1

Llais Sir Benfro

Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services

Cymdeithas Gwasanaethau Gwirfoddol Sir Benfro

36 - 38 High Street

Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire,

36 - 38 Y Stryd Fawr Hwlffordd Sir Benfro SA61 2DA

Tel: 01437 769422

www.pavs.org.uk

Contents Foreword 2 News from the Board 4 Policy & Citizen Engagement 5 Third Sector Support: Volunteering 8 Funding & Governance 15

Pembrokeshire Voice

Deadline for next edition is: 30th June 2016

Email copy to: enquiries@pavs.org.uk

Issue / Rhif 69 Spring / Gwanwyn

2016

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THE FUNDING CHALLENGE The first three months of the year have flown by and, as we approach the end of the current financial year, thoughts inevitably turn to funding issues. In line with many other third sector organisations, PAVS faces a number of financial and organisational challenges in the year ahead. The Minister for Communities & Tackling Poverty has made it clear that in 2016-17 she expects to see demonstrable progress towards regional working arrangements within the Third Sector Infrastructure Partnership (which includes County Voluntary Councils like PAVS and the Wales Council for Voluntary Action). Failure to make progress towards regional working could jeopardise future core funding from Welsh Government. In addition, the Minister has announced a further 9% reduction in funding for County Voluntary Councils and volunteer centres for the coming financial year. This means that CVCs have experienced a 25% cash reduction in their core funding since 2013, which is a real reduction of around 33% when taking into account inflation and pay costs (increases in pension and NI contributions) . In line with Ministerial requirements, discussions are ongoing with CVCs in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire to set up more formal joint working arrangements to deliver regional representation and finance/administrative support services, as well as focusing on business development and income generation. However, the Board remains committed to the local delivery of services to Pembrokeshire voluntary and community groups and individual volunteers. PAVS will continue to deliver these services in Pembrokeshire, either on its own or in partnership with others. For now, PAVS’ Board has agreed to continue to use general reserves to fund the delivery of front-line support services including organisational development, sustainable funding, good governance, volunteering and training for voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises in Pembrokeshire. Every effort is being made to secure additional income and to reduce costs but failure to close the funding gap will inevitably result in changes to the services that PAVS can deliver. Our statutory partners are also experiencing budgetary pressures. Pembrokeshire County Council received around 550 responses to its recent budget consultation, which reflects the level of public interest in and concern about potential funding cuts and service reductions. PAVS will continue to facilitate discussions between the third sector and statutory partners around new models of preventative and early intervention services. Welsh Government has confirmed a further £50 million investment in the Intermediate Care Fund for 2015/17 which will be delivered through the Regional Partnership Boards for Health & Social Care. Pembrokeshire County Council has ear-marked around £5.9 million of reserves for service reconfiguration and transformation. Welsh Government has allocated “primary care cluster” funding to support early action and preventative services. In addition, PAVS will be administering the Caring Communities Innovation Grant for the third successive year, providing £30,000 in small grants (up to £5,000 each) for innovative community-led initiatives that support frail elderly people to live independently for longer in their communities. PAVS will represent the interests of the third sector in all partnership discussions and our officers will do their best to make sure that the sector gets a fair share of the investment available for new service delivery models, including social enterprises and user-led services. PAVS will also ensure appropriate service user engagement and involvement in service co-design and on strategic and service planning partnerships.

Foreword

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The Pembrokeshire third sector has a good reputation when it comes to alternative service delivery models. At the beginning of March, PAVS Chief Officer and Tina Mills (Care & Repair) attended a Third Sector Partnership Council meeting in Cardiff to give a presentation to the Minister for Communities & Tackling Poverty on the highly successful PIVOT service which provides low-level home-based support to help people stay out of hospital. PIVOT is delivered by a third sector partnership facilitated by PAVS comprising Age Cymru Pembrokeshire, British Red Cross, Royal Voluntary Service, Pembrokeshire Association of Community Transport Organisations and Care & Repair. Since its launch in July 2014, PIVOT has dealt with a total of 676 referrals, preventing 326 unnecessary admissions to hospital and facilitating 350 early discharges. It has saved around £920,550 in the cost of “bed days” and has returned £4.38 for every £ invested. Based on the success of the PIVOT model in Pembrokeshire, both Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire plan to launch third sector-led preventative services in the new financial year. Returning to the subject of funding, the Wales Audit Office (WAO) is currently undertaking a study into Local Authority funding of the third sector in Wales. The WAO has circulated an on-line survey for completion by County Voluntary Councils as local third sector intermediary bodies. They have also circulated an on-line survey for completion by voluntary and community groups. The purpose of this call for evidence is to capture the views of third sector organisations and individuals about how effectively Councils fund third sector services and to answer the overall question “Do Councils commission third sector services effectively?” In addition to the Wales-wide survey, the WAO is undertaking in-depth field work in six counties, including Pembrokeshire. This field work includes interviews with key personnel from the Local Authority and local third sector organisations, with a particular focus on those providing information and advice services. PAVS Chair, Chief Officer and 3rd Sector Health & Well-being Facilitator are all being interviewed as part of this process. We look forward to sharing the final report with you when it is published. The Pembrokeshire Funding Code of Practice is currently out for consultation - see later section in the newsletter for information about how you can respond. The document is based on the national Funding Code of Practice that is annexed to the Welsh Government Third Sector Scheme and sets out the guiding principles that Pembrokeshire County Council will follow when funding the third sector. Please take the time to read and comment upon this important document. This edition of the newsletter contains the usual mix of interesting and informative articles, which we hope you will find useful. There is information about the Pembrokeshire Funding Portal; the Pembrokeshire Community Zone; Volunteers’ Week; training courses, funding opportunities … and much more. Enjoy the read!

