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

Worried About Future Funding? - Funding Advice Service

Worried about future funding? Need help writing a funding strategy? Or completing funding applications? CVS North Wiltshire has a dedicated funding advice worker, Mary Waters, to help you with all your funding needs. We can help you to plan and source your funds, and the advice is FREE! Please call to book an appointment on 01249 654089 or email beth@cvsnw.org.uk. Mary is normally available at CVS on Tuesdays but will be happy to discuss alternative days or meeting places.

Phil Hope is New Minister for the Third Sector

Phil Hope, MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, is the replacement for Ed Miliband as minister for the third sector in the Cabinet Office.

Aged 52, he was elected in 1997 and has been minister for skills at the Department for Education and Skills for the last two years. He was a youth policy adviser for the NCVO before entering Parliament. “I am greatly excited by the new role,” said Hope. “The third sector plays a critical role alongside the public and private sectors to build economic success, create social justice and develop stronger communities. “Having worked in the third sector for many years before entering Parliament and chaired the all party parliamentary group for the voluntary sector when first elected, I hope I can bring first hand experience to the job of promoting voluntary and community groups and creating successful social enterprises.” Hope’s appointment follows the promotion of Ed Miliband to the Cabinet as minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Miliband will remain in overall charge of policies for the voluntary sector.

NHS Choices - Live Site

NHS Choices is the new service that helps you to make the most of your health and get the best out of the NHS. Live well - Get more out of life with lots of great ideas to help you eat, sleep and breathe a little more freely. Health A–Z - Make better choices about your health. Access in–depth information on over 850 conditions and treatments. Choose services - Find local hospitals, doctors and more, and share your views with others. Visit www.nhs.uk.

FREE HR Seminars - Swindon

Some free seminars are being run by Paul Oldroyd at Voluntary Action Swindon on Tuesdays from 10.00am - 1.00pm. They are 17th July - Managing Discipline and Grievance. 21st August - Inducting Staff and Volunteers 18th September - Managing Sickness Absence 23rd October - Supervision and Appraisal 27th November - Contracts and Handbooks. There are 12 places available per session so book early through me Also let me know if you are interested but cannot make the dates listed we can probably change them if required. John Phipps, Swindon Trustee Network Co-ordinator, Tel 01793 538398

Revival Have Moved

Revival Support Services has moved, you can now contact them on the new address: Revival Support Services, PO Box 4157, Trowbridge, BA14 4AW.

Revival Support Services’ purpose is: To provide specific services for male and female survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Wiltshire. The aim being, to engender a level of emotional well-being and self-esteem that will aid recovery, renewal and personal growth; moderating their sense of isolation from their communities. To strive for a greater appreciation and recognition, amongst the health professionals, appropriate statutory agencies and within the wider community of Wiltshire, of the issues relating to male and female survivors of childhood sexual abuse. You can find out more about Revival by visiting their website: www.revival-support.org.uk.

North Wiltshire Partnership - Latest Newsletter

This newsletter contains information about the recent review of the North Wiltshire Partnership amongst other NWP news. Click here to view.

A Healthier England from 1st July

On July 1st 2007, England introduced a new law to make virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England smokefree. A smokefree England ensures a healthier environment, so everyone can socialise, relax, travel, shop and work free from secondhand smoke. Employers, managers and those in charge of smokefree premises and vehicles will need to: *display 'no-smoking' signs in smokefree premises and vehicles, * take reasonable steps to ensure that staff, customers/members and visitors are aware that premises and vehicles are legally required to be smokefree, * remove any existing indoor smoking rooms, and, * ensure that no one smokes in smokefree premises or vehicles. Visit the website to find out more about your responsibilities: www.smokefreeengland.co.uk.

PCT - Reforming Community Services in Wiltshire - June Update

Please click here for the second monthly newsletter updating you on progress and implementation of the Reforming community services in Wiltshire programme.

