Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin 15th January 2016

News on the New Strategic Partners Fund; Cold Weather Alert; What is Happening at Greenwood Place? New Activities from Kilburn Older Voices Exchange; Building your community’s campaign capacity; Advice Strategy for adult social care; Free Everyday Computer Skills workshops; Jewish Mental Health Forum; Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme; Office to Let in Kentish Town; Free and Discounted Financial and Legal Advice for Older Camden Residents+ jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

“The new Camden Council Voluntary and Community Sector Investment Programme 2017-2024: Strategic Partners Fund
I hope the year has started well for you and your voluntary sector organisation.
Thank you for taking the time in the autumn to respond to the Council’s formal consultation on the proposed new Voluntary and Community Sector Investment Programme 2017-2024.
You may know that in December the Council’s Cabinet approved a £5.1m annual investment programme beginning in 2017. Details of the approved proposals are available here (item 10).
The first fund to launch under this new programme will be the Strategic Partners Fund, which contains funds for both Neighbourhood Strategic Partners and Equalities Strategic Partners.
From 27 January, this webpage will have details of the fund, application forms and Handy Guides.
That page should answer most questions about the Strategic Partners Fund. We are also holding two identical events where you can ask additional questions. Places are on a first-come, first-served basis, and interested organisations should send a maximum of two staff or trustees.
The events are both at the Old Town Hall on Euston Road, 9 to 11am on 2 February and 6 to 8pm on 4 February. They will include time for attendees to network with other interested organisations.
To register, email vcs@camden.gov.uk saying which event you want to attend. Please specify any access requirements. If these events generate questions not answered by the application forms and the Handy Guides, we will post answers on the webpage above.”

Cold Weather Alert
The Met Office have issued this warning: “There is a 90% chance of London Turning colder with a few sleet and snow showers at times but generally a good deal of dry weather. The lowest temperatures are expected to occur over the weekend and into early next week. Cold weather currently looks set to last into early next week. At this stage, it appears that the weather may then turn less cold during the middle of next week.” NHS England has issued a cold weather alert for the next seven days, warning the public that services could be disrupted and asking vulnerable patients to take extra care.

What is Happening at Greenwood Place?
Camden Disability Action Meeting about Greenwood Place and the Centre for Independent Living
Tuesday 26th January 5pm – 7pm
Charlie Ratchford Centre
Belmont Street London NW1 8HF
Greenwood Place will be a multi-use space for disabled people and the headquarters for Camden’s first ever Centre for Independent Living (CIL). Come and catch up on what is happening with the building works and to discuss the suggested proposal for how it should be run. Camden Council’s Commissioning Team will be attending to explain the process for selecting an organisation and to support our discussion about the design of this new service.
To book, please contact 207 284 6550 or follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
For more information, or if you have any specific requirements (e.g., diet, BSL interpreter), please email info@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.

Bench to Bench Walk & Keeping Active Together (KAT) Launch
A friendly healthy-living walk for over sixties with community seating along the way
1.30pm Friday 22nd January
Guided local walk followed by free refreshments and KAT launch at West Hampstead Community Centre
Meet for 1.30pm start at bench outside the Little Waitrose 319 West End Lane, NW6 1RN
Enquiries to Mel Wright, Coordinator KOVE Tel: 07539390786 Email: melwillwright@gmail.com Ageing Better in Camden is a partnership of agencies and older people led by Age UK and funded by the Big Lottery
See the Kove website (and item below) for many other activities in Kilburn.

