It can be hard to describe what we do. So we thought it would be easier to describe some of the things we’ve done (and that we’re proud of). If you’d like us to do something like this with you, your group or your organisation, please get in touch.
Peer Support
When we set up Community Glue, we were excited about people being able plan and manage their own care and support using personal budgets (direct payments). We set up a course to train people how to do it, which we ran three times between 2012 and 2014. We also hosted a forum for people who wanted to support each other. If anyone would like a copy of the materials, please contact us.
In 2010, we were one of the first Community Interest Companies in Oxfordshire. Both of us had previously spent periods as charity Chief Officers, so we are also familiar with the governance and financial structures in this type of organisation. Early on, we joined a steering group for a project that successfully became a Community Benefit Society (a type of Co-operative sometimes known as a Bencom). Though we are not experts, we have been happy to share our knowledge with other local groups, and help them set up their own legal organisational structures. We have always done this for free.
Empowerment
Over the years, we have run a lot of projects helping people to have more of a say over the way that public services help them. Perhaps our favourite was Food For Thought. Every month, we provided free food for anyone who wanted to discuss health and social care issues (or not). Often people wanted help taking up specific issues.
Over the years, we helped people with many issues that affected them individually. We also started succesful campaigns in defence of local free minibus services (pictured) and even got the Council to change the timings on the pelican crossing outside a local care home. After a while we got ‘on the map’, and people doing formal consultations would come and vist.
We have at different times been funded by local organisations to help develop recommendations for how services and supports should be run. We have always done this collaboratively with everyone who would like to be involved. In 2014 and 2019 we co-produced 2 reports about personal budgets. We are still waiting for the recommendations to be implemented, and are still happy to talk to people about them.
Helping Out
Having managed many small organisations and projects over the years, we know that time is often tight. Sometimes you need some help from outside. Sometimes its even better to have an independent perspective. The kinds of this we’ve done include:
- Policy and procedures. For example we drafted a protocol that allowed two local housing providers to co-ordinate their shifts and staffing to provide a coherent service.
- Mentoring. For example we have provided support to new charity chief officers, and helped thinking through specific staffing, adult safeguarding and other tricky issues.
- Support groups. We have facilitated staff and volunteer support, for example during the Covid-19 pandemic, and for a local charity going through a restructure.
If you think we might be able to help you, your group or organisation, please get in touch. Our pricing structure is fair and completely transparent. We sometimes collaborate on funding proposals so that we can covert the costs of our help.
Campaigning
We think it’s important to show solidarity with like-minded groups and individuals, and to support causes that bring us closer to a society where everyone has a fair crack.
The last 15 years have seen more rationing of often scanter provision, with social policies that reduce people’s chances of living well.
We are generally suspicious of social policy ‘solutions’ driven by organisations focused on private shareholder profit.
We agree that individuals and local communities are often best placed to provide solutions, but only if they have the backup of enough resources, publicity, and a shared plan to be successful.