Update 254 /// October & November 2016

all things voluntary and community in Birmingham

www.bvsc.org/update-magazine

What’s your story? Tell it

with case studies. Liz Bell tells

us how / 12

Tackling educational

inequality: Action Tutoring

levels the playing field / 8

Dramatising the recovery

journey: Staging Recovery, with

Geese Theatre Company / 10

In this edition...

Tackling inequalityDuring political party conference season there has been a lot of talk about inequality, but our hard working voluntary and community sector has always

been at the heart of efforts to tackle inequality. On page 4 you can read about how Witton

Lodge Community Association has been helping local unemployed people find work.

Matt Daniels tells us about the LGBT Leadership Academy, one the few professional development offers in the UK targeted exclusively at the LGBT workforce. See page 7.

63% of pupils achieve five A*-C GCSEs including English and maths, but for pupils eligible for free school meals the figure is just 35%. Turn to pages 8-9 to learn how Action Tutoring is tackling educational inequality by supporting pupils from less advantaged backgrounds.

Our cover story for this edition is about a remarkable project which uses drama to tell individual and collective stories of the journey of addiction and recovery. Staging Recovery is run by Geese Theatre Company and you can read about it on pages 10-11.

Liz Bell also challenges us to think about stories on pages 12-13, where she looks at using case studies to demonstrate the impact of our work.

Finally, on pages 14-15, Dr Simon Murphy walks us through the pros and cons of mergers, helping us understand if a merger is the right way forward and highlighting the key issues and steps involved.

Published six times per year by BVSC: © BVSC 2016. All rights reserved.

Editorial and advertising: Helen Cobain / 0121 678 8830 / helenc@bvsc.org

Design: Cuthbert Design / www.cuthbertdesign.com Cover photo: © Ian Cuthbert / cuthbertdesign.com

Printing: Pinstripe Print Group / www.pinstripegroup.co.uk Distribution: PA Publishing Co. / 01527 540909

Views and opinions expressed in Update are those of the individual authors and not necessarily those of BVSC. BVSC is in no

way responsible for and does not endorse goods or services supplied by organisations which advertise in Update.

Birmingham Voluntary Service Council Ltd (BVSC) is a registered charity (no. 218795) and a company limited by guarantee (no. 421688).

Birmingham Changing Futures Together launches new website

53

Matt Kendall Foundation: grants for young people

4

Witton Lodge Jobs Fair success

7

LGBT leadership programme

Dramatising the recovery journey: Staging Recovery with Geese Theatre Company

10

8

Tackling educational inequality with Action Tutoring

Thinking about a merger? Start right here.

14

What’s your story? Tell it with case studies, says Liz Bell.

12

Narthex wins Queens Award and £450,000 funding

6

Update 254 /// October & November 2016 www.bvsc.org/update-magazine

Update 254 /// October & November 2016 3

Snippets

Disadvantaged young people in Birmingham now have more opportunity to receive a grant of up to £500 from the Matt Kendall Foundation.

Anyone aged 16-25 years and living in Birmingham can apply to the grant-giving charity that is now considering applications every other month – to ensure that young

people have the money they need when they need it. The Foundation was set up in April 2015 by Matt Kendall,

an inspirational youth and development worker, just before his death aged just 35, following a long battle with cancer.

A year and a half on and over £40,000 has been raised to support the city’s most disadvantaged young people. If a young person has a plan about the job or volunteer role they want or the education they need but doesn’t have the finance, the Foundation can help.

The Foundation continues Matt’s work and legacy and believes that no young person should have their future put on hold because they can’t afford the basics that most people take for granted.

Do you know someone that needs the support of the Foundation, and would you be willing to support

their application? The Foundation will support a range of expenses including transport fees, interview clothing, etc. The Foundation will consider every application, but have previously considered:

• Education and training fees

• Travel expenses – for both domestic and overseas travel for work and training

• Volunteering expenses

• Expenses to learn how to drive to achieve employment where driving is essential

• Expenses for personal development – including access to mentors

• Specialist equipment – money to put towards things like interview clothes, tools, cameras, etc.

• Counselling and therapy costs.

The next round of applications will be considered on Tuesday 29 September. Young people can apply via the short application form on the Foundation’s website, by video message, audio message or by email. Applications supported by a supporting individual from an organisation will be considered first. Check out the Foundation’s Facebook page to find out more about the young people that have already received grants.

i Matt Kendall Foundation: themattkendallfoundation@gmail.com / www.themattkendallfoundation.org.uk / The Matt Kendall Foundation

Grant-giving charity offers young people up to £500

Birmingham Better Care Fund invites grant applicationsBirmingham Better Care Fund is part of the reform to integrate health and social care across Birmingham. The Carers Strategy is one of the work-streams and focuses on supporting informal unpaid carers who help to look after family members and friends.

