Voluntary and Community Sector

Tuesday 25th January 2011, Central London, 08:45 - 14:00 (half day)

The Future of the Voluntary and Community Sector and Social Enterprises: Funding, Regulation and the Big Society

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS OFFER: For this forum, we have a two-tiered discount structure: 15% off all advertised rates up until 5pm Friday 8th October 2010. After this, a 10% off discount will be available until 5pm Friday 29th of October 2010.

BOOK TODAY and save on your place. Available to public / third sector organisations only.

Overview

As the government begin to make swingeing public spending cuts, the third sector, comprising of voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, will play a crucial role in the delivery of vital public services. The government has asked the sector to share their innovative ideas of how things can be done more efficiently. Their aim is to draw on the sectors wealth of experience from delivering services on the frontline, often in the most disadvantaged areas, and disseminate what is working well and what can be improved.

The impact of the recession, coupled with rising demand in a time of dwindling resources has created a challenging environment for charities and voluntary groups. The sector has seen great upheaval – several large charities have merged and many more have been forced to cut down operations. With the government now pledging to develop a vibrant sector, questions remain over the detail of planned government reform.

The creation of the Big Society forms one of the main tenets of the government's vision for the future of society. The sector is expected to be the driving force behind this radical shift in power. With funds from dormant accounts to be diverted into the ‘Big Society Bank’ and with greater private sector investment, it is hoped that the Big Society will help bring communities together and create a new era of local action.

Agenda

In these uncertain economic times, there are many challenges and opportunities facing the sector. This forum will examine the potential for new funding streams and mechanisms, the impact of government spending cuts on frontline organisations and how the sector will fit into the Big Society. Sessions will focus on the role of the sector in delivering public services, how organisations can secure and manage public sector contracts and how to attract sustainable investment.

08:45	Registration and Coffee
09:10	Chair’s Welcome Address Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, President, NCVO (invited)
09:20	Opening Keynote: The Voluntary and Community Sectors; and Social Enterprises in the Big Society How is the government supporting social enterprise? The potential for the National Citizen Service to engage young people with charity and community work The Big Society Bank - policy and practice Decentralising services - empowering local communities Reducing bureaucracy - easing regulations for small charities Rolande Anderson, Director General, Office for Civil Society (CONFIRMED)
09:40	Questions and Answers Session
09:50	Equipping the Sector to Work Better Helping charities to work more efficiently Promoting and sustaining improvements Funding mechanisms - transformations in funding streams Understanding the challenges and potential for organisations of all sizes Measuring the social benefit of third sector organisations Ensuring the sectors independence - decision making over funding Supporting third sector organisations through the funding process Ensuring investment has maximum impact Andy Gregg, Chief Executive, Charities Evaluation Services (invited)
10:10	Social Enterprises in the Big Society Creating social enterprises to meet local needs How can social enterprises help bring communities together and empower local action? Developing innovative fundraising measures during a time of financial uncertainty Transforming communications - enhancing digital presence Creating opportunities for individuals to develop social enterprises Working in partnership with the private and public sectors Ensuring a sustainable future for social enterprises Alastair Wilson, Chief Executive, School for Social Entrepreneurs (invited)
10:30	Adapting to Survive - Future Models How have reductions in public expenditure affected charities? Partnership building between charities and voluntary groups, private and public sectors What will an enhanced charity sector mean for traditional public service providers? How can small organisations effectively bid for public sector contracts? The aspirations of the Big Society and reality of delivering frontline services Utilising technology to reduce costs and improve efficiency Ensuring the independence of charities and voluntary groups The potential for public service mutuals Ed Cox, Director, IPPR North (CONFIRMED)
10:50	Questions and Answers Session
11:10	Coffee Break and Networking
11:35	Funding - Challenges and Opportunities How has the financial downturn affected the scale of funding for the sector? Impact of reform of regulation, funding organisations and cuts in public spending Big Society Bank - challenges and opportunities How can greater philanthropy be encouraged? Measuring social benefit - attracting investment Linking the sector with potential investors Planning and delivering funding programmes - long-term investment and one-off gifts Innovation in fundraising - what more can the sector do to encourage investment? Cathy Pharoah, Professor of Charity Funding and Co-Director, Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy, Cass Business School (CONFIRMED)
11:55	Promoting Efficiency and Proving Effectiveness Flexible labour markets and the sector Creating opportunities for the long-term unemployed through volunteering schemes CPD and the workforce - funding sources for skills development The role of the sector in community regeneration Increasing collaboration - developing innovative solutions Working with users to transform services Bureaucracy and barriers to innovation David Clarke, Director, National Audit Office (invited)
12:15	Case Study: Providing Local Services Responding to local needs - designing services with communities What role should the sector play in delivering local public services? Bidding for public sector contracts - commissioning, tendering and procurement Identifying risk factors - ensuring long-term sustainability The impact of public spending cuts on the communities the sector works with and scale of public sector grants Developing sustainable, resilient funding streams Innovation in fundraising strategies Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive, Directory of Social Change (invited)
12:35	Closing Keynote: The Future for Charities, Voluntary Groups and Social Enterprises Flexibility in regulation - impact on small and medium sized organisations How can the sector be assisted to deliver vital services? How can the sector achieve greater efficiency? Shaping the Big Society Innovation and flexibility - surviving the economic downturn Community engagement - promoting voluntary action Attracting sustainable funding streams Sam Younger, Chief Executive, Charity Commission (invited)
12:55	Questions and Answers Session
13:05	Lunch and Networking
14:00	Close

*programme subject to change without notice

Audience

Delegates will be drawn from across central, regional and local government, police, NHS, private, social enterprises, community groups, voluntary groups and will include directors, heads of policy, housing, community cohesion, neighbourhoods, community safety officers, voluntary, community sector partnerships, community learning, directors, heads regeneration, economic development, business change, finance directors, chief executives, strategic directors, heads of policy and performance, heads/directors of public health, social care.