Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos. 216250 and SC037605

Collaboration in the Voluntary Sector

Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos. 216250 and SC037605

Collaborative working

Content:

1. Informal and formal collaborations

2. The advantages of joint approaches

3. What bigger organisations can offer to partnerships

4. What smaller organisations can offer to partnerships

5. Good tendering within a consortia

i. Know

ii. Avoid

iii. Be Aware

6. How not to be bid candy!

Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos. 216250 and SC037605

Informal collaborations Mind Map example

Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos. 216250 and SC037605

Formal Collaborations

Myth busting

• That there’s a magic formula – Time, communication, trust and lots of effort needed

• That big charities can do it all (E.G. CAMHS work)

• That big charities are gobbling up all the contracts

• That big charities have lots of resources to throw around

• That big charities want to take over smaller voluntary

organisations

• That collaboration will make you rich

Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos. 216250 and SC037605

The Advantages of Joint Approaches

• Simplification of processes for the commissioner…. but….• Ability to compete with larger competitors • Pooling of knowledge• Capacity to replicate success• A wider pool of service users• Mutual support• Shared risk ???? • Efficiency savings• A stronger, more united voice• New, improved or more integrated services

Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos. 216250 and SC037605

• Increased opportunities – widening the scope of tenders you can pursue– vehicle to promote issues on a larger platform– Robust collective track record

• ‘Less of the one pie, but more pies!’

Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos. 216250 and SC037605

Examples

• The Big Lottery Grant in Manchester– 4 core partners– 11 subcontracting

delivery partners that can be spot-purchased

• Work Programme

Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos. 216250 and SC037605

What bigger organisations can offer to partnerships

• Skills and experience in putting bids together

• Stronger quality assurance• Experience of risk and risk

Assessing contracts• Knowledge and experience of

TUPE• National lobbying capacity• Policies and good practice• Training• Wider resources e.g. media, HR

Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos. 216250 and SC037605

What smaller organisations can offer to partnerships

• Specialism

• Strong community links and visibility

• Knowledge of local geography, networks and politics

• Local lobbying capacity

• Trust of service users and wider community

• Well informed practice

• Committed and passionate voluntary workforce

• Fresh opinions and ideas

• ‘fleet of foot’ – responsive and dynamic

Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos. 216250 and SC037605

Good tendering within a Consortia

Know• What you want to gain from the contract and understand your

role and responsibilities • The other partners including their;

– Goals– Strengths– Track record

• Due diligence information• What you can offer to meet objectives

– Plan, Prepare, Research• When to walk away • Expectations clear

Can you do all this at tender stage?

Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos. 216250 and SC037605

Avoid

• Being drawn away from your

charitable aims and objectives

• Ambiguous relationships and

commitments

• Partners with a reputation that might

damage your own

• Jeopardising your assets or USPs

Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos. 216250 and SC037605

Be aware of:

• Power struggles within consortia

• Risk and Proportionality

• Loss of flexibility and autonomy

• Different types of contracts/terms

– JANE

– Waterfall agreements

– Teaming Agreements

– Sub contracting and application forms

• The need to acquire legal advice

• TUPE

Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos. 216250 and SC037605

How not to be bid candy! • Use of your reputation and specialism without much in return

• Obtain clear written agreement on value, percentage delivery,

etc

• See the relevant sections of the bid before submission

• Check the established working relationship

• N.B. being bid candy might actually suit you! E.g. it might raise

your profile in a different service delivery sector, with new

commissioners, etc.

Barnardo’s Registered Charity Nos. 216250 and SC037605

Ultimately…

• There is local political pressure for collaboration?

• It is in everybody’s interest to have a diverse and vibrant voluntary sector

• How do we get there?…… 171,000 charities in England…….

• E.G Youth contract 2012, not collaboration but torture. Talent match etc.