Social Enterprises and Community Organisations
The
Role Organisations Play
The
community/voluntary organisations are seen as an important ingredient for
Economic Regeneration of the community. The organisations could be of various
types, which are usually formed to combat the social exclusion or to address a
specific need, which is not served by the mainstream organisation. At times
these organisations are formed to work in partnership with mainstream
organisations, or could also be facilitated/assisted by mainstream
organisation/institutions as an advisory group.
The Government, local Authorities and various trust and charitable organisations have recognised
the contribution which can be made by such organsiations and are willing to
help and support organisations that meet the following criteria.
1. Name, Aims and Objectives
The
organisations need to be specific in their role. (It could be a sole purpose of
the organisation, or it may be a sub-division of an established organisation).
The organisation/Project needs to have a name and clear Aims and Objectives.
Your Vision and
Strategic objectives require to be further elaborated as set of Operational
Objectives for each strategic objectives. This will further require information
on how, cost, who is responsible and time framework.
2. Services/ Products
The organisation needs to be specific about services offered in terms of units as outputs. The strategic objectives need to be further broken into operational outputs, milestones and form of measuring performance.
It is
acknowledged that these organisations do offer an important service to their
members and need support as small enterprise. However it is important that you
demonstrate that your organisation is in contact with your members whom you
represent and there is a procedure for membership and committee selection.
3. Membership
The
organisation/project needs to be clear and specific in who are their members.
There must be a good database. You might have to conduct a survey to establish
the accurate need of the members or the users of the service.
3. Type of organisation
The
organisations need to be clear about the structure in which it will operate. It
needs to have clear Terms of reference/Aims and Objectives, working together as
per constitution, or operating as a company limited by guarantee. The other
options would be co-operatives, community enterprise, social enterprise etc. In
addition, the organisation may also consider to be a registered charity.
4. Constitution, Articles of Memorandum and Governance
issues
A constitution
or Articles and Memorandum for the limited companies by guarantee will have to
show the Name, Vision, membership, committee/board selection process,
Election/Nomination to the committee/Board, Length of Service, Election of
Chair and Vice Chair, Register of Interest, Absence, Meetings, Annual General
Meeting, Sub groups, Changes to constitution, Code of conduct for
Committee/Board Members.
The Governance
issues are required to be discussed and adopted by the board/committee members
so that the everyone is clear about their responsibilities and contribution
expected from them individually.
5. Strategic / Business Plan
The organisation
will need a Strategic / Business Plan, which will be a complete description of
the business and its plans for the next 1-5 years. It explains what the
organisation does (or will do), outline who are the customers/clients and what
services are offered. What research has taken place and provides a rationale
for why the services are needed. The plan will also include financial forecasts
and indicates how much money (if any) is needed.
Organisations strategic
/ Business plan can be thought of like a road map- the destination is defined
(in other words the strategic objectives) and the plan then acts as the route
plan for getting there. The Business Plan should be revised each year,
including setting targets and preparing financial forecasts. This should be
done regardless of whether the organisation needs to raise extra money.
The Strategic Planning workshops with Board/Committee
members and Key staff would be a better format to prioritise the actions,
prepare action plan and assign individuals with responsibilities.
The advantage of
strategic planning is the Board members and the key staff will carry the same
vision and will have discussed and agreed plan to work upon. The roles and
responsibilities will be clearly defined and progress can be discussed on regular
basis.
Content of a Strategic/Business
Plan will have to follow in logical order. Starting
with an Executive summary, organisation details (legal status, mission,
objectives, history to date, how it performs compared to competitors, financial
background, major accomplishments and key members of staff.
A
description of products or services, what are the advantages of the products,
services, what needs does it fill, details of statutory requirement if
required, suppliers.
What is
estimated demand for the service in short term and long term. Why is this
demand expected? Who are the target customers, how does the service compare
with the competitors, any distinctive competitive advantage must be
highlighted.
The plan needs
to illustrate the basis of how it is intended to promote the organisation to
ensure success in generating sales or raising awareness for the service.
Details of target market, advertising and promotion.
The plan will
demonstrate how the organisation will run in order to be successful. Premises,
equipment, service process, personnel requirements, safety and quality standards
etc. The plan will also show the strength of the people involved. If there are
any apparent weakness, how they will be overcome? Brief CV details including
age, education, experience etc.
The final
section would be the financial information. Past and present financial history.
Costing and pricing information, financial forecasts including details of
financial requirements, which will include how much is needed, when and from
whom etc.
6. What help is available?
The
organisations can receive assistance with all the above aspects. The
organisations mentioned below would be your first point of contact. They will
be able to advice you or make financial payment to your organisation. The
assistance can be:
- Towards the salary of the
development worker, other employees, who will carry out the specific
identified task, this would be as a core funding for capital and revenue
expenditure.
- Payment for an external consultant
who could be appointed to carry out specific task. This could be either
for writing a development plan, facilitating committee development event,
capacity building of organisation, carry out research, assist with
constitution development or marketing of the organisation.
- Specific payment for single items of
capital expenditure, where clear need has been justified.
7. Can we Deliver Service?
If the
organisation is constituted and can demonstrate ability to deliver service, it
can get involved in variety of service provisions. This will depend on
organisations aims and objectives, location, interaction with the
clients/customers. The organisation may choose to get involved in contractual
agreement to deliver a service on behalf of institutions and government
departments such as:
- Education and Training provision
- Training and Business Support signposting
- Advising the disadvantage
- Delivery of specific service for
young, elderly, unemployed, women etc.
- Career advice, preparing unemployed
for jobs, Skills improvement courses
- National Health Trust and Health
Authorities will work closely on health related projects. Disabled,
elderly, people with mental health and alcohol and drugs related projects
could forged close links with these organisations.
- Other units such as Crime Prevention and Environmental agencies would work closely with such organisations too.
With any of the
contractual delivery the organisation will have to provide clear measurable
outputs. This will assist funding organisation in terms of what are they
getting for the money and value for expenditure can be measured.
8. Which organisations can help us?
The assistance
can come in form of co-finance for Revenue expenditure against which certain
minimum outputs are expected, or it could be linked direct to the delivery as
either payment on outcome or even stage payment.
- In your Local Authority, the
Community Development department will be responsible for developing
organisations. There would be other departments such as Social Services
and other departments, who would contract with you for the service
delivery.
- Employment service, Carers advice,
Learning and Skills Council, Chamber of Commerce and Business Links would
also be potential partners to work with and this would be to the specific
projects.
- Community and Voluntary organisation
councils and provide you advice on regional and national basis related to
voluntary organisations.
- National organisations/ councils, or
larger charity associations
- Community Funds (Lottery funds) and
other fund giving trusts etc.
Hope this
information prepares your organisation to make a good application to develop
and fulfil the important role of community regeneration. If you need assistance
with any of the above tasks under consultancy agreement, we will be able to
submit our Terms of Reference for the job.
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