Accommodation

We are currently undertaking a study to establish what type of property is needed, what can be afforded and how best to use it.

We plan to complete this before the end of this year so that we can move to the next stage of building or acquiring property in one or possibly two central locations.

We already have our eye on one or two possible locations!

Skills & Training

One of our most significant successes to date.

SUSTAiN is the Development Agency for Solihull for the Learning & Skills Council. 

This will help us provide funding for specific training for voluntary groups, programs to encourage volunteers and much more.

In addition we have and will be running a series of skill sharing workshops on subjects such as Procurement & Tendering, Marketing & PR, Health & Safety, Risk Assessment, Business Planning and more ...

Income Sources

This entails working with funders to help them understand the needs in Solihull.

It involves support and training for voluntary groups who want to secure contracts for public service delivery

It involves encouraging local business to provide additional support.

By this time 2008, with funding from the Big Lottery BASIS, Learning Skills Council and ChangeUp, we will have brought in close to £1 million pounds and have 7 members of staff working to provide you with the best support and services possible

SignPosts

At least every fortnight, SUSTAiN sends out email alerts with news of grant and other funding opportunities, training (often free), events, useful information and any legal stuff we think you need to know about.

If you would like to receive these email alerts, just drop an email to

addme@solihull-sustain.org.uk

telling us who you are and what you do.

On this web site, our searchable database of voluntary and community groups is proving popular as is our database of venues and meeting rooms.

We plan to add to this as we gather more information.

We will also be adding more links to useful sources of help, information, guidance and funding. Networks, events, organisations, etc

We are also working to develop a database of businesses and the support they can offer.

Volunteering

We are currently finalising plans with the Learning and Skills Council to develop a 'Gateway To Volunteering'.

This will encourage people to volunteer for a given period in return for training, qualifications, work experience and a far more impressive CV.

We are also looking at other ways to make voluntary work more visible, attractive and rewarding for both sides

Governance

Our aim is to increase the number of people offering to act as trustees of voluntary organisations and to improve the skills and understanding of there role.

We haven't got too far with this as yet but watch this space.

Networking & Partnerships

A key part of our role is to support organisations to work in partnership and have a better chance of attracting funding and support.

As the theory goes, two heads are better than one.

Partnership working is becoming increasingly favoured by funders.

We'll be developing this work soon - watch this space for more information.

See our Networks page for more information