Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin 11th January 2019

In Memoriam

Sadly we mark the passing of two giants of the Camden voluntary sector over the holiday period.  Efua Taylor died on 15th December and Gillian Hall died on 7th January.  Both were hugely influencial in the voluntary sector over the last half century and will be greatly missed.  Gillian was a mainstay of Women and Health, St Pancras Community Association, but above all in disability organisations.  She was the chair of DiSC and subsequently helped set up it’s successor Camden Disability Action.  Efua was a trustee and chair of Voluntary Action Camden and a guiding light at African Caribbean Elders and a member of the PCT. Both will be remembered with affection by all who knew them.

Camden Community Festival Grants Are Open For 2019-20

Camden’s community festival grants, administered by VAC, are now open. See the Grants section below for full details. Deadline 28th February.

The Community Partnerships team seeks Apprentice

To learn about projects, team priorities as well as providing admin, project and community support to the team.  See jobs section below. Deadline 15th Jan.

Creative communication groups for autistic children and young people aged 6-16

Holborn Community Association are running new weekly creative art groups starting 17th Jan for children with social communication difficulties such as autism or ADHD. For more information call Hazel on 0207 405 2370 (option 3) or visit: https://www.holborncommunity.co.uk/Pages/Events/Category/creative-communication-groups

HealthwatchCamden Board Meeting in Public

Tuesday 29th January 2019′  6pm-8pm.
The chair & trustees of Healthwatch Camden cordially invite you to attend our first meeting in public for 2019, at our new offices in Greenwood Place.
We will be joined by Sir Robert Francis, Chair of the Healthwatch England committee and a resident of Camden.
As places are limited please confirm your attendance & any dietary and accessibility requirements by Wednesday 16th January 2019: email: info@healthwatchcamden.co.uk / Tel: 020 7974 6034

Camden draft Clean Air Action Plan out for consultation.

The draft Plan sets out our vision to reduce pollution in Camden. It has been developed with the help of our Camden Clean Air Partnership made up of Camden residents, schools, community groups and businesses; as well as the wider Camden community.
The Draft Plan focuses on seven key areas including; Reducing emissions from buildings; Cutting construction emissions; Reducing transport emissions; Supporting communities and schools
To view the consultation document and provide comments, please visit: https://consultations.wearecamden.org/supporting-communities/clean-air-action-plan/
The consultation will run until the 15th of February.

New Year’s Resolutions?

It’s that time of year when, after overindulging a bit, we’re all thinking about making some new healthier habits. The One You Camden website offers a number of different apps, service information and health information to help you get healthy in 2018 including: How Are You? Quiz; Get Active Your Way; Move more; Be Sugar SMART; Make 2019 the year you stop smoking for good; Cut down on alcohol in January.

TDS, Camden’s Training & Development Service is Changing

VAC is organising a meeting in the new year for the voluntary and community sector in Camden about training. If you use the Camden TDS service to train your staff or volunteers then this meeting is for you. This is an  important opportunity for the sector to have a say about Camden’s proposals for the service.  Look out for details coming soon.

Camden Disability Action

Catch up with the latest news from Camden Disability Action.

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

Camden Community Festival Grants Are Open For 2019-20

Camden Council’s community festival grants, administered by Voluntary Action Camden, are now open. This annual grant scheme adds brightness, culture and diversity to all areas of Camden, thanks to the local communities that work tirelessly to put these festivals together. Last year Camden Council funded just over 50 community events and are looking forward to the 2019-20 applications.
Application forms: please read the grant criteria guidelines first to see if your event is eligible.
~ Grant criteria guidelines
~ Application for small scale events under 500 attendees
~ Application fro large scale events over 500 attendees
For all application inquires please contact Voluntary Action Camden on 0207 284 6550 or email acharles@vac.org.uk
If you have any event related enquiries, for example road closures, health and safety or anything else event related, contact Camden Events Service on 020 7974 5633 or email events@camden.gov.uk
Closing date Thursday 28th February.  See the VAC website for full details.

Pocket Park Fund

The funding is for communities working with their local authority to deliver new pocket parks and support refurbishment of parks that have fallen into disrepair where their restoration will make a significant positive impact in the local community. Grants of up to £15,000 for new pocket parks and £25,000 for refurbishment of existing parks. Match-funding is required.
Deadline is 25 January.

Morrison’s Foundation

Charities registered in the UK can apply for grants from the Morrison’s Foundation. The Foundation will award £2 million a year for community projects and applicants must demonstrate how the project will deliver public benefit, who  will benefit and how it will bring about change.

