COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONSULTANT BRIEF VERSION 1
Big Local Eastern Sheppey Partnership (BLESP)
Consultant Brief
March 2015
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONSULTANT BRIEF VERSION 1
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Background
3. About Eastern Sheppey and the local Community
4. About the Partnership
5. Policy Framework
6. Overall Aims and Objectives of the Project
7. Deliverables
8. Timeframe and Budget
9. Submission requirements
10. Assessment of submissions
11. Copyright and Confidentiality
12. Fee Structure and Payment Schedule
13. Contact
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONSULTANT BRIEF VERSION 1
1. Introduction
The Big Local Eastern Sheppey Partnership (BLESP) and Swale Community and
Voluntary Services (SCVS), as the accountable body and local trusted organisation
(LTO) for the grant agreement are seeking the services of a suitable and
appropriately experienced consultant/organisation to undertake the development,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Year 2 deliverables in accordance with
BLESP’s Big Local Plan together with the partnership and its members.
2. Background
Big Local is an exciting opportunity for residents in 150 areas around England to use
at least £1m each to make a massive and lasting positive difference to their
communities. Big Local brings together all the local talent, ambitions, skills and
energy from individuals, groups and organisations who want to make their area an
even better place to live.
The Big Lottery Fund chose areas across the country that had been overlooked for
funding in the past, particularly by the Big Lottery Fund. The selections were
discussed with key local partners and local authorities to ensure that local issues and
views on priorities were taken into account.
Big Local is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and managed by Local Trust .
Local Trust’s mission is to enable residents to make their communities and their
areas even better places in which to live; Big Local is its first and initiative.
A Big Local partnership is a group of people, who together are responsible for
guiding the overall direction of Big Local in their area. A Big Local plan describes
how each area will work towards becoming an even better place to live. Big Local
partnerships and plans are endorsed by Local Trust.
3. About Eastern Sheppey and the local Community
The Eastern Sheppey Big Local area is on the eastern end of the Isle of Sheppey,
and made up of a cluster of small rural villages, including Warden Bay, Eastchurch
and the seaside resort of Leysdown-on-sea, all based within the wards of Leysdown
and Warden, and Sheppey Central.
- See more at: http://localtrust.org.uk/get-involved/big-local/easternsheppey#sthash.bgrl64ra.dpuf
4. The Partnership
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The Eastern Sheppey Big Local Partnership is designed to reflect the specific needs
and characteristics of our area. Local residents interested in participating in the Big
Local pathway have been meeting since April 2012 and the partnership was officially
formed in November 2013.The BLESP plan was endorsed in May 2014 and the first
round of funding was released in August 2014. Year One deliverables are underway
and making steady progress.The partnership is made up of local residents (voting
members) and local organisations and service providers (non-voting members). A
minimum of 51% of the partnership must be made up of local residents. The
partnership currently meets once a month and has designated champions for
themed projects in year one.
5.Policy Framework
BLESP vision
‘Providing sustainable and inclusive opportunities to drive positive change for the
Eastern Sheppey Community’
o Realising Swale’s Ambitions
o Swale’s Sport and Physical Activity Framework (SPAF)
o Green Grid Strategy and a Biodiversity Action Plan
o Swale Borough Council’s Corporate Plan ( also takes into consideration
added value of the individual and community)
o Swale Tourism Action Plan for 2015/16
o Local First
o
Swale Borough Council’s Volunteering Strategy
6. Big Local outcomes
o Communities will be better able to identify local needs and take action in
response to them.
o People will have increased skills and confidence, so that they continue to
identify and respond to needs in the future.
o The community will make a difference to the needs it prioritises.
o People will feel that their area is an even better place to live.
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7. Deliverables
Consultants are to provide a programme showing the duration required for individual
tasks and dates anticipated for the delivery of the Year 2 plan.
From the plan projects are separated into seven key themes:
Community Safety - Provide a safe, inclusive environment for Eastern Sheppey
community and its visitors
Employment - To improve employment for young people and to encourage
entrepreneurship within the local area. We want more local employers and reduced
unemployment levels.
Health and well-being - Bring about improvements in our community`s physical and
mental health
Leisure and tourism - Organised and sustainable multi sports opportunities that are
accessible to the whole of the Eastern Sheppey community
Local economy - To promote and enhance sustainable opportunities for the
community through partnership working
Natural and built environment - Protect and develop the environment, involve the
community in the countryside, develop links to the farming community
Transport - A better informed and connected community
Examples of Deliverables within the key themes
Community Chest facilitation and associated administration
Manage ‘Cycle Hire Service’ Project including Doctor Bike Surgeries
Communications and Social Media
Community engagement and development
Manage employability theme project
Additional Signage
Support local shopping and markets ( Year 1 – 10)
Develop Social Enterprise Opportunities ( Year 1 – 5)
Identify funding streams and submit funding applications to ‘grow’ the original Big Local
monies.
Approach 3 Parish Councils to identify funding opportunities Year 1 - 10
Use the Youth Advisory Team to explore ideas Year 2 - 10
Approach allotment and gardening clubs to develop plans
Identify spaces that could possibly be used as a dog park Look into other areas with dog
parks for pros / cons Explore possibilities for natural wood play areas Year 2
Explore possibilities for natural wood play areas Year 2
Set up groups locally Year 1 - 10
Local business network formed
8. Time frame and Budget
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The timeframe will be from 1st June 2015 – 31st May 2016 (option to extend).
Consultants are invited to submit a quotation for the delivery of the year 2 plan.
Consultant fees and expenses should not exceed £25,000.00 (including VAT)
There is an additional travel, expenses and venue budget of £4k.
9. Submission requirements
Applicants should supply the following material to register an Expression of Interest:
1. A cover letter of no more than 1 page
2. A curriculum vitae
3. A supporting statement which will:
o Outline how you would approach this project (maximum of 2 pages) including

Full fee structure (all fees are to be VAT inclusive)
o Project timeline
• Capacity to undertake project in the required timeframe
o Details of personnel to be engaged on the project
o Demonstrate how you meet the position criteria (maximum of 4 pages)
including
o References to similar works performed
o 2 testimonials/ references: one current and one previous.
10. Assessment of submissions
Submissions will need to demonstrate:
o Previous experience and a successful track record in achieving quality
outcomes in similar projects.
o A good knowledge of the development of Big Local projects
o Strong community engagement, consultancy, communication and research
skills.
o A good understanding of budgeting and financial management
o A high level of verbal, written and visual communication.
o A good understanding of Eastern Sheppey
In consideration of the above the following criteria and weighing will apply:
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o Relevant experience (previous work of this type)
o Track record (general reputation for work competence, capacity)
o Technical skills (people systems, specific abilities)
o Management (organisation, acceptance insurance, economic stability,
quality systems)
o Methodology (how the project is going to be tackled, scope of work)
o Time performance (as proposed for the project – likelihood of meeting
it)
11. Copyright & Confidentiality
BLESP and SCVS will retain ownership & publishing rights of all documentation and
the right of inclusion in other works. All information pertaining to the project will
remain confidential until BLESP and SCVS approves release.
12. Fee Structure and Payment Schedule
The fee structure for the consultancy is to be based on key staging, outputs and
timeframes denoted. Payment will be made by staged payments upon the successful
completion of tasks.
13. Contact
The agreement will be managed by Sarah Williams (on behalf of the accountable
body SCVS)
Deadline for submission of applications: 5pm Fri 17th April 2015
Interviews will take place on Friday 24th April
For further enquiries contact: Sarah Williams, Assistant Director, Swale Community
and Voluntary Services 01795 473828 [email protected]
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