KOVE Bench to Bench Walks
Programme of five gentle healthy-living walks for over 60’s with community seating in Kilburn and West Hampstead
February to April 2016 – Tuesday’s at 1.30pm
1) Tuesday 2nd February House of stars – Meet outside Kilburn Station NW6 7QL.
2) Tuesday 16th February Art up the Hill – Meet outside Tescos Express, 176 West End Lane NW61SG
3) Tuesday 1st March Kilburn’s battleship – Meet at Kilburn High Road Station, NW6 5UA
4) Tuesday 15th March The Park you never knew was there! Meet at Abbey Community Centre, Belsize Road, NW6
5) Tuesday 5th April Famous Faces. Meet outside Kilburn High Road Station NW6 5UA
All enquiries to Mel Wright, KOVE
Tel: 07539390786 Email: melwillwright@gmail.com c/o Kingsgate Resource Centre, 208 Webheath, Palmerston Road, NW6 2JU All walks are free and we finish with refreshments at a nearby café.

Decision made at Camden’s Cabinet
The report ‘A New Strategic Relationship with the Voluntary Sector’ was approved at cabinet in December. The press release is on the Camden council website. The full report that went to cabinet is available here. You can also watch a video of the meeting here.

Building your community’s campaign capacity
Fostering successful community alliances and making multi-culturalism work
Opposing race hatred, scapegoating, racism and fascism, where you live or work
The training will be held on:
Saturday 30 January 11am – 3.30pm, Central London, at the TUC
Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS
There is no charge for attending. Lunch will be provided. Places are limited. You can register to attend at http://goo.gl/forms/TX3K9LYXE1
The training will be provided by HOPE not Hate. The aim is to inspire and enable our communities to stand up against prejudice, and organise for equality and opportunity for all.
Megan Dobney: sertuc@tuc.org.uk and 020 7467 1220 or John Page: John@HOPEnothate.org.uk and 07539 902 975

Camden Chinese Community Centre New Year Celebration held on Saturday 6th February from 11am to 3pm.
The event will be held at The Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, London, WC1H 9BT. The nearest tube station will be at Kings Cross St Pancras.
Tickets are £5 for adults and £2 for children.
The programme for the day:
At the event there will be lion dancing, acrobats, magic show, Chinese opera & New Year songs, Chinese traditional & folk dance, Peking noodles making demonstration and raffle draw.
There will be a raffle draw at the event, raffle tickets are sold for £1 each.
· First prize one return air ticket to Hong Kong (sponsor: See Woo Group)
· £388 banquet at The Phoenix Palace Restaurant (Phoenix Palace Restaurant)
· £238 banquet at The Good Earth Restaurant (The Good Earth Restaurant)
· £188 banquet at New Joy King Lau (New Joy King Lau)
· Plus many other prizes.
If you are interested in purchasing the raffle tickets please speak to Silvia Chui.
If you would like to book on to the event please contact Silvia her email is silvia.chui@camdenccc.co.uk or call her on 020 7388 8883.

Help co-produce an Information and Advice Strategy for adult social care
We all need good quality information and advice to make sound decisions.
Information and advice for Camden residents is available from voluntary sector partners in the community. This is why Camden council want to want to co-produce an Information and Advice Strategy for adult social care and an action plan with partners.
If your organisation is interested in working together with staff and residents to produce an Information and Advice Strategy for adult social care please email: shana.nessa@camden.gov.uk to confirm your attendance.
We are meeting on Thursday 21st January 2015 at 10.30am at our offices in Pancras Square.

The adult community learning team is running Free Everyday Computer Skills workshops in more venues including:
• Kentish Town Library (NW5 2AA) – Thursdays 10 – 12
• Kilburn Library (NW6 5UH) – Tuesdays 10 – 11.45
• Latin American House (NW6 4TA) – Wednesdays 10 – 12
• Adult Learning Centre, Netley Campus (NW1 3EX) Tuesdays 1-3
The workshops are run by qualified tutors with extensive experience of working in community settings. They provide support to residents who may have limited or no computer skills to access Council services and information online – including setting up a Camden account, accessing information and advice on care and support via the Camden Care Choices website, registering with Universal Jobmatch, booking doctor’s appointments, completing benefit applications – and much more!
If you work with people who would benefit from this support, please encourage them to drop in to one of the sessions – no need to book. They can come along for just one session – or as many as they like.
We can adapt the workshops to include content appropriate to your clients – just get in touch Email: adultlearning@camden.gov.uk Phone: 020 7974 2148

