As part of the Co-operative Housing in Wales project (CHiW), the Wales Co-operative Centre is establishing this co-operative housing framework agreement to provide organisational development support to housing co-operative initiatives across Wales.
On the basis of the tender proposal, one or more Organisations (the “Organisation”) will be included in a Framework Agreement for Organisational Development (the “Service”).
The Centre requires Organisations to provide the following Service:
• Organisational development advice and guidance – provided by an adviser (the “Adviser”).
To help them realise their full potential a menu of assistance will be made available to clients of the Wales Co-operative Centre. This will ensure their tailored support package is relevant, timely and specific to their individual needs.
The Service might be provided to a whole range of individuals and organisations involved in taking forward co-operative housing initiatives, including housing associations, councils, third sector organisations, community groups as well as co-operative housing organisations themselves.
The Framework Agreement and Service provision will continue until March 2014, subject to continued Welsh Government funding, with any extension period being approved by the Centre.
A key aspect of the client Service will be to support the organisational development of co-operative housing initiatives across the whole of Wales. All client beneficiaries will receive the Service local to their area.
A number of co-operative housing clients have already been identified by Welsh Government but there are likely to be additional clients that are signposted to the Centre for support.
Prior to any specialist support being provided an initial assessment will be conducted by the Wales Co-operative Centre with the co-operative housing initiatives. The assessment will focus on the objectives of the initiative as well as its resource capacity, the long and short term plans, etc. Targeted support required by the initiative will be identified in this assessment and will form the agreed menu of support to be provided by the Project. Advisers will be sourced from the Framework Agreement to deliver elements of this support.
The Service will be delivered by Organisations according to an agreed methodology under the direction of the Centre and according to agreed processes and procedures as defined by the Centre.
Advisers – Advice and Guidance
Bespoke and specialist organisational development advice and guidance will be delivered by Advisers on a one to one basis with individuals, groups of individuals and organisations involved in co-operative housing initiatives.
In order to respond to the specific needs of the co-operative housing initiatives, advisers will be sought who are able to provide expert knowledge and specialist advice in the areas detailed below:
• Community engagement, development and facilitation in the area of housing and co-operative housing;
• Legal and organisational models of co-operative housing, particularly ownership housing co- operatives, lease agreements and other legal matters relating to co-operative housing;
• Business planning and financial planning for housing co-operatives, including expertise on accessing finance and modelling.