About Reach - review
The Reaching Out project provided advice and expertise to frontline organisations throughout England. These were black and minority ethnic groups, refugee and migrant groups, faith-based organisations and isolated rural groups. Participating groups were assessed to identify their particular skill needs, which were then matched to volunteers with the appropriate skills and experience. In this way, the project provided effective skills transfer to frontline groups. The project, funded by Capacitybuilders, ran from January 2007 to March 2008.
Reach's contribution
- 222 frontline organisations throughout England were provided with skilled volunteers.
- 329 placements achieved during the lifetime of the project.
- 290 organisations in total benefitted from advice and support.
- 82 organisations received specific diagnostic advice and support from project staff.
- 258 Reach volunteers with high-level skills took on roles with frontline organisations.
- Specific case studies of organisations assisted by the Project developed.
From feedback, the project evidently made positive differences to frontline organisations. Over the 15 months, a large amount of useful diagnostic and advice work was undertaken. The project impacted beneficially on key aspects of the work of individual organisations, notably sustainability and confidence to progress their aims more effectively. It is clear that the work of the Reach Volunteers will have ongoing lasting effects. Nearly 90% of the organisations that responded to a February 2008 feedback exercise, agreed that “our organisation is more able to progress its aims as a result of having a Reach volunteer”. The project has enabled frontline organisations to have a better understanding of the benefits of using volunteers with high level skills.
How Reach ensured success
The project had two distinct parts. The first stage involved assessment of skill needs with support to help groups define their volunteer requirements. Groups were sent a short questionnaire to help assess the current situation, and identify the organisation's skill needs. Some groups were already clear about their skill gaps and required minimal input before registering their requirements. Frontline groups registered individual opportunities with Reach for volunteers with specific skills. The second stage involved matching skilled Reach volunteers currently available in the area to these opportunities, through the bespoke placement service.
The Project established an Advisory Group that met quarterly to act as critical friends to the Reaching Out Project during the lifespan of the project. The Advisory Group was made up of project team staff, other Reach staff, plus representatives of organisations from the 4 key relevant sectors.
There is an evident lack of a central resource in the sector that can actually deliver skilled individuals to frontline groups throughout England, and address skills gaps. The project generated much interest from frontline organisations. The groups once offered support, quickly registered requests, which were then in turn matched to appropriate skilled volunteers.
Reach can deliver an effective and tailored placement service, and has the skilled volunteers willing to take on the roles. It can deliver skills transfer and support to frontline groups England-wide. The key is being able to sustain that, and ensuring that there are the financial resources available to deliver this service.
Reaching Out Project - case studies
- Horn of Africa Refugee Welfare Group
- Fermynwoods Contemporary Art
- Act 4
Horn of Africa Refugee Welfare Group
The Horn of Africa Refugee Welfare Group (HARWG) is a thriving, small community organisation. It provides information, support, advice and other services for refugees and asylum seekers from the Horn of Africa, who are living in North West London and the surrounding areas. Ibrahim Elmi, the Manager, contacted the Reaching Out Project as they urgently needed volunteers to improve their services.
With the Reaching Out Project’s advice and support, HARWG identified their organisation’s skill gaps. These included the need for someone to design and set up a website. HARWG then registered their volunteer requirements with Reach. A couple of months’ later, we found them an experienced and skilled web designer. HARWG is very pleased with the results:
“Using the Reaching Out Project to get advice and a skilled volunteer, we are now developing our website. We are delighted with the work of our volunteer. He is listening to our needs and working hard to meet our requirements.” Ibrahim Elmi, Manager, HARWG.
Fermynwoods Contemporary Art
Fermynwoods is an artist-led, not-for-profit arts organisation, established by Rosalind Stoddart and Patrick Duerden in 1998. Rosalind is a practising sculptor and printmaker who saw the need for a facility to promote contemporary visual art in the region.
Fermynwoods is situated in a beautiful rural location in Northamptonshire. The gallery started out specialising in exhibitions of European abstract painting, sculpture and fine art prints. It has more recently been involved with new media and community based arts projects. Fermynwoods is more than just a gallery. It now has an extensive education programme and runs partnership projects with, for example, the Forestry Commission.
Fermynwoods contacted the Reaching Out Project as the organisation needed to find a finance director for their board of trustees. Through the project, they found Mr Smith, who accepted the position and is now contributing to the work of the board.
“He has filled the gap in the board’s expertise wonderfully.”
Rosalind Stoddart, Artistic Director.
Visit the Fermynwoods website: www.fermynwoods.co.uk.
Act 4 – Equipping children to make a difference
The human spirit working for good can dramatically change our society. Act 4 believe that by sowing seeds of positive values, building morals and raising awareness of responsibilities, a foundation can be laid that equips children and young people to change our communities for the better.
Our professional and sensitive approach has allowed us successfully to teach social responsibility through Christian values in primary schools in Potters Bar. Act 4's rapidly expanding work is providing an educational and spiritual impact in the lives of over 5,000 children each school term.
We use original, thought-provoking material to create fun, innovative and interactive assemblies, citizenship education programmes, holiday clubs, church services and events. Through these, the dedicated Act 4 team continue to show that Christian values are relevant and make common sense in all our lives today.
We approached the Reaching Out Project because we recognised we had to attract the right professional skills to expand our work. We have been extremely pleased with Carolyn Edwards who came to us via the Reaching Out Project. She has fitted into the organisation very well. She brings to Act 4 her beneficial communication and marketing skills, as well as experience gained from her work with other charitable organisations.
Visit the Act4 website: www.act4.org.uk.