Lancaster District Consortium vision workshop Yak Patel

OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE SECTOR HAS SPOKEN LOUDLY ABOUT THE REDIRECTMENT OF FUNDING AND ASSETS TO LARGER CHARITIES, LARGE PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS AND COUNTY WIDE CONSORTIUMS QUITE OFTEN RESULTING IN MANY LOCAL SERVICES BEING UNDER-FUNDED AND NOT BEING TAKING SERIOUSLY IN DEVELVERING SERVICES. WE’VE HEARD MUCH ABOUT CHARITY WORKLOADS INCREASING IMMENSLEY BUT WITHOUT PROPER FUNDING. LARGE CONTRACTS ARE BEING SECURED BUT WORK IS NOT BEING DIRECTED AT THOSE WHO NEED IT, WE HEAR ABOUT LARGER ORGANISATIONS SUB CONTRACTING SMALLER ORGANISATIONS BUT WITHOUT THE FUNDING FOLLOWING THE REFERRAL, SOME SERVICES BEING CONTRACTED OUT TO PRIVATE COMPANIES, AND THE FOREVER INCREASING DIFFICULTIES IN ACCESSING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THE LIST GOES ON… I THINK IT’S UNFAIR TO SAY THAT LARGER ORGANISATIONS ARE NO GOOD BECUAUSE THEY DO GREAT WORK. BUT QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT WHO IS IN A BETTER PLACE WHEN IT COMES TO LOCAL KNOWLDEGE, LOCAL RELATIONSHIPS AND WHO IS IN A BETTER PLACE TO RESPOND QUICKER? WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN LARGER ORGANISATIONS PULL OUT WHEN THE FUNDING SHIFTS FOCUS OR WHEN IT COMES TO AND END?

The voluntary sector is at the heart of the society The district has in excess of 500 voluntary, community social enterprise organisations providing a range of services to the community. These include social welfare, education, health, housing, conservation, training and the environment. While this figure relates to the voluntary sector in particular, we also recognise the value of the whole civil society which also includes cooperatives, community groups and voluntary action. All of these organisations delivering support around the clock, in places where it’s hard to reach for most people, supporting vulnerable people in local communities often on shoe string budgets! BUT HOW DO WE CONNECT ALL OF THIS AND SHARE RESOURCES AND ENGAGE WITH POLICY MAKERS,FUNDERS AND COMMISSIONERS? WHAT IS THE MECANISM FOR SHIFTING THE FOCUS ON THE PLETHORA OF ORGANISATIONS THAT WORK IN THIS DISTRICT?

The sector is evolving ….. The sector is leaner; we are diverse …we are adapting new technologies, adopting ways of measuring impact, considering ways on how we connect we commissioners and funders, specialising in areas of work and investing in new opportunities, trading and income generation… we listen and we respond… but what the sector is asking…. Is..how can we get more involved in co-designing services? How can we co-locate services better… there is a real danger of local organisations disappearing and when large contractors pull out, who will be there to pick up the work???

A small minority of larger charities dominate in economic terms… AS IVE MENTIONED…SEVERAL TIMES…. Assets are not evenly distributed throughout the sector. EVERY YEAR MILLIONS OF POUNDS ARE WASTED ON BROKEN SYSTEMS, RED TAPE AND ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTIONS. MANY OF US WOULD ARGUE THAT COMMUNITY FOCUSED SERVICES AT A LOCAL IS WHAT IS NEEDED, UTLISING COMMUNITY ASSETS, PROVIDING BETTER VALUE FOR US ALL…

BUT most charities are small and operate locally.. THE SECTOR and Most people’s experiences of it- is small and small scale – responding to need at the community level: ALMOST 8 IN 10 VOLUNTARY ORGNISATIONS OPERATE LOCALLY…

And of volunteers……… IN THE LAST SURVEY (GOING BACK A FEW YEARS) – AROUND 15,000 VOLUNTEERS GAVE THEIR TIME, CONTRIBUTING TO OVER 10 MILLION POUNDS (LIVING WAGE) most organisations couldn’t service them, the government want more of us to get involved, some public services are already being run by them…. Volunteering will remain firmly on the agenda for the next few years

We all probably face an uncertain future. Some organisations are facing serious financial challenges as they seek to continue meeting their charitable objectives. The impact of the austerity has seen many public services close, relocate and re-shift their focuses. The people who we all knew and trusted are no longer in their jobs today. We have a new directorate at county with new people with very little money. How do we connect with our local CCG? How do we connect with County and City. How do we protect the smaller the under the radar community projects….how do we redirect investment into local services? I hope TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY IN EXPLORING HOW WE work together for the future. We need to rise to the challenge -It will require us to work and think differently beyond our organisational and professional boundaries -Its about how we deliver best outcomes for local people -Its about Creating better understanding and engagement between partners and the community -Its about Developing better lines of communication and new approaches to problem solving -Its about the effective use of resources for all agencies

“Our Trustees are local people, our volunteers are local people, our employees are local people – locality is very much in our DNA” Locality member