Defining G:up

What is Growing Up in the West Midlands?

A vision

Our work has been guided by a clear vision that has been articulated at every opportunity. We exist to develop the West Midlands as a region that respects and acts upon the needs, interests and aspirations of children and young people, and the voluntary and community organisations that work with them.

An ethos

There are some core values that frame the work of Growing Up in the West Midlands. Underpinning these is a commitment to democracy and mutuality. Our work is driven by and embedded in a shared aim to:

• connect and cooperate
• include and expand
• exchange and develop

In principle, and as far as is possible in practice, we operate in an a way that is open, fair and flexible. This doesn't mean everybody does everything - we strive towards clearly defined roles and responsibilites and depend upon trust. Grand words indeed, but this is what we attempted with our management adn delivery model in managing our Change Up! money.

A collection of people, organisations and networks

The Strategic forum brings together, in a loose affiliation, representatives of organisations and networks in the region that work with children and young people, or support their interests. These are mostly, but not exclusively voluntary and community organisations.

Our Steering Group works on behalf of the strategic forum to drive G:up's work and strategy and to oversee the work of the Regional Development Manager.

We start from the notion that the mere fact of working in a group does not necessarily result in collaborative work. Our group strives to be inclusive and flexible and works hard to be so. Its boundaries are ever moving, changing to accommodate new people with different needs and interests and representing different sorts of organisations and communities. Everybody working towards our vision and willing to share our ethos (not necessarily our opinions) is welcome to participate in a way that is of mutual benefit.

I think we've got a sense of something that people feel a part of, but without building that sense of belonging by creating those who do not belong. This might be to do with how we define the group - its fluidity and its focus around a shared vision and some shared principles rather than around any other similarity. Being part of Growing Up in the West Midlands doesn't mean leaving your own identity or way of working at the door and becoming part of some homogenous mass. It means signing up to a way of being together and working towards a shared vision.

Importantly the group and its members have worked hard to overcome traditional divisions. Our strength is in our breadth and we all know that we are benefiting from resources because of it. Our organisations are of different sizes, work with children and young people of different ages, with different needs and from different communities, are from across the region, and belong (or don't) to other key networks, and deliver a wide range of different services.

We think strategically and look beyond barriers to cooperation seeking to identify and demonstrate what can be done together. We also have an active programme of outreach to support our continued growth. Significantly we have worked to build on what already exists to strengthen and draw strength from existing networks and organisations and to focus our efforts on the things that can only be achieved through collaboration, and that bring added value for all.

A process

Well we've done some odd things- cracker pulling and animation filming to name but two - but these things are just techniques. Our underlying process has been to work in a way that supports the values we seek to promote. We've tried as best we can to put our money where our mouth is. Not because this is laudible (though incidently I hapen to think it is) but because it's the only way it can work.

Every aspect of the work must support the broader intentions of the project. From writinng funding bids, to deciding commissioning principles we've worked to reflect but not appropriate the experiences and needs of others. this has been based on conversation, research and observation, not presumption.

We've sought to value and consider each person and organisation individually, but within the context of the group and the region's wider interests. We foster a sense of mutual dependency and mutual gain. Ours is an ongoing reflective practice and one in which we strive to live up to what we are promoting and to share ideas and values through shared experience. It is not, however, a neutral process.

The things we do are particular to the situation and to the individuals involved and those that are driving things forward. Our approach is also multi layered - operating simultaneously on a number of levels to address the need for change be it structural, political, interactional, ideological...

A product

That might all sound quite lofty or floaty, but this whole process is firmly grounded, and I'd go as far to say dependent on, some good old fashioned concrete action. It wasn't our explicit intent but it seems there is a clear pattern in the work we have developed as a group.

The Strategic Forum (driven by the management group and supported by the developing technology) is at the core of everything. On top of this are a number of focused elements of work (linked broadly to the delivery areas) that work along the following lines

1. research - look at what's being done and involve relevant people
2. pilot - try things out by helping some groups to develop their own practice
3. product - produce something to help share the learning
4. share - share the learning within our group and with second tier organisations who can use it to support their work locally

Our use of the creative commons licence underpins this ethos of sharing and development. We believe that by adopting this model we are making the most out of regional working to be strategic and draw widely from expertise and share learning broadly. It is also geared around improving the impact and efficiency of local delivery.

We have produced formidable toolkit for local infrastructure organisations. It covers such issues as outreach, children's trusts, local area agreements, sustainable funding, safeguarding, extended schools, communications, participation, governance... It provides information, support, tools, techniques and models, practical things, and opportnities.

A Future

This sort of work is dependent on a group of people who have an understanding of what it is that's to be done and the context; an understanding of process and techniques that support that; and practical experience in different situations. Techniques may be taught and principles shared, but individuals and groups need to find their own way of being and working, and their own way of revisiting and revising this.

We have produced the resources, but we know that it’s not always as easy as all that, and that all too often, no matter how great the materials are, they have a tendency to sit and gather dust on shelves.

That is why we want to offer you the chance to join learning clusters, so you get support in using a selection of these materials in developing your own organisation and practice. This is not a new concept. For us it means getting people together in a structured, supportive and empowering environment to learn and implement change.

