Cut back second-tier nonprofits, says major funder

The UK nonprofit field of community and voluntary organisations is pretty confusing even to those involved, so it would seem sensible to have second-level organisations operating across a city or district to provide shared services, advice to groups, a voice towards public bodies, funders and so on.  These Councils for Voluntary Service would also seem to be a good place to locate local technical support, and online networking hubs.
Unfortunately, it isn't working out that way, at least in London. The recent Building Blocks report from a major funder, the City Parochial Foundation, concludes:

Many second-tier organisations (STOs), including councils for voluntary service (CVSs) face difficult issues of quality, credibility, conflict of interest and overwork, and a number of CVSs seem to have lost their sense of purpose and focus.
It is likely to be increasingly difficult for them to raise funds from local authorities, primary care trusts and other statutory funders, given the pressure on those bodies to show that money is achieving improvements in public services, say authors Alison Harker and Steven Burkeman.
The role perhaps most important for CVSs - that of facilitating the voice of voluntary groups - is the one most difficult to fund.
There are many STOs but who they benefit, how they do it and when their intervention is appropriate is unclear to those who might seek their help. This encourages haphazard working in the sector. Small groups in particular feel their voices are not heard and it is funders and outside agencies which decide what they 'need'. Frontline groups value one-to-one help, from knowledgeable, experienced, committed, and skilled individuals/bodies which are not in competition with them for funding.
Among their recommendations, the authors state that over time, funding should increasingly be directed to frontline groups. They will then be in a stronger position to purchase the help they need, from whichever source can best provide it.

The report strikes a chord with me, because of the likely changes in information and support needs in a more networked environment. As I wrote in Why bother with "membership" in future:

It used to be that you joined associations because it was a way of meeting like-minded people and getting help, facilities, information and other things difficult or costly to organise for yourself. These days it is much easier to find people and resources online, and to mix and match these assets into project teams, communities of practice, and informal networks.

I was referring to individual membership, rather than group membership of second-tier bodies, but the same pressures will apply. If funders start to shift resources to the front line - as the report recommends - then CVSs will need to be doubly smart in convincing their members that they have a crucial role ... and getting them to pay for it.

Maggie Baxter, Chair of City Parochial Foundation said: “The report identifies a number of issues and provides a ‘warts and all’ view of the sector. The authors have provided a range of constructive recommendations which provide a programme for action – not just by the STOs themselves but by funders, third-tier organisations, the Charity Commission and Capacitybuilders. We do not expect everyone to agree with all of the findings and recommendations, but we do hope it will start a debate and lead to significant improvements in how infrastructure support is provided and funded.”

There's nowhere on the City Parochial site, that I can see, to discuss these issues, but there will be a conference on March 1. The report can be downloaded from this page on the Foundation's site, together with conference details.

Comments

[Andrew Brown]

My experience of STOs from my time as a councillor in Lewisham suggests that while some level of reform would be useful we need to be careful that we don't throw out the baby with the bath water.

STOs and umbrella organisations provide a useful strategic resource for councils and for the local voluntary and community sector, creating capacity that would be hard to justify at the first tier.

Just being able to, or organise for someone from the sector to, attend meetings and provide a conduit to a wider understanding of the needs and aspirations of the local scene is good for both sides.

I guess there will continue to be questions about accountability and the nature of the engagement, but I'd suggest tweaking rather than sucking the money out of the STOs.

[Nick Temple]

I'd agree with Andrew largely. As I pointed out in my comments on this, there were some interesting comments about how large and small STOs get funding, but medium ones suffer; about how small organisations feel that larger agencies/funders decide what they "need"; and that credible and skilled support is hugely valued.

So there are some important points about representation, credibility of support, the black hole of medium-sized organisations etc. Not just the tabloid "cut them back" as it seems to have been reported...

[disclaimer: SSE is funded by City P, and featured in the report as an example of good practice]

[ahmed]

we are Abudwak based organisation dealing with dramatic and sensitive issues working with/for our community, our main objective and main priority is to work together and bring development and progress in the near future, also take action on fundamental issues like Education, diseases, sanitation, wars, health, sport, vital and victuals, and lay down a good foundation and be role model for our young generations for first and foremost thru education because we know ecucation is the light of the life and also campaign against the danger of the common diseases like Malaria, T.B, hepatitis,diarrohea and cholera etc,
and rise up on the sanitation issue to clean up the litter and rubbish on the streets and of course health is essential and big factor in every society,we have got doctors and nurses who are campaining with us to get and sustain good conditions but we are worried for the new born babies and their safety because public hospitals are not fuctioning bear in mind that civil infrastracture are down,
and medicine are short available only in the drugstore for business, we need medicine as mach as food and water and we need to re_equip our old hospitals and open new schools labrotories but we don't have the facilities and we can t afford it either,
we need hospital equipments, school materials,
and sport facilities because sport is vital to both
youngs and grown ups, (if they willing to do it anyway)
more over our youths are so busy in the afternoons playing football on the grounds till sunsets and i m sure they will continued if they had floodlights, i mean they are so interest in football , football in the morning, football in the midday, footbal in the afternoon footbal every time.
so please would you be kind and help us to support our community to start fresh life and
to breathe free, we need your help.
contact us at"

civilsocietygroup120@hotmail.com
A A ducaale center
Ubah borough
Abudwak, somalia
252 cw2
tel-or 252=1-687408\
mobile- 002521+655685

Regards: Gal Civil Society Group

GOODBYE AND THANK YOU

[David Wilcox]

Thanks Ahmed - what ways have you looked at for people in other countries to help?