FAQ’S

• Name awareness – when setting up a project and seeking support, the ROC name increases credibility; the ROC name is nationally recognised and respected – it opens doors at the highest levels within police forces, fire and rescue services and local authorities.
• Dedicated support – ROC Project Manager assigned to your project to provide individual advice, support and access to resources.
• National network – ROC Projects and Partners available for consultation and discussion.
• Highly developed resources – online access to project ideas, practical tools, funding advice and much more.
• Branding – a range of professional publicity and promotional materials. Your project highlighted on our national website.
• Fundraising – ROC has proved a successful umbrella for sourcing funding not always accessible directly by churches.
• Training opportunities – online tutorials and local workshops.

Funding for existing ROC projects comes from a variety of sources: grant making trusts, local businesses, individual and church donations, public services, and fundraising events. In our experience, ROC projects find it relatively easy to raise the funds for local projects since amounts are not huge and local vision is often strong. Many local trusts are only able to give to very localised work which means they often have surplus funds and are not resistant to applications.

ROC HQ provides invaluable support in applying for funds and, where relevant, a small percentage of the funds raised by each local project goes towards ROC HQ central costs. A service level agreement explains all this in detail.

We recommend that you carefully evidence the need for a ROC Centre as a key element of your case. This is essential for gaining the commitment and support of partners for the project. Evidence in the form of crime and anti-social behaviour statistics can be obtained from the local police and Council on the planning team; plus, most police websites publish local crime statistics.

ROC advises holding a consultation event prior to opening the ROC Centre, often referred to as a ROC Conversation or Consultation, as outlined in chapter 6. This open-invitation community meeting allows all partners along with the local community to discuss the needs of the community and how the ROC Centre will contribute to its wellbeing.

How do you find out who your local Police Service and Fire and Rescue contacts are?

Visit your local Police Service or Fire and Rescue websites. ROC HQ can also introduce you to key contacts because of our good standing and relations with public services and statutory authorities.

The ROC National Office provides advice and expertise at each stage of the process. We provide publicity design, social media marketing, fundraising advice and contacts, training workshops and contacts with public services. The growing network of ROC Projects is also accessible through the ROC Head Office.

ROC projects/Centres do not engage in proselytising. Many of the volunteers have a faith but find actions speak louder than words. ROC projects are Christian-led and provide opportunities for Christian volunteers to develop new relationships with local people by demonstrating the love and reality of God in action.

Part of the DNA of a ROC Centre is the necessity of a multi-agency approach. We encourage consultation between the agencies from the very beginning of the process. Ideal partners include Fire and Rescue, Police Service, local authority, local churches, residents’ groups, housing associations and high schools. These organisations can help to identify the social needs faced by your community and how the ROC Centre can seek to address some of these needs. It is suggested that a small team is appointed with a representative from each or most of these agencies to oversee the project. The local management team/enabling group has a strong link with the ROC HQ staff team and is part of a national vision.

This can be anything from around 6 weeks to 6 months. Timings depend on finding a suitable building and getting the right team in place. Thought needs to be given to recruiting the right volunteers and ensuring DBS checks are completed.

Costs depend on the type of project you choose to setup. You may have to consider the condition of the building you are proposing to use, and whether the space being  used is free of charge (rent and utilities). Running costs once the project has been set up are minimal, but may include the purchase of new equipment, the replacement of old equipment, activity materials (crafts), and tuck shop items. All of these amounts are based on the premise that the ROC projects are run primarily by volunteers.

Each ROC project has specific aims and often age ranges it is aimed at. Have a look at our Projects page to read about more specific projects. A ROC Centre is purposed to support the whole community, from young to elders, with a strong emphasis on intergenerational activities. This needs to be considered when decided the activities and projects that are held at the Centre so there is not an overemphasis on one age group over another unless the local community decides it is most appropriate for the area.

The location is a major consideration, also dependant on the type of project. A ROC project is best situated in an accessible areas where the community is likely to gather. The police and council are usually very helpful in identifying suitable buildings and locations for the ROC Café. The ideal location should be in reasonable condition to begin with. It is best to have a working kitchen, a large hall, two or three break out rooms, and storage space.

If you would like a copy of any of our policies and procedures please contact us directly via contact us or [email protected] and we would be happy to send you the information you require.