Foreword

John Gossage Chairman

Sue Leonard Chief Officer

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The PAVS Board has met twice since the New Year, on 28th January and 17th March 2016. The first meeting of 2016 focused on financial forward planning with the Board considering the Statement of Financial Activities to 31st December 2015; the Quarter 4 projection to 31st March 2016 and the draft budget for 2016-17. Trustees were informed of the planning assumptions used as the basis of the forward budget and the difficulty of being certain about income projections in the absence of a confirmed Welsh Government budget. The second meeting again focused on financial planning, with particular attention being paid to the Ministerial requirement that PAVS should make demonstrable progress towards establishing regional working arrangements in 2016-17. The Board re-stated its commitment to maintaining local service delivery through PAVS, whilst moving towards setting up a regional entity with CAVS and CAVO. In recognition of the difficult financial situation currently faced by PAVS, the Board agreed to establish a sub-group to monitor progress against a financial action plan, with clear “trigger points” for action if income generation/cost reduction targets are not met. In addition to the financial planning work, the Board also considered standing items such as the risk register, regional updates, meeting reports and policy review work. Policies reviewed during this period included the Reserves Policy statement, which was updated to cover additional liabilities linked to the Dyfed Pension Scheme. The Board also received a report of the most recent meeting of the Voluntary Sector Liaison Group and welcomed the news that this will continue to be a joint meeting with Town & Community Council representatives from One Voice Wales and Pembrokeshire Association of Local Councils. There are currently two vacancies on the PAVS Board and co-options will be considered during the year. Please contact Sue James-Davies, PAVS Business Services Manager, if you would like to be considered for co-option.

REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP BOARD Earlier this year, PAVS Board member, Alan Thomas, was nominated by the County Voluntary Councils in West Wales to represent them on the Mid & West Wales Health & Social Care Collaborative Regional Partnership Forum. The Partnership Forum brought together senior leaders across the Local Authorities, Health Boards and the third sector (represented by CVCs) to oversee delivery of integrated health and social care services in the region. The introduction of the Social Services & Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 has brought with it some changes to regional governance arrangements. The Act requires the setting up of a Regional Partnership Board in place of the current Leadership Board and Partnership Forum. In addition, Section 9 of the Act requires that separate Boards are established in Powys and West Wales, although it is recognised that the Boards might still need to come together for some areas of work, such as integrated family support services and adoption. A recent joint meeting of the existing Leadership Board and Partnership Forum, members considered how the new Regional Partnership Board should be structured and what its terms of reference should be. Thanks in no small measure to the contribution of the third sector representatives, the new regional Board will have strong third sector, service user and carer representation, working as equal partners with Local Authority and Health Board nominees. PAVS’ Board would like to thank Alan for putting time and effort into this important area of work for the sector.

NEWS FROM THE BOARD

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Policy & Citizen Engagement

InfoEngine - FREE Training available InfoEngine is a fully searchable online directory of third sector services providing information to anyone looking for local services within Pembrokeshire and West Wales. PAVS is offering free training to all organisations and groups, helping them to get their services listed, and making sure that everyone can find them. It is very important that as many third sector organisations as possible are registered with InfoEngine as it will be marketed to the public very soon, so make sure that you are signed up. Each organisation can list as many services as they like, using key words, multiple locations and contact details. Here is a direct link to the site, showing you how it looks:

http://powys.info-engine.org.uk/index.php and once you register you will be able to sign back in at any time. A number of training sessions are being held over the next few weeks. Please email suebpavs@gmail.com for further information or leave a message and contact number with PAVS on 01437 769422

