Research Findings Published
Lin Whitfield Consultancy and associates launched the report that had been commissioned by the Plymouth Third Sector Consortium (Change Up) at Engage Plymouth (formerly Carmel Church) on the 30th March 2008.
Plymouth Third Sector Consortium is working with Plymouth 2020 to create a sustainable and effective Third Sector in the city, supported by high quality services. The research will provide the information required on the priority areas for support needs of front line delivery organisations.
Introducing the report Lin said, “The Third Sector in Plymouth is in many ways relatively young compared to other parts of the country. A small number of organisations like Plymouth Guild have a long history, and there have been small local organisations operating for many years, but the number of organisations receiving significant amounts of statutory funding appears to have been smaller than elsewhere. However, rapid growth in the sector was stimulated by the regeneration funding of the 1990s, and it has experienced continued growth since then with further regeneration funds being channelled into Plymouth, resulting in more services being delivered by Third Sector organisations.”
The reports authors concluded “For a city of Plymouth’s size, the overall provision of support by the sector for the sector is poor, and falls a long way short of the expectations of the National ChangeUp programme in progressing towards its aim, that by 2014 the needs of frontline voluntary and community organisations will be met by support which is available nationwide and accessible to all, structured for maximum efficiency, offering excellent provision, truly reflecting and promoting diversity and sustainably funded.
Given the disparity between existing support provision and what frontline organisations say they need, it is clear that there are major challenges ahead for Plymouth Third Sector Consortium and the Local Strategic Partnership. Not least of these will be the expectations of the sector: Third Sector organisations across Plymouth will be looking for positive change and evidence that new services to meet their needs are being established and will soon be able to deliver. There will be a need to deliver some ‘quick wins’, but these should not be at the expense of careful consideration of the issues and thorough planning. Statutory partners, too, will have expectations arising from this research, but they are likely to be of a different nature: they will want to see that future support provision is well-planned, coordinated, and of high quality in order to develop the capacity of organisations, particularly those in the middle range outlined in the report.
To read the full Report or an Executive Summary click on the links