06 December 2010

This month we talk to Michelle Dickinson from South Yorkshire ProHelp about the range of professional support they can offer to community and voluntary groups...

"South Yorkshire ProHelp provides free professional advice and support to local community groups and voluntary organisations. We help with issues that might otherwise hold back groups' work and projects. We focus our support in areas of greatest need.

Examples of the sorts of projects we help with are:

• When and how should I negotiate a new lease for my building?
• Are my employment contracts in good order?
• How can I adapt my building to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act?
• Does my organisation need a brand identity?
• Are my accounting systems robust enough to deal with our rapid growth?

How ProHelp works

South Yorkshire ProHelp is a local network of professional firms, supported by a manager who acts as a ‘broker' and matches the needs of the community organisation with the professional firm who has offered their support.

What we offer

• Access to a range of professional expertise - South Yorkshire ProHelp members include solicitors, accountants, surveyors, architects, public relations, marketing and management consultants who undertake one-off projects. As South Yorkshire ProHelp is a network of professional firms, we can often work collaboratively on larger projects
• A professional service - community organisations receive the same level of service as a fee-paying client; the only difference is that the community client is not charged for the work undertaken
• An experienced broker - your broker will process your application for support and help to match you with a professional firm member of South Yorkshire ProHelp
• Advice surgeries - South Yorkshire ProHelp also runs general advice surgeries and workshops on specific topics impacting on local community groups.

There is an application process and also criteria that need to be met to be eligible for support. More information is available on our website or by contacting us."

Contact: Michelle Dickinson,
Yorkshire and Humberside ProHelp Manager
Telephone: 0114 201 3307

You can email Michelle here and can view the ProHelp website here