Camden VCS Future Grants Programme Update
Camden Council will shortly be launching three exciting new funds, with funding due to go live from April 2024. The three funding streams are:
· Community Partner Fund: providing long term funding for key VCS community partners in Camden. This is an investment in the whole organisation and for organisations who are embedded in our communities.
· Community Impact Project Funds: project funding to work together to tackle some of the biggest social challenges faced by Camden’s communities.
· Organisational Foundations Funds: including organisational development grants and funding for organisations who lead the capacity building of the sector.
A summary report outlining the approach that helped us to design these funds can be found here
Details of these funds will be posted on our website and through our newsletter. For the latest announcements, please register here
If you have any upcoming network meetings we would be happy to attend and speak about future grants, please email vcs@camden.gov.uk
Join Good Things Foundation’s Digital Inclusion Network
Good Things Foundation’s London Digital Inclusion Service, Get Online London, is made up of grassroots organisations across London that are all working to deliver digital inclusion support in their local communities.
If you’re a community organisation based in London that is, or wants to support your community members to get online and access the benefits of digital – then joining the service will help you do exactly that. It is free to join and offers a range of free services including:
Access to the National Databank and National Device Bank
Free training and resources
Networking opportunities
Access to our online learning platform, Learn My Way
The National Databank is giving free mobile data (as well as free calls and texts) to people who can’t afford their internet connection. By signing up to the network, you will be eligible to join and start giving out data vouchers.
So, if you’re an organisation based in London that wants to embed digital inclusion support, then participation is free and all you need to do is join the National Digital Inclusion Network
Find out more, and sign up here or contact hello@goodthingsfoundation.org for more information.
VAC Training: Virtual Introduction to Safeguarding for volunteers and new starters.
5th July: 1 – 2.30pm, online
We all have a responsibility to keep children and vulnerable adults safe. This introductory course is designed for volunteers and new staff who work both directly and indirectly for organisations or groups delivering services to children, young people or their families in Camden.
This training is suitable for anyone requiring the equivalent of a Level 1 safeguarding introduction; including volunteers, play and support staff, etc.
Learn more and sign up here
Pride
Pride in London is returning on Saturday 1st July.
The UK’s biggest, most diverse Pride. A home for every part of London’s LGBT+ community.
To find out everything you need to know about this year’s event, please click here
Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of HMT Empires Windrush at Castlehaven
This Saturday, the 24th June, join Castlehaven Community Association to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Empire Windrush’s arrival in Britain. Come along from 12pm for a fun-filled day of family-friendly activities, Afro-Caribbean culture, music, food, dance, and history.
For more information about this event, please click here
Join The Outside Project for their annual sober picnic, Outsider Pride!
You’re invited to join the LGBTIQ+ Community Shelter and Centre, the Outside Project for their annual sober picnic, Outsider Pride, on Wednesday, 28th June at 12:30pm.
This year, the event will be held in the Castlehaven Community Association park to remember and honour the Homeless Queers of the Stonewall Riots.
For more information about Outsider Pride, please click here
Camden New Town Community Festival
Saturday 15th July: 3.30 – 7.30pm and Sunday 16th July 12.00 – 7pm
On Saturday 15th there is Jazz, Folk, poetry and an open mike.
Sunday 16th is a Family day, with a parade, arts and crafts, children’s activities and much more.
Both days will be held at Camden Square Gardens, with the family day including the Playcentre.
If you would like to book a stall, volunteer or make a donation please contact the Festival office on 020 7485 6827 or email festival.mlcc@yahoo.co.uk
Community Health event
15th July: 12pm-5pm
Camden Council, in partnership with NHS colleagues from Brondesbury Medical Centre, are holding a Community Health event on Saturday 15th July, 12pm-5pm in Cumberland Market, Regents Park NW1 3QH
This event will bring together and highlight all aspects of health which will include education, physical activity, NHS health checks, family activities and many more to be confirmed.
It is an opportunity to bring people together to open up the conversation of health and wellbeing and get people engaged in health services.
There will be various all age workshops, and entertainment as well as health and wellbeing related talks and activities.
UCL Community Research Network Boost Your Research + Evaluation! Mixer Event
UCL are bringing together small and grassroots voluntary and community organisations at Kentish Town Community Centre on Thursday 6th July: 5:30 – 7:30pm.
You will be able to meet organisation leaders in the same position as you, connect with UCL researchers and academics and learn about our support network with training opportunities and tailored support.
If you have any questions please contact molly.mccabe@ucl.ac.uk, or, to register, please click here
Community Weekend
The Mayor’s Community Weekend will run from Friday 23rd – Sunday 25th June.
There will be a huge array of events and activities around London throughout the weekend – at least one in every borough! The events will celebrate and support the development of strong community relationships in the capital.