___________________________________________

Working in Consortia Development Programme

PAVS are seeking organisations who are interested but inexperienced in consortium working to take part in a development programme that has been designed to help groups navigate the path to a successful consortium relationship. We want to know how much groups know about working in consortia, what the attitudes and perceptions are around consortia, what the skill/knowledge gaps are in this area and from this, work with groups to build successful consortia. We want to see third sector groups working in partnership to deliver against the broad challenges facing all service providers. This programme will be designed to fit the specific and expressed needs of those involved – activities, forums and resources will all be held or produced with the intention of meeting those needs. We will use email, web resources and virtual meetings to minimise the impact on your day job! To register your interest, email lee.hind@pavs.org.uk – with the subject line Consortia Development

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Tier 1 Child Protection

As of 1st

April 2016, PAVS will no longer offer the Tier 1 Child Protection course that they have delivered for the last seven years. This is due to a change in focus of the funding that supported the delivery of this training. However, it is still very important to us that we maintain a working knowledge of the demand in this area – in the first instance this is so we can signpost you to an appropriate provision but also so that we can provide evidence of need if we decide to approach a funder to support delivery of this service at some point in the future. Please also be aware that PAVS will be delivering a generic safeguarding course that covers all ages as part of the embedded training programme. Please continue to email lee.hind@pavs.org.uk with Tier 1 requests and check the training pages of the PAVS website for up-to-date information on all courses offered by PAVS.

Policy & Citizen Engagement

The Pembrokeshire Funding Portal

PAVS is excited to announce the launch of

an open access, searchable, on-line grants database

Access funding information & search for potential funders

Register to access the Pembrokeshire Funding Portal at www.pavs.org.uk

Help Required for Local Fundraising Venture On 1

st May 2016 the first event solely for Elly’s Flag is planned to run at the Quins Rugby

Club, Pembroke Dock between 11am and 3pm Many people will have heard of Elly’s Flag, also known as Ward 10 Flag, which is a fundraising effort led by 5-year old Elly from Pembroke Dock. The appeal initially raised funds by auctioning Elly’s Eisteddford flag and this has grown into a County-wide fundraising effort for patient experience within Ward 10. Bands, groups or individuals who can perform and will donate their time; people who can run games or have a social enterprise activity that could be run and the proceeds donated; in fact, if you feel you can offer the day anything at all and you would like to attend an event that will be widely covered by the local press, then please get in touch. Contact Ann Neville on 01646 686787 Mobile 07895 198324, or E-mail ann.neville@btinternet.com

Elly Neville and the

Ward 10 Flag

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Policy & Citizen Engagement

Ministerial Statement - Lobbying Restrictions In light of recent announcements in the press relating to lobbying restrictions placed on third sector organisations in receipt of UK Government grant funding, Lesley Griffiths, the Welsh Government Minister for Communities & Tackling Poverty, issued the following written statement on 17th March 2016. “The relationship between the Welsh Government and the third sector rests upon trust and mutual respect. The Welsh Government is committed to building on this crucial relationship, which has developed over a long period, for the benefit of people and communities in Wales. “The Welsh Government is aware of the UK Government’s intention to introduce new grant conditions which, if implemented, would mean organisations receiving Government grants would be banned from using these funds to lobby Government and Parliament. “The Welsh Government will continue to safeguard the ability of Welsh third sector organisations to engage in constructive dialogue to support policy making. We believe the current standard terms and conditions effectively and comprehensively ensure public money is used for approved purposes. “The Welsh Government remains committed to working in partnership with the Third Sector through many channels, including the Third Sector Partnership Council. In doing so, we will follow the principles set out in our Third Sector Scheme and Code of Practice for Funding the Third Sector.” Protecting the autonomy of the sector is one of the key principles of the Pembrokeshire Funding Code of Practice which is currently out for consultation.

Regional Learning Partnership - Proposed Changes Following a review of the Central & South West Wales Regional Learning Partnership carried out by independent consultants SQW, it has been agreed to establish a new Regional Skills Partnership for the region. The Regional Skills Partnership will have a clear focus on skills for employment and will be led by industry representatives rather than learning providers. An Interim Partnership Board will operate for 2016/17. The third sector retains two places on the Regional Skills Partnership Board, which replaces the current RLP Strategy Group and Steering Group, representing the general third sector (through the County Voluntary Councils) and Adult & Community Learning (through the Workers Education Association). Membership of the Interim Regional Skills Partnership will include the Chair or Vice Chair of the Strategic Employers Group for Swansea Bay City Region and Growing Mid Wales. The Haven Enterprise Zone will also be represented, along with the Federation of Small Businesses and the South Wales Chamber of Commerce. From 2017 onwards, membership of the RSP will be expanded to include sector leads from industry. The Chair person will be represented by an industry partner. Although recognising the argument for having a focus on skills for employment, third sector representatives remain concerned at the potential loss of local learning opportunities, particularly those which contribute to wider social inclusion and personal health & wellbeing outcomes, rather than qualifications. For this reason, PAVS will make every effort to ensure the sector is represented on the Pembrokeshire Learning Network.

