Strategic Plan. Introduction

Transcription

1 Strategic Plan Introduction Vision, mission, values, objectives Promoting the strength and happiness of our families through opportunities to help each other. Ensuring the value of LGBT people as new parents is understood, and that they are assessed and matched fairly and effectively Making the benefits and reality of adoption and fostering known to all LGBT prospective parents Organisational activities Prioritising our activities Human resources Financial resources Structure Appendix A - Background Appendix B - Members survey. Introduction New Family Social is a self-help membership organisation formed in 2007, out of a need for LGBT adopters and foster carers to support each other, and to give their children the confidence of knowing other families like theirs. The online nature of the group allowed the membership to grow rapidly around the UK, and the development was encouraged and supported by adoption and fostering agencies. As the group grew in size and standing, it also began to raise awareness of LGBT adoption and fostering, and to work to encourage better practice in the approval and matching processes. The development of NFS in terms of membership, and the scope of our work, has been rapid. The challenge has been to keep up with this development in terms of organisational structure and systems, and both supporting, and involving, members who are spread so widely. The main purpose of NFS is the same today as it always has been - to allow our families to support each other. Our charitable objects also allow us to look at the bigger picture and work to improve the system as a whole - finding more families for children, and improving the way LGBT applicants are utilised. This document sets out to define how we do that, and is a work in progress informed by input from our members. 1

2 Vision, mission, values, objectives Our vision Strong and happy LGBT families Our mission 1. To promote the strength and happiness of our families through opportunities to help each other 2. To ensure the value of LGBT people as new parents is understood, and that they are assessed and matched fairly and effectively. 3. To make the benefits and reality of adoption and fostering known to all LGBT prospective parents. Our values We believe in: Respect for a diversity of backgrounds, experiences and viewpoints Adoption and fostering as a positive choice which benefits all of society Harnessing the enthusiasm that our members bring to adoption and fostering Our objectives We will promote the strength and happiness of our families through opportunities to help each other by: Maintaining a safe, effective online space for our members to share support and get in touch with each other. Encouraging and facilitating regional and national activities that bring families together. Helping our members to access any additional support they need. We will ensure the value of LGBT people as new parents is understood, and that they are assessed and matched fairly and effectively, by Raising awareness of our contribution, and our families. Providing opportunities for improved practice, systems and policies. We will make the benefits and reality of adoption and fostering known to all LGBT prospective parents by: Using all relevant channels to communicate our message to LGBT communities Maintaining up to date, freely available resources for those considering adoption & fostering. 2

3 Promoting the strength and happiness of our families through opportunities to help each other. This is our primary mission, and at least half of our resources will be allocated to it. The objectives that will help us to achieve this are as follows: Maintaining a safe, effective online space for our members to share support and get in touch with each other: This defines NFS, and no other activity will be allowed to jeopardise this. Managing memberships and access levels requires regular work with complex systems, and takes considerable time and resources to induce a person into the role. It is therefore unrealistic for this to be done on a voluntary basis. The ongoing cost of running NFS to deliver this service alone is approximately 15,000. This cost is covered by annual agency subscriptions. There are opportunities to develop the online members area in order to provide a better service. This will be explored following the development of a new contact management system. Aim: Improve the online members area in-line with members wishes, and assess how NFS could meet the needs of older children with a specific social networking area. Encouraging and facilitating regional and national activities that bring families together. The following activities currently take place: 1. Ad- hoc meet-ups arranged by volunteers, held in public places 2. Regular meet-ups arranged by volunteers, held in hired venues 3. Large, national events, including a camping weekend, and Alton Towers weekend. 4. Opportunistic meet-ups at existing events, such as prides (In addition, many private events (dinners, play dates etc) are arranged between small groups of members.) Most of the 11 regions have ad-hoc events in public places every 2-4 months (1). The London, South East Coast and North West groups have regular events in a hired venue (2), which have the following advantages: less effort to arrange a time & suitable place each time the consistency of knowing that the venue is suitable members know where to come and what to expect Aim: As many regional groups as is practical to have regular events in a hired venue. Regional coordinators As of July 2011, volunteer regional coordinators are being appointed in each region to act us a point of contact for members in the area, and to encourage active and cohesive local groups. (see role guidelines) Aim: For all regions to have a volunteer coordinator Event costs The cost of the current hired venues is from per event, equating to between 3 and 6 per family (or prospective family) attending. Any costs come from income from agency and individual subscriptions. We may start to invite donations at events, especially since gift aid can now (soon?) be claimed on up to 5,000 with no supporting paperwork. Additionally, national events are a good opportunity for corporate sponsorship. Aim: Gain sponsorship for existing, and new, group events. Helping our members to access any additional support they need. 3

