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E-Bulletin - 07/09/06
Welcome to the CVS North Wiltshire e-bulletin. To view this e-bulletin online click here
Job Opportunities Online
Our online jobs page is fast becoming the place to advertise your Voluntary Sector vacancies. Click here to see the current job opportunities. Please let us have your opportunities to advertise on the site! Email Beth: beth@cvsnw.org.uk
Corsham Community Lunch
The next community lunch is taking place in Corsham Community Centre from 12noon - 2pm on Thursday 28th September. We have a guest speaker, Allan Bosley, Chairman Corsham Town Council taking about "Corsham: Change in Changing Community". There will also be plenty of time for networking and hearing about the work of other groups in the area. Please email karenm@cvsnw.org.uk to book your place.
Loss of Advocacy Services
Wiltshire & Swindon Users' Network has unfortunately been unsuccessful in their tender for a generic advocacy service in Wiltshire. Current funding for Wiltshire Older People's Advocacy Service (WOPAS) and Kennet & North Wiltshire Advocacy Project for People with a Learning Difficulty (KNWLDA) ends on 30th September. It is therefore with great regret that the service's will be closed for new referrals as of the end of August. After the 30th September any enquiries relating to WOPAS or KNWLDA should be directed to the Wiltshire & Swindon Users' Network on 01380 725213.
Northern Community Area Partnership AGM
The Northern Community Area Partnership will be holding it's AGM on Tuesday 12th September, 7:30pm at Silver Threads, Purton. This meeting will give you a chance to hear about what your Community Area Partnership has been up to over the last year, tell us how we could do things better and let us know how you would like to be involved. More information about the work of the Northern Community Area Partnership and a map to the AGM venue can be found on www.ncap-northwilts.org.
Support Bertie at the Car Boot Sale
Calne Town Council is organising a series of Car Boot Sales in aid of the Beversbrook Sports Project. The next sales are Sunday 17th September and Sunday 1st October at Calne Showground (off the by-pass, opposite the new Deceuninck warehouse). Anyone wishing to sell at the sale can turn up on the day. Cars £5, Car + Trailer or Van £10. Trader set up 7.30am, public access from 9am. All proceeds from these boot sales go towards the Beversbrook Sports Project to provide playing pitches for the local community.
Media Trust Courses & Events Programme
The Media Trust has produced a new programme of events for Oct 06 - Mar 07. Courses include, Communicating with Children & Parents, Introduction to Press Release Writing, Free Media Opportunities, Keeping Web Content Fresh and many more. Visit www.mediatrust.org and click on Events Booking to view the extensive list.
Blogging taking the lead - 'Brummie lad on the streets of Beirut' Tells of Aid Mission Through Blog
Islamic Relief's Jamsheed Din is producing one of the web's most-viewed blogs daily from war-torn Lebanon after free government-funded training from registered charity Media Trust. Din, from Birmingham-based Islamic Relief, is reporting from Beirut on efforts to bring aid through the Israeli bombardment to the Lebanese people. On his blog, Din describes himself as 'a Brummie lad on the streets of Beirut'. Islamic Relief charity blogged from Kashmir on their own site after last year's earthquake. However, following a free Media Trust seminar last month on using new media, Din's colleagues encouraged him to approach the BBC to host his blog from Lebanon. Din's blog is currently the top Lebanon blog on Google UK, and is in the top six search results for Lebanon on Google US. To read Din's blog please go to www.bbc.co.uk or follow the link from the Islamic Relief website www.islamic-relief.com
Now Find out How to Create a Blog for Your Group
Media Trust is holding a series of free seminars to give small to medium sized charities and not-for-profit organisation, with an annual turnover of less than £2million, the skills and confidence to use new media. A new media consultant will hold the seminars and focus on techniques available on the internet such as: blogging, podcasting, and wikis, with real examples and practical advice. For further information call Lucy Mason on 020 7874 7620 or email lucindam@mediatrust.org.
New Director for DACS
At a Wiltshire
County Council cabinet meeting on Tuesday
(5th September) it was announced
that the
new Director is Sue Redmond who was the
Assistant Director of Social Services at
Wandsworth Social Services. More details
should follow in our next bulletin.
Help
a local group win a Queen's Award - deadline
30th September
Do you know a local group of volunteers who
have given fantastic service to their
community over the last three years or more?
