The surgery is an opportunity to get advice and support to develop your project ideas from Rachel Evans, Development Officer at the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).  Alternatively, you can simply come along to find out more about HLF funding!

Funding is available from £3,000 upwards for all kinds of heritage projects; it’s not just about old buildings!  Heritage can mean things that people value from their past and want to preserve for the future; such as local cultures and traditions, memories or historic places. 

Projects the HLF have already funded have included:

• Older people sharing their experiences with younger people.
• Education packs on how to identify wildlife in the back garden.
• Events exploring the history of carnival.
• A book on mining heritage with a touring exhibition.
• A DVD showcasing the history of local DJ’s. 

If you would like to book a 30 minute slot for one to one advice please contact Lesley Shorthouse at Walsall Voluntary Action on 01922 619840 or email lesleys@walsallva.org.uk.

We will be creating five new networks, mirroring Walsall Council’s Directorates – Children’s Services, Social Care and Inclusion, Regeneration, Neighbourhood Services and Resources.  Each network will be facilitated by a member of the Walsall Voluntary Action Board and will enable a stronger dialogue between the sector and the Council over key issues and concerns.

The new networks will be holding their initial meetings shortly.  To register your interest, email johnc@walsallva.org.uk with details of which network you wish to join, or call Walsall Voluntary Action on 01922 619840.

The Volunteer Managers’ Network will bring together people from across Walsall who are responsible for managing and supporting volunteers.  It’s designed to be a proper forum for managers, enabling them to share good practice, swap information, access new training and learning opportunities and address the issues that are most important to them.

A similar network has been operating in Dudley for many years, giving managers access to vital resources and successfully promoting volunteering and celebrating the achievements of volunteers.  Walsall Voluntary Action is keen to repeat that success here in our borough and provide local managers with the help and support they need.

The inaugural meeting of the Volunteer Managers’ Network takes place at the Village Hotel, Tempus Drive, Walsall WS2 8TJ, starting at 9:30am on 7 June.  All those who manage and support volunteers in the Walsall area are welcome.  To book a place, please call Walsall Voluntary Action on 01922 619840 or email elainek@walsallva.org.uk.

The voluntary sector is facing tough challenges at the moment.  Political change, economic uncertainty and increased demand from local communities mean that voluntary organisations need effective support. 

That’s why, over the next twelve months, Walsall Voluntary Action want to put in place a series of exciting new services, designed to support organisations as they work to meet these challenges.

But to make sure we get the right support services in place, we need your views! 

That’s why we are running a special survey of local organisations, to find out what you want. 

You can access the survey by following the link here.  There are also some guidance notes available to help you here.  Please take a few minutes to take part.  It’s your chance to help shape the services you receive and to help build the strong and thriving voluntary sector that Walsall needs. 

One Walsall community or voluntary group who returns their survey by the closing date of 12:30pm on Friday 28^th May 2010 will also be selected to win a £200 prize* for their organisation. So don’t delay, take part today!

*To be eligible for the £200 prize the group selected must be a Walsall based community or voluntary organisation and be operating to the satisfaction of Walsall Voluntary Action. Surveys returned will be eligible for selection if they are received by Walsall Voluntary Action by 12.30pm 28^th May 2010. Only one survey will be accepted per organisation. Walsall Voluntary Action reserves the right to substitute an alternative prize of similar value.  If the prize is not claimed within 2 months of notification then Walsall Voluntary Action may choose to offer it to another eligible entrant selected at random.  Walsall Voluntary Action may cancel the draw for reasons outside its reasonable control.

Our photocopying and presentation services can help you produce leaflets, flyers, reports and meeting papers, whilst our in-house design and print service can give you hands-on help to create imaginative and powerful marketing materials.

We can also help you get your message out to groups and stakeholders across the borough of Walsall with our direct mailing service.

Or if you are looking for a town centre venue to hold a meeting, why not book our meeting room?

For details of all these services and more, please follow the link here.

Highlights include:

• News of our new Volunteer Fridays placement search service for would-be volunteers. 
• Plans for Walsall’s new Volunteer Managers’ Network.
• The latest news on Area Partnerships.

 Plus much more!  You can read Newsline now by following this link.

