Advice Advice StrategiesStrategies

in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire Advice Forum

Facilitated byOrganised by Supported by

Workshop AgendaWorkshop Agenda1. Introductions2. Background to workshop3. Why do we need an advice strategy?4. What should an advice strategy look like?

Break – 11.15am

5. How to develop an advice strategy?6. First steps in developing a strategy7. Next steps

Lunch – 1.00pm

BackgroundBackground

Bedfordshire Advice Forum

Promoting and supporting the provision of advice and information services in

Bedfordshire

BAF - overviewBAF - overview• Established in 1997

• Promotes provision of advice services, through networking, training and support

• Covers Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire

• 42 member organisations – from not-for- profit sector

BAF - activitiesBAF - activities• Forum meetings for members

• Training on advice skills and issues

• Promotes the advice sector at local strategic meetings

• Organises advice related projects- Online advice directory- Research with children’s centres- Advice strategies

• BAF websitewww.bedsadviceforum.org.uk

Voluntary WorksVoluntary Works

BAF is a member of Voluntary Works - the voluntary sector infrastructure consortium in Bedfordshire and Luton

Voluntary Works – LGR Project

BAF has received funding from the LGR Project which is helping the voluntary sector make links with the two new Councils in Bedfordshire.

BAF is encouraging the councils to develop an advice strategy

BAF – LGR Project

1. April 2009 - BAF wrote to the Councils to suggest developing an advice strategy

2. June 2009 – BAF representatives met with Council representatives

3. October 2009 – Workshop held on advice strategies

BAF – LGR Project

4. November 2009 – Development work starts on advice strategies?

5. Early 2010 – Further development work and consultation?

6. 2010 - Adoption of advice strategies?

Why do we need an Advice Strategy?

Why is advice work important?- to individuals?- to the community?- to local authorities?

What are the benefits of developing a strategy

- in general?- now?

Case for Advice• Economic benefits

• Promotes social inclusion

• Tackling poverty

• Fairness and community cohesion

• Health benefits

• Improving public services

Advice Strategy

Helps meet Local Area Agreement targets

Links to Sustainable Community Strategy

Advice is a cross-cutting issue

Review of funding for 3rd sector

Strong case for advice - child poverty - social inclusion - benefits on health - generates income

Disjointed funding – and lack of coordination

Increased demand in recession

Legal duty

Will help in Comprehensive Area Assessments

Why do we need anAdvice Strategy?

How to develop an advice strategy?

Stages• Set up working group• Define ‘advice’• Develop rationale and aims• Identify and map current provision• Carry out needs assessment• Identify priorities and opportunities• Devise strategy• Monitor and evaluate

How to develop anadvice strategy

Set up working group

• Determine membership of group

• Representation from statutory, voluntary and private sectors

How to develop anadvice strategy

Define advice

• In context of the strategy

• Civil legal advice

• Social welfare

• Rights and responsibilities

How to develop anadvice strategy

Develop rationale and aims

• Why is a strategy necessary?

• What should it address?

• Vision, principles and aims

How to develop anadvice strategy

Identify and map current provision• Who? Statutory, public, voluntary, private

sectors

• What? Subject areas

• Where? Geographical

• When? Opening times

• Why? Identify areas of duplication, enhance signposting and referrals

How to develop anadvice strategy

Carry out needs assessment

• Desk top research into previous needs analyses (CLSP strategic plan)

• Stakeholder surveys

• Wider public consultation

How to develop anadvice strategy

Identify priorities and opportunities

• Use research above to determine priorities

• Identify opportunities for new funding streams

• Identify opportunities for partnership working

How to develop anadvice strategy

Devise strategy

• Bring together results of previous stages in written document

• Set key objectives

• Develop action plans

How to develop anadvice strategy

Monitor and evaluate

• Throughout various stages

• Action plans

• To assess whether strategy is working

First steps in developing an

advice strategy

Vision

Principles

Aims