The rainy weather seems to be clearing; summer may even have finally arrived. I am encouraged to note that the voluntary sector is now being given coverage for its response to the recent floods in north and west England. The national news has highlighted the role of volunteers in supporting the emergency services and in supporting displaced people; local voluntary furniture stores are providing furniture to the stricken areas; and on 11 August there will be a fundraising event at King George's Playing Field in Holywell.
I spent today preparing to work on our accounts. This meant clearing up lots of outstanding items, passing things over wherever possible, gathering together files and paperwork, and installing the accounts software on my PC. I also needed to make sure that people are comfortable with their work for the next few days – Maria in particular has just returned from leave and I needed to keep her up to date with things.
A welcome interruption
Our wonderful mayor, Dorothy Thornhill e-mailed asking for guidance on local groups: she has a benefactor considering making some local donations. Naturally, we were delighted to offer advice!
A not so welcome interruption
Our concentration was broken by the arrival of a man who was very distressed for no obvious reason and who wanted to share his troubles with staff here. On occasion, people arrive here seeking support for a wide range of problems and difficulties. Sometimes we are able to “signpost” people to an appropriate local agency. But other times people are perfectly clear that it is our job to help them find accommodation / stop drinking / expose corruption at Westminster / pay their gas bill / stop aliens taking control of television scheduling.
I imagine that these interruptions are a regular feature of life at any Volunteer Centre or CVS. In an open office like ours, each interruption is an effective way of disrupting the work of 6-10 people. Everyone here naturally does their best to respond in a positive and caring manner. But the fact is we are not set up to work with individuals and our staff and volunteers are not trained to support vulnerable individuals – particularly those displaying challanging behaviour.
We try to discourage local agencies from recommending us to people, but many professionals seem to think it is perfectly appropriate to direct people here with their troubles.
Compact
I also wrote out to fellow Herts CVS chief officers to ask their views on Compact (the “agreement” between statutory and voluntary sectors about how they conduct business together). I did this because over the past few weeks I have realised why there is so much misunderstanding around the Compact. It is because “The Compact” is actually three different things depending on who is asked.
To some, Compact is a statement of minimum acceptable standards (how could it be otherwise if it is negotiated around the table with half a dozen statutory agencies all moving at the pace of the slowest?) and breaches of the Compact should be treated extremely seriously.
To others, Compact is an aspirational statement of best practice, so breaches should be commonplace and not taken too seriously: after all, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Finally, some people regard Compact as a quasi-legal agreement prescribing the exact processes and standards that should apply in all circumstances: people have signed up to the Compact, and they should stick to it.
Having been Chair of the Herts Compact for more than six months, I feel rather foolish that is has taken me so long to arrive at this point. I am even more surprised that this question isn’t answered on either the Compact Commissioner’s website or the NCVO’s Compact Advocacy website. Surely this question has arisen before? Or am I just being very dense?
Sunday, 29 July 2007
Ahead of my approaching walking holiday in Wales (weather permitting) I am trying to adopt a regime of walking each day. I hope it lasts more than my previous going-to-the-gym-occasionally regime, or my having-couscous-for-lunch regime, or my eating-fruit-for-breakfast regime.
Today, Jackie and I went for a walk and bumped into Tarlok – Jackie’s first husband and an old friend of mine too. We had a nice chat together. When we got home, we’d enjoyed it so much that we went for another walk.
The rains have caused chaos and I hear the pea and potato crops are ruined. But I think we'll see a bumper fruit harvest; Jackie and I saw blackberries, plums, sloes, greengages, horse chestnuts, sweet chestnuts, apples and elderberries all earlier and larger than usual.
Today, Jackie and I went for a walk and bumped into Tarlok – Jackie’s first husband and an old friend of mine too. We had a nice chat together. When we got home, we’d enjoyed it so much that we went for another walk.
The rains have caused chaos and I hear the pea and potato crops are ruined. But I think we'll see a bumper fruit harvest; Jackie and I saw blackberries, plums, sloes, greengages, horse chestnuts, sweet chestnuts, apples and elderberries all earlier and larger than usual.
Saturday, 28 July 2007
I spent the morning preparing the garden and Jackie’s family arrived in force at 1:00 for her father’s seventieth birthday. At his request we dined on Fish’n’Chips and Champagne – a surprisingly good combination.
The birthday boy had recently returned from a holiday in Devon where he had taken photographs of the most extraordinary cloud formations.
Later, we were visited by my Mum and aunt. It all went very well and even Ken the decrepit cat ventured out to share some cake with us.
Friday, 27 July 2007
I left home at 4:00 am to take Bobby to Gatwick for his flight to America and arrived at the office about 7:00 am.
I had hoped that during the day I would catch up with e-mails, start testing Microsoft’s CRM software, and “clear the decks” so that next week I can focus fully on addressing our audit and preparing our Annual Report.
Sadly, there was a problem getting CRM software installed on our network with the software saying it could not instal because Outlook is not installed. Outlook is plainly installed and functioning on my PC, and I patiently explained this to CRM. I uninstalled and reinstalled Outlook. I reinstalled Outlook in different ways and to different directories. But still CRM insisted that Outlook is not installed. I left our IT chap to have a look but he had no luck either.
Meanwhile, I started tackling the 82 tasks or e-mails with little red flags. I eventually left the office about 6:00 pm having achieved little of what I’d hoped.
I had hoped that during the day I would catch up with e-mails, start testing Microsoft’s CRM software, and “clear the decks” so that next week I can focus fully on addressing our audit and preparing our Annual Report.
Sadly, there was a problem getting CRM software installed on our network with the software saying it could not instal because Outlook is not installed. Outlook is plainly installed and functioning on my PC, and I patiently explained this to CRM. I uninstalled and reinstalled Outlook. I reinstalled Outlook in different ways and to different directories. But still CRM insisted that Outlook is not installed. I left our IT chap to have a look but he had no luck either.
Meanwhile, I started tackling the 82 tasks or e-mails with little red flags. I eventually left the office about 6:00 pm having achieved little of what I’d hoped.
Thursday, 26 July 2007
Consultation on Communities and Local Government
I spent today at the Arbury Community Centre on the outskirts of Cambridge. I was contributing to the consultation on the Third Sector Strategy issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government.
I travelled up with Steph Gallagher (Development Worker at the Herts Infrastructure Consortium) and we enjoyed a good talk about HIC matters. At the conference, I was pleased to see several familiar faces: Hertfordshire had a good turn out for this regional meeting.
There were five speakers: an Adrian, a Richard and three Tims. Whatever happened to the diversity agenda?
There is a growing focus on Community Anchors - larger local community-based groups representing the voluntary sector and supporting smaller charities, usually through managing facilities and delivering services. A CVS in fact. This is very interesting. On the one hand this sounds like it is good news for the CVS, and it entirely and absolutely fits in with our plans. On the other hand, it does sound like the government (again) telling the sector how it should be organised. I hear John Cleese or perhaps Joyce Grenfell: "You, young lady, stand still. You, boy, stand over there. You at the back ..."
For me, the day was useful in confirming that Watford CVS, Herts Infrastructure Consortium and Herts Compact Group are all working in the right directions. It also helped with a few thoughts on LSPs and LAA. At one point in the day, I experienced a flash of revelation and for one glorious fleeting moment I could see a beautifully simple way of addressing all these agendas and initiatives in Hertfordshire through one unified and harmonised structure. But this vision of loveliness was soon gone. Maybe I just had too much coffee.
I spent today at the Arbury Community Centre on the outskirts of Cambridge. I was contributing to the consultation on the Third Sector Strategy issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government.
I travelled up with Steph Gallagher (Development Worker at the Herts Infrastructure Consortium) and we enjoyed a good talk about HIC matters. At the conference, I was pleased to see several familiar faces: Hertfordshire had a good turn out for this regional meeting.
There were five speakers: an Adrian, a Richard and three Tims. Whatever happened to the diversity agenda?
There is a growing focus on Community Anchors - larger local community-based groups representing the voluntary sector and supporting smaller charities, usually through managing facilities and delivering services. A CVS in fact. This is very interesting. On the one hand this sounds like it is good news for the CVS, and it entirely and absolutely fits in with our plans. On the other hand, it does sound like the government (again) telling the sector how it should be organised. I hear John Cleese or perhaps Joyce Grenfell: "You, young lady, stand still. You, boy, stand over there. You at the back ..."
For me, the day was useful in confirming that Watford CVS, Herts Infrastructure Consortium and Herts Compact Group are all working in the right directions. It also helped with a few thoughts on LSPs and LAA. At one point in the day, I experienced a flash of revelation and for one glorious fleeting moment I could see a beautifully simple way of addressing all these agendas and initiatives in Hertfordshire through one unified and harmonised structure. But this vision of loveliness was soon gone. Maybe I just had too much coffee.
Wednesday, 25 July 2007
IiP Today
I arrived at the office early to finalise and distribute Watford CVS News. All around the country, hundreds of CVS produce local newsletters distributing information never covered in any other publication. For Watford, this will be issue 128 of a newsletter published approximately quarterly since 1974. Since issue 127 it has been an e-mailed newsletter. Someone should write a social history before they all get turned into e-mails.
After finalising the text and layout, I had to check the e-mail list. We are still “between databases” for mailing and so lists are a little unreliable: I merged two lists together, removed duplicates, deleted people who had requested paper copies of the newsletter (or no copy at all in one or two cases), told people how to “unsubscribe” and issued the e-mail to c 500 recipients just before 10:00 am.
