The Creative Arts Trust has a vacancy for an Artworker position to work at Artsenta, and to be part of its outreach programme in Otago.

Artsenta is a non-clinical, community based art workshop in Dunedin, for people who use mental health services.

We are looking for a person who has a range of creative skills, including music, and an interest in working alongside both individuals and groups.
This person will complement the current team.
A current NZ driver’s licence is essential.

Details and a position description:

• Art worker position description
• Artworker information to applicants

Applications must be in writing and posted to the Creative Arts Trust by the due date.

Closing date for applications 4pm, Monday 15 July

Capability Investment Resource applications will open again soon!

The second distribution of the Capability Investment Resource will open on Monday 1 July and close on Friday 30 August 2013.

Like the first distribution, the second distribution will give MSD-funded organisations the opportunity to apply for support under three streams that focus on organisational capability self-assessment, planning and implementation.

Details of the second distribution, including the funding guidelines and application process, will be published on the MSD website by the end of this month.

The Capability Investment Resource is a $31.65 million resource that will be distributed over four years to support MSD-funded organisations to become stronger and more sustainable.

• Read more about the Capability Investment Resource (CIR) on the MSD website

 Supporting organisational capability through ICT

You have also told us there is a need for the Capability Investment Resource to support provider’s organisational capability through Information and Communication Technology (ICT). We are still working through how MSD can best do this, but the intention is to offer assistance in the next few months. We’ll keep you updated.

Outcomes of the first distribution of the Capability Investment Resource

The first distribution of the Capability Investment Resource will see 223 organisations receive a total of $1,643,000 for organisational capability self-assessment and/or planning (stream one and stream two).

Applicants who sought funding to implement a capability development plan (stream three of the first distribution) will be notified of the outcome of their application during the next week.

Capability Mentoring

You may have read in our recent update that the 223 successful applicants to stream one and stream two are now beginning the process of engaging a Capability Mentor. MSD is working with an NGO Advisory Group to develop a tip sheet outlining the things they may want to consider when engaging and contracting a mentor.

The tip sheet includes advice such as asking your networks for recommendations about organisational capability specialists and mentors they’ve worked with in the past and considering the mentor’s:

• understanding of your clients, communities and environment
• cultural match to your organisation
• ability to positively challenge you with new ideas and ways of doing things
• ability to help your organisation get ready for positive change and development so it’s the best it can be for the people and communities you work with.

For more information

More information about Investing in Services for Outcomes is available on the MSD website – www.msd.govt.nz/iso. This includes other recent news and updates. If you have any questions about Investing in Services for Outcomes you can email us at iso@msd.govt.nz.

Source: Ministry of Social Development

New Zealand’s welfare system is changing to help people able to work to get ready for employment and into a job.  The focus is on what people can do to achieve a better future for themselves and their family.

The reforms adopt an investment approach, targeting our resources to those groups we know are at most risk of long-term benefit dependence and yet have the potential to find work and to support themselves and their families.

There are changes to how the benefit system is structured and a number of new obligations and requirements will be introduced from 15 July 2013, however the payment rates and any extra assistance that beneficiaries receive are not changing.

Three new benefits

Most current benefits are being replaced by three new benefits.  People on the following benefits will automatically transfer to a new benefit on 15 July 2013.

People currently on:

• Unemployment Benefit
• Sickness Benefit
• Domestic Purposes Benefit – Women Alone
• Domestic Purposes Benefit – Sole Parent if youngest child is aged 14 and over
• Widow’s Benefit – without children, or if youngest child is aged 14 and over

move to Jobseeker Support

This benefit is for people who can usually work full-time.

It also includes people who can only work part-time or can’t look for work at the moment, for example because they have a health condition, injury or disability.

If a person currently does not have work obligations this will continue until their situation changes.  For example, people on the Sickness Benefit currently who are unable to work will not need to look for a job when transferred to Jobseeker Support until their ability to work changes.

People currently on:

• Domestic Purposes Benefit – Sole Parent if youngest child is aged under 14
• Widow’s Benefit – if youngest child is aged under 14

move to Sole Parent Support

This payment is for sole parents caring for children under the age of 14 who can look or prepare for part-time work.

People currently on:

• Invalid’s Benefit
• Domestic Purposes Benefit – Care of Sick or Infirm

move to Supported Living Payment

This benefit is for people who are severely restricted or unable to work on a long-term basis because of a health condition or disability, and for people who are caring for someone who needs significant care.

Benefits which don’t change

Benefits that remain include: Emergency Benefit, Emergency Maintenance Allowance, Orphan’s Benefit, Unsupported Child’s Benefit, Youth Payment and Young Parent Payment.  Some of the new obligations apply to people on these continuing benefits.