Jewish Mental Health Forum
Next Meeting, Thursday 10th March 2016, 2.30 – 4.30pm The Brenner Community Centre, 91-93 Stamford Hill, London N16 5TP.
Jami runs The Jewish Mental Health Forum to promote awareness and understanding of mental health related issues among professionals working in health and social care. In addition to the Forum, Jami has recently launched Head Room an adult learning programme aimed across the Jewish community. As the Recovery Education Manager for Jami I run the Head Room programme. Please click HERE to view our brochure. Do have a look at the Information Seminars which I think you will find interesting.
At the next meeting of the Forum I would like to enable our various agencies to get to know each other’s work better and share information. We will also hear from Jami’s Head of Service, Tanya Harris speak on the subject of “Mental Health and Physical Activity: Supporting Our Wellbeing” which will explore how our health and wellbeing is intrinsically linked to our mental health.
To reserve your place for the Forum please email my colleague Clive Helman: clive.helman@jamiuk.org or telephone Jami on 020 8458 2223.

Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme
Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme gives social entrepreneurs the best possible chance of success by providing access to support and funding. To date the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Programme has supported 750 social entrepreneurs.
The programme will be open for applications again from 1st February until 21st March 2016. There are two courses on offer, Start Up and Scale Up.
~ Start Up will help you get a new organisation up and running
~ Scale Up will help you grow a sustainable social enterprise

Office to Let in Kentish Town- Good Price, Great Location
VAC has a medium size office to let that would suit a small organisation needing space for approximately 4 or 5 desks. Conveniently located in Kentish Town with all usual mod cons. Contact Kevin at VAC knunan@vac.org.uk

Free and Discounted Financial and Legal Advice for Older Camden Residents
Age UK Camden is encouraging older people in the borough to get independent advice to ensure that all their financial and legal matters are in order, and runs free ‘Plan Ahead’ information events where people can find out more about writing wills, inheritance tax, trusts, pensions, investments, long-term care costs, and much more.
The next Plan Ahead information session will be held on Wednesday 20th January 2016 at Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square, London , WC1H 9NA, from 2-4pm. To book your free place at this information session, or to find out more about the Plan Ahead project, contact the Advice Team on 020 7837 3777 or at duty@ageukcamden.org.uk

Free training, outings and events for unpaid carers in Camden
For a full list of events of carers in Camden please visit the Camden Carers website.

Healthwatch Camden
Latest Information DIgest is on the Healthwatch Camden website.
Catch up with the latest Camden news and what’s happening on Our Blog

The Camden Capacity Building Bulletin is produced monthly, targeting the community and voluntary sector in Camden. It provides up to date/recently live information and news on funding and training. To access the latest information please follow the Link www.camden.gov.uk/cbbulletin

Voluntary Action Islington, British Somali Community, NICE, the Calthorpe Project, and Camden PA are recruiting. See Jobs and Volunteers section below.

Camden Shares. The website for exchanges in Camden. www.camdenshares.org.uk

You can join in on Facebook. Like us if you like us.

Follow all the Camden Voluntary Sector news on OneCamden on Twitter.

You can read more about all of these stories on our news page at www.vac.org.uk/new

Growing the Gift Aid small donations scheme: have your say
In an environment where diversification of income has become ever more important for charities, the gift aid small donations scheme is a brilliant idea, sadly shackled by some unnecessarily complex and stringent rules.
That could be set to change – with your help. The government is holding a call for evidence (PDF, 170KB) to see how the scheme rules could be simplified to improve uptake. This is a real opportunity to reform the scheme so that it benefits the real breadth of charities it was originally intended to. Have your say here.

How to talk about paying staff in charities
NCVO produced a useful guide to dealing with questions of charity pay and other issues that were raised in certain sections of the press just before Christmas. Read the article here.

See the Funding pages on VAC’s website for all the latest information.