We would expect each cluster to be a group of up to 20 individuals from 10 organisations. Most clusters will be structured and time-limited.

To end I go to Nigel Slater:

Each egg, each steak, each potato is different and will behave differently in the pan. That's what cooking is about, and that's why it is essential to understand what you are doing rather than just mindlessly following a recipe.

constitution

Please find the latest G:up constitution as a Word document here.

member organisations

On 27th September 2007 G:up became an alliance of member organisations.

The following organisations have joined G:up:

2xl Youth Projects

B arts

bayc

The Scout Association County of Birmingham

Birmingham and Solihull Connexions (Voluntary Sector Forum)

brap

Children’s Fund Stoke on Trent

Children’s Fund Warwickshire

Clubs for Young People

ContinYou

Dudley Council for Voluntary Service

Fields in Trust

Herefordshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services

Head2head young people counselling and therapy service

Herefordshire Federation of Young Farmers Clubs

Home-Start Stoke on Trent

Home- Start West Midlands

H.O.P.E. for Children and their Families

KIPIN (Kids and Parents Inclusion Project) 

Mosley Road and Sparkhill Methodist Circuit

National Childminding Association

NCVYS

Nuneaton and Bedworth Leisure Trust

Play England - West Midlands

Pre-School Learning Alliance

Race Equality Foundation

Save the Children UK

Shropshire Youth Association

SkillsActive Playwork West Midlands

Spurgeons

Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services (SCVYS)

Telford & Wrekin Council – Connexions 4 Youth – Voluntary Sector Support Team

UnLtd

VCS Matters

Warwickshire Council for Voluntary Youth Services

Warwickshire Association of Youth Clubs

WMVYSF (West Midlands Voluntary Youth Sector Forum)

West Midlands Area of Young Farmers’ Clubs

YMCA England

Common Purpose (Your Turn)

engage work stream

The core activities carried out in this work stream are:

Communication & marketing, diversity & outreach, events, collaboration

The five-year goals are:

There will be a strong ethos of collaboration and a focus on a shared vision.

G:up will be a ‘hub of engagement’ operating in an efficient and effective manner.

It will engage with:

Current regional forums - NCVCCO/WMVYSF/Midlands Youth/ Local infrastructure organisations

And those that have emerged: parenting/play/participation workers

Effective work with C, YP and F champions to support their full and meaningful involvement

have full representation across the region and communities

The 2007/08 objectives are:

Develop a communications and marketing strategy

Maintain and develop the website and email communication system

manage the transfer of our website and email groups to a local host

Build upon and implement our diversity and outreach action plan

Organise G:up networking events

Build and support collaboration and partnership working locally and regionally

influence work stream

core work: 

Capacity Builders engagement , VCS Engage, GOWM and other Regional bodies, Children’s Trusts, LAAs

five-year goal

G:up will have a formal relationship with the regional and local bodies outlined in the strategy document. This will result in commitment to action, recognition and measured outcomes. The relationships will be two way developments.

2007/2008 objectives
Establish a strong relationship with GOWM
Support the involvement of the VCS in key policy areas (Extended Services, Contact Point, Children’s Trusts) both regionally and locally
Map the involvement of VCS in Children’s Trusts and LSCBs
Engage with CWDC
Begin to build contact with regional bodies e.g. AWM, Culture West Midlands, Regional Assembly
Contribute to the development of the regional investment strategy (Capacitybuilders) and play a full role in the regional partnership (destination West Midlands)
Play a full role in the development and work of a regional specialist infrastructure partnership

develop work stream

core work

capacity building, learning & development, nurturing the networks

five-year  goals

G:up will be flexible and responsive to current needs
have full representation across the region and communities
play a significant role in supporting the quality and effectiveness of the CYPF VCS in the region

2007/08 objectives 

Establish a variety of learning clusters for the development and sharing of practice
Make our resources widely available within the region
Deliver training on A Slice of the Cake
Strengthen and build new partnerships
Publicise and support VCS Engage training in the region
Share learning nationally

children young people and families' invovlement work stream

core work:
Involving and engaging children, young people and families in the work and governance of G:up
Supporting organisations in the region to develop their engagement of children, young people and families in their work and governance
Supporting participation workers to work effectively together and with children and young people

five-year goals
Children, young people and families play a full, equal and active role in G:up and its member organisations

2007/08 objectives 

Children and young people’s website (in partnership with UKYP) established in parallel to G:up’s

Play a full role in the development of the regional participation network

Develop a strategy for the involvement of CYPF in the governance of G:up – to put a proposal to SG to decide whether/how we want this to

Support member organisations to involve CYPF more effectively 

Support the involvement of CYPF in regional consultations and strategic bodies

G:up organisational development work stream

core work
Legal structure, Sustainability, Fundraising,  Accountable body

five-year goals
To have a sustainable, strong and diverse organisation, guided by a clear vision and shared values, and responding to current needs

2007/08 objectives 

to meet the conditions of current funders (and monitor and report)
to develop a business plan for the coming 3 years
to work through consortium development toolkit/assessment
to develop a funding strategy and find the resources for G:up to continue beyond March 08
to develop strategic relationships with potential funders
to establish G:up as a constituted alliance with a clear governance structure ensuring accountability to the sector and to children and young people.

