![[Valid RSS]](/images/valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")
BISON
Bradford Infrastructure Support Organisations Network
The Bradford Infrastructure Support Organisations Network (BISON) partnership was established in November 2006 and since April 2007 has been delivering services funded by a commission from the BMDC Community Funding Unit (CFU).
This partnership is a first for the District and is evidence of continued commitment of the Infrastructure Support Organisations (ISOs) in the District to provide joined up, high quality, responsive support service to voluntary and community organisations. The partners detailed below bring together generalist, locally based support organisations and specialist support organisations. Working together has enabled partners to share resources, develop referral systems and raise awareness of the support that is available for VCS in the District.
The BISON partners are (in alphabetical order):
- Action for Black Community Development (ABCD)
- Shipley and Bingley Voluntary Services www.sbvs.org.uk/
- Bradford Community and Voluntary Service
- Bradford Resource Centre (BRC) www.brc-net.org.uk
- Consortia of Ethnic Minority Organisations (COEMO) www.coemo.co.uk
- Equity Partnership www.equitypartnership.org.uk
- Ilkley Council for Voluntary Service (ICVS) www.cvs.ilkley.org
- Keighley Voluntary Services (KVS) www.keighleyvs.org
- Pay and Employment Rights Service www.pers.org.uk
- West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service (WYCAS) www.wycas.org.uk
The partnership is led by BCVS, who are responsible for co-ordinating the initiative and providing monitoring reports to the CFU.
Briefing Bradford Readers may have noted that since April 07 Briefing Bradford is now 'with added BISON'! This means that partners are providing more regular input to the publication and all BISON partners' (eligible) member organisations have the opportunity to receive FREE copies of Briefing Bradford - which until now had only been open to members of the five CVSs.
BISON activities
The BISON partners carry out the following work and activities:
BISON Development Workers Network
The partnership has seen the creation of the BISON Development Workers network, bringing together development workers from across the District to meet and discuss issues a range of development issues. This network is helping development workers keep up to date with information and resources to enable them to support voluntary and community organisations through the District.
General support
Partners provide organisational development support to voluntary and community organisations, this may be in their office or outreach with the group. The support provided may be on a wide range of issues including constitutions, charity registration, policies and procedures, development and business plans.
Strategic Work
KVS, COEMO and BCVS are working together with other ISO's in the District to ensure that the voice of the sector is heard at the decision-making tables in the District. This includes membership of the Bradford District Partnership Board, the Building Communities Partnership and the Strategic Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP).
Specialist Support
This part of the Commission BCVS, KVS and BVA provide specialist support and advice to groups and organisations, this might include management committee support, advice around legal structures or advice around employment issues.
Marketing and Research
BRC has been commissioned to provide support to groups on undertaking research and to support groups marketing their services.
Support on financial management
WYCAS provide accountancy support to groups including training on accounting systems, the preparation of accounts and the introduction of financial systems.