Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin 17th March 2017

Young Camden Foundation; Policy Seminar: Sortition; The Way Ahead; Governance in the Voluntary and Community Sector; Active Places, Active People, Active Journeys; A workshop for anyone who would like to apply for the Aging Better in Camden Bangladeshi Social Action project; Improve English Reading Writing and Listening Skills; Elfrida Rathbone AGM + funding, jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

The Young Camden Foundation has launched with news of the Foundation and a small grants scheme.
“The foundation is an exciting and innovative new cross-sector partnership, bringing the voluntary and community sector, Camden businesses, funders and the public sector together to support the lives of all young people in Camden.
The Foundation is a membership based organisation which aims to bring together and support local charities, voluntary organisations and groups that are committed to supporting and empowering our Camden Young People. We believe it is so vital, now more than ever that all of us need to take responsibility for ensuring the best possibly future for young people and we want to make it as easy as possible for everyone in Camden to be a part of this.”
To join go to https://www.youngcamdenfoundation.org.uk/join/
See the ‘Grants’ section below for more information about the small grants scheme.

Policy Seminar: Sortition
Wednesday March 22nd 2017. 10.30am (for 11am start) – 1pm.
Room 11. Mary Ward Centre. 42 Queens Square. NW1N 3AQ.
Definition: Sortition – the action of selecting or determining something by the casting or drawing of lots
Citizens are increasingly asked to participate in government and civil society beyond just voting in elections. How can we increase the numbers and diversity of people who get involved and avoid drawing on the familiar pool of active citizens? As policy driven ‘resident-led’ initiatives proliferate – like Big Local and Communities First, service user involvement and co-production of public services, restorative justice and citizens’ panels – how can we draw more people into the pool?
VAC and a Camden Big Local initiative have started to explore the pros and cons of random selection, or Sortition. We want to broaden the debate, include different aspects of citizen participation and democratic process, and look at the potential for using Sortition. Apply at Eventbrite or contact acharles@vac.org.uk.

The Way Ahead
For the past year London Funders have been holding an enquiry into the future of pan-London infrastructure. This was extended to include local infrastructure (ie VAC and Volunteer Centre Camden for example). And was further extended to include all of civil society. The final report was published in November 2016. It’s been an interesting 12 months and we have attempted to sum it up in a blog on the VAC website.

Governance in the Voluntary and Community Sector
18 May 2017 – 22 June 2017 6 Thursday evenings 17:30-20:30 in Camden
A short evening course for trustees/management committee members or anybody who is interested in developing the knowledge and skills required to be a member of a governing body in the voluntary or community sector. Ideal for new trustees as an induction, for experienced trustees who want a refresher and for those just starting out as trustees. The course is a partnership between VAC and Mary Ward. Full details at the Mary Ward website.

Active Places, Active People, Active Journeys
How do you keep active in St Pancras and Somers Town?
Featuring interactive games and local voices, Moving Stories explores how the community stays active.
Come along to The Living Centre and share your stories about what keeps you moving and feeling well in St Pancras and Somers Town.
Thursday 16 March to Friday 24 March 9am – 5pm Closed Sat. and Sun.
The St Pancras and Somers Town Living Centre, 2 Ossulston Street, London NW1 1DF

A workshop for anyone who would like to apply for the Aging Better in Camden Bangladeshi Social Action project
Learn about the process and specifics of applying, as well as good practice in writing tender applications.
This workshop will be facilitated by Rachel Hughes and Jaber Khan from Social Action for Health and it will include:
~ Explanation of the key objectives and the tender specifications
~ The application process
~ General hints and tips on writing an application
~ Applying with other organisations
There will be an opportunity to meet other people who may be interested in applying, as well as a general question and answer session.
We recommend that organisations wishing to access the funding attend for information and learning purposes, (attendance by itself this will not affect the outcome of applications).
27th March, 2017 9:30 AM through to 12:30 PM
at St Pancras and Somers Town Living Centre, 2 Ossulston street, NW1 1DF
Contact Zahir or Jaber zahirc@safh.org.uk or jaberk@safh.org.uk T: 0208 510 1970

Improve English Reading Writing and Listening Skills
English ESOL Entry level class
Every Tuesday 10am-12pm
KCB Chadswell Healthy Living Centre, Harrison Street, London, WC1H 8JE
Tel no: 020 7713 5545

Elfrida Rathbone AGM 30th March 2017 2 – 4.30pm
7 Dowdney Close, NW5. rsvp jasmine@elfridacamden.org.uk

Camden Carers Service
Camden Carers Service (CCS) offers advice, support and activities for family and other unpaid carers across the borough.
Help is just a phone call away on 020 7428 8950 or email info@camdencarers.org.uk – read more about our services at www.camdencs.org.uk or www.facebook.com

Centre 404 Events Diary
Find out what’s on at Centre 404 – Diary, Groups and Workshops – online here.

