September 2013

Recent reports from the Third Sector Trends Study look at the resilience of third sector organisations. They found that organisational ethos and size have an impact on the long-term resilience of organisations. Among the strongest organisations are those in the ‘smaller’ category. They tend to be very community focused and driven, most do not need large amounts of money to survive and are able to endure and adapt over time, drawing on their strong people assets. Small does not, however mean amateur and these organisations do develop and grow and may receive public sector funding.

The three star projects this month are examples of ‘smaller’ organisations currently funded by the Foundation. They work in different geographical areas with different beneficiaries but all offer very high quality work addressing real need with few staff members. All are good at evidencing the impact of their work.

Helix Arts
Helix Arts uses the arts to help transform lives. It works with voluntary and statutory sector partners to devise arts programmes for people who otherwise do not have the opportunity to make art. It offers participants the opportunity to work with high quality artists across all artistic forms in workshop and mentoring settings.

Helix Arts works with many groups including children and young people at risk, unemployed people, people with special educational needs, those with limiting health conditions including the elderly and those with mental health or substance misuse problems. The organisation has been in existence for 30 years and is based in Newcastle. Helix Arts is part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio, and attracts support from a wide range of charitable foundations, and continues to deliver with public sector partners, such as Sunderland’s Youth Offending Team.

Helix Arts is respected for the quality of its work. It has managed to maintain this despite cuts in available resources from Probation Trusts and Youth Offending Teams, who have had their own budgets drastically cut. Sensibly the organisation has concentrated on what it does well, whilst developing new consultancy services. It has managed to continue with an enhanced reputation as a Centre of Excellence in Participatory Arts, known for its expertise and knowledge as well as the quality of its creative work.

West End Refugee Service (WERS)
West End Refugee Service (WERS) was established thirteen years ago and is based in the west end of Newcastle. The organisation offers advice and support to asylum seekers and refugees. It houses a clothes shop, a befriending service, a time to talk service, English language classes and a hardship fund for people with no statutory support.

WERS run an awareness-raising, education and training programme in schools and with other community groups. In collaboration with Newcastle University they have developed a film ‘Home’, sections of which are used by WERS to illustrate the UK asylum process.

WERS is an organisation that has always relied on volunteers to support its work and aims to provide a relatively low-cost service with high levels of community involvement. Securing funding for work with asylum seekers and refugees continues to be difficult, as a result of budget cuts, WERS is not focused on getting contracts but is focusing on extending its reach, working with a growing number of asylum seekers and refugees. The reputation of WERS and recognition of the high quality of its work has helped the organisation, and it has current support from both regional and national charitable funders. WERS has good relations with other partner organisations and is a member of the Newcastle Citywide Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support Group.

Cumbria Reducing Reoffending Partnership (CROPT)
CROPT is committed to investing time in those who have significant barriers in their life.  With the right kind of support, guidance, constructive activities and training, people can and do turn their lives around positively. CROPT provides support in a practical and natural way through various activities and projects including Buddy Project (mentoring), Circles of Support & Accountability, an allotment project and more recently providing a mentor for those leaving prison in Durham to reside in Cumbria.

Underpinning all CROPT’s activities and projects is mentoring and befriending, whether meeting up for coffee on the Buddy Project, or digging vegetables at the allotment. Natural conversations and relationships have proved a crucial element in building confidence and self-esteem. Introducing positive role models that are non-judgemental and empathetic to circumstances delivers hope and a desire to change.

CROPT is in a strong position to provide a well planned service to meet the demands of offenders and has built a trusted reputation on a good track record of achieving successful outcomes. CROPT does not work alone in Cumbria and has developed partnerships with a range of both statutory and voluntary agencies in the county who are themselves involved in the work of offender rehabilitation and support.   Over the past year, CROPT has taken the lead in setting up a Knowledge, Information and Skills Exchange (KISE) which regularly brings together representatives from a variety of organisations from across the county.