Voluntary Action Camden e-Bulletin 11th December 2015

Healthwatch Camden’s ‘Start Here’ Guide launched; Decisions to be made at Camden’s Cabinet this month; Camden Community Connectors; Camden and Islington Public Health will re-procure Direct Action Project; Further Consultation on Crossrail 2; Healthwatch Camden report reveals wide variations between GP practices in Camden; Improving Outcomes for patients with Long Term Conditions; Kentish Town City Farm Christmas Fair; + jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

The Start Here guide finally is live. It was launched it at the Healthwatch Camden Annual General Meeting (AGM). You can have a look at it here.
If you want to find out about a service, your choices or to get involved, this is your starting point.
Healthwatch Camden is an independent organisation offering information and advice on access to services, and to enable local people to monitor the quality of local services.

Decisions to be made at Camden’s Cabinet this month
Next week Camden’s Cabinet will meet to decide how we make savings from some key services as well as considering the latest information on the financial position.
Proposals being presented to Cabinet include a new strategy for the delivery of the future library service and a new framework for supporting the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS). Full details on the Camden council website.

Camden Community Connectors
Tackling social isolation among older people
Camden Community Connectors is a new six year project working across Camden to tackle social isolation and loneliness among older people. Our team of five local Area Coordinators is working with volunteers to identify and support people aged 60+ and help them reconnect to local activities and meet new people. We’re also building up an accessible ‘asset map’ of all services that support older people in Camden. We’d love to hear from you if you want to work with us, refer an older person, volunteer or if you just want to know more.
We’re part of the Ageing Better in Camden programme funded by Big Lottery. To find out more, check out our website or call us free on 0800 634 8474.

Camden and Islington Public Health will re-procure Direct Action Project
This is a community based mental health promotion service for young people (aged 12-24) and for parents/carers of young children in Islington.
Ahead of inviting bids, we are conducting a market engagement exercise which will run until 16th December (12 noon). This is not an invitation to tender, but will help inform the procurement and shape the service specification. The questionnaire is now live and available through the Council website.
There is no requirement for potential providers to be physically located in Islington, although they will require familiarity with Islington services and facilities.
If your organisation may be interested in bidding for this contract, we would be grateful if you could complete the questionnaire through the London Tenders Portal (details in the link above).

Further Consultation on Crossrail 2
A proposed new railway serving London and the wider South East, Crossrail 2 would run underground through London between Wimbledon and New Southgate/Tottenham Hale and link into the existing national rail network above ground for destinations in Surrey and Hertfordshire.
Crossrail 2 would link in with London Underground, London Overground, Crossrail 1, national and international rail services.
Further details about the proposals are available at www.crossrail2.co.uk, where you can access a range of factsheets and view an interactive map of the proposals.
To respond formally to this consultation, please visit www.crossrail2.co.uk to leave a comment or provide a response to the consultation questions contained in the feedback form. The consultation will run until 8 January 2016.

Healthwatch Camden report reveals wide variations between GP practices in Camden
A report by Healthwatch Camden entitled ‘GP practices in Camden: A study of variation 2015’, reveals wide variations in both patient experience and in the delivery of clinical services across Camden’s 36 GP practices. More details on the Healthwatch Camden website or view the full report.

Improving Outcomes for patients with Long Term Conditions
Thursday 17th December (9:30am to 1pm). Refreshments & lunch will be provided in addition to a gratuity payment of a £20:00 gift voucher as a thank you for your time.
Please note that the public who attend must have a long term condition and at this stage the CCG is focusing on holding discussions with patients who have the following conditions:
~ Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
~ Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
~ Diabetes
~ Heart Failure
~ Hypertension
~ Epilepsy
~ Cancer
~ Serious Mental Illness (SMI)
~ Frailty
Workshops will be held to discuss:
o Long term conditions management for Camden patients
o What health outcomes you feel are important for you?
o What health outcomes should be measured to ensure that your care can be judged a success?
Dr Lance Saker, General Practitioner, Hampstead Group Practice & Clinical Sponsor at Camden CCG will be the headline presenter.
To book your place email: martin.emery@camdenccg.nhs.uk or Tel: 0203 688 1755

Kentish Town City Farm Christmas Fair
12:00 – 4:00pm Sunday 13th December
at 1 Cressfield Cl, London NW5 4BN
Come along to the annual Christmas Fair and you can have fun and help support the farm and animals. There will be a Christmas Cafe with soups, cakes and John’s mulled wine. Father Christmas arrives on a pony at 1;30pm and there will be a Christmas Grotto (£3.50), live music, Christmas crafts and arts, Face Painting, a Lucky dip and Prize Raffle Draw.
KTCF Christmas Cards are also available at the farm and our Christmas Fair. Cost: £5 for 10 cards. See more at ktcityfarm.org.uk