Camden Patient Participation Group – Elections and News
Don’t forget to nominate yourself to the CPPEG elections. Full details here. Find out more and read the latest Camden Patient Participation Group Newsletter here.

Healthwatch Camden
View the latest news and views from Healthwatch Camden here.

Camden Capacity Building Bulletin
The February Capacity Building Bulletin is available here.

Ageing Better in Camden
Read the Ageing Better in Camden Newsletter Spring Edition 2017 here

LAWRS, Refugee Therapy Centre, Camden CCG, Opening Doors London, NHS Community Navigators, VAC, Kings Cross Construction Centre and Camden PA are recruiting. See Jobs and Volunteers section below.

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.

Young Camden Foundation Small Grants Scheme 2017
The first grants through the Young Camden Foundation are now available to anyone working around the theme of ‘One Camden’. Our aim is to bring together Camden’s diverse communities, especially those who might not otherwise meet and interact.
We are asking for submissions for projects that fit in with this theme through one of the following ideas:
~ Intergenerational Work: Projects that bring together people from all ages, for instance young people with pensioners
~ Volunteering: Projects that offer time and resources to groups or people you normally would not interact with
~ Working with cultures other than your own: This could be with different ethnic groups, cultural groups, or groups with a particular focus such as sports groups working with arts groups.
There will be a total pool of £60,000 available which will be split up into:
~ 1x grants of up to £10,000 in which consortium bids will be strongly encouraged. This project would also need to benefit communities across the borough of Camden (rather than specific areas).
~ 8x grants of up to £5,000
~ 5x grants of up to £2,000
If you have an exciting project that fits into the theme and connects Camden communities, please submit either via the form , or submit a video explaining how your project meets the requirements.
Applications must show involvement by the beneficiaries (those that will benefit from the project, i.e: Camden Young People). Any applications received that cannot show how young people were involved in the process will be rejected.
*Applicants also must be a registered member of the Young Camden Foundation to be eligible for any Grants. Join here: https://www.youngcamdenfoundation.org.uk/form
Full details of the grants and how to apply here: https://www.youngcamdenfoundation.org.uk/grants/

Edge Fund – Social Justice Funding for Grassroots Groups
Now open for the first funding round of the year! We will be giving £40,000 to about 30 grass-roots groups, campaigning against the systems that cause injustice. We are accepting applications from the 7th of March until the 17th April.
We support work run by and for communities facing discrimination and injustice. We fund work carried out by individuals and grass-roots groups in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England that find it difficult to get funding elsewhere. We do not fund traditional charity work, instead we we support activity that challenges abuses of power and aims to change society by bringing an end to the systems that cause injustice. While applicants may be working on short term reforms, we are looking for applicants that ultimately aim to end or replace unjust systems with a just alternative.
We have not yet funded a group with an annual income over £25,000. The average income of groups we fund is around £2,500. Full details on the Edge Fund website.

Three Crowdfunding Opportunities
VAC are running a series of workshops to celebrate our new working relationship with Crowdfunder Hubbub. Our old partners Space Hive have teamed up with the mayor and you can get involved here. And now Trust for London are launching a major crowdfunding initiative (see below for full details).

Crowdfunding initiative launched to tackle poverty and inequality in London
In collaboration with Crowdfunder and The Social Innovation Partnership, Trust for London and City Bridge Trust have launched a new £100,000 fund available to organisations using crowdfunding to raise funds and deliver projects which will address inequality and lift people out of poverty in the capital.
The Improving life for Londoners fund will provide up to 50% of the target (to a maximum of £10,000), with projects expected to raise at least the first 25% from the crowd.
The fund is keen to support charitable work that:
~ Provides practical solutions to support people on low incomes
~ Addresses local problems in creative ways
~ Is led by communities that will benefit from the work
If you think your organisation fits, check out our Crowdfunder page.
Do you want to know more about crowdfunding, and how to run a crowdfunding project?
Join us on Thursday 23 March 2017 at 1.00pm for a short Introduction to Crowdfunding webinar. For more details and to sign up here.

