Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin 15th May 2020

Camden Voluntary Action Online Forum

The next Voluntary Action Forum is on Wednesday 20th May at 11am and will focus on the issue of how we re-shape services and the challenge of bringing online and offline together.  We will look at examples of what Camden organisations have done – including ballet (see below). Joining details here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86893228302?pwd=Wnl5dldJdGVjWXhqMFNqZ3U1MU01QT09
Meeting ID: 868 9322 8302
Password: 1948

Ballet for Everyone!

Even in these difficult times, we can still work on our fitness, posture and skills. Rushin ballet is a North London ballet school and we have taken our classes online using Zoom.
Introduction to Ballet for over 50s: Saturday 10-11am  (voluntary donations)
Beginners: Tuesday 6pm and Thursday 12pm
Intermediates: Friday 6pm and Sunday 11am
Beginner and intermediate classes are all 2 hours long and cost per class is £5
Dancing improves strength as well as increasing balance and flexibility . It improves posture and improves memory.   rushinballet@hotmail.co.uk

Camden Disability Action Leadership Programme

Are you a Disabled person in Camden who wants to do something to benefit other Disabled people? Maybe you always wanted to: Start a campaign? Design a new online service? Start a new peer support group? Or have other ideas about what Disabled people need right now. Find out more here.

Financial Impact of the Covid-19 Emergency Survey

It’s really important that when we make the case for the sector that we have a good picture of the financial impact the Covid-19 emergency has had on organisations.  Please take our Financial Impact Survey.

Pan London Faiths Network Meeting

Tuesday, 26 May from 5.30pm
The London Boroughs Faiths Network, which aims to connect local practitioners & public agencies across the capital, has hosted five online pan-London faith & community sector COVID-19 briefing meetings.
The agenda includes the following topics: an update on strategic priorities, the social and economic impact on the BAME community & poorest households, young people, lockdown release – how will faith & community groups respond, crime issues including hate crime, community tensions and domestic violence.  To join  email the convener  with your name and organisation .

Keep in Touch:

Pop Up Think and Do
West Euston Partnership (WEP)
Healthwatch Camden
All Ways Network

NCL Suicide Prevention Helpline

The COVID-19 outbreak means that life is changing for us all for a while. If you are feeling lonely, hopeless, like there is no way out or frustrated that the current situation is never going to end, you may want to talk to someone.
You can get in touch with the new Rethink helpline for people experiencing suicidal feelings or thoughts or affected in any way by suicide. Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6pm-8pm and on Sunday from 6pm-9pm.
Tel: 08088 02 00 80 (Calls to this helpline are free from landlines and mobile phones within the UK and do not appear on itemised bills.)
by text message on 07860 058 793 (Text messages are charged at usual network rate and texts will be responded to during helpline opening hours)
webchat, which can be accessed during service opening hours by visiting www.rethink.org/ncl-suicide
Facebook page by searching @NCLSuicidePreventionandBereavementService
Queries about the service or require any further information contact  suicidepreventionandbereavement@rethink.org  or  Jane Brett Jones Jane.Brett-Jones@islington.gov.uk/Tanvi Barreto Tanvi.barreto@islington.gov.uk from the Public Health team.

Covid-19 Resources

VAC has gathered relevant resources on a range of topics.
Notable recent additions include:

• Youth Endowment Fund £6.5m COVID-19 grant round now open
• On tap, not on top
• Model Domestic Violence Policy
• Clarifying FAQ on the minor changes to lockdown rules

VAC COVID-19 Pages

Covid-19 Community Directory  (Update your entry here)
Covid-19 Update page.
Covid-19 Resources page

Keep in touch and up-to-date via the e-bulletin and @onecamden twitter.  We have a comprehensive COVID-19 update page and a resources page.

YCF Partners with Google to Launch the Digital Youth Work Fund

Young Camden Foundation (YCF) has launched the Digital Youth Work Fund sponsored by Google. This fund is designed to support Camden’s children and young people sector by creating or enhancing a digital youth work offer.
YCF will award members grants of up to £5,000
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis with the following deadlines: 29 May, 19 June and 3 July 2020.  Details at YCF website. Questions to grants@youngcamdenfoundation.org.uk.

