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CASE STUDY

Case studies listing

Community Network

This case study outlines how a voluntary organisation used Full Cost Recovery for the first time. The group had an opportunity to secure a long term contract and needed to make sure that the contract would pay the full costs of delivery. Although this was difficult at first and took time they have reaped the benefits of introducing this additional rigour into their costings.

Third Sector

Third Sector website provides short fundraising case studies. They tend to be short features about fundraising from the public in various ways. You have to register with the site to be able to see the full copy, but registration is free.

Café appeal targets local community

This case study was featured by Third Sector and demonstrates a local project using direct mail as part of its fundraising strategy. As well as outlining the work that went into producing a good quality direct mail appeal the story shows how difficult it is for local projects to raise funds through this medium.

Arts@Trinity

This case study looks at how Holy Trinity Church in Leeds aims to develop as an inclusive, accessible and self-sustaining venue for a wide range of cultural and artistic activities.

Care and Repair

Care and Repair helps older people, disabled people and people on low incomes to live in safe, warm, secure, well maintained and adapted homes. This case study looks at Care and Repair’s plans to meet the challenge of generating revenue from opening new markets for the organisation.

Meanwood Valley Urban Farm

This case study explores the issues involved in securing public sector contracts and additional funding from grant givers to develop educational resources and safeguard the future of the farm.

NCVO SFP

Sustainable Funding Project Case studies

Speaking Up!

Speaking Up! Is a Cambridge based charity supporting adults with learning difficulties to take control of their own lives. This case study outlines how the charity developed income earning through selling its expertise in the form of a training and consultancy package. This case study's key message is twofold: to encourage thinking about how the expertise and know-how derived from an organisation's core activity might make money; and how trading mission-related products can generate income and fulfill central mission - how mission and money can be effectively intertwined.

SHARE Community

SHARE Community is funded through a diverse range of donations, grants and contracts. Considerable growth over the past few years, combined with the decision to take out a loan to finance the purchase of their main premises, has acted as a catalyst to developing new income generation ideas.
Key themes from this case study include:
- Taking a sustainable funding approach incorporating diverse funding streams and underpinned by thorough strategic planning
- Using a loan to finance major asset purchase
- Starting a social firm combining money and mission

SHARE Case Study (pdf)

Download .pdf ( 177kb) of the case study

Mexborough Allotment Society

Capital fundraising to upgrade the infrastructure of a large allotment site. Group had never applied for funding before because they didn’t think there would be any funding for their work. The case study explains how these first-time fundraisers set about finding funders and learning how to apply. It charts the successful development of a long term plan and fundraising successes to date and offer their advice to others in a similar position.

Asylum Seeker Support Initiative - Short Term (ASSIST)

A short description of the methods this group have used to raised funds including making appeals for donations and a range of activities.

Whirlow Hall Farm Trust

A short description of the range of fundraising methods used by the trust including raising funds from trusts and the corporate sector, fundraising activities and trading.

Greentop Community Circus Centre

A short description of the methods this group use to raise funds to cover their core costs and various projects including funding from trusts and selling services to the corporate sector.

Worsbrough Common Community Association

This case study tells the story of how a Community Association in a deprived area set about identifying need and then raising the money. It includes all the work done to consult with the community, draw up plans, get costings and writing a business plan as well as the application process for the BIG’s Reaching Communities programme. Includes advice from BIG on applying to Reaching Communities and top tips.

Sheffield Visually Impaired Walking Group - raising money from Awards for All

This short case study outlines how the group went about applying to Awards for All.

Funding Advice Workers' Network North East

Good example of how a network can work well. Having a sole co-ordinator is beneficial, ensuring that the network keeps happening. It also helps that the co-ordinator has a sub-regional overview of funding advice services in the area.

Leicestershire Funding Advice Network

An example of how a network works well by having a single dedicated co-ordinator and being linked to an organisation whose services benefit the network.

Funding Advice Workers' Network North East

An example of how a network works well by having a single dedicated co-ordinator and being linked to an organisation whose services benefit the network.

