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The Power of Trustees
Wednesday night’s annual trustee celebration event went down a storm. We got to meet so many great people across the borough who continue to provide their invaluable support and contributions to the VCS. Our CEO, Keith Morgan, highlighted the importance trustees have to the sector:
“We are forever grateful for the important role trustees play in keeping our Voluntary Community sector vibrant and healthy, meeting the needs of diverse communities across the borough…this event was held in the Claudia Jones room, which is apt because Claudia was a feminist, political activist, visionary, and pioneer, virtues that define the very best of what trustees do.”
The event was joint hosted with Volunteer Centre Camden, whose CEO Dominic Pinkney also paid tribute to unsung trustee heroes:
“It was an honour and privilege to help celebrate the amazing work that Camden Trustees do and to shine a spotlight on this undervalued role which is essential for the charity sector to function. It was great to see so many Trustees networking and sharing advice and experiences”.
One of the great things about this event is that we are reunited with success stories from the past. Hui Wang, who attended last year and decided to become a trustee for the first time, told us how much she is enjoying her role, and we are so proud to learn how she was inspired by the event last year.
Thank you so much to everyone who attended and shared their thoughts on Wednesday! Please remember to fill out the evaluation form once received, so we know how to keep taking our trustee network forward. For those of you who haven’t signed up, you can find more information here.
NEW – Safeguarding Training
More details in the Events and Training section
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NCVO “Road Ahead” Report for 2024
NCVO have produced this wide-ranging report, containing insights on the opportunities and challenges charities are likely to face over the year ahead. From the impact of a likely general election on the sector, as well as thoughts on how to prepare for economic, social and technological developments, the report presents a balanced and pragmatic view on what’s coming over the next 12 months.
Funding removed for 40 year old interfaith charity
The Inter Faith Network has had their funding shut off and are being forced to close after the appointment of a new trustee. Set up as a way to promote and improve dialogue between different faith groups, the charity have begun the process to close by April this year.
Charity Commission Strategy for 2024-2029
The release of a new five-year strategy laid out by the Charity Commission was accompanied by a speech from chair Orlando Fraser. Promoting the report, which details the key values and priorities of the commission, Fraser emphasised a commitment to remaining fair, balanced and independent. |
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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!
SUEZ Communities Trust Landfill Communities Fund
Suez Communities Trust is offering grants of between £3,000 and £50,000 for not-for-profit groups across England to deliver projects that make physical improvements to community facilities, or repair buildings of religious worship or buildings of architectural or historic interest. Funding is available for capital improvement works to public amenity projects for community use.
London Catalyst Grants
Voluntary and community groups working with Greater London can apply for grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 for to deliver new and ‘catalytic’ initiatives and service developments targeted at people who are disadvantaged because of long-term ill health, disability, and poverty. Projects Grants can be used for reasonable and relevant project costs, such as salaries, training, volunteer expenses, management, supervision, and evaluation.
Fund for groups working with refugees & asylum seekers
Comic Relief’s new funding programme is offering grants of up to £200,000 over three to five years for UK organisations with an income of between £250,000 and £10 million. The aim of the Re-Rooted funding call is to help UK organisations address the challenges faced by the migration sector and to support refugees and asylum seekers to safely and securely rebuild their lives in the UK.
HRUK application windows for healthy heart grants
Heart Research UK will be offering grants of up to £15,000 again this year to registered charities and community interest companies (CICs) in the UK with an annual income of less than £1 million. The funding is for new projects that work with communities to prevent heart disease, particularly for vulnerable and isolated groups of individuals (adults) who are at an increased risk of developing heart problems in the future.
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VAC UPCOMING TRAINING:
Open to VAC Members only
If you are a voluntary service or group delivering services in Camden and are not a member of VAC, please join here: https://vac.org.uk/get-involved/membership
Upcoming safeguarding training
For all VCS organisations, supplementary, faith schools and groups delivering services to under 18’s in the borough.
In partnership with Camden’s Safeguarding Children’s Partnership:
Women and Girls’ Personal Safety and Awareness
(In partnership with The Safeguarding Foundation)
Wednesday 13 March 2024, 10.00am – 12.00pm
Face to face at Ludham & Waxham TRA Hall, Lismore Circus, Camden NW3
To find out more or to secure your place, please visit our website or email the VAC Safeguarding Lead Dianne Carlton-Ogunyemi on: dogunyemi@vac.org.uk
OTHER EVENTS
Level Up: Turn Your Gaming Skills Into A Career
Want to get into the gaming industry? Attend this talk at the Roundhouse to learn how you can build an exciting creative career in the gaming ecosystem, spanning from development to content creation. The event will be followed by a Q&A and live-streaming demonstrations.