Almost as I clicked on the Send button, our IiP assessor arrived; a delightful lady called Angela fully recovered from her tribulations of last week.
I spent some time talking with Angela and then left her to her schedule of meetings with other staff, volunteers and trustees. With all the other distractions of the past month or so, I have barely had time to do any special preparation for the IiP assessment. So Angela is seeing Watford CVS “in its natural state”. I know that Watford CVS is a healthy and well-run organisation, but will this be enough to meet the IiP standard?
While Angela began her cycle of meetings, I spent some time with Sha-Lee working on the format for our soon-to-be-published Community Directory and tidying up our maillists. At lunchtime I had a meeting with the Muslim Awareness Forum on a number of issues. Then I looked hard at Microsoft’s Customer Relationship Manager software.
Then I had some calls about Watford Borough Council’s use “section 106” agreements to secure community gain on planning applications. Most voluntary groups can’t easily raise funds for capital spend. So in practical terms “community use” often means “use by a Christian group for private worship”. This can produce some unsavoury results with property development companies making overtures to religious groups (of varying degrees of respectability), and religious groups randomly approaching community groups like time-share salesmen with seductive offers of free accommodation that must be signed up for within 72 hours. It is of course utter madness and something must be done urgently to rationalise this system.
IiP IiP Hooray!
Around 5:00 I had a feedback meeting with Angela. In time honoured fashion, I was prepared for the worst, but hoping for the best. I was delighted to hear that Angela felt Watford CVS did meet the Investors in People standard.
There are still more processes to go through (a formal report from Angela and a formal review of her recommendation) but this was excellent news.
By the time Angela had finished with her feedback, it was after 5:30 and only Helen (Volunteer Centre Co-ordinator) and Vanessa (Development and Training Officer) were still around to share the good news.
As I am out of the office tomorrow, I wrote an e-mail telling staff and trustees the outcome and thanking them etc. When I read back the e-mail it seemed rather pompous and smug. Perhaps that’s how these things have to sound?
A recovery?
At home, Jackie claims to be fully recovered and says she will go into work tomorrow. I know she isn’t fully recovered - but she is determined.
I arrived at the office early to finalise and distribute Watford CVS News. All around the country, hundreds of CVS produce local newsletters distributing information never covered in any other publication. For Watford, this will be issue 128 of a newsletter published approximately quarterly since 1974. Since issue 127 it has been an e-mailed newsletter. Someone should write a social history before they all get turned into e-mails.
After finalising the text and layout, I had to check the e-mail list. We are still “between databases” for mailing and so lists are a little unreliable: I merged two lists together, removed duplicates, deleted people who had requested paper copies of the newsletter (or no copy at all in one or two cases), told people how to “unsubscribe” and issued the e-mail to c 500 recipients just before 10:00 am.
Almost as I clicked on the Send button, our IiP assessor arrived; a delightful lady called Angela fully recovered from her tribulations of last week.
I spent some time talking with Angela and then left her to her schedule of meetings with other staff, volunteers and trustees. With all the other distractions of the past month or so, I have barely had time to do any special preparation for the IiP assessment. So Angela is seeing Watford CVS “in its natural state”. I know that Watford CVS is a healthy and well-run organisation, but will this be enough to meet the IiP standard?
While Angela began her cycle of meetings, I spent some time with Sha-Lee working on the format for our soon-to-be-published Community Directory and tidying up our maillists. At lunchtime I had a meeting with the Muslim Awareness Forum on a number of issues. Then I looked hard at Microsoft’s Customer Relationship Manager software.
Then I had some calls about Watford Borough Council’s use “section 106” agreements to secure community gain on planning applications. Most voluntary groups can’t easily raise funds for capital spend. So in practical terms “community use” often means “use by a Christian group for private worship”. This can produce some unsavoury results with property development companies making overtures to religious groups (of varying degrees of respectability), and religious groups randomly approaching community groups like time-share salesmen with seductive offers of free accommodation that must be signed up for within 72 hours. It is of course utter madness and something must be done urgently to rationalise this system.
IiP IiP Hooray!
Around 5:00 I had a feedback meeting with Angela. In time honoured fashion, I was prepared for the worst, but hoping for the best. I was delighted to hear that Angela felt Watford CVS did meet the Investors in People standard.
There are still more processes to go through (a formal report from Angela and a formal review of her recommendation) but this was excellent news.
By the time Angela had finished with her feedback, it was after 5:30 and only Helen (Volunteer Centre Co-ordinator) and Vanessa (Development and Training Officer) were still around to share the good news.
As I am out of the office tomorrow, I wrote an e-mail telling staff and trustees the outcome and thanking them etc. When I read back the e-mail it seemed rather pompous and smug. Perhaps that’s how these things have to sound?
A recovery?
At home, Jackie claims to be fully recovered and says she will go into work tomorrow. I know she isn’t fully recovered - but she is determined.
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
Rejoice!
Our Stage 2 application for Basis funding has been completed and posted. Apart fromt he application form itself, banking details and so on, this comprised a 26,000-word Business Plan, a five year budget, supporting documentation, a project plan, time lines, milestones, sensitivity analysis, critical paths, risk assessment, gantt chart, impact assessment, scenarios, user feedback, continuous improvement, stakeholder engagement and so on and so forth.
Phew!
Anne (Funding Advisor) and Vanessa (Development and Training Officer) have been unswervingly magnificent throughout the past weeks and I think each of us has a feeling that we can now resume our lives.
Ever onwards
I have just a few short days to catch my breath before moving on to the audit next week. In this few days we have our IiP assessment tomorrow, I have a day in Cambridge on Thursday and I will spend Friday moving toward a decision on our IT needs. In between all this, minutes are due out for last week’s trustees meeting, I need to write the final Value and Volumes report on the voluntary sector in Hertfordshire, we have a new newsletter to be distributed, and I need to arrange a meeting with our Mayor to discuss accommodation issues.
And this morning I also met with Tina Barnard, the impressive new CEO of the Watford Community Housing Trust who has agreed to come and introduce herself and WCHT at WCVS's September AGM.
At home, Jackie is still unwell. Also, our neighbour’s car broke down during the day and I gave Linda a lift to a field near Ayot St Peter to feed her horses. Why do people own horses?
Our Stage 2 application for Basis funding has been completed and posted. Apart fromt he application form itself, banking details and so on, this comprised a 26,000-word Business Plan, a five year budget, supporting documentation, a project plan, time lines, milestones, sensitivity analysis, critical paths, risk assessment, gantt chart, impact assessment, scenarios, user feedback, continuous improvement, stakeholder engagement and so on and so forth.
Phew!
Anne (Funding Advisor) and Vanessa (Development and Training Officer) have been unswervingly magnificent throughout the past weeks and I think each of us has a feeling that we can now resume our lives.
Ever onwards
I have just a few short days to catch my breath before moving on to the audit next week. In this few days we have our IiP assessment tomorrow, I have a day in Cambridge on Thursday and I will spend Friday moving toward a decision on our IT needs. In between all this, minutes are due out for last week’s trustees meeting, I need to write the final Value and Volumes report on the voluntary sector in Hertfordshire, we have a new newsletter to be distributed, and I need to arrange a meeting with our Mayor to discuss accommodation issues.
And this morning I also met with Tina Barnard, the impressive new CEO of the Watford Community Housing Trust who has agreed to come and introduce herself and WCHT at WCVS's September AGM.
At home, Jackie is still unwell. Also, our neighbour’s car broke down during the day and I gave Linda a lift to a field near Ayot St Peter to feed her horses. Why do people own horses?
Monday, 23 July 2007
I suffered a bad start to the day. Jackie (light of my life) was unwell and off work and this morning’s traffic was appalling.
At the office, Helen and Vanessa had been in over the weekend to sweep away the water and check the flood damage. What stars!
For me, it was a day of bits and pieces, but always with our Basis application somewhere close to hand. At the moment, non-Basis matters are far more interesting: I now have 78 e-mails or tasks bearing little red flags demanding action. But today, only a few managed to barge Basis out of the way long enough to take my attention.
The wonderful people at Watford Palace Theatre have offered our volunteers free tickets to see their production of Tin-Tin. Laura (our Voluntary Transport co-ordinator) is receiving requests. And I followed up discussions about the new Common Assessment Framework for groups working with children and youth. And I arranged a performance review meeting with Louise Jones of Connexions, did some organising for our September AGM, updated our website (Maria is on leave), spoke with a few colleagues about Compact, and ferried a few e-mails onward for other people to deal with.
But mostly of course I worked on our Basis application. Anne (Funding Advisor) and Vanessa (Development and Training Officer) had done a brilliant job proof-reading the cross-checking my work of last week. I double checked their work and then made a few corrections to figures and text, and at 3:00 pm we had a final meeting together to address 4-5 outstanding issues. We resolved these and at about 5:00 pm I started printing a final draft of the plan. Hurray and Hurrah!
Driving out of Watford was no easier than driving in. It took me more than an hour to get to Barnet to meet Bobby. At home, Jackie was still unwell with labyrinthitis; appropriately one of the better-named conditions. This was only a small consolation to Jackie, but as I pointed out, every little helps.
At the office, Helen and Vanessa had been in over the weekend to sweep away the water and check the flood damage. What stars!