Comic Relief Local Communities Programme Launches Second Round
Applications are now being accepted for the Comic Relief Local Communities Programme in London with a deadline of 1 March 2016 (5pm).
Grants are available to charitable organisations and groups for projects that improve people’s life skills, education, employability and enterprise.
Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available and must be for at least 30% of the total costs of the project.
Projects should be run by people directly affected by the issues being dealt with, and priority will be given to small, locally-based groups or organisations in areas of disadvantage that have a clear understanding of the needs of their community.
The following organisations are eligible to apply:
~ Residents associations.
~ Community groups.
~ Social Enterprises.
~ Community Interest Companies.
~ Community Interest Organisations.
~ Credit Unions.
~ Community centres.
Examples of activities that can be funded through this programme include, but are not limited to, the following:
~ Furniture projects.
~ Benefit advice services.
~ Community sport initiatives.
~ Food co-ops.
~ Initiative designed to combat fuel poverty.
~ Employment and employability projects.
~ Community consultation exercises.
~ Training schemes for committee members, volunteers and staff.
Funding can be used to cover core costs, salaries and project costs.
The deadline for applications is 1 March 2016 (5pm). Full details here.

Don’t forget to sign up to Funding Central for free email funding alerts. Go to www.fundingcentral.org.uk/

VAC’s Mental Health Training Programme for BMER groups
Are you a BMER group or do you work with BMER communities? If so, then our Mental Health Training Programme is for you! Our next courses are as follows:
• Introduction to Mental Health Awareness (one day workshop: 9th December)
• Mental Health First Aid (two-day course: 9th and 16th February 2016)
For more information about our any of our courses, please go to https://vac.org.uk/events/category/health-mental-health/. Click on the course you are interested in and follow the instructions to book your place and pay by card (if applicable). The charge for our Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid training courses is heavily subsidised at only £25 per person. All other mental health workshops are free.
Please note that VAC can only accept bookings from organisations working with BMER communities based in Camden, or which serve Camden BMER residents. Places are limited on each course to a maximum of two people per organisation. If you have any queries, please contact us on our team email address: mentalhealthteam@vac.org.uk

VAC has a full programme of courses coming up: Click here to find out more. All courses are £25 for members (unless otherwise stated).

New Courses @ Maiden Lane Community Centre
156 St Paul’s Crescent, NW1 9XZ
To book a place call 020 7267 9586
Tuesdays 10am-12pm
MS Word skills for work and life
Introduction to using MS Word to write letters and keep records – useful skills for work in the 21st century.
Tuesday 1 – 3pm
Improve your internet and email skills
Learn how to search more effectively, apply for things online e.g. Doctor’s appointment or parking permit, shop online, save money and manage your email account.
Wednesdays 10am-3pm
Create a website with WordPress – Create a website for business or pleasure using the free WordPress software.
[ New format with lunch break 12-1pm ]
Wednesdays 10am-12pm Starts 24th February
Introduction to Photoshop – Complete introduction to this software for editing your photos.

Camden Disability Action Annual General Meeting
Monday 15th February 2016 from 6 – 8 pm at Arlington Conference Centre, 220 Arlington Road, London NW1 7HE.
Guest speakers will include Cllr. Sally Gimson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health.
To register, please contact Anju Bhatt via email on abhatt@vac.org.uk or telephone 0207 284 6550.

Camden Intergenerational Network meeting – Tuesday 19 January 2016
Things are changing. Please come and discuss the future of the Camden Intergenerational Network and ideas for future collaboration to promote and develop intergenerational work. Come and meet Corinna Gray, the new Partnership Development Manager of the ‘Ageing Better in Camden’ programme who will be taking on co-ordination and development of the Network including the CIN e-newsletter and coordination of Network meetings. All members welcome.
Vanda Carter, Strategy Officer, London Borough of Camden. email: vanda.carter@camden.gov.uk tel: 020 7974 2810 www.camden.gov.uk