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Third Sector Support - Volunteering

WCVA Criminal Records Unit - the story so far! In February, WCVA wrote to all users of the Criminal Records Unit (CRU) announcing that Welsh Government had withdrawn funding for the DBS checking service and that the service would therefore be phased out and completely withdrawn by the end of May. As soon as the announcement was made, PAVS started to receive representations from the sector about the impact of the withdrawal of the DBS checking service on their organisations and the potential difficulties this would cause. There was a real sense of anger and frustration that this service was being withdrawn, particularly at a time when volunteers are needed more than ever before to support vulnerable people in our communities. On the basis of feedback from volunteer-involving organisations in Pembrokeshire, PAVS’ Chief Officer, Sue Leonard, wrote to the Minister for Communities & Tackling Poverty to ask her to reconsider the decision to stop funding the Criminal Records Unit (CRU) service delivered by WCVA. This letter was one of very many representations made to the Minister in the wake of the decision to withdraw CRU funding and the pressure paid off. In a speech to the Third Sector Partnership Council on 2nd March, the Minister announced that she had identified under-utilised funding within her budget which she was prepared to allocate to the CRU to fund the service through to the end of September. However, she made it clear that this was transition funding only and that WCVA should work with partners and service users to find an alternative service delivery model for the DBS checking service. In the coming months, PAVS will do what it can to support WCVA in designing a new social enterprise model for the DBS checking service, which will probably entail a small fee for users of the service. Whilst it is highly unlikely that the service will continue to be offered free of charge in the longer term, at least there is now time to co-design a service that is fit for purpose and, for now, the CRU service will continue as before. Nice to know that public pressure does work!

************************************************************************ Did you know Volunteers can sign up to the DBS Update Service - FREE OF CHARGE? What is the DBS update service? For a small annual subscription of just £13 (free for volunteers), applicants can have their DBS certificate kept up-to-date and take it with them from role to role, within the same workforce, where the same type and level of check is required. Next time you recruit someone and need to get them DBS checked – why not ask if they are a member of the update service? If they are, with their permission, you can use their current DBS certificate and carry out a free, instant online check to see if any new information has come to light since its issue. Important: where possible, give the applicant their application form reference number so they can subscribe to the update service when they apply for their DBS check. If they wait to subscribe with their DBS certificate number they must use it within 19 calendar days of the resulting DBS certificate issue date. How do you access the update service? After viewing the original DBS certificate, if you are entitled to carry out a status check and have the individual’s permission to do so, go to www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service. For more information, check out the DBS update service Employer Guide published in August 2015: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/454231/Update_service_employer_guide_v3_9.pdf So, why not encourage your volunteers to register for the free update service?

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Treats for Time The Treats for Time scheme was started in 2012 in partnership with the Port of Milford Haven. It is a volunteering incentive scheme providing rewards in return for 50 hours of volunteering. Since the scheme started, to date, over 240 people have received their ‘treat’ after completing at least 50 hours of volunteering. Although the scheme is now closed to new applicants, anyone already registered with PAVS (and the scheme) can still claim their ‘treat’. According to our records there are still over 120 individuals, who have told us they are volunteering, but have yet to return their completed time sheet to us. We estimate there are only about 60 treats left, with the funds available, so if you know anyone who hasn’t yet claimed their treat, please encourage them to do so as soon as possible. Many volunteers have come to PAVS to find out about Treats for Time. The incentive scheme has encouraged new people to carry out volunteering who otherwise would not have thought about doing something for their community. Treats for Time is funded by Port of Milford Haven (www.mhpa.co.uk) and is coordinated by Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS)

Third Sector Support - Volunteering

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Volunteers’ Week 2016 Here at PAVS we are already starting to plan Volunteers’ Week 2016, which includes the PAVS Volunteer of the Year Awards taking place on Thursday 9

th June. We’ll be circulating

the nomination forms soon, so get thinking about which of your volunteers you would like to nominate. You can see the pictures from last year here http://www.pavs.org.uk/volunteering/volunteersweek.htm Volunteers' Week is a national celebration of volunteers and volunteering which takes place from 1

st to 12

th June. It plays a huge part in raising the profile of volunteers as well as

encouraging others to get involved. It is a time to say 'Thank you' and to publicly recognise the difference made by volunteers. Volunteers' Week began in 1984. Each year more organisations get involved, hosting a variety of events throughout Wales, including award presentations, information stands and community events. Why not celebrate Volunteers' Week with your volunteers by, for example: Using the Volunteers Week logo - PAVS can help you with this

Nominating volunteers for a PAVS Volunteering Pembrokeshire Award - and coming along to the awards ceremony

