Framework for Support Services

The state of the support infrastructure underpinning the voluntary and community sector was a key issue addressed by the Task Force and taken forward by government in Positive Steps. In response, NICVA, supported by a wider Steering Group determined that a sectoral view on the issue should be sought to influence Government thinking at an early stage. To assist in the process the Steering Group agreed the need for external support and appointed Blueprint Development Consultancy to undertake a short research assignment.

Find out more about current and past research.

The consultation process is now completed and NICVA received comments from over 100 voluntary and community organisations. In summary, the comments NICVA received suggest there is a willingness to accept change in terms of support services, moving to a more rational structure, provided a number of important principles and safeguards are put in place. At the core is a strong belief that a robust infrastructure needs to be appropriately funded by government directly and supported through the new local council structures, with safeguards. These comments have been incorporated into the final report which has now been submitted to DSD.

The report proposed a framework for support services in the voluntary and community sector:

Primary Infrastructure Organisations

Organisations whose main purpose is infrastructure services to other voluntary and community organisations and which provide all four elements of infrastructure services – support and development, the provision of co-ordination, representation and promotion. This includes both generic and specialist support organisations.

Secondary Infrastructure Organisations

These are defined as voluntary and community organisations which either provide some infrastructure services to other groups as a subsidiary activity to their main frontline activities, or which provide all aspects of infrastructure services but only to their local branches or members.

Tertiary Infrastructure Organisations

The report defines these as groups from outside the voluntary and community sector which provide some infrastructure support to groups, eg Local Authorities or enterprise agencies.

The report also put forward a number of core principles, qualities and practices of belief that bind the infrastructure together. For example, support organisations should be:

• Independent;
• Have a defined membership;
• Have recognised (or working towards) quality standards;
• Demonstrate best practice in terms of governance;
• Be financially stable (evidence of externally audited accounts);
• Demonstrate a commitment towards Equality and A Shared Future;
• Committed to collaboration with other partners;
• Appropriately funded.

In terms of implementing these changes the report suggests that moving from the current position to a more robust infrastructure will require careful negotiation and will be an evolving process, recognising the historical reason for the current shape of the infrastructure. It is also important that the future development of the infrastructure is perceived to be directed and controlled by the sector, maintaining its independence. Consideration of these issues must also be balanced by a need to take action quickly given the pressures and demands facing support organisations.

If you require any additional information about this report please contact Gordon McCullough:

gordon.mccullough@nicva.org
028 9087 7799