Alex Whinnom (Chief Executive, GMCVO) talks about demonstrating the impact and value of infrastructure. This presentation was given at the Big Assist Conference on 4th July 2013. Find out about NCVO's upcoming events: http://www.ncvo.org.uk/training-and-events

1. Demonstrating the Impact and
Value of Infrastructure
BIG Assist Conference 4th
July 2013
Alex Whinnom
Chief Executive, GMCVO

2. Impact: a high degree of force or
shock exerted over a short time
period
Weathering: the effect of a small
force or multiple small shocks
exerted over a long time period

3. “Thou canst not stir a flower
Without troubling of a star”
(‘The Mistress of Vision’, Francis Thompson,1913)

4. Effort put into making an
impact is pointless
unless you know what
effect(s) you are having
and what effect(s) you
want to have.

6. Making the world a better place
• Enabling social, economic and political inclusion
• Reducing inequalities
• Improving the quality of life of local people
• Helping people and communities who are
disadvantaged
• Encouraging the involvement and leadership of
communities, both geographical and interest-based,
in addressing and resolving the issues that affect
them

7. • Improving and preparing
• Growing or tending
• Promoting the growth of
• Nurturing or fostering
• Forming and refining
• Seeking the acquaintance or goodwill of
Cultivating

8. Relationships
c3,000 groups pa
actively engaged
1,536 newsletter
subscriptions
9,326 visitors to
St Thomas
Centre
1,537 members
of policy
networks
17,022 interventions
with users
15,200 contacts
464 members of
GMCVO
307 members of
Combine
(community
building managers)
99 members of
VS research
network
1,471 responses
to surveys
636 delegates to
GMCVO events
360 members of
BME network
88,000 unique visitors
to websites
1,300 Twitter
followers

9. Ideas
945
management
and leadership
qualifications
(since becoming
accredited
centre)
Early adopter / pioneer of:
• Consortia
• Fiscal shield
• Cross sector partnerships
• Open source software
• CRM system
• PRINCE2 methodology
• Community hubs support
• Green energy
• Group purchasing scheme
• Outcomes stars
• Trading / sustainable funding
• Social media
• Volunteer policy interns
24 speeches at
external events
Third Sector
Futures dialogues
GM State of the
Voluntary Sector
survey
44 regular
publications pa
Impact of Cuts
on Communities
survey
Round table with
DCLG GM rep
11 reports
Evidence from 200
organisations to
GM Poverty
Commission

10. Monitoring...
REQUIRED BY FUNDER(S)
• Key performance
indicators (KPIs)
• Outcomes triangles /
outcomes stars
• Quality standards
• Gross value added (GVA)
– economic impact
• Social impact
ALSO USEFUL
• CRM system
• Narratives and case
studies
• Surveys, questionnaires,
evaluations
• Key performance
indicators (KPIs)
• Outcomes triangles /
outcomes stars
• Environmental impact
assessment (EIA)
• Benchmarking and
league tables?
• Corporate social
responsibility (CSR)?
NOT HELPFUL
• Social audit
• Social Return on
Investment (SROI)
methodologies
• Cost benefit analysis
(CBA)

13. Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation
www.gmcvo.org.uk
Alex Whinnom: 0161 277 1004
alex.whinnom@gmcvo.org.uk
St Thomas Centre
Ardwick Green North
Manchester M12 6FZ
Registered Charity No. 504542
Company Ltd. by Guarantee No.1223344
Funded by AGMA