Two Kingsgate Community Centre Christmas Events
Winter Festival 2015, 12th December 11am to 3.30pm at Kilburn Grange Park – stalls, ice rink and magical surprises. For info email info@kingsgatecc.org.uk or call 020 7328 9480
Under 5s Drop In Christmas Party 16th December 1.30 – 3.30pm at Kingsgate Community Centre

Free training, outings and events for unpaid carers in Camden
For a full list of events of carers in Camden please visit the Camden Carers website.

Healthwatch Camden
Latest Information DIgest is on the Healthwatch Camden website.
Catch up with the latest Camden news and what’s happening on Our Blog

The Camden Capacity Building Bulletin is produced monthly, targeting the community and voluntary sector in Camden. It provides up to date/recently live information and news on funding and training. To access the latest information please follow the Link www.camden.gov.uk/cbbulletin

British Somali Community, NICE, The Sherriff Centre, Alexandra Road Park, Nafisyat, Ransackers, and Camden PA are recruiting. See Jobs and Volunteers section below.

Camden Shares. The website for exchanges in Camden. www.camdenshares.org.uk

You can join in on Facebook. Like us if you like us.

Follow all the Camden Voluntary Sector news on OneCamden on Twitter.

You can read more about all of these stories on our news page at www.vac.org.uk/new

 

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

Reaching Communities Fund and Awards for All One to One Advice Sessions
28th January 2016. 10.30 – 4.30.
With Jane Sterland Regional Officer for the Big Lottery
Voluntary Action Camden, 293-299 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2TJ
Reaching Communities and Awards for All are still amongst the best grants to go for. Jane will be offering you one to one advice on your application to the Reaching Communities Fund and Awards for All. You can book a one hour slot to discuss your draft application with someone who is very knowledgeable and experienced. People who attended the last advice day were very pleased with the support they received.
‘Yes invaluable. Would always come. Support was brilliant’.
‘Yes I would certainly recommend it. We were given a generous amount of time with someone who was extremely knowledgeable and a very clear communicator’.
To get the best out of the session you need to get a copy of your draft application to VAC by Friday 15th January. Your draft application will then be sent to Jane who can then read it and prepare comments ready for when you meet with her.
To book a place please contact acharles@vac.org.uk. Tel: 0207 284 6553.

Solve waste problems through crowdfunding
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s new campaign Waste Not UK (recently aired on the BBC) has set out to discover why we produce so much waste across the UK. A third of food in the UK never gets eaten, yet 13 million people in this country are struggling to afford to eat. Evidently something needs to be done about it!
Our friends down at Crowdfunder have teamed up with Hugh to support innovative projects to actively solve waste problems. If you have a waste project that you wish to get off the ground, why not start crowdfunding it today?
Or, if you want to show your support for other waste tackling groups, check out the campaign page.

Don’t forget to sign up to Funding Central for free email funding alerts. Go to www.fundingcentral.org.uk/

VAC’s Mental Health Training Programme for BMER groups
Are you a BMER group or do you work with BMER communities? If so, then our Mental Health Training Programme is for you! Our next courses are as follows:
• Introduction to Mental Health Awareness (one day workshop: 9th December)
• Mental Health First Aid (two-day course: 9th and 16th February 2016)
For more information about our any of our courses, please go to https://vac.org.uk/events/category/health-mental-health/. Click on the course you are interested in and follow the instructions to book your place and pay by card (if applicable). The charge for our Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid training courses is heavily subsidised at only £25 per person. All other mental health workshops are free.
Please note that VAC can only accept bookings from organisations working with BMER communities based in Camden, or which serve Camden BMER residents. Places are limited on each course to a maximum of two people per organisation. If you have any queries, please contact us on our team email address: mentalhealthteam@vac.org.uk

VAC has a full programme of courses coming up: Click here to find out more. All courses are £25 for members (unless otherwise stated).

