Brownsea Island. Fundraising Consultant Tender for the Wild Brownsea Project. 21 March 2018

Transcription

1 Brownsea Island Fundraising Consultant Tender for the Wild Brownsea Project 21 March 2018

2 Contents Page 1. Introduction 3 2. Background 2.1 Brownsea Island Dorset Wildlife Trust National Trust Discover Brownsea Wild Brownsea 8 3. Fundraising Briefing 3.1 Overview Scope of Services Project Management 4.1 Project Management and Supervision Key Project Dates Budget The Appointment Process 11 2 of 12

3 1. Introduction Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) is seeking a consultant to help raise the funds required to match a Heritage Lottery Fund grant for the Wild Brownsea Project. Wild Brownsea is a discrete project, led by DWT, that will make a major contribution to achieving the aims of Discover Brownsea (see 2.4), the 10-year master plan for Brownsea Island. DWT has received Round-1 approval and funding for the development of the project. There is a requirement to raise around 120,000 by March 2019, to match the Round-2 funding proposal. The consultant will work closely with the project leader and DWT fundraising team. 2. Background 2.1 Brownsea Island Brownsea Island is the largest of the islands of Poole Harbour, the second largest natural harbour in the world, and sits dramatically at the harbour entrance. Brownsea has outstanding views of the beautiful Purbeck Hills and countryside, Corfe Castle and the harbour itself. It is also close to the start of both the Jurassic Coast Word Heritage Site and the South West Coast National Trail. These factors combine to provide a stunning backdrop to Brownsea s diverse heritage and make the island a heritage asset of national and international importance and a magnet for visitors. Brownsea Island has a fascinating history. Inhabited since the ninth century Brownsea has served as a Viking raiding base and been gifted by kings and queens for services rendered. A clay mine and pottery works was introduced in the 1850s and the island hosted Baden-Powell s first Boy Scout camp in The island was set up as a decoy in World War II, saving Poole from an estimated 1000 tons of Luftwaffe bombs, the remaining craters of which now form wildlife ponds. The varied historic use of Brownsea Island has given rise to a varied topography, a diverse range of habitats and a rich biodiversity. For its size Brownsea Island is one of the most biodiverse sites in England with some 4,200 terrestrial and marine species recorded. It is home to a quite outstanding number of species including 334 vascular plants, 238 species of bird, almost 1,000 beetle species, 900 species of moth and is one of the last strongholds in southern England for the Red Squirrel. The natural heritage value of the Island is recognised by numerous national and international designations. The Brownsea saline lagoon is perhaps the most striking wildlife feature of the whole island. Hosting 94 species of bird, it s shallow waters attract thousands of overwintering wading birds including a flock of Avocets that at times numbers birds, almost half of the UK s overwintering population. The future of the lagoon, and other low-lying habitats on the island, is threatened by sea-level rise and this must be considered in medium to long-term plans. However, this is not likely to become a problem for the next 25-years and does not detract from the importance or potential of Brownsea. 3 of 12

4 All of this amazing historic and natural heritage is located very close to the busy port of Poole and just a few hundred metres away from the Bournemouth and Poole conurbation, home to 400,000 people. As such it presents an outstanding opportunity to attract and inspire new and existing wildlife supporters. Brownsea Island and its wonderful heritage have the potential to engage and inspire people of all backgrounds and abilities. The Brownsea Experience is one of personal discovery and fulfilment in a truly unique setting. 2.2 Dorset Wildlife Trust Dorset Wildlife Trust is the largest conservation charity in Dorset with over 26,000 members. An independent voluntary organisation and a member of the Wildlife Trusts Partnership; a nationwide network of 47 local Wildlife Trusts working for a better future for wildlife. Through our activities we seek to establish Living Landscapes and Living Seas. Living Landscapes are ecologically functioning landscapes that provide resilience and connectivity for wildlife, can adapt to climate change and contribute to economic and social wellbeing. Our main activities are as follows: Seeking to improve knowledge and public appreciation of the natural heritage and provide opportunities for people of all backgrounds and abilities to learn about, enjoy and help to conserve wildlife and the natural environment. Demonstrating the value of the natural heritage and enabling people and communities to benefit from contact with nature and related activities. Managing nature reserves for the good of wildlife and for the contribution they make to the quality of the natural environment and the quality of life experienced by the community. Identifying important wildlife sites, collect data about the plants and animals surviving there and help to protect them by providing information to inform landowners, farmers and fishermen, planners and developers. Influencing decision makers and others who affect wildlife, standing up for wildlife against development threats and ensuring that the needs of wildlife and its value are considered. A Living Landscape provides a recovery plan for nature through which The Wildlife Trusts want to see a healthy future for wildlife and people. It is a new way of thinking about how we manage land to do more for wildlife, people and the economy. The traditional approach of preservation of special sites is still important, but natural habitats have been lost on an unprecedented scale and many species, both common and rare, are in long-term decline. As the demand for land has increased, so the room for wildlife and natural processes has decreased. This has resulted in small oases of wildlife-rich protected land, such as nature reserves, becoming surrounded by an otherwise inhospitable landscape for many plants and animals. We need to think bigger and longer-term and work with people and communities to restore, recreate and reconnect wildlife habitats on a vast scale in harmony with the way people live and enjoy the land and in a way that integrates nature with a sustainable economy. 4 of 12