Over in Dudley, a Volunteer Managers Network (DVON) has been successfully running for the past 20 years. DVON gives volunteer managers access to training opportunities on key issues like recruiting and retaining volunteers; networking opportunities and information on the latest funding programmes.  DVON has also been extremely successful in promoting volunteering and celebrating the achievements of volunteers.  

We’re keen to ensure that our Volunteer Managers Network addresses the issues that matter most for local managers and their organisations.  That’s why we are asking you to take part in our Learning Needs survey, which will help us to gather an overall picture of the volunteer management training needs of groups and organisations in this area. 

Please take a few moments to complete the survey, which can be found by following the link here.  Your responses will help us to develop a tailored training programme to meet local volunteer managers’ needs.

Once you’ve completed the survey, simply email it to: reception@walsallva.org.uk.  Thanks for taking part and for helping to make a difference for Walsall’s voluntary and community sector!

But to make sure we get the right support services in place, we need your views!   That’s why we are running a special survey of local organisations, to find out what you want. 

You can access an electronic copy of the survey here.  There are also some guidance notes to help you available here.  Please take a few minutes to take part.  It’s your chance to help shape the services you receive and to help build the strong and thriving voluntary sector that Walsall needs.

One Walsall community or voluntary group who returns their survey by the closing date of 12.30pm 28^th May 2010 will also be selected to win a £200 prize* for their organisation. So don’t delay, take part today!

*To be eligible for the £200 prize the group selected must be a Walsall based community or voluntary organisation and be operating to the satisfaction of Walsall Voluntary Action. Surveys returned will be eligible for selection if they are received by Walsall Voluntary Action by 12.30pm 28^th May 2010. Only one survey will be accepted per organisation. Walsall Voluntary Action reserves the right to substitute an alternative prize of similar value.  If the prize is not claimed within 2 months of notification then Walsall Voluntary Action may choose to offer it to another eligible entrant selected at random.  Walsall Voluntary Action may cancel the draw for reasons outside its reasonable control.

The specifications make it clear that the Children’s Trust will look favourably on bids submitted by organisations working in partnership.  Partnership bids could receive up to 20 points in the bid scoring process, dramatically increasing their chances of success. 

Partnership working is a positive thing for voluntary organisations – but partnership bids do have important implications that need to be considered before you submit any bid.  These are some of the key issues raised by submitting partnership bids:

Watch out for unlimited liability!  Many registered charities and community organisations will be incorporated, which means they will also be set up as a Company Limited by Guarantee.  This type of structure offers the advantage of providing its members and governing body with limited liability, which means they are protected from unlimited personal liability if the organisation cannot meet its financial obligations.

However, when two organisations form a partnership and begins to take any actions with legal or financial implications, an unincorporated association may inadvertently be created, with the partners each having unlimited liability for the partnership’s liabilities.

This can create a conflict for Trustees and Directors, who have a legal obligation to observe the Duty of Prudence.  This states that Trustees must: 

• Ensure that the charity is and will remain solvent
• Avoid undertaking activities that might place the charity’s endowment, funds, assets or reputation at undue risk.

Before becoming involved in any form of partnership working, organisations need to ensure the work will bring real benefits and that they have the powers to work with other organisations.

Joint Ventures.  One arrangement for partnerships can be joint ventures.  This is where two or more partner organisations create a new organisation to deliver a service.  The partner organisations become members of the new organisation with the right to nominate the governing body.  The new organisation is formally independent of the bodies which set it up.

Contracting.  If two or more organisations choose to work together without setting up a new organisation they may enter into a contractual relationship with each other.  This formal arrangement between the parties might be called a contract, service agreement, memorandum of agreement or a similar term.

Make sure you know the full picture.  Trustees and Directors need to be sure that they know the full facts before entering in to partnership bids.  That’s why you need to take proper advice first.

Walsall Voluntary Action can provide you with the advice and support you need to protect your organisation and navigate the legal minefields created by partnership working.

Brought to you by Walsall Council and Walsall Partnership, Walsall Viewfinder is an online catalogue of past, present and planned consultation and engagement activity taking place across the borough.  The site includes the results and findings of consultation exercises, together with details of actions taken following public consultations.