For me, it was a day of bits and pieces, but always with our Basis application somewhere close to hand. At the moment, non-Basis matters are far more interesting: I now have 78 e-mails or tasks bearing little red flags demanding action. But today, only a few managed to barge Basis out of the way long enough to take my attention.
The wonderful people at Watford Palace Theatre have offered our volunteers free tickets to see their production of Tin-Tin. Laura (our Voluntary Transport co-ordinator) is receiving requests. And I followed up discussions about the new Common Assessment Framework for groups working with children and youth. And I arranged a performance review meeting with Louise Jones of Connexions, did some organising for our September AGM, updated our website (Maria is on leave), spoke with a few colleagues about Compact, and ferried a few e-mails onward for other people to deal with.
But mostly of course I worked on our Basis application. Anne (Funding Advisor) and Vanessa (Development and Training Officer) had done a brilliant job proof-reading the cross-checking my work of last week. I double checked their work and then made a few corrections to figures and text, and at 3:00 pm we had a final meeting together to address 4-5 outstanding issues. We resolved these and at about 5:00 pm I started printing a final draft of the plan. Hurray and Hurrah!
Driving out of Watford was no easier than driving in. It took me more than an hour to get to Barnet to meet Bobby. At home, Jackie was still unwell with labyrinthitis; appropriately one of the better-named conditions. This was only a small consolation to Jackie, but as I pointed out, every little helps.
Sunday, 22 July 2007
All day, Jackie and I just concentrated on recharging our batteries. There’s another tough week ahead - but it wont be as tough as last week!
Latest reading (I know you're interested)
I finished reading a beautiful Folio Society edition of the Travels of Marco Polo; surely one of the most important books ever written? Then I ploughed through Darwin’s Voyage of the Beagle. I had formed the impression that Darwin was a stiff Victorian academic. But in fact this book was written in the racier Georgian era: who thinks of Darwin riding with the Gauchos and learning to use a “lazo”? Of his vehement opposition to the slave tade? Of his sense of humour? Very enjoyable reading.
Latest reading (I know you're interested)
I finished reading a beautiful Folio Society edition of the Travels of Marco Polo; surely one of the most important books ever written? Then I ploughed through Darwin’s Voyage of the Beagle. I had formed the impression that Darwin was a stiff Victorian academic. But in fact this book was written in the racier Georgian era: who thinks of Darwin riding with the Gauchos and learning to use a “lazo”? Of his vehement opposition to the slave tade? Of his sense of humour? Very enjoyable reading.
Saturday, 21 July 2007
We slept late and then went to my brother’s for a family picnic. The weather held off perfectly and Jez and his wife Lynn were the perfect hosts as ever. My migraine felt much better, and I even had a go on the trampoline - mostly to amuse my granddaughter Bethany who thought it very funny. We enjoyed a lovely visit with Beth and found it hard to return her to her Mum at tea-time.
Friday, 20 July 2007
After only a few hours sleep, I was up and back at work a little after 8:00 am this morning, feeling very stiff after yesterday’s exertions. At 9:00 am I left for County Hall in Hertford to meet Frances Coupe and Helen Foye and discuss the Hertfordshire Compact and how to resolve the ongoing difficulties over Home-Start funding. I undertook this visit in my role as co-Chair of Hertfordshire Compact rather than my role as CEO of Watford CVS: an important distinction.
Helen and Frances explained last year’s evaluation of Home-Start’s service. This does indeed seem to have been a textbook joint-review and a paragon of good practice: agreed timetable, agreed process and so on.
However, at the same time, HCC also reviewed how they funded children’s services across the County. They identified some significant variations in funding and adopted a common formula for allocating funds more equitably across the County. Connected to the evaluation only by chronological proximity, this funding decision was taken without the benefit of any consultation. Frances Coupe said that by the time her department learnt of the formula proposal, a decision had already been taken at a higher level and at this stage it would have been pointless to consult as there was no prospect that the decision might be changed.
She also argued that in terms of service delivery, the new formula made good sense and could not easily be challanged on public policy grounds. Of course it is not in my role to judge policy or funding decisions, but it is part of my remit to try and get Compact signatories to reconcile their differences and overcome difficulties.
I think I now understand with some clarity exactly where the difficulties and misunderstandings have arisen in this process. And I think that Frances does too. I suggested it might be helpful for HCC to have a full and frank meeting with Hertfordshire Home-Start groups to clear the air and to start early discussions about what happens at the end of the current three year agreements.
Frances and I then talked through options for the future of the Hertfordshire Compact. Her focus is on improving services for Hertfordshire. And she wants HCC’s Children Schools and Families office to work with other agencies to this end. And she wants the Compact to support and enable this process. And perhaps it ought to. I hope Frances will attend the September Compact meeting and talk about her expectations and hopes for the Compact.
HCC should also have a corporate commitment to the Compact that establishes common standards etc. After Frances and I finished our meeting, I had hoped to meet with Andrew Burt but he was on leave.
I wasn’t sorry. Since leaving home, my head had been pounding with an incipient migraine and I was keen to return home and nurse it. Doubtless this is my body’s revenge for the abuse I’ve heaped on it over the past week: nature’s way of telling me to get a grip. So I returned home to nurse my head. On the way I dropped off at the supermarket. While there, we experienced yet another torrential downpour.
During this downpour, Helen called me from the office to let me know that the WCVS offices were flooding. My instant reaction was a silent groan, but it was soon apparent that Helen was perfectly capable of dealing with the problem, was in fact doing so very well, and that even if I was there I could do nothing to improve things. Helen called back at the end of the day to confirm that everything was fine and under control.
Later still, Jackie and I enjoyed our first full evening together for a week and were rewarded with a new episode of Midsomer Murders. Perfect. Apart from my migraine still gently throbbing.
Helen and Frances explained last year’s evaluation of Home-Start’s service. This does indeed seem to have been a textbook joint-review and a paragon of good practice: agreed timetable, agreed process and so on.
However, at the same time, HCC also reviewed how they funded children’s services across the County. They identified some significant variations in funding and adopted a common formula for allocating funds more equitably across the County. Connected to the evaluation only by chronological proximity, this funding decision was taken without the benefit of any consultation. Frances Coupe said that by the time her department learnt of the formula proposal, a decision had already been taken at a higher level and at this stage it would have been pointless to consult as there was no prospect that the decision might be changed.
She also argued that in terms of service delivery, the new formula made good sense and could not easily be challanged on public policy grounds. Of course it is not in my role to judge policy or funding decisions, but it is part of my remit to try and get Compact signatories to reconcile their differences and overcome difficulties.
I think I now understand with some clarity exactly where the difficulties and misunderstandings have arisen in this process. And I think that Frances does too. I suggested it might be helpful for HCC to have a full and frank meeting with Hertfordshire Home-Start groups to clear the air and to start early discussions about what happens at the end of the current three year agreements.
Frances and I then talked through options for the future of the Hertfordshire Compact. Her focus is on improving services for Hertfordshire. And she wants HCC’s Children Schools and Families office to work with other agencies to this end. And she wants the Compact to support and enable this process. And perhaps it ought to. I hope Frances will attend the September Compact meeting and talk about her expectations and hopes for the Compact.
HCC should also have a corporate commitment to the Compact that establishes common standards etc. After Frances and I finished our meeting, I had hoped to meet with Andrew Burt but he was on leave.
I wasn’t sorry. Since leaving home, my head had been pounding with an incipient migraine and I was keen to return home and nurse it. Doubtless this is my body’s revenge for the abuse I’ve heaped on it over the past week: nature’s way of telling me to get a grip. So I returned home to nurse my head. On the way I dropped off at the supermarket. While there, we experienced yet another torrential downpour.
During this downpour, Helen called me from the office to let me know that the WCVS offices were flooding. My instant reaction was a silent groan, but it was soon apparent that Helen was perfectly capable of dealing with the problem, was in fact doing so very well, and that even if I was there I could do nothing to improve things. Helen called back at the end of the day to confirm that everything was fine and under control.
Later still, Jackie and I enjoyed our first full evening together for a week and were rewarded with a new episode of Midsomer Murders. Perfect. Apart from my migraine still gently throbbing.
Thursday, 19 July 2007
All day and all of the night
My first appointment was at 12:00 to talk at Stevenage CVS’s AGM, so I stayed home in the morning putting some finishing touches to my short speech and then I looked again at Basis. At present, this work is all-consuming. It drains my time, monopolises my attention and eclipses all other priorities. Ann and Vanessa have set aside Friday (tomorrow) to look through a draft of the final bid so my final sections needed to be finished today or else the timetable will soon unravel. And I need to set Basis aside as soon as possible: for my sanity, my marriage and for the greater good of Watford CVS. I swore a quiet oath that I would not sleep again until I had completed a first draft of the Business Plan. This bold resolution helped calm me quite a lot.
Stevenage CVS’s AGM was thoroughly enjoyable. Chair Bernard Eddleston was very welcoming, Ann Jansz was as charming as ever, and there was a very good atmosphere all round. I did my best to stir up a bit of controversy but their good humour was more than a match for me. After the meeting, over sandwiches, I spoke to many people about different aspects of CVS work: the Stevenage Caribbean African Association, SOVA, Personnel Matters, and I was very pleased to meet Ethel the bright new LAA / voluntary sector Liaison Officer for Hertfordshire.