Under this strategy the Fund is looking for local charities and community groups that can make good things happen for carers in their area. It is recognised that grants enable local charities and community groups to make things happen for local people. A small grant can help an organisation to lever in additional resource, bring additional volunteer capacity and respond flexibly to the needs of their communities and build on the strengths.

The Carers Strategy would look to support proposals that:

• Show an understanding of the aims of the NHS Commitment to Carers 2014

• Seek to improve the health and/or wellbeing of carers in your community

• Have firm ideas about ways to improve and transform the lives of carers

• Articulate a solid case for the proposal you want to implement

• Are able to demonstrate how you will involve carers in the services you want to develop

• Show well thought out plans of how to implement and measure the impact of your proposal.

Grant funding of between £500 and £25,000 is available. To apply, download an application form from the BVSC website (link below) and return it by Friday, 21 October 2016.

i Carers Strategy Grant Fund application form: www.bvsc.org/news/grant-funding-available-support-carers-birmingham | Birmingham Better Care Fund: www.birminghambettercare.com

BVSC Update podcastBVSC has launched an audio podcast edition of Update. Articles can now be downloaded from the BVSC website as single audio files, which are ideal for people who want to listen on the go, or for those with limited vision, dyslexia or other disabilities that prevent them reading print.

Richard Dawson, communications and marketing assistant at BVSC said, “We would like to thank Simon Taylor of Kaytui Productions for doing such a wonderful job of producing the recordings. If you know of any organisations who support those who may find an audio version of our magazine useful, please get in touch.”

i BVSC Update podcasts: www.bvsc.org/update-magazine / comms@bvsc.org

The late Matt Kendall, founder of Matt Kendall Foundation

4 Update 254 /// October & November 2016

Snippets

More than 1,000 job seekers and 60 local employers and partners came through the doors of Jaguar LandRover in Castle Bromwich for the Erdington Works Business Breakfast and Jobs Fair.

The event brought together businesses, funding and jobseekers. Businesses learnt about funds available, to help them grow and create jobs. The event then connected local jobseekers with opportunities in the area.

The hugely successful day started with a Business Breakfast, chaired by Jack Dromey, MP for Erdington. It included a host of guest speakers from local businesses and organisations, including: Councillor Brett O’Reilly, Birmingham City Council cabinet member for jobs and skills; the Department for Work and Pensions; the Erdington Works Partnership; Hart Recruitment; Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and Jaguar Land Rover.

Three inspirational speeches were given by Witton Lodge Community Association’s youth employment ambassadors; Jessica Blenkiron, Haleema Khathoon and Dellano Lewis. All three spoke passionately about their experiences and how finding work has transformed their lives. The event also showcased COG – an online tool that connects young people to employment, apprenticeships, advice and training in this city.

This was then followed in the afternoon by a packed Jobs Fair, attended by 40 local businesses and over 1,000 people of all ages, looking for jobs, coming through the door.

There was a really positive atmosphere at the event with a number of people successfully finding work, over 50 local people alone signing up for employment advice and support with Witton Lodge Community Association’s Job Shop and countless more people taking information packs and leaflets.

Evelyn Ampadu, 47, said: “It’s a really good jobs fair and good to come along and speak to people. I am here looking for a part-time job, to earn money while the children are

out at school.” These positive views were echoed by George Davis, age 18, who said, “I have really enjoyed the jobs fair. There are people from all different job sectors. It has given me more of an idea of what I want to do. Everyone is really helpful and I am finding work that suits my skills and qualities.”

Jack Dromey, MP for Erdington said: “Erdington is rich in talent but it is one of the poorest constituencies in Britain with enduring problems of worklesssness and high youth unemployment. At the same time local businesses need labour and skills. Our Business Breakfast at the Jaguar factory brought together 60 employers and agencies and the Jobs Fair saw over 1,000 jobseekers throng 40 stands in the factory's Visitors Centre. Our aim quite simply was to connect local people seeking a decent job with local opportunities for jobs and training. The day was a magnificent success, above all for me the moving experience of talking to people at the Jobs Fair, out of work but now with hope and a ladder of opportunity.”

i Witton Lodge Community Association: 0121 382 1930 / Witton Lodge Community Association

Witton Lodge Jobs Fair a great success

Free Localgiving membershipLocal charities and community groups that are members of the FSI, NCVO, Sported, or the Small Charities Coalition can join Localgiving for free under a new agreement that’s been struck between the organisations.

