Survival through collaboration

1. Survival through collaboration Day 2 will look at the following: • Models of collaboration • Launch of and discussion of Voice4Change England’s principles and guidelines for collaboration in the BAME/MRC sector • Case studies of successful collaboration in BAME/MRC sector

2. Models of collaboration Tim Brogden LVSC

3. Exercise In groups match the definitions with the models of collaboration and find the odd one out

4. Models • Collaboration • Partnership working • Shared services • Shared back office • Merger • Group structure • Network • Coalition • Consortium • Co-location

5. Collaboration Joint working by two or more charities in order to fulfil their purposes whilst remaining as separate organisations to enable a greater overall output than if they pursued the activity alone Any examples in the room? BAME/MRC partners collaborating to put on these 2 events

6. Partnership working Included in the broad definition of collaboration this is a working arrangement where the partners are independent bodies, agree to co-operate to achieve a common goal, create a process to achieve this goal, plan and implement a jointly agreed programme, share relevant information and pool risks and rewards Any examples? London for All – LVSC led London Councils’ commission

7. Shared services The shared delivery of a service to members from across more than one organisation Any examples? Example from LVSC research Advice UK/Action for Advocacy

8. Shared back office Sharing functions such as ICT, HR, finance or health and safety across more than one organisation. Any examples? The option of using a cloud system to share ICT across compatible organisations. Links with co-location

9. Merger • Formal long-term arrangement • One or more organisations passing their assets to another voluntary organisation and then dissolving • Can have different models • A and B into C • A, B and C into a new organisation Any examples? 3 from LVSC research

10. Group Structure This model is an alternative to merger and allows a parent body to govern subsidiaries that retain a good deal of their independence and crucially their legal identity. This arrangement can be used as a step on the way to full merger. Any examples? 3 from LVSC research

11. Network An informal grouping of organisations/members with a common interest often hosted at an organisation that acts as the accountable body. This form of collaboration often has a steering group to inform and direct the work of the member organisations. An element of formality can be introduced with Terms of Reference. Any examples? London’s Voluntary Sector Forum

12. Coalition An alliance, often a temporary one, of people, factions, parties, or organisations. Any examples? End Violence against Women coalition in LVSC research The Government

13. Consortium An association or a combination of voluntary organisations for the purpose of engaging in a joint venture or a cooperative arrangement among groups or institutions. This model can be formalised by setting up a charity, social enterprise of Community Interest Company to run it. Any examples? 1 in LVSC research - pan-London VAWG Consortium

14. Co-location The placement of several entities or organisations in a single location with the aim of sharing back office functions and reducing costs Any examples? LVSC at VAI – 7 organisations under one roof

15. And the odd one out?

16. Due diligence The steps that organisations take to assure themselves that a merger, or other change in working pattern i.e. collaborative working, is in their best interests. One charity examines one or more other charities before the completion of a merger or other collaborative process), the result of which is that a charity has full knowledge of the organisation (s) they seek to merge or collaborate with. These checks fall into three main areas: commercial, financial and legal. It is a process not a model of collaboration

17. Group discussions • What models if any are missing from the exercise and presentation? • What models seem most appropriate for you and your organisations? • What experience of any of these models can you share with the group?

18. Any further information Tim Brogden tim@lvsc.org.uk www.lvsc.org.uk

19. Case study - Carnival Village 1 • 4 black arts organisations and steel bands – all been around for a long time • Mangrove Community Association and Steel band • Association of British Calypsonians • YaaAsantewaa • Ebony Steel band

20. Case study - Carnival Village 2 Prime drivers were to: • Raise money to ensure sustainability of organisations • Ensure that service users continued to benefit • Establish a base Model – group structure – establishing a new organisation called Carnival Village • Preserve identities of all partners • Avoid loss of trust

21. Case study - Carnival Village 3 Benefits: • All 4 organisations are now more stable and have space • As a whole they are more able to raise money • Sharing back office saves money • Service users continue to get the service they want and trust • Less competition for resources and more co-operation • Passionate group of community members driving it forward whilst retaining grass roots identity • Interest in the buildings is vested in Carnival Village

22. Case study - Carnival Village 4 Challenges • Not having a lead partner – the partners decided that it was more equitable not to • Keeping on top of the partnership – nurturing it – takes time, energy and resources • Group structure with 5 boards

23. Any further information Tim Brogden tim@lvsc.org.uk www.lvsc.org.uk