New obligations

To continue receiving a benefit, people will need to meet a number of new obligations and requirements from 15 July 2013. These include:

• beneficiaries telling us about their overseas travel before they leave New Zealand, because if they don’t their benefit will stop automatically from the day after they leave
• parents accessing health and education services for their children
• taking and passing a drug test if required by a potential employer or as part of a training course (only for people with work obligations)
• clearing arrest warrants (the Ministry of Justice is responsible for issuing and clearing warrants).

More information on these obligations :

Changes for people on Invalid’s Benefit – July 2013 (PDF; 290 KB)

Changes for people on Sickness Benefit-overview-July 2013 (PDF; 263 KB)

Welfare Reform changes – overview-July 2013 (PDF; 241 KB)

Supporting disabled people and people with health conditions

From 15 July 2013 we’re introducing changes to the way we work with and support disabled people and people with health conditions to assist more who can work into work.  Alongside this, we’ll maintain our support for people unable to work.

These changes recognise the growing international evidence that work is good for health and wellbeing, and that long-term unemployment is detrimental for individuals and their families.

Our aim is to better recognise which Work and Income clients with a health condition or a disability can work, and what support they might need to find and stay in work.

New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension

Apart from the need to clear arrest warrants with the Ministry of Justice, the changes being introduced don’t affect people getting New Zealand Superannuation or Veteran’s Pension.

Keeping beneficiaries informed

All beneficiaries affected are being sent a letter and brochure outlining the changes for them.  Because of the very large number of people affected (over 350,000), letters have been sent over an eight week period in May and June so we’re better able to respond to any questions people might have.

We know that some of the people you work with will be affected by the changes and may have questions.  We have attached a general overview of the changes, and overviews as they specifically affect people currently on Sickness and Invalid’s Benefit. This information may be useful to you to help with their questions, or alternatively there is more information on the website below.

More information

Visit www.workandincome.govt.nz, and follow the link on the front page, or call us on 0800 559 244.

Source: Work and Income

We are proud to introduce our newest 14 page newsletter with some great information and a link to our Facebook presence. Grab it today.

Although the South Island went digital at the end of April, there’s still time for people to take advantage of the TV TakeBack recycling programme and the Going Digital Targeted Assistance Package.

The TV TakeBack programme (operated by the Ministry for the Environment) means that, for a limited time, South Islanders can recycle their old TVs at a cost of no more than $5.  The programme has been successful with more than 50,000 sets collected across the South Island to date.  However, the success means that the South Island’s share of the subsidy is expected to be used up soon – after which the charge is likely to increase to cover the full cost of recycling.

We are encouraging residents to act now and recycle their old TVs at the rate of no more than $5 before the subsidies are used up.  People can find your nearest drop-off point at www.tvtakeback.govt.nz or by calling 0800 499 700.

It is also not too late for people to take up the Going Digital Targeted Assistance Package, which is designed to help those groups most likely to face the greatest technical and financial difficulties in going digital.  The Package remains open in the South Island until 30 July, but if there are people out there who meet the criteria and are currently without TV, they should call 0800 838 800.

The Going Digital Targeted Assistance Package is available to people who have not already got Freeview, SKY or IGLOO, and who are:

• 75 and over with a Community Services Card;
• receiving a Veteran’s Pension;
• receiving an Invalid’s Benefit; or
• former recipients of the Veteran’s Pension or Invalid’s Benefit who moved to New Zealand Superannuation at Age 65 or over.

“People taking up the Package will receive a Freeview set-top box, installation, training and technical support; but those who have already gone digital do not qualify for the Package” said Mr Harford.

• For further information about TV recycling, Visit www.tvtakeback.govt.nz to find out where your nearest drop-off point is.

• For further information about the Going Digital Targeted Assistance Package, visit www.goingdigital.co.nz or phone 0800 838 800

Source: Greg Harford, National Manager, Going Digital

The Philanthropy New Zealand Conference included some social enterprise related presentations. Ingrid Burkett gave a thoughtful presentation on what has been learnt about social investment over the last five years in the Australian context, and how this relates to what has been learnt elsewhere around the world. View Ingrid’s presentation online.

Scott Willis from the inspiring Blue Skin Energy Project in Dunedin talked about early developmental stages of community enterprises; what their resource requirements are and the obstacles they have encountered in their early days. Download Scott Willis’s presentation.

….and there was much more. Go here for all Philanthropy New Zealand Conference presentations.

Source: Community Economic Development New Zealand

Many Dunedin clubs and community groups are facing membership crises which could lead to some ceasing to exist. One club at risk of disappearing is the Green Island Toy Library, which has shrunk to having just two people on the organising committee and 10 members during the past year.

”Closing is a reality if we don’t get the membership up,” committee member Tracey Kelly said.

”It would be a real loss for the community.”

Miss Kelly had been involved with the toy library for nearly four years. When she first started, the group was ”massive”, families filling the library every time it was open.

While she was not aware of records of past membership numbers, she estimated there were between 30 and 50 members at the club’s height.