Localgiving is a donation platform which aims to help

smaller charities get to grips with online fundraising.

Groups that join before 18 October will be able to

take part in Localgiving’s Grow Your Tenner campaign,

which matches Direct Debit donations by up to £10 a

month for the first three months. Grow Your Tenner

raised £631,245 for 899 local charities last year.

To find out more, visit the Localgiving website.

i www.localgiving.org

BVSC 4 Community funding portalDid you know that BVSC offers a free funding portal for Birmingham charities? The online portal holds information on grants and contracts available from public sector agencies, trusts and other funders in one accessible place.

To begin searching, you are presented with a

number of questions about your organisation and your

funding needs. These questions have been specifically

designed to help make sure your search results are

always relevant and useful. And once registered

you can also generate reports and save information

on the funding that is of most interest. Visit BVSC’s

website for more information and to register.

i BVSC Finding Funding page: www.bvsc.org/find-funding

Birmingham Changing Futures Together launches new websiteThe Birmingham Changing Futures Together project team have spent much of the last few months building a new website which will form the central hub for information about the project for both staff involved in the project as well as external visitors.

Birmingham Changing Futures Together is a Big Lottery funded programme set up in 2014 to support adults with multiple and complex needs. This is defined as people who experience at least two of: homelessness; addiction and problematic substance misuse; at risk of reoffending; or with mental ill health.

The programme focuses on long-term service and system change to support individuals to lead a more fulfilled life and ensure that successful models and approaches pioneered through this programme become mainstream.

Ruby Dillon, programme and network facilitator, said: “We’re delighted with the website which has been achieved by working closely with all the work streams, including our partners from Shelter, Mind and SIFA Fireside.

“We’re aware that the Changing Futures programme can appear complicated, so we feel that this website will help unravel the complexities and give visitors a clearer understanding of what we’re doing to address the needs of people with multiple and complex needs in Birmingham.

“In future, all news, announcements, events and achievements of the programme will be posted to the website – so do check back regularly.”

i Birmingham Changing Futures Together: www.changingfuturesbham.co.uk

Update 254 /// October & November 2016 5

Snippets

6 Update 254 /// October & November 2016

Snippets

Birmingham charity Narthex Sparkhill has been awarded nearly £450,000 by the National Lottery to continue running a Foodbank and help local people in crisis.

Since 2011, the Charity has been operating Sparkhill Foodbank from premises on Bard Street. This grant will allow it to move to larger premises and extend its services supporting local people in crisis.

Earlier this summer the contribution of the Charity’s 100+ volunteers was recognised when it was given the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The official presentation of the Queen’s Award by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Simon Topman MBE took place in Sparkhill last week.

On the announcement of the Queen’s Award Sinon Topman said, “They are changing the culture in Sparkhill and creating a community spirit to confound those who thought that such values were lost.”

He went on to say: “Narthex has a quite exceptional group of volunteers, admirably led and all working towards a vision that goes way beyond the provision of sanctuary, food and clothes. They are highly innovative, as demonstrated by their satellite food and clothes banks at the QE Hospital and in fire stations (it speaks volumes that so many want to copy this initiative).

“They are changing the culture in Sparkhill and creating a community spirit to confound those who thought that such values were lost.

“After many years of assessing Queen’s Awards for voluntary service, I have never found an organisation who deserve it more or whose very existence ushers in profound change for the better in an area that so badly needs it.”

Narthex wins Queens Award and £450,000 funding

At the presentation the charity also announced that the Rt Revd Anne Hollinghurst, the Bishop of Aston, is to become its new patron.

i Narthex Sparkhill: www.narthex.org.uk | Sparkhill Foodbank: www.sparkhill.foodbank.org.uk

Giving WorldGiving World offers charities access to business surplus for free.

It offers a simple solution for companies with surplus goods to dispose of – just register online and publicise goods for charities and community groups to access free of charge to pass on to their beneficiaries.

Giving World wants to ensure that surplus goods (food and other basic life essentials) reach the communities that need them the most. They are seeking lead partners to help strengthen their delivery models across Birmingham. Potential partners will need to:

• Demonstrate expertise and a proven track record in working with disadvantaged communities

• Have in-depth knowledge of local areas and have established links with other local community groups and charities

• Display a similar ethos and values to Giving World, sharing their vision of realising people’s potential and creating a fairer society.

To register an interest and to arrange an informal discussion, please email Giving World by 30 October.

i Giving World: rama@givingworldonline.com / www.givingworldonline.com/

Interfaith WeekBirmingham Council of Faiths will again be co-ordinating the Birmingham programme for National Interfaith Week, which will take place at various locations around the city from 13-21 November. The event will be officially opened by the Lord Mayor at a special ceremony on the afternoon of Thursday 11 November.