Three Ageing Better in Camden Contracts
Ageing Better in Camden is advertising invitations to tender for 3 contracts:
~ Gospel Oak and Haverstock Community Action Project
~ Euston and Regents Park Community Action Project
~ Bangladeshi Community Action Project.
All of the projects will involve older people to improve their local communities and run activities in their neighbourhoods.
Please go to www.ageingbetterincamden.org.uk for more information

UCL Grand Challenges Small Grants Scheme
Closing date: 9am, Monday, 22 May 2017
Up to £4,000 available for a wide range of research-informed, societally relevant, cross-disciplinary activities undertaken from 1 August 2017 to 31 July 2018
Up to £6,000 is available for proposals that address the GCSC Priority Theme of Urban Mobility, with additional funding from the UCL Transport Institute. Further details
Proposals must address a Priority Theme relating to one of the six UCL Grand Challenges – Global Health; Justice and Equality; Tranformative Tech; Human Wellbeing; Cultural Understanding; Sustainable Cities
Applications must be led by UCL academic staff members (honorary researchers included) at postdoctoral level (or equivalent) or above. Full details here.

Health and Safety Training 21st March 10.00 – 1.00. (Waiting list)
Learn about your rights and how to enforce them. You get a certificate at the end of the course.
The training is ideal for people new to health and safety or those wanting to refresh their knowledge. The course also covers all the requirements for running a community group safely. In particular, migrant workers or recent arrivals in the UK will gain important knowledge about their rights.
Working in a safe environment is a basic human right. Find out how to be safe and avoid ill health at work. Organised by VAC and London Hazards. To book please follow this link

Crowdfunding Workshops with Hubbub
VAC and Hubbub would like to invite you to our inaugural Camden charities crowdfunding workshop. We are putting 3 sessions on in order for you to learn what crowdfunding is and how your charity can take advantage of it
These sessions are aimed at Camden-based groups, ideally those with an income of under £100,000.
Workshop Details
Session 1 – has now taken place and the follow up Session 2 – Pre Campaign – 21st March, 3-5pm at Voluntary Action Camden. I filling fast and is for those who attended Session 1 or already have some knowledge of crowdfunding. In session 2 we will be getting down to the details of planning your campaign.
Session 3 – Writing your pitch and one-to-one support (Date TBC)
Write your pitch and present your campaign to the workshop. Get feedback from other attendees and get your project live.
More details on the VAC website: https://vac.org.uk/events/

Age Allies
From buses to banking, housing to health care, or leisure activities to local authorities, older people are increasingly shown to experience ageist attitudes and behaviors when accessing various services.
Age Allies is a brand new 3 years programme being developed by Age UK London that will help tackle age discrimination and issues around access to services in London.
Registering your interest today for one of our Focus Groups on either:
Tuesday 28 March (10:30 – 12:00)
Wednesday 29 March (10:30 – 12:00)
Help us challenge ageism in London. Register at Eventbrite

Camden Adult Community Learning Service Health & well-being event – Get Involved
At St Pancras and Somers Town Living Centre Ossulston Street side, NW1 1DF
Tuesday 28 March from 10:00 – 1:00
The event is for our current adult community learners, many of whom experience disadvantage and a range of barriers to getting involved in activities to improve their and their family’s health and well-being.
We hope that the event will provide information and an opportunity to get involved in interactive activities to give a taste of what’s available in Camden for adults (our learners are typically in the 30 – 60+ age range) and families.
We want learners to leave with ideas and plans to get involved in activities over the Easter break and into the summer that are free or low cost.
If you would like your organisation to be involved, contact Bola at
adultlearning@camden.gov.uk by Monday 6 March at the latest.

Ageing Better in Camden invites you to the launch of Concerns and Gaps Scheme (CAG)
Monday 20th March 2017 10.30am-1pm
At Age UK Camden, Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square WC1H 9NA
At this free event we will be launching CAG – a method for collecting evidence of concerns and gaps in services from staff working with older people and older people themselves across Camden.
Speaker: Jamie Spencer, Prevention & Wellbeing Service Manager from London Borough of Camden’s Adult Social Care team,
This event is for anyone involved or working with older people in Camden, for those with an interest in joining up services and working in partnership to influence change.
Please RSVP to ageingbetterincamden@ageukcamden.org.uk or call 020 7239 0400..