Property Advice Clinic
The Ethical Property Foundation will be providing a free property advice clinic for charities and not for profits in Camden on 14th January. Two of the Foundation’s advisers will be on hand to provide 20 minute one to one discussions on property issues including renting, leasing or buying property, maintenance or property disposal.
Please contact Donna Turnbull at VAC to book your free 20 minute slot between 10am-1pm. dturnbull@vac.org.uk tel 020 7284 6567

Camden Mental Health Forum
Tuesday 26 January from 6-8pm at The Hub, 8 Fairhazel Gardens, London, NW6 3SG
The forum is an opportunity for people living with mental ill health, their carers, families and friends as well as mental health professionals to come together and discuss mental health issues in the borough including considering the future shape of services.
The meeting will be chaired by Councillor Maeve McCormack, the Council’s Mental Health champion.
If there is something that you would like to talk about at the forum please contact me (see below).
Other dates for 2016:
· Tuesday 12 April 6-8pm (venue to be confirmed)
· Wednesday 13 July 6-8pm (venue to be confirmed)
· Wednesday 12 October 6-8pm (venue to be confirmed)
We look forward to seeing you at the forums.
Paul Kent, London Borough of Camden Tel: 0207 974 6921 Web: camden.gov.uk

Voluntary Action Camden in Partnership with the Mary Ward Centre
ILM Certificate in Team Leading
Need a course that is the ideal launch pad for your management career? Start with this nationally recognized qualification that is designed for new and aspiring team leaders – get an in-depth introduction to the role and its responsibilities. This is a classroom-based afternoon\evening course delivered by tutors who are current practitioners in the sector. One session per week over 23 weeks plus online materials starting in January 2016. If you are in receipt of JSA/ESA or are unemployed and receive another income related benefit this course is FREE. Full fee £597. Call Roz on 020 7269 6033 or email roz@marywardcentre.ac.uk for details.

Drop-In Mindfulness Meditation
Thursday 2.30pm – 3.30pm at The Stress Project
Mindfulness is the practise of focusing your attention on being in the present, without judgement. It is clinically proven and ideal to help improve sleep, de-stress and reduce anxiety.
£2 – No need to book, just turn up
www.stressproject.org.uk 2 Shelburne Road N7 6DL tel: 020 7700 3938

Camden & Brent councils proposals for a major development of Kilburn High Road
Monday 14th December at The Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road – from 11am to 3pm. refreshments will be provided.
The objectives include making the High Road a safer place for everyone (the area is a top accident spot) trying to make it a more attractive place for people, businesses and visitors. Proposals include widening pavement areas, installing a central median strip – island in the middle of the road, traffic measures: 20mph speed limit, de-cluttering the footways. Following the public meetings there will be a period of public consultation. see: Camden.gov.uk/khr
KOVE have been campaigning for safer road crossings for considerable time and this initiative allows people to contribute their views and suggestions.

CPPEG Open Meeting
Monday 14th December, St Pancras Hospital, Conference Room 2-4pm
o Presentation 1: Team Around The Practice (a new service which aims to optimise the care of people with mental health issues in primary care) Presenter: Terilla Bernard, Mental Health (TAP) Project Manager
o Presentation 2: Patients with a long term condition (what do patients want a care plan to look like?) Presenter: Adetola Adeniran, Project Manager – Long Term Conditions and Cancer Programme
Camden’s Team Around the Practice officially launched
Clinicians, service users, carers, and commissioners gathered on Wednesday 25 November to launch Camden’s newest mental health initiative, the Team Around the Practice. The Team Around the Practice, or TAP, is supporting patients with mental health needs who might have previously found themselves on long waiting lists or ‘falling through the gaps’. The TAP is being provided by the Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust and Mind in Camden, and is working exclusively with Camden GPs.

Volunteer Coordinators’ Forum and AGM
At this point all you need to do is save the date: Wednesday 27th January
Time and Venue TBC
Do you have a low-cost (or free!) venue VCC could use?
If so, contact Sheila at Volunteer Centre Camden [sheila@volunteercentrecamden.org.uk]

Alexandra Road Park Events November/December 2015
Saturdays (until 12.12.2015 for this year) – 10.00am – 11.000am – Boot camp, (in the Bowl area) free
Saturdays (until 12.12.2015 for this year) – 11.00am – 12.000pm – Pilates, (in the Bowl area) free
Fridays – 4.30pm – 6pm – Cricket, Winter location: Quintin Kynaston, Marlborough Hill, London NW8
17 December 2015 – 6:30pm – 9pm – Talent night, venue: TRA Hall, Alexandra and Ainsworth estate, Rowley Way, London NW8. To take part, audition and rehearse for the competition please send an email to stephen@shakonline.co.uk with your name, address, contact details and the type of performance with which you would like to take part in by 3rd of December.
If you have any questions, please call 0207 624 8935.
Jenny Kurktchieva, Alexandra Road Park HLF Activities Co-ordinator Telephone: 020 7974 2367