George - the South West Funding Advisers Forum

An example of how a regional network can be instrumental in the establishment and spread of FANs across the region.

Leonard Cheshire: an innovative partnership for high-risk services

This case study is an example of a social care voluntary organisation which successfully negotiated a variation to the standard terms and conditions of a service delivery contract. The variation placed the risk of increased revenue costs on the commissioner of the service which enabled a significant development of the service to go ahead.

ECT Group (formerly Ealing Community Transport)

This case study is an example of how securing longer term contracts — up to seven years — enabled development and growth of a community transport organisation to be financed.

Carers’ Sitter Service (CSS)

This case study describes how a social care organisation fell foul of increasing regulation (National Standards). The changes to the regulations meant that volunteers could no longer carry out key roles and this would have prevented the service from being delivered. After several months of negotiations by the organisation they succeeded in getting their service re-classified — which allowed it continue.

Yorkshire Forward and Royds Community Association

This case study describes how a regional development agency agreed to amend the usual rules attached to using public money to buy or develop buildings. The Royds Community Association successfully negotiated a relaxation of the ‘claw back’ rules — where any future equity released through the sale of the building has to be returned to government, which prevents using those buildings as assets for secured loans or mortgages. This means that the community association can borrow money against the building and can benefit from any future growth in the value of the building.

Examples of purchasing practice

Three very short examples of public sector service commissioners awarding long term contracts to voluntary and community organisations.

  • Esk Moors Caring Ltd: a new organisation developing care services for the elderly in a rural area negotiated a seven year contract
  • Broadreach House: an organisation delivering services to drug users moving out of a period of EU funding is developing a wider range of services through sustainable commissioning.
  • Building Blocks Solutions: a relatively new mental health voluntary organisation developed strong relationships with GP surgeries and so was well placed when GP practice based commissioning was introduced.

Delivering 'Supporting People' through the voluntary sector in Lambeth

This case study from IDeA is an example of good practice in service planning and commissioning. It outlines how a public sector commissioner involved the local voluntary and community sector in service planning and in designing the service commissioning processes with the aim of increasing the sector’s involvement in service delivery.

IDeA Knowledge

This site from the Improvement and Development Agency for local government (IDeA) provides several case studies from local government and the voluntary and community sector working together.

Journey to improvement: Tower Hamlets

This case study from IDeA is an example of good practice in service planning and commissioning. It outlines how Tower Hamlets approached increasing the role of the local voluntary and community sector in service planning and in designing the service commissioning processes.

Third Sector

Third Sector website provides short fundraising case studies. They tend to be short features about fundraising from the public in various ways. You have to register with the site to be able to see the full copy, but registration is free.

Café appeal targets local community

This case study was featured by Third Sector and demonstrates a local project using direct mail as part of its fundraising strategy. As well as outlining the work that went into producing a good quality direct mail appeal the story shows how difficult it is for local projects to raise funds through this medium.

Royds Community Association

Royds Community Association developed from a group of determined local residents, who were committed to halting the decline of their previously lively and attractive neighbourhood on the outskirts of Bradford. The group identified a move by public agencies to commissioning as an opportunity to sell its advice services on a more sustainable footing.

Mexborough Allotment Society

Capital fundraising to upgrade the infrastructure of a large allotment site. Group had never applied for funding before because they didn’t think there would be any funding for their work. The case study explains how these first-time fundraisers set about finding funders and learning how to apply. It charts the successful development of a long term plan and fundraising successes to date and offer their advice to others in a similar position.

Asylum Seeker Support Initiative - Short Term (ASSIST)

A short description of the methods this group have used to raised funds including making appeals for donations and a range of activities.

Whirlow Hall Farm Trust

A short description of the range of fundraising methods used by the trust including raising funds from trusts and the corporate sector, fundraising activities and trading.