SW ESF + Network Meetings

Savage Europe - Southern Association of Voluntary Action Groups for Europe. www.savage-europe.org.uk. You are invited to the next quarterly ESF+ network meetings. These meetings are for any organisation from any sector that is funded, or would like to be funded, by the European Social Fund (ESF) whether through GOSW, the LSC, Jobcentre Plus or Swindon & Wiltshire Councils. It is your chance to meet new partners, hear the latest ESF news, share best practise, pick up ideas and simply to network. We are delighted to tell you that Nigel Howells, head of ESF at the LSC is coming to every meeting to tell us all the latest on the new funding round. The local meeting is on July 18^th – Wiltshire & Swindon hosted by Learning Curve, Chippenham. To book please email office@savage-europe.org.uk or phone Kate on 01843 282488. Directions to the venue will be sent to you prior to the meeting.

Chippenham Area Partnership Latest Newsletter

“Welcome to the second edition of ChAP Newsletter, bringing you up to date with our activities. Our March letter certainly generated interest in the Partnership, mostly favourable, but some hostile, which is healthy. The content of the Newsletter is not censored by any local council, neither is it politically influenced or led, although some councillors from County to parish level are involved in, or are supportive of the Partnership. We welcome participation from anyone who feels that they have something to offer that will benefit the wider community. - Thank you to all our contributors.” Jane Clark - Chairman, Chippenham Area Community Partnership. Click here to read the newsletter.

Mental Health Alliance Meeting

Wiltshire’s Mental Health Alliance supports senior staff from the v&c sector who work with those with mental health issues and their carers. You are invited to an informal meeting with Laura McMurtrie, Chief Executive of Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership, at Devizes Sports Club, London Road, Devizes on Thursday 16th August 2007 at 2pm. RSVP Please let Margaret West know if you would be able to attend. 01672 564140 or email Margaret@voluntary-action-kennet.org.uk. This group is facilitated by Voluntary Action Kennet.

Technology Aiding Independence Conference - Civic Hall, Trowbridge, 10^th July 2007

You are invited to the above event to be held at the Civic Hall, Trowbridge on Tuesday the 10^th July 2007 between 9am – 4pm. The event is to be hosted jointly by Wiltshire County Council and Wiltshire Primary Care Trust and around 200 stakeholders from health, social care, housing, the voluntary sector, service users and key elected Members are expected to attend. Speakers pre-eminent in areas of tele-care and tele-health will provide an insight into the potential for technology to help people live more independently in the community. There will also be a number of stands exhibiting a wide range of tele-care and tele-health devices and equipment and suppliers on hand to answer any questions you may have. You are asked to either email pam.stogden@wiltshire-pct.nhs.uk to indicate whether you will be attending. Click here to view the event programme.

FREE - Social Enterprise Half-day Workshop and One-to-One Surgeries - 'Moving from Grants to Trade'

Social Enterprise Link is delivering a series of workshops and surgeries across the south west region that we think might be of interest to some of the people with whom you are in contact or working. Many projects working in communities will be considering how to continue their services as current funding comes to an end. Such projects have enormous potential to develop into social enterprise businesses. Developing enterprise with a focus on trade can be a way of sustaining the valuable work already being achieved in local projects. Our series of workshops and surgeries are designed to explore how this could happen. Click here for further information.

National Occupational Standards for Commissioning, Procurement & Contracting - July Consultation Events

In July, the Children's Workforce Development Council and Skills for Care are holding joint consultation events for the Development of National Occupational Standards (NOS) in Commissioning, Procurement and Contracting. A functional map, which forms the basis of the NOS has been finalised and draft units have been consulted on at previous consultation events. Units of competence have emerged at levels 3, 4 and 5 and they have now been grouped by level, which will be the focus of the consultations. The consultation events are taking place as follows: 18 July 2007 at Birmingham City Football Club, Birmingham. 20 July 2007 at Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Manchester. 23 July 2007 at Lyngford House Conference Centre, Taunton, and, 30 July 2007 at Novotel Euston Hotel, London. For further information and to book on these events please see the information sheet and booking form.