Young Brent Survey

Executive Summary
10
Key Recommendations
The following details our recommendations from the key findings within the report.
Funding
It is recommended that further study is carried out in order to gain a deeper
understanding of YBF members’ funding sources. This could include a breakdown of
members' income from key sources, including contracts, charitable grants, commercial
income, etc., and a study of the appropriateness of the methods being employed by
members to generate income. This would assist with forecasting the best way to
support capacity building and the targeted design of best-fit fundraising support.
VSO Funding – contract readiness
The report and findings suggest there is a substantive need for investment and
resources to help VSOs increase their overall capacity so that more VSOs can increase
their contract income by becoming contract ready.
Mission Drift
While Mission Drift featured in the outcomes of VSO group research, further research is
highly recommended across the sector in Brent to further explore both its cause and
effects.
Further work in this area would enable YBF and others in the community to deliver
valuable benefits towards a mutually beneficial goal: increasing overall impact.
Research could identify areas of key gaps in provision. Grant makers and
commissioners with funding to invest in key work streams and identified needs that
are not currently being met. This could also examine areas of overlap, excess and map
provision.
In light of these findings, seek to address the overall balance across Brent, by
improving compatibility and moving towards better meeting both parties needs. By
addressing this issue, reduce duplication of effort, and the scale of needs that are not
being met and a negative drain on a valuable resource. A key feature of Mission Drift.
Quality Standards
Further work is recommended in order to investigate and track quality standards. The
level of progression and attainment by YBF members, particularly the timescales of the
members’ journeys from a starting point to becoming contract ready, needs to be
looked at.
Impact Measurement
The impact measurement responses showed a mixed approach on how members
measure impact. It is recommended that further work is carried out across
membership to explore and develop best practice models, that can be tailored and
integrated into the existing needs of members work while delivering meaningful
benefit, a deeper understanding and confidence of using Theory of Change and other
recognised models.