EBE leads development of Leicester & Leicestershire VCSE Observatory

The proposed Leicester & Leicestershire VCSE Observatory has been developed within the context of the UKSPF Growth Accelerator for Social Entrepreneurs project led by the University of Leicester in partnership with Community Enterprise Engine. The idea stems from the identified absence of a single site (or portal) where information and data about issues impacting the voluntary and community sector in Leicester and Leicestershire can be stored.

The project aims to create a Leicester / Leicestershire VCSE Observatory which can:

• Host or sign-post socio-economic, environmental, health, other data, information, and research studies, relevant to the development and delivery of VCSE services in Leicester and Leicestershire
• Build a repository of funded projects with relevant outcomes data
• Map service provision across different domains (geography, ethnic origin, gender, age etc.)
• Optimise relevant measurement tools for VCSE organisations to help them self-assess performance and measure impact

Potential benefits are to deliver:

• A single point of information for data and research relevant to the VCSE
• A library of information useful for fundraisers
• An improved understanding about who’s doing what and where, and where gaps in services are
• Helpful information for commissioners and service planners
• Useful tools for VCSE groups to inform analysis of performance, service development and impact measurement

The following organisations have expressed support:

• Voluntary Action Leicestershire
• Leicester City Council
• Leicestershire County Council
• The NHS VSCE Alliance
• Reaching People

EBE is now developing a number of applications to source income for an initial feasibility study.