Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin 22nd November 2019

Space to Connect

Thanks to all who came to our event on Wednesday, part of the Coop Foundation’s enquiry to help community organisations identify, improve and protect spaces where people can connect and co-operate. We will be following up with a range of events including surgeries with Ethical Property Foundation in February and a workshop at our AGM. We will also be taking part in an Ageing Better in Camden event on 10th December with colleagues from Ambition for Ageing, Greater Manchester, for the launch of their exciting new report ‘Social Infrastructure: How shared spaces make communities work’. Sign up for this free learning event.

NHS Trusts & VCSE Partnerships – Important Survey

NAVCA – the national membership body specifically for local sector support and development organisations (VAC is a member). NAVCA is  working with NHS England and NHS Improvement to conduct some research into partnerships between NHS Trusts and organisations within the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.
The research aims to understand examples of these partnerships, how they come about, what supports them and the impact that they achieve. This is all with a view to making practical recommendations for how people can be supported in both the voluntary and public sectors and improve partnerships.
The Deadline for completion of this survey is Monday 2nd December

Your Work can Inform the Health and Wellbeing Strategy

Camden and Islington Public Health are gathering information to inform health and wellbeing strategy in the borough. This is an opportunity to profile your work, the needs of your beneficiaries, and influence local policy. You can forward strategy documents and plans or fill in the template. The deadline was 21st November, but due to tight deadline information from VCSEs received a bit later will still be looked at. You can return to Donna dturnbull@vac.org.uk or directly to Charmaine.browne@islington.gov.uk

Congratulations to Transition Kentish Town

Tranistion Kentish Town won Best Community Environmental Project Award 2019 for Camden in the Camden and Islington Sustainability Awards 2019.

Let’s talk about mental health

Castlehaven have teamed up with Mind in Camden to help improve the mental well-being of our community. We are eager to hear your thoughts on how to achieve this goal. Join us on Wed 27th November for a mass bulb planting and friendly chat

‘100 years of Public Housing’

Tuesday, 3 December, 5:30 – 7:30 at the Francis Crick Institute
Join Owen Hatherly and John Boughton in this fascinating Panel Discussion on ‘100 years of Public Housing’ at the Francis Crick Institute on Somers Town. Details and booking at Eventbrite.

Camden Musculoskeletal Services – Annual Carers Event

3rd December, 10 – 3.30pm (people can drop in)
Old Diorama ArtsCentre Drummond Street (Lunch and refreshments provided)
Free event for people who care for people with MSK issues and / or have MSK issues themselves who are registered with a Camden GP
Contact: Cristina.serrao@nhs.net Camden MSK Patient Director for more information

Laamiga Women’s Mentoring and Training event

10am -3.30pm Saturday 30 November at Training Link, 54-56 Phoenix Rd
A free Camden Women Together Event for women from migrant and refugee communities. Learn how to take care of yourself and how to find work. Have relaxing head and shoulders massages and beauty treatments. Enjoy African drumming, chill and chat for a lovely day of networking.
Book tickets here. Alternatively, for more information or to book please contact 0208 257 7317 or email info@laamiga.org

Join Camden Carers for a walk around Regents Park

13th December 2019
Meet outside Camden Town tube station
All are welcome including people with learning disabilities and family carers
If you would like to come, please contact PJ or Daphne on 020 79 74 37 37 or email PJ.walsh@camden.gov.uk  more details here.

“Bugger Off” Charity Commission

The sector’s traditionally strained relationship with the Charity Commission has sunk to a new low with various National umbrella bodies for the sector interceding on our behalf to get the charity commission to give local groups attempting to register a fair shot (our umbrella body NAVCA is particularly active) as CVSs across the country have been reporting a difficult working relationship with the commission.  Recent Commission pronouncements on a variety of topics have exasperated sector leaders beyond endurance. 

Why more people are talking about the issue of social care

The care system helps older and disabled people with day-to-day tasks like washing, dressing, eating and medication. It is under pressure across the UK after past governments failed to reform or fund the council-run system properly. Experts believe the problems are now so acute that politicians who ignore the issue at this election, do so at their peril. Story on the BBC.

