CVS recently received the following email from a member group, please be aware of anyone who calls your group offering spaces in Directories etc (except CVS of course, wee don't charge you!)... "Last August I received a telephone call from a company called Active Business Media. They were putting together a Health Directory for the local area and asked if we would like an advert in the directory.  If we agreed we would be the only counselling agency listed for Wiltshire. The cost was £150 and the directory would be going out to hospitals, GP surgeries etc. The printing date for the directory has been changed twice. To date I still haven’t received the directory (nearly a year on) so I contacted Trading Standards.  Trading Standards have told me that unfortunately there are a cluster of scams going on like this in the Liverpool & Manchester area. Please pass this on to others, be aware of anyone cold calling you.  The company is Active Business Media, based in the Wirral and the man’s name is Tony Bowlen, the first call was made by a man called Tony Bull (probably the same person).  They do not send out terms & conditions or any paperwork except for a copy of the advert.  Trading Standards have advised that the company will probably change its name now; they tend to do this every 6 months.  With the help from Trading Standards and Consumer Direct I am continuing the fight to get our payment back, £150 is a lot of money to a charity!"

 

New Guidance on CRB Checks for Volunteers 

The Cabinet Office today published guidance to help organisations that use volunteers to be clear about when they do and don’t need to carry out Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks on volunteers. The guidance will help cut unnecessary red tape and responds to concerns voiced by the voluntary sector that potential volunteers can be put off if they are asked to undergo a CRB check without good reason. People volunteering or working with children or vulnerable adults are sometimes legally required to have a CRB check. Where contact with vulnerable people will be limited or perhaps the person has recently been CRB checked for a different role, a decision about clearance must be made. The guidance clearly explains how the check works as part of a proper risk management process. Other safeguards such as interviewing, training and taking references from potential volunteers can also be employed. You can download the guidance via the link. To order a hardcopy of the guidance, please call 0845 015 0010 and quote URN 08/Z1. Criminal Records Bureau checks: Guidance for volunteering.

 

Futurebuilders Launches New Tender Fund

Futurebuilders England today launched a new interest-free loan fund for third sector organisations struggling to meet the cost of tendering for public sector contracts. The £1m Tender Fund is intended to help third sector providers win contracts where prohibitive tendering costs would otherwise make it difficult for them to bid. Jonathan Lewis, Chief Executive of Futurebuilders England said: “We know there are organisations with the skills to bid for and win public sector contracts who simply can’t afford the costs involved in preparing competitive bids. “Our conversations with the sector tell us that providers often need money to fund tendering related costs such as legal bills, financial expertise, staffing backfill and advice from procurement specialists. “We want to be as flexible as possible with the finance we offer and respond to the sector’s needs, so we set up this fund specifically to help address this problem. The new Tender Fund will provide interest-free three year loans of between £3,000 and £50,000. This will help organisations who simply need a smaller sum of money to get them through the tendering stage. “We are determined to get as many third sector organisations as possible winning contracts to deliver public services, and we feel this new Fund is one way we can help.” To find out more about the Tender Fund, or to apply for a Tender Fund loan, call 0191 261 5200 or email info@futurebuilders-england.org.uk. There is no closing date for applications, and the Fund will be available on a first come, first served basis until the £1m runs out.

 

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CVS North Wiltshire Training Needs Survey 2008-09

CVSNW aims to deliver training to the sector that is relevant, interesting, accessible and affordable. Please help us to meet this aim by spending a few minutes telling us what training you want, by completing our simple survey. Please ensure to include your contact details, so that we can let you know when we are running training relevant to you. Click here to take the survey.

 

NEW Autumn-Winter 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 whole day courses in Chippenham. Course include; Introduction to Incapacity and Disability Benefits, Employment and Support Allowance, Introduction to Debt Advice, Introduction to Tax Credits and Introduction to Welfare benefits. Click here for more information.

 

Volunteer Travel Expenses

New information sheet from Volunteering England. Thousands of volunteer-involving organisations now demonstrate good practice by reimbursing their volunteers’ travel expenses. These expenses can be for journeys taken to and from the place of volunteering, and for any journeys made as part of the volunteering role, such as for transportation or driving schemes. Volunteer co-ordinators often contact Volunteering England’s Information Service with specific queries about travel expenses, so this Information Sheet briefly examines the main types of travel expenses and gives suggestions for reimbursing these expenses as accurately and simply as possible. Click here to read the information sheet.

 

FREE Mental Health First Aid Course August 15^th and 22^nd, Education Centre, Royal United Hospital, Bath

One in four British adults will experience at least one diagnosable mental health problem in any one year. The intention of this programme is to promote awareness of mental health issues amongst the general public, and to train non-professionals to recognise those affected by mental health problems and offer initial help and guidance towards professional support. By training  “mental health first aiders” within the community and the workplace, it aims to tackle the prejudice and stigma traditionally associated with mental health problems, and to improve the outcomes for those affected and their families, friends, colleagues and employers. This is a 12 hour course delivered over two days, as part of a new national training programme developed and regulated by the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) and England’s Care Services Improvement Partnerships (CSIP). Click here to find out more.