earn a living and do good simultaneously. Environmental York CVS operates in a well established framework (charitable company) that is not expected to change or present any issues in the foreseeable future. We also operate according to accounting standards, in particular the Charity statement of recommended practice (SORP), which is not expected to change but is relatively complex. HMRC regulations in particular relating to Pay As You Earn (PAYE) income tax, VAT, Corporation Tax and Gift Aid are equally complex and more subject to change. We have become more aware and proactive of our legal responsibilities in other areas such as Employment Law. We plan to review our responsibilities under data protection and Health and Safety rules during this plan period. As we embark upon more paid for services our liability may change with regard to professional indemnity. We have some concerns regarding third party liability as it relates to our role in the Safeguarding Children(and soon to be Adults) Boards which needs clarifying early in this plan period as both Boards are reviewed. We have a well established home at the Priory Street Centre and good systems for management of and recycling, energy use etc. However, the building remains a refurbished Victorian school, so has fixed limitations and some potential long-term issues. York is an historic city with well established built environment and conservation credentials. It also has well established public transport and high levels of cycling for example. It is probably weaker than expected in wider sustainability matters including community energy and nature conservation. During 2014 a new Local Plan will set out a long term vision for the expansion of York, by up to 20,000 dwellings creating two or more entirely new settlements. This will have a significant impact on our role in the city. With two rivers flowing through the city, York remains an area to flood risk. Climate change impacts make this more likely and although a lot has been invested in flood defences in recent years, flooding has to remain one of the most likely civil contingency risks for the city. SWOT Analysis What are our internal strengths and weaknesses?
Strengths Weaknesses Well established (75 year history). Strong and growing membership base and associated mandate. New fit for purpose staff structure. Strong in 1:1 support. Existing training programme. Experienced and skilled staff, volunteers and Trustees. Committed staff, volunteers and trustees. New HR function can better support managers and develop staff. New Trustees, Chief Executive and senior managers bring new perspectives and stability. Fresh new brand identity and consistency. New functionality and clarity with website and VC Connect database. Established home at Priory Street. Structural financial deficit. Membership and governance structure can make us less agile. New structure needs time to bed in. Expensive delivery methods need to be reduced and less expensive ones increased. Inexperienced and less well skilled in market driven environment: charging for services. Recent instability, change and temporary staffing. Restructure has contributed to some unsettling of staff team. Experience in context necessarily limited. Relationships need time to be built. Nationally and historically challenging to communicate what we do. Brand identity and messages only recently established, not yet internally embedded or well recognised externally. New skills and ways of working required to maximise success. Limitations of historic building. External