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

The Childhood Trust

The Childhood Trust supports charities in London working with children and young people from low income backgrounds. Working in partnership with The Big Give, the Trust builds charities’ capacity to run fundraising campaigns and leverages match-funding for the money raised. There are two campaigns:
~ The Christmas Challenge
~ The Summer Give ( projects taking place during any school holidays)
Applications for The Summer Give 2020 will open in January
Details at the website or email: programmes@childhoodtrust.org.uk.

Core Funding Grants Available to Support Small and Medium UK Charities

The Woodward Charitable Trust is now providing funding for core costs only, rather than for specific projects, with the intention of having a more direct impact on the organisations concerned.
You must have an annual turnover of less than £300,000 and work in one of the following areas:
~ Arts Local arts groups involving disadvantaged people.
~ Children and young people who are isolated, at risk of exclusion
~ Disability projects, physically or learning disabled or mental health issues.
~ Disadvantaged women and their children, including refuges and DV
~ Disadvantaged families including parenting support.
~ rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners and ex-offenders
~ Projects that promote integration and community cohesion
The Trust favours small-scale, locally based initiatives and is especially interested in those that make good use of volunteers and encourage past and current users to participate. Full details here.
The next deadline for applications is 31 January 2020 (noon).

Physical Activity Inclusion Fund and Community Foundation

PAIF offers local community groups in Camden the opportunity to apply for grants of up to £1.5K, to ‘kick start’ projects that aim to reach our inactive communities.
Full details are here:   Or for contact – CamdenPAIF@GLL.ORG
GLL aslo run a Community Foundation offering funding for community groups.

Funding available for specialist community projects for vulnerable women and girls

Local groups supporting women and girls with issues like period poverty, domestic and sexual abuse, mental health and long-term unemployment can to apply for a share of £3.5 million for their vital work.
A further round of the Tampon Tax Community Fund is open to charities and community groups working with women of all ages and backgrounds to build their skills, confidence and self-esteem.

The HS2 Camden Fund

The Camden Fund aims to strengthen the sense of place and alleviate the disruption of the development of HS2 on local people. Aims:
1. A Happier and Healthier Camden
2. A Better Connected Camden
3. A Stronger Voluntary and Community Sector
Closing date: 14th May 2020. Full details at Camden Giving.

Healthy Minds Programme with Mind in Camden

The latest Healthy Minds community programme is now available.  A range of activities are available from VAC, Mary Ward, Mind in Camden, BWA, Good Gym, the Round House and more.  Find out what’s on and how to book.

Have Your Say About VAC

We are listening to our members and subscribers to get your views on VAC and find out what you think VAC should be working on now and in the coming years. It’s a short survey and as a thank you everyone who completes the survey has a chance to win £100.

Safeguarding Courses:

Safeguarding Introduction: Protecting Children in the Community (Level 2)
Tuesday 10th December: 10.00am – 1.00pm
Introductory course designed for all those who work directly with children, young people or their families. Open to all those who have had little or no safeguarding training before.
Suitable for anyone requiring basic safeguarding training, including volunteers, play workers and new starters who have never had safeguarding training before.
The workshop will cover essential aspects of safeguarding:

Safeguarding Advance: Developing knowledge and understanding. (Level 3)
Wednesday 18th December: 10.00am – 2.30pm (Includes lunch)
For those who frequently work with or deliver services to children and their families. Course provides essential information that your organisation / group needs to understands it’s legal obligations in regards to child protection procedures and up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding legislation.
This Advanced course is designed to develop existing understanding of the safeguarding process through a variety of written text, case studies and interactive exercises.
Please contact: Dianne Carlton Ogunyemi, our Community Partnership Advisor Lead to book your place, as well as customised Safeguarding training enquires.
Tel: 020 7 284 6575 | Email: dogunyemi@vac.org.uk email (Mon – Wed)

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

Works for Me Employment Programme

Open to all visually impaired people who live, work or study in London between 18 and 65yrs.  One to one advice; contact with experts; network with other visually impaired people; employment information.
Contact: employment@londonvision.org or tel: 07773584028.