On leaving the AGM, I dropped off at home to pick up my son Bobby who was determined to do some work in Watford, despite my dire warnings that I might be at the office very late. During the journey Bobby introduced me to an album by Queens of the Stone Age, which I quite enjoyed. I reciprocated with the Bonzos, but after two songs I realised Bobby was listening to something entirely different on his iPod.
We arrived at the office around 3:00 pm and I met with Maria who updated me on several things (she is so good to work with). Our Investors in People assessor called and we agreed to reschedule WCVS's assessment for next Wednesday. I checked the papers for this evening’s trustees’ meeting and then worked for an hour or so on Basis.
Helen (Volunteer Centre Co-ordinator) tonight attended a HCC consultation meeting on sustainable futures. Also attending was one of our trustees, Phil Willerton. But other than this absence, we enjoyed a full house for our trustees’ meeting. This is a good sign.
Pam chaired the meeting to perfection as ever. There was one discussion where some concern was expressed about a Watford Borough Council initiative to pass control of five Community Centres to voluntary groups. But it was an extremely purposeful and good natured meeting. And it finished in less than two hours. Perhaps they all knew that I still had plenty of work to do.
After following up a few things from the trustees’ meeting (and sharing a Subways sandwich with Bobby) I resumed work on the Basis Business Plan about 9:00 pm. Initially it was a bit slow, but things soon fell into place. At almost exactly 2:00 in the morning, I printed off a first draft of the finished document which I left on Vanessa’s desk for her and Anne to read through tomorrow.
Bobby and I arrived home at 3:00 in the morning.
My first appointment was at 12:00 to talk at Stevenage CVS’s AGM, so I stayed home in the morning putting some finishing touches to my short speech and then I looked again at Basis. At present, this work is all-consuming. It drains my time, monopolises my attention and eclipses all other priorities. Ann and Vanessa have set aside Friday (tomorrow) to look through a draft of the final bid so my final sections needed to be finished today or else the timetable will soon unravel. And I need to set Basis aside as soon as possible: for my sanity, my marriage and for the greater good of Watford CVS. I swore a quiet oath that I would not sleep again until I had completed a first draft of the Business Plan. This bold resolution helped calm me quite a lot.
Stevenage CVS’s AGM was thoroughly enjoyable. Chair Bernard Eddleston was very welcoming, Ann Jansz was as charming as ever, and there was a very good atmosphere all round. I did my best to stir up a bit of controversy but their good humour was more than a match for me. After the meeting, over sandwiches, I spoke to many people about different aspects of CVS work: the Stevenage Caribbean African Association, SOVA, Personnel Matters, and I was very pleased to meet Ethel the bright new LAA / voluntary sector Liaison Officer for Hertfordshire.
On leaving the AGM, I dropped off at home to pick up my son Bobby who was determined to do some work in Watford, despite my dire warnings that I might be at the office very late. During the journey Bobby introduced me to an album by Queens of the Stone Age, which I quite enjoyed. I reciprocated with the Bonzos, but after two songs I realised Bobby was listening to something entirely different on his iPod.
We arrived at the office around 3:00 pm and I met with Maria who updated me on several things (she is so good to work with). Our Investors in People assessor called and we agreed to reschedule WCVS's assessment for next Wednesday. I checked the papers for this evening’s trustees’ meeting and then worked for an hour or so on Basis.
Helen (Volunteer Centre Co-ordinator) tonight attended a HCC consultation meeting on sustainable futures. Also attending was one of our trustees, Phil Willerton. But other than this absence, we enjoyed a full house for our trustees’ meeting. This is a good sign.
Pam chaired the meeting to perfection as ever. There was one discussion where some concern was expressed about a Watford Borough Council initiative to pass control of five Community Centres to voluntary groups. But it was an extremely purposeful and good natured meeting. And it finished in less than two hours. Perhaps they all knew that I still had plenty of work to do.
After following up a few things from the trustees’ meeting (and sharing a Subways sandwich with Bobby) I resumed work on the Basis Business Plan about 9:00 pm. Initially it was a bit slow, but things soon fell into place. At almost exactly 2:00 in the morning, I printed off a first draft of the finished document which I left on Vanessa’s desk for her and Anne to read through tomorrow.
Bobby and I arrived home at 3:00 in the morning.
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
I arrived at the office early to prepare for our Investors in People inspection. But at 8:30 am I received a telephone call from our assessor’s husband to say that she was unwell and would not be able to come. He sounded quite distressed: I think at his wife’s illness rather than at having to pass bad news to us. I e-mailed the bad news to everyone, left a telephone message for our chair, and asked Maria (Office Co-ordinator) and Laura (Volunteer Transport Office Co-ordinator) to contact the volunteers asap (we had organised a small discussion between the assessor and some volunteers).
Of course our assessor did not cancel lightly and I wish her a swift recovery. But equally I was frustrated at so much planning going to no purpose. As I am sure our assessor was. In the end, everyone was alerted other than one trustee and one volunteer who turned up for their appointments, but were very understanding (thanks Ian and June).
But there is always a bright side, too. Receiving news of a cancelled meeting is a little like having random access to a Time Machine. In this instance, I randomly gained a free day from nowhere that I could use to tackle some other work. Basis.
Meanwhile, Maria had drafted out the latest edition of WCVS News and also a Press Release about our trustee vacancies. And Helen made a welcome return to the office after a few days absence: it was her birthday and she brought in an array of fresh cream cakes from Sainsbury’s. Wonderful. Sadly, I had to send my apologies to a trustees meeting at the Disability Law Service. I hate letting people down, but Basis was pressing hard …
By mid afternoon I had complete the Project Implementation section of our Basis Business Plan. Somehow I had managed to produce a half-decent Gantt chart using SmartDraw (it was a bit like threading a needle wearing boxing gloves). I met with Anne and Vanessa to plan their next inputs, and then I went straight on to tackle the Budget, the Financial Plan and the Sensitivity Analysis.
There are already good figures for the finances and I surprised by the pleasing elegance of our original bid. It was really quite beautiful the way it all held together. Or perhaps this is just evidence that I have spent far far too long on this. I carried on working until Bobby arrived (from London, or possibly Brighton) at about 9:00 pm adn we headed off home together.
Of course our assessor did not cancel lightly and I wish her a swift recovery. But equally I was frustrated at so much planning going to no purpose. As I am sure our assessor was. In the end, everyone was alerted other than one trustee and one volunteer who turned up for their appointments, but were very understanding (thanks Ian and June).
But there is always a bright side, too. Receiving news of a cancelled meeting is a little like having random access to a Time Machine. In this instance, I randomly gained a free day from nowhere that I could use to tackle some other work. Basis.
Meanwhile, Maria had drafted out the latest edition of WCVS News and also a Press Release about our trustee vacancies. And Helen made a welcome return to the office after a few days absence: it was her birthday and she brought in an array of fresh cream cakes from Sainsbury’s. Wonderful. Sadly, I had to send my apologies to a trustees meeting at the Disability Law Service. I hate letting people down, but Basis was pressing hard …
By mid afternoon I had complete the Project Implementation section of our Basis Business Plan. Somehow I had managed to produce a half-decent Gantt chart using SmartDraw (it was a bit like threading a needle wearing boxing gloves). I met with Anne and Vanessa to plan their next inputs, and then I went straight on to tackle the Budget, the Financial Plan and the Sensitivity Analysis.
There are already good figures for the finances and I surprised by the pleasing elegance of our original bid. It was really quite beautiful the way it all held together. Or perhaps this is just evidence that I have spent far far too long on this. I carried on working until Bobby arrived (from London, or possibly Brighton) at about 9:00 pm adn we headed off home together.
Tuesday, 17 July 2007
This morning I drove to Stevenage for a meeting of the Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium. This consortium currently has a real sense of purpose. All very encouraging.
During the meeting I managed a brief chat with Ann Jansz about Stevenage CVS’s AGM on Thursday where I will speak on the Value and Volumes study. I also asked Ann if she would come to our AGM to speak about the Local Area Agreement. No disrespect to Ann, but obviously we will need to think of a snappier title.
I spent some time with Maria organising what needs to happen before she goes on leave this Friday. We made arrangements about newsletters and networking lunches, Thursday’s trustees’ meeting and September’s AGM.
Then I joined Vanessa at a meeting of the Watford Disability Forum at Beechen Grove Baptist Church. Members unanimously want to retain WCVS support but also feel the Forum should have a stronger identify of its own, rather than simply being a Forum run by WCVS. I think this is good and I will arrange for a small working group from the Forum to meet with myself, She-Lee (who is good on marketing and design) and Maria (who can advise on a Forum website) to discuss options for raising the Forum's profile.
I returned to the office about 4:30 pm and called the Disability Law Service. Tomorrow I am meant to be at a trustees meeting but with everything happening at WCVS I just can’t afford to be in London tomorrow evening. Linda was very understanding.
I worked on our Basis business plan until about 7:30 when I headed off for home. Jackie and I managed to spend at least a few hours together. Yesterday I mused on the benefits of working with good people at WCVS. But of course Jackie doesn’t see any of that. She just knows I am not home in the evenings. I will focus on restoring some Work-Life balance. Just as soon as this Basis business plan is completed. And the audit.
Tomorrow we have our Investors in People assessment. With everything else going on, I've probably not given this the attention is deserves. But fundamentally things are very good here - and the worst that can happen is that we have to have a second visit.