Now it was up to Miss Kelly and her friend Fiona Rae to keep the club afloat.

Dunedin Council of Social Services acting executive officer Alan Shanks said declining membership numbers were a concern for many membership-based organisations, including his own.

The council had 135 member organisations, but Mr Shanks estimated there were about 1500 groups in the community.

Mr Shanks did not think the recession was a factor in the declining membership as most subscription fees were ”very minimal”.

Members were asking themselves what the benefits were of being involved in clubs, he said.

The Council of Social Services was working on a ”marketing strategy” to combat declining membership, Mr Shanks said.

The Saddle Hill Community Board recently held a community expo, where clubs were invited to network with community and business leaders who might be able to provide them with some support.

Board member Scott Weatherall said the board was aware some local clubs were struggling to attract members and were having to find new ways to carry out their functions.

Otago Chamber of Commerce general manager Warren Chambers said the chamber offered free training courses for non-profit organisations in conjunction with the Otago Community Trust. The courses taught skills such as book-keeping and applying for funding.

In many cases people wanted to help out with organisations but did not volunteer because they did not feel confident about being able to do what was needed, he said.

”Our goal is to raise the skill level in the community,” Mr Chambers said.

To get involved with the Green Island Toy Library call 022 669-8633 or visit www.gitoylibrary.co.nz. To find out more about the training courses offered for non-profit organisations visit www.otagochamber.co.nz

- by Jonathan Chilton-Towle

Source: The Star

On 7 May, Council of Social Services (Dunedin) hosted the NZ Council of Social Services, Community Research, Volunteering NZ and Social Development Partners who discussed with local community organisations the current environment  and the impact it is having on community organisations.

Presentation and notes available to download:

• Presentation and notes from Dunedin (PDF, 207 KB)

The Dunedin People’s Panel is an email-based panel which gives you another way to be involved in consultations and planning. The Panel provides an opportunity for Dunedin people to have their say on a range of issues and to be a sounding-board for future policies and decisions.

Panel members will be sent a survey every 6-8 weeks. The surveys are easy to do, and most surveys will take 10-15 minutes to complete. Personal details of Panel members are kept private and individuals are not identified in reports of Panel results. Panel members don’t have to complete each survey, and they can pick topics that interest them to comment on.

After each survey, Panel members are emailed a high-level summary of what other Panel members said, and what will be done as a result of the feedback from the Panel. The full results from each of the surveys are available on the People’s Panel website.

People can opt-out at any stage, and if they do – they won’t receive any more surveys or updates from the People’s Panel.

For further information visit the website at www.dunedin.govt.nz/peoplespanel

In February 2013 The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) released the paper “Auditing and Assurance for Larger and Medium Registered Charities – Concrete Proposals”.

Since then ANGOA has worked with MBIE to hold a series of seminars, consulting on the proposals alongside the related proposals on accounting standards for smaller registered charities that have been developed by the External Reporting Board (XRB). Well over 2,000 people attended these seminars and ANGOA has appreciated all the feedback received. We have tried to represent the diverse feedback fairly in the submission and in our report to MBIE.

For ANGOA’s  final draft submission to MBIE re it’s proposals, please see attached: ANGOA Submission on Compulsory Assurance May 2013 (85; KB)

You are very welcome to send comments and suggestions to the ANGOA Coordinator at dave.henderson@angoa.org.nz, but we also recommend you make your own submission. Feel free to refer to ANGOA’s submission, or to simply advise MBIE that you support what ANGOA has written.

The MBIE Paper is at:

http://www.med.govt.nz/business/business-law/pdf-docs-library/financial-reporting-framework/assurance-for-registered-charities/Charities-assurance-concrete-proposals-discussion-paper-February-2013.pdf

Send your submission to:

Email: financialreporting@med.govt.nz

Post:
Auditing for Large and Medium Registered Charities
Commercial and Consumer Environment Branch
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
PO Box 1473, Wellington

Fax: 04 499 1791

The last date for submissions is Friday 17 May 2013.

Submissions on the XRB’s proposed simple format accounting standards should be addressed to the Chief Executive, External Reporting Board, PO Box 11250, Manners Street Central, Wellington 6142, or emailed to submissions@xrb.govt.nz. Submissions on the proposed accounting standards are due by Friday 28 June 2013.

Source: ANGOA – the Association of NGOs of Aotearoa

The Dunedin Curtain Bank are looking for two enthusiastic and energetic Trustees to join their Trust. These are voluntary positions. Both roles will be involved in helping get the Curtain Bank up and running and there after helping with overall maintenance (ie, fundraising/sponsorship, curtain collection drives, finances, etc).

Currently the Trust is aiming to open the Curtain Bank on 31st May 2013. Prior to this fortnightly meetings of the Trust are being held. Thereafter monthly meetings will be held unless it is deemed necessary to hold them more often, being the first season of operation.

