Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin 16th February 2018

New Courses from VAC

Writing Successful Grant Applications, Health and Safety Essentials, Risk Assessment, Getting Ready for GDPR.  See the VAC Events section below.

Camden Council’s review of the support needs of community and voluntary groups

Please take part in a very important survey that is being carried out to review the support needed by voluntary and community groups, including small groups, to carry out their job well.  There are only eight questions.
The results of the  will be used to guide what support is available to voluntary and community groups, including small groups, in the future.  So, it is important for everyone  to complete and submit the survey to make sure all ideas and requests for support are taken into account.
The link to the survey is https://www.questionpro.com/t/AiRIZbSQr
Responses will be strictly confidential and data from this research will be reported in a way that will not identify you.
If you have questions about the survey, or the wider review, please contact John Griffiths at john.griffiths@rocketsciencelab.co.uk.

Camden and Islington Public Health ‘Be Clear on Breast Cancer in Women over 70’ Feb – March 2018.

The aims of the campaign are to:
· Raise awareness of breast cancer symptoms
· Ensure that residents are aware of the screening programmes available
· Encourage partner organisations to share messages with residents through their channels
The campaign messaging will encourage women to be breast aware, and that knowing how their breasts look and feel normally makes it easier to spot something unusual.
If you would like symptom card leaflets, social media packs or printed posters for promoting the campaign please contact: donna.kelly@islington.gov.uk

Free Courses at West Euston Partnership

Interview Skills;
Mighty Oaks Confidence Building Course;
Employer Engagement Workshop hosted by Women Like Us
see Events section below for full details.

Positive Ageing in London (PAiL) presents; Digital Inclusion and Use of ICT

Thu 22 February, 10:30 – 15:30, Europe House, 32 Smith Square, London SW1P
Join Positive Ageing in London and Age Platform Europe (UK section), with help from Wise Age Ltd, on Thursday 22 February 2018, for a conference to discuss how the needs of older people in should be addressed in this strategy. Book at Eventbrite.

Looking for Activities and Classes in Camden?

You can search RecommendMe to discover activities, workshops and courses across the borough at community centres, further education colleges, arts centres and a variety of providers.  Go to RecommendMe to find out more.

Seed kit applications 2018 now open

Bring people together to transform a shared space in your community with native wildflowers.  Bringing people together, getting active, growing as a group and giving back through volunteering can all improve health and wellbeing. Plus by creating these pockets of wild beauty for your neighbors and friends, you will be contributing to their wellbeing too. Apply here.

Camden Council & St Pancras & Somers Town Living Centre drop in sessions

Offering residents of all ages practical support on dealing with hearing loss
Once a month on Fridays 9.30am-12noon:
9th February 2018
9th March 2018
6th April 2018
4th May 2018
1st June 2018
Held at The St Pancras & Somers Town Living Centre, 2 Ossulston Street, Kings Cross, London NW1
For more information, contact Asif Iqbal: Tel: 020 7974 2837 or  Email: asif.iqbal@Camden.gov.uk

Camden Disability Action

Catch up with the latest news from Camden Disability Action.

Community Led Regeneration in Camden

An interesting article on Camley Street Community Land Trust shows some of the challenges but also the benefits that can come from community led regeneration.

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

Mayor announces a brand new £45million fund to help young Londoners

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced that he is creating a brand new £45million fund to help young Londoners – particularly those who are at risk of getting caught up in crime. It should be the Government’s job to fund services and activities for young people in London, but it has abdicated its responsibilities. That’s why the Mayor has listened to Londoners’ concerns and is stepping up to provide funding that local communities and charities desperately need and to help young people fulfil their potential.
Sadiq’s new Young Londoners Fund will see £15m invested in each of the next three years, beginning in April. Full details in the Mayor’s press release.

