The Switchback model combines work-based training and personal development with support around the practical issues at the heart of the re-offending cycle in order to make sustainable employment a realistic option for this vulnerable group. Read more about our work (PDF) - or an article on Switchback in The Times
	St Giles Trust is a Camberwell based charity which provides support and advice to prisoners and other disadvantaged people.  Its core work seeks to break the costly cycle of reoffending by tackling the twin obstacles of prisoners being released without accommodation and without jobs.  Read more about our work (PDF)
	Many people still remember, as schoolchildren, their organised support of the “Ladybird Charity” – Pestalozzi.  What many do not realise is that under the Pestalozzi name, a number of charitable organisations have grown up around the world since the 1950’s, all following Pestalozzi’s holistic education principles of Head, Heart and Hands.  Read more about our work (PDF)
	Developing the YOU London Strategy YOU London exists to promote Uniformed Youth Organisations in London and to help them increase their impact across London.  It is a coordinating partnership of the London regions of 14 organisations such as Boys’ Brigade, Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force, Scout Association, Girlguiding, the Metropolitan Police and GLA.  The YOU London Board comprises a senior member from each of partner organisation and is chaired by a representative of the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London.  It acts as a conduit to help maximise the positive impact of their partners, which themselves have their own autonomous governance structures.  Read more about our work (PDF)

Feasibility of Sharing Support Services across London

Age Concern is a federation of 400 independent charities working together with older people nationally, regionally and locally.  At present their total annual revenue is in excess of £65m, making it the UK’s largest charity in this area.  Support is provided through local Age Concerns, each being separate organisations meeting local needs, funded through local commissions and fundraising.  Within Greater London, there are 36 such Age Concerns, geographically centred on London Boroughs, who are able to call on support from Age Concern London (ACL) which helps to coordinate the work of the local service providers across broader areas.

The Chief Executive of ACL approached WCoMC in Autumn 2008 with a request to help them explore the opportunity for operational improvement through the introduction of shared support services across London.  Already, some Age Concerns within London are sharing some back office services and we were asked to see if this model could be expanded and extended to areas such as legal, purchasing, health and safety, and then IT and finance.

Our work started early in 2009 and was split into four stages:

• Interviews with Chief Officers in selected local Age Concerns;

• Analysis and then staging a short presentation at a regular ACL Chief Officers’ quarterly meeting;

• Use of the feedback from this meeting to create and run a simple and effective web-based questionnaire that went to all 32 Age Concerns;

• Organise and run workshops based on the information from the questionnaire to engage with all the Age Concerns in London.

The work has shown that there are many opportunities for sharing support services, although at this stage the local Age Concerns will need to adapt their ways of working to achieve the best impact.  A change programme will be required across London.  Given that the funding and commissioning model is constantly changing as Local Authorities and PCTs look for better and more cost effective services, our work will lead to the exploration of a number of working models for Age Concerns across London in relation to the delivery of shared services.

Our thanks go to David Peregrine-Jones who undertook this work for WCoMC.  David was supported by his Richmond Group colleague Hedley Basford, who designed and processed the questionnaire for ACL.

Patrick Chapman, July 2009.

Pro-bono Consultancy Case Study: Welcare

Liveryman, David Miller, who runs his own IT consultancy firm, provided pro bono consultancy to Welcare, with the goal of developing a telecommunications strategy for the organisation.

David’s report recommended investment in a network that supports secure voice and data communications, judged a necessity for the most efficient future operations, yet a difficult financial challenge.

The report was used successfully to apply to be part of the Big Lottery and Bridge House Trust funded project, ‘Circuit Riders’. As a result, Welcare now has further expert effort, free of charge, in the form of a Circuit Rider (see right hand panel).

David’s report was also used to assist in an application for substantial funding from the Future builders programme. Welcare was originally placed on the reserve list, but has now heard that it is to receive assessment in March 2006.

This case study illustrates the way in which an initial pro bono assignment can trigger further important developments and, importantly, can help provide the evidence that potential sponsors require in grant-making and in other forms of support for the organisation.

Welcare is a Christian Charity, which works preventatively with children and families in need, irrespective of faith, culture, abilities or life choices, to achieve a better quality of life for children and families.
Welcare provides a range of extremely well regarded and innovative services from its many centres throughout South London and East Surrey. These services address real need in our communities, offering practical help at times of crisis and acting as vital support before problems get bigger.

Welcare employs in excess of 120 staff across south London and east Surrey in a mix of full and part-time posts.

Liveryman, David Miller, who runs his own IT consultancy firm, provided pro bono consultancy to Welcare, with the goal of developing a telecommunications strategy for the organisation.

David’s report recommended investment in a network that supports secure voice and data communications, judged a necessity for the most efficient future operations, yet a difficult financial challenge.

The report was used successfully to apply to be part of the Big Lottery and Bridge House Trust funded project, ‘Circuit Riders’. As a result, Welcare now has further expert effort, free of charge, in the form of a Circuit Rider (see right hand panel).

David’s report was also used to assist in an application for substantial funding from the Future builders programme. Welcare was originally placed on the reserve list, but has now heard that it is to receive assessment in March 2006.

This case study illustrates the way in which an initial pro bono assignment can trigger further important developments and, importantly, can help provide the evidence that potential sponsors require in grant-making and in other forms of support for the organisation.