Annual Review 2012-2013

Our recipes for a healthy and nutritious community and voluntary sector

Inside the Store cupboard

Ian the Involvement Aubergine knows  

how  important  it  is  to  empower  people  and  

utilise  their  skills.

Spencer the Supportive Spud is  passionate  about  

helping  people  achieve  their  goals  and  

supporting  them  to  reach  their  potential.

Patricia, Pamela and Penelope, the Promotion Peas who  

encourage  the  sector  to  represent  their  varied  needs.

Rosie the Engagement Radish is  an  expert  in  how  to  talk  to  people  and  help  them  to  shape  their  futures  by  identifying  what  their  need  is  and  

helping  them  to  address  it.

A Healthy and Nutritious Voluntary and Community

SectorMilton  Keynes   has   a   vibrant   Voluntary  and   Community   Sector   (VCS)   with   a   wide   range   of   charities   and  organisations.   At   Community  Action:  MK  we   support   and  develop   the   growing   sector   into  a  healthy  and  nutritious  place  to  be.  We  aim  to  do  this  by  utilising  the  vast  skills  and  incredible  knowledge  and  experience  of  those  who  shape  the  sector.  

What   makes   a   Healthy   and   Nutritious   VCS?   Communities   inspired   to   come   together   and   make   positive  change,   with   the   confidence,   and   knowledge   to   access   appropriate   support.   Creating   a   healthy   and  nutritious  VCS  involves  selecting   the  right   ingredients  and  bringing  them  together  at   the  right  time  and  in  a  specific  way.  

Having  the  right   ingredients  in  a  recipe   is  vital  in  creating  a  successful  dish.  We  believe  the  best   ingredients  are   those   that   are   home   grown   and  enriched  with  nutrients,  much   like   the  hardworking   volunteers   that  make  up  the  city’s  voluntary  sector.

It   isn’t   just  the   ingredients,   it   is   how   you  bring   them  together,   it's  the  skill  and  the  technique   that  make   it  work.  By  making  small  changes  to  recipes  we  can  cater  for  a  wide  variety  of  need;  we  do  this  by  adjusting  to  the   VCS’s   changing   needs   and   the   changing   strategies   and  policies   of   external   agencies.  We   believe   the  success   of   this  development   relies  on  the   right   ingredients,  brought   together   in   the  right  way  at   any  one  time.

A  flourishing  community,  like  a  successful  dish,  relies  on  the  best  ingredients  as  well  as  the  skills  of  the  chef.  By  adding  the  right  ingredients  and  making  sure  the  recipe  is  clear  to  follow,  we  aim  to  make  a  difference  to  communities   in  Milton  Keynes.  This   annual  review  highlights  what  we   think  are   the   right   ingredients  and  what  skills  are  needed.  

      Briony  Serginson,  Chair  of  Trustees

Sizzling SupportAdvice. Encouragement. Progression

496  support  and  development  interactions  with  groups

248  face  to  face  meetings  with  groups,  each  of  which  received  follow  up  information

7  new  community  groups  formed  with  the  support  of  the  Community  Mobilisers  

Just  under  1,200  group  details  within  our  database;  of  which  658  are  members.  47  of  those  members  joined  

Our  support  programme  for  the  local  Voluntary  and  Community  Sector  has  grown  from  strength  to  strength.  In  October  we  were  awarded  the  contract  through  the  local  authority  to  provide  the  ‘Infrastructure  and  Support  Service   for   Civil   Society   Organisations’,   this   enables   us   to   build   on   our   success   of   previous   years   and  emphasises   our   position  as   the  main  portal   for   Voluntary   and  Community  sector   groups   to   set-­‐up,   run  and  develop  their  services.  

Ingredients:

Hey Spencer, what’s the secret ingredient to sizzling support?

Dr Helen Lomax from the Open University thinks it’s because we “put people at

the heart of what you do. Believing in the

potential of individuals and communities. Balancing

Supporting with standing back.”

