Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin 19th August 2016

New Online Market Place for Social Care Providers; VAC is moving offices; Last Chance to Apply for Camden Young People’s Foundation jobs; Camden Funders Fair for Local Community Organisations; Camden Futures Community Connectors; News from Camden Sure Start Children’s Centres; Leighton Project Coffee Morning; + funding jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

Camden council have developed a new online marketplace for adult social care in Camden. This will sit within the new Camden Care Choices website to be launched in October 2016. This is part of the Care Act 2014 offer to provide people with access to social care products and services.
Initially, the marketplace will allow users to source care and support services themselves and, in due course, the marketplace will be the primary source for Camden Council staff to commission providers’ services. All future contracts with providers will require registering services on the new website.
Camden council will be holding three information and registration events on Tuesday 13th September 2016 at St Pancras Community Association, 67 Pender Street, NW1 0LB (nearest tube stations are Mornington Crescent and Camden Town).
The events will enable people to find local services they want to help them live independently, with the benefit of a potential increase in the number of people using your service.
Staff will be on hand to help you register on the day. With this in mind, please bring with you details about your organisation (contact name, email address, business card/headed paper etc.) and ensure that you have the authority to sign up when you’re with us. Full details and registration can be accessed by clicking the link below:
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/camden-social-care-online-directory-provider-launch-tickets-27088145372

Farewell Kentish Town
From September Voluntary Action Camden will be based in the West Euston Partnership offices at 29- 31 Hampstead Rd, London NW1 3JA. Email addresses and phone numbers remain the same.
The other organisations based at 299 Kentish Town Road will all be moving to new premises as well: Camden Carers Centre, Healthwatch Camden, Camden Psychotherapy Unit, Camden Mediation Service, The Advocacy Project, Irish Survivors Support Network, Solace Women’s Aid, the Bereavement Service and CADFA..

Camden Young People’s Foundation
This is an exciting initiative that aims to support activities for young people in Camden. Three posts are being recruited – see ‘Jobs’ section below for full details. Deadline Monday!

Camden Funders Fair for Local Community Organisations
Thursday 22nd September 9.30am-12.30pm
Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE
This fair will be aimed at local, Camden-based community organisations with a turnover of less than £100,000 per annum who are engaged in excellent work in the borough, but are not necessarily used to approaching independent funders.
Community organisations and charities will receive welcome advice and tailored guidance on the day from national and local trusts and foundations and, following on from this, Voluntary Action Camden has pledged to provide further 1-1 support to the charities attending to help them in future funding applications.
Reasons to attend:
• Good way to reach a number of organisations efficiently, good use of time.
• Opportunity to meet local charities and give them invaluable face-to-face advice.
• Improve quality of funding applications to the benefit of all.
• Leverage additional support for the charities from VAC.
• Network and connect with other local and national funders.
know more then please contact either Simone or Jackie on:
Simone: shensby@vac.org.uk, Tel: 020 7284 6555
Jackie: jackie.crombie@bitcconnect.org, Tel: 07841 727172

Camden Futures Community Connectors
Are you a parent or carer living in Camden? Have you ever thought of helping other parents by sharing tips, interesting activities happening in your community and places to go with your family and friends?
Camden Futures is recruiting parents volunteers to become Community Connectors. We are holding information sessions on
08/09/16 from 1 to 3 pm and on 16/09/16 from 9.30 to 11.30 am at Elfrida Rathbone Camden, 7 Dowdney Close, London NW5 2BP. For info contact Francesca on 02074241622

News from Camden Sure Start Children’s Centres
Children’s centre news and activities for families with children under 5 years and those expecting a baby.
Information about the Family Nurse Partnership is online here: http://fnp.nhs.uk/
Information about 2 year places- http://www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/education/pre-school/help-with-childcare-costs.en
Look on the new website www.camden.gov.uk/surestartcamden
•To register online- it’s quick and easy
•To view all 5 Services Timetables – a new leaflet with maps and weekly timetables

Leighton Project Coffee Morning
The Leighton Education Project is running a drop-in coffee morning for voluntary and statutory sector colleagues on Thursday 8th September 10am-12pm at Elfrida Rathbone Camden. The Leighton Education Project is a specialist education provider for young people aged 16 – 25 with special educational needs and disabilities.
The morning will be an opportunity to look round the classrooms, meet the team and find out more about what we have on offer. We also have spaces available for the 2016/17 academic year.
RSVP emily@elfridacamden.org.uk

Camden Festivals
A list of community festivals in Camden can be found here.

