E-Bulletin

Welcome to the CVS North Wiltshire e-bulletin. To view the latest e-bulletin online click here.

NEW CVS NW Autumn Training Programme

We are pleased to announce our new training programme for the autumn. This includes courses in Time Management, Dealing with Difficult Behaviour, Food Hygiene, First Aid and Minute-Taking. All courses will be held in our training room at 3-4 New Road, except for the First Aid course which will be in the Salvation Army Hall in Foghamshire, Chippenham. Please click here to go to our training page for more information. Or click here to download your copy of the training programme.

New Reflexology Therapist at the Wellbeing Centre

My name is Ros Cooper and I have recently joined the Well Being Centre as a Reflexologist. Reflexology is a natural healing technique based on applying gentle pressure to reflex points on the feet and hands to bring about a state of deep relaxation. Reflexology is based upon the principle that these reflex points in the feet and hands correspond to every gland, organ and area of the body. I have worked for the past six years in London in a variety of community based and private capacities. Reflexology is a natural healing technique based on applying gentle pressure to reflex points on the feet and hands to bring about a state of deep relaxation. Reflexology is based upon the principle that these reflex points in the feet and hands correspond to every gland, organ and area of the body. I passionately believe that Reflexology gives you the opportunity to manage the physical and emotional pressures of your daily lives. You can contact me on 07985 632 694 I would be happy to discuss any enquiries. Click here to visit the wellbeing centre website. Remember - the Wellbeing Centre offers discounted services to staff and volunteers working in the Voluntary Sector, that's you! If you have a newsletter for your volunteers why not ask us for an article for your next one, just email karen@cvsnw.org.uk.

Community First Newsletter

The latest newsletter from Community First is now available to download. Click here to get your copy.

Photocopier Up for Grabs

Springboard have a photocopier which they no longer use. It's a Canon NP6216, copies up to A3 black & white, and is in good working order. A donation would be appreciated. Call Angela on 01249 657145.

Time Management Course on September 19^th- book now to avoid disappointment!

Do you ever feel there are not enough hours in the day? Would you like to be better organised? Our Time Management course on September 19^th2007 will be a very practical opportunity to look at your personal organisation skills and learn some tools for improving your time management. Click here for further details and to download a booking form. Please phone first to check availability of places and to reserve your space. The closing date for bookings is September 5^th.

One Council For Wiltshire

Sweeping changes to local government in Wiltshire have been given the green light by government. The bid to have just one council covering the whole of the county got the approval of Secretary of State Hazel Blears today. Work will now start on transforming the county's five councils into one with the new council expected to be launched in August 2008. Changing the current system will save Wiltshire taxpayers £18million each year by 2012 as well as providing more effective, easy to access services and increased opportunities for local decision making and community involvement. "We are delighted with this decision which we believe will bring the best for the people of Wiltshire. One council will bring simplicity, clarity and value for money - it will strip away layers of red tape and get the services and decision making closer to the people," said county council leader Jane Scott who has been spearheading the bid for One Council. The new council will work hard on keeping local government local with a raft of measures. They include the establishment of community boards so local people can play a bigger role in planning services best for their own community, the holding of council and cabinet meetings throughout the county at locations that will encourage local people to get involved, and more sharing of decision making with parish and town councils. One of the new authority's first jobs will be to review all central services to make sure they are cost effective and support local economies. And in order to ensure the new council keeps its promises, it has pledged to create an independent Citizens Panel as a public watchdog to oversee the work. Click here to continue reading.

BBC Wildlife Fund

Established in May 2007, the BBC Wildlife Fund is a grant giving charity to support projects that are working to protect endangered wildlife and biodiversity. Initially, the Fund is getting the bulk of its money from the appeal promoted in the BBC Saving Planet Earth TV series. Money raised will be prioritised for distribution among the projects featured in the Saving Planet Earth programmes. Grants will be decided – by the Trustees – in the autumn of 2007 and will provide funding for up to three years. Once the total amount of monies raised from appeals in summer 2007 is known, the Fund will invite grant applications from UK charities working internationally and in the UK to protect wildlife. http://www.bbc.co.uk/savingplanetearth/aboutus/index.shtml

Latest Newsletter from SAVAGE

Click to download the latest newsletter from SAVAGE. SAVAGE (Southern Association of Voluntary Action Groups for Europe) is an infrastructure organisation covering the south of England; an area incorporating fifteen counties and thirteen million people. It is funded largely through the European Union and the Department of Communities and Local Government.

New Training Programme from Voluntary Action West Wilts

Click here to download a copy of the new training programme from VAWW. Courses include; Health & Safety in the Workplace, Budgeting for Full Cost Recovery, Desktop Publishing and many more.

Do You Have any Clients with Mobility Needs? - Mobility Scooters for Sale

Three wheel Scooter SHOP RIDER Sun Runner Major EE778N Good condition, Buyer collects. Price £150. Aquasoothe Travelite Mobility Scooter folds flat to go in boot of car 1 year old £500 ono. Reason for sale is that my Father has gone into Nursing Home. Contact Nick on 01666 837897. Click here for pictures.

IMPACT awards

The Kings Fund IMPACT awards are designed to recognise and reward charities that are doing excellent work to improve people’s health. Organisations must be at least three years old, working in a health related field in the UK and have a total income under £1million. Ten winners receive £25,000; an overall winner receives an extra £10,000; and highly commended and runners-up receive £5,000 or £3,000. All funding is unrestricted. For more visit www.kingsfund.org.uk/gskimpactawards.

VCS Engage Programme: 27 Areas Looking to Improve

As you are all aware, the DfES VCS Engage programme is a national initiative aimed at improving voluntary and community sector engagement in the emerging children’s trust arrangements. One of the programme’s work streams involves the identification of 27 Local Authorities nationally, who will be provided with approximately 10 days of independent consultancy to tackle local issues surrounding engagement and partnership working between VCS and Local authorities. The South West has been asked to identify up to three LAs, and the purpose of this email is to get a brief overview of interest in being one of these ‘additional support’ areas, ideally with an idea about what you would like to be achieved. Please respond with any expressions of interest as soon as possible. I will keep you informed as the programme progresses. For further information, please contact Daniel Moore, NCVCCO and CWLN Linkworker, Tel: 0117 937 5527, Email: daniel.moore@barnardos.org.uk. Click here for a flyer for some VCS Engage training in strategic planning and commissioning which we will be rolling out in September.

Celebrating Black History Month

For the first time this year Trowbridge will be hosting activities to celebrate Black History Month which is now a National Event. Organisers are looking for volunteers, groups, schools and individuals to come forward with ideas and support for the event. Amongst some of this years attractions will be, a day of Celebration in the Civic Hall on 13^th October where, Afro Caribbean Food, Dance, Displays and Live Music will be on show for everyone to participate in and promises to be a full and active event. The whole month is very much about celebrating black culture and looking at the contributions black people have made to the UK, from literary writing to music, from fashion to sport and every aspect of community life. Organisers hope that this first event will be very successful and that from this year onwards will become an annual event within the District which will grow and become firmly fixed in the local activities diary. Anyone requiring additional information about the celebration should contact Heather Patrick on 07784 725084.

Local Involvement Networks (LINks) Bulletin Issue 4
Welcome to the fourth edition of the LINks Bulletin, which this month focuses on social care issues. This Bulletin is being circulated monthly and will highlight policy and strategic directions the DH are taking to establish LINks.