During the meeting I managed a brief chat with Ann Jansz about Stevenage CVS’s AGM on Thursday where I will speak on the Value and Volumes study. I also asked Ann if she would come to our AGM to speak about the Local Area Agreement. No disrespect to Ann, but obviously we will need to think of a snappier title.
I spent some time with Maria organising what needs to happen before she goes on leave this Friday. We made arrangements about newsletters and networking lunches, Thursday’s trustees’ meeting and September’s AGM.
Then I joined Vanessa at a meeting of the Watford Disability Forum at Beechen Grove Baptist Church. Members unanimously want to retain WCVS support but also feel the Forum should have a stronger identify of its own, rather than simply being a Forum run by WCVS. I think this is good and I will arrange for a small working group from the Forum to meet with myself, She-Lee (who is good on marketing and design) and Maria (who can advise on a Forum website) to discuss options for raising the Forum's profile.
I returned to the office about 4:30 pm and called the Disability Law Service. Tomorrow I am meant to be at a trustees meeting but with everything happening at WCVS I just can’t afford to be in London tomorrow evening. Linda was very understanding.
I worked on our Basis business plan until about 7:30 when I headed off for home. Jackie and I managed to spend at least a few hours together. Yesterday I mused on the benefits of working with good people at WCVS. But of course Jackie doesn’t see any of that. She just knows I am not home in the evenings. I will focus on restoring some Work-Life balance. Just as soon as this Basis business plan is completed. And the audit.
Tomorrow we have our Investors in People assessment. With everything else going on, I've probably not given this the attention is deserves. But fundamentally things are very good here - and the worst that can happen is that we have to have a second visit.
Monday, 16 July 2007
Reflections on stress
Today was a long hard slog. But very productive.
Anne and Vanessa have worked very hard on Basis. I do tell them how appreciative and grateful I am. But I suspect they might be a bit tired of hearing me say it. So on the way in this morning, I stopped off to buy them some flowers and chocolates. Rather a superficial gesture. And a dangerous precedent. But at least it is an unequivocal public statement of appreciation; and I think that itself will be appreciated.
After delivering up my gifts (both thankfully took the gesture as it was intended) I caught up on four days of incoming e-mails. Or at least I answered a few e-mails and put little red flags on lots of others, which at least gave me a sense of having achieved something.
One remarkable e-mail was from a CEO in a local charity who had resigned because of work pressures. It is always a terrible shame when the charity sector leeches talent in this way. Perhaps I will consult with people over creating a Chief Officers group in Watford.
I also spent some time thinking through last week’s HIC meetings and decided to complete my allotted task sooner rather than later. My task was to create a representation of a possible future structure for HIC. Over the weekend I showed a draft to my wife and sons who were horrified at its complexity. Some rather disparaging remarks were made. So this morning I simplified and reworked the diagram. It’s so much easier to get these things out of the way while they are still fresh in your mind.
In the afternoon, I sorted out July’s salaries and met with Maria. Then it was back to our second stage Basis application / business plan. Currently the bane of my life. By the time I surfaced from this work, it was gone 7:00 pm.
Rather reluctantly (as I was making good progress on the business plan) I set Basis aside to prepare papers etc for Thursday’s trustees’ meeting. Personally, I like to receive papers a week in advance of a meeting, and this is perfectly reasonable. But I had at least written to trustees last week advising that I would e-mail the papers on Monday. Given current circumstances here that’s not too bad.
Preparing the papers took a few hours. Twice our network crashed making things take longer than they should. Then I had to use my web-mail account to mail to one trustee as AOL has started rejecting e-mails from watfordcvs.net. Then I printed off a set of papers to hand deliver to our one trustee with no e-mail. Then I mailed a few requests to Maria for the morning (I will be at a meeting in Stevenage).
I arrived home just after midnight. Jackie was sound asleep. She is so wonderful and I do love her so.
Work pressures are a difficult thing. A larger workload doesn’t necessarily equate to more stress. I like to relax, but nothing stresses me so much as enforced idleness. For me, the two other major sources of stress are feeling out of control (not being able to find things, filing to be done, computers crashing) and fear of failure (missed deadlines, not delivering on promises).
A final source of stress can be people: personal conflicts, power games, poor communication, etc. It is inevitable that sometimes we buffet up against one another. But this is not stressful if there is fundamental respect and goodwill. And these, I think, are what abound at Watford CVS. All staff and all trustees respect each other, support each other, and appreciate each other’s contributions. And this is worth any number of stratagems and policies on time management and stress management. Even after a sixteen hour working day.
But of course there may be rather less respect and goodwill if we don't get our Basis bid and our audit completed on time!
Today was a long hard slog. But very productive.
Anne and Vanessa have worked very hard on Basis. I do tell them how appreciative and grateful I am. But I suspect they might be a bit tired of hearing me say it. So on the way in this morning, I stopped off to buy them some flowers and chocolates. Rather a superficial gesture. And a dangerous precedent. But at least it is an unequivocal public statement of appreciation; and I think that itself will be appreciated.
After delivering up my gifts (both thankfully took the gesture as it was intended) I caught up on four days of incoming e-mails. Or at least I answered a few e-mails and put little red flags on lots of others, which at least gave me a sense of having achieved something.
One remarkable e-mail was from a CEO in a local charity who had resigned because of work pressures. It is always a terrible shame when the charity sector leeches talent in this way. Perhaps I will consult with people over creating a Chief Officers group in Watford.
I also spent some time thinking through last week’s HIC meetings and decided to complete my allotted task sooner rather than later. My task was to create a representation of a possible future structure for HIC. Over the weekend I showed a draft to my wife and sons who were horrified at its complexity. Some rather disparaging remarks were made. So this morning I simplified and reworked the diagram. It’s so much easier to get these things out of the way while they are still fresh in your mind.
In the afternoon, I sorted out July’s salaries and met with Maria. Then it was back to our second stage Basis application / business plan. Currently the bane of my life. By the time I surfaced from this work, it was gone 7:00 pm.
Rather reluctantly (as I was making good progress on the business plan) I set Basis aside to prepare papers etc for Thursday’s trustees’ meeting. Personally, I like to receive papers a week in advance of a meeting, and this is perfectly reasonable. But I had at least written to trustees last week advising that I would e-mail the papers on Monday. Given current circumstances here that’s not too bad.
Preparing the papers took a few hours. Twice our network crashed making things take longer than they should. Then I had to use my web-mail account to mail to one trustee as AOL has started rejecting e-mails from watfordcvs.net. Then I printed off a set of papers to hand deliver to our one trustee with no e-mail. Then I mailed a few requests to Maria for the morning (I will be at a meeting in Stevenage).
I arrived home just after midnight. Jackie was sound asleep. She is so wonderful and I do love her so.
Work pressures are a difficult thing. A larger workload doesn’t necessarily equate to more stress. I like to relax, but nothing stresses me so much as enforced idleness. For me, the two other major sources of stress are feeling out of control (not being able to find things, filing to be done, computers crashing) and fear of failure (missed deadlines, not delivering on promises).
A final source of stress can be people: personal conflicts, power games, poor communication, etc. It is inevitable that sometimes we buffet up against one another. But this is not stressful if there is fundamental respect and goodwill. And these, I think, are what abound at Watford CVS. All staff and all trustees respect each other, support each other, and appreciate each other’s contributions. And this is worth any number of stratagems and policies on time management and stress management. Even after a sixteen hour working day.
But of course there may be rather less respect and goodwill if we don't get our Basis bid and our audit completed on time!
Sunday, 15 July 2007
I spent the day working on our second stage Basis bid. In the afternoon I travelled to the office to find Anne was also there working hard. She was still here when I left a few hours later. She and Vanessa had forwarded me a good final draft of the business plan. Now it just needs the financial figures and the implementation plan (including Gantt Chart).
Unfortunately, the SmartDraw software I downloaded from the internet really can't produce Gantt Charts. Or rather it can, but only in the most superficial way with nowhere near the sophistication of Microsoft Project.
Unfortunately, the SmartDraw software I downloaded from the internet really can't produce Gantt Charts. Or rather it can, but only in the most superficial way with nowhere near the sophistication of Microsoft Project.
Saturday, 14 July 2007
Foundling Hospital and British Library
In previous years, Jackie and I would have spent this weekend at the Welwyn Garden City Kaleidoscope festival or at the Hitchin Rhythms of the World festival. Instead, we went on a coach trip with the East Herts Archaeological Society to London for tours of the Foundling Hospital at Coram’s Fields and of the new British Library. Despite the humid weather, this was very enjoyable.
I was vaguely familiar with the Foundling Hospital but knew little of its history and nothing of its connections with Hogarth and Handel. The hospital trustees could accept only 40 “foundlings” a year, yet usually had more than 100 applications. Their solution was to operate a random lottery to decide on entry (possibly the true origin of the term “blackballed”). The Hertfordshire connection is that the "Hospital" relocated in the 1920s to Berkhamstead.
Even better was the British Library, surely one of the finest modern municipal buildings in Britain. Absolutely beautiful. And the contents were wonderful too: Treasures of the British Library and an exhibition entitled Sacred of the Bible, the Qur’an and the Torah. Perhaps a destination for a Watford One World Forum outing?
In previous years, Jackie and I would have spent this weekend at the Welwyn Garden City Kaleidoscope festival or at the Hitchin Rhythms of the World festival. Instead, we went on a coach trip with the East Herts Archaeological Society to London for tours of the Foundling Hospital at Coram’s Fields and of the new British Library. Despite the humid weather, this was very enjoyable.
