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E-Bulletin - 13/09/07

 

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

 

Wiltshire County Council and Wiltshire Primary Care Trust Review of Working Arrangements and Funding Mechanisms with the Voluntary and Community Sector

This is to remind you that  next Thursday, 20th September CVS North Wiltshire are facilitating  a consultation on WCC and Wiltshire Primary Care Trust’s review of working arrangements and funding mechanisms with the Voluntary and Community Sector.  Please click here to see a letter from Sue Redmond, Director of Community Services at Wiltshire County Council giving details about this review. Julian Wakefield, who has been engaged to carry out the review and report to WCC’s Cabinet and PCT Board in October, will be present.  This will be an important event for anyone in a working relationship with these two authorities and you are encouraged  to attend and put forward your views about partnership working. The event is taking place at The Grove Youth Centre, Calne, 12noon - 1:30pm, please email beth@cvsnw.org.uk or call 01249 654089 is you are planning to attend.

 

Your Support Needs?

Wiltshire & Swindon Infrastructure Consortium (WSIC) and its ten member organisations, which includes CVS North Wiltshire, have been working together to improve support and services to the voluntary sector for the past three years. They are now in the process of developing their strategic plan for 2008-14 and would like the input of groups and organisations of all shapes and sizes. Since the strategy is so long term it is crucial that the views of frontline groups are heard and therefore WSIC has organised some consultation groups around the county, click here for further information & a booking form. There is also a questionnaire that groups can complete if they are unable to participate in the group consultations and the development worker also welcomes groups to contact her directly by emailing ulrika@cvsnw.org.uk.

 

Quiz & Chips!

The Wiltshire Blind Association are holding a "Quiz & Chips" evening on Saturday 20th October from 7 - 10.30pm at the Chippenham Rotary Hall, 16 Station Hill Chippenham SN15 1EG.  Teams of four or more are invited to enter the ultimate quiz for the universally challenged.  Evening includes Fish & Chip supper all for £7.50 per person.  With a licensed bar and raffle a fun evening for all the family is guaranteed. Tickets available from WBA by telephone (01380) 723682 or email enquiries@wiltshireblind.org

 

Please Sponsor Mandie in The Great South Run on October 28th
Mandie Gray, who works at the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society in Chippenham, is busy training for a 10 mile sponsored run on October 28th in Portsmouth. Here is the reason why: 'I am raising money for Birmingham Children's Hospital because they have worked wonders on my son's heart. Without the professionalism, expertise & care that Jasper was given, he would not be here today. I will be forever indebted to the wonderful surgeons, doctors & nurses who did, and still do, care for Jasper at Birmingham. I want to raise lots of money to help them provide the best possible care for other children & their families for a long time to come. Doing this 10 mile run will be a massive personal challenge for me, anyone who knows me will know that I am not a huge fan of running! But I have been training for a while now, going out with a group on a Monday morning, hitting the treadmill on a Wednesday morning & trying to get out on my own sometime in between! I am proud to say that on the 1st August I did my very first road race of five miles in 51:58! Not bad for a non runner!! So please dig deep, cheer me on & help me achieve my target!' If you'd like to sponsor Mandie and help her raise funds to help other poorly children and their families, please visit her web page at Just Giving www.justgiving.com/mandiegray

 

Calling Groups Who Help Protect the Environment!! South West Climate Change Networking Project Needs You

This month, volunteers from Friends of the Earth South West are undertaking a project to identify and survey community groups who are in some way helping to tackle Climate Change and environmental issues. The project aims to highlight the upsurge in environmental activity, and increase communication between groups undertaking similar action. This will promote knowledge and skill sharing, give community groups a bigger political voice and a greater ability to use regional and national resources.  (some already have been built!). We are asking community groups which have taken environmental action to participate in an online survey intended to establish each group’s activities, strengths and challenges.  We are interested in what you have done, even if your main focus is not the environment.The results, as well as linking groups together, will also be used in the development of the Regional Climate Plan, and submitted to local authorities.  If you are involved in a community group of this sort, please click on the link below to take the brief online survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Pf7ZlnqHqNrfH3E6BGJEGQ_3d_3d By helping groups link up, we will be able to tackle climate change more effectively in the South West.   
 

It's AGM Time!

The Independent Living Centre, Semington, Wiltshire has as AGM on 22nd October at 3pm - All Welcome.

 

Are You Looking After YOUR Wellbeing?

On Saturday, October 6th 2007 the Wellbeing Centre at 3-4 New Road, Chippenham, will be holding an open morning to tie in with World Mental Health Day on October 10th. This is an opportunity for you to call in to the centre, hear short talks about the different therapies and treatments available, meet the practitioners who work at the centre and try out a free taster session or two. This will take place between 10 am and 1 pm and there is no need to book in advance - just come along and bring your friends and family. Light refreshments will be available for a small donation which will go towards the Centre’s hardship fund. All welcome.  You can download a poster advertising the event here. Perhaps you'd like to print one and display it for your colleagues and clients to see?

 

Would You Like us to Come and Talk to Your Group?

If you would like us to provide you with a speaker on stress management or the promotion of health and wellbeing, why not contact us and invite us along to your meeting or event? We should also be delighted to submit articles for your in-house or client newsletters. The Wellbeing Centre promotes affordable complementary therapies and offers permanently reduced rates to those in the voluntary and community sector. For more information about the Wellbeing Centre, please see our website www.wellbeing-centre.org.uk or call Karen Scott on 01249 654089.

