SPEAK TO THE CUSTODIANS IN BRIGG ON THURSDAY

North Lincolnshire Council says it has revolutionised the way the area’s voluntary and community groups are funded.
For the first time in the country, the local voluntary and community sector (VCS) will decide for itself how and where its share of council funding is spent.
Two local organisations have been chosen to oversee funding of more than £1-million to support the voluntary and community sector in North Lincolnshire.
A total of £1.1-million has been made available by North Lincolnshire Council to fund two strands of work undertaken by the local VCS between now and March 2016.
The two strands are the provision of advice and guidance to residents and the support and development of the VCS.
Scunthorpe and District Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and Voluntary Action North Lincolnshire (VANL) have both been appointed Voluntary and Community Sector Custodians after they submitted successful bids in a competitive tender.
CAB provide advice and guidance to local people and VANL support and develop the local voluntary and community sector.
An employee from each organisation has been appointed to develop and oversee the process as part of a wholly independent custodian team.
This independent custodian team will ensure the decision making process is fair, objective and falls in line with the conflict of interests protocol.
In the past the council distributed this money but is now keen to make the most of opportunities introduced in the Localism Act 2011 and Public Sector (Social Value) Act 2012 and devolve this responsibility to the local community.
It means the voluntary and community sector will play a much larger role in deciding where money is spent and how services are delivered.
An action plan detailing how and when decisions will be made is on the VANL website www.vanl.org.uk
The custodians’ first task is to find out which services are needed in North Lincolnshire and two online surveys have been set up - one for the general public and one for voluntary and community organisations.
You can help shape the way services are developed by completing the survey and putting forward your views by Friday 31 August 2012.
Organisations can complete the survey by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/cvscustodianprovider
Members of the public can complete the survey by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/vcscustodianpublic
Results will be published in the Voluntary and Community Sector Needs Analysis Report in September.
The custodian team will be in Brigg Market Place on Thursday, August 30, 9am to 12pm.
Email custodianvcs@live.co.uk or text 07570 265547 if you are interested in speaking to them.
Custodian team members Lucy Stephenson and Jacky Birkett said: “We would very much like members of the public and voluntary and community sector organisations to directly feed into this process.
“This collaboration will widen the sectors understanding of the needs and barriers across North Lincolnshire and help to ensure we are able to respond effectively.”
The custodians are also inviting people to express an interest in becoming a member of the grant making panel.
The closing date for applications is noon on Friday 14 September.
If you are interested in joining the panel, or would like any further information about the custodians, email custodianvcs@live.co.uk or call Jacky Birkett 01724 845155 or Lucy Stephenson on 01724 870941.
Coun Neil Poole, of Messingham, Cabinet member for Policy and Resources at North Lincolnshire Council, said:  “This is a totally new and innovative way for a council to work with the voluntary and community sector in its area.
“Responsibility for deciding which services are needed and the allocation of funds now rests with the sector itself for the provision of advice, guidance, support and development of the sector.
“We believe the organisations themselves know best how to do this and we’re giving the people that have carried out these services the opportunity to shape exactly how they are delivered.
“An independent grant making panel will assess bids for funding and there will be stringent independent checks to ensure there are no conflicts of interest.
“The custodian team will be independent of any organisations bidding for funding and will also be required to operate within a published protocol.
“North Lincolnshire’s vibrant voluntary and community sector now has the power to shape its own future and decide how services are delivered.”