4 In the adoption / fostering process Currently, staff and volunteers provide individual support to members where possible. Plans are being developed for an advocacy and mediatory role for which funding could be sought. Aim: Begin pilot of advocacy role. Children s profiles Children s profiles are accepted from local authorities and posted on a secure forum by a volunteer. This forum is only accessed by members whose agency has confirmed their approved status. Aim: Improve the functionality of this facility along with other online development, and raise awareness of the service in new materials for agencies. At school A sub-committee is being formed to look at how we help our families with schooling issues. Aim: Develop a range of resources and / or collaborations to help with school issues Formal / theraputic support While this form of support is clearly important, NFS is careful not to use its resources in replicating services available elsewhere. We can, however, look for ways to make them more accessible to NFS members, possibly as a group. Aim: Assess opportunities to access external support services as a group. 4

5 Ensuring the value of LGBT people as new parents is understood, and that they are assessed and matched fairly and effectively The objectives that will help us to achieve this are as follows: Raising awareness of our contribution, and our families. There is considerable overlap between raising awareness generally, raising awareness in LGBT communities, and raising the profile of NFS and the support on offer. Media assistance NFS is the first post of call for many journalists and producers looking to feature LGBT adoptive and foster families. Assistance is given by finding members who are willing to contribute. This work is currently done by a volunteer, and a media sub-committee is being created to look at potential development in this area. Aim: Maintain current media assistance, and review NFS s media activity Providing opportunities for improved practice, systems and policies. Giving reassurance as to the outcomes. Much can be gained by sharing positive experiences and outcomes. Social workers, panel members and foster carers may genuinely be unsure that placement with LGBT carers is right for a child, and simply having the reassurance of hearing of previous cases can make a real difference. This is achieved in different ways, including: Gathering online resources such as media articles and research findings. Acquiring articles written by experienced practitioners and making them available. Assisting with new research, such as that being conducted by Cambridge University. Producing printed resources NFS is currently writing a range of Advice Notes to be published by BAAF in Q1 2012, aimed at social workers, panel members, foster carers, birth parents and children. We know these are greatly needed, and will be very affordable and accessible to all agencies around the UK. Producing video resources There is a great opportunity to build on the Advice Notes by producing a range of companion video resources. These again could be affordable (or even free in some cases) and could be used by individual practitioners, or by groups to aid discussion, or by trainers as part of their training workshops. BAAF are again keen to collaborate on this next project in any way they can. Direct training work Once these resources are available, NFS will look at how it can help agencies to make the most of the materials. Possibilities include: developing our own training training volunteers to use the resources to help agencies in their area. working with consortia to host conferences at which trainers and volunteers could present the materials and facilitate discussion. In the meantime, the training which is already available from other providers is being promoted on the NFS website. Aim: Produce advice notes and a range of companion video resources. Assess how best to deliver direct work. 5

6 Making the benefits and reality of adoption and fostering known to all LGBT prospective parents The intended outcome of this is to reduce the number of children in care. There is considerable overlap between this, raising awareness in the general public, and raising the profile of NFS and the support on offer. The objectives that will help us to achieve this are as follows: Using all relevant channels to communicate our message to LGBT communities LGBT Adoption & Fostering Week We know that most of our members first looked into adoption or fostering in Winter or Spring, and it therefore makes sense to focus any efforts into this time. The first LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week will be held in Q1 2012, and NFS will partner with a range of regional and national agencies and other organisations in order to make this a success. Aim: Complete a successful launch of the first event. NFS Website The NFS website is the main route by which new adopters and foster carers find NFS, with over 20,000 new visitors per year. This is helped by links across the Internet, and donated pay-per-click advertising from Google. The Gay Adoption Week website is also expected to attract a large audience. Social media Managed by a volunteer, the NFS twitter account and Facebook offers useful advice and links, and drives visitors to relevant websites. Local communities Free packs of postcards are sent to volunteers for distribution in their local communities. Local volunteers use other opportunities where possible, such a Pride events. Media Opportunities are taken as they arise - editorial, reciprocal advertising etc. Aim: Maintain current activity and look for any new opportunities in future. Maintaining up to date, freely available resources for those considering adoption & fostering. Online The NFS website carries some information for prospective adopters / foster carers, and well as signposting to resources elsewhere. The new Gay Adoption Week website will also carry information. Telephone helpline The NFS main telephone number is available to, and used by, those considering adoption or fostering. Printed material NFS will write and produce a introductory guide which can be sent to new members or other enquirers in the post (for free), or downloaded from the NFS or Gay Adoption Week websites. Aim: Produce a new materials for free distribution and download. 6

7 Organisational activities Online systems development NFS was made possible by its website, and most of the activity and running of the group happens online. We have rather outgrown the system we have now - most of the problem is behind the scenes - managing online accounts, subscriptions etc takes more work that it should do. A key part of this will be a new online contact management database, and the licences for this, worth over 10,000 per year, have been donated by a company called Salesforce. This needs to be configured to meet our needs, and we are currently scoping out this project. Aim: Start using the new contact management system Agency liaison A good relationship with agencies is responsible for: many adopters finding out about NFS our largest source of regular income, through agency subscriptions the opportunity to help resolve issues faced by both agencies and NFS members Regular contact with agencies is helped by having good reason for the contact. To this end, projects such as LGBT Adoption & Fostering Week, surveys, advice notes, training promotion, and conferences will be a great help. Aim: To distribute new materials to all agencies. OFSTED registration NFS has communicated with Ofsted on whether we need to register, and although so far we have not been strictly been required to do so, it is something we are considering for the future, especially if and when we are providing more professionalised support (beyond peer support) to adopters and/or children. 7