3rd February 2005: First Growing Up in the West Midlands Event

The first Growing Up in the West Midlands event was planned by a group of people with diverse experiences of working with children and young people, the voluntary and community sector, and policy and strategy in the West Midlands region. Our plan was to start to explore if and how regional activity relates to children and young people and the voluntary and community organisations working with them. We also wanted to test the possibility of bringing children’s and youth organisations together to share experiences and create a powerful voice. In brief, we were putting a toe in the water to get a taste of what might be possible and to ensure that future regional activity is grounded in practice and experience.

The event was held with the following objectives:

• To explore common ground between children’s and young people’s voluntary and community organisations in the West Midlands
• To explore the region’s policy and strategy in relation to children and young people
• To explore the region’s policy and strategy in relation to voluntary and community organisations working with children and young people
• To create a network of people and organisations to have a sustained strategic influence at a regional level
• To have an enjoyable and rewarding day

A full report is attached at the bottom of this page in both Word and PDF formats.

See images of the event here.

1st March 2005: Strategic Group Meeting

Notes from the Growing Up in the West Midlands Strategic Group, 1^st March 2005

1) Present: Dave Boucker, Simon Cottingham, Barry Lockwood, Peter Miller, Alison Straker

Apologies: Rob Burkitt, Rob Sabin

2) The event was felt to have had a positive impact, particularly on the representatives of regional organisations that attended. It was felt that we still had not gone far enough to enable the sector to engage with the complexities of regional strategy and policy. In particular it was felt that there were greater barriers to engaging children’s organisations, as there is less support and structure available to them than to the youth sector, and less of a history and culture of engagement.

3) Aims and principles were set for the strategic group (as set out in the revised Growing Up Report). Travel expenses are available for members of the group. Alison will prepare claims forms in advance of the next meeting.

A convenor of meetings will be appointed. Alison will provide administrative support to the group.

4) It was agreed to work around the five outcomes of Every Child Matters and to use that as a tool for interpreting regional policy and strategy to the sector and for interpreting the needs of the sector and children and young people to regional strategists.

It was proposed that we could develop regional indicators to replace the national ones and to ensure appropriate consideration of ‘soft’ outcomes.

It was agreed that the outcomes were usefully represented under two key themes:

• Personal well-being and development (encompassing being healthy, staying safe, and enjoying and achieving)

• Community development (encompassing making a positive contribution, achieving economic well-being, and enjoying and achieving)

Enjoying and achieving (featuring in both) was felt to cover both themes and to underpin the ethos of the sector and its approach to working with children and young people.

Before the next meeting Alison and Simon are to begin mapping key policy areas to the five outcomes. One focus of the next meeting will be to expand upon this work. The next meeting will also see the beginning of more detailed action planning for the year’s activity.

A key priority for the next 12 months has to be securing the future of regional engagement.

5) It was agreed that the group needed to expand to include more members with more diverse experiences.  The maximum group size we aim for is 10. Several individuals were mentioned as potential members and will be approached as soon as possible in the hope that they may be able to attend the next meeting.

6) The dates of the next meetings are:

Thursday 14^th April 2005 1pm - 3pm at BAYC

Thursday 12^th May 2pm - 4pm at RAWM

14th April 2005: Strategic Group Meeting

Growing Up in the West Midlands

Notes from the Strategic Group meeting held on 14^th April 2005

Present

Dave Boucker, Simon Cottingham, Barry Lockwood, Peter Miller, Rob Sabin, Alison Straker

Apologies

Rob Burkitt

Key priorities, actions and outcomes

Strategic engagement:

Regeneration was set as a core priority for strategic action by the group.

From the wide-ranging regional agenda and the key elements mapped against the Every Child Matters outcomes by Simon and Alison a clear focus was required. This needed to be one which not only took account of the strengths of the voluntary sector and the interests of children and young people, but that also recognised the practical reality of needing to make an impact in an area where future support for Growing Up in the West Midlands might be found.

The ECM outcome ‘making a positive contribution’ was felt to be most pertinent to the sector as a whole and one in which we could make a powerful impact.  Through focussing on the work of the regional development agency (Advantage West Midlands) and the regional economic strategy, clear links can also be made with ‘achieving economic well-being’. The voluntary sector’s approach will also connect core elements of the economic strategy back to ‘enjoying and achieving’. Hence, through exploring regeneration, we were able to connect to the three outcomes clustered in the last meeting around the theme of community development and sustainability.

Alison is to draft a short paper connecting the work of the voluntary children and young people’s sector with the Regional Economic Strategy, in particular with challenge 3 ‘The Skills Challenge’. The idea is to make the case for the role of the sector and to seek greater collaboration in working towards the goals set for the region. Once developed/approved by the group, this paper will be circulated to key players in Advantage West Midlands, Regen WM, Government Office and the Regional Skills Partnership, with the intention of following this with a presentation and discussion (the proposed ‘Regeneration Symposium’). We hope to have an impact on the strategic bodies’ understanding of regeneration by, for example, demonstrating the importance of sustainable communities, and the need for soft and transferable skills in addition to vocational or job-specific skills. We also hope to raise awareness of the ECM outcomes. It is intended that this will pave the way for a wider engagement from the sector, either through an event or by other means.

