GROW Enhancing Community Support – 07/02/2012 E-Bulletin

[Lisa Thornton]

GROW Enhancing Community Support – 07/02/2012 E-Bulletin

 

Welcome to the weekly GROW E-Bulletin

This bulletin gives you news, information and updates relevant to the voluntary & community sector both in general and local to you in Wiltshire. If you would also like to see updates local to Bath & North East Somerset please feel free to visit our DEVELOP B&NES website here.

 

Contents:

Wiltshire News & Updates

• GROW Community Development Team Update
• Free Wiltshire Workshop on Involving Young Volunteers
• Participation and Involvement Strategy Consultation
• Small Project Funding for Local Events to Celebrate the Jubilee or Olympic Torch Relay in the Trowbridge Community Area
• Wiltshire Police Authority Fund
• Funding Information from Charities Information Bureau South & West
• Interested in Sharing Premises with Splitz?
• Wiltshire and Swindon Funding Network – Free Events for Community Groups
• Launch of Children’s Islamic Library at the Wiltshire Islamic Cultural Centre
• Children and Families Voluntary Sector Forum

 

General News & Updates Relevant to the Voluntary Sector

• Equality and Human Rights Commission Funds First Age Discrimination Cases Heard at the Supreme Court
• Communities Have a Chance to Revive Their Neighbourhoods
• New Arrangements for Information, Advice and Support on Discrimination and Human Rights
• Community Matters – The National Federation of Voluntary Organisations, Have Launched a Special Offer in February on their Social Value Tool.
• Charity Bank Survey – Effects of Economic Crisis on Sector
• The Community Development Foundation – Grassroots Grants Programme
• CIPD Launches Apprenticeship Guides
• Free Best Practice Exchange
• Improving Equality and Diversity
• New Apprenticeships Launched for Third Sector Employers

 

Wiltshire News & Updates

 

GROW Community Development Team Update 

Our team ran a very successful event on 24^th February, ‘How to Persuade a Funder to Give You Money’ facilitated by Jane Butler from Charities Information Bureau. It was well attended and highlighted the need to put yourself in the position of the Funder to understand what they are looking for and why!   Remember if you are a new or existing voluntary/community group and you require support the GROW Community Development Team can help. We offer FREE general support in all areas of setting up and running a successful voluntary/community group.  Just give either Maria or Jackie call 0845 034 5250 (local rates apply) Our Community Development Team are here to support Voluntary & Community groups throughout Wiltshire.

 

Free Workshop on Involving Young Volunteers

February 20^th – 26^th is National Student Volunteers Week.  To help celebrate, Volunteer Centre Wiltshire is offering a free workshop to anyone interested in involving young people as volunteers.  The workshop will take place on Thursday 23 February 2012, 10 – 12:30 at the Nursteed Centre, Devizes.  Please contact Vanessa Wells on 0845 0345250 or email [e-mail] for more information and to book a place.

 

Participation and Involvement Strategy Consultation

The Participation and Involvement Strategy aims to achieve better outcomes for children, young people, parents and carers through listening to them and developing better services based on what they say. Within the strategy there are 6 priorities identified to develop a strategic approach to participation and involvement in Wiltshire. Participation and Involvement Strategy - for consultation closes 23rd April 2012. Consultation responses can be emailed to [e-mail]. For general consultation enquiries please contact [e-mail] Lead officer – Voice and influence, 01380 735787 or [e-mail] Support Officer – Voice and influence, 01380 735789

 

Small Project Funding for Local Events to Celebrate the Jubilee or Olympic Torch Relay in Trowbridge Community Area

Trowbridge Area Board has set aside £5,000 from its budget to allow groups in the Trowbridge Community Area (the Parishes of Trowbridge, Hilperton, West Ashton, North Bradley & Southwick), constituted or not, to bid for grants of up to £300 for projects/activities to celebrate the Queens’ Jubilee or the Olympic Torch Relay event.  The deadline for applications is 31^st March 2012 but applications will be assessed on a first come first served basis until all the funding is allocated.  For more information please contact Rachel Efemey, Trowbridge Community Area Manager, Wiltshire Council [e-mail] or Tel: [phone]