Getting media publicity for what volunteers do - PAVS can help you with this Publicise your event as widely as possible. Send details of your plans to us and we’ll promote them. We can even upload them to the events section of the Volunteering Wales website www.volunteering-wales.net Tweet about what's happening, using #volunteersweek and send your tweets to us @VolPembs (and retweet what others are doing) Contact Jean or Louise if you want any more information about Volunteers’ Week 01437 769422 or volunteering@pavs.org.uk

Third Sector Support - Volunteering

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Community Zone 2016 – Discount for PAVS Members There are still some stand spaces available in the Community Zone at the Pembrokeshire County Show (16

th-18

th August 2016). This year we are also able to offer a 10% discount to

PAVS Members. Last year over twenty voluntary and community groups had a presence in the Community Zone. A number of the organisations involved had never had the chance to be at the show before and welcomed the opportunity to advertise their projects and activities, with many promoting new services, raising awareness, or encouraging people to volunteer. In the marquee itself there were seventeen stands which organisations shared or had on a time share basis (one, two or all three days), but everyone agreed it was very worthwhile. Over the 3 days more than 2,100 visitors engaged with the different groups. There are a number of stands available for this year’s show for all three days or just one or two days - which can be an excellent way to give it a go without committing to all three days. Each stand comprises a trestle table, chairs, and at least 2 tickets per day, there is even a stand-holder refreshment area for hot drinks included! The cost for a 3-day stand (for PAVS members) is just £234. If you are interested, or would like to find out more please contact Louise Wilkinson at PAVS on 01437 769422 or email louise.wilkinson@pavs.org.uk

Stallholders and some special guests on the first day of the show last year.

Third Sector Support - Volunteering

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Third Sector Support - Volunteering

Trustee positions available Founded in 2008, PATCH (Pembrokeshire Action to Combat Hardship) is a registered charity (No. 1124949) with a large group of dedicated volunteers spread across four bases at Milford Haven (HQ), Pembroke Dock, Haverfordwest and Saundersfoot. We currently employ a full time General Manager and a part time Basics Bank Supervisor. Our volunteers come from different backgrounds and live amongst the communities they serve. Poverty reaches in to the heart of communities so we work hard to relieve the effects by delivering a range of services including: a basics bank incorporating a food bank, food Co-Op, the Fill your Boots initiative and the annual Christmas Complete Toy Project. In addition, our aim is to provide volunteers with an opportunity to gain or even re-capture workplace skills which we hope will lead to employment opportunities for them. In order for us to be effective in what we do, we work closely with Third Sector community groups, local authorities, Churches and schools. You can find out more about us by visiting our website – www.patchcharity.org What we are looking for in our Trustees A Trustee is deemed to be “the person having the general control and management of the administration of the charity” (Section 177 of Charities Act 2011). Trustees are accountable in law for the activities of the voluntary organisation. The current Board of Trustees includes individuals with a variety of skills and knowledge and, whilst we would particularly like to hear from people willing to adopt the specific positions of Treasurer and Secretary, we would also be pleased to receive expressions of interest from anyone with experience in the following areas:

Human Resources

Finance

Tackling Poverty

Marketing

Third sector relationships

Grant applications Personal Attributes We are looking for Trustees who:

Possess critical and creative thinking

Show a commitment to the organisation and its Christian ethos

Are confident in making difficult decisions

Are willing to devote the necessary time and efforts to their duties as a Trustee

Are willing to work effectively as part of a team. Formal responsibilities include:

Ensuring that PATCH complies with its governing documents together with any other relevant legislation or regulations.

Safeguarding the good name and values of the organisation.

Ensuring the organisation pursues its objectives and aims.

Contributing actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.

Representing PATCH at functions and meetings as appropriate.

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Third Sector Support - Volunteering

Using any specific knowledge and experience to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions, through scrutiny of board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues and providing advice and guidance.

Attending Board meetings, sub-committee meetings and participating in other tasks from time to time, for example at recruitment interviews for new staff.

In order to ensure effective corporate governance our Board of Trustees meets with the General Manager on the first Wednesday of each month. The majority of meetings take place at our Milford Haven base. As well as attendance at Board meetings, opportunities may arise for Trustees to sit on sub committees and other groups that may be formed from time to time to explore particular areas of work and the supportive presence of Trustees at other events is appreciated. Unfortunately, because of charity regulations, we are unable to pay you for time spent attending meetings and events, but your reasonable travel expenses may be reimbursed. Overall the Trustees must bring energy, enthusiasm and empathy to the Board thus supporting the work of the Chair, the General Manager and PATCH. How to Apply If you would like the opportunity to join us in our work, we invite you to submit a copy of your CV together with a letter of interest detailing your experience to: Mr D O’Connor Chairman PATCH HQ Havens Head Business Park Milford Haven Pembrokeshire SA73 3LD or via email to contact@patchcharity.com All applications are to be received by 31

st March 2016 - but don’t be afraid to contact us at

any time if you are interested in getting involved with our organisation! Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend a trustees meeting to allow us the opportunity to learn more of your experiences and ideas.

