Voluntary Action Camden e-Bulletin - 12th August 2022

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VAC Weekly Newsletter
12th August 2022

VAC Membership
VAC membership allows local organisations and groups to engage with local policy and strategy.This is an important time with strategic and social developments locally, nationally and globally putting increasing pressure on community-based organisations.
As a member you will be part of a dedicated network through which you can express views and contribute your knowledge and expertise to the benefit of all.

Membership is free, click on the link box above and join us today

Highlights

This week we spotlight our work with scientific research teams to help facilitate the study and understanding of Long Covid.
We also have lots of information on a wide range of local events and opportunities from around the Camden area.

Long Covid survey
The Community Links team at VAC are working with the University of Southampton to facilitate a study into Long Covid. If you had, or think you had, Covid 3 or more months ago and yet continue to experience symptoms that are not explained by any other health conditions the study would like to talk to you about your experiences.Symptoms can include, but are not limited to: exhaustion, memory or concentrations issues, breathlessness, persistent headaches and muscle aches, chest tightness, palpitations, dizziness and sleep disturbance.
As a token of appreciation there is a £15 shopping voucher available for participation.

The Community Links team at VAC can also assist Camden residents with access to the long covid clinic at UCLH.
For further information please contact Nasrin at nrashid@vac.org.uk or Donna Clutterbuck at LongCovid@soton.ac.uk or on 07721520243

Queen’s Crescent Community Funday: Tomorrow!
Saturday 13th August: 12pm – 6pmAt 45 Ashdown Crescent, Gospel Oak (NW5 4QE), Queen’s Crescent Community Association and We Make Camden – Healthy Communities are holding a free family funday. The day includes a range of free activities such as face painting and bouncy castles. It also has health checks and workshops available.
A vaccine bus will also be onsite where you are able to get your first, second or booster jab. NHS staff will be on board to deliver the vaccine and to answer any questions you may have about the vaccine, testing, and staying safe

For more info contact 0207 267 6635 or email us eventplanners@qcca.org.uk

Free Pilates classes for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic women
Programme begins on Monday 22nd August

Central YMCA is pleased to offer a free 6-week Pilates programme, specifically catered to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) women who are not currently engaging in regular physical activity and need support to get started.
These classes offer a safe space to feel at ease and connect with other women who also have a desire to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.

To learn more, please click here

Kilburn up High – online creative workshop
Thursday 18th August

Take part in a fun interactive online creative workshop, for children 11 and over, exploring the culture, sounds and words of Kilburn with local artist Linett Kamala from Lin Kam Art and be part of a new art project for Brondesbury Bridge on Kilburn High Road.
No previous artistic experience is required.

For more information, or to sign-up, please click here

Startup School for Seniors fully funded places for Londoners
Thanks to Learn Ealing and GLA funding there are 50 fully funded places available for the award-winning Startup School for Seniors course.
This is an eight-week eLearning course covering everything you need to know to start or grow your own business.
The course is enrolling now and starts on 9th September 2022. Learners can be employed or unemployed but must be residents in London for a fully sponsored place.

Free Community Festival at Likewise Centre
Thursday 18th August, 12pm-5pm,

This Free Community Festival is at Likewise Centre, 8 Fairhazel Gardens, NW6 3SG
“Zen in Mind” – The Zen Project and Mind in Camden bring to you the first of a series of monthly festivals to celebrate mental health and support the local Camden community.
Open to all and all activities are free, including food, massage, mindfulness sessions and more. Climb on board our big yellow American school bus and take part in one of our activities to help create some calm and ease anxiety. We have something for everyone. No need to book – just turn up.

For more information please click here

London Plus Social Prescribing event: Meet the Network
Thursday 15th September: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

We are excited to hold our third free online networking event exclusively for London Social Prescribing Network members. It will offer a safe space for members to chat about social prescribing, from the challenges you face to the successful projects you might be working on.
Please register here

London Plus have also created a new social prescribing FAQs page to help you and your practice.
Learn more here

Jubilee Hall Trust’s Run for Your Life event
Saturday 10th September

Jubilee Hall Trust’s Run for Your Life event is back on Saturday 10th September. Run, jog, or walk the spectacular trails of Hampstead Heath on any of our 10K, 5K or 2K courses.
With a friendly community atmosphere, everyone is to join the 2k Fun Run – those under six must always be accompanied by an adult on the course.

For details and to register, please click here
Or, If you have any questions, please email louise@jubileehalltrust.org

Management Community Centre Sought
Applications deadline: 5th September

Can you run a community centre for the benefit of local residents? Camden Council have published information on the new Maitland Park Community Centre and are looking for a suitable operator for the new build premises. The centre has a hall, training room, office and café area.

