New Job Opportunities Online -   Click here to see job opportunities within the Voluntary Sector. Please let us have your opportunities to advertise on the site!

Wiltshire and Swindon Voluntary Sector Infrastructure Consortium, Consortium Development Worker -    37 hours per week, salary in range of £20,235 - 23,175 per annum which may be negotiated with the candidate that demonstrates exceptional skills or experience, based in Chippenham. This new post provides an exciting opportunity to work with a Consortium of voluntary organisations to influence the delivery of high quality services to the voluntary sector in Wiltshire and Swindon. The Consortium, comprising Charities Information Bureau, Community First, Learning Curve, Wiltshire Racial Equality Council, Volunteer Centre Swindon and the five Councils for Voluntary Service in Wiltshire and Swindon, is looking for an exceptional person to take forward a five year investment plan to support the development of infrastructure services to voluntary and community groups and organisations. The worker will facilitate effective engagement with a wide range of stakeholders including the local authorities in Wiltshire and Swindon, Government Office for the South West and the South West Infrastructure Development Partnership and work with the contents to serve its future sustainability.

Listening Skills Training -   Doorway, the drop-in service for homeless and vulnerable people, provides a comprehensive training programme for its staff. On October 17^th, they are running an Active Listening training day at The Salvation Army Hall in Foghamshire, Chippenham, led by David Thompson, which will cover the basic principles of listening effectively to clients. David has many years experience of training and managing a counselling service in Wiltshire. Doorway is offering a limited number of places to paid and volunteer staff from other voluntary organisations. The course will run from 9.15 to 4.30 pm and the price per person will be £30, including lunch. To find out more or to book a place, please call Margaret Cleverley on 01249 654089 or email doorway@cvsnw.org.uk NB After its recent refurbishment The Salvation Army Hall is now fully wheelchair accessible and has a hearing loop.

Decent Homes Grant -   Decent Homes Grants are available to help vulnerable households bring their homes up to the decent homes standard set by the Government. A decent home is one which is wind and weather tight, warm and has modern facilities. The grant is available to both owners of a property or tenants with a lease agreement specifying responsibility for the required works. For more information about the grant contact Ridgeway Care & Repair North Wiltshire on 01249 460701 or email Rebecca.Bell@ridgewaycommunity.org.uk

Fire Safety in Non-Domestic Premises -   New guidance is being published on this subject by HM Government to reflect new legislation which comes into force in October 2006. The guidance which deals with fire safety in different types of premises is being published now and HSE Books is, along with other distributors, stocking each item. The guidance in these publications is also available for viewing online,  and downloading from the government web site at http://www.firesafetyguides.communities.gov.uk

Northern Community Area Partnership -   Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, 12th September 2006 at 7.30pm, 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. You will also be able to elect people to continue the work already started to drive forward the important issues you identified in your Community Plan. More information about the work of the Northern Community Area Partnership (including a map of the meeting location) can be found at www.ncap-northwilts.org  Alternatively, please telephone Shelley Parker on 01249 706449 or Dave Roberts on 07979 318504.

 Community Transport Conference -   This year’s Community Transport Conference will be held on Friday 3^rd November at Bromham Social Centre.  The organisers hope that approximately 100 people will attend, not only from Wiltshire but also from other parts of the South West region, which will of course, include many Community Transport Group representatives. The day will start at 9am for registration followed by several presentations on different aspects of Community Transport.  Delegates will have the opportunity to visit the exhibitors before the conference commences, during coffee/tea and lunch break as well as after the conference. If you would like to attend as an exhibitor, or attend one of the workshops  please contact Sheila Martin  smartin@communityfirst.org.uk

Scam Warning from Charity Commission -   The Charity Commission has issued a press release  warning charities about  bogus donation cheques - some as high as £6,000 - that have been sent to good causes across the UK, with a note asking the charity to return up to half the total donation to the fraudsters. If unsuspecting charities buy into the story and repay part of the donation, they find that the original cheque bounces, leaving them robbed of vital funds. Charities who feel they may have been targeted with a similar scam should contact their local police, local Trading Standards office and the Charity Commission directly. The full press release is at http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=221412&NewsAreaID=2