(Click Here to Go to the CVS North Wiltshire Website)
Click here for Archived Bulletins
E-Bulletin - 14/12/06
Welcome to the CVS North Wiltshire e-bulletin. To view this e-bulletin online click here.
Attention All Treasurers and Finance Workers - Fabulous January SALE Offer!
Q: How are your books looking? Have you been “thrown in at the deep end” with keeping financial records? Or maybe you are an experienced treasurer, but a little rusty, and would like a refresher? Either way, we have a great offer for you: We have slashed the price of our January 17th Book-keeping course from £40 to £25 per place!! The Basic Financial Record Keeping course will cover all the basics of book keeping for charities and community groups, with plenty of practical exercises for you to practice with. This course is suitable for complete beginners as well as those who would like to check that they are doing things the right way. This course in in Chippenham. Click here for further information.
Share the E-Bulletin!
Please share this email with anyone you think might be interested. If this email has been forwarded to you and you would like to receive CVS news direct to your inbox, please email beth@cvsnw.org.uk with "Subscribe Me to the E-Bulletin" in the subject box.
Voluntary Sector Jobs in Wiltshire
There are new jobs being advertised on our website, click here to visit the Jobs Page. If you would like to advertise any vacancies with us please email the details to beth@cvsnw.org.uk (paid positions only). To advertise volunteering opportunities please email volunteer@cvsnw.org.uk.
New Year - New (Relaxed) You!
You know what it’s like, returning to work after the Christmas break with long winter days ahead and nothing to look forward to… and so much to do… and it can be very S T R E S S F U L ! Once again we are offering our highly popular Stress Awareness Course on February 14th 2007 9.15 to 4.15 at 3-4 New Road, Chippenham. As well as how to handle personal stress more effectively, this also covers the likely causes of stress at work, how to risk assess and reduce stress factors and what your organisation’s responsibilities are under Health & Safety legislation. So this is for you if you are stressed, or some of your colleagues are, or if you are a manager or trustee who wants to ensure that your staff do not suffer from work-related stress. Click here for further information.
Wiltshire Primary
Care Trust
At a meeting at the end of November 2006
new Wiltshire PCT Chief Executive Jeff
James met with a group of voluntary
sector Chief Officers to outline and
discuss the PCT’s agenda. He told them
that voluntary organisations currently
providing services will be ‘neither
targeted nor will they be given any
special priority’. Although some PCT
appointments have been made, the
directors will not be in post until the
end of the year, and that’s only if the
right people to fill the posts are
found. Otherwise it could be April 2007
before all directors are in place. After
that, other posts within the new
structure will be appointed.
It was acknowledged that the process of
transition for current PCT staff and
services has, and continues to be
difficult, and that it has a knock on
effect for those organisations in the
voluntary sector whose services are
largely dependent on public sector
funding.
Click
here to read the full report. You
can also view the
presentation given by the PCT at the
meeting by clicking here.
PQASSO Certification Service Update
PQASSO is CES' practical quality assurance system for small organisations, viewed by many as the voluntary and community sector's "industry standard" quality system. Developed in 1997, it is now in it's second edition, with a third edition planned, and has sold over 11,000 copies. PQASSO is a flexible system, which helps organisations to work at their own pace in managing quality and continuous improvement. The proposed PQASSO certification scheme, or "kite mark" - Although PQASSO was designed as a self-assessment tool, there has been considerable pressure from the sector to develop an externally assessed certification scheme. Some people call this "kite marking" or "accreditation". Click here to read the full article.
Changes to Maternity Provisions from
April 2007
All employers need to be aware that new
regulations regarding Maternity come
into effect on 1
New Spring Training Programme from Voluntary Action West Wilts
Click here to download the training programme for VAWW in Trowbridge. Courses include; Emergency First Aid, Food Hygiene, Health & Safety in the Workplace and many more.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Conference - Guest Speaker Tony Robinson
Thursday February 1st 2007, Oakfield Campus, University of Bath in Swindon. A multi-agency conference aimed at supporting managers and leaders in the
private, voluntary and independent adult care sector who provide services and support to older people, disabled people and people who use services. At the end of the conference delegates will: • Understand that safeguarding adults is everyone’s responsibility. • Be able to link ‘No Secrets’ to your practice. • Know who to work with in safeguarding adults. • Know how to work with others in safeguarding adults. • Have gained confidence in understanding safeguarding enough to tell others. Keynote Speaker: Tony Robinson from "Blackadder" and "Time Team" fame. Click here for the programme and booking form.