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 monthly and contains information and news on funding and training. To access it go to www.camden.gov.uk/cbbulletin

Clean Break; Fitzrovia Youth in Action; Camden Young People’s Foundation; Healthwatch Camden; Solace Women’s Aid; Age UK Camden 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

Mens Sheds
Out of the wood: how carpentry is helping men tackle loneliness
According to the Guardian, the Mensheds movement is spreading across the UK. Curously they claim there are 4 in Britain – actually there are hundreds. Find out about the Camden Town Mens Shed here.

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

Comic Relief Local Communities
The current theme is ‘Promote reduction of isolation and disadvantage and access to services’.
Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 will be available.
The programme aims to empower local people, enabling them to create lasting change in their communities. Projects should be run by people directly affected by the issues they are dealing with and priority will be given to small, locally based groups and organisations in areas of disadvantage that have a clear understanding of the needs of their community. Further details online.
Deadline for applications: 5pm Tuesday 6th September
If you have any questions please contact Thomas Flynn thomas.flynn@londoncf.org.uk or Matthew Harriot matthew.harriott@londoncf.org.uk

From paintbrushes to iPads: £3m fund to entice over-75s into the arts
Shakespeare may have described old age as “mere oblivion”, a depressing stage of life “sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything”.
But Arts Council England disagrees, as it allocates £3 million of funding to organisations that encourage pensioners to take up creative pursuits.
Older people are to be invited to pick up their paintbrushes, dancing shoes or iPads as part of a major new project, Celebrating Age. Story from the Telegraph

Celebrate – A New Grants Programme from the Big Lottery Fund
When was the last time your local community came together? Grants of between £300 and £10,000 for groups to hold one off events or activities which celebrate their local community.
You could celebrate something from your community’s history or a local hero. Or maybe it could a chance to bring people together to get to know their neighbours better. Full details on the Big Lottery Website.

Deutsche Bank Small Grants Fund
If you are a charity, voluntary or community group with an income of less than £250,000 per annum and you need funding for work focusing on increasing social inclusion and improving well being, this fund may be able to help.
The focus of the Small Grants Fund is to help society’s most disadvantaged and communities on the ground.
Projects may fall into any of the following areas:
~ Projects that promote social inclusion, reduce isolation and disadvantage and improve access to services;
~ Projects that advance people’s physical and mental health, wellbeing and safety
~ Projects that maximize people’s ability to strengthen community cohesion and build social capacity
The maximum grant size is £5,000. The application is online here.

