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Interim CEO announcement

A message from our interim CEO, Dianne Carlton Ogunyemi:

Many of our community partners, members and colleagues know me from my work developing, planning and delivering training for the Community Safeguarding Project, which I have led in earnest since April 2018.

What started as a pilot project in response to the death of Victoria Climbié in 2000, has evolved and expanded into a personalised, responsive, and integral service; sensitive to the needs of its organisations, communities and groups, and I am proud of the work achieved so far.

With the departure of our CEO Keith Morgan, I am honoured to accept the role of interim chief executive officer at VAC, and deeply appreciate the trust and confidence the board have placed in me during this important period of transition.

While our trustees complete the final stages of recruitment for our new CEO; on behalf of the entire team at VAC I would like to express our gratitude to Keith Morgan for his passion drive and leadership. We wish him all the best and wait to hear of the fantastic work he will go on to achieve at Prostate Cancer UK.

The safeguarding of children and young people has been my passion for the past 15 years, and this will continue to take centre stage with the renewal of the CSP contract, funded by Camden’s Safeguarding Children’s Partnership this year. Thank you to the partners, co-workers, former colleagues, new and old friends for your kind words, encouragement and promise of ongoing support.

As we move forward, I am committed to ensuring the team are supported and strengthened while we navigate this period of transition together.

Best wishes to all.

Dianne

Communications Survey
You may have seen a notice from us earlier in the week about our Communications Survey, which will be running until midway through September. If you haven’t had a chance to give your thoughts yet, please click this link and let us know how you’re feeling about how we communicate with you. 

Upcoming Training & Events

• Virtual Webinar: Conflict Management 12th September, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
• Voluntary sector organisational structures; what’s right for you? 16^th September, 10:30am – 12:00pm
• Virtual: Understanding Gaming and Gambling Harms – Health and Social Care Focus 17th September, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
• Virtual Workshop: National Lottery – Awards for All Applications 18^th September, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
• Face-to-face: Introduction to Safeguarding for new starters and volunteers Crowndale Centre 218 Eversholt Street, NW1 1BD, 25^th September, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Face-to-face: Women and Girls’ Personal Safety and Awareness (In partnership with The Safeguarding Foundation) Crowndale Centre 218 Eversholt Street, NW1 1BD, 9^th October, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
• Camden Carers Service face to face session: Who Cares for the Carer? Voluntary Action Camden, 8-12 Camden High St, NW1 0JH, 13th November, 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Find out more here: https://vac.org.uk/news-and-events/events/

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

Issues and opportunities for membership-based charities
New research into charities utilising membership-based models has collected a number of insights into how such models have a positive impact but also raise spaces for growth. The Strength in Numbers report, published by consultants Lucent, analysed different membership-based charities and talks about the ways membership can provide stability and trust, but also how some versions of the model can be outdated and create barriers.

UK children show low life satisfaction, report says
A new report from The Children’s Society has been released, which reveals stark findings about child wellbeing in the UK. The report collected and analysed data from a number of sources, and gives insights into children and young people’s relationships with family and school, as well as comparing for gender and with other European countries. You can read The Good Childhood Report here.

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!

• Prudence Trust is offering grants of between for charities and community interest companies across the UK that deliver evidence-based, specialist eating disorder services for children and young people aged between 11 and 25, and their families (deadline for applications is 2nd September).
• Youth Safety Multi-Media Competition – apply for funding before 30 September. Camden’s annual Youth Safety Multi-Media Competition is open to children and young people in Camden aged 10 to 18. Entries must be by children and young people in partnership with their school, youth organisation or play centre. If you don’t require funding for your project, you can still enter the competition up until the closing date of 8 November.
• The Paul Hamlyn Foundation Ideas and Pioneers Fund provides grants to individuals, groups and small organisations who want to explore an innovative new idea or approach for change. The funding is intended to help develop early-stage ideas and wants to support people aged 18-30 who have lived experience of the issues their ideas are looking to address or who have been let down or harmed by current systems.
• D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust for advancement of the arts, medical welfare and the environment.
• The government is providing grants through the Heat Networks Delivery Unit (HNDU) to help identify, evaluate and develop new heating and cooling networks and the expansion of existing heating and cooling networks in England and Wales.
• The Motability Foundation supports the travel needs of disabled people across the UK through its grant programme which supports disabled people through other charities and organisations who provide transport, help to access it, or research how to make transport accessible. 

Camden Youth Worker Forum: Collaboration & Partnership 

This forum from Young Camden Foundation is designed specifically for those working with children and young people in Camden and around our diverse Borough of Camden, part of their Level Up Youth Work series. The event will focus on the power of collaboration, and will hopefully encourage new partnerships in the room. There will be guest speakers, engaging discussions, and time for networking too. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with others working in the youth sector, share experiences, and hopefully learn from each other. Tuesday 24th September, 4.30 – 6.00pm.

Camden Community Centres’ Consortium’s AGM

Camden Community Centres’ Consortium’s AGM will take place on Thursday, October 3rd, 5:45pm-7pm, at Camden Town Hall’s Council Chamber. Over the past six months, we have been working hard to refocus our collaboration and increase the profile of community centres and spaces in Camden. If you are able to attend, here is the link to register. Please don’t hesitate to email admin@c4consortium.org.uk if you have any questions. 

Ethical Property Foundation Support Clinic & Webinar

The EPF are hosting an exclusive specialist advice clinic hosted in partnership with Utility Aid, on 26th September. Free slots are available on the day with experts. To register your interest in this event, please click here.
Then, on 3rd October, there is a free webinar, Negotiating and Managing Your Lease, run by experienced solicitors and surveyors. 

