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Annual Review
2007 - 2008
To download a copy of the Review click
here.
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FINE
Staff |
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Project Manager – Linda
Whitfield
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Research and Information
Officer – Diana Wright
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Training Development
Officer – Catherine Moralee
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Admin Officer - Tony
Youll
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FINE
Management |
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FINE is managed by Gateshead
Voluntary Organisations Council (GVOC) and has a Development Group which meets
quarterly.
Development Group members:
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David Francis – Community
Action Northumberland
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Carole Howells - Newcastle CVS
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Gillian McDonough – Sunderland
CVS
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Gev Pringle - GVOC, (Chair)
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Allyson Stewart - South
Tyneside CVS
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Joanne Laverick – Durham RCC
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Jan Worters - North Tyneside
VODA
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Chair’s Statement |
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Introduction |
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Throughout 2007-2008 FINE’s work
continued at quite a hectic pace, both at a regional and national level. This
work cemented FINE’s standing as a model of excellence. The year also saw the
launch of a new funding database.
During 2007-2008 FINE was
supported by the following funders:
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The Hadrian Trust
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The Joicey Trust
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The Sir James Knott Trust
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RW Mann Trust
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Northern Rock Foundation
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The Rothley Trust
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The 1989 Willan Charitable Trust
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One NorthEast
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ChangeUp / Capacitybuilders
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The National Finance Hub
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New
Initiatives |
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FINE remained a member of the National Funding Advice
Agencies Partnership, together with Fit4funding West Yorkshire, Charities
Information Bureau Wiltshire, South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau, NAVCA and
Institute of Fundraising. Building on its previous successful work around
training delivery and research in to funding advice, the Partnership secured a
grant from the National Finance Hub to establish a national funding advisers
network as well as develop ways to increase the quality of funding advice across
England. FINE led on the development of a competency framework for funding
advisers and a quality mark in funding advice and jointly led on the development
of level 4 training modules.
Over the last twelve months FINE’s strategic work has
increased. As well as having a place on the Regional Compact Working Group, FINE
was also invited to be a part of the Third Sector Strategic Forum. This Forum
has been established by Government Office for the North East to provide them
with the mechanism to discuss government policy and its impact on the Third
Sector in the North East. As well as FINE, the Forum partners are, VONNE, BECON
and NESEP.
2007 saw the creation of infrastructure consortia across the
region. FINE became a member of the Regional Infrastructure Consortium (RIC).
Each consortium had to develop a business plan based on the needs of the sector
in each geographic area. FINE carried out a consultation with North East funding
advisers and as a result the work of FINE was seen, by RIC members, as integral
to the development of the Third Sector. They recommended FINE to
Capacitybuilders as a priority project for funding until 2011.
“A regional, central resource
for funding information provision enables information on regionally relevant
issues and funding sources to be filtered down. It is beneficial to funding
advisers as it is a time saver and
allows them to concentrate on giving funding advice rather than spending time
researching new and changing funding opportunities.”
A decision is due sometime in the first half of 2008.
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Information Services |
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The 5th edition of
The North East Guide to Grants for Individuals was published in January 2008.
This specialist book and database provides information on funding for
individuals in need and is popular with charitable and statutory sector
agencies. Thanks must go to Greggs Trust who have been long term supporters of
this directory.
In January 2008 research began
on the 10th edition of The North East Guide to Grants for Voluntary
Organisations.
FINE’s information bulletins,
News You Can Use and Grants Bulletin, continued to be regarded as vital
services, allowing Third Sector organisations and funding advisers to keep up to
date with a wide range of funding opportunities.
An evaluation was carried out
amongst subscribers to the Grants Bulletin.
Just over 30% of subscribers
responded. Of those respondents, 100% find the six weekly bulletins very useful
or useful.
“The Bulletin...is a very
valuable asset”.