Creating Easier Opportunities For Volunteering Workshop

For Volunteer Managers. Tuesday 26th November, 10am-1pm at St Pancras Community Association.  Info and bookings at Eventbrite.

Meal & Celebration for anyone in need over Christmas

Hosted by Chalk Farm Foodbank, CAP and Revelation Church. 19th December, 4.00-6.00PM. Salvation Army Chalk Farm, 10-16 Haverstock Hill, Chalk Farm, London NW3 2BL. Sign up clients by 6th December.

All Ways Network Meet the Funders Event

26 November, 10.30 – 2.00. Osmani Centre, E1 5AW.
Aimed at small not-for-profit with an annual income of £1 million or less working with Muslim beneficiaries living in the UK.  Info and bookings at Eventbrite.

The Caraf Centre Cultural Story Festival

Saturday 23rd November from 12.00 – 6.00 pm
Workshops, face-painting, young writers showcase and bookstalls. An event for the whole family to enjoy. At the Caraf Centre, Queens Crescent, NW5

ABC Research and Learning Officer

(21 hours per week) – Contract until 28/02/21
Sc SO1 23-25, £31,434 to £32,577 pa pro rata. Closing date 28th Nov.
Ageing Better in Camden is looking to recruit a Research and Learning Officer.  This new role will work to scope, collect, manage, analyse and disseminate learning on Ageing Better in Camden (ABC) outreach project, ABC specialist projects and ABC ‘warm welcome’ community activities.  Details here.

Sessional Community & Activity Workers

Unity Works is a specialist not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting people with a learning disability to gain skills, achieve qualifications and secure jobs, so they can reach their full potential.
The opportunities created through our Community Health & Wellbeing programmes help people to gain confidence and make positive use out of their leisure time. We are currently seeking dynamic and self-motivated individuals to work within this team based out of Kentish Town
For more information or to apply: www.unityworks.org.uk/getinvolved Or email: Laura.murphy@thecamdensociety.co.uk

How to apply to join Camden Patient Council

Patient council members take part in a ward visit every third Monday of the month to review the ward environment and speak with patients/service users on the wards. The Patient Council are looking for Camden residents who have experience accessing secondary mental health services, particularly lived experience of the ward environment.
If you are interested please contact Katja Huijbers, Camden Mental Health Service User Involvement Coordinator  katja@advocacyproject.org.uk

Age UK Camden seeks 3 posts

Men’s Outreach Worker (21 hours per week) (3 days per week)
S01 23-25 £31,434 to £32,577 pa  pro rata for 21 hpw. (Fixed term Dec 2020)
Ageing Better Camden is looking for a male Outreach Worker to contribute to a new Outreach project with the ABC Outreach Service, to trial innovative approaches to reaching, initiating contact and engaging with significant numbers of older men across Camden.  Closing date 10th December.
Day Care Officer Part-time – Henderson Court Day Centre
Pro rata for a 25 hour week is £18,452.14 pa to £19,467.86 pa
25  Hours per week and the required hours are 11 am to 4pm Monday to Friday inclusive
Closing date: Monday 9th December 2019
Interview date: W/C Monday 16th December 2019
Part Time Cook
Day Care Centre £10.55 per hour for a 20 hour week (Monday to Friday) plus 6% pension contribution.
For further details and an application form visit the website www.ageukcamden.org.uk or email jobs@ageukcamden.org.uk or telephone 020 7239 0400.  No CVs, no agencies please.

Involving a Deaf or Disabled Person in Designing Services

CDA is recruiting volunteers for its Disability Advisory Group (DAG). The DAG is a steering group that will oversee CDA’s engagement work and provide advice and troubleshoot where necessary. The engagement work aims to promote co-production (partnership) work between Camden Council and deaf and disabled people. The group has just been formed and will meet once every six weeks.
Expenses will be paid and volunteers receive £10 vouchers for meetings. We also have a budget for some accessibility costs. If you’re interested please call Tom on 07908746927 or email on tom@camdendisabilityaction.org.uk

