Hackney Giving features as a case study in a good practice guide recently published by the Local Government Association (LGA). The guide describes how councils can work with local infrastructure organisations (LIOs) to engage smaller voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations.

The recent challenges that communities have faced – such as the pandemic and the cost of living crisis – has seen many councils needing to engage with smaller and grassroots voluntary sector organisations.

The guide sets out some simple, practical steps that councils can take to work with infrastructure organisations to strengthen and engage effectively with smaller VCS organisations. It is based on conversations with councillors, infrastructure and VCS organisations. Hackney Giving participated in the project to share examples of partnership working with the council.

‍The LGA guide highlights that by working with Hackney Giving, a part of the local infrastructure organisation Hackney CVS, the council was able to change the way small VCS organisations could work with them, including receiving funding to reach groups furthest from council services.

The guide highlights Hackney Giving’s approach when working with statutory partners: 

• Acting as an advocate for the VCS sector, pointing out the benefits that working with the sector can bring.
• Simplifying application forms and processes so that they reflect the scale of the funding available. 
• Streamlining monitoring and reporting procedures so that the most relevant and important information is collected accurately without overburdening small VCS organisations.
• Ensuring that project funding also covers back office costs or overheads for VCS organisations, as there is often limited or no core funding available for these sorts of costs.

The LGA guide concludes by making a series of recommendations, based on the case studies.

Sarah Watson, Development and Programme Manager, Hackney Giving, said: “I’m really pleased that Hackney Giving was included as a case study in this good practice guide. The guide highlights the value of the voluntary and community sector in supporting communities, working alongside the statutory sector. Over the last few years at Hackney Giving, we’ve distributed funding on behalf of statutory partners and have advocated for simplicity and trust throughout. We’re delighted that the value of this simplicity has been recognised.”

Sarah added: “We’re also pleased to see other elements included, such as our ongoing championing of the Voluntary and Community Sector with statutory partners, and acknowledgement of the need for voluntary organisations’ overheads to be covered.”

‍Read full guide here