·         It ‘signposts’ users to brokers of free professional services

·         It is a searchable database of brokers

·         It also provides useful information relevant to users, such as ‘how to’ guides, frequently asked questions, links to other websites

Who is it for?

·         Voluntary and community organisations, charities (VCOs)

·         Professionals (firms and individuals)

·         Brokers of free professional services

What is the purpose of professionals4free?

1.       To help voluntary and community organisations get access to free professional services how?  By directing them to brokers using the broker search

2.       To let professionals (firms and individuals) know how they can give their services for free how? By directing them to brokers who can use their services and match them with VCOs

3.       To give information to brokers, VCOs and professionals

how?  Using case studies, ‘how to’ guides and frequently asked questions to explain what brokers are, what they do, the pros and cons of using a broker, what different professions do, etc

Background to professionals4free:

professionals4free is a collaborative project being developed by a small steering group with a wider advisory group. Its origins go back to a conference arranged in October 2000 by Business in the Community and other partners. An informal working group of brokers and providers of free professional services came together and commissioned research into how the supply of free services for voluntary and community groups could be improved. Many people contributed to the research and the resulting proposals, which were written up in a report for Business in the Community and the Home Office Active Communities Unit, who had funded the work. (See Free for All? Home Office, October 2000 – see www.homeoffice.gov.uk/acu/freforall.pdf).  The research showed that:

-                      Relatively few voluntary and community organisations that could benefit from free professional services knew what services were available or where to find them

-                      Brokers need better links with each other in order to share information, pass on referrals and find advice

-                      Professionals in the corporate and public could and should be more involved in providing free professional services

1.                   What are professional services?

They include accountancy, architecture and building advice, auditing, design and graphics, financial services, fundraising, human resources (HR) and personnel, IT, legal, management and business consultancy, marketing, media, planning, public relations (PR), property services, web design and development.  There is a long-established tradition of professional people giving their time and skills to groups and individuals that need help but are unable to afford the normal fees.

2.                   What they’re not:

The trades e.g. plumbing, carpentry, etc.  Academic e.g. teaching, lecturing.  Production of sales and goods e.g. manufacturing, retailing.

3.                   Who gives professional services for nothing?

Many companies and professional individuals across the UK give free professional advice and support to charities and not-for-profit organisations. This is also known as ‘pro bono’ which means ‘for the good’, and is a long-standing tradition particularly within the legal profession who see it as their important contribution to society.

4.                   What type of advice and support do they give?

This varies hugely depending on the need, but typical examples will be:

·         a solicitor preparing a lease document for a property

·         a marketing consultancy advising on and designing a range of printed materials

·         a land surveyor conducting a structural survey to see whether a property can be extended

·         an IT consultant giving advice to a charity who want to develop a website but don’t know what they want or need

The legal profession are particularly supportive of giving free advice to individuals (as well as community groups), many of them do this through legal aid and their local Community Voluntary Service groups (CVS).

5.                   How can Voluntary and Community Organisations get free professional services?

VCOs can (and do) go directly to a company and ask if they will do the job for nothing, or perhaps they know someone through their own contacts who they can ask.  This does rely a lot on existing contacts and their goodwill.  Another really effective way for a voluntary or community organisation to get free professional help is to go through a ‘broker’, to let the broker know what help they need, etc. the broker will then try and match them up with a company who can help.

6.                   What is a broker

A broker is a ‘middleman’; they act as a sort of matchmaker between the charity and the business making sure that both parties gain benefit when a ‘match’ is made.

7.                   The role of the broker

A good broker will understand the needs, issues and language of community and business organisations and have a good network of contacts in both sectors.  They are skilled communicators and will gain an understanding of what each party wants to get out of the relationship; they will identify the needs of the community group and business and then make the match with the most suitable partner.