Laughter Class in January in Chippenham
A new venture in hilarity in North Wilts opens its doors to all in Chippenham in January. Come and be tickled pink and enjoy the benefits of natural, spontaneous laughter for no good reason! You don’t need a sense of humour, you don’t laugh at anything or anybody, you do not even need to feel happy! Surveys have shown that people are now laughing less and less. Yet laughter releases positive endorphins, relieves stress, improves health and relationships, helps communication, brings people together and shifts our perspective on life for the better. The class uses simple techniques that anybody can do and the result is lots of genuine laughter. The first meeting is on Tuesday 16th January 2007, 7.30 – 8.45pm at Santosha Studio, 104 Eastern Avenue, Monkton Park, Chippenham, SL15 3LL. For further details see www.thelaughterschool.com, contact Akasha@thelaughterschool.com or call 01249-813188. There is a suggested donation of £8.
Web Design Service - From Hardenhuish School
Hardenhuish School in Chippenham are offering a web design service for not for profit organisations. The design work is done by students as part of their projects or as an extra curricular activity, supervised by teaching and technical staff. The students get the benefit of working on real projects and the organisations will get a high standard of work at a fraction of the cost of a professional service. We can provide sophisticated services such as secure areas, forums and online editing. We can also offer help with ICT systems such as databases and spreadsheets provided they are project based. Follow these links to see examples of our students work: http://www.redlandschool.co.uk/ and http://www.chippenham-twinning.co.uk/. For more details e-mail Doug Clark at dnc@hardenhuish.wilts.sch.uk.
An Editors Blog - By Gary Lawrence, Editor of Gazette & Herald
Gary Lawrence writes an interesting daily blog. If you want to be in the know about the editors point of view follow this link http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/blogs/gary/
New Charities Act Update - Charity Commission News & NCVO Update
This is a significant edition as it covers the main provisions of the new Charities Act, including a provisional timetable which has just been released by the Office of the Third Sector. It also covers: New descriptions of charitable purposes, Which charities will have to register with us in the future, New requirements for charities not previously on the register, Provisions to give trustees more flexibility to make decisions without our authorisation and much more. Click here to download the newsletter. NCVO Update - Following the passing of the Charities Act 2006 last month, the Cabinet Office has now published an implementation plan (PDF 70KB), setting out when each of the different provisions will come into force. Some of the deregulatory measures, such as the higher audit thresholds, will be brought in as quickly as possible. Other parts of the Act, including the Charitable Incorporated Organisation, will require consultation and secondary legislation or guidance before they can take effect. Copies of the Charities Act 2006 can be downloaded (170KB). Hard copies are available from The Stationary Office. For more information about NCVO's work on charity law contact policy@ncvo-vol.org.uk.
RFET Wiltshire QEST Newsletter
Fire Safety Training in Swindon
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.
Tuesday 6th February 2007, 10 – 12.30, at Voluntary Action Swindon. The cost £25 for VAS members, £35 for non members. To book a place please contact Emma on 01793 538398 or email emma@vas-swindon.org.
Need Funding Advice?
Mary Waters, our dedicated Funding Advice Worker, is available to meet with groups throughout the new year. She can help you to pin point some sources of funding and guide you through the application process. Mary is holding advice surgeries on Tuesday 16th January and Tuesday 20th February. Call 01249 654089 to book a slot (we can also arrange for Mary to meet with you on an alternative day if needed).
Wiltshire Community Web Online Newsletter
The third issue of the Wiltshire Community Web Online Newsletter has now been uploaded. These newsletters provide information on Training Events, Hints and Tips on using WCW and Spotlight on a Wiltshire Community Web Site. Further information and the newsletter can be found here: http://www.northwilts-communityweb.com/site/WCW-Newsletters/index.htm
Working For Opportunities - Latest Newsletter
Please click here to download the latest newsletter from Working for Opportunities.