Make a difference – Become a Citizens Advice Trustee Pembrokeshire Citizens Advice Bureau is looking to recruit new Trustees. The local offices are busy and thriving and we are looking for people who want to help develop our services and actively contribute to the good governance of our charity. Trustees are an essential part of the volunteer team at Pembrokeshire Citizens Advice. It is an important role and trustees make significant contributions to the well-being of the charity and our clients. Now we are increasing our community based projects, it is even more important to have Trustees that represent the wider community.

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So what is it we do? Pembrokeshire Citizens Advice aims to provide the advice people need for the problems they face. Each client can be sure when they seek information and advice from us that it is free, independent, impartial and confidential. One of our newest Trustees is Phil who has recently retired to Pembrokeshire. Phil joined our team as a volunteer on our Digital Welfare project where he helped clients develop their IT skills, helped with preparation of CVs along with many other things. When that role came to an end, he joined us as member of the Trustee Board. Phil has spent the last 40 years working in the aluminium and plastics industry in senior management roles throughout the UK, USA and the Netherlands. Phil says: “After recently retiring to Pembrokeshire I wanted to put my experiences gained from working and living in different parts of the world to good use. Volunteering initially as a Digital Welfare volunteer and then as a Trustee has allowed me to be part of and appreciate the great work that the volunteers at Citizens Advice do day in and day out. In my volunteer role as a Trustee I have been given the opportunity to support a great team of people who are dedicated to helping less fortunate people within the local community.” Can you give time and commitment to help run our charity? We would like to recruit as diverse a board as possible and welcome applications from all sections of the community who are aged 18 or over. Alongside the role of Trustee we offer a wide variety of volunteering roles and have something to suit everyone. If you are looking to boost your skills and access free training contact: Jo Bevan or Vani Athithan on: 01437 767936 Email: jo.training@pembscab.org.uk Visit our website: www.pembrokeshirecab.org.uk/volunteering Registered Charity No. 1121804

Third Sector Support - Volunteering

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Third Sector Support - Funding & Governance

South Hook LNG Community Fund 2016 The South Hook LNG Community Fund, running in partnership with Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS), is set to broaden the support offered to Pembrokeshire communities during 2016. The South Hook LNG Community Fund aims to support: projects or initiatives that support communities in Pembrokeshire

projects or initiatives that support the areas of; Safety, Environment, Education and Well-being

projects or initiatives that have a long-term sustainable benefit for the community

projects or initiatives that demonstrate an element of match funding (pooled resources, shared use of premises, reuse/recycle where appropriate)

projects or initiatives that encourage community volunteering As it enters its second year, the Fund has increased its reach, giving the opportunity for community projects across Pembrokeshire to apply for funding. “This marks a natural progression for our partnership with PAVS, following the Fund’s first successful year of supporting the communities closest to the Terminal” commented South Hook LNG’s PR Manager, Mariam Dalziel. “We are delighted to be broadening the reach of this Fund, where applications will be considered by a Panel of South Hook LNG representatives with the support of PAVS. Through this Fund and our volunteering programme, we are proud to continue our support of local communities, with particular emphasis on the areas of safety, education, environment and wellbeing.” “PAVS is delighted to be building on the first year of this exciting partnership with South Hook LNG”, said Lorna Livock, Development Officer at PAVS. “The reshaped South Hook LNG Community Fund now offers funding to communities across Pembrokeshire and we look forward to receiving applications from a range of projects that fit the Fund’s priorities”. Funding is available through two Tiers: Tier 1 up to £500 and Tier 2 up to £5,000. This funding is available to groups located or operating in any location in Pembrokeshire. The application deadlines for 2016 are: 18

th March, 27

th May, 12

th August and 14

th October.

For more information or to request an application pack please call PAVS on (01437) 769 422 or e-mail development@pavs.org.uk

Caring Communities Innovation Grant 2016/17

Funding for the continuation of the Caring Communities Innovation Grant Scheme has now been confirmed for 2016/17. There will be up to three rounds in 2016/17 unless all funds are allocated in earlier rounds. Deadlines for submission of applications are:

1st April

17th June

2nd

September

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Third Sector Support - Funding & Governance

The scheme is administered by PAVS and is funded through Welsh Government's Intermediate Care Fund (ICF), managed by Hywel Dda University Health Board and Pembrokeshire County Council. For further information visit PAVS’ website http://pavs.org.uk/funding/index.htm or to request an application pack please contact PAVS on:

(01437) 769422 or email development@pavs.org.uk

Little Green Grant – fully allocated until April 2017!! Due to the large number of high quality applications received at the December 2015 panel deadline, remaining funds for 2015/16 and the full allocation of £4,500 for 2016/17 will support a range of projects across Pembrokeshire to promote a more sustainable way of life. The Little Green Grant is now closed to applications until further confirmation of funding from April 2017 onwards. If you would like to receive specific announcements about further funding through this scheme then please e-mail development@pavs.org.uk and your details will be listed.