Website and publicity:

The domain www.growingupinthewestmidlands.info is registered and work will shortly begin on the development of the site. This will provide an opportunity for storing a large volume of information and for demonstrating, through the outcomes of Every Child Matters, the links between regional policy and strategy, regional policy makers, regional research and information, the work of voluntary and community organisations, and the views and experiences of children and young people. Initially Alison will be working on the content development.

The ‘triflexagon’ publicity that Dave and Alison have been working on will (after amendments to the proof discussed at the meeting) be printed in due course. It promotes the work of the website and the focus on the five ECM outcomes.

Development of the Strategic Group

We are continuing with our efforts to widen the membership and its diversity, in particular to create a stronger representation from children’s organisations. Alison will be presenting on Growing Up in the West Midlands to the regional children’s meeting on 22^nd April and hopes this will be an opportunity to engage new members of the Strategic Group. Various members of the group are also approaching particular individuals.

Barry Lockwood is to act as the convenor of meetings for the group

Dates for future meetings:

Thursday 12^th May, Strategic Group Meeting

(NB CHANGE OF TIME AND VENUE)

10am-12.30pm (to include lunch)

BAYC 25 Spring Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2HJ

Wednesday 8^th June (TBC), “Regeneration Symposium” (with key strategic players)

Tuesday 21^st June, Strategic Group Meeting

2-4pm

BAYC 25 Spring Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2HJ

Monday 18^th July, Strategic Group Meeting

1-3pm (including lunch)

RAWM 2nd Floor, Waterlinks House, Richard Street, Birmingham B7 4AA

12th May 2005: Strategic Group Action Plan

Action plan for Growing Up in the West Midlands

1) Regeneration Programme

Phase one (ongoing til September)

A) work with the children’s and youth sector to establish a definition of regeneration and sustainable communities and the contribution the sector makes to building them. Perhaps use a planning for real type model where we create a framework of a sustainable community (drawing on Egan and the ECM outcomes) against which the sector maps its activities and outputs. (framework to be prepared as part of ‘the case for regeneration’ paper)

Link with WMVYSF and attend the next assembly meeting (9^th June) to run a workshop. Use a variety of other means of gathering info as appropriate (events, workshops, email, website…)

B) Consult with children and young people about their ideas of what makes their community a good place to live in (through a variety of events, website etc)

C) Meet with key strategic players in AWM, GOWM, RegenWM alongside the above process and with a view to developing phase 2 collaboratively. Also meet with others such as Regional Observatory.

D) Prepare a proposal to RAWM for funding for a regeneration event (£3k available). Plan the event.

Phase two (September)

Hold an event with key strategic players and diverse participants from the sector.

Aims will include influencing policy and policy makers (broader understanding of sustainable communities and economic regeneration); making the sector aware of the contribution it makes; linking the needs and interests of children and young people and the organisations working with them to regional strategy and policy through the outcomes of ECM.

2) Sustainability of infrastructure plan

Alongside this regeneration programme, the Growing Up in the West Midlands Strategic Group will continue its work in supporting the sector to work efficiently and for all voluntary sector networks concerned with children and young people to collaborate around a strategic vision for the region. This should involve WMVYSF, WM CVYS workers, NCVCCO regional group, RAWM (Youth Engagement Framework), Regional Youth Work Unit, plus…

And will require information exchange, maintaining/developing a broad representation within the Strategic Group, clarifying the functions of the various regional bodies and networks, linking in with other regional plans and initiatives, preparing a vision, approaching funders (Big Lottery and Change Up) strategically…

3rd June 2005: Strategic Group Update

Dear Strategic Group members

I’m writing to keep you posted of developments since the last meeting on 12^th May. Progress on the action plan (circulated shortly after the meeting) is being made as the following information will show.

I’ll jump straight in where we are now, as I hope that previous information will lead up this. If you’re finding I’ve left big gaps or haven’t given you the information you need to follow what I’m on about then please shout.

Regeneration

I need to get a proposal to Simon ASAP for the £3000 pounds that has been earmarked for us to develop this work. Any comments on this section would therefore be welcomed speedily.

Outline plan

As we discussed previously, the idea is to do some pre-event work and mapping with a variety of groups (children’s orgs, young people’s orgs, children and young people).  I am running a workshop on 9^th at WMVYSF to begin this process but we need to think about how this is developed – particularly to see that it includes a wide range of children’s organisations.

I’m waiting for this to be more underway before making contact with the key regional players.

This is all planned to lead to a final do in which we present our work back to/in collaboration with the regional players in September.

We’re thinking of using the Priory Rooms in central Birmingham. See www.theprioryrooms.co.uk for more info.

Please let me know which dates would/would not be possible for you between Monday 12 and Friday 30^th Sept 2005 ASAP.

Website www.growingupinthewestmidlands.info

The website is well and truly under construction. I have begun by putting up a basic framework and starting to fill in core content. This will obviously take some time and is probably a process that will never be complete, but I’m hoping that by the end of June each element will be fully functional and reasonably well populated with information. It’s very text heavy at the moment but this should change soon as a new image upload function is developed and as video gets included – we have a new video camera by the way, in case anybody has groups they’d like to work with to build content.

