2019 Resource Centre Report

Partnership between Resource Centre and East Brighton Trust benefits grassroots groups in East Brighton

In 2016 East Brighton Trust and the Resource Centre started a project to increase support for volunteer-run grassroots groups in East Brighton.

Over 3 years this has led to a significant increase in the number of groups receiving support.

In addition, each year more new groups have received support, facilitated by the Grant Drop-In Days organised by East Brighton Trust, Sussex Community Foundation and the Resource Centre. In 2017 4 new groups received support, increasing to 8 new groups in 2018 and 11 new groups in 2019.

This reflects how vibrant community activity and action is in East Brighton area, but also the need for those groups to receive practical, down-to-earth support that enables them to do the things they want to do.

2019 report on Resource Centre work One-to-one support and consultancy In 2019 the Resource Centre provided 68 one-to-one support sessions (compared to 22 in 2017 and 56 in 2018) to 21 different groups. Ten of these groups were either new or had never used the Resource Centre before.

All of our support is responsive and tailored to the needs of the group. They can phone us or pop in and ask us a question, or book an appointment for more structured and detailed support. We consistently give the support that people want, when they want it. Over the year we provided support on a diverse range of subjects from: managing finances, fundraising and reporting to funders to data protection, insurance, planning events, working well in a committee and governance. We see the excitement and sense of East Brighton Groups supported by belonging that people experience when the Resource Centre they are first involved in a group, through to the 33 building of knowledge, experience and 32 confidence. We see how important it is 23 for groups to be run by local people so that the knowledge and confidence is 11 4 8 being developed within the local community. 2017 2018 2019 Total New groups

Feedback from groups We ask groups for feedback after each package of support is completed. Out of 17 requests for feedback we received 12 responses. All of those who responded said the support they received was excellent, they felt more confident and their group would be able to work better as a result.

In the words of On Your Way (Job club and digital inclusion): “I could not do my work without the Resource Centre. I thought this was a great session. Learnt a lot. Now I need to organise a few things and will come back”

PW Panthers Cheerleading said: “Both Dani and Rebecca have been incredibly helpful in assisting me in my applications for funding and setting up as a volunteer organisation. I felt supported the whole time and felt I could ask them for all sorts of advice. Both were super knowledgeable in the area of volunteer organisation and funding applications. I could not have done any of this without their support.”

Noor Ul Huda said: “I have really enjoyed the session. I have a clear idea how to do our bookkeeping from all the tips that I have received today. I would recommend this session to anyone who is looking to become a treasurer or generally want to know more about bookkeeping!”

Account examinations We carried out Accounts Examinations for 10 different groups. This provides groups with an accurate summary of their accounts to share with members and funders. It also gives Treasurers the opportunity to check the procedures they are using and get some advice and support if they need it. Feedback from groups We received feedback cards from 60% of these groups. They all said the service was excellent.

Bevendean Community Café and Food Bank said: “Thank you so much for your help in auditing our accounts once again. The service was very efficient and we'll certainly be back next year. Thank you.”

Robert Lodge Social Fund said: “The people who work in this Centre are very helpful and do make you very welcome when you walk through the door.”

Design and print We did 21 different design and print jobs for 13 different groups. This included production of newsletters, flyers and posters.

Resource Centre, 6 Tilbury Place, Brighton, BN2 0GY | 01273 606160 | [email protected] | www.resourcecentre.org.uk Brighton and Hove Social Welfare and Educational Trust is a Limited Company registered in England under no. 1730256. Registered Charity no. 287516. Registered for VAT under no. 861 1001 75 EBT group support sessions 2019

No of New Group Name sessions Type of Support Description group

Arts and Crafts Project 1 Fundraising sources of funding ✓ (Moulsecoomb and Bevendean) 1 Fundraising strategy

4 Fundraising applications or letters

3 Finance budgeting

Bangladeshi Womens Group 1 Structure constitution (Moulsecoomb)

Due East Neighbourhood Council 1 Communications writing letters

1 Finance bookkeeping advice

East Brighton Bygones Local 1 Finance bookkeeping advice History Society Fernee Forest Club 1 Policies and employing people ✓ procedures 1 Finance bookkeeping advice

Fledglings Outdoor Play 2 Structure constitution

Friends of Whitehawk Hill 1 Communications Artwork or printing advice

2 Finance setting up accounts

1 Finance bookkeeping advice 1 Computers Excel

Manor and Bristol Estate Social 1 Direct support legal advice Club

Moulsecoomb Hall Community 2 Finance charity reports Association Manor Farm Warm Welcome Club 1 Meetings and events Planning an event ✓

Metamorphosis and Splatt Art 1 Finance bookkeeping advice Group Noor Ul Huda 1 Introduction to the introduction to ✓ Resource Centre Resource Centre 1 Communications publicity 1 Policies and Data Protection procedures

1 Policies and insurance procedures

1 Finance bookkeeping advice

1 Running a group treasurer's role

10 Fundraising applications or letters

1 Structure constitution

1 Communications assistance communicating with other organisations

1 Running a group involving people

Park Life Brighton 1 Finance bank accounts ✓ PW Panthers Cheerleading 2 Finance bank accounts 3 Fundraising applications or letters

1 Fundraising strategy

1 Introduction to the introduction to Resource Centre Resource Centre

2 Structure constitution

1 Finance budgeting

Oromo Community in Brighton 1 Fundraising evaluations and reports and Hove 1 Fundraising applications or letters

Robert Lodge Project 1 Finance bookkeeping advice

Salaam FC 1 Fundraising evaluations and reports Save Whitehawk Hill Nature 2 Finance bookkeeping advice ✓ Reserve 1 Communications campaigning Whitehawk Bike Workshop 1 Structure legal structures ✓ Whitehawk Community Food 1 Running a group working in a committee ✓ Project Total sessions 68

Bangladeshi Womens Group (Moulsecoomb) Bevendean Community Café and Food Bank Bevendean Community Garden Bevendean Local Action Team East Brighton Bygones Local History Society Friday Friends Community Group Manor Farm Warm Welcome Club Moulsecoomb Local Action Team Robert Lodge Project Robert Lodge Social Fund

Number of tasks EBT design and print support 2019 completed New group

Craven Vale Community Association 1 Due East Neighbourhood Council 4 East Brighton Bygones Local History Society 2 East Brighton Park Campaign 2 Fernee Forest Club 1 ✓

Manor and Bristol Estate Social Club 1 Noor Ul Huda 2 ✓ On Your Way (Job club and digital inclusion) 1 ✓

Park Life Brighton 1 Saint Georges Hall 1 Save the Valley Social Club (Valley 2020 project) 1 ✓ Save Whitehawk Hill Nature Reserve 1 ✓

Sunflower Support Group 3