Hedley Foundation

The Hedley Foundation supports registered charities in the UK for up to £5,000 mainly for young people with their education, creation, support, training, health and welfare. The Foundation also supports disabled people and the terminally ill with provision of specialist equipment and support for carers.

The HS2 Camden Fund

The Camden Fund aims to strengthen the sense of place and alleviate the disruption of the development of HS2 Ltd. on local people by achieving one or more of the following aims:
1. A Happier and Healthier Camden
2. A Better Connected Camden
3. A Stronger Voluntary and Community Sector
We aim to inform applicants of the result of their application within 16 weeks. Applicants can submit applications at any point between midnight on the 15th May 2018 and midnight on the 14th May 2020. Full details at Camden Giving.

Healthy Minds Programme with Mind in Camden

The latest Healthy Minds community programme is now available.  A range of activities are available from VAC, Mary Ward, Mind in Camden, BWA, Good Gym, the Round House and more.  Find out what’s on and how to book.

Safeguarding Courses from VAC in 2019

Safeguarding Advance: Developing knowledge and understanding. 
Wednesday 16th  January 9.45am – 3pm (Includes lunch)
If you work frequently with children and their families, it is essential that your organisation has up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding legislation and child protection procedures. This Advanced course is designed to develop existing understanding of the safeguarding process through a variety of written text, case studies and interactive exercises.
Who Should Take This Course? Suitable for anyone who has attended safeguarding training previously and would like to update their knowledge and skills further, including volunteers and workers of all levels.
The training will cover the following:
• Department for Education’s updated statutory guidance for England and Wales.
• Myth Busting & Social Care: Exploring safeguarding attitudes in the community.
• Awareness of current issues / Understanding emerging forms of abuse.
• Safeguarding awareness and assessing need: Race, culture, gender and ability.
• Dealing with disclosures
• Safeguarding in Camden, thresholds and the role of professionals.
Contact Dianne to book a place on Dianne Carlton Ogunyemi DOgunyemi@vac.org.uk

Need a Meeting Room near Chalk Farm?

VAC now has 3 new rooms to hire out for Events/Training, etc. at our new base in the Charlie Ratchford Centre in Chalk Farm.
There is a large room for up to 60 people, ideal for large events.
The training room can hold up to 20 people comfortably for training/workshops
The Lounge is a open area for anything that is not confidential and can hold up to 20 people. Smartboard, level access throughout, reasonable prices.
Rates and full details on the VAC website.

More details on the VAC website: https://vac.org.uk/events/

Rethink Mental Illness Courses

Rethink provide free Mental Health Training to professionals and organisations in Camden and Islington as well as individuals living, working, volunteering or studying in the Boroughs.
The courses include:
~ Mental Health First Aid
~ Youth Mental Health First Aid
~ Mental Health Awareness
~ Mental Health in the Workplace for Managers
Please email training@rethink.org for more information and to book courses.
You can book places on these courses at www.rethink.org/camdenislingtontraining

Recovery College enrolment open

Openning for all courses running January to April 2019.   Some of our courses always fill up quickly so we can’t guarantee there will be places on all courses after Christmas.
Students can come in to see us to enrol, or register online www.candi.nhs.uk/recoverycollege  and then visit us to sign the student charter.

Nafsiyat Cultural Competency Workshops

These are aimed at counsellors/therapists who would like to strengthen their practice in this area.
The workshop will draw on clinical examples and work as well as the intercultural experience to put forward the processes involved in working at the juncture of the client’s inner and outer experiences.
~ Sunday 17th February 2019
~ Sunday 16th June 2019
~ Sunday 8th September 2019
~ Sunday 10th November 2019
Tickets are £68.71 and can be purchased here

Transition for a young person with SEND aged 16-25?

Now recruiting for Sept 2019, this is an opportunity for SENDCO’s, teachers, parents, carers and local authority members to come and see our college and find out more about our offer.
Friday 18th January – 9.30 – 10.30am
Friday 15th February 9.30 – 10.30am
Elfrida Rathbone Camden, 7 Dowdney Close, NW5
RSVP to sousan@elfridacamden.org.uk with names and your chosen date.