Courses at Castlehaven
Castlehaven have two new courses starting in the new year for anyone aged 19yrs +, the courses are the outcome of a partnership between the Castlehaven Community Association and the WMC – The Camden College.
An accredited Level 1 Course in Working with Children. Every Tuesday 10am-3pm from Tues 12th Jan 2016 (A great course for parents/carers of school children, who are looking to getting back into work).
A Free Taster Course in Floristry on Fri 29th Jan 2016 (With the potential to start an 8wk course in starting a business in Floristry).
Contact Castlehaven Community Association, The Community Centre, 21 Castlehaven Road, NW1
t: 020 7485 3386 e: info@castlehaven.org.uk web www.castlehaven.org.uk

Winter Volunteering Fairs
VCC are hosting three volunteering fairs this Winter.
The fairs are a perfect way to meet people who want to volunteer in Camden. And they have a 46% recruitment rate.
Thursday 21st January 6-7.30pm at Swiss Cottage Library
Please make sure you have weekend and evening volunteering opportunities, as many people who attend evening fairs work during the day.
Thursday 28th January 12-2pm at St Pancras Community Association
Wednesday 24th February 12-2pm at Working Men’s College
And you can easily book your places via Eventbrite here.

Developing Partnerships in the Arts and Cultural Sectors
24th February 2016, 10 am- 4.15 pm, Cockpit Arts, London
Looking at the benefits of where, when and how to find the right partner, this course will offer a simple structure for developing and working in partnerships.
Full of practical techniques for working together with other organisations and individuals, the day will leave you equipped to successfully deliver youth arts projects and events through partnerships. The training will use an interactive approach to explore issues such as defining roles and setting realistic targets, along with troubleshooting for problem areas – including when and how to bow out gracefully if partnerships aren’t working!
Ideal if you are looking to work in partnership with other organisations to deliver youth arts projects
You will gain:
~ Tips for identifying and approaching suitable partners
~ Information on how to develop partnerships and partnership agreements
~ Techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of your partnerships
Cost: The fee for this course is £130, limited bursary places are available. 25% early bird discount for bookings made before the 24th December 2015.
Book your place at www.artswork.org.uk/event or contact Rachel Hall via rachelhall@artswork.org.uk / 02380 332491 for further advice and information.

London for All
London for All / LVSC have a full programme of courses available for the voluntary sector. Go to the London for All website for full details.

Camden Carers’ Service
Has a full range of events and activities for unpaid carers in Camden. Find out more on the Camden Carers’ Service website www.camdencs.org.uk/activities

Don’t forget that Camden TDS run a full programme of course which are subsidised or free for voluntary sector partner organisations. There is a link to a list of partner organisations on the home page.

Find more Training Opportunities at www.vac.org.uk

Marketing and Communications Volunteer
British Somali Community is a women led charity based in Camden, London which has operated for 20 years. We are focused on improving Somali children’s educational achievements, improving access to health and social services and improving the overall well-being of the Somali community.
We are looking for a creative and tech-savvy volunteer to join the team and help drive our marketing and communication. The volunteer will help develop a marketing and communication strategy for the BSC and support the team in creating marketing materials for our services, assist in organizing events and some office administrative duties when required. Although this is a voluntary role, with lunch and travel expenses covered, there is a possibility of it becoming a funded role.
Please send your CV and a short covering letter explaining your interest in the position as soon as possible to: info@britishsomali.org

NICE is recruiting lay and community members
NICE committees and working groups are made up of health, social care and other professionals and practitioners, patients, service users, carers and members of the public, and technical experts.
NICE is looking for lay and community members in different areas to help us develop our guidance, and all of our lay and community members are paid a fee to attend meetings and we cover travel and other expenses. See the full range of opportunities at the NICE website.

The Calthorpe Project seeks new Chair of Trustees
The Calthorpe Project, a charity and social enterprise in the rapidly changing area of King’s Cross in London, is looking for a new Chair of Trustees. Please see weblink below for more details:
https://reachskills.org.uk/opp/chair-trustees-needed-unique-multi-purpose-inner-city-green-oasis
This is a voluntary role, but would be ideal for someone who wants to ‘make their mark’ on an organisation for the benefit of local people and the environment. Applicants will need a track record of managing change, leadership and governance, and negotiating multiple stakeholder interests.
The Calthorpe Project has a 30 year history and a future full of potential. With your help the Calthorpe Project will continue to play a vital role in the London Borough of Camden for many years to come.