Thoughts and comments very welcome. I can also add anybody who would like it to the admin list – giving you full editing rights on the site. It’s VERY simple. Demo available on request!

We have the chance to have a training session on the use of the website and on possible developments we could make to it to meet our needs on Monday 18^th July, with Gerbrand Oudenaarden who is responsible for the technical development of the site. Please let  me know if you think this would be a good idea. We could link it in with our meeting on that day, but I would propose beginning at 11.30 so that we can have an hour dedicated to that before lunch and then our business meeting at 1pm. Please let me now your thoughts and availability.

Joining up Infrastructure in the Region

I’ve attached a 1 page outline that starts to explore this issue and sets out a proposal for how as a region we might move forward in working together to reach a plan for a comprehensive and efficient regional infrastructure. I’m hoping that I will be able to draw together core players (this has been introduced to some already) for an initial meeting on 8^th July. I hope I have got it right that this is a particular activity that, although driven by the Growing Up Strategic Group, is best dealt with separately and in a wider meeting involving NCVCCO, NCVYS, WMVYSF, PYOs/RYWU, Connect Youth, RAWM. (mmm that’s a lot of acronyms sorry!). Let me know your thoughts and interest/availability in attending the proposed meeting.

I think that’s it for now

I look forward to being in touch with you all in the near future

Best wishes

Alison

21st June 2005: Strategic Group Meeting

Growing Up in the West Midlands Strategic Group

Notes from the Strategic Group meeting held on Tuesday 21^st June 2005 at BAYC, 25 Spring Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2HJ

Present

Dave Boucker, Barry Lockwood, Peter Miller, Rob Sabin, Alison Straker

Apologies

Marcia Blissett, Simon Cottingham, Bruce Kirk

Key notes, actions, and outcomes

The strategic group

Marcia and Bruce have both been in contact and are meeting with Alison independently in July. Both hope to be able to attend the July strategic group meeting.

In terms of widening the membership, Peter reported an interest from BRAP which he will follow up. Likewise Barry will approach his contact at EMBRACE, and Alison is to follow up a contact with BTEG.

Regeneration – progress and plans

A workshop was held with a group at WMVYSF on 9^th June – see attached report – and positive feedback was received. In particular people felt they were able to recognise the significance of regional policy and its relevance to their work.

It was agreed to use the framework developed at this event and two case studies as a means of making an initial case to regional players (in particular RegenWM and AWM). Possible case studies: WYCA and Worcestershire CVYS (also covers children).  Alison is to prepare case studies and report, and to seek initial contact with strategic players. Initial contact may need to be coordinated through RAWM as part of their wider regeneration programme. We need to consult with regional players over how they perceive the links between the sector and key policy and strategy, and to explore how we can work together towards an event on 16^th September.

Consultation with children and young people through video is due to take place throughout the summer. Mudassar Noor (a Coventry based youth and media studies student) is being employed by NCVYS to carry out this work.

Alison to arrange employment and related paperwork and to brief Mudassar and support his work in general

Rob to support Mudassar in finding Coventry and Warwickshire Groups

Dave to support Mudassar in finding Worcestershire Groups

Peter to follow up contact with Sparkhill group

Further opportunities will be sought by members of the group.

The material will be used for the website and for other publicity and promotional purposes.

Alison will prepare appropriate briefing and consent forms for participants

Two key areas of consultation were agreed, in line with our regeneration focus: 

• What is it like where you live?
• Why are you involved in your group? / What do you get out of it?

A proposal has been made (and approved in principle) to RAWM for funding for the regeneration event on 16^th September (£3k available). A venue has been booked for 50 people.  The nature of the event will be determined to some extent by the contact with key regional players. Further work needs to be done on this.

Regional consortium

Plans over the development of more comprehensive and coherent regional infrastructure have accelerated more quickly than anticipated and we have been overwhelmed with interest for the meeting to be held on 8^th July. This is seen as an important opportunity as many of the sector’s key players in the region will be present.  Different members of the Growing Up group are to take a lead on different parts of the meeting as set out in the final agenda agreed at this meeting and to be written up and circulated by Alison. Peter, Dave and Alison will discuss this further.

There is a need to achieve a better representation of children’s organisations. Dave and Alison will follow this up.

Chris Eade’s presentation at WMVYSF gave a strong impression that Change Up funding could be available for a regional thematic consortium around children and young people. It was agreed that this should be given serious consideration but that the agenda of joint working extends beyond seeking funding and should not be subsumed by it at the meeting.

Website and communications

The website in a basic form exists and is already proving a useful place for the exchange of information. Further discussion and some training on the use of the site will take place on 18^th July. All members of the Strategic Group are to look at the site and think about their vision for it in advance of that meeting.

An email group now exists for the Strategic Group. As members of the group we can all email the whole group through the address growingupstrategic@allplugin.net .