5 The Brownsea Island Nature Reserve, which is managed by DWT, presents fantastic opportunities for connecting people to the natural environment and inspiring them to take action for wildlife and Living Landscapes. 2.3 National Trust The National Trust founded in 1895 has become one of the UK s largest charities, caring for historic properties and areas of beautiful countryside. We are here to look after special places for ever, for everyone and see our role as bringing our special places to life by throwing the gates open and welcoming everyone to enjoy and benefit from them. Our 21st century ambition is to meet the needs of an environment under pressure, and the challenges and expectations of a fast-moving world. We want to continue to maintain the highest standards of care for everything we look after, while working in a way that feels relevant and necessary to people and their day-to-day lives. We will do this by: Looking after what we ve got: We benefit the nation by looking after the places in our care and providing access to them now and in the future. Experiences that move, teach and inspire: We provide access to extraordinary places and enable people to experience them in ways that deepen their understanding and through engagement, inspire them to value places and to want to look after them. Restoring a healthy, beautiful, natural environment: The natural environment is under pressure, the land is unhealthy, and wildlife is in decline. With the help of our supporters and our partners we will restore it and make it healthy, beautiful and rich in wildlife. Looking after the places where people live: We will celebrate the value of local heritage and green spaces and enable people to make a difference, looking after and protecting the local places they love. We have a hugely diverse range of places and interests. A few examples follow: We love a wet day - over 43 per cent of rainwater in England and Wales drains through National Trust places and spaces. We love a cuppa - each year, we serve over 3.5 million cups of tea. We look after 775 miles of coastline, including some of the best beaches and coastal paths in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Bats and butterflies love our places - all 17 species of UK bat have been recorded as roosting or breeding in our places, making us the single most important landowner for bat conservation. We're one big farming family - we re the nation's largest farmer, with more than 250,000 hectares of land and about 2,000 tenants. Tidal Flooding is a big issue for us of our coastal sites are at risk from tidal flooding and 606km (60 per cent) of our coastline is at risk of erosion. 5 of 12

6 We own Britain s oldest nature reserve, Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire, acquired in More recently, Orford Ness reserve was the site of Britain s nuclear weapon testing programme in the 1950 s. The drinks are on us - we own and run 61 pubs and inns, including the George Inn in Southwark, featured in Dickens' Little Dorrit. We have 60,000 volunteers contributing 3.1 million hours of their time the equivalent of 1,590 full-time staff. We are the largest voluntary conservation organisation in Europe. With 4 million members, we are proud to have about six times more members than all the main political parties put together. Every year we have 200 million visitors to our outdoor places, giving us enormous opportunities to connect people to nature and involve people in our ambition to restore a healthy, beautiful and natural environment. We want to make a day outdoors mean more so that over time people not only enjoy nature, they really notice our natural environment and care about protecting it. We recognize that we need to get innovative we need to create experiences in the outdoors that move, teach and inspire. As we know, and as championed by David Attenborough, No one will protect what they don't care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced The National Trust has a Visitor Journey Framework with guidance on all the basic standards for our visitor experience and clarifies what good looks like. And Everything Speaks Outdoors is the National Trust s approach to outdoors interpretation. (see Section 3.2) Brownsea Island has been owned by the National Trust since 1962 and is valued as a place of cultural, landscape and wildlife significance. With its amazing spirit of place and natural features and visitor numbering around 130,000 a year, it offers big opportunities to engage and inspire people. We have committed ourselves to improving 6 of 12

