Navigate to:

Spotlight  |   Features, News and Policy  |   Funding   |   Events and Training   |
Jobs and Volunteering   |   Surveys, Resources and Opportunities

Camden Safeguarding Children Partnership

In our last newsletter of the year, we are taking an in depth look at a vital service for children in Camden.

Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, stable and loving home; but some children and young people need additional help, protection or high-quality effective support.

VAC’s Community Safeguarding Project is here to support you with your safeguarding arrangements and highlight the important role we all play as relevant agencies with responsibilities to safeguarding effectively. Funded by Camden’s Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP), this statutory body is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children within our community.

If you have any safeguarding questions for the CSCP or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact them at cscp@camden.gov.uk.

If you are an voluntary organisation, supplementary school, faith or community group delivering services to under 18’s in the borough; please contact our Community Safeguarding Lead, Dianne Carlton- Ogunyemi for information on safeguarding training, policy or support: dogunyemi@vac.org.uk

Please see below for further relevant links and services:
 

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023

The Camden Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) Multi-agency Safeguarding Arrangements.

CSCP Resources

CSCP Training Courses

Upcoming Training & Events

• Creating Safe Spaces – Trauma Informed Services and Workplaces. (In partnership with Hopscotch) Crowndale Centre 218 Eversholt Street, 28 January 2025, 10:00 am – 12:15 pm
• Understanding Domestic Abuse & Dealing with Disclosures. (In partnership with Tender) Crowndale Centre 218 Eversholt Street, 5 February 2025, 9:30 am – 1:00 pm

Every week VAC checks various sources for the latest funding opportunities relevant for Camden groups.

You can visit our website for a round up of the latest opportunities added this week: Search for Funding – Voluntary Action Camden (vac.org.uk).

We’ve included a selection of the latest funds below but check out our new funding portal for many more opportunities.

If you need help sourcing or applying for funds, get in touch with our consultancy service, free for all Camden groups!

• 7stars Foundation grants are available to support young people challenged by abuse and addiction, those who are young carers, and those who are homeless or without a safe place to call home.
• The Flexible Finance Fund will be providing £4m of funding and support to 15-25 Black and Racially Minoritised charities and social enterprises in England with a material package of funding and support to help them to grow or take on assets and become more resilient.
• The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust is accepting applications from UK not-for-profit organisations to support projects in the UK aimed at working towards the creation of a peaceful and just world.
• Charles Hayward Foundation has grants available to UK registered charities for projects in the following categories: Social and Criminal Justice; Overseas; and Older People.
• Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund – grants are available to museums and galleries in the UK for strategic development of their inclusive collections work and for partnership projects that improve inclusion and equitable working with community partners.
• Big Give’s Green Match Fund is a funding campaign dedicated to helping charities playing a vital role in tackling pressing environmental issues, run in partnership with Environmental Funders Network (EFN).

Training Link Open Day

Do any of your service users want help with computers, or to improve spoken and written English or to find work?  Do they want to get free accredited certificates in useful skills such as Food Hygiene? Training Link in Kings Cross provides free courses, drop-ins and one to one support.  Small friendly centre, easy to get to. All are welcome at their open day on Thursday 9 January 2025, 11am to 6pm. Contact director@traininglink.org.uk for more information.

VCC Volunteer Managers’ Forum & Volunteering Fair

Volunteer Managers’ Forum  
Join Volunteer Centre Camden online for peer support in the company of volunteer managers from everywhere on Thursday 23rd January at 10.30am. Topics are decided by you on the day and booking is free.
Volunteering Fair 
Want to volunteer in Camden and Islington? Book your free place now to attend this lunchtime volunteering fair on Zoom on Wednesday 29th January, 12.30-2pm. Local organisations will be recruiting for their volunteering roles. And you will get a chance to ask more questions to them directly.

Curious about Pension Credit?

