Transforming Gosport at GVA’s AGM and the Community Voice Forum

02/11/2021

On Wednesday 20 October, Ted Hill, CEO, welcomed 40 attendees to Gosport Voluntary Action’s AGM, including a range of GVA member organisations and stakeholders such as Marvels & Meltdowns, Gosport Hospital Radio, Gosport Access Group and Disability Forum, Loud & Proud, Shore Leave Haslar, Gosport Older Persons Forum, the local Clinical Commissioning Group, Abri and Gosport Borough Council.

A short AGM saw the (re)election of GVA’s Chair of Trustees Ian Reeves and three GVA Trustees. GVA’s new look Impact Report was also launched as part of the AGM’s proceedings. Ian Reeves summarised the challenges and changes of the past year and then briefly looked forward to what’s to come for GVA.

“GVA owes a big thank you to residents, funders, volunteers, and staff for their support to enable our response to the pandemic.  In common with many other organisations, we now have an opportunity to reset our goals and efforts to meet the challenges and support our members as we come out of the pandemic.” – Ian Reeves, GVA’s Chair of Trustees

Ted Hill highlighted his first year at GVA in terms of there being a ‘Factory Reset’ of GVA’s processes and efficiencies from HR to Staff Handbook, harmonising staff contracts & enhanced T&Cs, implementing Xero and improving financial management processes. Internal Comms has been streamlined and new funding sourced for some of GVA’s community focussed projects, while others closed as funding periods ended. GVA’s membership offer has been enhanced and new partnerships developed.

Ted shared some of GVA’s plans going forward in terms of support, more partnership working, providing a strong voice for the VCSE sector, financial sustainability, being value driven and developing GVA staff and volunteers. Finally, an analogy of ‘being like Geese’ was used to describe GVA’s values of having a shared vision and goals, a sense of community, taking collective responsibility, sharing leadership, encouraging others and supporting the team. After thanking many of those organisations who have supported GVA this past year, Ted concluded by announcing his retirement in January 2022.

“It was a pleasure to see so many people and hear the positive work ongoing. Much is planned going forward and I am certain from what I hear the voluntary & community sector in Gosport will go from strength to strength.”   Ted Hill, GVA’s CEO

GVA’s AGM moved seamlessly into the Gosport Community Voice Forum, funded by Gosport Borough Council (GBC).

The event began with Deputy Mayor Cllr Zoe Huggins setting the scene by reflecting on how GVA leapt into action to support local groups and people in need during the pandemic:

“The quality of life should be equal and fair and the opportunities connected in the strength of a community that pulls us through. The pandemic reminded us of what was important to us and our families.”

Jayson Grygiel, GBC’s Manager of Planning Policy gave an interesting overview of how the Borough’s Local Plan will shape its development until 2038 (there was also a Local Plan display for attendees to review and Jayson explained that feedback is being sought until 3 December 2021).

Janie Millerchip, Gosport’s Transformation Project Lead, CCG, and Barbara Cooke, Community Development Officer, Abri, introduced the audience to ‘The Development of our Incredible Wellbeing Garden’ describing the aim of the Willow Garden, why it will be developed in 2022 at Forton Medical Centre, the way forward and what help is needed.

Next up was Rebekah Jeffery, Head of Culture Hubs, Hampshire Cultural Trust, who enlightened the audience about the Gosport Cultural Consortium – what it is, who the team are, what the cultural programme delivers via its project strands, the High Street Heritage Action Zone, Cultural Compact and how to get involved.

‘Community News Bites’ then followed, which enabled the representatives of wide range of local organisations to highlight how their organisations are transforming and provide updates on their services.

Finally, Lucy Tennant, Acting Solent Funding Manager, National Lottery Community Fund, explained the National Lottery Community Fund’s purpose and priorities, what the funding offer is, who and what can be funded and some hints and tips on how to apply.

Ted Hill summarised the wealth of information and also inspiration that had come from the Gosport Community Voice Forum. This was followed by an opportunity for attendees to network, speak to some of the speakers further and to enjoy a buffet lunch!

The Minutes of the meeting can be downloaded here.

If you would like to view the PowerPoint presentations from the event, you can view them here.

GVA’s Impact Report for 2020/2021 can be downloaded here.

GVA’s annual accounts can be viewed here.