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Voluntary Action Swindon is the local Council for VoluntaryServices (CVS) in Swindon

Charity No: 287732 Company No: 1604168. A charitable company limited by guarantee.

V o l u n t a r y A c t i o n M a n a g e m e n t T e a m

Trustees

J Hawkins - Chair (elected October 2009)T OdoireH HunterN RamruttunM KhanD BrownB Gibbs

Our strategic aims are:

To improve the capacity and quality of voluntary and community organisationsTo facilitate liaison and collaboration within the voluntary and community sector andbetween the voluntary, public and private sectorsTo enable voluntary and community organisations to gain greater access toinformation, public support services and facilitiesTo identify and prioritise the needs of local communities and develop appropriateresponses

Staff MembersBryan Hutchinson - Chief Executive Officer (from August 2010)John Phipps - Training/Trustee Network Development WorkerSeniz Ismet - Voice Development OfficerRussell Francis - Voice AssisstantShaz Qaddus - Finance OfficerJo Osorio - LINk Development OfficerJames Brown - LINk Engagement OfficerBecky Buck - LINk Administrator (from March 2011)Bernard Wick - IT Trainer (Volunteer)Francis Penn - Research and Analysis AssistantHayley Ferris - Receptionist / Admin SupportJames Moss - Receptionist / Admin SupportArnold Kamulegeya - IT Training Assistant

Voluntary Action Swindon was formed in 1932 as the Swindon Council of Social Service,administering help to the unemployed and disadvantaged. Voluntary Action Swindon hasa unique role serving as a mediator between the public sector and the third sector.Voluntary Action Swindon contributes significantly in bringing the diverse sections of ourcommunity together, promoting the wider engagement and participation of the third sectorin the Swindon Strategic Partnership and Local Area Agreement.

Matthew Pearce - Interim Chief Executive Officer (to July 2010)

We're up to date and on the web!To go to the VAS website www.vas-swindon.org

The Voluntary Action Swindon online Directory is a comprehensive source of contact information for

Voluntary and Community Sector groups in Swindon. Just go to www.vas-swindon.org.uk

Browse our pictures, info and friends of VAS www.facebook.com/vas-swindon

Get short, timely messages from VAS Swindon www.twitter.com/vaswindon

VOLUNTARY ACTION SWINDON APRIL 2010 - MARCH 2011

From the Chair - Judith HawkinsVoluntary Action Swindon’s main purpose is to serve the Voluntary andCommunity Sector of the Borough of Swindon. During the year VAS sawtwo new trustees co-opted onto its Board, Heather Hunter and BrianGibbs. Dorothy Brown was elected as a new trustee at the NovemberAGM. We said goodbye to Matthew Pearce with his dedication toSwindon and enthusiasm for the Voluntary Sector as interim ChiefExecutive Officer. We welcomed Bryan Hutchinson as our new ChiefExecutive Officer in August 2010.

Bryan has contributed to the development of VAS including a new Job Club, focusedtraining provision, ISO certification with zero non compliances, the development of the team,new improved services - printing, booklet making, and leaflet production - and mostimportantly the upgrade of the premises, the introduction of open plan offices and theconstruction of a meaningful conference facility for the Voluntary and Community Sector.Bryan and his strong team have successfully delivered the LINk contract, the Voice Contractand the Basis Contract a partnership between Voluntary Action Swindon, the VolunteerCentre, Community First and the Charities Information Bureau. UK Online continues toprovide essential IT training for first time Internet Users and is well accessed. Withsponsorship from Tesco a comprehensive community fair is to be held in the centre of thetown. This will be ‘a first’.

With the support of our members we are aiming to provide the services and assistance thevoluntary and community sector needs, within the financial constraints of the time. Wecontinue to look to working collaboratively and in partnership with other agencies to thebenefit of the voluntary and community sector overall.

Over the course of the last year, the funding climate has remained challenging on bothnational and local levels. Voluntary and community groups continue to find it increasinglydifficult to acquire the funding they need. Additionally, voluntary and community groupshave had to adapt to the local authority’s increased use of commissioning and tenderingprocesses.