Mentoring & Befriending Coordinator at Advice for Renters

Advice for renters is recruiting a Mentoring & Befriending Coordinator. You will be creating connections that bring warmth, understanding and practical help to those who need it most. By pairing volunteers with service users, you will combat social isolation and contribute to the overall wellbeing of our community. Your dedication and commitment will empower individuals to be more independent, making a lasting difference to their lives.
Closing date: Friday 30th August

Holborn Venues Events Co-ordinator

Holborn Venues are looking for a full time Events Co-ordinator. The Events Co-ordinator will join a small team running a wide-ranging events programme within the church and adjoining buildings. The role is varied and includes setting up events spaces, liaising with customers and creating social media content. Evening and weekend work required on a rota basis. To apply, send an up-to-date CV and covering letter addressing the main requirements of the post to vacancy@standrewholborn.org.uk.
Closing date: 2nd September.

3 Vacancies at St Pancras Community Association

Saint Pancras Community Association (SPCA) is a charity delivering high quality services for Camden residents, especially the lively and diverse community of the St Pancras and Somers Town ward. 

Marketing and Communications Executive
SPCA are seeking a talented Marketing and Communications Executive to play a crucial role in raising SPCA’s brand in the community. You will be responsible for the marketing and communications strategy and content; manage key communications channels including our website, newsletters, and social media; and coordinate with colleagues to generate content across the organisation. This exciting role would suit someone looking to move from a corporate communications and marketing role into the charity sector or someone already working in the sector seeking a new challenge and drive and shape the future of SPCA.
Closing Date: 02 September

Caretaker/Cleaner

Provide a staff presence in a community centre after 5pm and weekend so that people feel welcome and safe and the building is secure. Set out rooms, so that community activities can be run on site. General cleaning.

Community Kitchen Volunteer 
SPCA’s Community kitchen will provide a warm space, healthy eating options, as well as a range of other community benefits such as reduced social isolation and skills development. This role is to support the Community Café Manager to run the kitchen. Ideally you will be able to commit to at least 5 hours on Thursdays, but as we understand people lead busy lives so you can volunteer on between 3.00pm-6.30pm.
Please email jobs@spca.org.uk if you are interested in applying.

Haringey Community Collaborative Capacity Building Lead

Haringey Community Collaborative (a partnership between Mind in Haringey and Public Voice CIC), are looking for a Community Development Lead to join our team in supporting the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in Haringey. The role involves providing one-to-one and group capacity building support, facilitating funding opportunities, designing and delivering training and workshops, and promoting collaboration and networking. Find out more and apply here.
Closing date: 9th September 

Adult Community Learning Tutors – Camden 

We are seeking enthusiastic and qualified tutors to join our adult community programme in Camden. Our adult learning programme supports adults with a learning disability to develop self-confidence, learn new skills and to improve their understanding of their local community. Please note tutors must have AET or a teaching qualification. For more information, please click here.
Closing Date: 30th September

Hampstead Wells and Campden Trust – Trustee Recruitment

A local charity in NW Camden dedicated to the relief of poverty, health inequalities and homelessness. We’re looking for enthusiastic and engaged Trustees to join our team. This is a voluntary role, with expenses covered. Please contact our Director, Stuart Woltkamp-Moon, at stuart@hwct.org.uk to discuss the position. More information about the HWCT can be found here.

Volunteering Opportunities at Abbey Community Centre

ACC are looking for volunteer befrienders to help reduce isolation by regularly visiting individuals over 60s in their homes and help provide ad hoc support. If you’re passionate in Children’s Services and family support, you can volunteer in assisting running creative and fun activities for under 5s whilst building relationships with their parents and carers. Other volunteering opportunities available and please contact vol-opps@abbeycc-kilburn.org.uk with any questions. 

Communications Volunteer (women only) at Clean Break

Clean Break provides theatre and writing based opportunities, including workshops from their studios in Kentish Town NW5 for women who have experience of the criminal justice system, or who are risk of entering it. Their Communications team are looking for a volunteer (see Job pack at the bottom of the page) to support the upkeep of social media channels and website. You will be working with the Communications Manger to plan, write, design and schedule social media and website content.

LIFT Digital Marketing Futures programme

This short and intensive programme is specifically for people who would have completed a Digital marketing course in the past 2 years and want to get some help in preparing to work in the field. The only criteria is to be a resident of Camden, Islington, Tower Hamlets or Hackney aged 18 and over.
•    Get advice from recruitment teams and hiring managers from leading digital marketing agencies.
•    In depth workshops to improve your presentation skills, maths assessment, excel, showcasing your current experience.
•    Access to interviews for live roles, paid internships, and 2 days of work experience.

Audio messages in Bengali & Somali for NHS Healthy Start scheme

Camden Public Health has worked with local community volunteers to develop audio messages in Bengali and Somali languages for WhatsApp groups, to raise awareness on the NHS Healthy Start scheme. If you are pregnant or have a child under 4 years, you may be eligible for financial support through the scheme. 

Camden Women’s Safety Survey

We want Camden to be a safe place for everyone, but sadly, we know too many women don’t feel safe when they’re out and about on our streets. The council would like to hear the experiences of women and girls in Camden to understand how safe you feel living, working and travelling in our borough. The survey should take up to five to six minutes and will build on the work from their first survey in 2022. Survey link here. The survey closes on 7th Oct 2024. For more information, please contact savannah.ray@camden.gov.uk.

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

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