Delicious DevelopmentVolunteers. Conversations. Change

Ingredients:

240  different  volunteers  within  the  EH  Programme

4,000  hours  of  voluntary  action  to  improve  their  communities  

823  activities  supported  by  the  EH  Programme

12,656  attendances  at  these  activities

4,354  conversations  with  communities  recorded

30  Monthly  Area  Community  Dialogue  Reports

3  Monthly  Programme  Wide  Dialogue  Reports

1  Quarterly  Trend  Analysis  Report

We   work   for   change,   to   influence   developing   policies   by   feeding   in   what   communities   are   saying.   The  development   of   a  mobile   app  and   its   integration  with  the   Early  Help   (EH)   Programme,  carried  out   by   the  Community  Mobilisers,  has   meant   that   we   are  more   readily  able   to   respond  to  different   issues   and  more  effectively  communicate  what   communities  are  saying.  Our  method  of  building  up  confidence  and  skills  and  encouraging   communities   to   become   active   and   involved   is   what   helps   create   this   dish   of   Delicious  Development

Hey Rosie, tell us what the secret ingredient is to

Delicious Development

Kim from Desperate 2 Dance thinks “CA:MK are clear to understand; always helpful and

supportive; staffed with kind and happy people

who don't make one feel patronised or inadequate”

Paul Neate, from West Bletchley Town Council has worked with us this year and thinks that “in what is in reality a relatively short time period, we have seen some excellent results, with both expectations and achievements of a good number of local people considerably enhanced”.

Intense InnovationNew. Challenge. Celebration

1  Transition  MK  forum

1  TEDxMiltonKeynes  event,  with  91  attendees

1  TEDxMilton  Keynes  Women  event

3  TEDxMilton  Keynes  Salons

5  Roadshows  in  partnership  with  MK  Community  Foundation

7  attendances  at  the  first  Social  Reporter  Training  in  partnership  with  

the  Open  University

Ingredients:

This  year  saw  innovative  developments  at  Community  Action:  MK,  with  the  success  of  several  contract  bids.  We  aimed   to  add  extra   spice   to   the   Voluntary   and  Community   Sector   with   innovative   and   inspiring   training   and  outreach  work,  which  participants  have  told  us  they  love.

What have we achieved this year?

Sheila Thornton, one of our trustees think’s we are”proactive and challenging’ and “always finding new ways to support groups and its own staff to address the constraints and opportunities for the VCS in MK today, adding 'Zing and Zest' in a downbeat environment

Pan Fried PromotionScream. Shout. Let it all out.

Social  media  has  continued  to  be  a  major  way  to  communicate  with  groups,  with  our  presence  on  Twitter  and  Facebook   continuing   to  grow.   This   year,   our   newsletters   focused  on   funding   advice,   the   city’s   growth  and  alerting  people  to  high  profile  issues,  such  as  the  successful  ‘Give  It  Back  George’  campaign  (which  put  pressure  on  Chancellor   George  Osborne   to  get   rid  of  the   proposed  cap  on  tax   relief   to  charities)  which  ended  up  with  local  papers   picking   the   issue   up   and  highlighting   it   in   their   pages.   This   has   been   in  addition   to  our   regular  newsletters,  including  Learning  and  Events,  Funding,  Community  Development  Network,  Trustee  Network  and  Growth  Gossip.

427  ‘likes’  on  our  Facebook  page

1,120  followers  on  Twitter

Just  under  2,500  views  of  our  YouTube  videos

139  email  newsletters  sent  to  over  1,744  recipients

Ingredients:What’s the secret to promoting the sector?