Food Charities Grant Fund

Apply for a grant of up to £100,000 for your charity helping people affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).
If you run a front-line food aid charity in England, you can apply for a grant of up to £100,000 to help you continue to provide food to the vulnerable.
Applications to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

Volunteers’ Week Funding

Small grants of £500 – £1,000 to provide organisations additional financial support to help cover volunteer expenses and extra volunteer related costs.
The application form is here: https://form.jotform.com/201264947699369
Application deadline     Friday 22nd May 2020
Grants awarded     WC 1st June 2020

Government funding package

The government revealed their funding package for charities, of which £370 million will be available for small charities delivering essential frontline COVID-19 related services for vulnerable people through the Community fund. Details of the fund are now on the National Lottery Community Fund website. Small funding (up to £10,000) is still being distributed by Awards for All.  Further local distribution is planned – details to follow.

Somers Town Big Local Covid-19 Emergency Fund

Grants up to £1500 aimed at responding to the Covid-19 emergency in Somers Town.  Telephone 020 8364 8400 to book a telephone appointment. Deadline Monday 25th May.  engagement@stbl.org.uk

Hampstead Wells & Campden Trust

is a small funder that can assist organisations in NW3, NW6 and Camden parts of NW2. During the COVID-19 crisis we are working to provide support for individuals and families in need through small grants for emergencies (applications only through a local organisation or agency, see our website), and for organisations coping with different demands on their services and new ways of working (contact sheila@hwct.co.uk for an informal chat first).

Government Support to Small Businesses

The Government support grants to businesses have been tied to those with premises and there are complicated rules making it hard for charities who may well be eligible to access the funds.  We have some detailed guidance.

London Community Response

The second wave of London Community Response funding is open.
1. Crisis response – grants up to £10,000 to meet the immediate needs
2. Delivering differently – grants of £10,000 to £50,000 to change how you work

Lists of Emergency Funders

• Civil Society
• Ian McLintok’s LinkedIn blog
• NCVO’s funding central site is currently free for non-members.
• Charity Bank 
• Grants Online

Youth Futures Foundation

The Foundation is committed to transforming employment for young people.
Funding is for a 6-12 month period of planning and set up from September 2020 onwards, during which time no direct delivery to young people will be required. This will be followed by funding for a delivery phase from January 2021 onwards, by which time we hope face to face work will be possible again.

Digital & Tech Support Online Q&A

Tuesdays 2 – 3.30pm
Many organisations are having to grapple with moving their office systems online so staff and volunteers can work remotely.We’ll look at:
~ What systems do you need?
~ How do you set them up?
~ What works and what doesn’t?
Q&A session with Gilbert Plant, our digital partner from CITA and WCIT.
Joining details here: https://vac.org.uk/events/
Email alexcharles@vac.org.uk

These sessions will be hosted on zoom.  Ideally you will need a PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone with camera or microphone but you can also join by telephone as well. Click on the link or use the meeting ID.  You will also need the password if one was set. Short guide to joining a zoom meeting.

Safeguarding Courses:

VAC is working with funders so that safeguarding courses can continue online.  Further details to come. There are some basic safeguarding videos on the home page and on the COVID19 Update page.
Tel: 020 7 284 6575 | Email: dogunyemi@vac.org.uk email (Mon – Wed)

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

Camden Events

All face-to-face events are cancelled for now. Many groups and organisations have moved their activity online.  Check the Covid-19 Directory or go to the organisation’s webpage, or facebood, twitter or instagram page. For exampe WEP have a newsletter with online and virtual activities.

Young Camden Foundation Webinar on Mental Health Needs of young people

Wednesday 20 May 10.00am-11.30am
As part of Mental Health Week we will be looking at trends in what we are seeing around the mental health needs of young people during the Covid 19 lockdown. Professionals will share examples of what’s working well, how they are engaging with young people in need of support and sharing practical ideas and coping mechanisms which can be used by anyone working with young people. To sign up click here.

Get Involved: Online talks for Kentish Town

A new series of talks, each episode will focus on a community organisation with the aim of raising awareness of their activities, and telling their story in a way that connects with the audience. It is an opportunity to reach locals who would benefit from their
services and also those in a position to support the organisation in some way. For further information email hello@get-involved.org.uk

Free training courses

Training Link has free online courses that people can do at home.  Improve your skills during the lockdown! The courses include Level 2
Food Safety & Hygiene, Customer Care, courses for care work and others. They can be done on a PC or laptop with internet access. For
more information, email Peter Lush on director@traininglink.org.uk

Ageing Better in Camden

ABC are collecting a wealth of resources to keep us entertained, happy, healthy and creative during this time. If you’d like to suggest a resource to add. Please email ageingbetterincamden@ageukcamden.org.uk with your ideas.