 

Northern Community Area Partnership - Annual General Meeting
The Northern Community Area Partnership's Steering Group has asked me to let you know that its Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 25th September at the Memorial Hall in Wootton Bassett at 7.00pm. This will include the election of the Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer.  In addition to this, new volunteers would be very welcome on to the Steering Group. The evening will include a presentation from Gesa Reiss from the Great Western Community Forest who will talk to us about the GWCF's work in the area and a little about the Forest Festival that took place in Wootton Bassett in May. An agenda will be circulated later but, in the meantime, if you need further information about this, please contact either myself (contact details below) or Dave Roberts at the County Council on 07979 318504.  If you would like to learn more about the Partnership please log on to the NCAP weblog on www.ncap-northwilts.org.
 

How are You Feeling Right Now?

With the summer holidays over and Autumn on its way it’s a perfect time to give yourself a chance to prepare your body  and mind for the new season. My name is Ros Cooper and I have recently joined The Wellbeing Centre practicing Reflexology to anyone who works in the voluntary sector, as an employee or volunteer, their clients, and of course anyone else who wishes to come (there is a discount for workers and users). Reflexology is a non invasive therapy where the client reclines on a bed and enjoys the specialist foot massage on their feet whilst listening to music. In  Reflexology the feet are a map of the body and by working on the feet it allows you to re balance all your systems and clear unwanted toxins. It can help with the following: Stress , tension, anxiety, headaches, migraines, digestive disorders, menstrual and menopause problems, sleep disorders and many more. I have worked in the voluntary sector for some years including within specialist and palliative care work in hospital. To relax, unwind and  enjoy a treatment please contact me on 07985632694 . The Wellbeing Centre address is  3-4 New Road Chippenham.

 

Good ICT Management in a Nutshell

Simon Davey takes a look at the ICT Hub's latest publication: the Guide to Managing ICT in the Voluntary and Community Sector (Good ICT Guide). This new resource means the opportunity for good ICT management is available to all. Click here to view the article. CVS has a copy of the book should you wish to borrow it, just call 01249 654089.

 

Identifying and Measuring Outcomes Training Course - 4th October 2007

This training will help YOU to plan and monitor your work/projects/operations by helping you to understand how to define outcomes, how to distinguish between outputs and outcomes and how to monitor your outcomes. Do you know what an outcome is and how to identify and measure it? If you are at all unsure come to this course and all will become clear! This session will cover: What is an Outcomes approach? What are Outcomes? What are NOT Outcomes? and Measuring Outcomes. Thursday 4th October, 10am to 4pm. Venue: Central Salisbury depending on numbers. Cost: £40. To book a place contact Debrah Biggs on 01722 421747 or debrah@wessexcommunityaction.org.uk.

 

Wiltshire & Swindon Community Transport News

The latest edition of Wiltshire & Swindon Community Transport News is available to download HERE. Compiled by the Community First Community Transport Team the latest newsletter includes: Information about Training coming up for Wheelchair harnessing and disability awareness, Details of a new Community Transport Small Grants Fund, News of the launch of a new Melksham Community Bus, Essential guidance for Charity Trustees, and Changes to the new Local Transport Bill. If you would like a particular article or advertisement featured in the next edition please contact Liam Tatton-Bennett on (01380) 722475 ext 243.

 

Conferences and Courses from the Down's Syndrome Association
The Down's Syndrome Association is the only registered charity in the UK to focus on all aspects of living successfully with Down's syndrome.  We have a workforce of under 40 employees, half of which are part-time, in spite of the fact we cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  We offer support to families and professionals on issues concerning Down's syndrome through the provision of information, advice and training. Like many UK charities our main office is based in the capital but we try very hard to make our information and training more accessible to people living outside London.  Our annual learning opportunities programme features 20 conferences and courses delivered across England, Click here to download the 2007 programme and find out more.

 

Equality Matters - A Good Practice Guide for Small to Medium Sized Voluntary or Community Sector Organisations

'BIG is pleased to announce the arrival of ‘Equality Matters – a good practice guide for small to medium sized voluntary or community sector organisations'. The guide is designed to help applicants think about equality issues and incorporate them into the planning of their projects, whether they are applying to BIG (or another funder) for a grant. It also sets out the equality standards BIG expects from grant-holders. The production of this guide is part of BIG’s drive to promote equality and maximise opportunities for people to take part in the projects we fund. The guide, which is currently available for download on our website, has been produced with input from external stakeholders and will be reviewed in light of user feedback and then formally launched this autumn, when it will be published in hard copy format.' Please follow this link if you wish to be taken to the guide: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/equality_matters.pdf

 

Consultation Questionnaire on the Draft of the New Carers' Policy and Strategy Document

In order to consult with as many different people as possible on the new Carers’ Policy and Strategy, a copy of the draft document has been placed on Wiltshire’s consultation website, ACKnowledge, along with a questionnaire to record opinions on it.  This consultation can be found on the ACKnowledge website at: http://wilts.rol.co.uk/cei/turbine/. Please feel free to read the draft policy and fill out the on-line questionnaire, it should only take 5 minutes.  All responses are completely confidential.

 

 

 

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