Camden Community Festival Fund 2018

The fund is to sustain and develop Camden’s rich culture, its strong communities and dynamic partnerships by supporting quality, creative events, projects and activities. This year the fund is managed by Voluntary Action Camden (VAC).
Applications are welcome for grants of £200 to £5000 for:
~ Small-scale events with a capacity of under 500 people, the maximum amount that can be applied for is £500. Download the application here
~ Larger-scale events with a capacity of 500 people or more the maximum that can be applied for is £5,000. Please note the average is £1,000. Download the application here
A copy of the detailed guideline can be downloaded here.
The deadline for completed applications is: 23:59 on Wednesday 28th February 2018

Comic Relief – Core Strength

This 12-month programme is responding to the growing need of small locally-led groups to cover their day-to-day costs. The aim is to provide funding for groups’ core costs – meaning expenditure that is not connected to delivering projects but focusing on investing in the organisation as a whole, such as basic running costs. We know securing core funding can be tough and want to use this programme to help support those doing much needed work in their local communities.
Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available for organisations with an annual income of £100,000 or under in the last financial year.
Deadline for Round 2 applications is 26th February 2018 by 5pm.
Round 3 opens on 16th April 2018, deadline for applications 28th May 2018
For more information contact 020 7582 5117 or applications@londoncf.org.uk or go to the LCF website.

Building a Stronger Britain Together Programme

There are both in-kind and grant funding opportunities available under the Building a Stronger Britain Together (BSBT) programme. This is a Home Office funded scheme which supports projects delivering any of the following outcomes:
· Increased sense of belonging and civic participation at the local level
· More resilient communities
· Fewer people holding attitudes, beliefs and feelings that oppose shared values
The programme aims to help groups who work to create more resilient communities to expand their reach and influence. Two forms of supports are available:
1. In-kind support: examples include social media training; materials to help fund-raising drives; help building a website; making films; tools for groups to expand their reach; advice on PR and media strategies; communications training for staff.
2. Grants: targeted funding for specific projects with demonstrable outcomes which provide a positive alternative to extremist voices.
Website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/building-a-stronger-britain-together
Please contact Nyree Moore (nyree.moore@camden.gov.uk / 07771572976) for further information and support with the application process.

BBC Children in Need Small Grants

Grants of up to £10,000 (per year, for up to three years) are available to not for profit organisations working to support children and young people who are experiencing disadvantage.  The deadline for applications is Thurs 1st March.  Go to the BBC Children in Need website for full details.

Camden Giving

Camden Giving have published the timetable for the various grants programmes they will be offering over the coming 12 months. There are 6 programmes in total. You can view the full timetable here.

Healthy Minds Programme with Mind in Camden

There is a full programme of activities taking place at the Living Centre as part of the Healthy Minds programme. Full details on the VAC training calendar.

How Do You Write a Successful Grant Application?

Find out the secrets by coming along to a practical workshop and learn about all of the dos and don’ts!
Saturday 24th February 10am to 4pm at Mary Ward Centre, 42 Queen Square, London WC1 N 3AQ
The sessions are for Camden based groups only and will focus on providing support for voluntary and community organisations with income of less than £100,000 a year. You can bring along a grant application that you are working on, or would like to work on. Following the workshop, you will also be offered one to one support to complete the application.
Please note that if you are not Camden based, the session’s cost is £45, please send this before the session takes place on the 24th.  Book at Eventbrite
If you prefer to do two shorter sessions, one focusing on writing the application, one on getting the finances right, then you may prefer the offer of 2 half days on Wednesday 14th and Wednesday 21st March 2pm – 5pm. Details of these session will follow soon.
For further details contact Simone Hensby shensby@vac.org.uk. 020 7284 6555

Health and Safety Essentials

Voluntary Action Camden 14 March 2018
Do you have responsibilities for health and safety where you work? Do you want to know your rights when it comes to health and safety? Come along to the ‘Health and Safety Essentials’ training at Voluntary Action Camden and learn about your rights and how to enforce them. You get a certificate at the end of the course.
The training is ideal for people new to health and safety or those wanting to refresh their knowledge. The course also covers all the requirements for running a community group safely. In particular, migrant workers or recent arrivals in the UK will gain important knowledge about their rights.
Working in a safe environment is a basic human right. Find out how to be safe and avoid ill health at work.
Book here

Basic Risk Assessment Course

Voluntary Action Camden 21 March 2018
Do you want to know how to carry out a risk assessment? Do you have responsibility for managing health & safety where you work? This 3-hour basic risk assessment training could be what you are looking for. The course is ideal for:
• People with health and safety responsibilities in voluntary sector organisations
• Staff and volunteers of community groups
• Recent arrivals and migrant workers who want to know the basics of risk assessment
If you run a community group or local charity the course covers all you need to know about carrying risk assessments.
Book at eventbrite

Voluntary Action Camden working in partnership with Mary Ward Centre.

