Tower Hamlets Change Up Consortium News
LBTH pledge commitment to working in partnership
On Tuesday 15 December 2009 THCUP Chair Jenny Dawes and members of CIDA met with Lutfur Ali and Alice Wallace - at Lutfur’s suggestion - to explore the possible synergy between THCUP and LBTH’s Third Sector Strategy and how the various action plans might be aligned.
The meeting followed on from a request to the Third Sector Advisory Board that the work of Consortium be acknowledged more explicitly, and that LBTH recognise our shared agenda around a Thriving Third Sector and the development of a new CVS.
We began by reiterating the message agreed at the last Consortium meeting that 'THCUP Consortium welcomes the borough's commitment to an independent CVS and the opportunity to work in partnership'.
The main points of the discussion were:
- As representatives of THCUP we were not empowered to make decisions without reference to the Consortium membership;
- THCUP’s work plans had been agreed by the funders and could not be varied without the express permission of the funder or funders concerned;
- THCUP is funded to support and develop Infrastructure Organisations and Forums with only a small amount of funding agreed for work that might lead to the development of a new CVS;
- LBTH has agreed funding for 2-years for the development of a new CVS;
- The CVS should focus on supporting smaller, frontline organisations;
- LBTH’s recently announced grant programme is compatible with THCUP’s Quality Assurance Capacity Building - organisations can apply for a grant to cover the fee for Accreditation;
- The planned THCUP launch event could include an LBTH Consultation on the development of the new CVS (feedback on progress, priorities, image/identity) and on its recently commissioned research into the premises needs of the Third Sector in Tower Hamlets;
- Lutfur Ali and Ali Ahmed, the newly appointed CVS Development Officer, should be invited to attend the next full Consortium meeting on Thursday 28 January 2010;
- It was suggested that, as an infrastructure organisation, the new CVS should become a member of the TH ChangeUp Consortium;
- Lutfur Ali asked if the CVS might participate as a beneficiary of the THCUP’s infrastructure capacity building programme to ensure that good Governance, Financial Systems and Quality Assurance Standards were in place from the start;
- It was agreed to look more closely at how the work of the ChangeUp Consortium could be integrated into the Third Sector Strategy Action Plan 2010/11 and how the LBTH programme might help meet some the THCUP outcomes and milestones.
- Lutfur Ali agreed to write to the THCUP Chair to confirm the commitment of LBTH to the development of an independent CVS, and to LBTH and THCUP working in partnership.
This meeting represented a significant, and positive, step forward - the work of the ChangeUp Consortium is clearly being recognised by LBTH and there is a willingness to work with us in the future to support the development of a new CVS and to support the wider Third Sector in Tower Hamlets.
Since then a letter has been received from the Assistant Chief Executive of London Borough of Tower Hamlets –Lutfur Ali. Please see attached to view the letter. It was also decided at the last Consortium meeting that a formal response be drafted.