Daventry District Council — Prior Information Notice VCS Commissioning 2021/23

Descriptions

Prior information notices – VCS Commissioning 2021/23 1) Welfare advice services Contract value GBP 85 000 p.a. from 1 April 2021 – 31 March 2023 To provide free, impartial, independent and confidential advice to residents: • to ensure residents understand their entitlement to welfare benefits and how to access welfare benefits; • to ensure residents are treated fairly by the benefits system, and to provide advocacy and support where deemed necessary; • to provide free, impartial, independent and confidential advice and support on related matters such as debt management, housing, employment, consumer rights, immigration and relationship issues; • to operate a permanent business premises in Daventry town centre that is open and accessible to residents either by appointment or ‘drop-in’; • to operate a telephone and an internet service that can be accessed outside normal office hours; • to provide an outreach service for those residents that request a face to face appointment yet cannot get into Daventry town centre. Indication of use: in the past year, advice has been provided to approximately 100 customers per week and more than GBP 1.8 m secured in benefits for residents in the district. 2) Voluntary and community sector infrastructure support services Contract value GBP 20 000 p.a. from 1 April 2021 – 31 March 2023 The provision of support services to voluntary and community organisations in Daventry District. • to provide general business advice to voluntary and community organisations, including start-up advice, funding advice and advice on governance, best practice and volunteer recruitment; • to provide a volunteer brokerage service, linking volunteers with volunteering opportunities; • to be an advocate for the local voluntary and community sector, including engagement with the statutory sector, facilitation of a local voluntary and community sector forum, and publication of a newsletter; • to operate a permanent business premises in Daventry town centre that is open during office hours; • to operate a telephone and internet service that can be accessed outside office opening hours. Indication of use: In the past year, advice has been provided to more than 130 voluntary and community organisations and almost 300 volunteers have been placed with organisations. 3) Household goods refurbishment and re-use scheme Contract value GBP 20 000 p.a. from 1 April 2021 – 31 March 2023 The provision of a household goods refurbishment and re-use scheme for Daventry District: • to collect unwanted furniture, ‘white’ goods, electrical appliances and other useful household items that are in good condition or capable of being refurbished. Please note that it is desirable for collections to be made within one week of a call being made; • to refurbish goods as necessary and store them for future re-use by others; • to redistribute goods to individuals and families who are in need at no cost to the individual/family concerned; • to operate a permanent business premises in Daventry town that is open during office hours. Indication of use: in the past year, goods of more than GBP 82 000 have been delivered to 175 households throughout the District.