Now’s your chance to get Royal recognition
for their hard work and dedication - if you
work quick! The deadline for nominations to
the 2007 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
is 30th
September 2006. Established groups who do
regular work to improve the quality of life
in their community are eligible. Winners
receive a certificate signed by the Queen, a
lovely crystal trophy and the right to
publicise the award on their letterhead,
posters, website etc. Please note that it's
important that nominators are independent of
the group. They should not run or volunteer
with it or partner anyone involved with
running it. A couple of supporters will also
be needed. There's full details and a
nomination form on the Awards website at
http://www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk/
Did you pick up the donated computer from Felbrigg Design?
Would it be possible for the charity that picked up a computer on Monday 21st August from Felbrigg Design, Great Somerford, to contact Heather on 01249 720076 weekdays 9-5.30 or e-mail fionac@felbriggdesign.com.
Community First Useful Links
Community First has recently made some updates to the Useful Links page of their website, it includes links to many local, regional and national sites. Visit http://www.communityfirst.org.uk/useful_links.htm
Labour Market Review - Summer Edition
The latest issue of the Labour Market Review: South West Region, a joint publication from Jobcentre Plus, SLIM and the Business Economy Module, is now available on our website at: http://www.swslim.org.uk/documents/lmr/summer2006.pdf. SLIM (The Skills and Learning Intelligence Module) exists to bring information and intelligence on skills and learning to policy makers and practitioners across the South West.
Preparing to Trade
Voluntary Action Kennet with Learning Curve’s EnAct invite you to join ‘Preparing to Trade’ for the voluntary sector. Preparing to Trade is a programme of support and training aiming to enable the Voluntary and Community Sector to unlock their hidden income potential and make money from trading. Preparing to Trade consists of 4 manageable sessions. At each session we will give you information, easy to use tools and the time and support to use the tools for your own organisation. At the end of this programme we want you to have an idea on how to take your trading ideas forward and not just have another pile of paper! Click here to download more information.
Fire Safety Training
Tuesday 10th October 2006, 10 – 12.30, Voluntary Action Swindon, £25 for VAS members (£35 for non members). A qualified fire safety training consultant will deliver a ½ day session on general fire safety. There will be an overview of Reformed Regulatory Order which comes into effect in October 2006, and what that means to the person responsible for fire safety in your building. Also covered will be the use of fire extinguishers and the role of fire wardens. To book a place please contact Emma on 01793 538398 or email emma@vas-swindon.org
Community Evening for Chippenham & The Villages
Chippenham Area Community Partnership (ChAP), 2nd October 2006, 7pm – 9pm, The Olympiad Leisure Centre. The Chippenham Area Community Partnership (ChAP) will be hosting this event for local people and organisations to come together to hear about: Progress on projects identified in the Community Plan and Exciting new projects for the area, including Chippenham 2020 and Neighbourhood Policing. There will also be an opportunity to talk to members of ChAP and partner organisations about local issues. Victoria Welsh 01249 706446 or vwelsh@northwilts.gov.uk.
Net:gain A new service for Voluntary and Community Organisations - planning your ICT
The net:gain programme will help Voluntary and Community Organisations (VCOs) understand how their objectives can be advanced through the strategic use of ICT. Rather than investing in technology in the hope of becoming more efficient, the net:gain programme will enable VCOs to examine how they share information and identify where ICT can bring efficiencies and improve service delivery. net:gain is not designed for 'techies', but is for anyone who guides the strategic direction of their organisation: Chief Executives, Trustees, Managers and anyone involved in the strategic direction of their organisation. Local workshops are in Bristol, for more information contact Anita Beardsley on 0117 3737064 or visit www.net-gain.org.uk.
How to Make Information Available to People with a Learning Disability
People with a learning disability who have limited reading skills are not able to read standard texts at all easily. However, they are still keen to share in the knowledge provided to the public by various organisations and Government Departments. One way of making this information available to them is in the format known as ‘easy read’. This is simple, straightforward English with pictures. A tape or CD should also be provided as this helps the person read the text more quickly. Click here to read the full article and find get further information about easy read.
