Voluntary and community sector organisations are often well placed to develop formal joint collaborations to bid to deliver public services. The size of some competitive tenders means that collaborative working may be the best way for smaller organisations to secure a role and share their specialist knowledge and reach. Benefits include:
- a wider range and reach of services
- opening up opportunities for funding and the potential to go for bigger contracts
- reduced duplication of services
Case studies
- InShape - watch a film about a partnerhsip that's working to improve the health and wellbeing of older people in Hackney, London.
- Consortico Ltd - Enhancing financial sustainability and building capacity by developing a formal consortium
- Ealing One Stop Jobs Shop Network - Tackling unemployment in Ealing, a local partnership solution
- Lancashire Third Sector Consortium for mental health - Presenting a professional, united front to commissioners
- Barton Hill (case study 1) - Taking the lead partner role in a collaboration
- Barton Hill (case study 2) - Tendering in partnership with statutory partners
- Aston Mansfield, East London - Supporting smaller organisations to compete for commissioning
- North Doncaster Development Trust - Seconding staff to smaller organisations
- The Hull Women's Network - Improving services for women
Resources
- Collaborate Resource Kit, Housing Association’s Charitable Trust, HACT, July 2008.
- Working in a consortium: A guide for third sector organisations involved in public service delivery, Office of the Third Sector, Cabinet Office, Dec 2008
- Joint working for public service delivery, NCVO Collaborative Working Unit, Feb 2006.
- Consortia delivery of public services, NCVO Collaborative Working Unit.
- The Prince's Trust Making Partnerships Work. A study of partnership-working in The Prince’s Trust and a practical guide to building and maintaining effective partnerships, 2005.
- Servants of the Community or Agents of Government? Produced by The Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) for bassac, June 2006.