Community Connect
Welcome to the seventh edition of Family and Community Services' e-newsletter.
ISSUE 7 • JULY 2009
E-news from Family and Community Services
Practical Ideas to Help Community Groups During the Recession
A Wellington workshop, called Impact on Communities: Managing the Downturn Together was held last February 2009. It discussed possible consequences of the economic downturn for community groups. Participants acknowledged the need to work differently to better survive the new economic environment.
Discussions at the workshop were about the benefits of greater collaboration, shared services and training, strategic partnerships, possible mergers, diversifying income sources, better evidence and understanding, and proving service effectiveness.
While local communities and agency groups progress their own initiatives and activities, the workshop organisers (Philanthropy NZ, NZ Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations, and the OCVS) considered what could be done to help support the community sector during these difficult times.
As a result of these discussions, a new section has been created on the OCVS website to offer some guidance in key areas. Information is currently grouped under the following headings, but these are open to change based on feedback and input:
The OCVS website has a link to the Recession Support website, developed by ACEVO in the United Kingdom. The site includes articles by experts in a range of fields, and practical advice on surviving and leading through the recession. Although developed for the UK, many of the ideas and articles will provide New Zealand NGOs with food for thought.
New links and resources will be added to the OCVS site based on the ideas and recommendations from the community sector.