Hopscotch is looking for Trustees

Trustees with Legal or Finance expertise sought.  Hopscotch are a community led organisation working with BAME women and families in Camden and the surrounding areas with a turnover of about £1.5m and over 90 staff members doing incredible work with the most vulnerable people supporting with programmes including welfare advocacy, employment skills service and Violence Against Women and Girls.
We welcome all applications and particularly look forward to hearing from people with legal and/or finance experience with either a working knowledge or keen interest in the voluntary and community sector. Please send your CV and a cover letter to our Chief Executive Benaifer Bhandari  ceo@hopscotchawc.org.uk

Women+Health seeks new Director

Our small health charity in Camden Town has an exciting opportunity for an exceptional new Director.
The successful candidate will have significant senior management experience within the voluntary/public sector, a successful track record in income generation and a high level of communication and people management skills.
She will have knowledge of and be committed to a client-centred, holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
She will lead a busy, enthusiastic team in developing and maintaining high quality, responsive and culturally appropriate health services and activities which meet the needs of the diverse communities in Camden and neighbouring boroughs.
If you match these requirements and are ready with enthusiasm for a new challenge, please check out our website and request an application pack from director@womenandhealth.org.uk Closing 24th November.

Community Connectors

Are you a parent/carer living in Camden? Elfrida Rathbone Camden is recruiting parent volunteers to support other Camden parents by offering practical help at our drop-in and 1:1 sessions. We offer 3 days FREE training covering the key skills needed for the role. Lunch provided
Training will take place on Friday 15th, 22nd and 29th November 2019 from 10.00-2.30. Lunch will be provided.
More information email Jill@elfridacamden.org.uk or call 07939877745 for an informal chat.

Volunteer with VAC and develop experience and skills in public health

VAC provide training, and work opportunities for Camden volunteers who can commit 2 hours per week.
We offer free Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH) training to volunteer as a Community Links volunteer, part of a new Care Navigation and Social Prescribing service in Camden. Community Links volunteers signpost residents to community based activities and help with formal referrals where community based activities are needed alongside clinical care.
Contact: Mandira Manandhar, Community Links Co-ordinator (Mon, Tues and Thurs) 020 7284 6550/6573 or email: mmanandhar@vac.org.uk

VAC is recruiting volunteers to help us in our building in Chalk Farm

We are recruiting volunteer receptionists to be the first point of contact for visitors. You will be an important member of the VAC team of volunteers and staff and will have access to training and ongoing support.
Contact Kevin Nunan at VAC on 020 7284 6557 or knunan@vac.org.uk

Election! Campaigning with Confidence – Dos and Don’ts

The sector is urged to campaign with confidence. There has been much scare mongering over the Lobbying Act but most of the provisions only apply to organisations “where the expenditure can reasonably be regarded as intended to influence the electoral prospects of parties or candidates.” Few voluntary organisations in Camden will meet this criteria or be spending over £20,000 – the threshold for registering. The key point to remember is that you should focus on your campaign issue and not a political party. Remember there are also risks with not campaigning and standing up for your issues. View our updated guidance here.

Cheap Community Tickets to London Zoo

Looking for a great outing for your group?  This is a fantastic offer with tickets from just £3 – £6.50.  A trip to the zoo is usually ruled out by the high cost of tickets.  Responding to local demand, ZSL London Zoo are offering heavily subsidised tickets to organisations or groups who work with people with additional needs and/or disabilities, families on a low income and older people.
To find out more or to apply for subsidised tickets please visit zsl.org/cas

Want to Share a Skill, Space or Equipment?

Simply add your request to Comoodle Camden, the new local online sharing platform which facilitates sharing for community benefit.

Need a Meeting Room near Chalk Farm?

VAC now has 3 new rooms to hire out for Events/Training, etc. at our new base in the Charlie Ratchford Centre in Chalk Farm.
There is a large room for up to 60 people, ideal for large events.
The training room can hold up to 20 people comfortably for training/workshops
The Lounge is a open area for anything that is not confidential and can hold up to 20 people. Smartboard, level access throughout, reasonable prices.
Rates and full details on the VAC website. Special rates for Camden networks.

Our mailing address is:
Charlie Ratchford Centre, Belmont Street, London, NW1 8HF

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