Collaboration rather than competition between Blackpool SURF and the CVS
Posted by blackpoolcommunitynews on July 1, 2008
STATEMENT FROM BLACKPOOL SURF
On July 14th Blackpool Council is expected to announce which organisation has won the tender to deliver the new Third Sector Strategic Forum or Assembly for the town. It is a two-horse competition between Blackpool SURF/Barnardo’s and the CVS (Council for Voluntary Services). The SURF Board of Trustees has declared that whatever the outcome of the tendering process, it will continue its efforts to work closely with the CVS. This commitment stands, whether SURF manages the the Strategic Forum or is a participant in it. Collaboration is much more preferable to potentially damaging and draining competition.
Blackpool SURF has taken part in this competition with some regret. This competition was not necessary. If SURF and the CVS had worked together productively and consistently over the last three years, the Council would have been able to approach and intelligently commission services from both organisations according to the respective strengths of each.
During the tender process SURF has made it very clear that it would prefer one collaborative bid from partners. This would be in the best interests of the town and its Third Sector. Two bidders did come together in partnership. However, the CVS remained unresponsive to this collaboration.
During the last three years SURF has made many attempts to work closely with CVS. Two meetings were held with representatives of the two Boards in May and September 2007, brokered by the Council. SURF tabled specific proposals to collaborate with CVS (see box). The SURF Board has never formally received a response to these.
- holding occasional joint meetings building on the success of the SURF Network and the CVS Voluntary Sector Forum, with the aim of combining members’ meetings into one Assembly for the town;
- to pool resources and produce one joint newsletter for The Fylde coast incorporating Blackpool Community News and the CVS Newsletter;
- to hold occasional joint staff meetings to help coordination, co-operation and collaboration. The intention was that staff would eventually strive to work as one team representing our common interests and those of the third sector;
- to share office equipment, space, and facilities;
- to offer one hire service “a common treasury of equipment” to our joint memberships.
In response to comments below:
With respect….article on community volunteering and activism.
Malcolm Piper said
Well Done Ray
Simon Blackburn said
…and the best way to ensure collaboration is to give the CVS a right good hiding on your website? Interesting concept…..
blackpoolcommunitynews said
It takes two to tango! SURF has repeatedly asked CVS if it cares to dance! But they chose to keep standing on our toes instead.
Competition means that SURF suffers; CVS suffers – and eventually the voluntary and community sector pays the price!
Debra Bookbinder said
I take exception to you using this funded newsletter to ‘take a pop’ at another organisation. It brings the whole independant sector into disrepute to have such public airings of internal difficulties. Blackpool Tiggers is a member of both SURF and CVS and we seek to work collaboratively with all appropriate partners. We had hoped that there would not be a tension from this.
Given SURF were censured by the Charities Commission for information and management of the SURF board election process, I had hoped they would be more cautious in their actions and for this reason, we considered but continued our membership.
I am saddened and disappointed that the hard work of so many can be squandered in such a manner. SURF has paid professionals who should know better than to behave in this way. We considered our continued membership of SURF following the AGM difficulties but decided to give the benefit of the doubt. As Chair of the group, I feel compelled to put our membership of SURF back on the agenda due to my concern that we may be seen as endorsing this behaviour should we continue.
Debra Bookbinder, B.A. (Hons), M.A., M.Phil Chair of Blackpool Tiggers http://www.blackpooltiggers.co.uk
blackpoolcommunitynews said
SURF has made continued efforts to seek the widest ranging collaboration with the CVS.
Unfortunately, that organisation’s response was to take ‘a pop’ at SURF in the most serious way possible – by entering into direct competition for funding for work that SURF was already doing. By doing this – and if CVS had been successful – then SURF perhaps would have struggled to survive.
I am saddened and disappointed that those who aim to bring the sector together can act in such a manner and against all the good advice on better practice put forward by Regional and National independent sector sources.
Once again it must be made absolutely clear that SURF appealed, even at the 11th hour, for a consortium approach with the CVS to bid for the council contract.
We hope that CVS will re-evaluate its position on ‘competition’ and that the members of both organisations will seek to ensure their leaders embrace the collaborative approach.
In light of the soon to be announced result of the Blackpool Council tender process then the sector does indeed need to meet to discuss a sector wide response to that result and to the issues above – and with a sense of urgency.
SURF was not censured by the Charity Commission for any mis-management of its election process, but was simply requested to withdraw a Trustee election statement – which it did. SURF has and continues to offer valuable advice to other groups on governance issues.
As an individual involved in all the above issues I am willing to debate these at a joint meeting of the SURF Network and the CVS Member body.
Ray Duffill, Blackpool SURF Network Manager (Personal Capacity)
PS: This website is provided at no cost and allows debate on third sector issues to take place.
maureen horn said
I must say I agree with Debra how dare you Mr DUFFLE HAVE AN OPINION ON THE CVS I have worked with the CVS for 3 years and I must say say that I would stand up in any court room and say that your org has been a total waste of community and goverment monies Instead of trying to belittle the people that work and care for this town it would do you better to look at your self and realise what a sham this town has been in allowing someone like you and your very little possie to even have an opinion in the desition making of this town
I would like to take the time to ask you to go back to Hull and give them your wonderful word of wisdom [sorry I think I ment stupidity] but I really know this responce will go straight over your head as you have no regrets about the wages you have taken from Blackpool for all these months
I would work with David Keylock anytime as he does give a damn about the community of this town but quite francly Mr Duffle I wouldnt give you or anyone involved with you the time of day and I would be the first to say you do not deserve to hold the title you do, as for your chair I think it is a great shame that he still trusts in you [ needs some lessons in getting a back bone to stand up to you and more importantly getting rid of you
ONE VERY CONCERNED COMMUNITY REP [UNPAID AT THAT]
blackpoolcommunitynews said
Dear Maureen
I’m puzzled by your comments? Are you expressing an opinion that close cooperation between organisations is – or is not – a good idea? Are you supporting better collaboration or more competition between groups?
I would value your opinion if you “dared” to give it on this matter. And perhaps you have missed an opportunity to contribute to a constructive discussion in favour of a personal rant?
I think it is unfortunate that instead of contributing to this debate you have decried my right to have an opinion. Indeed you have said any opinions I might have, would amount to “stupidity” and that I should leave town!
Is this really the best methods of debate you could employ? Does this level of debate represent the third sector in the best light and demonstrate our capacity to engage in strategic discussion?
If you take away the personal insults from your comments above – then actually there is not much left!
You sign yourself as a COMMUNITY REP; could you kindly explain which communities have mandated you to express these opinions and in such a manner?
As a result of your post above this website will now seek to moderate future comments and remove those that seek to cause personal offence or distress.
PS: I notice that you describe yourself as unpaid and admonish me for earning wages. I was an unpaid volunteer for many years before becoming salaried and recognise the unique contribution of both paid and unpaid workers. I wrote an article about that very subject earlier this year which I link to in the original post above – it could have been written just for you.
Regards
Ray Duffill
(Personal Capacity)