Voluntary Sector Forum - 14th November - Two Great Guest Speakers!
Guest speakers, Jan CRAWLEY, Manager of the South West Foundation, will talk about the voluntary and community sector’s views on funding, and Ruth SEAR, Project Manager at the Third Sector Leadership Centre, will talk about leadership in the voluntary and community sector. The VSF is a place for the voluntary and community sector to have a stronger voice within the district. CVS North Wiltshire AGM - The first 10-15 minutes of the VSF will be to conduct the business of the CVSNW AGM. CVS Members this is your opportunity to receive the annual accounts and report. Please feel free to send someone else from your organisation in your place if you can’t make it! If you haven't already done so please email beth@cvsnw.org.uk or call 01249 654089 to book your place. FREE Canapé lunch provided
Corsham & Malmesbury Groups - North Wiltshire District Council News Release - Local Groups Could Still Benefit from Community Funding
Community and voluntary groups are being encouraged to apply for funding that is available from North Wiltshire District Council. Each year funding is awarded to local groups and organisations to help provide facilities, equipment and activities that benefit the local community. This year the council has helped fund a community wood near Sherston, new tables for Lea village hall, a new clubhouse for Malmesbury youth football club, indoor games and activities for Lacock Evergreens over 55s club, Ecolerne environmental group - recycling campaign and pitch renovation for Corsham Rugby Football Club. Each of the five Area Committees is allocated money to help fund worthwhile local schemes. Community Area Awards can make a big difference in helping communities get schemes and projects started. Funding is awarded three times a year and this year there is still a considerable amount of money yet to be allocated by the Corsham and Malmesbury Area Committees at their last round of funding for 2007/8, which will take place after Christmas. Corsham Area Committee has £57,000 capital and £5,000 revenue available to allocate. The deadline for receipt of applications is 30th November for consideration on 15th January 2008. Malmesbury Area Committee has £25,000 capital and £5,000 revenue. The deadline for receipt of applications is 7th December for consideration on 23rd January 2008. The application process is simple and any groups or organisations wanting to know more are encouraged to discuss their ideas as soon as possible. More information and details of the criteria for Community Area Awards can be found on the Council's website www.northwilts.gov.uk/communitygrants or contact Vicky Welsh: 01249 706446 for Corsham Community Area or Miranda Gilmour: 01249 706380 for Malmesbury Community Area.
Voluntary Sector Forum for Wiltshire & Swindon
Wednesday 21st November, 12noon - 2pm, at Bridge House, Trowbridge. Topic: The Compact What does it mean for you? Guest Speakers: Chris Lau, Voluntary Action Swindon, Damien Haasjees, Wiltshire County Council & James Moody, North Wilts District Council. Followed by a networking lunch and information sharing! Click here for more information and a booking form.
Parenting Course for Parents of Teenagers
The Parenting Wiltshire Service at ask is inviting any parents or carers of children and young people aged between 8 and 17 years; who are concerned about their teenagers’ behaviour to come along to our Parenting Course. The Course is an opportunity to access new knowledge, ideas, skills-based training and support; both from the Group Facilitators and from other parents of teenagers. The Course will run for nine weeks on Wednesday evenings between 7:15 and 9:15, starting on Wednesday 23rd January and ending on 26th March. There will be a break over the half-term holiday. The venue will be the Wellbeing Room, 1st Floor, CVS Offices, 3-4 New Road, Chippenham, SN15 1EJ (door between Digiprint and the Hair Salon). If you think this might help you, please get in touch with the ask office on 08457 585072 so that we can tell you a bit more about the course and can book you a place. This is a FREE service. You can also check us out on our website www.askwiltshire.org
Free Home Improvements and Repairs Available with Grant Funding
You, or someone you know or care for could be eligible for a Decent Homes Grant if they are receipt of a qualifying benefit. Eligible works include: External walls, chimneys and roofs, Windows, doors and electrical repairs, Central heating boilers, gas fires, plumbing and storage heaters and Warm Front top up grants for heating repairs. Details available at www.northwilts.gov.uk type Decent Homes in the search field, OR Tel: 01249 706666 for further details.
NJC Pay Scales 2007/2008 Finally Announced!
Click here to download your copy of the recently published NJC (National Joint Council) Pay Scales for 2007/2008.
Fabulous ChippFest - 16 November - 2nd December 2007
Chippenham Festival runs from November 16th to December 2nd, so is nearly upon us! It contains some brilliant events, not to be missed, so do have a look at www.chippfest.org.uk and contact the Box Office on 01249 701628 for tickets. Friday 16th & Saturday 17th November - Etcetera Theatre in 'Opposite Sex'. This brilliantly funny play is being performed by Etcetera Theatre Company, their premier production, specially commissioned by the Festival. Rising advertising star Mark makes an impulse dinner invitation to the visiting Avon lady, with whom he has had a fling. He gets more than he bargained for when she brings her Scouse slob of a husband with her, and the fur really flies! Much much will be going on, please check out the website.
The Big Give - Get Major Donors Interested in Your Project
www.theBigGive.org.uk is a free to use website that allows major donors (£100k - £10m+) to search for charity projects in their field of interest - and those projects could be yours! The Big Give is an innovative way for you to attract high level donors. It provides your charity with a public platform on which to promote your major gift fundraising. The first phase of charity registration will close when we reach 1,000 organisations so make sure you don't miss out. The Big Give is the brainchild of Alec Reed, founder of Reed Recruitment Group and a number of international charities. The Big Give is fully funded by the Reed Foundation, the charitable arm of the Reed Recruitment Group. The Big Give is free to users, and any registered UK charity may register and post their projects on the site.
