Marie Walker, Project Co-ordinator at HCVS (left) updated SPARK as these brand new VCS consultants get ready to hit the streets of Hackney and raise up the sector.

Since its conception in August 2005, the ESF 1.3 Neighbourhood Facilitator project developed a core of highly skilled specialist consultants equipped for the needs of the voluntary and community sector (VCS). Going beyond expectations, they have established a consortium of consultants and already won their first tender for Hackney Council. 

The ESF 1.3 project was the brainwave of our late Director Adiaha Antigha, who advocated that: ‘positive social change requires local community action’. In achieving this, the project focused on acknowledging the expertise of community workers while enabling their development in fundraising, project management, marketing and public relations, life coaching, and advocacy. The consultancy training delivered by HCVS was such a success with participants, we are now seeking a level 3 qualification as a core subject in neighbourhood facilitation. Another result, we won the tender for a consultation project with Hackney Council and have been commissioned as part of Hackney’s Advice Strategy, ‘to contribute to the reduction of poverty and social exclusion by working in partnership to improve public access to quality social welfare information and advice services’. If your organisation requires local solutions, check out our case studies by clicking on the link below for an insight into the benefits and expertise on your doorstep. Download ESF case studies (117 KB)

For more information on this project please email Marie at marie@hcvs.org.uk or call on 020 7923 1962.