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

Free HR training workshops for Camden voluntary and community groups
Many small to medium sized organisations do not have the resources to directly purchase HR support on an ongoing basis. In our experience, badly handled employment issues in small to medium sized organisations can destabilise the organisation and affect its delivery.
A robust HR function enables organisations to be more sustainable by strengthening the leadership of an organisation, supporting staff, trustees and volunteers effectively and by preventing crises.
The Communities and Third Sector team at Camden Council are pleased to be able to offer Camden voluntary and community groups a series of HR training workshops. The workshops are 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. To book a place on the workshops that you would like to attend, please click on the Eventbrite links.
HR Essentials Wednesday 28th September 2016
The aim of this workshop is to raise the awareness of potential and new employers about employment legislation and good practice in the workplace.
http://hr-essentials.eventbrite.co.uk
Managing Poor Performance through Capability Wednesday 19th October 2016
This workshop will focus on managing employees who are underperforming due to lack of capability
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-poor-performance-through-capability-tickets-27066873748
Managing Misconduct Wednesday 16th November 2016
This worshop will focus on managing employees who are underperforming due to misconduct
The training will reflect the ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-misconduct-registration-27067000126
Handling Workplace Investigations Wednesday 7th December 2016
There are many occasions when an employer may wish to undertake an internal investigation including as part of the disciplinary and grievance process
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/handling-workplace-investigations-registration-27067050276
Staff Appraisals Thursday 12th January 2017
Appraisal is a two-way process of looking backwards to analyse past job performance, and looking forward into the future with a view to improving future performance.
The overall objective of an effective appraisal scheme should be to help each employee to maximise his or her job performance for the joint benefit of the employee and the organisation.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/staff-appraisals-registration-27067569830
Managing Sickness Absence Thursday 9th February 2017
The aim of this workshop is to increase managers’ confidence and ability to manage staff absence.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-sickness-absence-registration-27067617974
Managing Restructure Wednesday 15th March 2017
Many voluntary and community organisations are considering some kind of restructuring in response to the current economic climate. This might include closing a team, amalgamating core functions, general downsizing or some sort of relocation.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-a-restructure-registration-27067674142
Managing Difficult Conversations at Work Wednesday 12th April 2017
Most of us dislike confrontation; we sometimes avoid it which can often lead to even more difficulty, misunderstandings and possible conflict.
In the current climate of continued economic uncertainty, we may find ourselves working with reduced budgets, constant organisational change and ongoing performance issues, as people try to make sense of all this.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-difficult-conversations-at-work-registration-27067711253
The workshops will be run by Shirley Briggs. Shirely 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 managed the PEACe (HR) service at LVSC from 2006-2016 supporting many hundreds of voluntary and community organisations with HR and employment law advice, consultancy and training. She is also a trained workplace mediator.

FREE places on Learning Disability Awareness Training from Training People
Wednesday 7th September
Training People will be delivering their popular Learning Disability Awareness Training for Camden Council on Wednesday 7th September 2016. The course runs from 1-5pm at the Crowndale Centre.
Places are getting booked up but there are still quite a few spots left and we’d love to see you, your colleagues or your volunteers there!
The training is suitable for anyone who comes into contact with people with a learning disability in their job. The group have had great reviews from commissioners, managers and volunteers alike.
We’ll be looking at effective communication, easy read, how to give great support, the law – and much more!
To find out if you are eligible for a FREE place, you need to contact Camden Training and Development Service. You can call them on 0207 974 2821 or visit their website at www.camdentds.co.uk.

Older Men’s Health Sessions
Wednesdays 11am – 1pm throughout August (24th, 31st)
Fun and enjoyable weekly workshop
Third Age Project, Crypt Centre, Munster Square, London NW1. Tel 020 7383 4922

Kingsgate Community Centre Bring and Buy Sale
4th September 12 – 4pm
Next to the play hut in Kilburn Grange Park
Clothes, jewellery, books, art, cakes, refreshments. Free entry.

Camden Intergenerational Network
Thursday 29th September 2016 at Age UK Camden, Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square WC1H 9NA from 10am-12pm. Please email items for the agenda to Corinna Gray by Friday 16th September 2016.
Keep in touch via Ageing Better in Camden’s dedicated CIN web page.
Read the full network newsletter here.

September Volunteer Managers’ Forum + Lunch
Join us at our next volunteer managers’ forum where we will share our top tips for best practice in volunteer management. 14th September 2016.
The topics will be varied, and can be anything related to managing volunteers.
You will also meet (and network with) other volunteer managers in Camden – and lunch is included.
The forum will take place at The Pirate Castle, Oval Road, Camden Town, NW1 7EA
Check out the full details and book your free tickets on Eventbrite