Understanding & Supporting People with Paranoia & Beliefs (2 days)
Mind in Camden. Wednesday, 3rd and Friday 5th February 2016 at 10:00 – 4:30
Do you want to find out a bit more about the experience of voices and beliefs?
Are you supporting someone and want to improve your knowledge and confidence?
Or perhaps you already run a Hearing Voices group and/or a Paranoia & Beliefs Group and want to brush up in your awareness and skills?
The course will cover the following main areas:
Understanding the experience of Voices and Beliefs
Different ways of making sense and coping with voices and beliefs
Testimony from people with lived experience
At New Horizon Youth Centre, 68 Chalton St NW1. Book at Eventbrite

Ageing the Evidence
• What are the facts about ageing with HIV?
• What do we fear? What are our concerns?
• Are to expect more complications?
• Are we afraid of disclosing our status and experiencing stigma & discrimination?
• Can we expect to age prematurely?
• What are the long term effects of medication?
• How can we monitor our own health?
NAM are leading a major research study and need your feedback.
Speakers:
Dr Ian Williams – consultant physician – will present the latest medical evidence.
Zoe Smith and Roger Pebody from NAM will present their research on the psycho-social implications and the concerns of PLWH.
To book or for more information call: 020 3317 5177
Duncan Catterall Seminar Room, Mortimer Market Centre, London WC1E 6JB
Thursday 28th January 6.00 – 8.00 www.bloomsburynetwork.co.uk

Free Speakeasy – ready to run course
It involves three days of training after which you will be able to deliver either a full FPA Speakeasy course or elements of the FPA Speakeasy course without accreditation.
Training aims
By the end of the two days you will:
• understand key aspects of sexual health and sexuality – especially as they relate to work with parents in talking with their children
• know how to deliver the FPA Speakeasy course for parents and carers without accreditation.
Training requirements and time commitments
• Participants need to attend all three days of the training on (March 1st, 2nd and 3rd 9:30am – 1pm at 5 Pancras Square, Room 1.4 Coram, London, N1C 4AG)
• Run at least one parents group at their local school or community group in Camden.
FPA Speakeasy course for parents and carers (without accreditation)
The Speakeasy course for parents and carers offers a non-threatening, group-based opportunity for parents and carers to acquire the confidence and skills they need to talk to their children about growing up, relationships, sex and sexuality. It is designed to be a fun and relaxed course, providing an atmosphere where parents can learn together from one another’s experiences.
To book a place please contact Sandra Soteriou on sandra.soteriou@camden.gov.uk

CSE In Plain Sight -Free training
We are offering free training and guidance to parents to help inform you how best to protect your children and young people from sexual exploitation after dark.
The training will cover all aspects of CSE, advising you how you can safeguard your children both on and offline.
Please come along on February 10th from 11am – 12.30pm Crowndale Centre, Ground Floor , Mezzanine The Eversholt, 218 Eversholt St, NW1 1BD.
Nightwatch is a one year Training and Outreach pilot funded by the Department for Education.
To book a place please contact Sandra Soteriou on sandra.soteriou@camden.gov.uk

Camden and Islington Recovery College
The Spring 2016 prospectus is now ready and is available online at http://www.candi.nhs.uk/our-services/education-and-employment/recovery-college.
Don’t forget the Open Day on Monday 21st December at 4 St Pancras Way. The Recovery College will then be closed until the start of term on 4 January.

Homestart Camden Annual General Meeting
Thursday, 21st January 2016 11am – 2pm.
We would like to welcome families, volunteers, funders and colleagues to our 20th AGM at:
Kentish Town Community Centre, 17 Busby Place, London, NW5 2SP.
RSVP Via email: info@homestartcamden.org or ring 020 7424 1603.