We need to continue in a positive frame of mind, with a ‘can do’ attitude, this is afterall whatthe voluntary and community sector deserves.

From the Chief Executive Officer - Bryan Hutchinson

As part of working towards our existing projects, Voluntary Action Swindon ismaking a difference in Swindon by providing voluntary and community organisationswith knowledge, training and resources. We are delighted with the personal contributionof many groups & individuals in Swindon who make the town a better place to live, andI want to say thank you for your contribution.We obtain great comments about our services:

Hayley has looked after me well, including email communications prior to startingusing your meeting room. VAS has a very friendly atmosphere, I would happily

recommend using it to others.

Jo W - meeting rooms

VAS supplied an excellent service on designing a leaflet and liaising with theprinter. The whole experience was very professional and customer "aware" butmost of all it retained a personal touch perhaps lacking in some commecrcial

organisations today.

Frank M - leaflet production

If you want to find out how going online can make everyday life alittle bit better, try our free and easy computer courses. It doesn'tmatter if you've never even touched a computer before or if youalready know a little bit - our friendly staff will be on hand to help.

Call Bernard for more information on (01793) 538398

I really enjoyed it here and I get helpprovided its really enjoyable, I love being

here.

David T - Monday morning 40 plus Job Club

As a complete novice I have foundteachers very kind and patient, also very

helpful.

Brenda S - Training

Computer lessons are very interesting andeveryone is very helpful and patient.

Ann W - My Guide internet training (Retired)

John Phipps - Gateway Project

Gateway ProjectThis formal partnership project has worked with in excess of 100 different groups duringthe past year via a combination of face to face, telephone and email contact. Groupsnewly forming, new to us, from new areas and long standing have benefitted in manyways. This has resulted in succesful funding bids, charity registration, improved financialmanagement and governance in general. The partnership has promoted moreco-operative working and joint working with others such as the Sports Forum, Civic Trustand Swindon 105.5.Sources of funding as ever have been to the fore. A series of funding advice day sessionswere set up with our Charities information Bureau partners. Groups have been able tobook a one hour slot plus any follow up. These began in November 2010 on a one day amonth basis providing up to five groups access to specialist funding advice. The demandhas been such that these were increased to two sessions per month from January 2011and continue to be very well supported.

Take PartThrough the Regional Take Part project co-ordinated by Exeter CVS, Voluntary Action inpartnership with the Swindon Civic Trust have delivered a series of 3 sets of 8 trainingsessions on ‘Getting to grips with Planning in Swindon’. Additionally 2 sets of 8 trainingsessions on using the media were delivered by local partners Swindon Community Radio105.5. These were attended by community /residents associations in Central, Penhill,Redhouse, Parks and Walcot residents / community associations, Wroughton parishcouncil and several other voluntary groups. This has led to increased membership of theCivic Trust and positive actions within the their groups by those who attended.

First Aid courses was held in October and March and a recruiting trustee’s session inNovember 2010. A Managing Redundancies session and Preparing Tenders forStatutory Contracts and Grants also held in March both received very positive feedback.Trustee Network has continued to thrive via regular bimonthly meetings sharing memberspacks and simple policies for smaller groups.

We look forward to supporting the Swindon Voluntary and Community sector achievingpositive outcomes in the coming year.

Voice Development - Seniz IsmetWithin the second year of the VOICE contract, a contract which aimsto strengthen to Voice of the voluntary and community sector, we haveseen the publication of the new VAS Pamphlet which captures thegood work and services being provided to the residents of Swindon aswell as what services are available to support voluntary andcommunity groups in providing these services.

The pamphlet also featured training available through Voluntary ActionSwindon ranging from First Aid Training, the Trustee Network, FireSafety, Health and safety training as well as FREE (UK OnlineCentres) computer training which cover the basics of mouse andkeyboard use. To book a place or find out more please telephone theVAS offices on 01793 538398.