Want to see if you can top up your income and get help with dentists, Council Tax, Housing Benefits and much more. In 30 minutes, get an idea how it can help, if you can claim and where to get help with the form. Unlike the State Pension, even if you’re eligible for Pension Credit you have to claim to get it. This is a short talk followed by questions and answers. Light refreshments. Free and all welcome. No need to book.

A choice of two venues, both on Wed 29th January:
•         Marian Centre, 1 Stafford Rd, NW6 5RS, 1.30-2pm
or
•         Kilburn Library Centre, 2-22 Kilburn High Rd, NW6 5UH, 2.45-3.15pm 

Suicide Awareness Training – SPACES AVAILABLE

Space is still available on the in person Suicide Awareness Training course  to be delivered by Rethink Mental Illness on behalf of Camden Council on 23rd January at no cost to delegates. The course is suitable particularly for frontline workers, managers, volunteers and health champions, but also simply for people that are keen to learn. It is available to anyone who lives, works, studies or volunteers in Camden. This training has been specially co-produced by lived experience experts.

Free Business Sustainability Workshop

Join in person in Camden on Tuesday 14th January for a free half-day workshop on Business Sustainability. Learn how embedding sustainable practices can drive growth, strengthen your brand, and create long-term value for your business. Gain practical insights to improve efficiency, win tenders, and attract top talent. Click here to register.

Drug & Alcohol support drop in service

Change Grow Live’s Camden Drug and Alcohol Service supports residents 18+ to address drug/alcohol use. Services include: detox, treatment, counselling, harm reduction, activities to improve quality of life. If you’re using alcohol or drugs, live in Camden and want to get support, the best way to do this is by coming to our assessment drop-in service. You can visit Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 12-4pm at Kings Studios, NW1 0JR. Flexible locations, including GP surgeries and remote support, are available. Contact: 020 3227 4950 or camden.referrals@cgl.org.uk.

HCA – Male Carers

HCA have started a piece of work for Male Carers in Camden. A carer is someone of any age who, without payment, provides care and support to a partner, friend, relative or neighbour who could not manage without their help. At HCA, as part of our Male Carers Groups, we will give you time to talk about your caring situation, what you need, while also offering a space for you to meet new people and engage in welcoming, fun and free social activities. If you would like to talk more about this project, please feel free to get in touch, by emailing andrew@holborncommunity.co.uk or calling Millman Street Community Centre on 02074052370 (option 2).

End-of-Year Celebration at LAH with Orquesta Estelar and Coro de Clave

Join Latin American House for an evening of music and joy! Enjoy performances by Orquesta Estelar and Coro de Clave. Celebrate the end of the year in a vibrant, festive, and culturally enriching atmosphere. Don’t miss this unique experience! Taking place on Friday 20th December, make sure to pre-book your free tickets here.

Holiday Activities and Food programme – winter 2024-25

The Camden Holiday Activities and Food winter programme runs from 23 December-3 January and is open for children and young people aged 5-16 who live in Camden and are eligible for free school meals. The programme offers free, fun activities and nutritional education – from learning to make healthy meals, to creative activities, including photography, drama, arts and crafts, and sports such as football and basketball. A free hot meal is included as part of each day’s activities.

Senior Fundraising Officer  | The Winch

The Winch is Based in North Camden, their mission is to help each child succeed, regardless of their circumstances. They are recruiting a Senior Fundraising Officer, with experience of working with trusts and foundations, and statutory funding. Working alongside the Head of Partnerships and Communications and Marketing Lead, you will be responsible for identifying funding opportunities, developing bids and nurturing relationships with funders. Full Time £35,000. Find out more.

Deputy Play Manager  | The Winch

The Winch are also hiring a hands-on Deputy Play Manager to run exciting after-school and holiday playschemes. Lead a team, inspire young minds, and create a space where children flourish and families feel supported. Full Time, £34,000 Find out more.

HCA Doorstep Help Project Coordinator

Holborn Community Association are recruiting a Doorstep Help Coordinator to help vulnerable older people and build a network of volunteers to support them. This role offers the chance to make a real difference for vulnerable older adults and help them build meaningful relationships with others across the community, helping them long term. If you want to apply for this role, you can email on andrew@holborncommunity.co.uk.
Application deadline: Friday 10th January 2025.

