We’re always keen to hear your stories of delivering public services, bidding for contracts, consortium development, partnerships with the statutory sector…good or bad. You can email us your news and stories, or tweet us @NCVO or @LevPedroNCVO
- New procurement regulations – coming soon
- Social value – your case studies needed!
- Social prescribing – the new buzz-word
- Engaging with Police and Crime Commissioners
- What do you think about transparency in contracts? We need your views.
- Joint letter to the Treasury highlighting vital role of sector
- Compact Awards showcased great partnership working
- New commercial masterclasses series announced
- NCVO brings members to address the Commissioning Academy
- Nick Davies joins NCVO from Children England
- Trainee job opportunity announced
New procurement regulations – coming soon
Paul Winyard has been closely following the EU procurement reforms. The new rules, if implemented correctly, could make it much easier for voluntary sector organisations to bid for and win public service contracts.
NCVO has led a coalition of charities urging the government to ensure local bodies understand and apply the new rules correctly.
Social value – your case studies needed!
Paul is also working on NCVO’s response to a government review of the Social Value Act. We’re keen to include examples of member organisations that deliver added social value – for example employing disadvantaged or marginalised groups, using recycled or locally sourced materials, generating work placements or apprenticeships, helping combat isolation or helping reduce hospital admissions.
Please email Paul to let him know about your work.
Social prescribing – the new buzz-word
For those of you engaged in health and well-being, the buzz right now is around social prescribing. The Big Assist Live Discussion in October highlighted the Rotherham pilot and considered how this approach can achieve benefits for patients, savings for local health commissioners, and a potential business opportunity for a local infrastructure organisation such as Voluntary Action Rotherham.
Read the highlights of the live discussion.
Engaging with Police and Crime Commissioners
Police and Crime Commissioners were the focus of an NCVO Live Discussion last week. Some fantastic practice was highlighted, including by Anna Hill, Avon & Somerset PCC’s VCSE Officer, who spoke of the productive working relationship they have developed with VOSCUR, CVS South Gloucestershire, VANS and South Somerset Association for Voluntary and Community Action.
Download an edited summary of the conversation – includes links to resources (PDF, 50KB)
What do you think about transparency in contracts? We need your views
Our head of policy and public services, Ruth Driscoll, is bringing together interested parties to discuss the thorny issue of transparency in public service contracts. In particular, we want your views on a proposed transparency clause that could cover issues such as price, KPIs and subcontracting arrangements.
We’re keen to hear your views – leave a comment on Ruth’s post
Joint letter to the Treasury highlighting vital role of sector
In advance of the Autumn Statement, NCVO worked with key national partner organisations to make a strong case to government to remove the barriers that prevent voluntary sector organisations from making a bigger difference.
Andrew O’Brien has written a blog post detailing the concerns raised in our letter
Compact Awards showcased great partnership working
We all had a terrific night out at the Compact Awards hearing about some amazing partnership-working between statutory agencies and the voluntary sector.
The booklet containing all the excellent nominations makes an interesting read.
New commercial masterclasses series announced
NCVO, NAVCA and Regional Voices for Better Health, with private-sector partners, will be delivering another series of commercial masterclasses from January to April 2015. The events aim to build the commercial skills of charities and social enterprises so you can be more successful in bidding for and delivering public service contracts.
A bespoke series on health commissioning, youth crime services and European funding are on offer, as well as the popular two day commercial masterclass.
NCVO brings members to address the Commissioning Academy
NCVO and partner 3SC won the contract to deliver the ‘Provider Perspective Day’ of the government’s flagship Commissioning Academy. Our first event is on 10 December and will give us a fantastic opportunity to influence commissioners on our key policy concerns for the voluntary sector.
Get in touch if you would be willing to facilitate a breakout session on embedding social value in contracts, co-production, working in commercial supply chains or working with new finance models.
Nick Davies joins NCVO from Children England
Finally, we’re excited to welcome our new Public Services Manager, Nick Davies, who joins us from Children England. We hope you’ll all get in contact with Nick through our Public Service Delivery Network, or on @NJ_Davies on Twitter.
Trainee job opportunity
A traineeship can be an excellent way for someone to gain expertise to kick-start a career in the voluntary sector, it’s also an opportunity to join our friendly public services team!
Trainee public services officer – job advert
Lev is an associate consultant to NCVO, and has specialist interest and knowledge in the role of the voluntary sector in public service transformation, partnerships and consortia, charity governance and leadership. 