Governance in the Voluntary and Community Sector

VAC and Mary Ward offer this short course for members of governing bodies or anybody who is interested in developing the knowledge and skills required to be a member of a governing body in the voluntary or community sector. With the knowledge gained from this course you can become an effective participant in the governance of new and existing organisations. Full details on the Mary Ward Centre website.

Get Ready for GDPR: A Practical Workshop for Camden Community Groups

Both courses are full.  If there is sufficient demand we will add a further date in March.

A Coaching and Mentoring Network

VAC, in partnership with residents and small businesses, has successfully set up a network of experienced and qualified coaches and mentors. This service is available free of charge, for up to six sessions, and is open to anyone involved in the voluntary and community sector in Camden.
The recruitment and matching process is about to commence. So, if you are interested in taking advantage of this offer, or you have staff, trustees or volunteers that may be interested, please contact Simone Hensby at VAC on 7284 6550. shensby@vac.org.uk

More details on the VAC website: https://vac.org.uk/events/

Free Courses at West Euston Partnership

Interview Skills
Every Monday from 26th February to 26th March (5 sessions) 10.30am – 12.15pm
Venue: H-pod, Cumberland Market (next to Regents Park Practice), London NW1 3RH
You will learn new techniques, take part in mock interviews, role playing games and confidence building exercises.
To take part, you must be: unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week and able to attend ALL five sessions
Mighty Oaks Confidence Building Course
Monday 26th and Wednesday 28th February 10am – 12.30pm
Monday 5th and Wednesday 7th March 10am – 12.30pm
Venue: West Euston Partnership, 29-31 Hampstead Road, London NW1 3JA
Our qualified coach will help you gain a more positive mindset and take action to achieve your goals
For more information, you can also watch this short video: https://vimeo.com/254303571
To take part, you must be: unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week and able to attend ALL four sessions.
If you’d like to book a place on either of the above courses, please contact David Hermanstein on 07908845154 or david.hermanstein@camden.gov.uk
Employer Engagement Workshop hosted by Women Like Us
Thursday 8th March at West Euston Partnership, 10am – 2pm
This is a FREE workshop for Employment Advisers who broker jobs on behalf of their clients. The workshop will equip participants with new skills to help source and create jobs for those who can’t work full-time. It is ideal for Advisers who work with parents, people with disabilities, older people, people with long term health conditions, unpaid carers or individuals who simply need to balance work and life.
Participants will:
• Gain insight into the UK flexible recruitment market
• Hear about the types of flexible work possible
• Learn about the business benefits of flexible hiring
• Learn how to speak to employers about making a job flexible to suit the needs of both partie • Consider the barriers and challenges that employers may have about ‘flexible hiring’
The workshop is informative, interactive, and practical and uses recent case studies to enable participants to apply the techniques they have learnt.
For more information please contact, Poornima Kirloskar-Saini – poornima@womenlikeus.org.uk

Celebrating Refugee Women’s Activism

This panel invites you to explore the side of the refugee crisis with hope and high esteem of a better future, not only for refugee women but for our communities to live in peace and harmony.
Looking at the impact of conflicts and war on women, with reference to the experiences of refugee women from Congo, Algeria, Iran, Yemen and Lybia, attendees will have the opportunity to learn and ask questions about how we can work together towards justice, human rights and participation for women who seek sanctuary in the UK. Book at Eventbrite

Financial capability – Train the trainer – London

Gain the financial capability skills and knowledge to better support your clients, with this interactive, practical and fun training.
2 day course – London
If you support clients on a low income, this practical course will enable you to run our award winning financial capability course, as well as gain the skills and knowledge to incorporate financial education into your existing work.
Find out more at the Quaker Social Action website.