The new VAS DirectoryThe VAS Directory continues to grow and hosts near to 1300 groups, a vital tool to connectvoluntary associations, bodies, and charities. The Directory includes a search facility, through whichgroups can be searched for using keywords or by Area of Interest – for example, clicking on the‘Education and Training’ tag will bring up all Swindon-based groups involved in this. More complexlists, such as all Swindon-based groups which work with faith groups, or for the benefit of carers,can be extracted upon request.

The VAS Directory is also a great opportunity for public bodies, partner agencies and members ofthe community who wish to contact voluntary and community groups in Swindon. For example, anorganisation may want to set up a meeting to consult with, or send out a survey to specific groups.By using the Directory, or contacting VAS, they will be able to access a list of groups plus contactdetails. To access the Directory, upload or update your group’s details, or search for groups, go towww.vas-swindon.org.uk

For more information, or to request a more complex search, please call Voluntary Action on 01793538398 and ask for Seniz Ismet or Russ Francis.

The Quarterly Voluntary and Community Forums continue, and over the year has seen talks andinformation provided by a wide range of organisations including the Big Lottery fund, SwindonBorough Council, BBC Children in Need, Swindon NHS, BBC Wiltshire, and more recently ZurichCommunity Trust all the time covering a wide range of subjects all relevant to the voluntary andcommunity sector of Swindon.

We have seen an increase in attendance, and will always look at ways to improve the forums. Allfuture forums are based and shaped on the feedback received from participants at each event, soall comments, suggestions and feedback are welcome. Forum reports detailing further informationand contact details for the guest speakers can be requested by telephoning the VAS office on 01793538398.

The Voice project has also supported the following networks in Swindon over the year, the newSwindon Fundraisers Group a group that has been developed in close partnership with the BibleSociety in Swindon where speakers share information and ideas about their own fundraisingactivities. The Community Buildings Network is a network of community buildings managers inSwindon and provides access to key resources and information as well as networking opportunitiesfor the group. We are also supporting the development of the Refugee Voice group andcontributing to the network of groups involved in the preparations for the annual Refugee Weekevent in Swindon.

The VOICE staff team during the year was Seniz Ismet and Russell Francis.

Government policy includes increasing emphasis on people being involved in influencinghealth and social care services – what is planned and paid for by the state and how well it’sprovided. Everyone has views about what health and social services should be doing andone way is through the Local Involvement Network or LINk. LINks were established inEngland under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 in eachsocial services authority area. Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Billthrough parliament, they will develop into local Healthwatch organisations during 2012.

Voluntary Action Swindon (VAS) was commissioned as the LINk host organisation for threeyears from June 2008 by Swindon Borough Council and managed the £112,000 LINk budgetreceived under the contract for 2009/10. After the balance sheet date, the borough councilextended the contract for a further period to mid September 2011 and the trustees anticipatethe contract will be extended to at least 31 March 2012.

One full time and two part time employees undertook much of the engagement andinvolvement work, reporting to and guided by a steering group of local people which metmonthly. They provided administrative support and developmental advice to the steeringgroup and LINk participants; and successfully met a number of key performance indicators.The bulk of the funding met staffing and office costs with the remainder towards LINkparticipant expenses, events and publicity.

Derek Benfield, chairman of the LINk steering group since January 2011 said, “2010/11 wasan interesting and challenging year. Swindon LINk provides, amongst other things, a linkbetween health and care service planners, providers and the public. We have involved localpeople in wide and varied developments including improvements to services for people withdiabetes and the NHS wheelchair service, access to and services from NHS dentists andothers. Without the able help of Voluntary Action Swindon in facilitating the working of theLINk, our task would have been much greater”.

LINk participants, supported by the VAS team, were also involved in consultation eventsabout health and care towards the end of peoples lives; they attended and contributed atborough council health overview and scrutiny meetings; participated at NHS Swindon boardand working groups; joined meetings with NHS trusts providing services in Swindon allworking towards effecting improvements.

Details can be seen on the LINk’s own website at www.swindonlink.org

The VAS/LINk staff team during the year was Jo Osorio, James Brown, Gill Welsman-Clarke(until February 2011) and Becky Bluck (from March 2011).