‘End of Life Care’ Conference: Thursday 11 February 2016, 10.30am – 3pm
The Eighth Annual Joint Conference from Age UK London and the Social Care Workforce Research Unit & Making Research Count at King’s College London (CPD certified)
Venue: Henriette Raphael Function Room, Henriette Raphael House, King’s College London Guy’s Campus, SE1 9RT, near London Bridge Station
Please book your conference place via: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/end-of-life-care-tickets-20054605866

Camden Mental Health Forum
Tuesday 26 January from 6-8pm at The Hub, 8 Fairhazel Gardens, London, NW6 3SG
The forum is an opportunity for people living with mental ill health, their carers, families and friends as well as mental health professionals to come together and discuss mental health issues in the borough including considering the future shape of services.
The meeting will be chaired by Councillor Maeve McCormack, the Council’s Mental Health champion. Contact Paul Kent, London Borough of Camden Tel: 0207 974 6921 Web: camden.gov.uk

Voluntary Action Camden in Partnership with the Mary Ward Centre
ILM Certificate in Team Leading
Need a course that is the ideal launch pad for your management career? Start with this nationally recognized qualification that is designed for new and aspiring team leaders – get an in-depth introduction to the role and its responsibilities. This is a classroom-based afternoon\evening course delivered by tutors who are current practitioners in the sector. One session per week over 23 weeks plus online materials starting in January 2016. If you are in receipt of JSA/ESA or are unemployed and receive another income related benefit this course is FREE. Full fee £597. Call Roz on 020 7269 6033 or email roz@marywardcentre.ac.uk for details.

Drop-In Mindfulness Meditation
Thursdays 2.30pm – 3.30pm at The Stress Project
Mindfulness is the practise of focusing your attention on being in the present, without judgement. It is clinically proven and ideal to help improve sleep, de-stress and reduce anxiety.
£2 – No need to book, just turn up
www.stressproject.org.uk 2 Shelburne Road N7 6DL tel: 020 7700 3938

Volunteer Coordinators’ Forum and AGM
Save the date: Wednesday 27th January
Time and Venue TBC
Contact Sheila at Volunteer Centre Camden [sheila@volunteercentrecamden.org.uk]

Winter Volunteering Fairs
VCC are hosting three volunteering fairs this Winter.
The fairs are a perfect way to meet people who want to volunteer in Camden. And they have a 46% recruitment rate.
Thursday 21st January 6-7.30pm at Swiss Cottage Library
Please make sure you have weekend and evening volunteering opportunities, as many people who attend evening fairs work during the day.
Thursday 28th January 12-2pm at St Pancras Community Association
Wednesday 24th February 12-2pm at Working Men’s College
And you can easily book your places via Eventbrite here.

Developing Partnerships in the Arts and Cultural Sectors
24th February 2016, 10 am- 4.15 pm, Cockpit Arts, London
Looking at the benefits of where, when and how to find the right partner, this course will offer a simple structure for developing and working in partnerships.
Full of practical techniques for working together with other organisations and individuals, the day will leave you equipped to successfully deliver youth arts projects and events through partnerships.
Ideal if you are looking to work in partnership with other organisations to deliver youth arts projects. You will gain:
~ Tips for identifying and approaching suitable partners
~ Information on how to develop partnerships and partnership agreements
~ Techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of your partnerships
Cost: The fee for this course is £130, limited bursary places are available.
Book your place at www.artswork.org.uk/event or contact Rachel Hall via rachelhall@artswork.org.uk / 02380 332491 for further advice and information.

London for All
London for All / LVSC have a full programme of courses available for the voluntary sector. Go to the London for All website for full details.

Camden Carers’ Service
Has a full range of events and activities for unpaid carers in Camden. Find out more on the Camden Carers’ Service website www.camdencs.org.uk/activities

Don’t forget that Camden TDS run a full programme of course which are subsidised or free for voluntary sector partner organisations. There is a link to a list of partner organisations on the home page.