Virtual Gallery Project for 13-18 year olds

What: Collaborate with other young people and older community members to produce digital artwork documenting your lockdown experience and then curate your own online exhibition.
Weekly on Wednesdays 4-6pm, starting 29th April, (via online Zoom sessions)
More info and sign up with chloe.plumb@holborncommunity.co.uk

Free Online Social Activities Directory

The RecommendMe directory is where people  can search for social activities, events and other things to do.  Includes: Carers art groups on Zoom, Carers online cuppa, Over 60s Peer to peer befriending,  Virtual creative writing for the over 60s, Gardening workshops on Zoom, Boost your emotional strength, Make and mend (chat and stitch) groups.

How to Volunteer and How to Recruit Volunteers in Camden

Volunteer in Camden at Time to Spare.
Volunteer for the NHS at GoodSAM.
Join a neighbourhood Mutual Aid group.
Organisations that are signed up to Time to Spare can now request volunteers through a brokerage team making it much easier to access the volunteers. The brokers can help match volunteers with voluntary and community organisations who have a need for verified/ vetted volunteers. The service will also help to verify or carry out new DBS check with volunteers.You can use the Brokerage service to request volunteers with specific skills or background for community activity.
Get support and resources from Volunteer Centre Camden
The council has a  page of resources to help community organisations

Befriender Volunteers Needed

The Sante Refugee Project is looking for volunteer befrienders for our asylum seekers and refugees.
For informal chat ring Ruth 020 7482 2903 or email santeproject44@gmail.com  Further information: www.santeproject.org.uk

Volunteer Graphic Designer Needed

Could you help us develop a new visual identity for our small charity? We’re looking for a creative and engaged volunteer to reimagine the charity’s visual identity and introduce a more modern and cohesive design across the platforms we use.  Find out more at http://www.headwaynorthlondon.org/volunteer.html

Henna Asian Women’s Group is seeking a Finance trustee

to join the Governance of our charity. Working alongside our effective Trustee Board and staff team this Trustee will take responsibility for finance and work closely with Henna’s Treasurer, to oversee and explain budgets, accounts and annual financial statements to the board of trustees. The Finance trustee will lead the board’s duty to ensure that proper accounting records are kept, financial resources are properly controlled, invested and economically spent, in line with good governance, legal and regulatory requirements.
For further information please contact Rafat on rafat_hennaorg@yahoo.co.uk

Paid work opportunities for people who have been laid off/ reduced income

Local Adult social care providers are still recruiting, and as they support the NHS to move vulnerable adults out of hospital to stay well at home, their need is growing. Contact Proud to Care.

Camden Social Prescribing and Care Navigation update

Social Prescribing and Care Navigation delivered by Age UK Camden, Voluntary Action Camden and Wish+ is operational, and adapted, as a point of access to services and support during the COVID 19 emergency.
We are aiming to connect residents with emerging support in their local areas where there is appropriate provision.
If local community organisations are contacted by residents with more complex needs than they can support please refer to Community Links and we will work with the Care Navigation and Wish+ teams to find the support needed. Referral form can be found here. Minimum requirements are contact details and permission to contact the person needing support.
All the usual routes in to the service apply via Community Links at VAC:
Freephone: 0800 193 6067 (please leave a message if no answer. Staff are using other phones to call back and keep this one free)
Secure NHS email (referrals only): camccg.socialprescribingreferral@nhs.net
Community Links email (enquiries and referrals): communitylinks@vac.org.uk

Healthwatch Camden’s Covid-19 Survey

How are people accessing information needed to stay well, how health and care services have changed since the Covid-19 outbreak, and how covid-19 is affecting other aspects of health and wellbeing?
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/healthwatchcamdencovid-19  or call 020 7383 2402 to complete the survey over the phone if you are not online. Particularly interested to hear from: people for whom English isn’t first language, those with a communication support need, people who are BAME (esp. Black African and older Bangladeshi men), men, under 24s, and 55+.

Our mailing address is:
Charlie Ratchford Centre, Belmont Street, London, NW1 8HF

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