I was vaguely familiar with the Foundling Hospital but knew little of its history and nothing of its connections with Hogarth and Handel. The hospital trustees could accept only 40 “foundlings” a year, yet usually had more than 100 applications. Their solution was to operate a random lottery to decide on entry (possibly the true origin of the term “blackballed”). The Hertfordshire connection is that the "Hospital" relocated in the 1920s to Berkhamstead.
Even better was the British Library, surely one of the finest modern municipal buildings in Britain. Absolutely beautiful. And the contents were wonderful too: Treasures of the British Library and an exhibition entitled Sacred of the Bible, the Qur’an and the Torah. Perhaps a destination for a Watford One World Forum outing?
Friday, 13 July 2007
A much more productive day at The Node. We looked at possible future structures for delivering support services, and possible future development projects. This provided a much more practical basis for discussions. I think at the end we all felt rather pleased with ourselves for making so much progress over the two days.
Over the two days, the key questions were:
· What is an “infrastructure organisation”?
· How do HIC and the Herts CVS relate to each other?
· How can HIC structure itself to operate effectively with a membership of 20+ organisations?
· How can HIC provide long-term added value to infrastructure services in Herts?
· How can infrastructure organisations demonstrate their value to all Front Line Organisations?
Back home around 7:00 I received a telephone call from Vanessa: she and Anne were still at the office working hard on Basis and they had one or two queries ...
Over the two days, the key questions were:
· What is an “infrastructure organisation”?
· How do HIC and the Herts CVS relate to each other?
· How can HIC structure itself to operate effectively with a membership of 20+ organisations?
· How can HIC provide long-term added value to infrastructure services in Herts?
· How can infrastructure organisations demonstrate their value to all Front Line Organisations?
Back home around 7:00 I received a telephone call from Vanessa: she and Anne were still at the office working hard on Basis and they had one or two queries ...
Thursday, 12 July 2007
HIC at The Node
The first day of a two-day meeting at The Node near Hitchin to discuss the future of the Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium. This was a steering group from HIC looking at how infrastructure services should develop in the County over the coming years to 2014 and beyond.
The first day of a two-day meeting at The Node near Hitchin to discuss the future of the Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium. This was a steering group from HIC looking at how infrastructure services should develop in the County over the coming years to 2014 and beyond.
Pictured above are (clockwise from bottom left): Kate Belinis (CDA for Herts), Julie Street (Stevenage Volunteer Centre), David Fitzpatrick (Herts Community Foundation), Steph Gallagher (HIC Development Worker), Ian Richardson (Broxbourne and East Herts CVS), Andrew Burt (HCC who joined us for the first morning's session), Jacquie Hime (North Herts CVS), and myself. Missing form the phto are Eliud Matindi (Herts BME Partnership - delayed by car trouble), and Chris Lee (of Dacorum's Raise the Ceiling Project who facilitated the two days - and took the photo).
We spent most of today surveying the literature (we each had a 1 Gb memory stick of documents), finding our feet, performing a SWOT analysis, discussing key themes, and talking through Visions and Missions.
It was hard work and progress was rather slow. But where progress was made, it was good solid progress with unanimous support. I felt we were doing the right things.
The venue was fine apart from a noisy “fun day” organised by Jeans company Ted Baker for its young staff. At the buffet lunch I discovered that members of the public can no longer serve themselves hot food due to “health and safety”. I pointed out to the young waiter that at home I am perfectly able to serve myself hot food and have been doing so for years without a serious incident. I’m in my 40s, for heaven’s sake. But it wasn’t his fault of course. What sort of world are we creating?
Another cause for grumpiness was that there was only a very poor mobile phone signal and no working payphone. I managed a very scrambled conversation with Maria about A Midsummer Night’s Dream – just sufficient to discover that the event was being booked for 14 September.
HIC had a few relaxed “break out” sessions during the day and the evening was devoted to a meal together. I was the only delegate not staying overnight and left at 9:00 abandoning several very useful discussions.
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Very busy
I spent the morning dealing with HIC papers for tomorrow’s meeting and then focused on our Basis bid.
At lunchtime I met with Jay Gaglani, Chair of the Watford One World Forum and discussed possible events / activities that Forum members can undertake together. We first targeted Watford Palace Theatre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream which looks as if it might be really good. Unfortunately the production is only on for one week – this is the week in which Ramadan starts and Jay and I are both concerned to engage members of the Muslim community in the outing. Amy at the Theatre’s box office makes things even more enticing by offering us 50 tickets on “sale or return” for £9 each instead of the usual £15. We are very tempted but decide that Jay should first talk his Vice Chair Zamir Shah to gauge how the Muslim community might perceive this.
In the afternoon, I spent several hours reviewing our second stage Basis bid with Anne and Vanessa who have done some great work. But there is still lots to do. I also downloaded evaluation software from SmartDraw that claims to produce the Gantt Charts that we need for the Basis bid. And I wrote to WBC about utility charges at 149 The Parade. And I wrote a brief note on WBC’s plans to change the way they award discretionary rates relief. And I spoke with our auditors to reschedule our audit timetable. And I sent out a note to our trustees about next week’s trustees meeting.
I arrived home late and tired.
I spent the morning dealing with HIC papers for tomorrow’s meeting and then focused on our Basis bid.
At lunchtime I met with Jay Gaglani, Chair of the Watford One World Forum and discussed possible events / activities that Forum members can undertake together. We first targeted Watford Palace Theatre’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream which looks as if it might be really good. Unfortunately the production is only on for one week – this is the week in which Ramadan starts and Jay and I are both concerned to engage members of the Muslim community in the outing. Amy at the Theatre’s box office makes things even more enticing by offering us 50 tickets on “sale or return” for £9 each instead of the usual £15. We are very tempted but decide that Jay should first talk his Vice Chair Zamir Shah to gauge how the Muslim community might perceive this.
In the afternoon, I spent several hours reviewing our second stage Basis bid with Anne and Vanessa who have done some great work. But there is still lots to do. I also downloaded evaluation software from SmartDraw that claims to produce the Gantt Charts that we need for the Basis bid. And I wrote to WBC about utility charges at 149 The Parade. And I wrote a brief note on WBC’s plans to change the way they award discretionary rates relief. And I spoke with our auditors to reschedule our audit timetable. And I sent out a note to our trustees about next week’s trustees meeting.
I arrived home late and tired.
Tuesday, 10 July 2007
I started off the morning in Hemel Hempstead at a Herts CVS meeting. Most satisfyingly, there seems to be agreement on a county-wide trustees' event sometime in early 2008. But there were other good things too. I left at lunchtime to return to Watford. There has been no contact from our departing Finance Officer, so I can at least now take the necessary actions.
Fortunately, I had a meeting arranged anyway with Maria Waszkis to talk about her efforts to set up a Watford Polish Association. After a brief chat on this, I related to her the events of yesterday and offered her a six month fixed contract to come back adn help out. She delighted me by accepting and she will be back at work tomorrow. Lovely.
After this, I met with Roger Sands of Millennium Volunteers to talk about the problems that the voluntary sector might experience when HCC introduce the Common Assessment Framework to determine the needs of 13-18 year olds. We agreed to try and organise a meeting on this with HCC.
And then I spent the rest of the day on IT issues in the hope that some progress can be made on this while I concentrate on Basis for the next few weeks. Other than a few critical meetings I can't cancel - I spent the later part of the evening reading through papers for Thursday and Friday's meeting of the Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium.
Fortunately, I had a meeting arranged anyway with Maria Waszkis to talk about her efforts to set up a Watford Polish Association. After a brief chat on this, I related to her the events of yesterday and offered her a six month fixed contract to come back adn help out. She delighted me by accepting and she will be back at work tomorrow. Lovely.
After this, I met with Roger Sands of Millennium Volunteers to talk about the problems that the voluntary sector might experience when HCC introduce the Common Assessment Framework to determine the needs of 13-18 year olds. We agreed to try and organise a meeting on this with HCC.
And then I spent the rest of the day on IT issues in the hope that some progress can be made on this while I concentrate on Basis for the next few weeks. Other than a few critical meetings I can't cancel - I spent the later part of the evening reading through papers for Thursday and Friday's meeting of the Hertfordshire Infrastructure Consortium.
Monday, 9 July 2007
Not a good morning
I arrived at work about 8:30 to find our new Finance Officer already there. We wished each other “good morning” and I said I would see her shortly. About fifteen minutes later she came to see me and said she had spent the weekend thinking things through and had decided she did not want to accept the post at WCVS after all. She returned her keys and gave me an envelope with her resignation letter.
I asked what had made her take this decision and could we talk about it? She didn’t want to talk about it. And she wouldn’t reconsider. And she was sorry. And she was leaving. And she did.
To the back of her disappearing head, perhaps rather desperately, I said I'd leave things 24 hours in case she changed her mind.
This was not a good start to the week.
Back to Basis
Although nonplussed, I had to put this to the back of my mind and concentrated on the immediate need to complete my work on our Basis application. Much of my work over the weekend will be redundant if we lose our Finance Officer and will need to be re-written. As other people started arriving at the office I said nothing about the morning’s drama just in case our departing Finance Officer had second (or third?) thoughts.
From 10:00 I had a long series of telephone calls about Watford CVS’s IT needs and in the afternoon, I met with Anne and Vanessa to pass over the fruits of my weekend labours on our Basis application. I had to share with them the morning’s events - to alert them to the possible need to rewrite sections of the application. They were as surprised and disappointed as me.