Free Family Activities at the British Library January – March 2017
Play on Words Saturday 25 March 10.30 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 14.30
Play with words and performance in this creative workshop. Families will have the chance to print, collage, write and make. Details: www.bl.uk/events/family-events
learning@bl.uk T +44 (0)20 7412 7797. The British Library 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB

Recovery College
Recovery College Spring term has started. If you would like to find out more about the courses take a look at the Recovery College Spring 2017 course guide.

Free HR training workshops for Camden voluntary and community groups
Free and will take place between 9.45 and 1pm at the Town Hall Judd Street.
The workshops are for managers and trustees of voluntary and community groups based in Camden.
Managing Difficult Conversations at Work Wednesday 12th April 2017
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-difficult-conversations-at-work-registration-27067711253
The workshops will be run by Shirley Briggs. Shirley is an independent HR consultant. Her background is in social housing where she worked as a HR manager for a number of large housing associations. She is also a trained workplace mediator.

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

LAWRS is recruiting Two Posts
Latin American Women’s Rights Service is recruiting two posts;
~ Director
~ Housing, Money and Debt Coordinator
For more details and to apply please go to the LAWRS webiste:
http://www.lawrs.org.uk/en/get-involved/vacancies

Healthwatch Camden seeks Chair .
Healthwatch Camden is here to make sure that everyone – adults and children – who uses health and social care services in Camden can have their say on services and that what they say makes a difference. To help us do our job, we are looking for more people who live, work or study in Camden to join our board of trustees.
We are looking for one person to become Chair of the board, to replace our founding Chair, who is stepping down after four successful years.
To find out more please visit our website www.healthwatchcamden.co.uk or email info@healthwatchcamden.co.uk

Refugee Therapy Centre seeks Volunteer Mentoring Coordinator
Do you have the passion, experience, skills and enthusiasm needed to support and develop a Mentoring Project helping refugees and asylum seekers?
Deadline 5pm 7th April 2017.
The Refugee Therapy Centre recruits and engages medical students to establish meaningful relationship and provide practical support for disadvantaged refugees and asylum seekers encountering difficulties adjusting to their new life in the UK.
The Mentoring Coordinator will work in an innovative and creative way to coordinate and develop the Mentoring Project and support refugees and asylum seekers to achieve positive outcomes.
To apply, send two copies of your CV and a covering letter detailing what you can bring to the role to
Refugee Therapy Centre, 1A Leeds Place, Tollington Park, London, N4 3RF
You will find the Job Description and Person Spec at our website: http://www.refugeetherapy.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-mentoring-coordniator.aspx
For further information about this role or other volunteering opportunities, please send an email to info@refugeetherapy.org.uk

The Refugee Therapy Centre seeks Administrative Assistant.
3 days a week £17,276 pro rata
Deadline for application: 5pm 3rd April 2017 Interviews: 11th April 2017
With a keen eye for detail, strong organisational, IT and communication skills, the Administrative Assistant will provide excellent customer service and perform a range of administrative tasks to support the effective functioning of the Centre.
The candidate has to be intuitive, flexible, with excellent secretarial skills, and be able to use MS software package to a high standard. With ability to deal sensitively and professionally with disadvantaged and vulnerable people, you should also be committed to confidentiality and the ethos of the Refugee Therapy Centre.
To apply, please send 2 hard copies of completed application form, Equal Opportunities Questionnaire and a copy of your recent CV to the:
Refugee Therapy Centre, 1A Leeds Place, Tollington Park, London, N4 3RF,
A job description and application pack with further information can be found on our website: http://www.refugeetherapy.org.uk/get-involved/vacancies/administrative-assistant.aspx

Opening Doors London seeks Social Opportunities Facilitator
£15.49/hour This is a rolling vacancy and applications will be considered as they are received.
Opening Doors London is the largest provider of information and support services with and for older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans*people in the United Kingdom. We aim to ensure that older LGBT* people live happier, healthier and independent lives free from prejudice and discrimination. Everything we do is informed by the lived experience of LGBT* older people.
ODL currently provides over 40 social opportunities each month. This role will involve working alongside the team to provide support to existing groups and activities as well as developing new initiatives to meet the needs of our members.
You will be responsible for setting up and managing activities [such as arranging venues and speakers], recruiting and supporting volunteers and providing local marketing.
If you are interested in being one of our LGBT* sessional team, please see the application pack including the full job description and person specification at the following link in our website www.ageukcamden.org.uk / www.openingdoorslondon.org.uk or email HR@openingdoorslondon.org.uk

