Translate This Page
English French BengaliGujarati Urdu
 
news| complaints| feedback| access|
 
Page Option=Bengali is unavailable.
No translation is currently available for this page.
The English version is shown instead.

Contracts and trading

 
 

Bidding for contracts

 

There has been a shift nationally and locally towards encouraging more voluntary organisations to deliver services previously delivered by statutory agencies. T3SC has been working with commissioners in Tameside to promote the value of the third sector and also increase the awareness and skills of third sector organisations about commissioning to help them hopefully win contracts.


Commissioning is the process of assessing the needs of people in the local area, designing services that will meet these needs.
 
Procurement is the process of buying services or goods from an external agency (e.g. the local council paying a local charity to provide services to older people such as sheltered housing or home support).
 
Back to top
 
 

New guide to tendering

 

NAVCA logoTo mark Trustees' Week 2011 (31 Oct-6 Nov) NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action), in association with the Local Government Group, have launched the first (free) guide on tendering for public services solely aimed at trustees - At Your Bidding
 
Tendering for public services could be a key activity for your organisation both now and in the future - why not share this guide with your trustees and help them navigate this complex environment and understand if contracting is an appropriate activity for
your organisation? 

 

About the guide
At a time of significant change within the sector, the guide aims to:

  • Provide some context about the commissioning of public services so that trustees can understand the potential implications and impact of commissioning at a strategic level on their charity.
  • Outline the issues to consider and the decisions that trustees have to make regarding bidding for service contracts.
  • Describe the steps that trustees need to take to make sure their organisation is 'tender and contract ready'.
  • Draw attention to key areas for risk assessment and risk management.
  • Signpost to other useful publications, resources and sources of information and advice.
This publication is not a detailed technical manual on 'how to tender'. The focus is squarely on the key issues that individuals need to be aware of in fulfilling their duties as charity trustees.
 
Back to top
 
 

Contracts available

 
Nothing at this time.
 
 
 

Trading

 
Over the last decade an increasing number of voluntary and community organisations have started to trade.  Selling goods and services can be an important part of income generation and help to increase self-sufficiency for the organisation.
 
Before considering trading you may want to think about the following:
 
  • Who is your target audience and what are your existing products and services?
  • Can you build relations with new customers or are there new products or services that your existing customers would pay for?
  • What are your current skills and assets? Do you have under-used assets, such as meeting rooms, staff expertise, outdoor space, or even intellectual property that could be used in a new way?
It is advisable to read the Charity Commission guidance Trustees, Trading and Tax (CC35) which covers activities that a charity can carry out without the need for a trading subsidiary. In addition, the Inland Revenue has detailed guidance on Charities – Trading and business activities which is a useful source of reference.
 
 
Back to top
 


Collaboration

 
The Charity Commission describes collaborative working as ‘Joint working by two or more organisations (community and voluntary) in order to better fulfil their purposes, while remaining as separate organisations.’
Working together with organisations that share your aims can help you become stronger, more effective and often can lead to additional funds. 
 
The benefits of collaboration include: 
  • New and improved services to benefit your community.
  • More efficient use of resources – and saving money.
  • Knowledge and information sharing.
  • Sharing risks.
  • Stronger, united voice – particularly when campaigning or lobbying.
  • Co-ordinated activities and greater reach, as well as less duplication.
  • The collaborative advantage means that together you can achieve more than on your own
How the teams at T3SC can help you around trading and collaboration:
  • Supporting and facilitating groups across the sector to work collaboratively.
  • Collaboration benefits – training package.
  • 'Grow your own income' – training for trading package.
Training participant: 'I will cascade the training to other trustees so we can all understand the benefits of collaboration.'
 
 
Back to top