Voluntary Sector Liaison Forum

Future ways of working - Thursday 10th July 2014 The July VSLF was set up as an interactive workshop with the aim of exploring the role of the forum. This document aims to summarise the discussions from the workshop and offer a way forward to turn the generated ideas into reality. Attendees Forum members present: Lizzie Saint (Advance), Zeenat Jeewa (APDA), Tsige Djene (Brent Active Citizens), Dominic Pinkney (Brent Active Citizens), Jacqueline Carr (BCAB), Ann O’Neill (Brent Mencap), Stella Njaka (Brent Women’s Advisory and Resource Centre), Philip Eshon (BHC Ltd), Vandana Joshi (BNSL), Darren Thomas (CVS Brent), Fuad Uddin (CVS Brent), Tessa Awe (CVS Brent), Yvonne Wilson (Equi – vision), Iqbal Mansoor (Heart of Gold), Shohreh Amanat (Homecare Partnership), Ghasaq Fadil + 1 (Iraqi Welfare Association), Joaquim Montero (NGCA), Tom Chandler (Plias Resettlement), Minal Patel (Red Tower/ Reva Seccus), Lauren Bailey (SKNT), Rhoda Ibrahim (Saafi Organisation), Sharlizea Fleming (Skils2Success), Mohammed Elmi (Somali Diaspora), Patrick Mckay (St. Michael’s Youth Project), Iram Yaqub (1 Voice Community), Kanta Mistry

Councillors present: Cllr. Harbi Farah (Chair), Cllr. Sandra Kabir, Cllr. Mohammed Butt, Cllr Michael Pavey, Cllr Ruth Moher Officers present: Carl Cheevers, Joanna McCormick, Augusta Morton, Reehan Mirza Apologies Gerdy Grafendorf (Equinox Care), Natasha (Brent Samaritans), Danny Maher (Ashford Place), Mohammed Mamdani (Sufra NW), University of the third age, Paulo Pimentel (Brent Bereavement Services), Lola Osikoya (Amazing Grace Women’s Association), Latoya Ridge (Victim Support), Sangeeta Ghataura (Toucan Employment), Margaret Bailey (KGUFG), Rabiah Hussein (Sickle Cell Society) 1. Key messages from the workshop A number of key messages were recurring throughout the workshop these are set out below:

 The forum is valued and definitely has a place locally. However discussions were needed to ensure that it was focused and made a tangible impact.

 The forum should be sector led but support from the council in a facilitative role is vital

 Quarterly meetings should be held however these could be supplemented with other themed events/networking sessions

 A clear need to establish and share which groups are doing what and where

1  Need for greater engagement in the forum by all statutory partners not just Brent Council

 Forum should be a platform for groups to help shape policy making and service at an earlier enough stage to have a proper influence

 Forum could have a advocacy and campaigning role depending on the topic

 Explore different ways to deliver with the forum including through webinars or breakfast/evening sessions

2. Short term actions arising from the workshop The following actions were agreed at the workshop and will be actioned prior to the next meeting:

 Set up google offline calendar to allow groups to view each others upcoming events and activities. This will help to identify opportunities where groups can work together and also potential duplication. Offline calendar will rely on groups inputting their activities

 Developing and sharing a VSLF membership list that includes contact details

 Promote the existing Council community directory and encourage groups to register their details

 Explore putting together a document that provides the contact details of key council staff

 Make initial draft changes to the VSLF terms of reference to reflect the workshop conversations

 Share a forward plan of upcoming council decisions on policies and strategies

3. Longer term focus/actions The workshop explored the future role of the forum. Discussions highlighted a number of themes that those in attendance felt could be an important focus for the forum in the future. It was suggested that these themes would be looked at in more detail at the next meeting:

 Training – shared training opportunities, identifying sector skill gaps, sector mentoring, capacity building

 Funding – Bringing more funding into the Borough, sharing funding successes

 Collaboration – exploring pros/cons with consortiums, encouraging partnerships between groups with common aims/objectives,

2  Commissioning/procurement – Understanding commissioning intentions of statutory partners

 Excessive procurement procedures – why so complex

 Information – exchange of knowledge, two way dialogue between VCS and statutory partners, measuring impact and success, sharing good practice

 Networking – who does what, what are the gaps The forum also discussed the potential to set up working group consisting of a small number of voluntary organisations. These working groups would gain expertise in particular subject areas, identify opportunities for the sector and feedback at wider forum meetings. Initial topics identified were:

 Immigration

 Housing

 Employment and Enterprise

4. Future agenda structure It was agreed that as part of the write up from the forum, some thought would be given to the structure of future agenda. Based on the discussions a suggested approach is below.

Agenda Item Aim External Presentation and interactive Opportunity for the forum to have early discussion from Statutory partner influence on a particular topic area i.e. policy/ strategy development, new service. Working Group report Once established, working groups would feedback on there work carried out between meetings Theme based workshop Forum to explore an area of common interest such as those set out above Funding Understand what is currently available, who has had success where and what are the opportunities for joint working Hot issues/emerging themes Opportunity for partners to share any high level emerging themes that they may be aware of and they think would benefit wider discussion. For example this could be that a partner has noticed a rise in rough sleeping and wants to explore what the sector is doing/can do to help address Forward plan/Next meeting date Chance to agree the items for future

3 meetings

5. Agenda for September meeting Based on the suggested structure in section 4, a draft agenda for the September meeting is set out below.

Agenda Item Aim Speed Networking session Partners meeting and introducing work to each other in limited space of time. Initial contact with conversations picked up outside the forum Interactive Presentation – Borough Plan Opportunity to contribute to the – 2015 onwards development of the new Borough Plan Interactive Presentation –Enterprise and Hear the councils current work and plans Employment for employment and enterprise giving the forum an opportunity to explore links and ways of working together on the topic Key workshop discussion - Training Focused discussion on training exploring the needs of the sector, the current offer and any gaps that exist.

4 Working group set up Follow up from July meeting to discuss setting up working groups as mentioned in section 3 above Funding Understand what is currently available, who has had success where and what are the opportunities for joint working Hot issues/emerging themes Opportunity for partners to share any high level emerging themes that they may be aware of and they think would benefit wider discussion Forward plan of agenda items Consider the forward plan of items and suggest additions/amendments