All the information can be found on the council’s website: here

Camden Council vacancy: ASC Coproduction Lead
Application deadline: 8th September at 4.40pm

This role will help to develop an effective coproduction framework for social care and we are looking for someone who has a comprehensive understanding of social care and the current social, political and financial context. This should include direct experience or an in-depth understanding of, and empathy for, those who draw on care, their carers and the issues they face.

For more information and to apply, please click here

London Plus vacancy: Communications Officer
Application deadline: Sunday 4th September

We are looking for a communications officer with a keen interest in supporting charities and community organisations to join the London Plus team.

For more information and to apply, please click here

Newsletter Submissions
Please send any information (approximately 50-75 words long) that you would like included in our weekly newsletter to social@vac.org.uk

NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board VCSE Partnership
Deadline for bids: Midnight on Monday 15th August 2022.The Camden Borough Partnership would like to undertake community action research around priority areas to support open conversations with local communities. We want to identify and explore key inequalities around reach, access, outcomes and experiences.
We are looking to work with a lead facilitating VCSE organisation and a group of grassroots organisations – working as a joint VCSE Partnership.

If you would like to know more, please click here

Cost of Living Support in Camden
We are all feeling the impact of the rise in the cost of living. We have collated a range of links below to help people to manage some of the challenges associated with the higher cost of living:

Home (shine-london.org.uk) – save money on energy bills
https://findfood.camden.gov.uk
Help With the Cost of Living | London City Hall
Free and impartial help with money, backed by the government | MoneyHelper
WISH Plus – Camden Council – Energy efficiency advice and income maximisation checks

Local Newsletters:

SHAK
Latin American House
Young Camden Foundation
AWN (sign up)
London Sport (sign up)
Somers Town Community Newsletter
Heath Hands
Fitzrovia Community Centre

If you would like your Camden VCS newsletter added to this list, please email social@vac.org.uk

VAC administered Google Grants
The VAC administered Google Grants scheme is still ongoing.VAC have been funded by Google to provide up to £300 per quarter for small organisations looking to book one-off spaces to work in or to hold community sessions and training, and up to £600 for the ongoing rent of office and hot desking space.

It is available to small voluntary or community sector organisation with income under £150,000 a year looking to book a venue in Camden,

To find out more, please click here
or get in contact with Ricky at Rsingh@vac.org.uk

Hardship Grants for Older Camden Residents from Age UK Camden
This fund provides grants of up to £500 to reduce vulnerability and hardship for those aged 66 or over. The money can be used to purchase household items and/or as a financial sum paid into their bank account.
If household items or white goods are needed, we can purchase the item from Argos, so do include the link to the item needed along with delivery/connection services and recycling charges.

You can apply for the grant either personally or on behalf of another by filling in the form here
If you have any questions please email hardshipgrants@ageukcamden.org.uk

2023 GSK IMPACT Awards – core funding and free training for health charities
Closing date for Stage 1 applications is 1st September 2022.

GSK’s IMPACT Awards reward charities doing excellent work to improve people’s health and wellbeing. Organisations must be at least three years old, working in a health-related field in the UK, with income between £120k and £3m. Up to 15 awards will be made, ranging from £4,000 to £50,000.

For more information and to apply, please click here

GLA Funding: Warmer Homes Programme
With energy bills continuing to rise, the Mayor is urging Londoners, local authorities, and community organisations to raise awareness of the Warmer Homes programme with anyone who may be eligible.
The scheme offers free energy efficiency grants of up to £25,000 to households with a residual income of up to £20,000 per year after rent/mortgage and council tax.

Learn more here

Disability Justice Fund
Application Deadline: 3rd October 2022

This is a £3 million fund from Trust for London and City Bridge Trust to advance strong, vibrant, diverse and sustainable Disability justice, equity and inclusion in the UK.

For more details, please click here

To re-discover funding removed from this list, please see our newsletter archive here

Other available funders include:

London Unseen: Heritage Tours and Trails
London Unseen is a season of trails, tours and events that celebrate the many incredible histories of the city, as told by communities, practitioners, artists and activists. Curated on behalf of the Mayor of London’s Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm, the season is supporting over 20 community heritage practitioners to provide over 40 events free of charge to the public.Learn more here

Making Every Contact Count – Using Conversation to Improve Wellbeing
Making Every Contact Count (MECC) courses help staff and volunteers use their everyday conversations to support residents with their daily struggles and signpost them to further help.
We are adding new dates all the time and regularly refresh our courses to suit evolving resident needs, like our Cost of Living Crisis short course which covers the basics of MECC and how it can be used to support residents who are struggling financially.