‘Made of Money’ is running a 2 day Facilitator Training in London on 5th – 6th October 2016
We also offer ‘in house’ trainings for any organisation or group of organisations to suit you.
‘Made of Money’ is an award winning financial literacy resource, developed by anti-poverty charity Quaker Social Action. It aims to help groups talk about money and its impact on their lives, as well as learn vital money management skills. It is ideal to help front line workers offer support to those on low income, particularly in the run up to the introduction of Universal Credit, and welfare benefit changes.
The cost per person for the 2-day training, (incl lunch), depending on the size of your organisation (£100 for small organisations).
You will also need a set of workshop resources, charged at a subsidised rate of £115. This gives you everything you need to run Made of with groups and 1:1 sessions. (These can be shared within the organisation or between groups of organisations)
Contact mompartner@qsa.org.uk

Recovery Collge Taster Courses Drop-in
Understanding Drug & Alcohol Use
Thursday 25 August, 2.30-3pm
All of these workshops take place at Phoenix Main Space at: Mind in Camden – Barnes House, 9-15 Camden Road, London, NW1 9LQ
Tel: 0207 241 8998. You can enrol for Autumn term after each session
Call The Recovery College on: 0203 317 6904 Visit our website : www.candi.nhs.uk/recoverycollege

Memory Cafes
Millman Street Memory Cafe, 3rd Monday of the month, 3-5pm. Tel: 020 7561 4820
Maitland Part Memory Cafe, 1st Wednesday of the month, 11am – 1pm. Tel020 7561 4820.

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

Elfrida Rathbone seeks Employment Support Coordinator
Salary £28,845 pro rata (including ILW)
28 hours per week (some evening and weekend work as required)
Two year fixed-term contract with potential to extend
To coordinate the delivery of Inclusion Works, a project supporting young people with learning difficulties and disabilities into sustainable employment and helping them to achieve their aims for community inclusion and financial independence.
For more information about this role, please contact Jennifer Ellis on 020 7424 1639 or email jennifer@elfridacamden.org.uk
The closing date for applications is 10am on Friday 2nd September. Interviews will be held on Friday 9th September.

Fitzrovia Youth in Action seeks Mentoring Programme Staff
Manager
Salary £30,000-£32,000, depending on experience
Fitzrovia Youth in Action (FYA) is seeking to employ a Project Manager to co-ordinate an exciting project, supported by the Big Lottery Fund, aimed at raising
young people’s aspirations and learning while developing their employability skills and giving them an insight into the world of work and higher education.
Working in partnership with local businesses, youth services and educational institutions , the post holder will deliver an innovative programme consisting of work experience
placements, 1-2-1 mentoring, youth volunteering, study support groups and employability workshops.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and passionate individual with excellent organisational skills, great communication skills and the ability to motivate and support local businesses and employees to participate in the scheme, as well as young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Apply here
Mentoring Programme Officer
£24,000
We are looking to recruit a passionate mentoring programme officer to support the development and running of the Insight programme: a series of projects aimed at providing young people with employability and study support so they can follow their dreams and achieve thier goals. Our programmes include short and long term mentoring and work experience projects, a study hub run by student volunteers, and employability training.
Deadline for applications for both jobs is Wednesday 31st August. Interviews will be held in the week commencing 5th September. Apply here.

Clean Break seeks Female Catering Volunteers
We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to assist the Catering Team with preparation and serving of nutritious food to our service users, maintaining Health & Safety and kitchen hygiene Standards.
Food Preparation – catering for daily lunches and internal and external events, with tasks including prepping, cooking, dishing up and serving, washing up and cleaning up kitchen. Ingredients will be cooked, frozen, tinned to create healthily meat and vegetation dishes. Assist with quarterly blitz of kitchen-deep clean of equipment and kitchen space.
This role would suit someone who enjoys cooking and working as part of a team
A basic level of cooking knowledge and ability to follow instruction is essential
Some experience of working with vulnerable people who have been through the Criminal Justice System
Long or short term commitment from September 2016 – July 2017 with availability Monday-Thursday
Weekdays 11.00am-2.30pm (Tuesdays 11.00-3pm). Some flexibility
Open to women only (exempt under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1)
Contact: Samantha.McNeil@cleanbreak.org.uk Tel: 020 7482 8600

