The charity sector must demonstrate the worth of effective local infrastructure: these organisations are too valuable to lose
Infrastructure is often undervalued, but it is nevertheless essential. The importance of infrastructure in the form of road, rail or broadband is well understood – but voluntary organisations also need infrastructure. Without this they are like cars without roads, trains without tracks, smartphones with no signal. Trade unions have the TUC and trades councils, businesses have the CBI and Chambers of Commerce; even the churches are organised in diocese.
But while voluntary action is almost universally acclaimed (despite not having the resources it needs), support for voluntary sector infrastructure is in question. Local infrastructure charities exist across the country to give support to local voluntary and community groups, foster contacts between them and provide them with a voice. Often these are known as councils of voluntary service, voluntary action or volunteer centres. Between them, they support and connect 160,000 disparate local groups. Their charitable purpose, local footprint, universal offer and accountability to their users give them a unique sense of place, local network connections, good will, understanding and expertise.
However, these local infrastructure charities are being hit hard by local authority budget cuts and are being forced to re-examine their futures. Although some may interpret this as the beginning of the end for local infrastructure, these are resilient organisations with roots in the late 19th century, and they have survived by constantly changing with the times.
The largest ever charities survey showed that "accessing infrastructure was associated with positive outcomes, including a substantially higher likelihood of success in grant applications and bidding for contracts". Everyone can reel off a bad experience. But the survey also found that overall 77% of users reported being very or fairly satisfied with their local infrastructure support.
After the 2011 riots, NAVCA members in places such as Hackney and Croydon were the go-to organisations to engage with communities via the local groups that work with them. When Tameside council in Greater Manchester agreed to unlock dormant trust funds so money could get to local causes, they went to Voluntary and Community Action Trafford, the local infrastructure organisation, which is leading a Tameside4Good initiative. Around 40% of the new local Healthwatch organisations are also being run solely or jointly by local infrastructure.
The government responded to NAVCA's calls for support and provided a £30mTransforming Local Infrastructure (TLI) fund in order to strengthen local infrastructure and assist communities in a sustainable way. The Big Lottery Fund has also created BIG Assist – a voucher scheme for infrastructure bodies.
A proper analysis of TLI is needed before we announce the verdict – but it has certainly supported collaboration to reduce overheads. Most notably, 10 organisations merged to form a single local infrastructure organisation in Suffolk. NAVCA has also facilitated a national network of TLI groups. We must share good practice across areas as diverse as Gloucestershire and Leeds, Brighton and Nottinghamshire, Camden and the Black Country.
Local infrastructure bodies are increasingly helping local groups share knowledge and spread expertise, and we are seeing more support offered online. Some are also exploring demand-led models of support.
But there is no doubt that for all the examples of excellence, most need to improve. The NAVCA Quality Award aims to raise and certify standards. We offer advice and training to improve effectiveness and sustainability. We must also ensure that good practice is shared and the lessons from TLI – good and bad – are transmitted across the country.
We need to drive improvement and be unforgiving of poor performance – because the ultimate losers are local charities and communities. Finally we have to improve the way we demonstrate the worth of local infrastructure because these organisations are too valuable to lose.
Throughout history, making the most of the means we have has been the voluntary sector's stock in trade. So – while no one welcomes sackcloth and ashes – perhaps in an age of austerity, as funding tightens and demand rises daily, effective local infrastructure is needed more than ever.
Joe Irvin is chief executive of NAVCA
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