Thursday, 26 February 2009
Well folks, there was no sighting of a hug between third sector minister Kevin Brennan and Rita Patel. But R&R can report that it was the recipient of one from the community innovator! I couldn’t really say no, she insisted. But it made R&R realise that this warm and friendly approachability is why Patel has managed to achieve what she has with the Peepul Centre.
After some quick web research, R&R found that hugging is Rita’s thing. She has refused to shake hands with Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and Prince Charles because of a desire to form connections and break down barriers through The Hug.
Okay, so now we know. And Patel may well have hugged Brennan when R&R wasn’t looking. But does it simply show Patel’s unorthodox approach to meeting and greeting, or the third sector’s ability to reach out to government, more than vice versa?
Patel did end the conference by saying the most valuable thing she took away from the event was Brennan’s telephone number. No doubt she will be using it to ensure the government gets things done...
This is a bloated R&R (due to all the fried snacks, cakes and Indian food consumed at event) signing off…
Originally posted 23.25
Saturday 28 February 2009
Bassac Obama
Thursday 27th February
The second and the last day at the Bassac conference has seen more handheld device action. (I have also since found out that the electronic pads used for the voting are owned jointly by the Development Trusts Association and Urban Forum, who lease them to other organisations, in case anyone from the sector is interested…)
This time Andrew Robinson, director of CCLA Investment Management Ltd., was chairing a vote on whether organisations think they exist to achieve change…43 per cent strongly agreed and 42 per cent agreed slightly less strongly.
Bassac’s voice and impact manager (sorry I don't know what that job would entail) – to gasps of shock from delegates – said she disagreed that this was why her organisation existed. “Organisations don’t change things, individuals do,” she said righteously in an almost feel-good moment.
Others had a more complicated view of change. “It’s not all about achieving change. Sometimes it’s about maintaining what exists, like community buildings.”
With all this talk of change it was only a matter of time before Barack Obama’s name was mentioned.Sadiq Khan, under secretary of state for the Department for Communities and Local Government, was the first. He called Obama the world’s most famous community organiser. Only three people turned up to the first community meeting Obama organised in the ghettoes of Chicago, Khan told the sector as he encouraged it not to lose heart in current times and reminding it how valuable it is, in the hollow and bland way that politicians can.
But maybe Khan’s a little different….he had time to hug community organiser extraordinaire Rita Patel, who set up the Peepul Centre in Leicester, upon his speedy exit. Maybe this shows genuine intent by the government to work with the sector more closely?But was it a one-off or would Kevin Brennan do that? He’s speaking this afternoon, so I’ll let you know…
Originally posted at 15.57
The second and the last day at the Bassac conference has seen more handheld device action. (I have also since found out that the electronic pads used for the voting are owned jointly by the Development Trusts Association and Urban Forum, who lease them to other organisations, in case anyone from the sector is interested…)
This time Andrew Robinson, director of CCLA Investment Management Ltd., was chairing a vote on whether organisations think they exist to achieve change…43 per cent strongly agreed and 42 per cent agreed slightly less strongly.
Bassac’s voice and impact manager (sorry I don't know what that job would entail) – to gasps of shock from delegates – said she disagreed that this was why her organisation existed. “Organisations don’t change things, individuals do,” she said righteously in an almost feel-good moment.
Others had a more complicated view of change. “It’s not all about achieving change. Sometimes it’s about maintaining what exists, like community buildings.”
With all this talk of change it was only a matter of time before Barack Obama’s name was mentioned.Sadiq Khan, under secretary of state for the Department for Communities and Local Government, was the first. He called Obama the world’s most famous community organiser. Only three people turned up to the first community meeting Obama organised in the ghettoes of Chicago, Khan told the sector as he encouraged it not to lose heart in current times and reminding it how valuable it is, in the hollow and bland way that politicians can.