Ages 18-25 | Tue 26 March, 6.30-8pm | £5
Get Insights Into Your Fundraising with UCL
UCL are hosting a Behavioural Science showcase and they are looking for a handful of voluntary sector and community partners to come and connect with students who are working to understand what motivates people to donate to charities. Students will be presenting their work, and you can come and chat and share your take aways from the day during a small informal panel discussion. Email Molly on molly.mccabe@ucl.ac.uk if you are interested.
21 March 2024, UCL North Cloisters, Gower St, WC1E 6BT
Girls and young women invited to celebrate International Women’s Day
Girls and young women aged 11 to 18 (up to 25 with special educational needs or disabilities) are invited to a free day of activities to celebrate International Women’s Day 2024. The event is hosted by Camden’s Integrated Youth Support Service and lunch will be provided. Free activities on the day will include clay modelling, jewellery making, hair braiding, self-defence, baking, T-shirt printing, Chinese calligraphy, steel pans and more… To book your place for this free event, please fill in the online registration form.
Saturday 9 March, Somers Town Youth Centre, 134 Chalton Street, NW1 1RX
Workshops at St. Pancras Community Association
SPCA are holding a number of workshops over the coming weeks, including one off events intended to help you make sure you know your rights on Immigration Rules and Housing Conditions, as well as recurring free Air Dry Clay Modelling classes on Wednesdays. Find out more about all their events here, or by contacting 020 7380 1501.
Volunteer Managers’ Forum – Peer Support and Networking
Volunteer Centre Camden are hosting a free to attend online forum on Wednesday 6th March – you choose the topics to discuss! Based on all things related to volunteer management. Find out more information and book your place here.
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Chief Executive at Mind in Camden
Mind in Camden are undertaking ground-breaking partnership projects that work alongside people, organisations and communities to make positive changes in mental health. They are looking for a proven leader who will be experienced in all areas of the management, governance, strategy, fundraising and sustainability of an organisation. Diversity is valued at MIC and applications are welcome from all groups in the community. More details here.
Application deadline: 18th March.
Caretaker/ Cleaner at St Pancras Community Association
The Caretaker/Cleaner at SPCA provides a staff presence in the Community Centre during the evenings and at the weekend, so that people feel welcome and safe, and the building is secure. To find out more please call 020 7380 1501 or visit their website.
Part time Guest Co-ordinator at Touch Project
The Touch Project are looking for a reliable, trustworthy, local person, ideally with a DBS, who would like one hours work on Thursday evenings at the Old Diorama Arts Centre, from 6-7pm each week. This person would ideally be female or non-binary, and would be responsible for room set up and welcoming guests. Please contact Kathy by text on 07932737813 if you would like to apply.
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Foundation looking for participants in shadowing scheme
The John Ellerman Foundation are looking for three people from diverse backgrounds with lived experience of poverty, to take part in a six month shadowing scheme. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to learn more about charity governance within a charitable grantmaker, attending board and sub-committee meetings and observing and contributing to application assessments. The deadline for applications is 13th March.
“Keep it Local” Guidance for Integrated Care Systems
Locality have produced a guidance document for ICSs, which demonstrates how to harness the power of community to achieve key goals. The guide is accompanied by a report on health system funding, with information on identifying barriers to funding and how to proactively influence for greater involvement.
Getting on Board’s Trustee Learning Programme
Featuring high-quality webinars, clinics and panel discussions, this free programme embeds best equity, diversity and inclusion practices and includes trainers who are experts in the field, and who are all committed to making the training fully inclusive. Upcoming sessions for this Spring include “Trustee In-Tray”, “Where Are All of The Young Trustees?”, and “Faith and Trusteeship”. For any questions, please contact info@gettingonboard.org.
Camden’s Draft Local Plan & Draft Holborn Vision
Have your say on two public consultations on development in the local area. The draft new Local Plan sets out the Councils vision for future development in Camden for the next 15 years and includes planning policies and site allocations to help achieve this. The Draft Holborn Vision reflects changes in the last 5 years and your valuable feedback from the 2019 consultation.
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
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| Got an item for the e-bulletin? |
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| Send your item to social@vac.org.uk by noon on Wednesday for publication in the following Friday’s edition. Submissions should be 50 – 75 words. Please send plain text or a format that can be copied (ie not embedded in an image). Send links to documents rather than attachments. Make sure to include contact details. |
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