Voluntary Sector Representation in Bournemouth
Why have Voluntary Sector Representatives?
• The Voluntary and Community Sector have a great deal to offer in terms of identifying local need, helping to design solutions to meet those needs, providing a channel of communication and means of consulting with the most vulnerable in society and delivering services.
• National Government guidance to statutory agencies over recent years has emphasised the need to include the Voluntary and Community Sector in planning and policy making structures.
• Voluntary Sector Involvement or Voluntary Sector Representation?
On occasions due to a particular expertise, specific local knowledge or involvement on other groups, a statutory body may invite an individual from a Voluntary Sector organisation to sit on a particular board. This is Voluntary Sector involvement because they were not elected into post and do not feedback information to the wider sector. Voluntary Sector representatives on the other hand have a clear job description, are elected through a transparent election process and are in post for a fixed term of office. There are mechanisms for the two way flow of information between the reps and the wider sector and they are accountable to the sector through the Voluntary Sector Forum.
Who is being represented?
• Representatives speak on behalf of over 200 Voluntary Sector organisations making a total contribution of over £25 million to the local economy. In 2007 over 74,000 people used Voluntary Sector services in Bournemouth - the total population of Bournemouth is 163,444. (State of the Sector Survey 2007)
How are representatives elected?
• All reps have a job description and person specification. When a board requests a Voluntary Sector representative they are sent this information and asked to specify any additional skills or knowledge requirements as well as give an overview of the nature and purpose of the board and time commitment etc.
• This information is then sent to all BCVS member organisations who are invited to nominate a member of staff of volunteer from within their own organisation to become the rep for that board. They complete a nomination form outlining their skills and experience and describe how they meet the person specification and board requirements. This information is sent to the wider sector as part of the election process.
• If more than one person is nominated for the board, BCVS member organisations are invited to vote for their preferred candidate (one vote per organisation). If only one person is nominated and they meet all the requirements they are elected unopposed.
• New representatives have an induction which includes a meeting with the Chair of the board or key contact. They also have the opportunity to take part in a training session delivered by an external trainer to cover issues such as conflicts of interest etc.
How do reps feedback to the wider sector?
• After each meeting reps provide a brief summary of the main points covered and this is then sent out to a network of e contacts through BCVS. Any comments or queries are then collated and passed back to the rep to raise at their next meeting. Agendas are also sent out in advance so that the sector has the opportunity to proactively raise issues to be covered rather than only reacting to discussions that have already happened.
• Reps also attend the Voluntary Sector Forum to update the sector on latest developments and to enable further discussion.
• In addition, if an issue is raised that requires further discussion, a small task and finish working group can be convened to discuss the issue in greater detail and make recommendations. The e networks can also be used for further consultation.