LINk - New Network Will Give People Greater Say about Care Services
A network is being launched to give people in Wiltshire a greater say in the way health and social care services are provided. The Local Involvement Network (LINk) is being set up through Wiltshire County Council and should be in place by spring 2008. It will build on the work previously done by the Wiltshire Patient and Public Involvement Forum in Health which gave people the opportunity to comment on health services. The new LINk network will enable people to be involved in the way both health and social care is provided. Two public meetings are being held to enable people to learn more about the LINk and to say what they want from it. These meetings will be held at the Corn Exchange in Devizes on November 29 and January 24 between 10am and 3pm. Places can be booked by calling 01225 713 523 or downloading a booking form from here. These events will involve a genuinely open discussion about how Wiltshire can respond to the LINks initiative and to help plan the best way to set up the LINk. The Wiltshire LINk will take the form of a network that represents the views of local people. This network will promote and support the involvement of local people in the way services are commissioned and provided. They will also play a role in scrutinising the quality of services. Individuals, community groups, voluntary sector organisations, user and carer groups and patients can all be involved in the LINk. Once the LINk has been set up it will operate as an independent network and members will be able to decide their work plan and priorities and will be responsible for how the money is spent.
Wiltshire Children's Fund Legacy Event - Free Lunch, 13th November
The Wiltshire Children's Fund Legacy Event with guest speaker Carolyn Godfrey Director of the Department for Children and Education. The Programme also includes the evaluation report and DVD of the Children's Fund's innovative work with projects across Wiltshire - the type of support that worked and areas that need continuing development - useful for anyone actively working to support groups and projects in the county. "The Legacy Event" 12 noon to 2.00pm on Tuesday 13th November at the Assembly Rooms in Devizes. If you would like a place, please reply using this form as soon as possible.
Equality and Human Rights Commission information 1 October 2007
On 1 October 2007 the Equality and Human Rights Commission came into being. It is made up of the three equality commissions: Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), Disability Rights Commission (DRC) and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC). Recent reports from the former commissions can be accessed on the recent publications page of the new website: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com.
Embracing Difference - A South West Heritage and Diversity workshop event, part of Heritage Link’s Diversity Programme
The Egg Theatre: Bath, Wednesday 28th November 2007. From 9.15am to 4.00pm. A day designed for Voluntary Heritage Sector groups and organisations, including local history groups, Civic Societies, historic houses and buildings, small museums, archaeology groups, historic archives, and many others, together with representatives of community groups, who are interested in putting forward ideas and proposals for realistic and fundable projects that reach out to and engage new and diverse groups in their heritage. Click to find out more...
“Our Time To Talk” - Tuesday 4th December 2007
An opportunity for people who have been to their G.P, Mental Health Trust or Voluntary Sector services for their mental well-being in Kennet, North & West Wilts to get together. Tuesday 4th December 2007, 10.00am - 12.45pm, The Sports Club, London Road, Devizes. Click here for further information.
Governance Pages - A New Website for Voluntary Groups
www.governancepages.org.uk is a new website that aims to produce useful information on governance and management committees for community groups and small voluntary organisations.
CRB Umbrella Body Disclosure Services - Revival Support Services
Did you know: If you are providing services to children and/or vulnerable adults and are recruiting to paid or voluntary posts that are exempt to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, you can request applicants to apply for a Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure prior to engaging their services? Did you know that the CRB no longer facilitates portability? Portability refers to the re-use of a CRB Disclosure, obtained for a position in one organisation and later used for another position in another organisation. As an umbrella body Revival Support Services can provide access to the CRB service for other organisations working with children and/or vulnerable adults. We have the experience and expertise to take care of your CRB needs enabling you to carry on with your day to day duties. We endeavour to help you through the application process by providing you with: The CRB Code of Practice, Disclosure Forms and guidance notes, Notification of changes and updates relating to the CRB process, Written agreement/contract between ourselves and the client, Sample Policies concerning the Recruitment of the Ex-offenders, and the secure storage, handling, use, retention and disposal of CRB disclosure information. We charge a registration fee of £30 to cover the initial work undertaken with new customers. Paid Staff Enhanced Disclosure - £45.50 (includes administration fee £9.50). Paid Staff Standard Disclosure - £40.50 (includes administration fee £9.50). Volunteers - £ 9.50 (includes administration fee £9.50). For further information, please contact the office on 01225 358 568 or e-mail crb@revival-support.org.uk.
TheGivingMachine™ A New Site to Support UK Charities and Schools
It costs you nothing other than the 2 mins it takes to register the first time you use the site and then clicking through each time to do your online shopping. Every purchase you make via TheGivingMachine triggers the retailer to pay donations to the good causes you select. You shop, they give ... It really is as simple as that! If you are a UK registered charity or a charity exempt from registration, TheGivingMachine can create an important new revenue stream and communications channel for you. Every charity is competing for vital funds to do its good works, yet it is harder to find new, cost-effective and sustainable ways to achieve this. Free to both charities and shoppers, TheGivingMachine is the modern-day rattling tin collecting regular donations from a diverse support base whose common connection is online shopping. From only 100 average spending online shoppers, your charity could generate £1,500 to £2,000 a year. With 1000 shoppers, donation levels can rise to £15,000 - £20,000 annually - at no cost to the Giver or you! Click here to sign up:
http://www.thegivingmachine.co.uk/charity_account_setup.php.