E-Bulletin

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

The Doorway project in Chippenham has a few spare places on its Active Listening training day on Tuesday April 1^st. this one-day course will take place in a friendly and informal learning environment. The cost of the day is £30 per person, including a light lunch. Participants will learn how to recognise verbal and non-verbal forms of communication and respond appropriately. This course is particularly suitable for paid and unpaid staff who wish to improve their skills as befrienders or support workers. For more information or to book a place, please contact Margaret Cleverley on 01249 445385 or email info@doorwayproject.org.uk’

Those of you who attended our Community Lunch in Biddestone last week heard from Jane Clark, the Chair of the partnership. If you couldn't make the lunch click here to find out what the partnership has been up to lately...

This offers free services from the Evaluation Trust through a bursary for selected groups to use evaluation skills to plan and manage change and improvement. The groups targeted are: Black and Minority ethnic groups; Refugee and migrant groups; Faith based groups; Isolated rural groups, with annual turnover of £80,000 or less (groups with higher turnover could be considered but will be expected to contribute 10% of the value of the work). The work must be completed by the end of June 08. BUT the bursary needs to be agreed and contracted by the end of March 08. Click here to find out more about the scheme, or here to download the application form.

One Day Course: Effective Approaches to Managing Volunteers in your Organisation

Thursday, 13^th March 2008, 9.30am to 4.15pm. Dorothy House Hospice Care, Winsley (near Bath). A study day aimed at all those involved in working with or managing volunteers in their organisation. By the end of the day participants will have had the opportunity to: * gain a greater understanding of an organisational model used to manage volunteers; * explore approaches to the recruitment and selection, induction process and on-going training and support mechanisms for volunteers; * examine in depth key issues that can arise when working and/or managing volunteers; and * share and discuss experiences of working with volunteers with colleagues. Click here to download a booking form.

Web-based H&S Support for Trustees and Senior Management
For many organisations, health and safety is a corporate governance issue. The board should integrate health and safety into the main governance structures, including board sub-committees, such as risk, remuneration and audit. The Health and Safety Executive now offer a very helpful website to support the Guidance that we mentioned in our last issue. Go to the website - http://www.hse.gov.uk/leadership/index.htm.

A new primary care development which will provide an extended modern GP surgery and a range of other health care facilities has moved a step closer to reality for the people of Westbury, after the Board of Wiltshire Primary Care Trust agreed outline plans for the development. The Westbury Primary Care Development (PCD) will take the form of a modern purpose-built centre on a site next door to the current Eastleigh Surgery in the town centre. It will provide accommodation for eight GPs, nurses, and their support staff, plus room for staff from the Neighbourhood Team covering Westbury and Warminster. In addition, the building will include space for community midwives, who will provide antenatal and postnatal care from the site, and health visitors. There will also be a ‘docking station for a mobile diagnostics centre, which will enable local people to get diagnostic tests carried out in Westbury, reducing the need to travel to Bath or Salisbury or another acute hospital, and ensuring they get their tests done more quickly. To read on click here...

A petition has been setup by Chippenham Hospital Action Group to delay the unpopular closure of any more Community hospital beds in Wiltshire until they have been shown to be surplus to requirements. If you would like to find out more or sign the petition visit: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/wiltshirebeds/#detail.

Rural ICT Conference for Voluntary Sector Organisations working with Rural Groups

Wednesday 5th March 2008 Lackham Countryside Centre. This is a national hub event being held locally. The conference aims to address the ICT needs of voluntary and community sector organisations working with rural groups. Click here to find out more.

Westminster Briefing Conference: A New Plan for Children and Young People: Excellence, Equity, Health & Happiness

Click here for details of the forthcoming Westminster Briefing one-day conference entitled "The New Plan for Children: Excellence, Equity, Health & Happiness" which will be hosted by The House Magazine on Wednesday 21^st May 2008 in Westminster. The recently published Children’s Plan sets out the Government’s long-term vision ‘to improve schools and a step-change in the way parents and families are supported to deal with the new challenges faced by young people in the 21^st century’. The plan draws together the Government’s proposals to improve children’s education and well-being and reflects the far wider remit enjoyed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families with policies which reach far beyond the classroom. This special conference brings together local children's services practitioners, strategic partners in youth services and civil servants. It will provide a timely insight into latest government thinking, as outlined in the Children’s Plan, and the likely future direction of policy, together with expert contributions from key figures in Westminster, Whitehall and beyond. Agenda & Booking Form.

Free i-point Disks & NEW i-point Website

Connexions West of England has just launched the latest version of i-point to help people living in the West of England get free advice and information about learning and work. i-point gives a simple one-step route through the maze of information on the internet. It links to free tools and information including a CV builder, a course finder, and information on hundreds of types of jobs. Connexions is giving thousands of the new i-point disks to all the main libraries and jobcentres as well as many community organisations in the area. People can take a free disk away with them to use at home for accessing resources through the internet. For a free i-point disk visit your local library or i-point venue. You can see a list of places with i-point at www.nextstepwest.org.uk/i-point. To see the web-based version of i-point go to www.i-point.org.uk. Or you can email gateway@connexionswest.org.uk to request your free copy of the i-point disk.

UN - International Day for the Elimination Of Racial Discrimination 16th March

Something For Everyone - Melksham Assembly Hall on Sunday 16th March 2008 from 3:30pm to 7pm. Free entry, Learn of Common Shared values found across all faiths and cultures. There will be a number of Stalls Representing Different Faiths & Cultures, Including Wiltshire Police careers and information stand. Children’s Activities, Soft drink and tea will be available from 3:30PM. Food will be served @6:15PM. People of Baha’i faith will end their fast @6:15PM and those present will join them and share in food. Series of Talks followed by Debate on: ‘Can Religion Play a Positive Role in Removing Racial Discrimination?’ Chaired by Richard Wiltshire, Mayor of Melksham. A quiet area will be provided for Muslims to say their prayers. Everyone welcome to attend, we are a voluntary group and depend on donations from members and the public. For more information please contact Farzana 07834812663 or Michael 01225-863626. E-mail: Farzana_Saker@yahoo.co.uk.

Children's Workforce Learning Network (CWLN) e-bulletin FEBRUARY 08

Click here to view the latest Children's Workforce Learning Network (CWLN) e-bulletin.

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