Meetings and events

Strategic Group meetings

Monday 18^th July 11.30 – 3pm, Birmingham Chinese Youth Centre, Q-Lorc Resource Centre, 99 Bradford Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B12 0NS

11.30 – 12.30 understanding the Growing Up website with Gerbrand Oudenaarden; 12.30 – 1.00 lunch; 1.00 – 3.00 strategic meeting. (NB previously advertised at an incorrect address!)

Tuesday 6^th September 2-4 pm strategic meeting, venue TBC

Wednesday 9^th November 2-4pm strategic meeting, venue TBC

Other meetings

Friday 8^th July 10am – 1pm: Children and Young People’s Consortium, Birmingham Chinese Youth Centre

Friday 16^th September (all day, exact times to be confirmed): Growing Up Regeneration Event/ Conference. The Priory Rooms Meeting & Conference Centre

8th July 2005: Strategic Forum Meeting

Report from the West Midlands Regional meeting regarding children, young people and the voluntary sector, 8^th July 2005

Background

This meeting was called by the Growing Up in the West Midlands Strategic Group with the aim of bringing together organisations and networks that operate at a regional level to support children and young people and the non-formal educational services delivered to them. This was with a view to creating and delivering a shared vision for regional development, supported by a sustainable and comprehensive regional infrastructure.

The ambition is to develop the West Midlands as a region that respects and acts upon the needs, interests and aspirations of children and young people, and the voluntary and community organisations that work with them.

Present

Marcia Blissett (Children’s Society), Dave Boucker (Worcester CVYS), Steve Clay (YMCA), Cathy Clement (WMVYSF), Simon Cottingham (RAWM), Jess Crump (Worcester Play Council), Brian Dickens (Kids), Suzanne Everill (Children’s Fund), Andy Hamflett (UKYP), Steve Jones (GOWM), Bruce Kirk (Spugeons Child Care), Barry Lockwood (NCVYS), Peter Miller (BAYC), Gayle Plant (Birmingham Children’s Fund) , Rob Sabin (Warwickshire CYP), Anna Sterckx (UKYP), Alison Straker (NCVYS).

See images from the event here.

Mapping the region

With the above vision for the region in mind, the group mapped existing infrastructure activity by four core areas:

• Participation of children and young people
• Strategic engagement in policy
• Organisational support and capacity building
• Networking, information and research

In addition information was collated about:

• Plans and aspirations
• Resources – e.g. engagement framework, growing up website

The mapping took account of provision for different age groups: under 5, 5-12, 13-19, and 20+.

A wealth of information on diverse activities conducted in the region was gathered. Full records are appended.

Reflection
The information gathered about each core area was discussed in groups, to explore who and what is missing and the implications of this, and to explore recommendations for moving forward. A summary of core issues follows.

The following were felt to be under-represented or isolated:

• BME groups
• Rural groups
• faith groups
• uniformed groups
• Under 5s in particular, and all age ranges outside of 13-19

The following outline the steps forward for regional working proposed:

• Build on this group, work through existing structures and networks
• Think long term – develop strong, flexible structures
• Develop regional identity and understanding of regional working
• Develop potential of technology
• Make explicit the links between regional-local-national
• Coordinate sharing of information
• Coordinate networks and interest groups
• Coordinate research
• Coordinate capacity building
• Coordinate practice sharing and standard setting
• Workforce development
• Develop governance – small and large organisations
• Build the capacity of the VCS to meet national standards

It was agreed that these ambitions need to be realised through specified activities that are realistic and achievable and that can be monitored against performance indicators.

Opportunities

Various opportunities were identified, in addition to the resources outlined in the mapping exercise, of which the group might consider taking advantage.

These included:

• The Child friendly cities programme
• Big Lottery funding for infrastructure (due to be announced)
• Change Up funding

Action and decisions

It was agreed to create a thematic bid for funding from Change Up to support work outlined above, though it was recognised that the purpose and valueof the group extends beyond funding.

It was decided that the Growing Up Strategic Group would carry forward the work from this meeting and that all those attending were welcome to become a part of that group and be involved in its development.

The Growing Up Strategic Group (supported by the Youth Involvement Project) will oversee the development of the Change Up bid, collaborating closely with WMVYSF and NCVCCO’s regional group, and other organisations operating within the region.

Full notes from the meeting are attached at the bottom of this page.

18th July 2005: Strategic Group Meeting

Growing Up in the West Midlands Strategic Group

Notes from the Strategic Group meeting held on Tuesday 18^th July 2005 at Birmingham Chinese Youth Centre 99 Bradford St, Birmingham.

Present

Strategic Group: Dave Boucker, Simon Cottingham, Bruce Kirk, Barry Lockwood, Peter Miller, Rob Sabin, Andy Simpson, Alison Straker

Guests: Mudassar Noor and Gerbrand Oudenaarden

Apologies

Marcia Blissett, Cathy Clement, Suzanne Everill, Jim Jenkinson

Website training and development

Gerbrand Oudenaarden presented  www.growingupinthewestmidlands.info and the Staffordshire sub-site. There was a chance to learn how to register and use the site to work collaboratively, and to discuss the potential there is for development. More detail can be found on the site and in the Change Up bid attached with these notes.

Strategic meeting.

Change Up

It was reported that the proposal to Change Up had received support in principle from WMVYSF and the NCVCCO regional group.