Age UK Camden seeks Camden Community Connector

21 hours per week over 4 days  £30,012 to £31,764 pro rata + pension
As a Community Connector, you’ll link older people who are isolated, or at risk of isolation, to opportunities that support a greater sense of wellbeing.
For details and application form visit www.ageukcamden.org.uk or email jobs@ageukcamden.org.uk or telephone 020 7239 0400.
Closing date: Wed 23rd January – 9 am. Interviews:Tues 29th January

Ingestre Community Centre seeks Accountant

Accountant needed quarterly for approx. 3-4 hours for very small community centre. £20 per hour.
We are a registered charity community centre based in Kentish Town with 3 p/t staff and various bills to keep track of. We need someone to do the accounts on a quarterly basis and use quick books to manage the accounts.
Contact Michelle Tedore, Centre Manager Tel: 07712660997 or email: ingestre13@yahoo.co.uk

Calthorpe Project seeks Children’s Weekend Sport & Physical Activity Co-ordinator (pt)

An exceptional person needed to join our weekend staff team bringing environmental play opportunities to children living in and around Kings Cross. Our Access to Nature project includes food growing, healthy eating, nature watch, arts and forest school style activities.  If you are enthusiastic and inspiring with a desire to improve the health and wellbeing of children using sport and physical activity, we look forward to receiving your application.
Salary £8826 gross annually for 12 hour weekend.
Download the application pack from  www.calthorpeproject.org.uk
Or request the documents by emailing louise@calthorpeproject.org.uk
Deadline for completed applications-5pm Monday, 11th February 2019
Interviews – Saturday, 16th February

Heath Hands are recruiting a Wildlife Projects Assistant

Interested in local wildlife and promoting nature to the public? Do consider applying for Heath Hands’ new part-time project assistant role based on Hampstead Heath. Full details here: https://heath-hands.org.uk/cms/jobs

The Community Partnerships team seeks Apprentice

To learn to lead on projects and team priorities as well as providing administrative, project and community support to the Community Partnerships Team and commit to completing a level 4 Associate Project Management apprenticeship qualification. The Community Partnership Team aims to create a cohesive and resilient borough, working closely with Camden’s voluntary and community sector organisations.  Full details here.

Crick seeks Exhibitions Officer

To join the Crick’s public engagement team. It’s a great opportunity to join a young but very ambitious biomedical research institute, working closely with colleagues in the events, community and education outreach teams, as well as collaborating with Crick scientists, to deliver temporary exhibitions in the heart of Kings Cross. Details here: https://bit.ly/2Pzv4UW deadline 16th January.

Family Support Volunteers Wanted

Are you a parent, grandparent or have parenting experience?
Can you give 3 – 4 hours weekly to visit a family with young children who may be going through a difficult time?
Next Training : 16th January -13th March Every Wednesday 9.45am to 2.30pm. Certificates awarded & expenses paid
For information pack ring 020 7424 1603email: info@homestartcamden.org or
www.homestartcamden.org.uk

Volunteer with VAC and develop experience and skills in public health

VAC provide training, and work opportunities for Camden volunteers who can commit 2 hours per week.
We offer free Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH) training to volunteer Health Advocates for Community Links, part of a new Care Navigation and Social Prescribing service in Camden. Community Links Health Advocates signpost residents to community based activities and help with formal referrals where community based activities are needed alongside clinical care.
Contact: Mandira Manandhar, Community Links Co-ordinator (Mon, Tues and Thurs) 020 7284 6550/6573 or email: mmanandhar@vac.org.uk

VAC is recruiting volunteers to help us in our new building in Chalk Farm

VAC has recently moved to a new home at Charlie Ratchford Centre, Belmont Street, NW1. We are sharing the building with Camden Carers and Camden Disability Action.  It is a very busy building with lots of visitors and events.
We are recruiting volunteer receptionists to be the first point of contact for visitors. I You will be an important member of the VAC team of volunteers and staff and will have access to training and ongoing support.
Contact Kevin Nunan at VAC on 020 7284 6557 or knunan@vac.org.uk

Universal Credit is Coming

Universal Credit will be rolled out across Camden this month. The council have produced a UC guide which provides further information as well as a leaflet for residents that provides a summary of what UC is, who is likely to be affected and where to go for budgeting and digital advice and support. Camden’s UC team have also produced a useful presentation to help you understand UC.  KWUG also provide self help in Camden for claimants.

Camden asks for views on measures to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping

Changes to the welfare benefit system, a shortage of affordable housing and increased private rents are all having an impact nationally, contributing to a homelessness crisis, which in the worst incidences can result in rough sleeping.
You can read the draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy online now. The online consultation is now open and will close on Monday 18 February 2019. Or to make more detailed comments or queries please email: HomelessConsultation@camden.gov.uk

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