1. Development Plan

The vision of the Norfolk Council for Voluntary Youth Services is to build a vibrant, sustainable and inclusive network of Voluntary Sector organisations, working with children and young people and their families/carers (hereafter referred to as the client group), that supports the development of its members, the sector as a whole and other statutory bodies in engaging, involving, empowering and meeting the needs of the client group.

Summary of strategic aims: -

• To facilitate the growth of a strong Voluntary Sector infrastructure, with regard the client group that will maximise resources and effectively support its development, and build the capacity of this sector.
• To develop sustainable partnerships with a range of voluntary and statutory bodies within Norfolk, the Eastern Region and both nationally and internationally.
• To develop best practice in relation to work with the client group.
• Inform and shape policy that impacts on the client group and the voluntary sector, locally, Regionally, nationally and internationally.

2. Introduction

Norfolk Council for Voluntary Youth Services was established over 25 years ago. It achieved charitable status on 8th October 1998, no.1071890.

In 1996 there were23 members and this has now increased to 108 paid up members.

Norfolk CVYS is an independent and interactive organisation, run by its members for its members in the voluntary youth sector within Norfolk. It is a co-ordinating and supporting body for voluntary youth organisations across the county. It gives support and advice to the management and staff teams of member organisations in areas of policy and practice development and strives to ensure that the work of these organisations achieves the support and recognition that they deserve for the benefit of young people.

The Norfolk CVYS works in partnership with Norfolk County Council's Children's Services and other relevant agencies appropriate to its work.

The organisation's office is currently located in the Children's Services Training Unit, Sprowston. This enables immediate access to the NYCS Training and Development team, Children's Services central teams, notably Active Citizenship, Off Centre Counselling and Information and Advice, and they have ready access to Norfolk CVYS - yet allows for total independence.

Norfolk CVYS currently manages income of around £150,000 per annum.

3. Current Delivery

Norfolk CVYS supports and works with a diverse network of voluntary and community youth organisations at local, county and regional levels, including:

• International organisations, operating multi-million pound a year budgets, employing hundreds of staff members.
• Local branches of National bodies for example Scouts and Guides.
• Small community projects run on limited budgets, by one or two volunteers.

In the current demanding climate Norfolk CVYS seeks to act as an advocate and gateway for its members, addressing issues from local, regional and national government such the Youth Matters Green Paper and the implementation of the Russell Commission report on Youth Volunteering.

Its bi-monthly newsletter is now distributed to over 120 member groups. The main focus of the content being on local, regional and national youth issues together with training opportunities and other general information. The much visited web site together with the e-news and e-Bulletin, bi-monthly newsletter, and through the use of e-mail, information is distributed frequently, rapidly and in a range of mediums.

Norfolk CVYS currently represents and acts as a voice for its members at key strategic forums;

• Voluntary Youth Services Eastern Region, (VYSER).
• Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme steering group.
• Voluntary Sector Forum - Norfolk.
• Norfolk Youth and Community Service Basic Training Management group.
• Youth Service Partnership group.
• Connexions Partnership Board, including Commissioning and Contracts Sub Group.
• The Norfolk Consortium.
• Norfolk Area Child Protection Committee/Local Safeguarding Children's Board.

Norfolk CVYS is affiliated to the National Council of Voluntary Youth Services which provides a supportive environment to share practice and develop new partnerships and to increase the diversity and delivery of youth work from a national perspective. Norfolk CVYS seeks to perform a similar role within Norfolk.

YouthKit - this is a detailed guide to creating and running a youth project.

ActivityKit - a recently published 'toolbox' for youth workers, this offers a range of activities which are grouped sections that address various issues.

A Collaborative Training Plan - offering a range of training opportunities and responding to the identified needs of member organisations. In conjunction with other agencies, training is open to all youth workers and is free at the point of delivery.

Child Protection - CRB checking facilities are provided to adult members and Young People First ‘prompt’ cards are distributed to all youth workers in both the voluntary and maintained sectors. We also signpost people to the SAFE child protection training, for adults who work with young people.

Grant Aid Programme - administered by the Norfolk CVYS on behalf of Norfolk County Council in collaboration with Children's Services, NYCS. Grants are available for a range of purposes including assistance with revenue and administration costs, organisation specific training or external training opportunities and programme development and delivery. Groups may apply for up to £1,000 (75% of the total costs) start-up Grants of £350 are available to new volunteer led projects for young people.

Networking meetings - are held, currently in conjunction with the seven Norfolk Youth and Community Service district teams, to be redeveloped in to five area teams by 30th June 2006, to reflect Norfolk County Council's Children's Services agenda.

A small resource bank of equipment

Signposting to other funding streams and support with grant applications

4. Governance

Norfolk CVYS, is a registered charity (no: 1071890) managed by a Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees is elected from, and by, the representatives of member organisations, each year at the Annual General Meeting.

The Board of Trustees is currently supported by two Sub Committees namely the ‘Steering Sub Committee' and the ‘Personnel & Funding Sub Committee’ that are made up from members of the Board.

Minutes of the most recent Board of Trustees and Sub Committees meetings are on the Norfolk CVYS web site.

The Board is able to co-opt members for short or long terms for special projects.

A representative of NCC Children's Services attends meetings of the Board and sub-committees in an advisory capacity.

5. Future Development

Norfolk CVYS fully recognises the changing context within which it is working. National Government policy development with regard Every Child Matters, Youth Matters and the Russell Commission as well as national and local government recognition of the future role and place of the voluntary sector raises many challenges and opportunities for us. Norfolk CVYS needs to ensure it is well placed to maximise the benefits available from these opportunities, both for our own agency and for other voluntary organisation working with children, young people and their families in Norfolk.

Our vision is therefore – ‘to become the second tier umbrella agency for the voluntary and community sector organisations working with Norfolk’s children, young people and their families’.

At the Away Day the members of the Board agreed –

• This is this the right vision.
• That changes need to be made to the constitution to enable us to deliver this vision; these need to be considered.
• There will be CVYS implications and we need to address these.
• Consideration needs to be given to the future name of this organisation depending of the final model of Norfolk CVYS.
• Various implications need to be considered, discussed and confirmed including ;-
  • What governance structures will we need to put in place?
  • What operational structures will we need to put in place?
  • What are the staffing needs to meet the vision?
  • Identify which of our member organisations are already working with children and young people outside of the priority youth age range.
  • What are the premises implication?
  • Any other practical considerations.
  • An action plan of how we take this forward, who we need to speak to, who needs to speak to who and by when.
  • How do we prepare the membership for this change to ensure we get their agreement?