Swindon Local Involvement Network

F i n a n c i a l R e p o r t A p r i l 2 0 1 0 - M a r c h 2 0 11

This summary financial information is taken from the Trustees' annual report and statutory financialstatements, which were approved by the Trusteees on 2nd August 2011. The statutory financialstatements, on which the auditor, Chris Vaughan Reeves & Co, gave an unqualified audit report, havebeen submitted to the Registrar of Companies and the Charity Commission.

This summary information may not contain sufficient information to gain a complete understanding ofthe financial affairs of the charity. The full Trustees' report, statutory financial statements and auditors'report may be obtained from the Company Secretary or download fromwww.charity-commission.gov/uk

Unrestricted Restricted 2011 2010Incoming ResourcesGenerated FundsDonations - - - 1,798Rental Income 24,012 - 24,012 30,394Other Income 16,999 5,938 22,937 18,898Investment Income 263 3 266 289Charitable ActivitiesGrants - 374,360 374,360 236,965Community Print 8,844 - 8,844 19,057Training/Conference 3,370 - 3,370 3,440Total Incoming Resources 53,488 380,301 433,789 310,841Resources ExpendedCharitable Activities 152,920 281,516 434,436 329,121Governance Costs 6,657 1,160 7,817 9,479Total Resources Expended 159,577 282,676 442,253 338,600Net Income/Expenditure (106,089) 97,625 (8,464) (27,759)Transfers between Funds 104,307 (104,307) - -Fund Balance at 01/04/2010 295,717 29,603 325,320 353,079Fund Balance at 31/03/2011 293,935 22,921 316,856 325,320

FINANCIAL REPORT APRIL 2010 - MARCH 2011

Fixed Assets 2011 2010Tangible Assets 123,184 121,640Current AssetsStock 1,100 1,141Debtors 27,214 9,301Cash at Bank and in hand 232,582 244,819

260,896 255,261

Creditors 67,224 51,581

Net Assets 193,672 203,680

316,856 325,320ReservesRestricted 22,921 29,603General Fund 158,935 160,717Designated Fund 135,000 135,000

316,856 325,320

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST MARCH 2011

Auditor: Chris Vaughan - Reeves & Co, Argyle Street, Swindon, SN2 8AR

Reserves Policy

The Trustees have examined the reserves policy in the light of the predominant risks to thecharity. The reserves are required to cover late payment, loss of grant aid funding andother shortfalls of income so as to ensure full and timely delivery of, or appropriate exitfrom, planned programmes and ongoing provision of services. A policy has beenestablished whereby unrestricted funds, not committed or invested in tangible fixed assetsheld by the charity, should be four months of running costs. A designated sum of £70,000has been set aside for the property maintenance fund and a further £55,000 for theoperational reserve fund. A designated sum of £10,000 has been set aside for the propertyfund, which will allow Voluntary Action Swindon to identify new premises and pay forsurveyors and architects, when appropriate. Voluntary Action Swindon will continue tobuild reserves through planned operating surpluses.

Restricted funds Balance at01/04/2010

IncomingResources

Transfers Balance at31/03/2011

Hawksworth Revenue account 470 (9) - 461Social Care 2,053 (343) - 1,710RTCP, VOICE and BASIS 7,855 45,575 (45,975) 7,455

SBC Link 13,472 41,397 (50,125) 4,744

Capacity Builders 5,403 2,854 (8,207) 50Awards for All - 8,151 - 8,151Dalmatians 350 - - 350

29,603 97,625 (104,307) 22,921

A 50 person Conference Room located right in the

centre of Swindon, very flexible room, allowing for

small groups and large events. Other Rooms are

also available.

We're up to date and on the web!To go to the VAS website www.vas-swindon.org

The Voluntary Action Swindon online Directory is a comprehensive source of contact information for

Voluntary and Community Sector groups in Swindon. Just go to www.vas-swindon.org.uk

Browse our pictures, info and friends of VAS www.facebook.com/vas-swindon

Get short, timely messages from VAS Swindon www.twitter.com/vaswindon