The CRIB project will provide a range of information, advice and support to new, small, BME and Refugee organisations working directly with the public. CRIB will also help groups demonstrate community needs and promote the impact of your organisation’s work.

If you are thinking of starting a voluntary or community group or are already up and running we can help you to:

• Organise and plan your activities
• Find out about relevant funding opportunities
• Apply for local authority contracts
• Support your users better
• Keep in touch with key issues that affect your work
• Develop your knowledge and skills through our training days and workshops
• Create a strong and sustainable community organisation

Our Development Officer provides one to one advice and guidance on starting up, managing and developing your organisation and will support you to:

• Work out your ideas
• Set up a management committee
• Write a constitution
• Develop essential policies and procedures
• Write funding bids
• Operate to high standards
• Monitor and evaluate your work

To book an initial discussion please contact Mike or telephone 020 8698 6034.

Information and research

CRIB will also carry out research into the voluntary and community sector in Lewisham. We want to make sure that we reflect the diversity of groups in the Borough. This will also make it easier for members of the public to discover organisations in their local area. In addition it will help voluntary and community groups find partners for joint tendering or for other joint working. Plus, it will also allow VAL to circulate information about funding opportunities. To do this we will develop an online funding portal with details of funding news, opportunities and resources, in order to help organisations find the funding they need to develop their activities.

For more information about CRIB call 020 8698 6034.

• CRIB is committed to working alongside you to build a strong and independent voluntary and community sector in Lewisham.
• CRIB is part of Voluntary Action Lewisham and the Change Up Programme
• Our services are available free to not for profit organisations in the London Borough of Lewisham.