Voluntary Acton camden – Trustee Vacancies
Voluntary Action Camden (VAC) is seeking two new trustees to join its existing board. VAC supports individuals and groups to get involved in civil society and develops ways of sharing good practice and resources. We are looking for individuals who have an enthusiastic appreciation and understanding of Camden’s community sector and who want to see the sector thrive in the coming years. We are particularly interested in individuals with fundraising and marketing experience. If you would like more information, then please go to our website where you’ll find details of the job role and how to apply, together with more information about VAC’s strategic objectives and the work we do. If you would like an informal discussion before applying, please contac Simone Hensby shensby@vac.org.uk

Community Navigator
These innovative posts involve supporting people to become less lonely and to develop more social contact. The successful applicant will join a team of community navigators employed by Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust and will support people with enduring depression or anxiety who use mental health services in Camden, Islington or Barnet. These posts are part of a nationally-funded research study. The post holder will feedback to the research team and contribute to developing and evaluating this programme.
The role will require flexibility to meet people at mutually convenient times and to support them in going to community activities. The total amount of work for each post will average out at one day per week: post holders will be paid at this rate on an annualized hours basis. The post is until the end of February 2018, to start in April 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter. Any experience of working in services which support people with mental health problems, or voluntary sector community experience, are both assets for this work.
You can find more information about this post on the NHS jobs website: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/9f27c8ce53a7d619995f3edb43ad7bb5/?vac_ref=914513220

Kings Cross Jobs
You can view a constantly changing range of job vacancies on the Kings Cross website. For the latest news on jobs sign up to job alerts.

Volunteers are needed in GP practices!
Voluntary Action Camden (VAC) would like to hear from you! We are training volunteers to become Community Health Advocates in local GP practices.
• Do you live, work or volunteer in Camden?
• Would you like to support people in your community to improve their health and their access to services that will help them to maintain good health and wellbeing?
• Do you want to develop experience and skills in the field of public health?
• Can you commit at least 2 hours per week?
VAC is offering free Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH) Level 1 training to those who want to volunteer their time to become Community Health Advocates. The RSPH Level 1 training is a two days course, with a 20 question multiple choice test at the end of the second day of training. It could provide a useful skill set and experience for people who may be interested in following a health related career path in the future.
After completing the training, VAC will support local teams of volunteers to act as links between community based services and GPs. You may wish to take advantage of additional opportunities to increase your knowledge, for example smoking cessation, cancer awareness, diabetes etc. In return for your commitment to the project for 2 hours a week we offer support, out of pocket expenses and other professional development opportunities.
For more information, please contact Mandira Manandhar, Health Advocate Volunteer Co-ordinator (Mon, Tues and Thurs) 020 7284 6550/07930669417 or email: mmanandhar@vac.org.uk
Peter Simonson on 020 7284 6550 or email: projectsupport@vac.org.uk
The RSPH training is provided FREE by on the understanding that participants are available to volunteer for the project and able to attend the regular training and support sessions.

Are you looking to employ an assistant to help with your care needs? CamdenPAs can help
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

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

The Camden Commission would like to hear from you
Camden council want you to have your say about Camden’s priorities and challenges for the next five years. As the current Camden Plan comes to the end of its five-year lifespan, the Camden Commission has been set up to help shape Camden’s vision for 2018-2023.
The Camden Commission is a group of councillors and expert advisors who will hear from local residents, organisations, and businesses over the next six months to better understand the challenges faced across the borough. The Commission wants to hear from local people, communities and our partners to ensure that our new vision will focus on what people really need and want from their local government.
Organisations or groups wishing to get involved or submit evidence to the Camden Commission can do so in these ways:
~ Submit an idea or suggestion, and see what others have said using our online forum
~ Submit written evidence by emailing us at camdencommission@camden.gov.uk
~ Sign up for email alerts

CIP on One Map
Camden have helpfully published an interactive map with every Community Investment Programme (CIP) project marked with link to a summary and further links to the planning documents.

Camden Business Sustainability Awards
The awards aim to recognise, inspire and encourage businesses and organisations in the borough to achieve environmental sustainability.
The awards will be presented at a special event: ‘Celebrating Sustainable Business in Camden – leading the way‘ on Tuesday 25 April at the Francis Crick Institute in Kings Cross. The event will be an opportunity to network with other businesses and organisations going out of their way to protect the environment and, listening to keynote speakers from the London Assembly’s Environment Committee and the Committee on Climate Change
There are 8 categories for entrants including one for “Community project of the year”.
Further information here:
http://www.camdencca.org/camden-business-sustainability-awards-2017/
Please submit an expression of interest as soon as possible.

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.