Important Note
ChangeUp is managed by Capacity Builders. Link on the menu, left hand side of the page. However, the philosophy remains the same:
ChangeUp Summary
A. Introduction to ChangeUp
- ChangeUp is a national initiative that sets out a vision for voluntary and community (VCS) infrastructure services in 10 years time.
- ChangeUp defines infrastructure bodies as those which provide support, development, co-ordination and representation services to “frontline organisations” (i.e. those that work directly with individuals and communities).
- Frontline organisations and the people that they serve are the beneficiaries of the ChangeUp programme through investment in infrastructure services.
1.1 The 10 year vision is that VCS infrastructure services be:
- available and accessible across England and structured for maximum efficiency
- funded in a sustainable fashion
- offering excellent provision
- reflecting and promoting diversity
1.2 ChangeUp’s priority areas for improvements in the sector through improved infrastructure services are
- Performance improvement
- Workforce development
- Information and computer technology
- Governance
- Sustainable financial development
- Volunteering
1.3 ChangeUp proposes that national hubs of expertise be created to support and develop best practice and that a national infrastructure partnership be created.
1.4 It also calls for VCS infrastructure organisations to come together with the public sector and other funders to produce Infrastructure Development Plans for their areas. There a now range of regional and sub-regional ChangeUp consortia across England. Cheshire and Warrington’s consortium is one six across the northwest.
1.5 ChangeUp’s emphasis is on collaboration between different infrastructure organisations across different geographical areas and between generalist (i.e. those that work with frontline organisations across the sector) and specialist (those that work with specific frontline organisations e.g. children and young people’s organisations) infrastructure providers.
1.6 ChangeUp envisage the development of hubs of activity at local, sub-regional level As well as improving the level, presence and sustainability of services this process may also present opportunities to achieve economies of scale, reduce duplication and drive up expertise. It seems likely that some support and development type activities will move up to a sub-regional level.
1.7 Over time this collaborative process may result in infrastructure organisations working together more coming together physically to share back office functions (for example, finance, HR, ICT, purchasing, administration and financial systems) formalising partnerships or merging. Some local hubs might also provide “incubation” support for newer organisations in the form of meeting and office space or effective outreach .
B. Cheshire and Warrington ChangeUp Strategy
1.1 The Cheshire and Warrington Consortium was formed in December 2004 and has Cheshire Community Council as its Accountable Body
1.2 In addition, a smaller steering group (strategy group) of members has been formed to oversee the implementation of ChangeUp. The work so far has been focussed on preparing a strategic framework and implementation plan in line with ChangeUp’s objectives .
1.3 The Consortium has developed a strategic framework with six key strategic themes for investing in infrastructure services across the sub-region.
- Improve the quality of, and access to, VCS infrastructure support services to its frontline service deliverers
- Reconfigure current VCS infrastructure capacity and services, where necessary, to enable more effective service delivery
- Integrate community development and urban and rural social exclusion activity within the VCS infrastructure
- Achieve more effective marketing, relations and communication within, and beyond, current and developed VCS infrastructure provision
- Develop the ChangeUp Consortium in line with new Guidance and to ensure widespread engagement and participation, particularly with frontline service deliverers and the public sector
- Achieve a more sustainable funding base from which to develop VCS infrastructure, which commands the support of public sector partners and the VCS generally, beyond one-off injections of money
1.4 The strategy also identifies the following priorities as key for the successful implementation of ChangeUp:
- Providing Evidence of Need
- Understanding current provision
- Identifying Challenges
- Developing Accountable Structures
- Supporting Volunteering
- Communication and Joint Working
- Building Relationships
1.5 Work is currently proceeding on setting out the main proposed outcomes across activity areas, including appropriate milestones, costs, priorities and lead bodies where known.
1.6 In approaching the allocation of resources, the mix of provision would include:
- Opportunities to enhance services through investment in one or more organisations to create “hubs” across the sub-region.
- Investment that meets the particular needs of a district.
- Investment that meets the needs of communities of interest within a district/across districts or across the sub-region.
1.7 The development of the Consortium is dependent on “buy in” and support from all interested groups in the Sub-region. The Consortium will look to external agencies to monitor and review progress and refresh where appropriate its approach to change.
1.8 The Implementation Plan allows a one-year injection of “pump priming money” to start the process of change which will build by 2014 to the development of a high quality and well structured infrastructure support for the sub-region.
1.9 Knowledge of and replication of good practice is important to effective development and the Consortium aims to seek out and investigate and learn about activity from other similar consortia .
2.0 The Consortium will operate as a single, collective body. Meetings will be held quarterly to monitor progress, to provide network opportunities and evaluate short-term objectives.
Cheshire and Warrington Investment Plan will shortly be under review. 27/03/07
1.7 The