COVER is working in partnership with NCVO’s Third Sector Foresight Team to better understand how the world is changing and how organisations in our region can use this knowledge to make better strategic decisions. The partnership will provide:

• New insights about the trends and forces impacting on organisations in our region
• Training workshops for infrastructure organisations
• Free copies of pocket guides exploring changing funding, volunteering, population changes and other crucial topics

Strategic analysis is about looking at the trends that will have a positive or negative impact on the voluntary and community sector. This might be about changing client groups, different needs of clients or it might be about the impact of the current economic situation on donations and the supply of volunteers.

Richard Boyd of Disability Essex compares the strategic analysis process to taking aim at a moving vessel at sea. “You aim not at where the ship is, but where it is going to be when the shell lands.” There is a really useful 4-5 minute video of Richard talking more about this at http://www.3s4.org.uk/start/benefits-of-strategic-analysis (at the bottom of the page).

As part of this project we will be running two events in our region for leaders and development workers in the VCS who would like to engage with strategic analysis in their organisations. Details about the events will be available soon. 

If you’re interested in finding out more, contact Abi Patience, Policy and Communications Manager at COVER. For more on NCVO Third Sector Foresight, visit www.3s4.org.uk

COVER are working with Third Sector Foresight at NCVO who lead the change workstream, funded by Capacitybuilders’ National Support Services Programme. See www.improvingsupport.org.uk which brings together resources, evidence and good practice to help third sector support organisations.