Making the most of… voluntary service councils
Integral to CBC’s work is our unique partnership with the four Black Country Voluntary Service Councils.
The partnership has given us access to thousands of people across the community and helped us support hundreds of creative projects with expert advice and knowledge-sharing.
On how CBC has helped support local communities in Wolverhampton, Saffi Price from WVSC said:
““There would have been much less opportunity for creativity in the City, especially at grassroots. Some of the organisations/groups would have been very unlikely to have thought of the fun, expansive, creative, life-changing activities that they have taken part in. Who knows where those activities, opportunities, ideas, new ways of working have taken people/organisations and groups following that experience. I think CBC inject fun, creativity and a different way of working into the work they undertake and it wouldn’t have happened if they weren’t here”.”
On how partnership working can have a positive impact on community groups, SCVO's Sandwell’s Small Groups Development Officer, Libby Mahoney said:
““U Island CIC benefited from Rich’s (Richard Franks CBC Creative Advisor for Sandwell) in-depth knowledge of local artists and connections which has enabled them to commission a higher standard of artist to help them to develop their innovative arts based project.
Whist SCVO provided intensive assistance with helping them to write their Arts Council Application. By accessing the support available the U Island has managed to secure a grant of £15k, enabling them to develop and grow as they learn new skills from start to finish in developing and delivering this project with the reassurance that help and support is close at hand as and when they need it.””
On how working together can develop strategic projects, Dave Benge, from One Walsall said:
“[The partnership] has enabled Walsall groups to consider how art and culture related activities might add value to their projects and has allowed artists exposure to a larger audience of potential partners. The recent launch of the Walsall Cultural Compact involving voluntary sector representation is evidence of how closely the sectors are now aligned.””
On how sector-based expertise can support communities, Becky Pickin, Small Groups Development Office at Dudley CVS said:
““It has been difficult in the past to engage with arts organisations and offer them support, especially if they’re not based within the not-for-profit sector. This is because my role is specifically to support the not-for-profit sector.
On top of this, it feels that arts funding is so much harder to access. To have a great link with a team that is more used to operating within the arts and culture sector and has expertise that we may lack has been so helpful.””
Key lessons learnt:
The partnership with the Voluntary Service Councils have enabled us to (more easily) reach contacts, groups and communities that we would have otherwise found hard
The partnership has allowed some groups to access further support and help with both resources and funding
It has taken time to form synergy and an understanding of each others work and how we can share resources and knowledge