Birmingham Council of Faiths are keen to encourage

even more organisations this year to organise an

activity, including faith communities; places of

worship; community and voluntary groups; interfaith

bodies; youth groups; education institutions; hospital

chaplaincies; museums; City Council and businesses.

All suggestions for activities are welcome.

The full programme will be available by the

end of October. Further details and a copy of

the report of last year’s programme are can

be downloaded from BVSC’s website.

i Dr Peter & Mrs Jean Rookes, Birmingham Council of Faiths: pjrookes@gmail.com / 0121 477 2282 or 077 033 360 88 | BVSC News: www.bvsc.org/news/birmingham-interfaith-week-2016

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LGBT leadership

programme launched

LGBT leadership

Update 254 /// October & November 2016 7

“Does the LGBT sector need its own leadership programme? This is the gentle challenge I get most often when – as the LGBT Leadership Academy co-ordinator – I meet with CEOs, learning and development or human resources managers of companies across all sectors, and it’s a very fair question to ask,” says Matt Daniels.

In a world where equality and diversity are increasingly recognised and proactively encouraged, the idea of segregating rather than integrating a ‘minority’ group for the purposes of creating leaders of the future may initially sound a little regressive, but there is good reason for this.

As good as workplaces are becoming to promote diversity and equality, a number of our LGBT community have negative experiences during their adolescence and adulthood that can seriously inhibit their ability to reach their full potential in their careers without structured support in a safe and secure environment.

Recent research1 shows that investment in your LGBT employees has a direct correlation to staff retention and productivity, and can save your company significant amounts of money over the long term.

I am an advisory member of a steering group of Midlands Alliance Network,2 a network for LGBT professional services people that includes representatives of global companies such as PwC and KPMG. At a recent meeting the steering group prioritised campaigning to discourage graduates from going back ‘into the closet’. This worrying trend is very real, as LGBT+ graduates enter what they consider to be a traditional and very heterosexual and patriarchal environment.

The LGBT Leadership Academy programme is an initiative from Birmingham LGBT, and it’s one of a very few professional development offers in the UK targeted exclusively for the LGBT workforce. Through the programme we want to empower the LGBT leaders of the future so that they are strong, confident and able to not only lead effectively, but to also influence and effect positive change in their workplaces, ultimately to build a more inclusive and productive workforce.

We provide that safe and secure environment to consider some of the barriers and experiences that may have influenced (either consciously or unconsciously) an individual’s development, whilst providing them with the basic competencies of leadership. Offering external endorsement from the Institute of Leadership and Management.3 Our first external course is now

underway with representatives from private, public, health, freelance and charity and voluntary sectors. Our next course will be delivered from April to June 2017 and details of the programme can be found at our website.

Investment in leadership development of your staff is critical to ensure the sustainability and retention of your organisational skills and to future proof against ‘brain drain’, the loss of skills and expertise from your company.

Matt Daniels is LGBT Leadership Academy co-ordinator and managing director of Midan Limited.

i Matt Daniels, LGBT Leadership Academy: midanconsult@gmail.com / 07966 418 713 / www.lgbtleadershipacademy.co.uk / @MattD01

i Birmingham LGBT: www.blgbt.org

1. www.outnowconsulting.com/media/23533/Report-SMTBC-2015-V28sm.pdf

2. www.thealliancenetwork.co.uk3. www.i-l-m.com

We provide that safe and secure environment to consider some of

the barriers and experiences that may have influenced (either consciously or unconsciously) an individual’s development, whilst providing them with the basic competencies of leadership.”

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8 Update 254 /// October & November 2016

Tackling educational inequality

Education

In the UK, 63% of pupils achieve five A*-C GCSEs including English and maths, but for pupils eligible for free school meals the figure is just 35%. We don't think this is acceptable and we're working to change that.

Action Tutoring is an educational charity supporting pupils from less advantaged backgrounds to achieve a meaningful level of academic attainment to help them progress to further education, employment or training. We provide high quality volunteer tutors to help pupils with English and maths by increasing their subject knowledge, confidence and study skills. We work in partnership with schools and run our tutoring sessions within schools. We currently work in: Nechells, Acocks Green, Hodge Hill, Sparkbrook and Shirley.

I have much more confidence in myself now. I can now achieve

from a grade E to C/B. Thank you so much for helping me with maths. You were really inspiring. I would love to learn from you again.”Pupil, Hodge Hill College.