Service Users to Help Create New Style Day Services
Large day centres in Wiltshire are set to be replaced by an increased network of smaller centres as services undergo a radical modernisation. The changes, which reflect national policy on the best way to provide services for people with learning disabilities, were given the green light at Wiltshire County Council Cabinet on Sep 5. Now service users, carers and parents will get their say in the way the new style services will develop with a three month consultation period launched this week. The closures of five day centres are set to happen over 18 months but council chiefs have pledged nothing will close until alternative premises are up and running. A total of eight smaller centres are planned across the county in rented premises - two in each district to ensure services are in the places where they are most needed. Cash raised from the eventual sale of four centres (Middlefield, Ashton Street centre, Marlborough Resource centre and Sarum centre) will be reinvested in county council services. To view the full press release click here.
Wiltshire & Swindon ESF Providers Network Meeting
SAVAGE would like to invite you to attend the second Wiltshire & Swindon ESF Providers Network being held at the Lawn Community Centre, Guildford Avenue Lawn, Old Town, Swindon SN3 1LA on Monday 18th September 2006 at 10:00am to 12:30pm. Please click here for the draft agenda for the meeting. You can also download the meeting notes and presentation from the first ESF Providers Network that was held on the 18th July 2006 in co-operation with Swindon VAS and Cooperative futures. To book your place please contact Nicola at SAVAGE: nicola@savage-europe.org.uk informing me of your full contact details including postal address, telephone number and email plus any special requirements. A confirmation email will be sent to you before the meeting.
BIBIC Family Support and Information Day
Tuesday 17 October 2006, University of Bath in Swindon. The British Institute for Brain Injured Children (BIBIC) is holding a Family Support and Information Day for parents, carers and professionals which is sponsored by Withy King Solicitors. The information day, which will run from 9:30am, will include various workshops, talks and one-to-one sessions where support, guidance and expert advice will be given on issues such as managing behaviour at home, advice and support surrounding compensation, opportunities for young disabled people, healthy eating, brain injury and personal injury litigation and accessing support for your family. You can join us for the whole day or just for a workshop. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. To book a place, or for a more detailed event programme, please contact Kelly Bohot, Family Support Worker on 01278 684060 or email: kelly.bohot@bibic.org.uk. Alternatively, please also contact Kelly if you would like to display the family day promotional material at your premises. BIBIC offers practical help to families caring for children with neurological and genetic conditions including traumatic and acquired brain injury, autism, cerebral palsy, down’s syndrome, developmental delay, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. Visit www.bibic.org.uk for more information.
SAVAGE e-Communique - August Newsletter
The August Newsletter is now available from here: www.savage-europe.org.uk/newsletters/august06.htm. Features this month: SAVAGE Conference, SOUTH WEST - Devon & Cornwall LSC, SOUTH EAST - SEEDA, Hampshire & IOW Global Grants, Kent Community Foundation, Faith Communities, BI-REGIONAL - Invest to Save - Inclusive Communities Budget, Partnership Working, eContent Plus, Safer Internet Plus, Volunteer Lunch Expenses.
CSIP South West Bulletin - September 2006
Click here to download the latest bulletin from the Care Services Improvement Partnership SW.
Last Few Seminar Places Remaining in Oxford is Still Booking so Secure your Places Now!
Organised by The Directory of Social Change, this year at Charityfair, we are visiting Manchester on 13 - 14 September and Oxford on 26 - 27 September. Please see below for programme highlights and booking details. Please note that advance booking for Charityfair Manchester closes at 12pm on Wednesday 6th September. Charityfair gives you access to high quality, low cost training that can make a real difference to you and your organisation. Be there or miss out!
Volunteers Win Right to Lunch
The campaign to allow volunteers on state benefit to claim lunch as an expense has been a success. John Hutton, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has announced that new rules will mean people on benefits who volunteer will no longer have to bear the cost of their meals. Well done to everyone who joined the campaign. To view the full press release, visit http://www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2006/aug/fmc081-080806.asp
Database of Local Community Information
Did you know that Wiltshire Libraries maintains an on-line database of local information? It contains around 9000 records and includes details of sports and leisure groups, health support and disability organisations, places of worship, local speakers, venues for hire, local speakers and much more. Merlin Local Information is available at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/merlin and is very easy to search and use. It lists contact and venue details, as well as links to over 1200 websites, and might be useful to you when answering your enquiries for local information.
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