The group worked together to develop the draft bid and agreed its core content. We worked to meet the core needs identified on 8^th July, the priorities of WMVYSF, NCVCCO group and the Strategic Group in so far as we could relate them to the specific elements of Change Up and its focus on the development of infrastructure to improve public service delivery. It was acknowledged that we as a group have a wider vision, which it is important to hold on to and seek support to develop elsewhere.

It was agreed that bayc should act as the accountable body for the bid. The decision was based on the fact that it is the organisation within the group that (without being a national body) covers the largest geographical area of the region, and meets the necessary criteria for an accountable body.

The Growing Up Strategic Group will manage the process, if we are successful, supported by Alison through the Youth Involvement Project. A sub group will be formed to commission work to deliver the outcomes identified.

It was agreed that Alison and Peter should finalise and submit the bid on behalf of the group for 19^th July deadline.

Preparation of the investment plan will need to begin as soon as possible. Arrangements for how this will take place will be made over email.

Growing Up in the West Midlands - what young people have to say

Mudassar Noor is now employed and will be working until the end of August with a variety of groups to engage with children and young people through video consultation. He presented the group with a sample of his work from Staffordshire.

Rob and Dave have made arrangements for him to work with groups in Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Peter and Andy will link him with some groups in Birmingham, and Bruce will investigate the possibility of involving children’s groups in the Black Country. We are seeking further groups from across the region to participate.

The style and quality of the work – both stills and video – was appreciated.  The need to ask further probing questions was discussed in order to get away from the simple wish list answers but without directing answers.

Mudassar will collate the information according to the five outcomes of Every Child Matters fort presentation through the Website. Andy raised the question of how this material might be analysed and used.

Mudassar will write up an evaluation of his experience and recommendations for how the work might be continued.

Regeneration - planning  our influence and for the event on 16th September

There was limited time to discuss this agenda item, so further plans and communication will happen by email in advance of the next meeting. Progress has been hampered by the need to coordinate with other VCS networks who are also working on this issue, but guidance from RAWM should be available in the near future.

We still plan to hold our regeneration event on 16^th September.

One element of the work will be to present case studies. Andy proposed that the young people’s research project he has been working on could be one such example.

AOB

Cheryl Garvey of BRAP has expressed an interest in joining the group. Various other contacts are also being followed up.

Reminder: we can all email the whole group through the address growingupstrategic@allplugin.net. Please also feel free to register yourself as a user on www.growingupinthewestmidlands.info and start making your mark.

Meetings and events

Tuesday 6^th September 2-4 pm strategic meeting, venue TBC

Wednesday 9^th November 2-4pm strategic meeting, venue TBC

Friday 16^th September (all day, exact times to be confirmed): Growing Up Regeneration Event/ Conference. The Priory Rooms Meeting & Conference Centre, Friends Meeting House, 40 Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6AF.

16th September 2005: Strategic Forum meeting

Friday 16th September 10am til 4pm at the Priory Rooms in central Birmingham. 30 representatives from organisations working in the West Midlands worked together to determine how to deliver the outcomes set out in our Change Up proposal.

The report was created on this website during the course of the day. The links below will provide you with more detailed information.

Pictures from the Development Meeting

Pictures from the Development Meeting on 16 September 2005 in Birmingham. More pictures: look at the image gallery.  To publish your own images, log in (or register first),  then click create content in the left-hand column, then select image.

Development meeting 16 Sep - priniciples - Barry

19th January 2006 Growing Up in the West Midlands Strategic Forum

Putting Together the Jigsaw: We welcomed people from voluntary and community organisations working with children and young people in the West Midlands to our strategic forum.

We're met at Carrs Lane Church Centre, Carrs Lane, Birmingham B4 7SX.

  

Agenda

This was your chance to see how the work of Growing Up in the West Midlands has progressed since our last meeting in September and to get involved both  in shaping what comes next. Lots of opportunities were on offer - from getting involved in our management and delivery group, to being commissioned to deliver work, to being part of a pilot.

  

Who we are, what we do, how we do it, and why we do it like that

Before launching into the main programme Alison introduced Growing Up in the West Midlands and explained a little about what it is, why it exists, how it works and why it works in the way it does. The key points follow.

Our Aim

We exist to develop the West Midlands as a region that respects and acts upon the needs, interests and aspirations of children and young people, and the voluntary and community organisations that work with them.

Our Ethos

There are some core values that frame the work of Growing Up in the West Midlands. Underpinning these is a commitment to democracy and mutuality.

our work is driven by and embedded in a shared aim to:

• connect and cooperate
• include and expand
• exchange and develop

Our Structure

Our Practice

1. research - look at what's being done and involve relevant people
2. pilot - try things out by helping some groups to develop their own practice
3. product - produce something to help share the learning
4. share - share the learning within our group and with second tier organisations who can use it to support their work locally

Governance Feedback

Report back from the Governance Delivery Group

How can we engage young people in the governance of organisations?

Progress Report - Jim

First, what is governance?

governance:  implies that committees/bodies who through a formal constitution and terms of reference make a strategic decision arrived at through a democratic process

And why/how would that interest young people? Jim asked

he then when on to describe research he has done with 140 young people aged 11-19 about governance.