A pupil’s experienceWithout an English GCSE I wouldn’t be able to do most things.”

Shantae, a pupil at one of our partner schools in Birmingham

Shantae is one of our students and like most young people isn’t certain which exact path she will take in the future but what she is sure of is the importance of trying her best and achieving in her exams. She hopes to go to University to broaden her understanding of the world but realising this ambition depends on her achieving the right grades.

Over the weeks working with a volunteer tutor on the Action Tutoring programme, Shantae has remained dedicated to the tutoring programme and achieved 100% attendance. She knows time spent with her tutor is beneficial; she likes the individual support she receives and the opportunity to progress further. When we asked her if there was anything about the tutoring programme she didn’t like she told us there’s nothing!

Education inequality is uncomfortably entrenched in the UK: educational attainment is more dependent on wealth than anywhere else in the developed world. This is exemplified by the boom of the private tuition industry; a recent report

Update 254 /// October & November 2016 9

Education

by The Sutton Trust revealed that the industry is now worth over £2 billion. However, with the average cost of a single tutoring session standing at £24 it is clear that only pupils from more privileged backgrounds are benefitting. As a member of the Fair Education Alliance, we are determined to see the end of educational inequality – where socio-economic background does not determine educational success. Therefore, in the academic year 2015/2016 we delivered over 860 hours of free tuition to 164 pupils in Birmingham. We want to support even more pupils this academic year.

A tutor’s experience I always come out of it invigorated and feeling the buzz.”

John, one of our dedicated tutors, has previously tutored nieces and nephews in maths but came across Action Tutoring’s opportunities whilst looking for volunteering opportunities for a friend and thought, ‘I’d love to try that!’ John loves that some of the pupils have completed all three of the programmes he has tutored on: “It’s nice to build that relationship and really get to know them.”

John feels that the most enjoyable part of tutoring with Action Tutoring is seeing the progress his pupils are able to make. He describes the rewarding feeling when his pupils say they had a mock exam and got the result they wanted, or that they understood something a bit more by the end of lesson: “It’s all about imparting knowledge,” he told us. “My pupils have been absolutely brilliant from day one; they are dedicated, motivated and polite.” John confesses that he went from being nervous in the beginning to being incredibly impressed very quickly.

John always comes out of the session with a smile on his face, it’s the part of the week he really looks forward to. “If you are thinking about teaching it is a great way of getting experience and finding out if you’re up to it.”

Can you volunteer as a tutor?We’re looking for maths and English tutors for primary and secondary schools. To tutor, you need to have experience studying the subject, or a similar subject to the one you would like to tutor. You do not need any experience working with young people, but you must be passionate about helping young people to achieve.

As a tutor you will be:

• Fully trained: including tips and strategies on tutoring and information on the national curriculum

• DBS checked for free

• Offered ongoing training, coaching and support

• Given a reference on completion of a programme.

As a tutor, you are able to pick which of our partner schools you tutor in to suit your location, and you will be part of an engaging and dynamic tutor team. We would love to hear from you if you’re interested or if you are involved with a group that would like to support us.

i Action Tutoring: 0207 803 4988 / www.actiontutoring.org.uk

Dramatising the

recovery journey:

Staging Recovery

Addiction, recovery and the arts

10 Update 254 /// October & November 2016

Staging Recovery is a Birmingham-based ensemble, creating theatre that tells individual and collective stories of the journey of addiction and recovery, primarily based on their own experiences.

Their first performance, Unlocked, was created over a 12 week period and performed at Birmingham Repertory Theatre for a public audience, in July.

The ensemble was brought together from various support agencies in Birmingham by Geese Theatre Company. Based in Moseley, Geese have been delivering theatre and drama projects with vulnerable and marginalised groups for almost 30 years. Geese is widely acknowledged as being one of the key organisations championing the role of the arts in the criminal justice system and is praised for both its artistic quality and its ability to connect with some of the most socially excluded groups.

The project was generously funded by The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s, Sharing the Stage fund, which aims to ‘bring about long-term improvements in wellbeing, particularly for the most vulnerable, by creating connections across boundaries that deliver social, cultural and environmental value’.

The project began in early May with Geese introducing different theatre techniques, including improvisation, script work and the use of mask for the ensemble to practice. Group members were challenged to learn new skills, while at the same time exploring issues relevant to their own situation. Although united through a journey of recovery, the group worked together to explore wider issues around what ‘recovery’ is and social perceptions and stigma attached to it. This acted as a stimulus for the group to explore a range of human experiences, which they did with great enthusiasm, supporting each other throughout the process.

