Wiltshire Community Web - New Photo Gallery Template

Wiltshire Community Web (WCW) now has a new template for you to incorporate into your own WCW site. (Available in Kennet, North Wiltshire and West Wiltshire districts only). The Photo Gallery template is available as one of the nine different templates that you can choose from to build your WCW pages. You can add up to 20 pictures that will be displayed as thumbnails which can be enlarged when clicked upon. You can also change the sequence of the pictures after upload. The total size of all the images to be uploaded should not exceed 4Mb, but you can upload some images and then go back and upload more to the same page later.www.wiltshirecommunityweb.org.uk

 

Chippenham Area Community Partnership - Update

Click here to read the latest update newsletter from ChAP.

 

Funding Advice

Mary Waters, our funding advice worker is available for appointments throughout May, if you need any help with funding matters please give us a call on 01249 654089.

 

Volunteer Accreditation Scheme Proposed

The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services has asked the Department for Children, Schools and Families to fund an accreditation scheme for volunteer youth workers. Under the scheme, volunteers would need to submit a portfolio demonstrating that they had achieved the required level of training and practical work experience. Each volunteer would then be awarded a certificate, warrant or card that identifies him or her as a recognised volunteer youth worker. The proposal has been made in response to the DCSF’s plans to regulate and licence the youth workforce. The NCVYS opposes the plan because it argues it would discourage volunteers. “Instead of restricting what a volunteer can do, we are proposing to reward achievement and incentivise volunteers to take up training and professional development opportunities,” the NCVYS’s proposal reads. The proposal asks the department to commission a scoping and feasibility study of the scheme and provide funding for a pilot. The document says the NCVYS will map the training provision that is currently provided by its members for volunteers and other youth workers.

 

Coffee Morning - Chippenham

Saturday May 3rd at St Peter's Church Hall, Lords Mead, Chippenham, 10am – 12pm. In aid of the Doorway Project. There will be a Cake stall, Art Exhibition and Bring & Buy. www.doorwayproject.org.uk        

 

Spring/Summer Training Courses with CAB

Our Courses offer a comprehensive insight into complex areas of law through practical exercises and participative case studies. Choose from one of our half or whole day courses in Chippenham. Courses include: Introduction to Tax Credits, Benefits for Young People, and Increase your Confidence in Welfare Benefits. Click here to download the full programme.       

 

              

Wiltshire Wide Alcohol Strategy - The Consultation Process

A draft Alcohol Strategy for Wiltshire was published on 11^th March 2008. The strategy has been developed following wide consultation with a number of key stakeholders but the Strategy Development Group is keen to gain as wide a view of the content as possible. We therefore hope that you will take this opportunity to work with on us shaping the way Wiltshire tackles alcohol misuse over the next three years by sending us your comments on the draft strategy.

Your views on the draft alcohol strategy will help us to ensure we have got the priorities for Wiltshire right and we look forward to hearing from you. All comments on the draft strategy must be received by 11^th June 2008. Click here to read the full document.

 

Ethical Property Foundation Warns Charities ‘Beware landlords bearing gifts’

Changes to the way businesses rates are charged on empty property from 1 April 2008 are creating opportunities for charities looking for cheap premises on a short term basis. But the Ethical Property Foundation is urging charities to beware landlords bearing gifts, as these deals may not be all they seem.

A London-based charity was recently offered a large office building rent free for two years. The landlord is keen to avoid business rates of £50,000 per year for which he will become liable come 1 April if the building is empty. But the offer came with a sting in the tail. The charity would not be occupying all of the space that the landlord wanted to lease. If the charity had been unable to find tenants for the rest of the space, it would have become liable for the business rates. The landlord was simply passing on his liability for the business rates to the charity. (The charity would not have been eligible for the 80% charitable rates relief on the parts of the office that it was not using itself). This risk, plus the costs and hassle of moving, fitting out, and maintaining the new premises turned a dream deal into a potential nightmare. The charity has decided to stay put and focus their energies on a longer term strategic plan for their accommodation. In an attempt to bring empty commercial buildings back into use, the Government is reforming the way business rates are charged on empty properties. From the 1 April, owners of office buildings that have been empty for three months or more (six months for industrial buildings and warehouses) will have to pay full business rates. This change is legislation is likely lead to an increase in short term lettings offered at low or no rent as landlords rush to let their premises before the end of the three month rates relief period. "These changes may result in opportunities for charities to find low cost premises. However, we would encourage charities to ask themselves why the premises are empty and to look into the full costs of taking on the space – just because there is low or no rent doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. There are often hidden costs" said Victoria Howse, Property Advice Manager for the Ethical Property Foundation.

 

Mums and Daughters Football Session

Played it at school but never kicked a ball since? 250,000 women across the country are involved in football — why not give it a go as well!? Open to all regardless of ability! Girls, bring your mothers; Mums, bring your daughters!! Now is your opportunity to spend one hour a week for a 7 week fun project having a go at football. This will be a fun, enjoyable, inclusive, social able session - its not competitive, more about involvement and enjoyment. Where: Stanley Park Sports Ground on Stanley Lane opposite Abbeyfield School in Chippenham. When: 6.30—7.30pm Starts: Tuesday 13th May and runs every Tuesday night for 7 sessions Cost: £5.00 for 7 hours coaching. To register your interest please contact Alex Muse on 01249 706452.