 

Wiltshire Police Authority Fund

Wiltshire Police Authority, working with the Community Foundation for Wiltshire and Swindon, have established a fund to help local groups address crime and anti-social behaviour, and improve personal and community security. The funds arise from the proceeds of the disposal of unclaimed property, and is usually around £25,000 per annum. The Fund is particularly keen to support projects which seek to bring communities together to tackle local issues improving trust and understanding, and welcomes projects which offer a new or innovative approach.  To read more click here

 

Funding Information from Charities Information Bureau South & West. 

If you are looking for professional, up to date advice and information on funding, Charities Information Bureau South & West (CIB) is here to help.  Our funding advisors can assist you to find the right funders and to make sure your application stands out from the rest. Groups we have worked with have successfully secured funding from the Big Lottery, Wiltshire Area Grants and many local and national charitable trusts. We also provide a range of funding services and training, most of which are free, to help your group or organisation successfully fundraise. To speak to one of our advisors, please call [phone] or email: [e-mail].   Further information about us and our FREE funders database can be found at www.cibsouthandwest.org.uk.  Below are two examples of funders that have recently been updated on our database and may be of interest to you:  NATIONAL HERITAGE MEMORIAL FUND .  Providing grants (and sometimes loans) to enable organisations based in the UK to buy items of outstanding interest and importance to the national heritage.  These must either be at risk or have memorial character.  QUEEN MARY’S ROEHAMPTON TRUST  Provides services to war disabled ex-Service men and women and their dependants.

 

Interested in Sharing Premises with Splitz?

Splitz are seeking other groups who may want to co-share office space. They are considering renting the large first floor of Oak House, White Horse Business Park, Trowbridge. Although the space is too large for them and is interested in hearing from any Voluntary groups who may be willing to share this office space. For more information please contact [e-mail] or 01225 777724.

 

Wiltshire and Swindon Funding Network – Free Events for Community Groups

In 2012 Wiltshire and Swindon Funding Network are running four FREE events for community groups across the county.  The courses are; Funding for Changing Times in Trowbridge, Better Applications in Devizes and two Creative Ways to Raise Money courses, one in Chippenham and the other in Salisbury.  For further information click here.

 

Launch of Children’s Islamic Library at the Wiltshire Islamic Cultural Centre

Wiltshire Islamic Cultural Centre based at Bridge House in Trowbridge, has successfully launched their Children’s Islamic Library.  It is now open to the public and has over 100 children’s books and contains information, story books and CD’s.  To register and make use of these books give the WICC a call on 07961 430873 or 07947 477629 or email [e-mail].

 

Children and Families Voluntary Sector Forum

Are you involved with a voluntary sector group that works with children and families in Wiltshire?  If so, why not join other local organisations who are members of the Wiltshire Children and Families Voluntary Sector Forum (WCFVSF).  The forum brings together voluntary organisations that operate in Wiltshire to support children, young people or families.  The group holds bi monthly meetings where information is shared and the voluntary sector championed.  To read more visit their website here.

 

General News & Updates Relevant to the Voluntary Sector

 

Equality and Human Rights Commission Funds First Age Discrimination Cases Heard at the Supreme Court

The Commission will use the first two age discrimination cases heard by the Supreme Court on the 17^th January, to argue that an exception to the law banning age discrimination in employment is in urgent need of clarification.  Both cases seek clarity from the UK’s highest court on the interpretation of the rule that allows employers to justify age discrimination if they can prove it is a ‘proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim’.  Default retirement age was scrapped in April 2011, however an employer can still force an employee to retire if it can show that the policy is justifiable as a ‘proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim’.  To read the full story click here.

 

Communities Have a Chance To Revive Their Neighbourhoods.