But maybe Khan’s a little different….he had time to hug community organiser extraordinaire Rita Patel, who set up the Peepul Centre in Leicester, upon his speedy exit. Maybe this shows genuine intent by the government to work with the sector more closely?But was it a one-off or would Kevin Brennan do that? He’s speaking this afternoon, so I’ll let you know…
Originally posted at 15.57
Regeneration & Renewal's new blog
I've started blogging on my magazine, Regeneration & Renewal's new blog. I thought I'd post them here too. What follows is commentary from a voluntary umbrella body's conference.
http://regenandrenewal.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Bassac blog
R&R here in Leicester tonight at the British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres (Bassac) conference. So far, I can report that handheld voting devices are all the rage for community regenerators. And why not? It's community empowerment in action! Voting electronically, Who-Wants-To-Be-a-Millionaire-style, went down a storm at the Urban Forum conference earlier this year and now Bassac are at it. Sadly, it was not a cool £1million (much needed as it would be) up for grabs but rather what those working for voluntary and community groups consider policy priorities for those working in the sector and Bassac.
Thirty-eight per cent of the some 200 delegates casting votes thought the sector must focus on designing funding plans for whole organisations, rather than individual projects they may offer. This would be a way for groups to hand out money to projects as they see fit. This idea was dismissed by some people, who argued there was no point in designing funding plans when funding itself was so uncertain.
Around 20 per cent want Bassac's priorities to revolve around "challenging commissioners to invest in the sector for more effective public services". During 2009-10, 20 per cent of delegates also want Bassac to improve relationships between community organisations and local goverment. Bleeding obvious? Perhaps, but the fact that the same issues keep cropping up shows government policy is not yet reaching deep enough to make community sector workers feel they are not "the child" in the relationship between them and statutory organisations, as one delegate pointed out.
Tommorrow, Sadiq Khan of the Department for Communities and Local Government and Kevin Brennan of the Office of the Third Sector will (hopefully) be held to account for these popular and other long-running gripes. Word on the ground is realistic. Some delegates doubt that ministers will have anything of substance to say. "This is New Labour - they never say anything outrageous," grumbles one.
There are also mutterings that there may be an update on plans for the £70 million Community Builders' Fund, which aims to help groups improve their ability to run local facilities, services and become more self-sufficient. But some are convinced that this will be just another "non-committal" address by the Government...
http://regenandrenewal.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Bassac blog
R&R here in Leicester tonight at the British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres (Bassac) conference. So far, I can report that handheld voting devices are all the rage for community regenerators. And why not? It's community empowerment in action! Voting electronically, Who-Wants-To-Be-a-Millionaire-style, went down a storm at the Urban Forum conference earlier this year and now Bassac are at it. Sadly, it was not a cool £1million (much needed as it would be) up for grabs but rather what those working for voluntary and community groups consider policy priorities for those working in the sector and Bassac.
Thirty-eight per cent of the some 200 delegates casting votes thought the sector must focus on designing funding plans for whole organisations, rather than individual projects they may offer. This would be a way for groups to hand out money to projects as they see fit. This idea was dismissed by some people, who argued there was no point in designing funding plans when funding itself was so uncertain.
Around 20 per cent want Bassac's priorities to revolve around "challenging commissioners to invest in the sector for more effective public services". During 2009-10, 20 per cent of delegates also want Bassac to improve relationships between community organisations and local goverment. Bleeding obvious? Perhaps, but the fact that the same issues keep cropping up shows government policy is not yet reaching deep enough to make community sector workers feel they are not "the child" in the relationship between them and statutory organisations, as one delegate pointed out.
Tommorrow, Sadiq Khan of the Department for Communities and Local Government and Kevin Brennan of the Office of the Third Sector will (hopefully) be held to account for these popular and other long-running gripes. Word on the ground is realistic. Some delegates doubt that ministers will have anything of substance to say. "This is New Labour - they never say anything outrageous," grumbles one.
There are also mutterings that there may be an update on plans for the £70 million Community Builders' Fund, which aims to help groups improve their ability to run local facilities, services and become more self-sufficient. But some are convinced that this will be just another "non-committal" address by the Government...
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