The Third Sector Review: Interim Report
The interim report from the Third Sector Review was published alongside the Pre-Budget Report, which sets out the key messages from the consultation and the areas where the government is considering action. The consultation phase demonstrated that there are a number of areas where government needs to develop its thinking further, working with the third sector. The report identifies five broad areas where further input is needed: voice and campaigning; communities; public services; social enterprise; and a healthy third sector. To gather information in these areas and as part of the second stage of the review, an interactive web-based consultation will be launched in December, providing an opportunity to respond to specific questions and the five broad themes. The Third Sector Review is the largest ever government consultation with the sector and takes a long-term view of what is needed for the sector to thrive over the next ten years. The final conclusions and recommendations from the review will feed into the Comprehensive Spending Review, due to report in summer 2007. NCVO will be producing a full briefing and will be seeking your views to feed into our response to the interim report. If you would like to discuss NCVO's work on the Third Sector Review, please email Mubeen Bhutta or call 020 7520 2475. You may also be interested in our summary of key announcements from the Pre-Budget Report.
Capacitybuilders Consultation
Capacitybuilders has today launched a consultation on ‘Destination 2014’, seeking views on how to deliver the ChangeUp vision for a transformed voluntary and community sector by 2014. The consultation document outlines Capacitybuilders’ vision for the third sector and puts forward a strategic framework of activities in three phases: 2006-08; 2008-11; and 2011-14. Capacitybuilders’ key objectives are to improve the quality and efficiency of infrastructure support, to encourage extra investment in infrastructure, to ensure infrastructure support reaches diverse groups and to influence policy and practice of other funders in this field. Further information is available on the Destination 2014 website.
Calne Area Transport Newsletter
Click here to download the latest newsletter from Calne Area Transport, including an update on the new national express service and the future of transport for Calne a special event.
Making the Headlines
Could you be on Channel Five? TV channels are increasingly sourcing content from the community so what could you do for your cause with a couple of minutes of national airtime? More at http://tinyurl.com/yzvsvb There’s also the Community Channel (http://www.communitychannel.org/) from ICT Hub partner Media Trust and general help and advice on making the news (and filming it) at http://tinyurl.com/yjsyrc And don’t forget the ‘more traditional’ Community Newswire at http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/index.jsp.
Patchwork of Opportunity - Wellbeing Bid Unsuccessful
This special bulletin is to let people know immediately that the South West Patchwork of Opportunity bid to the Big Lottery Fund Well-being Programme has not been successful. Regional public health received notice earlier today that the Patchwork of Opportunity has not made it through to the second stage of the bidding process. Whilst this is disappointing news, it is important to recognise the good work that has taken place in the South West to bring together this proposal. The time and effort that people have put into developing this portfolio has been much appreciated. Although this potential funding route is now closed, the challenge of addressing the 'patchwork of opportunity' in the South West remains. The hope is that much of the shared understanding built through this process can help support future developments, for example, the renewed emphasis on health and wellbeing outlined in the recent local government white paper. Please share this information with colleagues/networks as widely as possible as we are keen that people developing project ideas are told as soon as possible. Our advice is that people should stop work on any project proposals. We appreciate all of the views and interest shown at consultation events we held in June, and in discussions that have taken place since then. It has been refreshing to engage with such a wide range of groups and create a broad understanding of well-being and how we can best support it in the South West. If you have any questions about the Patchwork of Opportunity bid please contact matthew.lenny@gosw.gsi.gov.uk 0117 900 3537.
This email has been sent to the members and associates of CVS North Wiltshire. If you feel you have received this in error please email beth@cvsnw.org.uk to unsubscribe.
If you have been forwarded this mail and would like to subscribe please email: beth@cvsnw.org.uk with "Please Subscribe me to the E-Bulletins" in the subject line.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of content, CVSNW cannot be held responsible for any errors which may occur. Opinions voiced in the e-bulletin are not necessarily those of CVSNW.