Worsbrough Common Community Association

This case study tells the story of how a Community Association in a deprived area set about identifying need and then raising the money. It includes all the work done to consult with the community, draw up plans, get costings and writing a business plan as well as the application process for the BIG’s Reaching Communities programme. Includes advice from BIG on applying to Reaching Communities and top tips.

Greentop Community Circus Centre

A short description of the methods this group use to raise funds to cover their core costs and various projects including funding from trusts and selling services to the corporate sector.

Sheffield Visually Impaired Walking Group - raising money from Awards for All

This short case study outlines how the group went about applying to Awards for All.

Leonard Cheshire: an innovative partnership for high-risk services

This case study is an example of a social care voluntary organisation which successfully negotiated a variation to the standard terms and conditions of a service delivery contract. The variation placed the risk of increased revenue costs on the commissioner of the service which enabled a significant development of the service to go ahead.

ECT Group (formerly Ealing Community Transport)

This case study is an example of how securing longer term contracts — up to seven years — enabled development and growth of a community transport organisation to be financed.

Accounting issues – restricted and unrestricted funds

This case study describes how a social care organisation fell foul of increasing regulation (National Standards). The changes to the regulations meant that volunteers could no longer carry out key roles and this would have prevented the service from being delivered. After several months of negotiations by the organisation they succeeded in getting their service re-classified — which allowed it continue.

Yorkshire Forward and Royds Community Association

This case study describes how a regional development agency agreed to amend the usual rules attached to using public money to buy or develop buildings. The Royds Community Association successfully negotiated a relaxation of the ‘claw back’ rules — where any future equity released through the sale of the building has to be returned to government, which prevents using those buildings as assets for secured loans or mortgages. This means that the community association can borrow money against the building and can benefit from any future growth in the value of the building.

Community Network

This case study outlines how a voluntary organisation used Full Cost Recovery for the first time. The group had an opportunity to secure a long term contract and needed to make sure that the contract would pay the full costs of delivery. Although this was difficult at first and took time they have reaped the benefits of introducing this additional rigour into their costings.

Sue Ryder Care: We Care: Who Pays?

This case study demonstrates the current difficulties in achieving Full Cost Recovery faced by many in the sector who are contracting with social care service commissioners. Sue Ryder Care identifies an alarming ‘post code lottery’ and short fall in the funding of the statutory care services they deliver. They have launched a campaign — ‘We Care: Who Pays?

Examples of purchasing practice

Three very short examples of public sector service commissioners awarding long term contracts to voluntary and community organisations.

  • Esk Moors Caring Ltd: a new organisation developing care services for the elderly in a rural area negotiated a seven year contract
  • Broadreach House: an organisation delivering services to drug users moving out of a period of EU funding is developing a wider range of services through sustainable commissioning.
  • Building Blocks Solutions: a relatively new mental health voluntary organisation developed strong relationships with GP surgeries and so was well placed when GP practice based commissioning was introduced.

Liverpool Crossroads Futurebuilders investment

A specialist voluntary organisation providing support to carers responding to the challenge of moving away from grant finance to contracts with service commissioners. Significant growth and development following a recent merger. The case study outlines a range of issues around contracting relationships, key challenges and success factors and the purchaser’s point of view.

Delivering 'Supporting People' through the voluntary sector in Lambeth

This case study from IDeA is an example of good practice in service planning and commissioning. It outlines how a public sector commissioner involved the local voluntary and community sector in service planning and in designing the service commissioning processes with the aim of increasing the sector’s involvement in service delivery.

IDeA Knowledge

This site from the Improvement and Development Agency for local government (IDeA) provides several case studies from local government and the voluntary and community sector working together.

Journey to improvement: Tower Hamlets

This case study from IDeA is an example of good practice in service planning and commissioning. It outlines how Tower Hamlets approached increasing the role of the local voluntary and community sector in service planning and in designing the service commissioning processes.

Care and Repair

Care and Repair helps older people, disabled people and people on low incomes to live in safe, warm, secure, well maintained and adapted homes. This case study looks at Care and Repair’s plans to meet the challenge of generating revenue from opening new markets for the organisation.

