Little Owls review

Voluntary Action Leeds support for third sector organisations

Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) offers a range of support to not-for-profit organisations, including small community groups, charities and alternative businesses such as cooperatives. If your organisation is considering this opportunity, but would like to get some advice and support around working in a new area, or diversifying your work, VAL can provide the following support:

• we can review draft bids and give feedback before they are submitted
• funding advice, including different funding sources and deciding which is right for you
• support for organisations to start generating income, for example understanding different alternative business models, specialist training and coaching
• Leeds Funding Support Network, where groups and organisations share their fundraising skills, opportunities for partnerships and different funders come to speak
• support around developing and strengthening policies, such as Safeguarding
• you can join our Third Sector Safeguarding group where safeguarding issues are discussed, and members can contribute to the work plans for the Leeds Children Safeguarding Partnership
• you can join Young Lives Leeds, a network for organisations supporting children, young people (up to the age of 25) and families to share best practice and help to shape city agendas (for example Marmot City)
• we can help bring organisations together that may be interested in partnership working. For example, Young Lives Leeds were involved in doing this in the past and as a result Leeds Youth Alliance was developed
• if you are looking to recruit volunteers, you can promote opportunities through our platform Be Collective. We can help you create a role description, and support you with managing volunteers
• we offer a wide range of training in topics such as evaluation, roles and responsibilities of trustees, safeguarding and more

You can find out more about the support available on our website, Doing Good Leeds. To access support, please contact Ann Crossland at ann.crossland@val.org.uk.

Our principal decision-making body, Executive Board, previously approved implementation of the following decisions:

• to retain 9 nurseries - Chapeltown, New Bewerley, Little London, Harehills, Swarcliffe, Seacroft, Middleton Laurel Bank, Two Willows, Armley Moor
• to withdraw from 3 nurseries - Chapel Allerton, Gipton North and Kentmere. These nurseries closed on 30 August 2024
• to undertake a market sounding exercise for 12 nurseries - Shepherds Lane, Meanwood, St Mary's Hunslet, Hawksworth Wood, City & Holbeck, Parklands, Quarry Mount, Bramley, Hunslet Rylestone, Osmondthorpe, Rothwell, Burley Park
  

Outcome of the market sounding exercise

The outcome of the market sounding exercise was presented to the Executive Board on 16 October 2024. The board has approved implementation of the following decisions:

1. That subject to a successful outcome of detailed discussion with schools and alternative providers, none of the following 12 settings will be retained by Leeds City Council for direct delivery: Shepherds Lane, Meanwood, St Mary's Hunslet, Hawksworth Wood, City and Holbeck, Parklands, Quarry Mount, Bramley, Hunslet Rylestone, Osmondthorpe, Rothwell, Burley Park.

   In the event that those detailed discussions do not progress to a satisfactory conclusion, the Council's default position will be that settings are retained by the Council and directly delivered.

2. To engage in detailed conversations with neighbouring schools around their interest in operating Little Owls nurseries at St Mary's Hunslet, Parklands, Hawksworth Wood, Quarry Mount and if required, agree to a procurement process and other statutory consultation processes with the individual neighbouring schools.

3. Enter a formal procurement process with alternative providers for the future provision at the following settings, Shepherds Lane, City and Holbeck, Hunslet Rylestone, Rothwell, Meanwood, Bramley, Osmondthorpe and Burley Park.

Decision-making timeline