Hilden Charitable Fund - Summer Play Schemes Grant Open to Applications Grants of between £500 and £1,500 are available to help community groups in the UK to run summer play schemes for the benefit of disadvantaged children aged 5 to 18 years. Play schemes should be local schemes lasting for two to six weeks with strong volunteer support. Some priority will be given to projects which show they are inclusive of children from refugee families, and show BME involvement. The deadline for applications is 20

th May 2016.

More details here: www.hildencharitablefund.org.uk/ -

BBC Children in Need This fund gives grants for children and young people of 18 years and under experiencing disadvantage through:

1. Illness, distress, abuse or neglect

2. Any kind of disability

3. Behavioural or psychological difficulties 4. Living in poverty or situations of deprivation Projects that are supported need to demonstrate that they will make differences in children’s lives that help prevent or overcome the effects of the disadvantages they face. Projects achieve these differences by either working directly with children or seeking to improve their social and physical environments. Main grant deadlines: Initial deadline: 15th May Final decision: Mid Oct Initial deadline: 15th Sep Final decision: Mid Feb

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Third Sector Support - Funding & Governance

Small grant deadlines: Application deadline: 1

st June Decision due: Early August

Application deadline: 1st September Decision due: Early November

Application deadline: 1st December Decision due: Early March

More information on the BBC Children in Need grant programmes can be found here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5ysD3mLQYYRPRLNZ032LjM7/grants

Important: Consultation on the Pembrokeshire Funding Code of Practice

In January 2014, Welsh Government published a revised Third Sector Scheme, confirming the basis of its relationship with the third sector in Wales. The Scheme is a statutory requirement of the Government of Wales Act 2006 and is unique to Wales. As part of the Third Sector Scheme, the Welsh Government is required to develop a code of practice for funding the third sector. The Funding Code of Practice is published as an annex to the Third Sector Scheme and sets out the key principles underpinning Welsh Government Funding for the third sector and what is expected in return. The national code is monitored and any funding issues are raised by the Funding & Compliance sub-committee of the Third Sector Partnership Council. It is recognised that Local Authorities are key funders of third sector organisations operating in their area. For this reason, it is considered best practice to develop a Funding Code of Practice that applies in the local context. The Pembrokeshire Voluntary Sector Liaison Group has now agreed a draft Funding Code of Practice to be applied in Pembrokeshire. It is based on the key principles set out in the national Scheme, adapted to reflect local commissioning and procurement approach and practice. The draft Code is now open for public consultation until Friday 29

th April 2016. Your views

are important as this Code provides a framework for funding the third sector in Pembrokeshire. Please visit the Have Your Say section of the Pembrokeshire County Council website - www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Pembrokeshire Funding Portal - Register & search funding options!!

In October 2015 PAVS launched an exciting new funding search tool, the Pembrokeshire Funding Portal, for use by voluntary and community groups. This represents a shift in the way that we deliver our Funding Advice Service from the previous software which was run by PAVS staff. We are really excited about giving groups the chance to access this on-line resource themselves anywhere with an Internet connection! Getting started… The Pembrokeshire Funding Portal can be accessed through the PAVS website homepage: www.pavs.org.uk The PAVS Funding Advice pages here: www.pavs.org.uk/funding/index.htm or directly at www.idoxopen4community.co.uk/pembrokeshire. 1) Register on the site the first time you visit it; this includes your e-mail address and

password 2) Once you have registered then you use your e-mail address and password to access

the page 3) Start searching!

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If you have any queries about how the site works then do get in touch and we can help you with this. From April onwards PAVS will be running some Funding Portal orientation sessions to help groups make the most of the Funding Portal. So, register on the site and make the most of this fantastic opportunity for the sector to access up-to-date funding information. We need representatives of third sector groups to sign up and use this site. A good level of Funding Portal users will show PAVS that this resource is needed and justify our continued investment in this for groups in Pembrokeshire. Funding guidance and support is still available from PAVS’ Third Sector Support Team; supporting groups to make the best use of the Funding Portal, helping groups to sift through search results, adding value & knowledge to these searches, giving guidance on using the information from the Funding Portal, writing funding strategies and applying for funding. To find out more please e-mail development@pavs.org.uk