7 our visitor experience, to improving access throughout the year and to appealing to a wider range of people. 2.4 Discover Brownsea Discover Brownsea is a 10-year Master-Plan that aims to tell the story of Brownsea Island. Its aims are: To provide an inspiring and empowering visitor experience that deepens engagement, connects with the outdoors and is fun To be sustainable and increase our financial security and contribution balanced with our countryside values and goals To not only protect and maintain but develop and improve the island s natural environment To attract more visits to sustain incremental growth, particularly from young people, spread over a calendar year particularly in the shoulder months (Nov - Feb) To develop a coherent island wide visitor journey with an ever-improving range of outdoor experiences with a view to becoming adventure island To develop volunteer and staff skills to deliver an excellent and customer focused experience Overall Principles: Create an island wide experience with our partners Allow visitors to explore deeper into the island and disperse them more effectively Create something for every life-stage but especially young people a place for children to be children Visitor comfort first followed by developing new experiences Focus on outdoor experiences Embrace Brownsea as a Red out- door experience property (somewhere visitors easily access and don t need specialist clothing) What Story Told Where? The creation of 3 main island hubs nature, culture and adventure will anchor the visitor experience on the island. All three are tightly connected to the emotional, active and exploratory experiences available on Brownsea. They provide a platform for discovery, an opportunity to find out more and act as a springboard for visitors to head out and investigate the island stories for themselves. 7 of 12

8 2.5 Wild Brownsea Wild Brownsea Project Aims Brownsea Island has enormous potential for engaging and inspiring people about the natural heritage. Indeed, a visit to Brownsea Island has been, for many, the start of a lifelong relationship with the natural heritage. If we are to realise that potential, we must provide visitors with a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Wild Brownsea is an idea that has been developed by DWT in partnership with The National Trust over recent years with the aim of creating a high-quality visitor experience commensurate with the international importance and quality of Brownsea Island and its heritage. In delivering this initiative DWT will continue to work closely with The National Trust. Wild Brownsea aims to: Enable more people of all backgrounds and abilities to learn about, enjoy and help to conserve the unique natural and historic heritage of Brownsea Island. Enhance the quality of the visitor experience at Brownsea Island Nature Reserve. Engage a new generation of conservation volunteers to ensure that Brownsea Island Nature Reserve has a secure future Project Description The aims of Wild Brownsea will be delivered through three core areas of activity: i. Brownsea for All enabling more people of all backgrounds and abilities to learn about, enjoy and help to conserve the unique natural and historic heritage of Brownsea Island. While the Island currently receives some 100,000 visitors a year, increasing the diversity of those visiting and making Brownsea Island more accessible to people from disadvantaged and excluded groups is a core aim of Dorset Wildlife Trust and the National Trust. Enabling young people, people with disabilities and those on low incomes the opportunity to benefit from the Brownsea Experience will be at the core of the project. We are proposing a 3-year programme of engagement activities that will establish Brownsea Island and its heritage as a resource that is valued, nurtured and utilised by many more people from a diverse range of backgrounds. This will be achieved through the delivery of 3 key engagement initiatives: Community Matters promoting Brownsea Island to new audiences and establishing links with local community groups and disadvantaged and excluded groups across Dorset and beyond to raise awareness of Brownsea Island and facilitate visits. Visitor Activity Programme will ensure that all visitors have the opportunity to take part in a high-quality activity that will enrich their experience and enhance their knowledge of Brownsea s natural heritage. 8 of 12

9 Young Persons Activity Programme a combination of outreach and innovative activities will provide high quality learning opportunities and deliver the Brownsea Experience to a generation of young people. ii. Explore Brownsea enhancing the quality of the visitor experience at Brownsea Island Nature Reserve. In order to enable Brownsea Island Nature Reserve to meet its potential for engaging people there is a pressing need to improve the quality of the visitor infrastructure and facilities. Current interpretation and access resources are inadequate to cater for the number of visitors coming to the Island and will require significant improvements in order to meet visitor expectations and to engage new audiences. The project will upgrade and enhance existing visitor facilities to a standard that will enable visitors to explore and better understand the island s heritage. Wild Brownsea will deliver two important infrastructure improvements: The Wildzone will take visitors on a journey of discovery, exploring and learning about the amazing wildlife of Brownsea Island. A new Welcome to the Wildzone facility will be installed close to the arrival reception area. This will replace the existing lagoon hide with a substantial facility that will introduce visitors to the special natural heritage of the Island and will provide a stunning panoramic view of the lagoon. This will lead into a network of enhanced and accessible trails and destinations across the island that will provide high quality access to people with a wide range of abilities. Poole Harbour Wildlife Centre Located at The Villa, DWT s main base on Brownsea Island, the new centre will provide a unique learning experience that will be built around this handsome Victorian building. The new centre will provide specific learning opportunities for visitors and special interest groups as well as residential learning and will serve as a base for volunteering opportunities for people of all abilities. The centre will also incorporate a retail sales facility and host paying guests, providing a source of revenue that will provide long-term support for conservation and learning activities. iii. Volunteer for Brownsea engaging a new generation of conservation volunteers to ensure that Brownsea Island Nature Reserve has a secure future. Brownsea Island offers a unique volunteering experience and the conservation of Brownsea s outstanding landscape, habitats and wildlife is reliant upon the support of volunteers from the local community. Many of the current volunteers have been helping to manage the nature reserve, lead activities and greet and support visitors for many years. It is vital for the future management of the nature reserve and the conservation of its habitats and wildlife that we engage a new generation of volunteers. Volunteering Opportunities. We will develop and expand the range of opportunities available and offer many more people from diverse backgrounds the chance to play an active role in managing Brownsea s heritage. Volunteer Training A new recruitment and training programme will be established in order to attract new volunteers and to empower them with the skills and knowledge to support the management of the nature reserve and to have a rewarding and fulfilling volunteering experience. 9 of 12