Learning and Events Nibbles

Networking. Sharing. Learning

52  learning  and  events  in  total

1,150  attendances  at  these  

5  networking  events  

5  events  focused  on  funding  and  fundraising  

Our  learning  and  events  programme  for  local  charities  and  community  groups  hosted  a  range  of  sessions  this  year,  from  our   traditional  core  offer  of  development  skills  for   the  local  Voluntary  and  Community  Sector,   to  the  first  of  its  kind  in  Milton  Keynes;  TEDxMiltonKeynes,  an  independently  organised  TED  event  in  partnership  with   MK   Community   Foundation   and   The   Open   University.   Feedback   this   year   showed   that   our   regular  ‘Introduction  to  Funding’  sessions  were  the  most  popular  and  we  have  had  particular  praise  for  our  friendly,  approachable  format.  

Ingredients:How do you make

Learning and Events so tasty?

Kat Harper, a volunteer at the Community Garden in

Fishermead describes us as “Fruity Malt Loaf ....wholesome and gives you a kick start!!”

Grilled GrowthExpansion. Communication. Representation.

375  recipients  of  our  Growth  Gossip  newsletter:  information  on  the  expansion  of  the  city

51  conversations  recorded  with  residents  of  the  Eastern  Expansion  Area

A  sprinkle  of  archaeological  digs  organised  with  Fullers  Slade  Residents  in  the  Western  Expansion  Area

1  public  meeting  that  enabled  residents  to  prevent  closure  to  the  Broughton  Gate  Skate  Park

4  years  of  the  Arrivals  Programme,  visiting  residents  as  they  arrive  in  their  new  homes

Our  work   in  expansion  areas  of  Milton  Keynes  has  seen  lots  of  changes  this  year.  Preparations   for   the  fast  growing  Western  Expansion  area,  as  well  as  continued  development  in  the  Eastern  Expansion  area,  and  plans  for   development   in  Central  Milton  Keynes.    We   advocated   for   the   voices   of   the   majority   to  be   heard  and  ensured  clear  and  accurate  messages  were  being  delivered  by  both  decision  makers  and  residents  alike.    

Ingredients:

Gamiel Yafai, the Managing Director at the Diversity Marketplace thinks the key ingredients is “The desire to make a difference”

What’s the secret ingredient to

glorious, grilled growth?

Fingerlicking FinancesMeasured. Efficient. Value

Income    £888,826

Expenditure  £1,027,351

Unrestricted  Reserves  £275,419

Figures  are  taken  from  audited  financial  statements  for  the  year  ended  31st  March  2013,  copies  of  which  can  be  obtained  from  the  office.

Master ChefsExperienced. Knowledgeable. Approachable.

Staff:

Lizzie  BailesJo  Bevan

May  ChungGareth  Eglinton-­‐Pacitti

Jeanette  HydeKatrina  HydenLaura  Jeffrey

Marie-­‐Yvette  Linden-­‐WyattDavid  Livermore

Miriam  McConachieHannah  MillsCorrina  MilnerKat  NewmanTracy  PearsonJosan  RaceVicky  RitsonRuth  Stone

Bianca  WaitheClare  WaltonJulie  Webb

Tracy  Whitmore

The  ingredients  used  to  make  a  fabulous  dish  are  only  part  of  the  recipe.  The  key  is  to  have  the  right  chefs   using   the   rights   skills   in  the   right  places.   This   ensures   that   the   soufflé  always   rises,  and   the  sauce  never  burns.  

Andrew  Armes  Karen  Caldbeck

John  CoveAndy  GroutFred  Mercer

John  Marshall  (retired  25.10.12)Verity  Pandya

Gwilym  RobertsBriony  Serginson  (Chair)Kevin  Smith  (Treasurer)

Sheila  ThorntonDavid  TunneyGamiel    Yafai  

Trustees:

Deb  DrakeRichard  FreemanRoger  KitchenChris  Knight

Robbie  MacphersonEva  OwenKate  Russell

Sarah  Thurstans

Special Thanks:

Fabulous FundersNeed. Services. Outcomes.

Acorn House ▪ 351 Midsummer Boulevard ▪ Milton Keynes ▪ MK9 3HP ▪ 01908 661623 www.CommunityActionMK.org ▪ www.Facebook.com/CommunityActionMK www.Twitter.com/ComActMK ▪

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