Our Work business planning | feasibility studies/evaluations | partnership development Business Planning RED has developed a unique style of Business Planning. We recognise the importance of the business plan to community and voluntary groups, as a means of understanding the needs of their community, of developing a strategic plan to address those needs, to raise awareness of their work and to attract essential funding. Our approach is practical, hands on, participatory and individualised to meet the needs of each community. We ensure that all key players are involved in the development of their plan and that consultation is inclusive of all sectors of the community, the pubic, private and wider voluntary and community sectors. We are happy to get stuck in and become part of the community we are working with and on behalf of. Our work has included the following: • Developing community steering groups • Consultation with residents, groups, businesses and public sector providers • Market research into the needs of the above • Considering additional services that address local need and demand, as well as the potential need/demand of key partners. • Identifying appropriate product/service mix • Identifying income generation activities • Providing confidence building and business planning training to steering groups and management committees • Liaising with Architects, Planners, Local Authorities and other support organisations • Organising study visits to inspire new ideas and investigate good practice developed elsewhere • Producing fully-costed business plans showing sustainability • Attracting appropriate funding streams Our past customers have included: • Groundwork West Durham, Wear Valley, Co. Durham • Shildon Centre, Shildon Sedgefield Co. Durham • Coundon & Leeholme Community Partnership, Wear Valley, Co. Durham • The Gathering Place, Wigton, Cumbria • Trimdon Colliery Centre, Trimdon Colliery Sedgefield Co. Durham • Trimdon 2000 Ltd Cyber Café, Trimdon Village, Sedgefield, Co. Durham • The Victoria Centre, Shotton 2000 Ltd, Shotton Colliery, Co. Durham "We are delighted with the work produced by RED. Unlike most consultants they have a hands-on, grass roots approach. We got more than our monies worth." Sheraton Shaw, Barnardo’s, Wigton "A very professional piece of work delivered within agreed timescales." Damien Morris, Home Housing Association, Cumbria back to top Feasibility Studies/Evaluations The thrust of this work has been to objectively analyse and assess the performance of a project/organisation or the problems associated with a given community so that a critical description can be developed, leading to an actionable plan with key priorities. In carrying out this type of work RED has: • Conducted grass roots, community based assessments • Developed training and support packages to increase community capacity and encourage sharing and wider use of skills. • Assessed training and support provision • Assessed levels of capacity of community group members • Assessed capacity building needs of communities to enable them involvement in local regeneration activity • Brought disparate groups together under a common vision and set of goals • Improved cohesion of provision • Challenged how organisations provide their services • Examined how organisations consult with stakeholders on the scope and delivery of their services • Conducted comparative analysis of services in relation to similar services within the region, in terms of scope and quality of service and value for money • Evaluated the need to provide competitive services to funding partners • Conducted studies of organisational service provision, in terms of: customer base (including gender/age and geographical spread of customers), premises, number of clients, staff ratio’s, opening hours, customer satisfaction, public awareness of services and value for money • Interviewed focus groups and analysed findings of structured interviews • Interviewed economic regeneration service providers to identify common issues/concerns • Identified gaps and duplication in economic regeneration provision Our past customers have included: • Glenroyd House, Consett, Derwentside, Co. Durham • Joint Trimdon Regeneration Partnership, Trimdon, Sedgefield Co. Durham • South Tyneside Training and Enterprise Network (TEN) South Shields • Wear Valley District Council Leisure Services, Wear Valley Co. Durham • Chester-le-Street District Council, Co. Durham • Gateshead Community Empowerment Network, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear "This was exactly what we asked for and wanted. It enabled us to rethink how our resources were being channelled and how to be more efficient and effective.” Kevin O’Brien, Manager South Tyneside TEN back to top Partnership Development Partnership Development is at the very heart of the work of RED. It underpins the success of voluntary and community groups and communities as a whole. Vibrant Partnership with the requisite skills and expertise can transform the fabric of a community and contribute to its long term social and economic sustainability. In carrying out this type of work RED has: • Worked with key agencies with a view to improving local facilities • Supported Partnership to agree terms of reference, clearly focus on their aims and objectives and set realistic targets. • Worked with Partnerships to create Memoranda of Agreements • Supported group to select appropriate legal structures • Undertaken comprehensive studies of provision and gaps in provision • Developed relevant Partnership sub groups with delegated powers • Compiled comprehensive databases in line with the Data Protection Act • Developed strategic marketing plans with Partnerships • Generated greater local interest and increased attendance at committee meetings to build capacity • Developed communication Strategies • Developed models for joint working arrangements • Trained Partnerships in recruitment and interview techniques • Delivered confidence building training to Partnerships • Developed ‘early win’ projects • Identified revenue and capital projects Our past customers have included: • North Allerdale Partnership, North Allerdale, Cumbria • Sedgefield Positive Inclusion Partnership, Sedgefield Co. Durham • Teesdale and Wear Valley Positive Inclusion Partnership, Co. Durham • Joint Trimdon Regeneration Partnership, Trimdon, Sedgefield Co. Durham • Trimdon Colliery Community Association, Trimdon, Sedgefield Co. Durham • Four Local Infrastructure Organisations Hambleton, North Yorkshire • Sure Start, Willington, Wear Valley, Co. Durham • Sure Start, Barnard Castle, Teesdale, Co. Durham "The North Allerdale Partnership is grateful to our consultants, RED, who regularly went the extra mile in delivering a first class piece of work.” Bill Jefferson, OBE, Chairman, NAP back to top