Communities Minister Andrew Stunell has invited community and voluntary organisations to apply for a share of £100 million that will help revitalise communities and bring the empty homes blighting their areas back into use.  Mr Stunell said that the Government cash would help tackle this national scandal, creating more affordable housing and giving a new lease of life to homes and communities.  Read more here.

 

New Arrangements for Information, Advice and Support on Discrimination and Human Rights

The Government is commissioning a new Equality Advisory and Support Service to provide a service helping individuals who have problems with discrimination. It will give expert advice and support, tailored to people's individual circumstances, with a particular focus on providing in-depth support to vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals to find early and informal solutions where possible.

 

Community Matters – The National Federation of Voluntary Organisations, have launched a special offer in February on their social value tool.

The National Federation of Voluntary Organisations, have launched a special offer in February on their social value tool.  The Communities and Local Government department has published guidance asking local authorities to consider social, economic and environmental value when commissioning services . With the Public Services Bill due to be released later this year and not to mention the need for creating better funding bids, it has never been more important for Local Authorities and community organisations to have the tools on hand to gather the relevant data.  Community Matters has developed a user-friendly tool that can help play a vital role in providing you this information at an incredibly affordable price - Your Value!  The tool has already received incredible support from the sector including the Charity Commission and Department from Communities and Local Government.  For the month of February Community Matters are giving you 50% off Your Value! annual subscription! Start demonstrating your impact for as little as £48 (including VAT!). To get your discount email [e-mail]

 

Charity Bank Survey - Effects of Economic Crisis on Sector

Charity Bank and Charity Technology Trust are running an anonymous survey to gather insights into the effects of the economic crisis on the sector to take part visit: ctt-news.org

 

The Community Development Foundation – Grassroots Grants Programme

The Community Development Foundation has released a report on its Grassroots Grants Programme.  With funding for the third sector in increasingly short supply, it is often the smallest voluntary and community groups who get short-changed as they lack the resources to argue their corner.  The Grassroots Grants Programme targeted investment to these groups and the Community Development Foundation's (CDF) evaluation report, demonstrates how valuable these groups are to their communities as well as the significant impact small amounts of funding can have.  To read more click here.

 

Small Employer Incentives

The Government have announced a new incentive to encourage small firms that do not currently employ apprentices to take on a young apprentice aged 16-24 years old.  The incentive is for employers with up to 50 (and in some cases up to 250) employees and comprises a payment of £1,500 payable in two stages. It will be available to small firms in all industries and for Apprenticeships at all levels from April 2012. They have also announced an incentive of £2,275 will be available for small employers who employ a jobless 18-24 year old for a period of 6 months. The subsidy will support work and training placements. See: http://bit.ly/yEU9AO

 

CIPD Launches Apprenticeship Guides

The aim is to ensure employers ‘get full benefits’ from schemes.  The guide acts as a one-stop-shop for employers looking to offer apprenticeships. It aims to offer objective support to employers within different organisational sectors and sizes, across the UK, addressing some of the issues and questions involved and ensuring they have the support they need to take on an apprentice. Click here for more information.

 

Free Best Practice Exchange

The Government’s new Mental Health Strategy emphasises the crucial importance of early intervention in emerging emotional and mental health problems for children and young people.  BOND (Better Outcomes New Delivery) are inviting you to  a Free Best Practice Exchange on how commissioners can make better use of the voluntary and community sector in the future delivery of mental health services for  children and young people. Click here for more information.

 

Improving Equality and Diversity

ACEVO has launched a new guide offering practical advice on how equality and diversity can be mainstreamed in voluntary and community sector organisations. 

 

New Apprenticeships Launched for Third Sector Employers

Brand new training programmes specifically designed for charities and social enterprises to help them make a difference to people and communities. To find out more click here.

 

This week’s E-bulletin Editor Lisa Thornton

GROW - The Support Service for Voluntary and Community Groups in Wiltshire

 

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