10 3. Fundraising Briefing 3.1 Overview The Fundraising Consultant will work closely with the Project Leader to ensure that the required funding is in place to match the application to the Heritage Lottery Fund. The total project value is expected to be around 1.2m. DWT has already committed 180,000 and the National Trust will contribute 100,000. A 100,000 contribution has been pledged by a major donor and volunteer support in-kind is expected to contribute 90,000, along with contributions in-kind of 60,000 from the National Trust and John Lewis Partnership for transport costs. We expect to request a grant of c 560,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. There is, therefore, a match funding requirement of around 120,000; most of which will need to be secured by March This fundraising target is in addition to the income targets in DWT s annual financial budget and so careful planning is required to ensure DWT s day-to-day fundraising programmes are not adversely affected by this extra funding need. 3.2 Scope of Services The role of the Fundraising Consultant is to secure up to 120,000 of net funding in support of Wild Brownsea. It is expected that this income will come primarily from a public appeal. There may be opportunities to secure some support for Wild Brownsea from grants and trusts, where these don t impact on DWT s existing grants and trusts programme. With careful planning, it may also be possible to dovetail fundraising for Wild Brownsea with some of DWT s existing, planned fundraising programmes which target DWT s 28,000 membership. The consultant is expected to: Work closely with DWT Fundraising and Marketing staff to establish an innovative fundraising campaign to raise funds primarily from the Dorset Community. Work with DWT s Corporate Development Officer to secure additional funding from the Dorset business community. Work with DWT s Supporter Development Officer to secure additional funding from targeted mid-level donors. Work closely with the Project Leader to identify fundable elements of the project. Research and provide intelligence on grants & trusts funders new to DWT and develop and submit funding applications as appropriate. 10 of 12

11 4. Project Management 4.1 Contract Management and Supervision The contract is let by Dorset Wildlife Trust. The project will be led by: Brian Bleese, Director of Operations and Development, Dorset Wildlife Trust Supervision of the Fundraising Consultant contract will be the responsibility of: Alastair Cook, Direct of Fundraising and Marketing, Dorset Wildlife Trust The consultant will meet with Alastair and Brian to review progress and plan activities on a bi-monthly basis or as required. 4.2 Key Project Dates Date May 2018 May - Jun 2018 Jun 2018 Review Meeting 1 Jul Aug 2018 Aug 2018 Review Meeting 2 Sep - Oct 2018 October 2018 Review Meeting 3 Nov - Dec 2018 January 2019 Activity Commencement of services Final review meeting and evaluation 5. Budget Tenders are expected to be no greater than 12,000 exclusive of VAT. 6. The Appointment Process Applicants are invited to provide a written response to demonstrate how they would deliver this project. This should include: The number of days required. Total fixed fee including all associated costs. CV. Examples of previous work. 2 Referees. 11 of 12

12 The information should be returned with a CV highlighting relevant experience, with examples of previous contracts and a minimum of 2 appropriate referees to: Alastair Cook acook@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk and Brian Bleese bbleese@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk Tender documents published: 21 March 2018 Queries to be raised by: 6 April 2018 Tenders returned by: 13 April 2018 Tender interviews: w/c 23 or 30 April 2018 Appointment/contract in place: May 2018 Commencement of services: May 2018 Prior to commencement of services the successful candidate will be expected to provide a risk assessment for the delivery of the contract and appropriate insurance certificates. 12 of 12