Surrey CVS Network

Hubs of Expertise - ChangeUp

The development of hubs of expertise is also part of the ChangeUp (link to ChangeUp page on our site) framework. The hubs will form a focal point for information, advice, direction and resources in the following areas:

• Performance Improvement
• Workforce Development
• Governance
• ICT
• Finance
• Recruiting & Developing Volunteers

These national hubs aim to be 'beacons of best practice', signposting voluntary and community sector organisations to sources of support.

The hubs are not going to be new organisations, but partnerships of existing bodies. Each hub will have up to £800,000 to develop and deliver its aims, plus £600,000 to commission new work were gaps exists. In terms of progress each hub is working on a business plan.

Volunteering England has had its Volunteering Hub business plan signed off by the Home Office. The plan will bring an 'extra £2.5 million into the volunteering sector'. The objective of this hub is 'that by 2014 there will be a leaner, more effectively marketed and high quality volunteering infrastructure'. (more...) Further information can be found at www.volunteering.org.uk.

The role of the Performance Improvement Hub is to bring the expertise that already exists together and then make this expertise more accessible to the voluntary and community sector. Also to help infrastructure organisations, locally, regionally and at a national level improve the quality of their support to the sector. The hub will also aim to improve the environment within which the sector operates by working with funders, etc. The Performance Improvement Hub has now received the official go-ahead from the Home Office. The Hub's Business Plan Executive Summary gives details of how you can register to receive valuable and free information. Further details can also be found at www.performance-improvement.org.uk.

The Workforce Development Hub brings together for the first time national strategic responsibility for: Skills Development in the Sector; Promoting the Sector as a Career Option; Promoting Good Employment Practice; and Leadership and Management Development. The Hub's business plan and further information can be found on www.voluntarysectorskills.org.uk

The Governance Hub's main functions will be to support the sector's many trustees and committee members by offering ways of increasing and enhancing their knowledge and skills. It will encourage more people to become trustees and increase the governance capacity of organisations. The Hub's Business Plan has now been agreed by the Home Office. Further information can be found at www.governancehub.org.uk.

The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Hub is supported by a group of voluntary sector organisations who have come together to plan and deliver a co-ordinated framework of ICT guidance, good practice, advice and support for voluntary and community organisations, accessible at a local level. Further information can be found at www.ictconsortium.org.uk

ChangeUp says that the Finance Hub "should provide a focus and lead on capacity building in the voluntary and community sector to win contracts and diversify income". It argues that action is needed "at the national level to strengthen what exists and fill gaps ... and [to] offer a single gateway through which organisations can be signposted for sources of help and advice". The Home Office has approved the hub's business plan and £2.5m is available over two years. Further information can be found at www.cafonline.org/policy.