Change Up

This Section provides a general introduction to ChangeUp and information on what’s happening regionally and locally.

What is ChangeUp?

ChangeUp is a government initiative designed to improve voluntary and community sector infrastructure. It is administered nationally by Capacitybuilders.

Capacitybuilders is the national agency, launched in April 2006, with responsibility to take the programme forward and to manage the £70 million funding.

ChangeUp aims to ensure that by 2014 frontline voluntary and community organisations will have the support they need to achieve their potential, that this support is available nationwide, that its effective, accessible, and reflects and promotes diversity and is sustainably funded.

What does the government mean by infrastructure?
By “infrastructure” the government means the physical facilities, structures, systems, relationships, people, knowledge and skills that exist to support and develop, co-ordinate, represent and promote front line organisations thus enabling them to deliver their missions more effectively.

Voluntary and community sector infrastructure organisations provide infrastructure functions (support and development, co-ordination, representation and promotion) to frontline voluntary and community organisations. They are sometimes called umbrella or second tier organisations.

Who does what?

What’s happening Nationally

To find out more about Capacitybuilders please follow the links below:

• Capacitybuilders website www.capacitybuilders.org.uk
• National Support Services website www.improvingsupport.org.uk

What’s happening in London

The London Regional Consortium is a strategic management group which formulates priorities, oversees the delivery process and takes an overview of the region’s activity. Members include pan-London voluntary and community sector organisations, public sector agencies and funders. The Consortium advises on how ChangeUp activities are developed in London and sets regional priorities. In addition there are 10 sub-groups which are coordinating activity across London. Involvement in consortia does not guarantee access to funding for any agency: groups are involved to ensure that their agency’s expertise can help to improve the planning, funding and delivery of infrastructure services.

London Councils will monitor the whole process to ensure proper partnership working and buy-in.

What’s happening in the East London Area

At a sub-regional level, the East London CVS Network facilitates the ChangeUp East London Partnership.  The Greenwich CVS is part of the East London Partnership. More information can be found further down the page.

ChangeUp Greenwich

In Greenwich a number of infrastructure organisations have come together to lead the process for the Borough. They have formed the ChangeUp Greenwich Steering Group.
The Group set the following mission and vision for ChangeUp Greenwich:

Our Mission
ChangeUp Greenwich exists to develop the capacity of, and consolidate cohesion between, second-tier voluntary organisations in Greenwich who deliver services to the voluntary and community sector (the Sector).

Our Vision
Through collaborative working the ChangeUp Greenwich steering group will develop a sustainable, diverse and independent sector, with high aspirations and a sense of pride amongst its trustees, staff and volunteers. We will achieve this by developing and implementing the ChangeUp Greenwich Action Plan in order to achieve the following aims:

1. We will inspire the sector to have a sense of pride in its work.
2. We will strive to create a vibrant sector which is actively respected in the wider community
3. We will develop and provide a listening ear and a united voice to understand and express the needs of the Sector in Greenwich
4. We will provide co-ordinated services and resources to the Greenwich Sector.
5. We will empower the Sector in developing strong governance, leadership and management skills
6. We will identify a clear remit for the Sector within the broader networks and partnerships in Greenwich.

Process
The first stage of ChangeUp in Greenwich involved consulting community organisations in the Borough about their support needs. This helped the ChangeUp Greenwich Steering Group to discover what support the wider sector needs in order to help it function better. The consultation process enabled the Group develop a 10-year plan for the development of the sector in the Borough, which will benefit all who are involved in the Voluntary and Community Sector in Greenwich.

ChangeUp annual review is currently being constructed and all available information will be posted on the site as and when it is finished.

What does it mean for me?
We want ChangeUp Greenwich to make a difference to your ability to achieve your vision. The activities identified in the ChangeUp Greenwich 10-year plan are there to help you focus on and improve the quality and efficiency of your delivery.  Because we have developed a plan that is built on the needs identified by you, the wider sector, during the consultation period, we anticipate that ChangeUp Greenwich will help to:

1. Provide more co-ordinated and appropriate support services for voluntary and community organisations
2. Offer better and co-ordinated information about what support is available and from whom
3. Fill gaps in support needed by the wider sector
4. Reduce duplication of support services
5. Provide a channel through which the sector can have a stronger voice

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Download Reports / Documents and Minutes for ChangeUp Greenwich here…

Infrastructure Business Plan December 07 CHUGGreenwichbusplan2007
Consortia Development Plan June 2007 Plan-june-07-Greenwich
2008/9 Workplan Final Workplan 2008 to 2009
2009/10 Workplan
Monitoring Report 2008/9 Final Monitoring Report 2008 to 2009

Minutes from ChangeUp Greenwich Steering Group meetings

20th Novemeber 2009 Minutes of Meeting 20.11.2009

17th February 2010 Minutes of Meeting 17.2.2010

21st April 2010  Minutes of Meeting 21 04 2010

16th June 2010   Minutes of Meeting 16 06 2010

CHUG Members
Members of the consortium

ChangeUp: Latest Developments
For further information about ChangeUp news please visit Capacitybuilders website

ChangeUp – Modernisation Fund
Want to explore how you could collaborate with another organisation or perhaps even merge? Then read on…