Find more Training Opportunities at www.vac.org.uk

Two new job vacancies here at Hillside Clubhouse
Individual Placement and Support (IPS)
Employment Service (CAMDEN)
Mental Health Employment Support Worker – 35 hours £26342
Mental Health Employment Support Team Manager 14 hours £12532
Hillside Clubhouse is a dynamic mental health charity in North London. This exciting new pilot project will deliver employment and wellbeing support to people with common mental health problems to the IPS Model of employment support and the team will be embedded in existing clinical and JCP teams. You will have a sound track record in working with people with mental health problems or disabilities and supporting them to gain and retain work as well as employer engagement skills. The Manager will also have experience of project, systems and people management. Prior IPS experience is preferred but not essential.
For an application pack please email gsell@hillsideclubhouse.org.uk or telephone 020 7700 6408.
Closing date: Monday 25 January at 5 pm
www.hillsideclubhouse.org.uk

New Horizon Youth Centre seeks Volunteers
Looking for a challenge, reward or a change in direction? Come and volunteer to support young homeless/vulnerable people achieve positive futures in Kings Cross. New Horizon Youth Centre’s twice award winning training programme will facilitate your volunteering in our youth work or advice teams. We provide regular support, lunch, travel expenses and the chance to work alongside dynamic and creative teams of professionals and young people. Please visit http://nhyouthcentre.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer to download a pack or to find out more.

AgeUK Camden seeks Temporary Information/Data Input Officer
4 month contract (part time 21 hours per week)
Local Government Scale 5-6 SP22 – 28 £23,658 to £27,879 pa pro rata 6% contributory pension
Ideally to be available to start no later than Mid February 2016
Are you experienced in using and updating databases and on line information directories? Do you enjoy a busy and rewarding environment? Age UK Camden’s Information/Data Input Officer will be crucial in delivering an effective up to date database for organisations across Camden who want to access information on resources for older people.
The post is based at our head office in Tavistock Square, Camden. AUC offers a contributory pension, and season ticket or bicycle loan facility.
For further details and an application form visit our website www.ageukcamden.org.uk or email jobs@ageukcamden.org.uk or telephone 020 7239 0400.
Closing date: 9:30am Wednesday 20th January 2016
Interviews: Tuesday 26th January 2016

Marketing and Communications Volunteer
British Somali Community is a women led charity based in Camden, London which has operated for 20 years. We are focused on improving Somali children’s educational achievements, improving access to health and social services and improving the overall well-being of the Somali community.
We are looking for a creative and tech-savvy volunteer to join the team and help drive our marketing and communication. The volunteer will help develop a marketing and communication strategy for the BSC and support the team in creating marketing materials for our services, assist in organizing events and some office administrative duties when required. Although this is a voluntary role, with lunch and travel expenses covered, there is a possibility of it becoming a funded role.
Please send your CV and a short covering letter explaining your interest in the position as soon as possible to: info@britishsomali.org

Alexandra Road Park Seeks Volunteers
This new park seeks volunteers who can help with conservation and promotion of Alexandra Road Park. Contact Jenny Kurktchieva, Jenny.Kurktchieva@camden.gov.uk or call 020 7974 2367.

Are you looking to employ an assistant to help with your care needs? CamdenPAs can help you.
CamdenPAs.org.uk is a new service that makes it easy to find a personal assistant (PA) and puts you in control of your care and support.
If you have care needs, you can employ a PA to help you to live as independently as possible.
CamdenPAs features an online ‘marketplace’ for you to browse through a list of profiles of PAs in the borough. Profiles give details about the services they provide, their skills, experience and personal interests.
You can look through the list to find suitable matches and choose someone you like to help support you.
When you find a match you can contact the PA to arrange an interview and see how you get on. If you like them you can then work out contract details such as hours, duties and wages, and hire them.
If you do not find anyone suitable, you can set up your own a profile describing your requirements and interests, for PAs to look through and contact you.
You can employ a PA whether you receive a direct payment or fund your own care. If you receive direct payments you can get support with the employment from Personalised Support In Camden or AgeUK Camden.
Become a PA
If you’re a PA looking for work or are just starting out, CamdenPAs can help you. As well as helping you finding a job, the site features advice on looking for work, becoming a PA and where to get training.
Why not set up your profile today? Find out more, visit: camdenpas.org.uk or phone: 020 7278 4437

