Thinking ahead

• NEW! Report from Helping BME third sector leaders plan ahead: solutions, strategies and support. 
• Special offer! Alongside the training Third Sector Foresight are giving away free copies of their popular Future Focus guides.

• How is strategic analysis relevant to my organisation? Read our article about why with think strategic analysis is important.

Report from Helping BME third sector leaders plan ahead: solutions, strategies and support

On 26th January 2010, 24 BME third sector leaders gathered in Birmingham to think about the future of the BME third sector.  Facilitated by NCVO Third Sector Foresight and Voice4Change England leaders explored:

• Drivers or trends which may impact on BME third sector organisations.
• The implications of these drivers and the responses that BME third sector organisations may need to take in order to:
  • stay relevant;
  • improve sustainability;
  • become more risk aware; and
  • increase innovation.

The day included: a presentation of key drivers by Voice4Change England; an introduction to some strategic planning tools; and plenty of group discussion.

Download a summary of the key findings and discussion from the day (PDF 86KB).

The Helping BME third sector leaders plan ahead event was part of Voice4Change England’s subsectoral work with NCVO third sector foresight to research the key drivers affecting the BME third sector.  For more information on these drivers visit the BME third sector section of the Third Sector Foresight website.

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

SPECIAL OFFER: Free copies of Future Focus

Alongside the training Third Sector Foresight are giving away free copies of their popular Future Focus guides to BME third sector infrastructure or support organisations. Each booklet in the Future Focus series takes a complex issue and breaks it down into easily accessible chunks of information. It also has tips and suggestions that organisations can build into their planning.

• Future Focus 1: What will our funding be like in five years’ time?
• Future Focus 2: What will our volunteers be like in five years’ time?
• Future Focus 3: How will we use new technologies in five years' time?
• Future Focus 4: How is local democracy changing?
• Future Focus 5: How are social attitudes changing?
• Future Focus 6: What will the UK population be like in five years’ time?

Ordering your copy

If you are a BME third sector infrastructure or support organisation and would like free bulk copies of the Future Focus guides to send on to, or use with, the frontline organisations you support contact Future Focus with the following message:

• We organisation name are happy to receive number copies of NCVO Third Sector Foresight publication Future Focus issue number and commit to sending them to our network.
• This will be done by (channel):
• We will send them by (date):

You will also get a full set of our Future Focus series to use for your own organisation.

How is strategic analysis relevant to my organisation?

Despite their essential role in tackling racism and discrimination, supporting BME communities and building social cohesion, the BME third sector is under threat. Taking stock of the external factors affecting your organisation and planning for the future are key ways to ensure your organisation is sustainable in the long term.

Read our new article BME third sector under threat? Facing the future without fear (PDF 305KB) to find out more about why we think planning for the future is essential and how it can help your organisation.

ENDS