London’s leading voice for volunteering Community Experts Campaign We provide human resources for the Big Society We deliver employability, community cohesion and wellbeing through volunteering

London’s leading voice for volunteering Background Our remit to influence, communicate, capacity-build and coordinate increased collaboration and partnership working The launch of Cameron’s Big Society agenda The effect of the recession, and the public spending review Our members’ activities and reach to over 10,000 VIOs, 50,000 volunteers and over 500 policymakers and communicators for the sector

London’s leading voice for volunteering Aim: Government both local and national understand that good quality volunteering doesn’t happen without support from infrastructure. That this is the business support we provide to volunteer-involving organisations – we provide human resources for the Big Society. Campaign Strategy Objectives 1. Volunteer support is already happening and our role in facilitating volunteering is understood 2. Community Organisers are provided with volunteer management training by us 3. We are partners included in planning and consultation from the outset 4. Our expertise and experience is valued as much as it is by volunteers and the voluntary and community sector

London’s leading voice for volunteering We want Big Society to work, and we know from our experience that increased participation requires interventions from people who know how to deliver effective volunteering. We are an efficient way of making the most of people’s precious time to be active and not get caught up in reinventing the administration to get started. Working with us more closely will deliver better value for money and give people more access to volunteering: Key messages We are good value for money, making the most of the gift of time We ask, value and support people who wouldn’t normally participate We save time and money for people to get on and be active citizens without reinventing the wheel We help people enjoy participating in their communities safely

London’s leading voice for volunteering 1. If you don’t understand Big Society, we do! Talk to us: Webpage, Website links, Twitter, meetings, events 2. Community Experts: Big Society in Action: Letters/ s, publishing responses, discussing with members, partners and funders 3. Tell us what you want, give us the chance to show you we can deliver: Letter to CEOs of Local Authorities 4. Show we are Big Society in Action: AGM discussion, OCS consultation submissions, publish key messages/letter 5. Demonstrate our reach: Local debates, forum discussions, Open Days 6. Direct from the Volunteers’ mouths: Quick poll of whether it would have happened without intervention/support 7. London Debate: What DOES volunteering infrastructure do? Debate and discussion with London leaders and funders Action Plan

London’s leading voice for volunteering What we’ve provided 1.set up a webpage (communityexperts.org.uk) 2.key messages document 3.twitter 6 step set-up guide 4.poll statement to send out/discuss with groups and volunteers 5.template letter for your local authority/local councillor 6.(to come) holding an open day guide 7.set up i-volunteer group to discuss campaign use and impact What you need to do: Publish it, send it, talk about it, provide feedback and evidence Making it easy for you to get involved

London’s leading voice for volunteering Kirsty Palmer, Chief Executive, Volunteer Centre Kensington and Chelsea, has been twittering almost daily Lianne Welch, B&D Volunteer Bureau, Office / CRB Manager: “We have sent out 6 copies of this letter to relevant Peoples in Barking and Dagenham”. The day we sent the template out 42 affirmative responses from Merton organisations to our poll “Our Volunteer Centre has been invaluable in supporting us and our volunteering programme” Hassan Abu- Bakir, Admin Assistant, Volunteer Centre Merton. Feedback received on 10 December Lizzie Saunders, VC Ealing, has included the campaign in Linked In/Big Society Network discussions and submitted her response to the OCS infrastructure consultation Lynne Regan, VC Bexley, brought the campaign to the attention of VE’s advisory group and the regions are keen to join in GLV received a letter from London Funders that they are monitoring our campaign and appreciated the examples and information provided What next? Keeping up the dialogue, repeating messages, gathering more evidence from volunteers and communities