Socially Responsible Recruiting
A new, award-winning skills matching service that connects employers with skilled and experienced people to do one-off or part-time jobs has launched in Camden, with a strong social benefit ethic.
“There is a very large number of people in Camden who are fantastically skilled and work-ready but are off the radar to employers because they’re not looking for full-time work and aren’t constantly scouring the job ads,” says Jonathan Collie, founder of Trading Times.
These people are highly skilled over 50s, and family carers. Trading Times brings them to you. It’s free to candidates. It costs you only £35, and only when you are connected to the perfect candidates.
Paul Fordham of Abbey Community Centre in Camden said: “”We posted our occasional job opportunity on Trading Times because we at the Abbey Community Centre recognise the value of the flexibility that can come with age. Trading Times offers a tailored means to directly target opportunities at an older group that the vast majority of other job sites simply do not seem to tap.”
Register at https://tradingtimes.org.uk/ and let Trading Times match you with the right local people for your needs.

Find Jobs and Volunteering opportunities at https://www.vac.org.uk/

London Fire Brigade Consultation
The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority are holding a public consultation on how to make £6.4 million of savings for 2016/17. The consultation is being held between 7 December 2015 and 1 February 2016.
Four public meetings will be held across London from 11 – 20 January. More information about the consultation meetings is available on the London Fire Brigade website.

Improving health through digital technology: Call for evidence
The London Borough of Camden and Camden CCG have started a project looking at digital health technology and how this can be used to improve access to health information and support among children, young people and their families in Camden.
We will be working with local residents to understand what technology they currently use and how this could be improved. We are especially interested in how technology such as apps, websites, social media and text messaging could be used to increase awareness of services, improve self-management around minor ailments and long term conditions and provide basic advice and improve care coordination.
We are keen to hear from local organisations with any information you may already have gathered on this topic as this will help inform our approach and avoid duplication, as well as any upcoming engagement events where we may be able to deliver a session on health technology.
Please contact chloe.gay@islington.gov.uk or on 0207 527 8343.
By coincidence the Kings Fund have just released an interesting report: The digital revolution: eight technologies that will change health and care.

Offiice Space for Hire
Camden Cypriot Women’s Organisation in Kentish Town, have office space for hire within a community building which is centrally located, The building is a few minutes walk from Kentish Town tube and mainline services as well as various bus stops.
The office, which is spacious is roughly 6 metres square, fits 4 desks freely and has a corridor which is also good for use, would be suitable for meetings or one to one sessions. Both spaces are light and airy and a viewing is highly recommended.
The building has step free access.
For further information or to view, please call Koula Ioannou on Tel: 0207 267 7194 or email koula@ccwo.org.uk

Camden Community Connectors
Tackling social isolation among older people
Camden Community Connectors is a new six year project working across Camden to tackle social isolation and loneliness among older people. Our team of five local Area Coordinators is working with volunteers to identify and support people aged 60+ and help them reconnect to local activities and meet new people. We’re also building up an accessible ‘asset map’ of all services that support older people in Camden. We’d love to hear from you if you want to work with us, refer an older person, volunteer or if you just want to know more.
We’re part of the Ageing Better in Camden programme funded by Big Lottery. To find out more, check out our website or call us free on 0800 161 5716 .

Need some online Help?
Don’t forget VAC’s toolkits and resources pages at www.vac.org.uk/our-work/toolkits-and-resources
There are resources to help you in many areas of work. For instance our HR resources can be found here: https://vac.org.uk/our-work/toolkits-and-resources/employment-hr-resources/

Camden Consultations
You can find all Camden consultation on the Wearecamden consultation hub.

FREE VAC Membership for Unfunded Groups: Voluntary Action Camden Small organisations with no paid staff and a turnover of less than £1,500 can now join for FREE. To take advantage of this offer just fill in the membership on the online form here.