Costume Designer-Maker (theatre)

Further Than The Edge Productions C.I.C are currently seeking to collaborate with a Costume Designer-Maker on a Preparatory Scoping activity equivalent to 1 day’s work, in mid February 2025. To work with the writer/director and the puppet designer/maker to assess ways of working, materials, timeframes and costings for a later R&D phase. Closing date: Fri, 20 Dec 2024.

Biodiversity surveying volunteers required for March 2025

Friends of Waterlow Park in Highgate are looking for volunteers to help survey wildlife and botany. Small, friendly groups will meet up and collect data on Saturdays; once a month from March to mid-May, then fortnightly between mid-May and October. A volunteer commented ‘it’s a great way to spend time in the park, you’ll learn a lot about plants, and it’s fun to carry out surveys jointly between families and friends’. You don’t need any experience and everyone is welcome. To register your interest and sign up to join the Biodiversity volunteer mailing list, please contact – Friends of Waterlow Park.

Christmas 2024 Volunteering Roles at VCC

Volunteer Centre Camden has published a round up of Christmas volunteering roles. Check it out now on their website.

People’s Museum Story Bike Promoter

Days: 1.5 days per week (with some flexibility)
Location: People’s Museum Somers Town / outdoor working
Payment: £12-15 per hour
1.    To help raise awareness of StoryBike as sustainable intergenerational taxi service
2.    To do outreach to engage community and build audience
3.    To develop and evaluate this service
4.    To develop museum awareness through outreach and communications

please email diana@aspaceforus.club with CV to apply.

Camden’s Community Champions Programme

Camden Council are recommissioning their community champions programme from April 2025. The ‘invitation to tender’ will be published on the Find a Contract portal on Friday 20th December, with a closing date of 31st January 2025. The procurement tender will be conducted via Pro-contract Due North. Please contact participation@camden.gov.uk if you would like more information.

Showcase your talent in a charity fundraiser

The People’s Classroom, a new education charity based in Camden is running a talent show contest on Jan 31st at The Observatory Photographer’s Gallery (64 Marchmont Street, WC1N 1AB) from 6-9 pm. They are looking for contestants to take part in the talent show, which can any of the following performances:
•    Music
•    Dance
•    Poetry
•    Comedy
•    Circus
If you would like to take part please email: info@thepeoplesclassroom.com.

Scams Prevention & Support from Age UK Camden

If you have concerns about scams, think you may have been a victim of a scam or would like some tips on how to avoid them, then Age UK Camden can help. Their Information & Advice team are here to support you through providing awareness talks or 1-1 support for anyone over 50. Get in touch with an advisor today and see how they can help you: 020 7837 3777.

Have your say! – A new Padel court in Camden

Camden Council welcomes your views about an exciting proposal for a Padel Tennis court at Cantelowes Gardens – Camden believes this would be first Padel court in the borough and in a public park in the UK. Concession rates would be available, and Camden will work with the local voluntary sector to ensure an inclusive offer is available to their users.  Complete the online survey here. 

Shape Up & More Life Weight Management Programmes

Shape Up- Free Men’s Weight Management & Shape Up Sisters – Free Women’s Weight Management are delivered by Arsenal in the Community. Shape Up is a free 12-week programme to support overweight men to improve their nutrition, increase their activity, and reach a healthier weight.  The next session in Camden will start in January. Eligible patients can self-refer by contacting rratcliffe@arsenal.co.uk or calling 07548107576.
More Life is a weight management programme supporting people to eat healthier, set your own goals, and manage your weight.

Local VCS Newsletters

If you would like your Camden VCS newsletter added to this list, please email social@vac.org.uk

Looking for a previous newsletter entry? Find it in our archive here

Find presentations, recordings and resources from past forums here

Our mailing address is:
Greenwood Centre, Greenwood Place, London, NW5 1LB

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.