Change Champion Projects will resource local voluntary sector infrastructure organisations that can evidence successful practice in particular areas of their business to deliver work that enables their peers to learn from their experience and replicate their success.
New Landscape
In March 2008, the Scottish Government announced that “funding of the networks (Councils for Voluntary Service, Social Enterprise Networks and Volunteer Centres) in their current form will end in March 2011”, while the emerging models of local umbrella support are a response to Government’s expectation of a “coherent, fit for purpose infrastructure for the third sector which connects effectively with…public sector partners.” From April this year, local infrastructure organisations in 10 areas –East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Orkney, Perth and Kinross, Shetland, West Lothian and West Dunbartonshire – have moved on to a new funding and reporting relationship with the Scottish Government. Moray will be added to the list as of the 9th of October 2009.
The Supporting Voluntary Action programme has always been about change, but in March this year, the SVA Management Group agreed to take a futures approach to decision-making, taking account of the development of third sector “interfaces”, the changing operating environment for local infrastructure organisations and the economic downturn
At the same meeting, the Management Group considered the Change Champions initiative in this context and agreed that changes are required. The Group agreed that broadening the criteria for Round 3 was a useful and appropriate way of strengthening Volunteer Centre participation in the SVA programme and that changes to Round 3 criteria should be shaped by a sub-group, in consultation with the Big Lottery Fund. At the SVA Management Group meeting on 24th June this year the new criteria for Round 3 as proposed by a sub group in consultation with the Big Lottery Fund was approved.
The new criteria are set out below.
New Criteria
Who can apply?
The Change Champion Project scheme is open to applications from:
- Single interfaces (local infrastructure funded as such directly by the Scottish Government)
- CVS who can demonstrate they are working towards interface status
- Volunteer Centres who can demonstrate they are working towards interface status
The applicant is the lead partner
Change Champion Project proposals from organisations working towards interface status must be delivered by a partnership comprising of at least 2 of the following organisations: CVS, Volunteer Centre, Local Social Enterprise Partnerships, and Local Social Enterprise Networks.
Projects may also include other partners in their delivery – for example the Inverclyde CVS Independent Examination project is being delivered in conjunction with ACIE (Association of Charity Independent Examiners)
Applicants who are working towards interface status must evidence this via
A letter from their Community Planning Partnership or 3rd sector team in Scottish Government confirming the applicant’s involvement in interface discussions and that they are actively working towards viable proposals.
Councils for Voluntary Service, Social Enterprise Networks and Volunteer Centres
What can be funded?
A Change Champion Project MUST
- Roll out existing good practice around a particular business area or
- Enhance functions and services delivered by/to be delivered by the new interfaces
A Change Champion Project MUST:
- be supported by evidence of need and demand
- be based on good practice principles
- deliver practical improvements in services
- be replicable or provide a useful source of learning to inform future activity
- deliver benefits that can be sustained beyond the project lifespan
Projects may take place within a local authority area or be delivered across local authority boundaries
What cannot be funded?
Organisational rewiring activities in preparation for interface development, for example, consultancy support, legal advice, resolution of contractual issues
Activities that duplicate current and/or pipeline projects to develop voluntary sector support infrastructure in Scotland, e.g. other SVA projects
The Change Champion Project scheme is open to applications from:
- Single interfaces (local infrastructure funded as such directly by the Scottish Government)
- CVS who can demonstrate they are working towards interface status
- Volunteer Centres who can demonstrate they are working towards interface status
The applicant is the lead partner.
Change Champion Project proposals from organisations working towards interface status must be delivered by a partnership comprising of at least 2 of the following organisations: CVS, Volunteer Centre, Local Social Enterprise Partnerships, and Local Social Enterprise Networks.
Projects may also include other partners in their delivery – for example the Inverclyde CVS Independent Examination project is being delivered in conjunction with ACIE (Association of Charity Independent Examiners)
Applicants who are working towards interface status must evidence this via a letter from their Community Planning Partnership or 3rd sector team in Scottish Government confirming the applicant’s involvement in interface discussions and that they are actively working towards viable proposals.
Following a Management Group decision the Change Champion Project Scheme now falls into two categories:
1. Micro Projects £5k to £49.9k
Projects concerned with the roll out of existing good practice will be able to demonstrate:
How the project will share good practice to a significant number of interface organisations and organisations working towards interface status in a non intensive manner. OR
How the project will share good practice to a smaller number of interface organisations and organisations working towards interface status in a more intensive manner.
Projects concerned with enhancing functions and services delivered by/to be delivered by the new interfaces will be able to demonstrate:
How they will ensure delivery to a significant number of interface organisations and organisations working towards interface status in a non intensive manner. OR
How they will ensure delivery to a smaller number of interface organisations and organisations working towards interface status in a more intensive manner.
2. Macro Projects £50k to 500k
Projects concerned with the roll out of existing good practice will be able to demonstrate:
How the project will share good practice to a significant number of interface organisations and organisations working towards interface status. AND
That it is a priority for local voluntary sector support infrastructure networks. AND
How it will impact on other local and national infrastructure organisations and their beneficiaries.
Projects concerned with enchancing functions and services delivered by/to be delivered by the new interfaces will be able to demonstrate:
How they will ensure delivery to a significant number of interface organisations and organisations working towards interface status. AND
That it is a priority for the local voluntary sector support infrastructure networks. AND
How it will impact on other local and national infrastructure organisations and their beneficiaries