Courses are free to staff working in Camden and Islington. To book a place, please click here

Families for Life: Community Champion training
This free 6-week programme starts on 13th September and runs until the 18th October at Crowndale Centre, 218 Eversholt St, from 10am – 12pm.

The Camden Health and Wellbeing Team is recruiting volunteers for the Families for Life Community Champion training. It is for existing volunteers, parents, carers and whoever else might be interested in becoming an inspirational volunteer.
On this programme you will build your skills and knowledge to help you form strong local connections to support healthy lifestyle programmes available in Camden.

For more information please email Syria Chowdhury on syria.chowdhury@camden.gov.uk or call 07734 603060

Volunteering with VAC! Join our Community Links Team
Are you able to commit to at least 2 hours per week and interested in supporting people in your community to access health and wellbeing services?

Community Links Volunteers are a part of the Care Navigation and Social Prescribing Service in Camden. They support social prescribing in a variety of ways including signposting residents to community-based activities, helping with referrals, motivating users to connect with new interests and activities, accompanying residents to appointments and introducing them to a range of different opportunities in Camden.

For more info and to apply, please click here
Or contact Mandira Manandhar on mmanandhar@vac.org.uk or 020 7284 6573

Young Camden Foundation vacancy: Membership Engagement & Communications Officer
Deadline: 26th August

Young Camden Foundation is looking for a Membership Engagement & Communications Officer to proactively engage with our members and deliver an impactful and effective communications strategy for the charity, under the direction and guidance of the CEO.

For more information and to apply, please click here

London Irish Centre vacancy: Advice Officer
Deadline: 9am on 17th August

The purpose of this role is to improve opportunities and reduce poverty in London. Working primarily with people who identify as Irish, we deliver Advice Quality Standard (AQS) advice and casework on benefits and housing as well as wider advice around Irish state pensions, returning to and moving from Ireland, Irish passport and birth certificate applications.

For more information and to apply, please click here

SHP recruiting: Peer Mentor Volunteers
Deadline: 5pm Tuesday 23rd August.

We are delighted to be recruiting for Peer Mentor Volunteers to join our growing team!
SHP Peer Mentors use their lived experiences of substance use recovery, mental health problems, homelessness, or the criminal justice system to inspire, motivate and support others to make positive changes in their lives.
Successful applicants will be invited to attend an online interview, and the training programme will be delivered over 8 sessions between Monday 19th September & Thursday 13th October.

Please contact peermentoring@shp.org.uk for an application pack.

Latin American House vacancy: Children and Young People Coordinator.
Deadline: Monday, 5th September

The position holder will be responsible for coordinating, delivering and developing a comprehensive, diverse and inclusive programme of activities, classes and events throughout the year. They will also be in charge of attracting children from Latin American and local families, creating a positive impact in our growing communities.

For more information and to apply, please click here

Trustee recruitment: Old Diorama Arts Centre
Deadline: 10am on Monday 5th September

Old Diorama Arts Centre, the arts creation and community centre in Euston, is on a journey of change, with a new vision, nurturing artistic and local Regent’s Park ward communities.
We’re looking for up to 4 new Trustees, particularly including those with experience working in the Camden community sector.

For more information, please click here

Becoming a school governor in Camden
Could you make a positive impact on a school in Camden? Camden Learning wants local school governors to reflect the diversity of our community – people from every background and with a wide range of life experience. Anyone aged over 18 who wants to make a positive contribution to a school can apply.
If you would like to hear what some of our Camden school governors have to say take a look at this short videoTo find out more, please click here

Camden Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board (SAPB) Safeguarding consultation
Deadline: 10th September

Everyone has the right to live a life that is free from abuse, harm and neglect. To this end, Camden Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board (SAPB) is running a Safeguarding consultation to seek views from people to help develop strategy priorities for the next 5 years.
The survey is also available in Sylheti, Somali and Easy read. Please email Patricia Cox at patricia.cox@camden.gov.uk to ask for the translated surveys

For more information and to take the survey, please click here

Start Well Case for Change: Share your views
Health and care organisations in North Central London (NCL) are working together on Start Well: a long-term programme looking at children and young people, maternity and neonatal services. The aim is to understand if we are collectively delivering the best services to meet the needs of people living in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington, and those from neighbouring boroughs and beyond who choose to use our services.

To learn more and take the survey, please click here

Past Voluntary Action Forums: Resources

You can find presentations, recordings and resources from past forums here.

Got an item for the e-bulletin?

Send your item to social@vac.org.uk by noon on Thursday for publication in the following day’s edition. The e-bulletin comes out every Friday. 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.