Tameside Third
Sector Coalition

A regular blog/update/news column from T3SC’s Chief Executive Tony Okotie, written from a personal perspective about various things of interest (he hopes!) to voluntary, community and faith organisations in Tameside. You can also follow Tony on twitter: @tonyokotie
 
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I realised when I did my article last week about the youth contract and work programme that it had been a long time...
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An interesting day of meetings in Manchester yesterday to talk about youth unemployment, apprenticeships, youth contract, and the Work Programme. Particularly topical, as it was a day when these were all in the news nationally. Read More ..

I’m sure, like me, that you were shocked to hear of the recent jailing of the (ex) finance manager at Age UK Tameside for theft from the charity. He had managed to steal £6,000 from the organisation, although this has now been returned.

Unfortunately, theft and financial fraud from charities, whilst not exactly commonplace, isn’t unknown. Quickly putting ‘charity fraud’ or ‘theft from charity’ into Google will spring up a myriad of press articles from the last couple of years: including these from Newport, Norfolk, Surrey and Leeds. Read More ..

In his annual address, Executive Council Leader Kieran Quinn announced that Tameside Council was set to become one of a growing number of ‘Co-operative Councils’, and will join the Co-operative Councils Network. The Network has been set up to promote the delivery of local services in a co-operative or co-productive manner, and is run by the Co-operative Party, supported by the Local Government Association (LGA) Labour Group, and now has at least 13 members, including Oldham Council.

The Network believes that, 'co-operative approaches can be applied to almost every aspect of local government, including community regeneration and economic development, youth services, housing leisure, social services and education. The precise model is different from service to service, but the approach is the same – working together, building self-reliance, encouraging innovation'.  Read More ..

I was interested to read last week that the Trafford Council Leader said, 'We are looking in the future to launch a volunteer army. Many residents want to come forward and work with us.' In the same article saying there will be over 100 job losses.

It got me thinking again about volunteering and participation levels, and the premise that volunteering could/can replace paid employment.

So, firstly, how realistic is that there are lots of people waiting to jump up and volunteer? Read More ..

I received a phone call a few weeks ago, from a Chief Officer of a small voluntary organisation locally saying that she was leaving. Having worked closely with her over the last three years, I hoped that this was on to ‘bigger and better things’ in the sector – she certainly has the skills and experience. But sadly not. She had decided to leave to ‘pursue other interests’ – which I often think can be code for a range of things but without being disloyal to the organisation that one is working for. I was obviously disappointed, as she will be a great loss to the sector in Tameside.

And then I turned to thinking about why. We’ve seen other equally talented people leave in the last year, and when I’m out and about talking with managers of voluntary organisations many other chief officers feel very similar – ready to leave. Why is that? Is it a failing in the support that T3SC had been able to provide to them? Was it that she was not the right appointment in the first place? Simply unable to cope with the pressure? Read More ..