Deafblind Information Day Wednesday June 27th 2018

Following the first Deafblind Information Day in London last year, Deaf Blind UK are very pleased to invite you to join us this year for a day which we hope will be even bigger and better than before. This year will be Deafblind UK’s 90th birthday, so we want to let even more people know about what we can offer them and to tell people about the services and activities available to them in London.
This year’s venue is the Pirate Castle. We will be open to the public from 11 am to 2 pm and would like exhibitors to arrive by 10 am to set up.
To secure a free table contact Sue Sintonsmith sue.sintonsmith@deafblind.org.uk .

‘Support of Supervision of Volunteers’ Workshop

Join us for our next Best Practice Plus volunteer management workshop (which includes lunch) for volunteer managers everywhere.
Effective support and supervision of volunteers is key to a successful volunteer programme.
In one morning, this workshop will cover:
~ The difference between general support and structured supervision
~ Different methods of delivering support and supervision
~ Tips on preparing for and running a supervision session
~ Practicing some of the skills required to offer volunteers effective support and supervision
~ Any concerns you might have on conducting supervision sessions
Check out all of the details and book your place via Eventbrite.

Resilient Families Training (aimed at front line professionals working with parents and young people regarding online safety, radicalisation and extremism)

Free training opportunities (dates below) around online safety, radicalisation and extremism. The training will be delivered by ParentZone who specialise in training around digital safety and will run from 10am to 3pm.  Topics covered include:
· Working with families to respond to the specific risk of online radicalisation and extremism, suitable for parenting practitioners and community leaders already working with parents.
· The day will give an overview of online risk and harm with specific information on supporting parents to respond to the risk of online radicalisation and extremism.
· The course will equip professionals with the skills they need to support confident digital parenting, raising both parents’ and children’s resilience online.
22nd February 2018; training held in Committee Room 4, Town Hall
Please contact Karina Kaur to book: Karina.Kaur@camden.gov.uk

Free Making Every Contact Count (MECC) training for voluntary sector staff

If you work in Camden or Islington, you can access this FREE training to help you to signpost and support your clients to get the help they need earlier.
MECC training is about helping you to spot those opportunities in the thousands of conversations that you are already having with residents locally, having the confidence and skills to raise issues appropriately, and help you to signpost to further support.
MECC training is available for free for voluntary sector organisations in Camden. The training includes:
– An e-learning module which focuses on awareness of needs, brief advice and signposting (40 minutes)
– Face to face training focusing on recognition of needs, brief advice, signposting and practicing skills for having a MECC conversation (3.5 hours)
New training dates have recently been released:  https://www.camdenmecc.org.uk/courses
We now offer bespoke MECC training for your teams, where we can deliver the training at your office, and tailor the training to suit your team’s needs. To book a bespoke session please contact mecc@islington.gov.uk

The Living Centre seeks Manager

30hrs per week  £40, 000 pro-rata
Somers Town Community Association is in a very exciting phase of its development. We are an ambitious and well respected “go to”, charity based in the heart of the Kings Cross “Knowledge Quarter” in London. We have a very strong, relationship with our local community and stakeholders and are proud of our central role in many partnerships and consortia.
We are now recruiting for a Living Centre Manager to help make this happen.
This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated person to make their mark and be part of one of the most amazing new facilities to be developed in Somers Town for generations.
The successful candidate will:-
Have at least two years’ proven experience of managing a front line community facility/building
Have a minimum of two years’ experience working directly with community groups in a paid or voluntary capacity; managing and developing community services, projects, or activities.
Have experience of fundraising inclusive of Local Authority, Trust & Foundation, Contract and CSR
Need to demonstrate the ability to work with and engage key stakeholders at every level, whilst understanding the complexity of diverse inner city communities
Have experience of developing and implementing strategies to achieve organizational objectives
Have excellent communication skills, oral and written and the ability to communicate effectively with and report to community groups and a wide range of stakeholders
Have experience of managing financial budgetsand successfully managed, developed and supported staff
Email: sarah@somerstown.org.uk  for an application pack
Closing date 25th February 2018 at midnight. Interviews w/c 5th March 2018