The Curtain Bank currently has a part time co-ordinator who undertakes the day to day tasks required at the Curtain Bank therefore this is not required to be undertaken by Trustees.
Current responsibilities of the Trustees will be to help find funding and submit applications for the Curtain Bank so previous knowledge in this area would be helpful but not essential.

Applications can be made by sending a brief letter explaining why you are interested and any previous experience you may have of trusts, funding and/or fundraising. Email curtainbank@gmail.com

The Glenn Inquiry is coming to Dunedin.  They will be here on 4th and 5th July 2013, and are keen to hear from family violence survivors, perpetrators and front line workers.

For e-invite, please click here: TheGlennInquiry_E-Invite DUD (PDF; 27 KB)

Youth Week 2013
Tomorrow marks the start of Youth week 2013, and for youth development organisation Youthline, the theme “Live like a legend” couldn’t be more fitting.

Youthline National spokesperson, Stephen Bell says it’s legends who keep Youthline’s work alive in local communities across New Zealand.

“Each year over 350,000 txt messages are managed and over 40,000 calls are received to the National 0800 helpline – there’s no shortage of young people in need of support.”

“That support wouldn’t be so accessible if it weren’t for our many volunteers who give up their time to be there for others”, he adds.

A youthline helpline worker recounts a phone call with a young woman contacting youthline for the first time:

Lily* shared that her peer, partner, and family relationship issues had left her feeling depressed and she had been self-harming. After an incident earlier in the day with her peer group she was feeling distressed and suicidal. Over the phone Lily shared around the things in her life that she was finding hard, and we spoke about activities she did that she found helpful when things were feeling tough. Together we looked at some options for support and Lily decided that face to face counseling would be a good starting point for her and that it would help her deal with what was going on for her so that she didn’t take her own life or use self harm to cope. At the end of the call Lily said she would be contacting Youthline Auckland’s face to face counselling intake team to set up counselling. She said that the call had been helpful in taking her mind away from the suicidal feelings she was having, and that she felt less alone with all that was going on for her.

Mr Bell says it’s these success stories which speak volumes.

“Youthline is about being a support for young people when things are a bit tough, but it’s also about developing and empowering them to achieve their potential , so they can ‘live like legends’”

On May 8th – 11th many Youthline volunteer staff will be out on the streets of Auckland collecting for our Annual Street Appeal, as part of Youth Week Celebrations. On May 9th volunteers will also be collecting for the day in Wellington.

“What many people don’t realise is that we receive very little funding to run the helpline and rely on donations from individuals and organisations – every dollar counts, so we ask you to please give generously.”

Support young people by donating during Youth Week:

$3 txt YL to 4499

$10 call 0900 96884

About Youth Week: Youth Week is an Ara Taiohi initiative which celebrates the amazing contributions and achievements of young people in New Zealand. The week inspires us to value, support, and affirm the diversity of young people in our society. This year the theme for youth week is Pakiwaitaratanga/ Live Like a Legend. Many organisations all across NZ get involved and run their own events during Youth Week. Check them out here: http://arataiohi.org.nz/youthweekevents13

Youthline Auckland’s 2012 Volunteer of The Year: Ariana Krynen

Youth help:

Phone: 0800 37 66 33

Free Txt: 234

Source: Scoop Media

Please click on this link to get the third newsletter from the Glen Inquiry.

NZ Council of Social Services, Community Research, Volunteering NZ and Social Development Partners invite you to join us and other local community organisations to discuss the current environment, and the considerable impact it is having on community organisations.

We will discuss our national perspectives on key issues for the community sector, and how to best link with your local experiences on issues such as:

• Government priorities and social policy targets are impacting on our services and funding.
• Increased focus on regulation and structure is creating greater compliance demands, and need for professional expertise.
• Challenges of evidence-based and outcome-related approaches on planning and reporting systems.
• Increased focus on local community resilience and sustainability is changing the environment in which we are operating.

We can also point you to a number of useful resources and tools that are available to inform and assist you in your work.

This meeting will discuss :

• How we are experiencing these, and
• What more can we be doing collectively to respond?

For further information, please see the attached flyer: Dunedin community dialogues flyer (PDF; 357 KB)

Have your say on Dunedin City Council’s policy on pokie machines. You will have a chance to tell the Council what you think about pokies in Dunedin.

The Problem Gambling Foundation encourages you to have your say about the number of pokies and venues in Dunedin. There are 523 pokies in 42 venues in Dunedin.
The current policy is ‘open’ – no limits on venues or the number of pokie machines, but a ban on establishing them in residential or recreational areas except for organised sporting purposes.

What is a ‘sinking lid’?

A sinking lid policy means no new licenses for pokie machines can be issued, and pokie machines cannot be transferred to a new pub or owner if the venue closes. It is a way to gradually reduce
the destructive harm caused by pokies, the most harmful form of gambling.

