G:up Report for Local Infrastructure Organisations FINDINGS Quick Links: - The Baseline - Recommendations - Possible ways forward

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The Baseline The current level of involvement in regional and local activity is low, with the majority of the organisations interviewed being part of 2 or less networks. The most isolated were BME organisations, however these also tended to be smaller and working at more of a grass roots level. Involvement seemed to be related to workers’ connections. Organisations with links to statutory infrastructure organisations such as the NHS, Schools and Colleges and local authorities are more aware of networks. Although all of the organisations interviewed fulfilled some, if not all of the ECM outcomes, approximately 25% of the organisations interviewed had never heard of ECM. The majority of this 25% were BME organisations. Again awareness was related to workers’ connections and level of network involvement. Those who were not aware of ECM were less able to express the ways in which their project met the outcomes thus placing them at a disadvantage especially in terms of funding bids. Measures need to be taken to raise awareness of relevant policy especially at grass-roots level. Smaller organisations need support interpreting and presenting their work in terms of ECM so they get the recognition and funding opportunities their work merits. main index / top

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Recommendations Raise awareness of networks and relevant policy such as ECM, through a variety of outlets, websites, email, SMS messaging and in person through schemes such as the model used for this research or outreach worker posts at infrastructure level. Support organisations to interpret and present their work in terms of ECM. G:up ECM case studies can be used as a resource to aid this. main index / top

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Possible ways forward (Continue to) produce and share a guide or database of local networks, what and whom they are for, and promote this service. (G:up is in the process of developing the G:up website www.growingupinthewestmidlands.info to act as a portal for information on regional and local activity, policy etc, streaming information from other sources so it can be accessed from one point) Develop an email/ post/ phone/ SMS messaging system whereby relevant national and regional networks and their roles, actions and ways to be involved are sent to organisations. Produce a guide to making the most out of policy for grass roots organisations, with useful contacts. (G:up is in the process of drawing together a set of good practice case studies where voluntary organisations case study the ways in which they meet Every Child Matters which will be found on the G:up website from April ’06 at www.growingupinthewestmidlands.info) Promote access to forms (such as those used by city council Youth Service for example) to help organisations formulise what/ how activities fit ECM outcomes. main index / top