The Hampstead, Wells and Campden Trust

Trust Case Worker/Development Worker
part time – 20 hours per week salary equivalent to £30,000 p.a. for a full time equivalent of 35 hours
A role for an experienced part time Case Worker/Development Worker to effect the Trust’s grant making in North Camden for individuals in need including administering small additional pensions for older people; to promote awareness of the Trust’s grant making among voluntary and public sector agencies in the area; and to advise the Trust on development of its grant making policy.
The successful applicant will be a self-starter with good communication/IT skills and the ability to manage a large workload.
For further information see the Trust’s website (www.hwct.org.uk) and contact Sheila Taylor, Director and Clerk to the Trustees, The Hampstead Wells & Campden Trust, 62 Rosslyn Hill, London, NW3 1ND, tel: 020 7435 1570, email: sheila@hwct.co.uk  Closing date  6th March 2018

HCA Arts Manager Vacancy

Holborn Community Association is looking for an experienced arts manager who can develop our arts services across the organisation. You will involve and engage our community, experiment, and ultimately build sustainability across our arts services in the longer term so we reach more children, young people, families, adults and older people.
For further information, please download the application form and  job description from our website
http://www.holborncommunity.co.uk/workwithus.html
Applications should be submitted by 5pm on Monday 26th February
Interviews will be held on Tuesday 6th March.

SHAK seeks Chair and Trustees

Shak (South Hampstead and Kilburn Community Partnership) is a resident led charity based on the iconic Alexandra and Ainsworth estate* in the Kilburn ward of Camden NW London.
The new chair will be required to lead the current board in its role as a governing body: setting strategy and ensuring exemplary governance and fiscal control.
They will need to be able to inspire and motivate whilst showing sensitivity. They will need to understand the external environment and be able to identify opportunities for Shak to grow and develop.
The charity is also planning to appoint two new trustees to complement the current board in its role as a governing body: setting strategy and ensuring exemplary governance and fiscal control.
The charity is keen to bring additional skills to its board through the appointment of individuals who ideally have a background in one of the following areas:
Marketing, PR and Communications; Health and Wellbeing; Youth Work; Learning
Ideally the candidate would be someone with an understanding of charities and the voluntary sector.
Most importantly they will have strategic expertise and understanding of good governance.
Candidates will need to have or be willing to undertake a DBS check and child protection training.
Deadline for applications is: Friday 23rd February. Interviews will be the week beginning 5th March.
Contact Jo Simpson at jo@ep-uk.org who will  send you the Information Pack and Job Description.

North Camden Zone Seeks New Steering Group Chair

We are looking for a Chair of the North Camden Zone Steering Group who is passionate about improving the life outcomes for children and young people in Camden. You may be a community leader or senior professional with an in depth knowledge and /or experience of the issues that affect children and young people. You are interested in a collaborative approach involving the community and professionals, and implementing place based systems change.
If you would like to find out more please follow this link. The closing date is 23rd of February 2018.

Get your guide to living better in Camden

Do you have an existing medical condition? Are you a carer? Or do you just need a bit of help to keep active and healthy? Our updated Camden Companion booklet could be right up your street.
‘The Camden Companion – Your essential guide to healthy living in Camden’ is your free guide to staying healthy and independent.
The new booklet is packed full of helpful tips and information to help you manage your health and is your guide to the wellbeing, advice and support services that are available to you across the borough.
You download a copy from Camden Council website.
To be sent a copy by post, or order copies for your organisation or community centre, please email camden.companion@camden.gov.uk.

CCG Adult Commissioning

Following the end of the joint commissioning arrangements between the council and the CCG, the CCG have published a table of adult commissioning CCG contacts.

Supporting People, Connecting Communities

Camden Care Choices is the council’s central online directory of care and support-related services. The council want to involve as many local organisations as possible over the coming months as we improve and better coordinate the way such information and advice is provided in Camden. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions or would like to be involved in this work, please email Jamie.spencer@camden.gov.uk.

Our mailing address is:
29 – 31 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 3JA

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