Hep C support group in Camden
Use your experience of living with Hepatitis C to educate and support others through the process of getting tested and treated.
We are recruiting a team of 6 people with lived experience to form a Hep C support group in Camden. The group will deliver
Peer Led Drop In; Peer Support Group; Outreach; Peer Education; Help with attending appointments
You will Get
Training from the Hep C TRUST; Reward and recognition; Supervision and support
If you are interested, contact Alex, Dan or John at VoiceAbility on 020 3355 7113 or camdenuserinvolvement@voiceability.org
We need to recruit a team quite quickly, so early applications are especially welcome

Camden Young People’s Foundation are recruiting 3 posts
Chief Executive Officer
Fundraising Manager
Operations Officer
The Camden Young Peoples Foundation is a new initiative in Camden that aims to to fundraise to secure funding from new sources (e.g. Big Lottery and European Social Fund) into the local area and successfully secure commissions from the local authority
YPF will attract corporate and individual funding streams and will be a practical and simple way for the corporate sector to engage with CYP organisations.
YPF will also organise sector (and location) specific capacity building including training events, advice sessions and a forum for organisations to share ideas and best practice share venue spaces and develop a ‘venue bank’, coordinate sector networking opportunities and support services.
YPF will be a membership organisations for any group that works with Children and Young People in the Camden.
YPF will have a Trustee Board and wider steering group that will include representation from relevant organisations in Camden. This might include the local voluntary sector, the local authority, police, Clinical Commissioning Groups, Housing Associations, local schools, faith groups, uniformed groups, football clubs and sports organisations, the corporate sector and funder representation.
Download the application packs at the VAC webiste.

Freelance opportunity with Healthwatch Camden
Healthwatch Camden is seeking someone to work with us on our Audit of Engagement project. The position will operate on a self-funding basis. Remuneration will be dependent on income that the freelance worker is able to generate through delivery of the Audit of Involvement service for organisations in the borough of Camden and beyond on a cost recovery basis. The person we are seeking will need to demonstrate: experience in generating income through the delivery of consultancy services in the field of health and social care; a commitment to and an understanding of the theory and practice behind patient and public involvement; ability to work efficiently and independently. Relevant qualifications include: Masters in Business Administration; Masters in Health or Social Care or related field.
To apply please send CV and covering letter by Monday August 15th to: victoria.armitage@healthwatchcamden.co.uk
If you would like more information or to discuss this opportunity please email Anna Wright at: anna.wright@healthwatchcamden.co.uk

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/

Improving how Camden Council talk to and engage with people who are d/Deaf, disabled or have a long term health condition
Camden Council would like to know how Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations in the borough engage with people, and what you think about our approach to engagement.
Please help us by completing our online survey by Friday 2 September.
We will listen to what you tell us when deciding what to do next.
The Council currently runs four forums, each held every three months, for people who are d/Deaf or have disabilities, and long term health conditions. These are:
• Mental health forum
• Learning disability forum
• Sensory needs forum
• Physical disability forum
The forums allow people tell us what they think of our services and how they can be improved. They were established in 2010. We are now looking at them again to see if any improvements can be made.
If you would like any further help, we would be delighted to hear from you. You can contact us using the details below. You can also visit our project webpage.
Email: disability.engagement@camden.gov.uk Telephone: 020 7974 4835

Drafting an Equality and Inclusion Action Plan for Camden CCG
The CCG are in the process of developing an Equality and Inclusion Action plan.
The reason we wanted to use diversity and inclusion instead of equality and diversity is to show that we are not just committed to equalities for compliance reasons and we really want to improve our commissioning and workforce management by using the diversity in our community and also in the workforce. If we can make this diversity work only then we can achieve inclusion. So the focus of the action plan is to use diversity as a strength and make it work to achieve better results/outcomes for all (inclusion).
We would appreciate if you could complete the online survey which will close on Friday 29th July. You can access the survey by clicking on the following link: https://feedback.camdenccg.nhs.uk/community-ownership/diversity-and-inclusion-survey .

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.