Alexandra Road Park Seeks Volunteers
This new park seeks volunteers who can help with conservation and promotion of Alexandra Road Park. Contact Jenny Kurktchieva, Jenny.Kurktchieva@camden.gov.uk or call 020 7974 2367.

University College London’s GC Voluntary Sector Programme in 2015-16
Host a full-time team volunteer placement in June 2016
The UCL Volunteering Services Unit is looking for up to 25 community partners to participate in the Global Citizenship Voluntary Sector Programme 2016.
Each participating organisation will host a team of 4-8 UCL students who are passionate about the voluntary sector. That team will learn about working life in your organisation and complete a project of your choosing whose output will add value to your organisation.
The next programme takes place 31 May – 10 June 2016 and we are recruiting voluntary organisations to host placements now, at www.uclu.org/gcvoluntarysectororgs.

Are you looking to employ an assistant to help with your care needs? CamdenPAs can help you.
CamdenPAs.org.uk is a new service that makes it easy to find a personal assistant (PA) and puts you in control of your care and support.
If you have care needs, you can employ a PA to help you to live as independently as possible.
CamdenPAs features an online ‘marketplace’ for you to browse through a list of profiles of PAs in the borough. Profiles give details about the services they provide, their skills, experience and personal interests.
You can look through the list to find suitable matches and choose someone you like to help support you.
When you find a match you can contact the PA to arrange an interview and see how you get on. If you like them you can then work out contract details such as hours, duties and wages, and hire them.
If you do not find anyone suitable, you can set up your own a profile describing your requirements and interests, for PAs to look through and contact you.
You can employ a PA whether you receive a direct payment or fund your own care. If you receive direct payments you can get support with the employment from Personalised Support In Camden or AgeUK Camden.
Become a PA
If you’re a PA looking for work or are just starting out, CamdenPAs can help you. As well as helping you finding a job, the site features advice on looking for work, becoming a PA and where to get training.
Why not set up your profile today? Find out more, visit: camdenpas.org.uk or phone: 020 7278 4437

Socially Responsible Recruiting
A new, award-winning skills matching service that connects employers with skilled and experienced people to do one-off or part-time jobs has launched in Camden, with a strong social benefit ethic.
“There is a very large number of people in Camden who are fantastically skilled and work-ready but are off the radar to employers because they’re not looking for full-time work and aren’t constantly scouring the job ads,” says Jonathan Collie, founder of Trading Times.
These people are highly skilled over 50s, and family carers. Trading Times brings them to you. It’s free to candidates. It costs you only £35, and only when you are connected to the perfect candidates.
Paul Fordham of Abbey Community Centre in Camden said: “”We posted our occasional job opportunity on Trading Times because we at the Abbey Community Centre recognise the value of the flexibility that can come with age. Trading Times offers a tailored means to directly target opportunities at an older group that the vast majority of other job sites simply do not seem to tap.”
Register at https://tradingtimes.org.uk/ and let Trading Times match you with the right local people for your needs.

Find Jobs and Volunteering opportunities at https://www.vac.org.uk/

Spent: A short play and workshop about women, austerity and debt
Performed by women affected by the criminal justice system
Available to book February and March 2016 at conferences, seminars or staff training. Suitable for criminal justice agencies, women’s organisations, policymakers, funders, probation and other frontline organisations working with vulnerable women. Clean Break is a theatre company which focuses exclusively on women in the criminal justice system through education and performances in the community, custodial settings, and at theatres and festivals.
For Further Information and to discuss booking and fees contact: Kirstin Shirling 0207 482 8623 kirstin.shirling@cleanbreak.org.uk

Greenwood Place Update
Demolition will begin on the Greenwood Place site soon. Read the lastest update here.

Need some online Help?
Don’t forget VAC’s toolkits and resources pages at www.vac.org.uk/our-work/toolkits-and-resources
There are resources to help you in many areas of work. For instance our HR resources can be found here: https://vac.org.uk/our-work/toolkits-and-resources/employment-hr-resources/

Office with Consulting Rooms to Let – Good Price, Great Location
VAC has a medium size office to let that would suit a small organisation needing space for approximately 4 or 5 desks. Unusually, we are able to offer a up to 4 private consulting rooms as well. Conveniently located in Kentish Town will all usual mod cons. Contact Kevin at VAC knunan@vac.org.uk

Camden Consultations
You can find all Camden consultation on the Wearecamden consultation hub.

FREE VAC Membership for Unfunded Groups: Voluntary Action Camden Small organisations with no paid staff and a turnover of less than £1,500 can now join for FREE. To take advantage of this offer just fill in the membership on the online form here.