Making plans
Later, I gave serious thought to our options. There were a few non-negotiable facts. First, I must give top priority to completing the Basis application. Nothing is more important and the deadline is only three weeks away.
I will then have to focus on completing the audit. At this point in time, it is not possible to get another accountant in place. So I will just have to sit down and work through each individual transaction and query myself. If I complete the Basis application by the end of July (which I must) then I will have two and a half weeks to focus on the audit. I can then go off on two weeks leave with a clear conscience and the accounts can be distributed well ahead of our 7 September AGM.
Another fact is that Maria Waszkis could take a lot of pressure off my shoulders if she is still free (she only left us a week ago) and of course the other staff will rally round too.
Actually I didn’t think things through quite this clearly all on my own. It took a calming telephone conversation with my Chair of trustees before I reached this more tranquil state. What will tomorrow bring?
I arrived at work about 8:30 to find our new Finance Officer already there. We wished each other “good morning” and I said I would see her shortly. About fifteen minutes later she came to see me and said she had spent the weekend thinking things through and had decided she did not want to accept the post at WCVS after all. She returned her keys and gave me an envelope with her resignation letter.
I asked what had made her take this decision and could we talk about it? She didn’t want to talk about it. And she wouldn’t reconsider. And she was sorry. And she was leaving. And she did.
To the back of her disappearing head, perhaps rather desperately, I said I'd leave things 24 hours in case she changed her mind.
This was not a good start to the week.
Back to Basis
Although nonplussed, I had to put this to the back of my mind and concentrated on the immediate need to complete my work on our Basis application. Much of my work over the weekend will be redundant if we lose our Finance Officer and will need to be re-written. As other people started arriving at the office I said nothing about the morning’s drama just in case our departing Finance Officer had second (or third?) thoughts.
From 10:00 I had a long series of telephone calls about Watford CVS’s IT needs and in the afternoon, I met with Anne and Vanessa to pass over the fruits of my weekend labours on our Basis application. I had to share with them the morning’s events - to alert them to the possible need to rewrite sections of the application. They were as surprised and disappointed as me.
Making plans
Later, I gave serious thought to our options. There were a few non-negotiable facts. First, I must give top priority to completing the Basis application. Nothing is more important and the deadline is only three weeks away.
I will then have to focus on completing the audit. At this point in time, it is not possible to get another accountant in place. So I will just have to sit down and work through each individual transaction and query myself. If I complete the Basis application by the end of July (which I must) then I will have two and a half weeks to focus on the audit. I can then go off on two weeks leave with a clear conscience and the accounts can be distributed well ahead of our 7 September AGM.
Another fact is that Maria Waszkis could take a lot of pressure off my shoulders if she is still free (she only left us a week ago) and of course the other staff will rally round too.
Actually I didn’t think things through quite this clearly all on my own. It took a calming telephone conversation with my Chair of trustees before I reached this more tranquil state. What will tomorrow bring?
Sunday, 8 July 2007
It was a beautiful morning. Seemingly for the first time in weeks, the sun was shining and the sky was clear. Naturally, Jackie and I spent the morning in the garden. Our Hydrangea is finally looking spectacular and light (our neighbour’s has been perfect for 6-8 weeks) and our Hebe hedge is a wonderful mixture of parchment white and powder blue. Less attractive was our ancient fir hedge that was giving the garden a rather depressing feel. It had to go.
After a brief rest to recover from these exertions, Jackie and I then did some planning for our forthcoming holiday. So many people this year opted to holiday in the UK, and so of course we’ve had the wettest summer for years.
The floods in the north and elsewhere seem awful. From the news reports, there doesn’t seem to be much “rallying around”. Communities don’t seem to organise themselves to help their weakest members. I don’t want to appear unkind to communities in distress, but most people interviewed in teh news don't seem to think beyond slating the Government and besieging the insurance companies. Perhaps there are plenty of good stories out there but the media just aren’t reporting them? I wonder what Watford’s response would be to a similar crisis?
In the afternoon, and evening, and into the wee small hours, I worked again on our BASIS application.
After a brief rest to recover from these exertions, Jackie and I then did some planning for our forthcoming holiday. So many people this year opted to holiday in the UK, and so of course we’ve had the wettest summer for years.
The floods in the north and elsewhere seem awful. From the news reports, there doesn’t seem to be much “rallying around”. Communities don’t seem to organise themselves to help their weakest members. I don’t want to appear unkind to communities in distress, but most people interviewed in teh news don't seem to think beyond slating the Government and besieging the insurance companies. Perhaps there are plenty of good stories out there but the media just aren’t reporting them? I wonder what Watford’s response would be to a similar crisis?
In the afternoon, and evening, and into the wee small hours, I worked again on our BASIS application.
Saturday, 7 June 2007
I devoted this morning to catching up on some sleep. So much needed and so refreshing.
And the afternoon (and evening) I spent working on our BASIS application. Slowly slowly it is starting to take shape.
Jackie encouraged me to sleep late and then supplied me with food and sustenance while I worked. Wonderful woman.
And the afternoon (and evening) I spent working on our BASIS application. Slowly slowly it is starting to take shape.
Jackie encouraged me to sleep late and then supplied me with food and sustenance while I worked. Wonderful woman.
Friday, 6 July 2007
For a month or more I have known that July will be a busy month. So it is proving. This has been an exhausting week and still I have not been able to devote sufficient time to our application for Basis funding. This does not auger well for a relaxing family weekend. Fortunately, Vanessa and Anne have done a brilliant job of reviewing my work to date and identifying errors and omissions; my work completing a first draft ought therefore to be correspondingly more easy. But nothing can actually make it a productive exercise (except of course in the very important sense of generating money).
There are many brain-numbing paper exercises involved in running a CVS. The most pleasant parts of the job relate to building contacts with people and working with networks. Today I had a call from a lady called Catherine who will soon be a Governor of the new Herts Partnership Trust for Mental Health. It was very useful to hear about emerging gaps in mental health provision, and opportunities for filling the gaps. Catherine suggested a meeting of local voluntary sector groups who might be interested and I was pleased to be able to say that we would try to help.
Elsewhere, our new Finance and Administration Officer seems to be getting to grips with things.
Recent reading (I know you're interested)
I finished The God Delusion. This was home ground for me. Generally speaking I think Richard Dawkins’s rudeness and aggression are exaggerated, although even his own mother would hesitate to call him “charming”. He does himself few favours, but he is quite capable of looking out for himself. And atheism will surely survive him. As will religion.
I then began reading the Centenary History of the St John’s Ambulance Brigade published sometime around 1980 (I forget exactly). This is a marvellous organisation, but an awful book. I gave up reading on p50 when I realised that the most plebeian character featured had been a Brigadier General. It had otherwise been a relentless tedium of Lords and Ladies and Princes, who simply willed things to happen and the ordinary little people somehow just knew what was expected of them.
Currently I am enjoying The Travels of Marco Polo.
There are many brain-numbing paper exercises involved in running a CVS. The most pleasant parts of the job relate to building contacts with people and working with networks. Today I had a call from a lady called Catherine who will soon be a Governor of the new Herts Partnership Trust for Mental Health. It was very useful to hear about emerging gaps in mental health provision, and opportunities for filling the gaps. Catherine suggested a meeting of local voluntary sector groups who might be interested and I was pleased to be able to say that we would try to help.
Elsewhere, our new Finance and Administration Officer seems to be getting to grips with things.
Recent reading (I know you're interested)
I finished The God Delusion. This was home ground for me. Generally speaking I think Richard Dawkins’s rudeness and aggression are exaggerated, although even his own mother would hesitate to call him “charming”. He does himself few favours, but he is quite capable of looking out for himself. And atheism will surely survive him. As will religion.
I then began reading the Centenary History of the St John’s Ambulance Brigade published sometime around 1980 (I forget exactly). This is a marvellous organisation, but an awful book. I gave up reading on p50 when I realised that the most plebeian character featured had been a Brigadier General. It had otherwise been a relentless tedium of Lords and Ladies and Princes, who simply willed things to happen and the ordinary little people somehow just knew what was expected of them.
Currently I am enjoying The Travels of Marco Polo.
Thursday, 5 July 2007
For the fourth time this week, Bobby came into work with me. I dropped him at the office and hurried off to the local Ramada Jarvis hotel for a Children’s Trust Partnership stakeholders event. I was only able to be there for the morning, but several things impressed me strongly.
From the presentations, the Watford Children’s Trust Partnership seems to be a model of inclusion, with a progressive outlook and a clear focus for its work. By contrast, the Three Rivers partnership seems to be struggling to get to grips with the agenda.
Watford Children’s Trust Partnership is headed up by Phil Willerton of YMCA (one of my trustees). I was generally impressed with the engagement of the voluntary sector, and particularly impressed to count four of my trustees amongst the participants.
The final strong impression is of a group of professionals almost unanimous in their belief that targets, assessments and league tables are destroying our education system.
Sadly, I did not find an answer to my one key question: how can WCVS meaningfully support the work of the eight Watford Children's Centres?
I left the event at lunchtime to collect Bobby and drive to Brighton to help him move out of his “digs”. Stopping for a break, the journey took less than two hours. We packed and sorted his stuff, and then left Brighton at 5:00 for the return journey. We arrived back at Watford at 9:00 pm and got home exhausted shortly after 10:00 pm.