To find out more, please click here
EcoCounts Workshop
1st July: 11 – 2pm at Finsbury Park, Space4
Join EcoCounts for an interactive climate workshop where we will delve into climate action & explore effective strategies for making a difference.
We want you to come with your lived experience and your ideas for action, to help us build strategies for a sustainable future.
This is open to all
To learn more and sign up, please click here
‘Enhancing delivery leaders for tomorrow’
4th July: Old Town Hall (29 The Broadway, London E15 4BQ) from 9:15 – 4pm, free to attend.
This early summer conference, organised by Compass Wellbeing CIC, is especially for parliamentary, NHS and local authority leaders and our partners in the voluntary, community and charitable sector.
The presentations, discussions and life course workshops will focus on how we, as a group of leaders working across the statutory and Third Sector, can work in partnership and to the best effect in harnessing the power, influence, connections and passion of the voluntary and community sector in delivering crucial services to our communities.
Keynote speakers will include Marie Gabriel, chair of the North East London ICS, and Paul Calaminus, CEO of East London Foundation NHS Trust.
Each VCS organisation has been allocated a free space at the conference. Please register here and enter your unique access code.
If you don’t know your access code or are requesting an additional space for a colleague please email conference@compasswellbeing.co.uk to join our waiting list.
Youth Safety Week launches with multi-media competition awards
Camden Council has launched the fourth annual Camden Youth Safety Week – a series of events and activities for children, young people, parents, carers and professionals, running from 22nd to 28th June (with further events running into July).
Last Friday, the winners of Camden’s annual Youth Safety Multi-Media Competition, based on the theme ‘keeping children and young people in Camden safe’, were announced.
One of the two joint winners was from Mary’s charity. Read the full story and see their entries here.
For further information, please email: youthsafety@camden.gov.uk or click here
Free Bereavement Awareness training
Camden and Islington are running a free Bereavement Awareness training on 3rd July to anyone working in Camden.
Bereavement can leave people vulnerable and isolated, but an empathetic early response can help greatly. The course helps reduce stigma and give people the confidence to talk with bereaved people in a simple and empathetic way.
Courses are very popular and fill up fast, to secure your place, please click here
CAWH Announcement: Warm Hub temporarily closed
Due to unforeseen circumstances, CAWH are sorry to inform you that the Warm Hub is temporarily closed.
You are still welcome to come in for a tea / coffee and a chat.
They will keep you updated with any news regarding the Warm Hub reopening.
Suicide Awareness and Prevention Resources Page
Camden and Islington Councils have partnered with Islington Mind to develop a suicide awareness and prevention webpage to inform those working in local services.
Bringing a range of resources together in one place, the webpage aims to help local partners to embed their own suicide prevention plans, support and signpost people at risk, and develop their own knowledge of suicide and its risk factors.
To access the page, please click here
Mama Youth Project: Media Employability Training
10th – 12th July or 14th – 16th August
Join Mama Youth Project at the Sky TV Campus, London to learn about the key skills required to enter a career in the media. There will be 2 days of free training followed by a 3rd day which is paid.
To learn more about eligibility, deadlines and to register your interest, please click here
Palestine Festival
CADFA are hosting a summer Palestine Festival at Calthorpe Community Garden on Sunday 23rd June from 1 to 5pm. We will have a group of Palestinian women visitors in London at that time – and it’s also a time to celebrate nearly 20 years of Camden – Abu Dis links in a fun and educational way.
CADFA would like to invite local community organisations that would like to contribute to the afternoon to contact us at camdenabudis@btinternet.com
The Philological Foundation Trustee Vacancy
The Philological Foundation makes grants to students and schools in Camden and Westminster.
There is currently a vacancy for a new trustee and we are keen to recruit someone who can contribute to our work by bringing experience and knowledge of one or more of the following: The challenges facing young people and students today, Secondary schools in Camden and Westminster, Tertiary education and/ or Marketing and promotion
If you are interested in finding out more, please see our website.
The Chair of Trustees, Clio Whittaker, is also available for an informal chat, please email her at thephilological@gmail.com to arrange a date and time for a call.
A Space for Us Summer job opportunity: ‘Story Bike Taxi’ promoter
Part time hours 3 days – July/ August Wednesday to Saturdays (possibly of extension)
Are you outgoing? Enjoy speaking to people? Enjoy working outdoors? Why not get involved in an growing intergenerational initiative with a social purpose.
The role’s aim is to promote a new service and general outreach, training will be provided.
You need to be an enthusiastic outgoing person, fit and able to cycle, reliable, well organised, good with all ages, a ‘can do’ attitude, the ability to learn and make local connections, flexible and friendly.
To apply contact: info@aspaceforus.club with your CV and/ or email with experience/ why you’d like to do this, and your availability.
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