Somerset Voluntary Infrastructure Support Survey

Somerset Voluntary Sector Network (SVSN )is a county-wide organisation, committed to supporting and strengthening the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in Somerset. Its members are:-

Age Concern Somerset, Children & Young People’s Partnership (CHYPPS), Community Council for Somerset, Engage West Somerset, Mendip Voluntary Action, Somerset Access and Inclusion Network (SAIN), Somerset Racial Equality Council, Somerset Youth Volunteering Network, South Somerset CVS, Taunton Deane CVS and ViSTA.

SVSN is partly funded by the government funding through the ChangeUp programme which is managed by Capacitybuilders, a non-departmental public body.

We are currently writing a business plan and would like your views on what support and services you would like to receive in future.

We would be grateful for your help in completing this short survey. It should take no more than 10 minutes. Your responses will be treated in the strictest confidence.

If you would like to receive a copy of the results, you will have the option to provide your details at the end.

Thank you

Libby Lisgo
Chair of SVSN

Introduction

What are your overall views on the existing support and services available from SVSN?

	Very satisfied with existing services and support
	Quite satisfied with existing services and support
	Neither satisfied nor unsatisfied with existing services and support
	Unsatisfied with existing services and support
	Very unsatisfied with existing services and support
	Not aware of SVSN
	Please add any comments here:

What form of communication have you had with SVSN? (tick all that apply)

	(Select all that apply.)
	Conferences/seminars
	Meetings
	E-newsletter / E-bulletin
	Newsletter
	Mail shots
	Telephone contact
	Via the Website
	No communication

Thinking of services and support

Which services and support are you currently satisfied with, and in which areas would you like more services and support?

Happy with current support & services

We need more support& services in this area

Don’t know /Not relevant to us

Identifying VCS needs and developing services and support to meet those needs

Facilitating communication and networking between VCS organisations in Somerset

Championing and enabling the views of VCS organisations to be represented to external bodies e.g. County Council, Primary Care Trust, Regional Development Agency, Government, funding bodies

Influencing the development and implementation of key strategies and policies e.g. Local Area Agreement, Compact, full cost recovery

Enabling national, regional and sub-regional bodies to communicate with VCS organisations in Somerset

Support with income generation e.g. trading and social enterprise

Support and representation around the commissioning and procurement of services

Performance improvement e.g. quality systems, monitoring and evaluation

Promoting and supporting the development of volunteering across Somerset

Providing support and services around governance e.g. trustee and management committee support

Providing support and services around Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

Providing support and services around human resources and personnel issues

Providing support and services around funding and fundraising

Improving joint working between VCS infrastructure support organisations i.e. the members of SVSN

Understanding and being responsive to rural issues

Support around equalities and diversity

Improving the communication of information and resources relevant to VCS organisations in Somerset

If I had three wishes for support...

Please list any other services or support which you would like SVSN to provide

About your organisation

Please provide details of which local statutory bodies fund your organisation? (tick all that apply)

	(Select all that apply.)
	Mendip District Council
	Sedgemoor District Council
	Somerset County Council
	Somerset Primary Care Trust
	South Somerset District Council
	Taunton Deane Borough Council
	West Somerset District Council

What is the approximate annual income / turnover of your organisation?

	Below £10,000
	£10,001 - £25,000
	£25,001 - £50,000
	£50,001 - £100,000
	£100,001 - £250,000
	£250,001 - £500,000
	Above £500,000

How many paid staff does your organisation employ?

	0 - 1
	2 - 5
	6 - 10
	11 - 20
	+21

How many volunteers, excluding trustees or management committee members, work at your organisation?

	0 - 1
	2 - 5
	6 - 10
	11 - 20
	+21

How many trustees or management committee members does your organisation have?

	0 - 1
	2 - 5
	6 - 10

Do you have any other comments or suggestions you would like to make about the support available to VCS organisations in Somerset?

If you would like to be informed of the findings of this survey and the Business Plan, please provide the following information:-

First Name

Last Name

Organisation

Email