From the presentations, the Watford Children’s Trust Partnership seems to be a model of inclusion, with a progressive outlook and a clear focus for its work. By contrast, the Three Rivers partnership seems to be struggling to get to grips with the agenda.
Watford Children’s Trust Partnership is headed up by Phil Willerton of YMCA (one of my trustees). I was generally impressed with the engagement of the voluntary sector, and particularly impressed to count four of my trustees amongst the participants.
The final strong impression is of a group of professionals almost unanimous in their belief that targets, assessments and league tables are destroying our education system.
Sadly, I did not find an answer to my one key question: how can WCVS meaningfully support the work of the eight Watford Children's Centres?
I left the event at lunchtime to collect Bobby and drive to Brighton to help him move out of his “digs”. Stopping for a break, the journey took less than two hours. We packed and sorted his stuff, and then left Brighton at 5:00 for the return journey. We arrived back at Watford at 9:00 pm and got home exhausted shortly after 10:00 pm.
Wednesday, 4 July 2007
Today’s Big Event was the evening’s meeting of Watford One World forum. I was concerned that attendance would be poor, mostly as neither Vanessa or I had an opportunity to telephone people and make personal contact. It turned out that my fears were well founded and we only had five people arrive for the meeting, alongside ten apologies. Quality not quantity: the reduced numbers allowed a much more detailed discussion of several thorny issues. Jay Gaglani makes an excellent chairperson and I am sure that the forum will soon be thriving.
After the meeting. Jay and I talked through the next steps before we finally left the office about 10:00.
Earlier in the day, I wrote a briefing note for my trustees updating them on our work here, and I also did some work sorting out our IiP programme.
Most helpfully, I met at length with our new Finance and Administration Officer to talk through some audit issues, and she again impressed me with how well she grasps things.
My son and step-son travelled in with me today and went off to do some spray painting at the skateboard park at the bottom of the High Street (where this sort of thing is allowed). I was very impressed by the results of their labours.
After the meeting. Jay and I talked through the next steps before we finally left the office about 10:00.
Earlier in the day, I wrote a briefing note for my trustees updating them on our work here, and I also did some work sorting out our IiP programme.
Most helpfully, I met at length with our new Finance and Administration Officer to talk through some audit issues, and she again impressed me with how well she grasps things.
My son and step-son travelled in with me today and went off to do some spray painting at the skateboard park at the bottom of the High Street (where this sort of thing is allowed). I was very impressed by the results of their labours.
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
Anne Boyd (our Funding Advisor) today ran a workshop at WBC to advise groups and individuals who are interested in applying to the Council’s one year grant programme. One of those attending was our own Maria Waszkis who is working to set up a much needed Watford association for Polish migrants. Another participant was my son, who is interested in doing some youth work based around graffiti art: all good experience for him.
I met Angela Runagall, who will be our IiP assessor. She seemed very pleasant, and we planned our assessment visit in a fortnight’s time.
At lunchtime, WCVS staff had an informal leaving lunch for Maria who has been wonderful as our temporary office administrator. Such events are always rather sad, but particularly so when the person departing is so popular and has so much to offer.
After this, I visited the YMCA to discuss procedures for checks with the Criminal Records Bureau. The YMCA are registered as an “umbrella body” with the CRB so it makes sense for us to do our checks (on staff and volunteers) via a local voluntary organisation rather than via the County Council in Hertford.
Angelo arrived at 3:00 and we sat down to talk about IT: there are so many needs, so many technologies, so many interdependencies, so many stakeholders and so many political considerations. Things are really very very complex. We talked with barely a break until about 7:00 when we agreed on the additional information that we need in order to take a decision.
Once home, I read through Farzana’s NVQ file: I am one of her "expert witnesses" and of course I am taking this responsibility very seriously.
I met Angela Runagall, who will be our IiP assessor. She seemed very pleasant, and we planned our assessment visit in a fortnight’s time.
At lunchtime, WCVS staff had an informal leaving lunch for Maria who has been wonderful as our temporary office administrator. Such events are always rather sad, but particularly so when the person departing is so popular and has so much to offer.
After this, I visited the YMCA to discuss procedures for checks with the Criminal Records Bureau. The YMCA are registered as an “umbrella body” with the CRB so it makes sense for us to do our checks (on staff and volunteers) via a local voluntary organisation rather than via the County Council in Hertford.
Angelo arrived at 3:00 and we sat down to talk about IT: there are so many needs, so many technologies, so many interdependencies, so many stakeholders and so many political considerations. Things are really very very complex. We talked with barely a break until about 7:00 when we agreed on the additional information that we need in order to take a decision.
Once home, I read through Farzana’s NVQ file: I am one of her "expert witnesses" and of course I am taking this responsibility very seriously.
Monday, 2 July 2007
Welcome
I started the morning greeting our new Finance and Administration Officer. She seems as friendly and dependable as she did at interview: she has already started getting to grips with the accounts, and will add wonderfully to the social mix of the office. We spent most of the afternoon together: I am confident that she is an excellent appointment and I greatly look forward to working with her.
Accommodation
In the morning, I met with representatives of Watford Borough Council about accommodation: WCVS will have to leave its current premises in the summer of 2008, 2009 or 2010. Everything was very cordial and we made some progress on defining WCVS’s needs. WBC are very supportive.
In part, this followed on from last week’s meeting on the needs of the local voluntary and community sector as a whole. Although the Borough is very supportive, their general approach seems to be that if a property isn’t being used by the Borough it should be sold off to the highest bidder. This “either / or" approach is at least simple and easy to understand. But it is not the most helpful. Nor does it follow current government guidance, and it also excludes many options that could bring great benefit to Watford (including greater economic benefit than simply selling to the highest bidder). It seems to me that a lot of discussions are needed on this.
Elsewhere
I had expected to spend the afternoon talking with Angelo to finalise some important IT decisions, but Angelo called to say he had car trouble. Instead, I wrote references for a few people, reviewed staff training to date, organised some meetings, caught up with some correspondence, made a few telephone calls …
WCVS had agreed to rent out one of our meeting rooms for the evening (7:00 to 9:00) and I had arranged for someone to work late to cover this. But they were unwell so Maria agreed to work late and I managed to get off home at the relatively civilized hour of 6:30. Maria called me later to say that no-one came anyway.
I started the morning greeting our new Finance and Administration Officer. She seems as friendly and dependable as she did at interview: she has already started getting to grips with the accounts, and will add wonderfully to the social mix of the office. We spent most of the afternoon together: I am confident that she is an excellent appointment and I greatly look forward to working with her.
Accommodation
In the morning, I met with representatives of Watford Borough Council about accommodation: WCVS will have to leave its current premises in the summer of 2008, 2009 or 2010. Everything was very cordial and we made some progress on defining WCVS’s needs. WBC are very supportive.
In part, this followed on from last week’s meeting on the needs of the local voluntary and community sector as a whole. Although the Borough is very supportive, their general approach seems to be that if a property isn’t being used by the Borough it should be sold off to the highest bidder. This “either / or" approach is at least simple and easy to understand. But it is not the most helpful. Nor does it follow current government guidance, and it also excludes many options that could bring great benefit to Watford (including greater economic benefit than simply selling to the highest bidder). It seems to me that a lot of discussions are needed on this.
Elsewhere
I had expected to spend the afternoon talking with Angelo to finalise some important IT decisions, but Angelo called to say he had car trouble. Instead, I wrote references for a few people, reviewed staff training to date, organised some meetings, caught up with some correspondence, made a few telephone calls …
WCVS had agreed to rent out one of our meeting rooms for the evening (7:00 to 9:00) and I had arranged for someone to work late to cover this. But they were unwell so Maria agreed to work late and I managed to get off home at the relatively civilized hour of 6:30. Maria called me later to say that no-one came anyway.
Saturday, 30 June 2007
Jackie and I took our granddaughter Bethany to see my sister Caroline. We visited Bedford and discovered that “old-style” county towns are very unwelcoming to wheelchairs - especially if you forget to take your “blue badge”. We were also served one of the worst meals I have ever encountered. Is Bedford always this hostile to strangers?
Friday, 29 June 2007
I began the day early and at 10:00 had a supervision meeting with my Chair Pam Handley. I got some good steers on ICT, fundraising, SORP and accounting, trusteeship, BASIS, employment law, and accommodation. At previous meetings, I’ve not really taken full advantage of Pam’s knowledge and experience; I think I am getting better.
In the afternoon, I met with Anne (Funding Advisor) and Vanessa (Development and Training Officer) to co-ordinate our work on BASIS. We reviewed progress to date and set out a schedule of future meetings that will hopefully keep us on track to submit before the end July deadline. I do hope none of us falls ill!
In the evening, I took Jackie to Letchworth so she could buy my Mum's old car. Mum now has a lovely sleek Smart car and Jackie has a beautiful Suzuki Wagon. I still have a Skoda.
In the afternoon, I met with Anne (Funding Advisor) and Vanessa (Development and Training Officer) to co-ordinate our work on BASIS. We reviewed progress to date and set out a schedule of future meetings that will hopefully keep us on track to submit before the end July deadline. I do hope none of us falls ill!
In the evening, I took Jackie to Letchworth so she could buy my Mum's old car. Mum now has a lovely sleek Smart car and Jackie has a beautiful Suzuki Wagon. I still have a Skoda.
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