Delivering a contract in a consortium

Smaller groups often need to work with others to deliver services and attract contracts. This case study looks at how a training provider — Myways — delivered a contract as part of a wider consortium. It outlines the challenge involved in meeting the bureaucracy involved in managing the contract and how being part of a consortium assisted in the process.

Meanwood Valley Urban Farm

This case study explores the issues involved in securing public sector contracts and additional funding from grant givers to develop educational resources and safeguard the future of the farm.

Royds Community Association

Royds Community Association developed from a group of determined local residents, who were committed to halting the decline of their previously lively and attractive neighbourhood on the outskirts of Bradford. The group identified a move by public agencies to commissioning as an opportunity to sell its advice services on a more sustainable footing.

NCVO SFP

Sustainable Funding Project Case studies

Speaking Up!

Speaking Up! Is a Cambridge based charity supporting adults with learning difficulties to take control of their own lives. This case study outlines how the charity developed income earning through selling its expertise in the form of a training and consultancy package. This case study's key message is twofold: to encourage thinking about how the expertise and know-how derived from an organisation's core activity might make money; and how trading mission-related products can generate income and fulfill central mission - how mission and money can be effectively intertwined.

SHARE Community

SHARE Community is funded through a diverse range of donations, grants and contracts. Considerable growth over the past few years, combined with the decision to take out a loan to finance the purchase of their main premises, has acted as a catalyst to developing new income generation ideas.
Key themes from this case study include:
- Taking a sustainable funding approach incorporating diverse funding streams and underpinned by thorough strategic planning
- Using a loan to finance major asset purchase
- Starting a social firm combining money and mission

SHARE Case Study (pdf)

Download .pdf ( 177kb) of the case study

Sheffield Woodcraft Folk

A short description of the methods this group have used to raised funds including top tips for running fundraising pub quizzes!

Whirlow Hall Farm Trust

A short description of the range of fundraising methods used by the trust including raising funds from trusts and the corporate sector, fundraising activities and trading.

Asset transfer: Goodwin Development Trust Limited, Hull

An example of how a community group negotiated the transfer of an empty council building and transformed it into a base for a multi-million pound community business.

Asset transfer: West Itchen Community Trust, Southampton

An example of the transfer of two commercial sites from a local authority to a local community trust to support local community based economic regeneration.

Asset transfer: Halifax Opportunities Trust and Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre, Halifax West Yorks

An example of the acquisition of local redundant commercial property using public funds through a partnership between the local authority, the Regional Development Agency and a local community development trust.

Asset transfer: Renewal Trust, Nottingham

An example of the transfer of an old school building in Nottingham to a community development trust and its development as a mixed community and economic resource.

Asset transfer: All Saints Action Network, Wolverhampton

An example of the transfer of an old school building in Wolverhampton to a community development trust and its development as a mixed community and economic resource.

Asset transfer: Wolseley Community Economic Development Trust, Plymouth

An example of a city council transferring derelict land and buildings to a community development trust on a 25 year lease to develop and manage two business parks, a healthy living centre and a community resource building.

Asset transfer: Blacon Community Trust, Cheshire

Example of how a community trust worked to persuade a local county council to transfer a redundant former primary school building at less than market value for community use.

Venturesome

Three short stories of voluntary organisations using three different forms of loan finance to meet different financial needs.

Soundbase Studios Trust

An example of an organisation providing music and multi-media education, training and support for young people using a mix of grant and loan to develop its ability to secure Local Education Authority and Learning and Skills Council contracts.

Wings South West

An example of a high cost rural project providing activities and training for young people ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’ (NEET). The project used a low interest loan with a capital grant to develop heritage and conservation centre.

NCVO SFP

Sustainable Funding Project Case studies

Speaking Up!

Speaking Up! Is a Cambridge based charity supporting adults with learning difficulties to take control of their own lives. This case study outlines how the charity developed income earning through selling its expertise in the form of a training and consultancy package. This case study's key message is twofold: to encourage thinking about how the expertise and know-how derived from an org