Follow the campaign on Facebook www.facebook.com/nomorepokiesdunedin

Written submissions are open and will close on Friday 10 May.

Dunedin sinking lid fact sheet

Make an online submission

Dunedin Submission Postcard

The Department of Internal Affairs has released a consultation paper on proposed changes to the criteria and purposes for applications to Lottery community committees.

The proposals would:

• end the practice of collated funding arrangements being considered by the Lottery National Community Committee;
• result in all multi-regional applications being considered by the Lottery National Community Committee; and
• result in community organisations being able to receive a maximum of one single year and one multi-year Lottery community committee grant per financial year.

The details behind these proposals and the anticipated impact on community organisations that receive lottery funding are contained in the consultation paper.  Submissions can be made by post, email or online – details of how to submit a response are contained in the consultation paper.

The consultation period closes on 4 June 2013.

• Consultation paper (.pdf) 23.5k*
• Submission paper  (.doc)  1.16Mb

New Zealanders are good at giving—providing financial support to charities and organisations whose work they support.   We also like to have some idea, however, about how the money is used.

Registered charities have long been required to account for the money they receive.  Currently they must file annual returns with DIA Charities, including a copy of their most recent annual accounts.  This publicly available information gives donors some certainty about the activities of the organisations they support and how their money is being spent.

The rules for financial reporting and assurance, however, are about to change.

• The Financial Reporting Bill, currently before the Commerce committee, introduces a new framework for financial reporting that will affect government departments and other public entities, and the not-for-profit sector.  Significantly for this sector, the Bill could affect not just charities but also other not-for-profit organisations.
• The External Reporting Board are seeking submissions on new accounting standards to support the implementation of the Bill;
• The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment seeking submissions on a proposals paper on assurance requirements to large and medium-sized registered charities.

The Financial Reporting Bill is very long.  In a nutshell it creates a set of financial reporting standards that are consistent and that will apply to all organisations with “public accountability”.  This includes those organisations that are “owned by taxpayers”, such as government departments and local authorities, and also those receiving donations and bequests directly from the public.

The main idea behind the Bill is to ensure information about an organisation with “public accountability” is available, in a consistent format, to those who are unable to demand that information.

Generally the Bill is supported by organisations representing the not-for-profit sector.  Both Social Development Partners and ANGOA have made submissions to select committee.  In their submission ANGOA suggested that the requirement of consistent reporting for all organisations will improve the standard of financial reporting generally.

› Read the ANGOA submission

Both organisations, however, also share some concerns about the Bill.  They recognise that the Bill will increase the costs of compliance for some organisations, and the lack of certainty about which organisations will be captured by the new requirements.

The Bill fails to provide a definition of ‘not-for-profit’ entities (‘non-profit entities’ is the term actually used by the Bill). It is thought that while the new reporting standards will definitely apply to registered charities, they may not capture organisations receiving significant public through, for example, pub charities, but who are not registered charities.  If this is the case the Bill will fail to provide the level of public accountability apparently being sought.

A third concern is that currently the Bill will apply to organisations whose annual operating payments are over $40,000.  It is believed that this threshold is too low, and that requiring such small organisations to comply with the reporting standards places too great a burden on small groups.

The Commerce committee is due to report back on the Bill at the end of May.

At the same time as the Financial Reporting Bill (FRB) is progressing through Parliament the External Reporting Board (XRB) has been working on new accounting standards frameworks to support the implementation of the Bill.  The XRB is currently seeking submissions on its“Exposure Drafts (ED) package” for Simple Format Reporting (SFR) for not-for profit entities (NFPs).  (This subject is Rife With Acronyms (RWA).)

The previous paragraph may be enough to make you think you need a lie-down, but bear with us.   This is an important issue.  It is not likely to go away but it is likely to affect your organisation.

Don’t be put off by the language.  “Exposure Draft” is simply a term used to describe a document proposing new accounting standards available for public consultation.  In other words, it is a consultation document.

The package has been developed by the XRB in consultation with the groups in the not-for-profit sector.  It proposes reporting templates; standard reporting formats, accompanied by Guidance Notes.  XRB describes these templates as “fill-in-the-box”, which presumably means they are simple to use.

To be honest XRB’s package doesn’t always make for easy reading, but this doesn’t mean the reporting requirements will be difficult.

There appears to be a willingness to assist the sector comply with the new reporting standards, and to receive feedback on package.  The XRB, Charities and ANGOA have run a series of seminars on the proposed standards around the country.

The XRB is also seeking comments and feedback on the proposed reporting standards package for not-for-profits.

You can email submissions to or post to the External reporting Board, PO Box 1152, Manners Street Central, Wellington 6142.

Submissions are due by 28 June 2013.

And if all of this wasn’t already enough, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE—let’s not forget the acronym there) is seeking submissions to a paper proposing revised mandatory auditing and assurance requirements for large and medium-sized charities.