He found the questions asked with the help of Pip Wilson's  blob tree were more effective in getting a response! And that was inspite of the fact he ran the questions by yong researchers at bayc!

The questions he asked were:

If “Involvement” is a Blob Tree, where are you on the tree?

Please circle a Blob to show how involved you feel in “adult decision-making

and on the questionnaire attached:

• How are charities / voluntary organisations managed?
• What does governance mean to you?
• What is a charity trustee / director?
• Would you like to be involved in the direction and decision making of a charity/community group? Please also, say why you feel this.
• What would an organisation or group need to do to make you interested in being part of their decision-making body?

Jim went on to present the initial findings of his work and to set out the scale of the challenge we face in making change.

The facts:

• 190,000 charities with a combined income of over £36 billion
• About 1 million trustee positions in England and Wales
• 5000 (0.5%) of the people acting as trustees in England and Wales are aged under 24
  76% are aged 45 and over
• 30% of the charities find it difficult to attract young people to serve as trustees
• Diversity on the trustee board is important.  A charity with a diverse board of trustees is more likely to:
  - engage effectively with the community it serves;
  - respond effectively and equitably to the needs of its users;
  - increase accountability and public confidence in its work

The governance delivery group is:

1. Mapping / research about the existing good practice around children & young people being involved in the governance of the voluntary and community sector (local, regional, national & international)
2. Defining what governance means to children & young people by listening to what they think about it
3. Assisting organisations in the sector to be more accessible to children & young people being involved in their governance structures
4. Piloting some of the good practice examples

Progress report  - Anna:

Anna was unable to attend due to illness, but gave this update electronically:

(As you know) Our vision is to enhance quality through developing the capacity of organisations to engage key stakeholders (children and young people) in governance.
We have completed Stage 1 which concerns principles of good involvement and preparation to produce self-assessment tools  and we are happy to announce that stage 2 will be launched today!

So, stage 1:

To establish the principles of good involvement of young people in governance, we have conducted research and supported peer-led consultation with young people.

The main body of work so far has been centered on our regional Members of Youth Parliament and their local support networks.
Young people have designed and completed questionnaires (with reference to the work BYC are carrying out on Governance) and delivered peer-led workshops to discuss and highlight what governance means to them and what their experience of governance has been like – this has also included advice and guidance, training needs and the importance of direct involvement in governance for example.

Questionnaires will be circulated via our allplugin email group shortly, to give as many young people as possible the opportunity to share their views.

We will also shortly be liaising with the Children and Young people, IT and diversity sub-groups.
I will shortly circulate a written report of work to date – again via the allplugin egroup.

Whilst Trustees take ultimate responsibility for governance of their organisations, governance is not a role for trustees alone. It is the way that trustees work with chief execs, staff, volunteers, service users, members and other stakeholders, to ensure that their org is effectively and properly run and meets the needs for which the org was set up. It is also therefore about how Trustees do not make decisions in isolation but how through negotiation and communication, policies and practices are put in place.Therefore, behind good governance must lie principles including accountability, inclusivity, and openness.

Stage 2: Focuses on new Models of Good Practice and establishing a cyp tool-kit task force to implement the governance tools as a pilot locally and regionally.
Today marks the launch of this part of our Governance delivery plan – the first pilot!
The aim of this piece of work is to produce a self-assessment tool as a new model of good practice and to implement this with one or two organisations as a pilot.
A Code of good Governance for the Voluntary and Community Sector was launched in July 2005 which sets out the main principles of governance and it is with strong reference to this (and to other documents, for example the National Occupational Standards for Trustess and Management Committees – developed by the VSNTO, the vountary sector training organisation) and by researching best practice around the region that the self assessment tool is being developed.
A copy of the code can be downloaded from the National Hub of Expertise in Governance’s website (www.governancehub.org.uk). The hub includes members from the voluntary and community sector. This code has been endorsed by the Charity Commission.
Whilst governance will be interpreted in different ways depending on the size and nature of the organisation and their particular needs and circumstances, the purpose of this pilot will focus fundamentally on clarity and communication, managing relationships and accountability and on listening, hearing and acting upon the views of stakeholders.

Briefly, getting involved in the pilot will enable you to self-assess the levels and impact of Governance within your organsation- - it’s about adding value, embedding quality and building capacity… It is an age targeted tool for orgs working with 11 – 19 year olds, to suport you to actively involve young people in governance.

participatory exercise

We adapted this exercise from 'The Margolis Wheel' as written up in Robert Chambers book 'Participatory Workshops - a sourcebook of 21 sets of ideas and activities' published by Earthscan.

 

We hope this contributed to the sense of the event being useful in itself and that through particiapting everybody took something away that is of use to them - an idea, the satisfaction of helping somebody else, a contact for future work... who knows.

ICT Delivery Group Update

Update on the activities of the ICT Delivery Group - Dave

Dave had us all making and throwing paper aeroplanes and thinking about ICT and the exciting opportunities on offer through the ICT delivery group.

 

We hope that we can start to address many of the problems outlined in the diversity and outreach report. Things such as integrating mobile phone and website technology and building effective communications structues as well as websites for individual organisations are all a part of this. Watch this space!