The value of our services

For the second year running we are grateful to all who sent us their comments on the value of our services.  Over 90 questionnaire forms were received, 55% from the voluntary and community sector, 40% from public bodies and 6% from individuals (the percentages are rounded).  Of the 84% who had received help from CAN in the last 12 months, all felt that the help from the right person had been given either ‘very promptly’ or ‘within a reasonable length of time’.

We asked people about 16 different types of help, or topics, which we offer.  The most common concerned funding, consultations/legal structures and training/conferences, plus specific parish council matters.  Other fairly common help included:  charity requirements; licensing and other compliance issues; community plans; getting organised/including people/resolving local difficulties; influencing decisions and responsible bodies; management/administration/insurance; and general matters relating to community buildings.

Over 42% of the help which we had given was voted ‘excellent’, a further 45% was ‘very good’ and 13% ‘good’.

As well as giving scores, respondents also included their comments.  Here are some examples:

• Supportive throughout development trust existence. Personally got lot of support when first started in job.

• Provides essential local knowledge on community based organisations I would otherwise be blind to.

• As new secretary to Village Hall, CAN helped by explaining where we came from, lease, hallmark etc and where we could go.  Also helped regarding funding info earlier in the year.  We also contacted REALL after reading article in CAN News.  Feedback was very informative. Thank you

• Helped to get moribund P.C. up and running and enabled (parish council) to become a local and national exemplar in how to get things done.

• Usually a first port of call.  Will often recommend alternative if problem can't be sorted

• Would like to work further with CAN

• Have contacted CAN on various matters over the years.  Staff always keen to help and advise no matter how small the enquiry

• Assisted in the management and strategic direction of the trust and the parish council

• Helping us with advice concerning contracts and compact agreement in relation to contracts with the Care Trust.

• It has encouraged us to approach projects and changes with confidence. We would not have applied to the Big Lottery without CAN's help.  We would not be changing our constitution without CAN's help.  We would not be keeping up to date with current hall management without CAN's courses etc.

• As a parish council we should not have undertaken a Parish Plan without CCN support;  as Alnwick Rural Area Network, we would have floundered without CCN direct involvement;  as the Village Halls Consortium, the whole enterprise required CCN initiative and support.  Key people have been the field officers plus Alan Hedley and David Francis.

 For the first time, this year we also asked people about our other activities, including:  supporting or concerning VCS networks; working in partnership with other bodies; advocating/campaigning for the VCS; and arranging for new services, resources or opportunities for the VCS.  Perhaps not surprisingly, fewer people could comment from first-hand experience about the activities, but of those who did, 57% voted them ‘very good’ and a further 28% voted them ‘excellent’.  No-one described them as ‘not so good’ or ‘poor’.

To help us plan for the future, we also asked people about other areas of work where we might help.  A variety of helpful suggestions were received, which can be summarised or grouped as follows:

               I.      The implications for voluntary and community organisations of local government reorganisation.  The includes interpreting and publicising what is happening, helping the sector to organise into the Natural Communities model, preparing parish councils for an enhanced role and advocating on behalf of the sector.

             II.      Developing a package of specialist services (such as HR and legal services) for development trusts, for larger voluntary bodies and for larger parish councils.

            III.      Managing and coping with paperwork, consultations and generally-increasing pressures.

We will ensure that we build these into our plans.

In addition, we received two comments which need our response.  The first was a need for help with the recruitment of volunteers.  Although we do not operate a volunteer bureau, we are actively supporting an initiative to consolidate and strengthen such activity around Northumberland.  However, given the financially precarious state of this activity in some areas, it is likely to take some time to become established fully.

The second comment, voiced by several respondents, indicated an uncertainty about CAN’s role in South East Northumberland.  CAN is a Northumberland-wide body, which represents VCS interests from all parts of the county, and which offers certain specialist advice services county-wide (for example, on community buildings, parish councils, VAT and charity law matters).  However, CAN does not provide hands-on general advice to community groups in Blyth Valley and Wansbeck, as these services are provided by the two councils of voluntary service.  Inevitably the distinction between general and specialist advice is not always clear to people, and so we keep in close touch with the CVS and cross-refer requests for help, as appropriate.

For further information about our services, activities and plans, visit our website www.ca-north.org.uk