“Well produced (and) very
informative”
FINE is committed to offering,
relevant, quality, comprehensive funding information services to the Third
Sector in the North East. In October 2007, as a result of a grant from One
NorthEast, FINE launched The North East Third Sector Funding Opportunities
Database. Not a title that trips off the tongue easily, which is why at FINE we
refer to it as NETSFOD. This database, which is still evolving, provides
information on funding programmes from local and central government, lottery
distributors, loan giving organisations as well as charitable trusts and
foundations. It will allow the sector to lever in a diverse range of funding and
play an integral part in, not only, delivering the outputs within the Regional
Economic Strategy but also engaging with the new ways of working currently
encouraged by government. In the short period since its launch there are over
100 users accessing the database.
At the end of the financial year
783 users subscribed or had purchased one or more of FINE’s information
services.
During the year 2007-2008 FINE
staff dealt with over 300 enquiries around various funding related issues.
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Support to Funding
Advisers |
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FINE continued to facilitate the
North East Funding Advice Workers Network (FAWN) meetings. These meetings
provide funding advisers with the opportunity to meet together to share
information, knowledge and best practice, as well as meet with a wide variety of
funders.
Funding for FINE’s Training
Development Officer and training programme for funding advisers was provided by
ChangeUp / CapacityBuilders. Four advisers from the North West and seven from
the North East achieved their level 3 certificates after completing FINE’s
Giving Funding Advice course. Eight one day professional development courses
were organised covering a diverse range of topics such as Charity Accounts,
Social Enterprise, Tax Effective Giving and Business Planning. An average of
nine funding advisers attended each course.
FINE’s support to funding
advisers, through the FAWN and the training programme, remains at the core of
FINE’s work. During the aforementioned RIC consultation with FAWN members the
need for this support was very evident:
“Quality standards are important and regional organisations
such as FINE ensure that funding information provision, training, peer support
and on going professional development are readily available to local funding
advisers. Having an active Funding Advice Workers Network within FINE further
feeds in to providing quality advice service. A regional level FAWN is the most
effective to ensure that discussions / meetings are relevant.”
However at
the end of March 2008 we sadly had to say goodbye to Kate Moralee, FINE’s
Training Development Officer, due to the end of funding. The difference Kate
made to FINE’s ability to provide a more comprehensive training programme was
immense. We all wish her well in her new job. If further funding for training
and support cannot be secured the impact on the region’s funding advisers and
the sector in general will be great. Valuable support and professional
development for funding advisers will be lost and may impact on the quality of
funding advice available to Third Sector organisations in the North East.
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Developing and
maintaining links with Funders |
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The Project Manager continued to provide regular updates to the North East Trust
Secretaries Group (NETSG).
FINE also continued to provide secretariat support to the North East Funders
Forum. Once again a series of successful, well attended, seminars were arranged,
providing statutory and charitable funders with opportunities to network and
discuss a wide range of topics. These included, The Local Government White
Paper, grant impact measurement, performance management, procurement and
infrastructure funding.
A planned Equality and Diversity conference was postponed until Spring 2008.
FINE’s attendance at the NETSG meetings and its support to the Funders Forum
emphasises its role as a conduit between the funders and the VCS.
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Income and Expenditure |
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FINE ended the year with its finances in good order. The
Project continued to be well supported by local funders as well as securing
additional funding from One NorthEast, Capacitybuilders and The National Finance
Hub. Income generated from the information services contributed towards
maintaining the Project’s core costs. As with all infrastructure organisations,
the scarcity of relevant funding programmes means that FINE faces 2008 with a
lot of trepidation. We are, however, determined to build on FINE’s strengths,
reputation and partnerships so that the Project survives and continues to be a
centre of excellence for funding information and support to the North East.
The support and positive feedback received from Third Sector
organisations, funding advisers and local trusts has been overwhelming. Everyone
involved with FINE extend their heartfelt thanks and appreciation. Here’s to a
successful future!
A full financial statement is
available on request.
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