Capacity To Go Through The Development Process
The process of asset transfer can be a complex business. In some cases it can take many months and it may involve periods of intensive negotiation.
Within the existing voluntary or paid staff team are there appropriate skills, time, and willingness to take the organisation through the process?
Tasks which need to be undertaken:
- Negotiating with the public sector agency
- Appointing and liaising with architects, surveyors etc.
- Making necessary changes to organisational structure
- Fundraising
- Arranging finance
- Budgeting (short-term and long term)
- Feasibility study
- Liaising with local community / members etc.
- Networking with VCOs and other sports facilities in the area
- Drawing up a proposal
- Business plan
- Long-term management planning
Some of these tasks can be contracted out to other agencies but this, of course, will mean a cost and adds to the level of fundraising needed. Even if you do contract someone else to do some of these tasks, your organisation will still have to have the capacity to manage them and make good decisions.
The Development Trusts Association has produced a very useful resource which will help organisations go through these issues in more detail.