Agenda item

The Chairman welcomed Katrina Baker, Groundwork London and Caroline Collier, Inclusion Barnet, who spoke to their presentation.

Ms Baker stated that Groundwork London and Inclusion Barnet had been commissioned to deliver the voluntary, community and faith sector (VCFS) contract for 2018-20 as part of the Participation Strategy.

Ms Collier reported that Inclusion Barnet would deliver the VCFS support service. This would include not only disability services but wider community services including mental health, partnership libraries, People’s Choice, Hate Crime victim support and other services. Inclusion Barnet also provided surgeries, developed training and worked to engage organisations in partnerships and would work to collaborate with partners across the borough.

The immediate priority would be to develop a strong collective voice, developing partnerships with statutory partners and businesses to provide the best support for the borough.

Ms Baker reported that Groundwork London works to promote volunteering across the borough and to ensure that volunteering is accessible. Groundwork would be delivering two lots from the contract: the Community Directory and the Volunteering Service. In addition it would provide skills programmes and strategic grants that would be open to local ventures and the service had been nationally accredited as Volunteering Barnet. The three main priorities were to promote volunteering across the borough; to make sure volunteering is accessible, and to provide training for organisations, particularly around best practice. Groundwork would also register and place volunteers, and give them support where needed. In addition it would look to involve small businesses in volunteering and also to help organisations to connect with eachother.  

Through Barnet Together and the Directory the aim was also to reach new local groups and help to develop new groups. There was also specific support for young people through the Young Barnet Foundation.

Monitoring and key performance indicators would be through quarterly meetings with officers and through the Delivery Plan. There would also be an Annual Report. Inclusion Barnet had some input into how they were monitored and KPIs could be helpful depending on how they were managed – if they focused on priorities, were outcome-focused and allowed some flexibility they could be helpful.

A Member enquired how Inclusion Barnet has the opportunity to work with planners and developers in providing accessible and family-friendly development and planning. Ms Collier responded that they had not been approached about family-friendly planning.

A Member suggested that details were shared with the Assets, Regeneration and Growth Committee. Ms Baker and Ms Collier were keen to approach these opportunities.

A Member asked for clarification on the numerous abbreviations they used during their presentation. These would be clarified on their respective websites.

A Member enquired about joint working with the faith sector and how these could link in to this work. Ms Baker noted that Groundwork London had been working with Jewish Volunteering at Work for several years, and she had also had discussions with the Barnet Multi-faith Forum on how work could be carried out collaboratively. She added that the offer was open to all.

The Chairman thanked Ms Collier and Ms Baker for their presentation.