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A study of the future for Involve Yorkshire & Humber

27 April 2015

Involve Yorkshire & Humber is a regional infrastructure organisation, supporting the voluntary and community sector (VCS) to create a strong society and fair communities, with opportunities for all, throughout Yorkshire and the Humber.

• We enable the independent voice of the VCS to influence strategic issues that cross over local government boundaries or have national impact.
• We know what’s happening both locally and nationally. We use our knowledge to inform the VCS, the public sector and business collaborators.
• We connect organisations, to encourage partnerships and increase effectiveness.

Further information about the organisation

Involve, like many other infrastructure organisations, is considering its future. In the current and emerging political environment, we want to know more about our market and its potential;  what our offer should be on behalf of the sector; what we need to do to sell effectively into that market whilst retaining our values and delivering our commitment to campaigning.  So we are looking for someone/an organisation to undertake a study to assist us to consider our future in evolving and uncertain times.  

We would like this work to inform a possible redesign of Involve to ensure we continue to operate sustainably and meet the needs of the sector in the future. We are keen for the study to begin in June 2015, for discussion over the summer.  Our annual conference takes place this year on 17 September, which gives us an ideal opportunity to share our findings and thoughts.

The successful candidate will be an up to date VCS practitioner/organisation, numerate and literate, practical, willing and able to challenge radically and unsentimentally, with a thorough understanding of the current VCS operating environment.

S/he will be able to:

• undertake a realistic and contemporary analysis of the market and environment in which we operate;
• prepare recommendations which are sustainable, relate constructively to the other infrastructure organisations in Yorkshire and Humber and are probably radical. 

Practicalities

• The work will be supported by a small advisory group and the Acting Chief Executive
• There will be a fee of £5000 paid for this work. 

We want:

• A brief report, supported by evidence and setting out a way forward, with clear principles and practical actions.   It should include reference to our values, our mission, our body of knowledge and expertise and our considerable assets, as well as the opportunities available to us.  Additionally it should take note of discussions and activity taking place elsewhere around the future of VCS infrastructure.
• The work to begin by June, with completion by the end of July 2015.

To apply, please send us your CV and briefly answer these questions:

1. Why are you interested in undertaking this study?
2. How would your skills and experience be utilised in this work?
3. How would you set about researching and producing a collaborative report setting out a way forward, with clear principles and practical actions for Involve's future?

Send your application by email to Jane.Hustwit@involveyorkshirehumber.org.uk by 12 noon on Thursday 7 May 2015.   Please contact Jane with queries or to discuss this opportunity.

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 12 May in the morning in Leeds.

We look forward to hearing from you.