8 Prioritising our activities Our activities are prioritised by our trustees, with input from our members, based on the following considerations: Who benefits? Our main beneficiaries are: Parents within NFS Prospective adopters & foster carers Children within our families, or waiting to be placed. Does it fit with our mission, values, vision? How much do our beneficiaries say they benefit / would benefit? Is the need already being met, or can it be better met, by other organisations? Human resources Volunteers from with the membership We will continue to develop NFS in order to make the best use of help offered by our members. The main area currently is in devolving activity and responsibly around the UK to regional coordinators. Our members understand the organisation best, and the needs of it s beneficiaries. Many have relevant skills and experience, and are eager to give back to NFS. They will be our first port of call when looking for human resources, however from experience: Members are often time-poor, and are either preparing to adopt or foster, or are raising a young family. It is understandably hard for many members to commit to regular volunteer work, and their availability is prone to change unexpectedly due to the nature of being adoptive or foster parents. Aim: to continue to identify available skills within the group Volunteers from outside the membership There may be many people outside of the membership who may have regular time to offer, and who are perhaps at an earlier or later stage in life. Aim: to continue to explore this potential Paid staff / project workers While we shall aim to keep the core running costs of NFS low, realistically some areas of work are best paid for. These may include areas which: Involve more regular work than can realistically be done by a volunteer and which is difficult to share between volunteers Require a lot of training and a long time to become proficient Need a great deal of reliability and consistency, eg for security Involve specific skills which may be hard to find a volunteer for 8

9 Financial resources Regular, predictable income Agency subscriptions. This income requires relatively little maintenance, and is increasing steadily. Household subscriptions. This income may reduce as more memberships are provided by agency subscriptions. However, income from members not being supported by an agency may hold steady, or grow. Aim: to continue growing income from agency subscriptions Donations Since early 2011, new members are invited to: add a donation to their subscription payments set-up a regular donation if their membership is covered by their agency The take up of this appears to be good, and we will monitor this more closely in future. Our members may be keen to support our work, but may often not be in a position to donate a great deal due to their stage in life. From experience, large donations come from our members parents (ie our children's grandparents) - either donated by them or donated from their estates when they pass away. Aim: to continue encouraging members to set-up regular donations, and to raise awareness of the importance of legacy management Grant income NFS has had some success with grant applications, but resources have so far been focused on gaining sustainable income. There is likely to be much scope for additional grant income. Aim: to identify potential grants and also human resources for making applications Sponsorship From recent experience NFS is an attractive charity for corporations to support. Aim: to gain corporate sponsors for NFS s work Donations in kind NFS currently receives donations in kind including: an ongoing Google Grant, equating currently to approx 400 per month of online advertising. a suite of licences for Salesforce, the contact management system we are to adopt. This equates to over 10,000 per year. Aim: to continue to identify free or reduced products and services as a charity 9

10 Structure NFS is committed to being a member led organisation; involving it s members in developing it s strategy and achieving it s goals. The organisation structure is: 1. Membership NFS has 450 family and prospective family members, who have access to the online members area and regional meet-ups. Members elect a board of trustees to govern the charity on their behalf. 2. Board of Trustees NFS currently has 8 trustees who are responsible for ensuring the charity is run correctly, and meets it s aims. 3. Director The Director is responsible for the day to day running of the Charity, overseeing projects and management of volunteers and other staff. 4. Other staff and volunteers One further member of staff, the membership secretary, is responsible for setting up new memberships, meeting the day to day needs of members, and collecting subscriptions. Volunteers from the membership are responsible for a great deal of NFS s services, including arranging events, providing peer-support, managing children s profiles, material distribution, on-line activity, coordinating media requests and local outreach activity. 10

11 Appendix A - Background The founder (Andy) arranged the first meet-up in October 2007, in London. The New Family Social group was set-up for lesbian and gay adopters, prospective adopters and their children to socialise and support each other. Membership became UK wide thanks to promotion on the internet, and to adoption agencies. Andy invited members to come forward to form a steering committee. Members were asked to pay an annual fee, to cover venue hire. Agency subscriptions were first offered, creating a steady income. NFS won a grant for a project to engage with agencies. Membership was extended to foster carers, and to bi and trans people. NFS became a registered charity in October Appendix B - Members survey. In 2010 a survey was conducted amongst members to gauge the relative importance they placed on different activities. The results are shown below. Priority given by members Activity 21 The online message board 21 The ability to make informal contact with others 18 Informal family events in your area 18 Fun activities for children 16 Help with school issues 16 Help with accessing CAMHS & other post adoption support 16 Support workshops / activities for children 14 Access to a caseworker to advocate for you if you feel you are being treated incorrectly in your process 14 Structured support events in your area 13 Access to training / support workshops through NFS, possibly at reduced rates and with other NFS members 13 A members in your area available for telephone contact / peer support / advice 9 The postal lending library 8 Group holidays 11