Background
This review formed a key element of Sandwell Council’s ongoing improvement efforts as it transitions out of government intervention. It sought to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the grant funding awarded to Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations in the borough.
The review not only examined the total funding levels but also how the resources were allocated and the outcomes achieved from this allocation. Ultimately, the goal was to evaluate the value for money of the current approach while providing recommendations to improve efficiency in grant administration and optimise funding distribution across the council.
Trueman Change Involvement
Working closely with councillors, the Chief Executive and Assistant Chief Executive, Trueman Change supported Sandwell Council in conducting this in-depth review. To carry out our review, we engaged with stakeholders from across the voluntary sector, including funding administrators, community representatives, and council executives. We adopted a multi-faceted approach; desktop analysis of over 100 contracts, surveys, one-to-one interviews, and focus groups - all aimed at gathering diverse insights and perspectives.
Key themes we covered included:
- Application process
- Administration costs – particularly, how grants were administered through various third parties
- Spend reduction on long term arrangement
- Allocation of funding
- Capacity and roles of the internal team
- Clarity on the relationship between council and voluntary sectors
Our findings informed practical recommendations, which were presented directly to councillors in the form of a robust and well-received reports. Additionally, we completed process mapping and benchmarking to assess existing funding structures.
Outcomes & Solutions
We streamlined application processes to reduce administrative costs and boost efficiency, and we also fed back recommendations that enabled Sandwell’s internal teams to focus their efforts on high-value activities, leading to better use of their resources.
We were also able to Improve clarity in the relationship between the council and the voluntary sector, encouraging stronger collaboration and better-defined roles.
Added Value
By combining rigorous analysis and stakeholder engagement, Trueman Change helped Sandwell Council take a significant step forward in their improvement journey. Our blend of hands-on experience, expert insight, and psychology theory meant we were able to take a holistic view and empowered Sandwell Council to deliver better outcomes for their Voluntary and Community Sector partners.