Guest artists were commissioned to work with the group using creative writing, film and movement. This provided opportunities to safely explore new and varied methods of expression, while further developing the skills of the group. Yet again, they rose to these challenges, being both transparent about their fears of trying something new, while simultaneously getting stuck in.

The final performance was a collaboration of this whole process: A collection of art forms and a host of reflections about what it is to be human. Staging Recovery performed Unlocked to a large audience of family, friends and peers from the recovery community, Birmingham agencies and invited guests at The REP on Friday 22 July. The powerful and emotionally charged performance received great feedback from the audience, who commented, “It has helped me to

appreciate how much of a challenge the process of recovery is”, “It is good to know people are being supported well, through creativity” and “Totally blew my mind! Excellent performance!”

The funding for this project runs to summer 2017 and the group will be reuniting in the autumn to work on new skills and devise future pieces.

Geese Theatre Company specialises in delivering theatre and drama projects with vulnerable and marginalised groups. Although they work nationally, the company’s recent work in the Birmingham community has included projects at Anawim Women’s Centre and WAITS centre for women; working with homeless people at Crisis UK; and a number of projects with the recovery community at Changes UK, Reach out Recovery and SIFA Fireside. Geese also work in secure

Geese is a great experience. I’m loving the way it makes me feel as

it’s a chance to step out of daily life. I enjoy it as I’m learning to grow from within and in confidence on a journey where I still don’t know the ending.”Lisa

Marion’s experience“I had done a workshop with Geese before and I discovered that I had an interest in drama, so when the opportunity arose for me to attend another workshop I was eager to attend. I wanted to find out more about what Geese had to offer and the different ways in which they worked.

“I enjoyed all aspects of the workshop and got the opportunity to try different acting styles, film making techniques and how to express emotion through movement.

“I find social interaction challenging but the workshops were done in such a way that there was no pressure to do anything we were uncomfortable with. However, at the same time, we were challenged to conquer our fears through the interactive activities. While working with Geese, I liked the structure it gave me and I enjoyed spending time with the group. Geese were very supportive and confidential, which is important, and at the end of the workshop, I realised that I would like to explore drama more, which I now have the confidence to do.”

Addiction, recovery and the arts

Update 254 /// October & November 2016 11

This is what I’ve had to look forward to and has helped me with my

recovery. I’ve met some amazing people and feel confident. I don’t feel trapped any more, I feel positive.”Sarah

I really enjoyed the project and feel I have achieved something. I want

more and can’t wait for it to start again. It’s very powerful, it’s amazing.”Angie

mental health settings, in prisons and with young people at risk of offending in the West Midlands and UK wide.

Geese Theatre Company and Staging Recovery would like to thank Garrie Fletcher, Fallen Angels Dance Theatre and BoHo Films for their work with the group and contribution to the process. Thanks also to Birmingham, Repertory Theatre, ACE Dance and Music, SIFA Fireside and Changes UK, and special thanks to the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation for supporting the project.

Staging Recovery is: Angie Downs, Lisa Burden, Marion Kirkland, Rick Jones, Sarah Fisher, and Steve Enoch.

i Geese Theatre Company: 0121 4496222 / info@geese.co.uk / www.geese.co.uk

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12 Update 254 /// October & November 2016

What’s your story? Tell it with

case studies.

Communications and PR

Case studies. They sound dull, don’t they? Dry and factual – something a doctor might use to describe a patient they’re treating. But here’s a secret: case studies are really just stories, and if you use them well, they are your key to raising the profile and reputation of your charity amongst every single one of your audiences. Liz Bell, of Liz Bell Media, provides a five step guide.

A recent report published by the Charity Commission revealed that public trust in the charity sector is at an all-time low, due in part to a lack of public knowledge about the impact that charities have in the areas in which they work.

It’s easy to blame the public for this lack of understanding – after all, as a charity you strive for transparency, with all your income and spending recorded diligently in your annual report. But are you really showing your impact? Perhaps not – and you’re not alone. It’s a common problem amongst charities: when describing what they do, they focus on either the resources they have spent doing their work (their inputs) or their the actual work they have done (their outputs), rather than what has changed as a result of their work (their impact).

While some of your audiences will demand to see quantitative evaluation of your impact (anyone who’s ever filled in a grant funding application form will know the value of cold, hard data), for many, a well-told story can be an equally effective way of showing the difference that your charity makes. A story can help you to build a connection with your audience, which is what will ultimately make them engage with your cause – whether that’s by donating money, signing up as a volunteer, or accepting your arguments.

If you’ve never tried producing a case study, or if the only ones you have access to are a handful of out-of-date testimonials gathering virtual dust on your website, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But by following a few simple steps, you can easily make great storytelling a central part of the way in which your charity demonstrates its impact.