These proposals are based on the former Ministry of Economic Development (MED) discussion paper released last year, and take into account consultation and feedback on that paper.

Under the revised proposals, large charities will be required to have their financial statements audited.  Medium-sized charities will be required to have their financial statements either reviewed or audited.

For the purposes of these proposals, a charity is large if its operating expenditure (OPEX—acronyms again) is $1million or more for both of the two previous financial years.  A medium charity will have an operating expenditure between $400,000 and $1million.

The paper has opted for operating expenditure, rather than income or assets, as the criteria for classifying a charity as large or medium.  Submissions to this proposal in last year’s discussion paper were mixed, but the Ministry has opted for using OPEX as a single measure as it is simpler, and there was a concern that some charities could have unnecessary assurance requirements if as asset measure was used.

There is support within the sector for many of the proposals in this paper.

Audit and assurance is, for example, an important part of the new reporting framework.  One sector concern not addressed by the paper however is the increased costs of compliance and the difficulty, particularly in rural, areas of finding an auditor.  It may be too much to expect the Ministry to solve this one, but it remains an issue nevertheless.

Submissions to the discussion document close on 17 May 2013, by email  or posted to: Auditing for Large and Medium Registered Charities, Commercial and Consumer Environment Branch, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, PO Box 1473, Wellington.

Social Development Partners will be making submissions to both the XRB and MBIE.  We wil,l closer to the time, put out our thoughts for organisations to endorse or make use of in the own submissions, well before the closing date in each instance.

Here endeth the acronyms…

Nicola Shirlaw
Source: Social Development Partners

A survey run by the Department of Internal Affairs has revealed a social enterprise sector in New Zealand which is relatively mature and diverse. Go here for the report.

Senior Policy Adviser Diana Suggate, says “Social enterprises in this country are operating in a wide range of industries, have a range of approaches to supporting their many and varied missions, and serve many different types of beneficiaries. While many survey participants have been operating for more than ten years, we are aware that there is a growing interest in the potential to grow the social enterprise movement.”

For the purposes of the survey, “social enterprise” was defined, based on the Australian FASES research definition, as an organisation which has a social, cultural, or environmental mission, that derives a substantial portion of its income from trade, and that reinvests the majority of its profit/surplus in the fulfilment of its mission.

Diana said the survey showed most social enterprises trade in their local area and focus on benefiting families, young people and other social groupings, although around 15 per cent focus on environmental causes. Highlights from the survey include:

• Most social enterprises work in education and training (43 per cent), social assistance services (22 per cent), recreation and sport (17 per cent) and arts and heritage (15 per cent).
• Charitable trusts make up 53 per cent of organisations in the sector; 37 per cent are incorporated societies, and 7 per cent are limited liability companies.
• Around five per cent of the organisations that responded to the survey are affiliated with Māori authorities. This can be through a marae, an iwi organisation, having a Māori organisation as a shareholder; or having an informal association with a hāpu or iwi.
• In addition to income from sales, government contracts provide significant income for 40 per cent of the organisations. Grants and donations are also important.

“Challenges faced by the sector include a more difficult trading environment caused by the economic downturn, and the need for funding to support development and growth,” Diana says. Other issues social enterprises contend with include changing market conditions; increased competition; demographic change; availability and capability of workers; compliance costs; governance and management issues; and lack of capacity for growth. Diana says  “Particularly interesting for us was the finding that said around 65 per cent of the organisations felt they could benefit from external advice, particularly with developing marketing strategies and training in management skills,”.

Diana said government interest in social enterprises hinged on the potential for these organisations to both boost a local economy and tackle social, cultural and environmental issues. “The report provides a basis for ongoing investigation into social enterprises and will inform policy development about this important sector.”

Source: Community Economic Development New Zealand

Making Law Accessible

LawSpot is a website where members of the public, like you, can ask questions about New Zealand Law and qualified lawyer volunteers will answer them for free. For further information or to ask a question www.lawspot.org.nz

Is the strategic plan dead?

Over the past two decades there has been a noticeable trend towards questioning the validity of the traditional strategic planning process. After all, the traditional 3-5 year strategic plan
emerged from military practice following WW2, was adapted by the corporate sector during a period of relative stability and evolved into a non-profit activity in recent years. Is it possible the current and emerging environment demands a new, more adaptive form of strategy planning, based more upon what is occurring now and what is expected to occur tomorrow, than what took place yesterday?

In their article The Strategic Plan is Dead: Long Live Strategy (SSIR Jan 2013), authors O’Donovan & Rimland Flower, suggest it is not strategic planning per se that is under threat; it’s the traditional, ‘static’, strategic plan, created upon assumptions of predictability, that needs to be improved. By implication this suggests the process with which we foster strategic thinking may also be flawed.

