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The following excerpts are taken from
a leaflet about becoming a member firm of the ProHelp scheme,
issued by the ProHelp national head office. For a copy of
the leaflet or to find out more about membership of the ProHelp
Surrey scheme, please contact the Voluntary Sector Business
Adviser, at:
Surrey Community Action
Telephone: 01483 459292 x204
Email: prohelp@surreyca.org.uk
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Click
here to
view the national ProHelp
website
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What is ProHelp?
ProHelp is a national network of over
1,000 Professional Firms who are comitted to providing free
professional advice and strategic support to voluntary and
community organisations in their local area.
What sort of firms are involved?
Surveyors, architects, consulting engineers,
accountants, solicitors, public relations and marketing specialists,
consultants (management, personnel and information technology)
plus many more.
How is it managed?
Each member firm affiliates themselves
to a local ProHelp (such as ProHelp Surrey) which responds
to requests for help from community groups.
Each local ProHelp has a Manager responsible
for identifying suitable opportunities and developing future
strategies and objectives.
What will my firm be asked to do?
Your firm will be asked to provide
a specified amount of free professional support each year
for one-off projects. Your firm may also wish to consider
offering longer-term strategic support. There is no pressure
to take up any assignment.
What sort of one-off projects might my firm
be asked to support?
Professional firms undertake one-off
assignments which include feasibility studies, structural
surveys, marketing and business plans, legal and accountancy
advice, property valuations, project plans, planning applications,
website development assistance etc.
The guiding principal is that ProHelp
members give their firm's time, and assignments should be
treated no differently than an instruction from a commercial
client.
What sort of long-term strategic support might
staff in my firm be asked to give?
Voluntary and community groups are
governed by a voluntary management committee or Board of Directors.
In some regions they may apply to ProHelp for strategic support
at senior or board level.*
*Not currently offered by ProHelp Surrey
What sort of groups might my firm be asked to
support?
Community groups requesting support
from ProHelp have to satisfy certain eligibility criteria
which restricts the service to those which:
Have a track record of working with
the local community
Are locally constituted
Are unable to pay for professional
services
ProHelp does not take on audit work
and does not support litigation, animal welfare or religious
groups.
Why belong to ProHelp?
Your firm is probably being asked for
support on an 'ad hoc' basis from voluntary and community
group.
Being part of a local ProHelp wil:
Enable your firm to prioritise which
voluntary and community groups need support and target those
with the greatest need
Give your firm the opportunity of
networking with other professional firms who are committed
to social responsibility
Give the less experienced staff members
of your firm the opportunity to sharpen their skills in
different environments
Offer the opportunity to build business
contacts in the voluntary and business sectors
Enhance your firm's awareness of
economic and social issues that impact on your firm
Give your firm a caring profile
"ProHelp's committment to supporting the
voluntary and community sector has played a vital role in helping
to regenerate some of our poorest areas."
HRH Prince of Wales
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