Step 1: Finding your storyYou know that your organisation does great work, and that’s what you want your audience to know about. What example sticks in your mind when you talk about your work? Which service users or beneficiaries are you most proud of helping?

If you don’t have an idea to hand, call someone working on the ‘front line’ of your organisation. Those working most closely with your beneficiaries are likely to have a wealth of examples, and can help you to access someone willing to

share their experiences. Remember that your staff will have spent a long time building mutually trusting relationships with service users, so take care to explain why you want to use their case study, how you plan on using it and how it will help your cause. Providing they are reassured about your motives, they are likely to be delighted to be able to help.

Step 2: Meet face to face (or at least make a phone call)We’re all used to email as the first point of contact, and let’s be honest – it’s easier to bash out a few lines of text than to actually arrange a meeting. But you will get a far better insight into your chosen beneficiary’s life if you can talk to them like a human.

If you can’t physically meet up, a phone call is your next best option. Either way, keep in mind that you are asking them to share what is often an intensely personal experience, so be respectful and give them the space to tell you their story in their own words.

It’s a good idea to ask your subject to sign a consent form at this point, to make sure that your interviewee is fully aware of the purpose of the interview and how you plan on using their story.

Step 3: Ask the right questions (and listen)All good stories have a clear beginning, middle and end. As such, you need to leave your meeting with a few key pieces of information:

• What was this person’s life like before they became involved with your organisation?

• What was their future going to look like at that point?

• What happened to bring them into contact with you?

• What has your organisation done for them?

• How has their life changed as a result of your organisation’s work?

To avoid getting answers that are too short, try to ask open questions. For example, “Tell me about what life was like for you before you found out about the End Homelessness Charity”, is better than “How long were you on the streets?”

Sometimes it’s easier to work backward with these questions – people are generally more comfortable talking about the improvements in their lives than how hard things were in the past. By easing them in gently to the harder questions, you will get a more genuine response. Also try to avoid interrupting or cutting your interviewee off – sometimes an expectant pause can prompt your subject to reflect further, which is often where your most profound quotes will come from.

Update 254 /// October & November 2016 13

Communications and PR

If you’re planning on writing your case study (rather than filming it), make sure to use a voice recorder during the interview so that you can go back and listen to the answers – this also helps your subject to feel comfortable and listened-to (rather than you frantically scribbling notes as they are talking).

Step 4: Craft your storyNow you’ve got the building blocks of the story, it’s your job to put them together in a compelling format.

Start with a hook – what’s the one part of the interview that really stuck in your mind, or surprised you when you heard it? That’s your opening lines of the case study – the part that will entice your audience to read/watch it.

For example, “Mike knew he had a problem when, halfway through building a garden trellis, he suddenly forgot how to make a right-angle” is a more interesting opening than “Mike was 57 when he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s.”

Then use the answers to your questions to walk the reader/viewer through the story. The ending (how their life has changed as a result of your charity’s work) is as important as the middle (what your charity actually did), as this is the part that really shows your impact.

Step 5: Spread the wordThere are plenty of ways in which you can use the story. On your owned channels (for example your website, printed literature, and annual report) you can use it in full. You can

use an abridged version, or even just parts of it, on social

media to support your key messages. For example, combined

with a strong image, a compelling quote from a case study

can be an excellent source of short-form content.

You may also want to offer the story to relevant

press contacts, if it’s really good and it fits in with a

topical news story. It’s best to discuss this option with

journalists before using the story elsewhere, as some

media outlets will require a degree of exclusivity.

Finally, always remember that before you put your case

study anywhere public, you should ask your beneficiary to

check that they are happy with it. Although you will have

already got consent at interview stage, never forget that your

ultimate responsibility is to protect your service users. After

all, it may be just a story to you, but to them, it’s real life.

To find out more about how to use storytelling

in your charity’s communications, sign up now to

Demonstrating Impact through Story Telling, part

of BVSC’s autumn training programme.

i BVSC Training: www.bvsc.org/bvsc-training-courses

Liz Bell is a freelance communications professional based in Birmingham, providing copywriting, publicity and strategic consultancy services to charities, social enterprises and other small businesses. For more communications advice and resources, visit the blog page on Liz’s website.

i Liz Bell Media: www.lizbellmedia.co.uk

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14 Update 254 /// October & November 2016

Mergers

Thinking about

a merger? Start

right here.

