinced. There is an idea that the hung position will allow many more smaller voices to influence policy nationally. The challenge is ensuring that there is strong leadership nationally which translates to the local level showing that there will be a price to pay for cuts to the sector. Contacting local MPs and new cllrs - letting them know/reminding them about your work and current partnerships and presence are useful things to do. We all know the second statement and we’ll need to strengthen our cases to convince our worth in the near future. Are there opportunities to branch out/expand work areas – can we offer support and direction to help equip front line organisations to operate in a co-operative manner and broadening horizons on service delivery without compromising missions/values? With the current assessment and performance regime changing so radically (scrapping the CAA and presumably the monitoring of the likes of the Duty to involve) what can the sector do in the first instance to ensure we’re fully involved in decision making? As much as most people dislike National indicators – we still need a balance We need to drive it home to our new government that we need to bring people into every stage through effective communication and involvement – and this won’t happen magically on it’s own.