Charity Commission issues new guidance on trustee trading and tax

The Charity Commission has issued new guidance for charities engaged in trading activities. The new guidance, named ‘Trustees, Trading & Tax – how charities may lawfully trade (CC 35)’, clarifies and builds on existing guidance published in July 2001, providing further "practical advice” for charities using trading subsidiaries and reporting on legal developments implemented after 2001. According to the regulator, charities currently enjoy “considerable advantages in the tax treatment they receive in relation to trading and trading profits”. The new guidance states that trading activities are permitted on the basis that they "contribute directly to the furtherance of charitable objects”, including primary purpose trading, ancillary trading and non-primary purpose trading. In terms of VAT, “certain sales and purchases” are exempt or zero-rated, while trading profits are primarily exempt from tax. Income generated from donated goods is also primarily tax-exempt, according to the guidance. “The selling or letting of donated goods is not considered as trading,” the regulator states. “It is a business activity for VAT purposes and such, sale or letting is within the scope of VAT. However, the sales are zero rated if the goods are sold or let through charity shops, or through charity auctions or similar events.” Trading profits from general fundraising events are exempt from corporation tax, the regulator states, although it adds this is “subject to strict conditions”. Profits from charitable lotteries are also tax-exempt, subject to conditions. The guidance also clarifies the position of trading subsidiaries – companies owned and controlled by one or more charities with the aim of generating income for the parent charity – stating that trustees must make effort to ensure the interests of the parent charity is put before the interest of the subsidiary at all times.

Third Sector Support - Funding & Governance

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The importance of charities keeping on top of their finances The Charity Commission has recently stressed that charities must engage with their guidance on finance. They have updated the following guidance: Managing charity finances: planning, managing difficulties and insolvency (CC 12) Charity reserves: building resilience (CC 19) Charity governance, finance and resilience: 15 questions trustees should ask They also stress that charities need to remain vigilant about mandate fraud, (i.e. where the fraudster tricks a victim into changing bank account details in order to divert legitimate payments intended for a genuine organisation (e.g. a charity supplier) to bank accounts instead controlled by fraudsters). They’ve also issued advice about logging into the Commission’s online services and keeping a charity’s information up-to-date and accurate.

What’s your excuse for late filing of accounts? The Charity Commission has published a sample of excuses given by charities not filing their accounts on time. They say that:

Nearly one-third of charities’ accounts filed are of ‘unacceptable quality’.

A campaign launched in January will target charities in default.

Filing accounts is key to transparency and public trust in charities Despite all charities with income over £25,000 being required to submit accounts, thousands are in default. Failure to submit accounts indicates a lack of transparency on the part of the charity. It may affect the charity’s reputation and in extreme cases can jeopardise trust in charity as a whole. To avoid this, the Commission advises trustees follow 3 easy steps:

do not wait until you approach the 10 month deadline; when you have the documents, submit them

ensure you have a password to access the Commission’s online services or ensure that you know who within the charity has the password

know that submission is the collective responsibility of the entire trustee body, not just the treasurer or secretary, for example

The Commission receives 60,000 sets of accounts each year. Almost 7,000 are required to have their accounts formally audited. Here are just a few examples of excuses received by the Commission from charities to explain why they have not filed their accounts. I cannot file my accounts because…

I don’t have Internet access [sent by email]

Your website was closed

I’m only a volunteer

Joe does this, it is not my job

The person with the password is in Malaysia

The person with the password is in New York and isn’t contactable because of a hurricane

Third Sector Support - Funding & Governance

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I’m not involved with this charity’s requirements, I am a trustee

The School provides us with office space but it’s the school holidays and they are shut

I cannot log onto your site, what is my charity number?

Can I log onto your site from someone else’s computer?

I already did it…last year

I’m not a trustee, I’m on the committee

My secretary schedules to file each year (on deadline day) and she is off sick

The accounts aren’t ready so I recorded zero income and zero expenditure so we wouldn’t show as being in default on the Register

It’s the accountants’ responsibility, not mine

Our computer caught fire and we lost all the financial data

Deadline day falls on a religious holiday so we couldn’t file [sent by a multiple defaulter]

I’m only new

No-one told me when we registered

You never sent me reminders

I don’t believe in using computers

Computers are satanic

Our office was broken into and the thieves made off with the financial records …and

My boot came open on the motorway and the papers went down the M1

The commission also received one set of incomplete accounts with bite marks!

Training Sessions coming up soon

Role of the Secretary, Minutes & Meetings 14th April

Crowd Funding for Groups 21st April

Introduction to Safeguarding 10th May

How to be an Effective Chair 26th May

For full details, see the PAVS’ website - www.pavs.org.uk

Data Protection for small and medium organisations

The Information Commissioner’s Office has launched a self–assessment tool that will help small and medium sized organisations (SMEs) to assess their compliance with the Data Protection Act. The toolkit provides links to relevant guidance and further information, and will generate a rating based on responses. The toolkit can be downloaded from their website www.ico.org.uk

Third Sector Support - Funding & Governance