The current challenging fundraising and commissioning climate does not offer the most fertile ground for two or more voluntary and community sector organisations (VCSOs) to sow the seeds of a merger. Many charities see merger as the only alternative to closure. Others feel compelled to merge by commissioners who expect to deal with larger organisations. But handled in a positive and committed manner, a merger can enhance support and service delivery to the VCSOs’ beneficiaries whilst also strengthening financial sustainability, writes Dr Simon Murphy.

Merger is a big decision. It requires detailed, careful and calm analysis. It is best approached in a climate of openness, mutual respect and trust, accompanied by a genuine understanding of each other’s values, vision, mission and operational realities. An absence of these, allied to a perceived or actual imbalance between the parties, can lead to much greater challenges and difficulties. Fear of the consequences of a merger from one party, or a belief that it is a takeover, can also fundamentally undermine the prospects for success.

Here are some of the reasons to consider whether to merge or not, but this is not an exhaustive list:

Reasons in favour of merger

• Create more value and sustainability in a new entity than can be delivered alone by improving efficiency, removing and/or reducing duplication, renewing structures (including the Board, Memorandum and Articles of Association, and staff teams) and processes, services and products

• New fundraising, commissioning and income generation opportunities through being a larger organisation*

• Cost effective method to support growth by accessing each other’s managers and staff, services, skills and processes that would be expensive to develop alone

• Improve visibility and strengthen voice and reputation

• Achieve objectives more quickly than through organic growth.

Reasons against merger

• Distress for employees with some (possibly those who would be most helpful to a new organisation) deciding to leave, allied to uncertainty about the new entity from commissioners and stakeholders

• Conflicting corporate cultures, business models and especially personalities

• The costs, time and risks involved in negotiating, agreeing and implementing a merger

For a merger to have the best chance of success there are several basic rules that should be followed.

Mergers: the basicsThe merger should be clearly in the best interests of each of the VCSOs’ beneficiaries. All too often this is forgotten or relegated behind financial and operational considerations.

The objectives, values and cultures of those involved must be compatible, or at least have a genuine chance to align and be mutually supportive.

From the very outset, all interested parties (especially staff) must be kept in a clear and structured communications loop. Rumours, mixed messages and deliberate falsehoods will flourish in a vacuum.

A large majority of trustees, ideally all, should be united in believing that a merger is the best way forward.

Identify and agree the key roles, responsibilities, resource implications and preferred timeline for the merger process.

Merger is however not the only way to skin the cat of challenging commissioners, and/or diminishing fundraising opportunities. For many VCSOs structured joint working on an operational or project specific basis is a viable alternative.

Joint workingJoint working can bring tangible benefits both in terms of a VCSO’s viability, and also the effectiveness of the

Update 254 /// October & November 2016 15

Mergers

services and support it delivers. It also creates the time and space for VCSOs considering a merger to gain a real understanding of each other. In might include:

• Pooling back office functions, such as payroll, finance and ICT

• Filling a vacant post(s) in one VCSO by sharing it with an appropriate member of staff from another or agreeing to the appointment of a single post-holder to cover more than one VCSO

• Joint bidding for contracts that require larger turnover and/or geographic coverage

• Use of each other’s staff and expertise to deliver existing contracts, and to bid for and deliver future contracts

• Mutual support for the delivery of staff training, personal and professional development

• Sharing of best practice through the consolidation of expertise and/or a single service structure

• Joint management arrangements such as regular and structured meetings between chairs, chief executives, senior management teams, and board to board.

Mergers are not for the faint hearted. But a new vision and mission, allied to a renewed fit for purpose board, can enthuse and engage staff, stakeholders and commissioners. Management and capacity issues that limit growth in individual VCSOs can be easier to address and resolve in a merged entity. Back office savings can be realised. A merger can create greater presence, profile and reach for the new VCSO. Most of all though the ability to support a VCSO’s beneficiaries can be significantly improved through a merger.

Further reading

• Checklist for Mergers, Charity Commission www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-merge-charities

• Making Mergers Work, Charity Commission www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-mergers-work-helping-you-succeed

• Vital Ingredients when Collaboration and Mergers are on the Menu, London Voluntary Service Council and Voluntary Sector Forum, January 2013 http://www.lvsc.org.uk/media/125154/fullmergerreport.pdf

• Story of a Merger: DTA and Bassac Create Locality, Institute of Voluntary Action Research, November 2011 www.locality.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Story-of-a-merger.pdf

Dr Simon Murphy is an interim chief executive who advises VCSO boards and senior managers on mergers and joint working.

* For some organisations being able to mirror the footprint of a European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Committee, which is normally the same as that of a Local Enterprise Partnership, can be advantageous. The advent of the West Midlands Combined Authority, as well as the constant change and churn in the NHS, can also be considerations.

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