In 2008, David La Piana bought together many years of research to develop the Real Time Strategic Planning Process. This rather complex looking framework is based upon the premise that instead of trying to predict emerging trends and setting goals to address them, the process looks first at identifying the organization, by identifying the business model, where the organization fits in the market and the organisations competitive advantage. This framework differs from the traditional non-profit strategic planning framework in that it considers the competitive environment.

Roger Martin, Dean of Rotman School of Management advocates for those engaging in strategic planning to understand where they choose to play and how they chose to win. For some non-profits these questions may be difficult for answer. Yet, Roger Martin suggests it is our lack of understanding of where we play and how we play that hampers our ability to clearly identify our mission and vision.

During a recent strategy planning retreat for a client, we spent almost half the time available discussing the ‘ID’ of that organization, including the values and language that defined them, their business model and how they wanted to be seen by stakeholders. The ideas and value that emerged from those discussion directly impacted upon the board’s decision making and future actions.

The environment for social sector organisations is changing rapidly. It is unlikely we will return to the past environment. Fundamental to these changes are the way the internet shapes social behaviours how we form relationships and networks, how the economic environment is shaping the behaviour of philanthropy and how our ageing society is leading to changes of behaviour and thinking as a new generation of people enter our sector. These are not temporary factors; they represent a paradigm shift that will lead to systemic change in how non-profit organisations operate. The traditional approach to strategic planning centres upon SWOT analysis, goal setting and action plans. It’s a linear perspective, based upon a degree of predictability.

Our workplace is more diverse than ever. Increasingly our organisations resemble a mini-United Nations.

We are in the middle of generational change. The tail-end of the Baby Boomer generation is mixing daily with the vanguard of Gen Y, introducing diversity of ideas, new concepts and new ways of doing things.

This diversity carries over to the community we serve. Multiculturalism, generational change and technological change lead to new behaviours and changing expectations. As social service providers we are expected to meet those expectations with services that are relevant and that create an impact.

Does the traditional, linear process of planning lend itself to this environment? Roger Martin believes that when we move from being analytical to telling stories, we shift from being negative to being positive.

As strategy consultants, we are guided by the Appreciative Inquiry framework (AI) when facilitating planning sessions. A key aspect of AI is its reflective, story-telling process where we ask the question, what needs to be true, for each and every idea. In this way the storytelling shifts from dreaming about the future to prioritizing and setting out a destiny by deciding what resources and capacity the  organisation has or needs to achieve its vision, mission and outcomes.

The good news is that the social sector is already a reflective, story telling sector. We have entire repositories of good, positive stories. Such a process comes easy to those in our sector. Our own experience is that when people are encouraged to share their stories, the planning sessions become learning session and people cease thinking about whether they are right or wrong, or whether their ideas are valid or not. Storytelling transcends linear thinking without diminishing the final outcome.

During a recent strategy retreat I was initially concerned at the Board’s reluctance to focus upon goals and outcomes. As facilitator I was aware of the tension created by my perception that my effectiveness was measured by a new set of goals. I need not have worried. Feedback at the end of Day One was that people had got a lot from the shared stories. By the end of the retreat the Board had set goals. They were not what we had originally envisaged they would be. Their goals emerged from the conversations and sharing of ideas.

At the beginning of this article we asked whether the ‘static’ business plan is a barrier to effective strategic planning? We believe it is. We also believe there should be a plan. To fail to plan; is to plan to fail.

Does the answer rest in having a new perspective on setting strategy? We believe so. Firstly strategic thinking is not the sole domain of the Board, it is a responsibility of all in the organisation, especially those in management roles. O’Donovan & Rimland Flower propose we implement adaptive strategy where the focus is on ‘observing’ and ‘orienting’ ourselves to the emerging environment. Instead of gathering data as ‘evidence’ to support goals, look for feedback from stakeholders to shine a light upon the way forward – and create agile organisations with devolved authority that can act faster and sooner. This doesn’t imply any lack of planning. It does suggest we avoid become a slave to ‘the plan’.

Source: John Coxon & Associates

About John Coxon
Since 2002 John Coxon has been working with boards and management teams in healthcare, aged care and the not-for-profit sector in Australia and New Zealand. John has well developed understanding of the non-profit environment and issues and proven experience helping guide strategic thinking and planning.

Website: www.johncoxon.co.nz

Locals have really got behind their volunteers with 98 entries received for the TrustPower Dunedin Community Awards.

Entries for the Community Awards closed on Friday 15 March. The TrustPower Dunedin Community Awards, which recognise and reward voluntary groups for the outstanding contribution they make to the local community, are run in partnership with the Dunedin City Council.

TrustPower Community Relations Representative Jess Somerville says she is excited to be celebrating so many generous, talented, resourceful and hard working volunteers through this year’s TrustPower Community Awards.

“I’m over the moon with the amount of entries this year! The Community Awards are all about recognising the hard work of these voluntary groups. The work is often done behind the scenes and the volunteers work tirelessly and give so much for the benefit of those who live in the Dunedin region.

