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Network - Bye Chris!

Your latest copy of Network will be in the post to you this week. Look out for the subtle change on the front cover! This will be Christine's last issue as Editor as she is leaving us today for a new life in Devon, we wish her all the best! If you would like to include an article in either a future newsletter or our weekly column in the Gazette & Herald please email your content to editor@cvsnw.org.uk.

Fire Risk Assessment - Get Started with this Handy Guide

The FPA and Bt Redcare website is aimed at those who run SMEs (Small to Medium Enterprises). It provides basic advice about fire safety in small businesses, it describes the importance of fire risk assessment and it includes a table of simple questions about fire safety which will form the basis of a fire risk assessment which you can complete online or print off a checklist of questions. Although aimed at SMEs the questions form a very useful basis for any organisation to start looking at fire risk assessment. You can download the 4 page list of questions and advice by clicking here. For the official risk assessment guidebook visit the government's web site at http://www.firesafetyguides.communities.gov.uk.

Institute of Fundraising South West

Some new courses are being run the the Institute of Fundraising - "An introduction to fundraising" - Friday 16th February 2007, NTT Fundraising, Bristol. Contact Jenny Ellard on 0117 930 3467 or introtofr@nttfundraising.co.uk. "An introduction to major donor fundraising" - Thursday 22nd February, University of Bath at Swindon. Contact Isobel Michael on southwest@institute-of-fundraising.org.uk.
 

Latest on Patchwork of Opportunity Bid to the Big Lottery Wellbeing Fund

The Big Lottery Fund’s Well-being Programme was launched in April 2006 with a funding pot of £165 million for England. National and regional bids were invited to the programme. The intended outcomes of the programme are: "People and communities have improved mental well-being", " People being more physically active", and "Children, parents and the wider community eating more healthily". You can read more detail on the programme by visiting: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_well_being?fromsearch=-uk. In response to the programme, a South West regional steering group was formed to bring together a wide range of organisations with an interest in improving well-being. This group has already successfully submitted a first-stage strategy bid to the Big Lottery Fund which can be viewed on http://www.swpho.nhs.uk/resource/item.aspx?RID=27694. The focus is now on identifying individual projects that could make up the final Patchwork of Opportunity portfolio. We are asking people to come forward with their ideas by completing a project ideas application form. To complement the project ideas, a series of local consultation events will be held across the South West between mid-January and mid-February to discuss what approaches could best support well-being according to the needs of each local area. Details of these events will be advertised widely soon.

If you would like to put forward a proposal you can access an application form on http://www.swpho.nhs.uk/resource/item.aspx?RID=28993.  Before completing the application form it is essential to first read the guidance notes available on http://www.swpho.nhs.uk/resource/item.aspx?RID=28992.  All project ideas must be returned via e-mail to marilyn.holder@gosw.gsi.gov.uk by 9am on Monday 8 January.

Barnardo's - New Training Opportunities

Driving Forward Change for Voluntary and Community Organisations

Capacitybuilders’ Board, meeting on 22 November, committed itself to a programme of change in the future delivery of national support services to the voluntary and community sector and social enterprises. The Board’s decision was in response to a package of proposals recommended by Simon Hebditch, Chief Executive, aimed at ensuring that Capacitybuilders is able to offer the sector a coherent and sensible approach to the future provision of national support services. Hebditch’s recommendations draw on extensive research carried out by independent consultant Jo Durning. Capacitybuilders will take a greater strategic leadership role in pursuing all elements of the ChangeUp programme and an increased role as a direct commissioner of national services. Click to read more...

Social Enterprise Seminer, Swindon

You may be aware that RISE is leading a feasibility study on the development of a regional business support service for social enterprises in the South West.

Please click here for an invitation and booking form for some discussion seminars about the service. As social enterprise climbs higher on the political agenda, the seminar may spark new debate and will certainly inform you about the innovative pilot we at Co-operative Futures are currently involved with. A Swindon seminar is being held on 7th Dec at the University of Bath in Swindon, Oakfield Campus, Marlowe Ave, Walcot, Swindon SN3 3JR 2pm - 4pm.

Results of Ethnic Minority Survey in North and West Wiltshire

Please click here to download the executive summary of a survey conducted by Bufferzone, who are independent consultants.  If you would like to read the full report please click here. This work was commissioned by the North and West Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership to get a better understanding of where this group live and how they feel about living in North and West Wiltshire.  Bufferzone have also done a similar survey for the Kennet and Salisbury areas and are currently working on a report to pull all the work together to form a Wiltshire-wide picture. If you have queries about this piece of work please contact Mark Rippon, Community Safety Officer, North Wiltshire District Council on 01249 706416 or email mrippon@northwilts.gov.uk.
 

NCVO Hinton Lecture Delivered by Ed Miliband MP, Ministrer for the Third Sector

"...And one of the things I so admire about the sector is that that is what you do every day: you see injustice and do something about it. And that unites for me the whole sweep of the third sector. From social enterprise, to small community groups, large voluntary sector organisations, indeed in every part of the sector, across the country, in different ways, you are seeking to change people’s lives. And this is still for me best encapsulated by Beveridge’s description of the sector as demonstrating “the driving power of social conscience”. Drive—a can-do attitude. Power—the ability to change things. Social conscience--- a sense of responsibility for society as a whole. I also believe that the third sector is very much in the mainstream of the values of the country today. And that’s not because you’ve changed but because the values of the country have changed..." Click here for the full lecture.

ICT Hub National Awards
The ICT Hub National Awards will reward those voluntary and community organisations who have realised the potential of ICT and showcase them as good examples for others to learn from. Categories are as follows: Most Innovative Use of ICT, Most Accessible Organisation, ICT Volunteer of the Year, Delivering Social or Environmental Benefits through ICT, Most Effective Use of ICT. Information will be available on our website www.icthub.org.uk in a few weeks and applications open until 31st January 2007.

ICT Hub National Conference, 28th March 2007, London
This conference is for small and medium sized organisations that deliver services directly to people but need some encouragement and guidance in their use of technology.  Workshops are designed for differing levels of knowledge of ICT and suitable for voluntary organisations at all stages. There are 50 free places available for small organisations. A flyer will be circulated via the e-bulletin in the new year.

Wiltshire Pathways News Alert - "What To Do If Children & Young People Need Additional Help"

Big Lottery Fund E-Newsletter - December 06

Click here for the latest newsletter from the Big Lottery Fund.