The Awards cover five categories; Heritage and Environment, Health and Wellbeing, Arts and Culture, Sport and Leisure, and Education and Child/Youth Development. The category winners receive $500 and runners-up receive $250.

The Supreme Winner will take home $1,500, a trophy, framed certificate and an all-expenses paid trip to the TrustPower National Community Awards. The 2013 TrustPower National Community Awards will be held in the Invercargill and Southland region in March 2014.

The entries for the TrustPower Dunedin Community Awards are currently being prepares for judging. The TrustPower Dunedin Community Awards will be announced and presented at a function on Monday 6 May, to which all entered organisations as well as those that entered groups will be invited.

Source: Scoop Media

ANGOA, the Association of NGO’s of Aotearoa, is pleased to announce a series of seminars looking at the Ministry of Health and Treasury’s current exploration of social bonds. Social Bonds are about new and innovative ways of funding that move beyond traditional grants and contracts.

Ministry of Health and Treasury are currently exploring what types of social bond mechanisms the government may like to consider for the New Zealand context. This work builds on the various initiatives already underway overseas. By June 2013 a report will be prepared for Cabinet outlining what social bond mechanisms could be suited to the New Zealand market.

The Social Bond seminar, bought to you by ANGOA, the Ministry of Health and the Treasury, gives you an opportunity to learn more about social bonds, hear from the Ministry of Health and the Treasury what is currently being considered, ask questions and give your feedback.

The seminar is designed for community organisations who are interested in understanding and exploring social bonds.

Dunedin Seminar:  Friday 8 March, 9 to 11.30am.

Registration is essential as places will be limited. If you wish to learn more then contact Megan Thomas at megan@kolthoffthomas.com

• Register online
• View on COSSD Events and Training Calendar

Anecdotally, we know the Aotearoa New Zealand Community and Voluntary Sector is dominated by women, but because of a real lack of research, our sector knows very little about their experience. What we do know is that median base salaries in the Community and Voluntary Sector are, on average, 17% less than those in the general market. Does this base salary gap apply evenly to both men and women working in the sector? Is this a systemic devaluing because the work done in the Community and Voluntary Sector is seen as “women’s work”? What innovative leadership strategies are women using in a sector that must rely on creating progress in the face of very little or no resources? How have women who have made it to the top in this sector got there? This new research project will provide some understanding and statistics for Aotearoa which do not already exist.

Volunteering New Zealand is supporting Women In Leadership Aotearoa (WILA) as they work with Heathrose Research Ltd. to complete this research project. Currently, they are looking for participant organisations from across New Zealand’s Community and Voluntary Sector.

Would you or someone from your organisation like to participate in a short (under 15 minute) telephone interview? The questions will focus on gathering demographic information on leadership positions, employees, and volunteers within the sector, with a focus on the roles that women are playing, and the sorts of organisations in which they are involved.

Participants may be assured of confidentiality; their identity will not be made public, no real names will be mentioned in the final report, and all information collected will be kept in a secure place. Participants will also have the right to withdraw from the research at any time.

If you would like to participate in this project, please contact Sovaia Uluiburotu at Heathrose Research Ltd by Friday 22 February 2013. If you have any questions or would like to receive further information about the project, please do not hesitate to contact Heathrose Research

PS Otago have launched a petition to appoint PS Otago with DRC South as a fourth home support provider:

We need your help to petition the Southern District Health Board to reconsider its decision to have only three providers of Home and Community Support Services in Otago and Southland, and instead resolve to have four such providers and award the 4^th contract to Presbyterian Support Otago’s Enliven service in partnership with disAbilities Resource Centre Southland’s Charitable Trust.

Together, these local not-for-profit, community based organisations serve 2500 vulnerable older people who are cared for by 800 staff throughout our provinces.

Please follow this link if you wish to participate:

http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/southern-district-health-board-appoint-ps-otago-with-drc-south-as-a-4th-home-support-provider?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=url_share&utm_campaign=url_share_before_sign

Further details regarding the implications of the SDHB’s decision are available at this link. The petition will be presented to all members of the Southern District Health Board and Management Team, to the Ministry of Health, the Minister of Health, and all Otago and Southland Members of Parliament on Jan 31 2013 so all responses must be received by 5pm Monday 28 January.

For those who do not have access to the internet, or who wish to canvass additional support a petition form and poster are attached to this email and can be printed off.  Should you require multiple copies, please contact me and I can provide them.

Please promote this petition as widely as you can and forward this email with the response details.  Even those overseas have a vested interest in the health and welfare infrastructure of the Otago and Southland regions since many have relatives domiciled here.

I apologise in advance if you receive more than one request to support this petition. However  many Otago and Southland residents feel very strongly about this issue and signing requests will be widely circulated.

Thank you for your support.

Lisa Wells
Director of Communication and Fundraising
Presbyterian Support Otago