Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin – 19th August 2022

This is an important time as strategic and social developments locally, nationally and globally put increasing pressure on small community organisations.
As a VAC member you will be part of a dedicated network through which you can express your 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

Develop.
We are here to help organisations to develop their potential, to build their capacity and to lay the strong foundations necessary for success.
We are in a position to provide tailored support and unrivalled local insight.

Our wide range of services will allow Camden VCS organisations to maximise their strengths and their capability.

Learn more here

Are you interested in sharing your expertise and getting more involved with the local community?
Join Camden Giving for a Trustee Matching Event… Small charities could be transformed with your support!
You’ll meet brilliant Camden organisations who are recruiting Trustees and be able to ask them your important questions.

Learn more and register here

Desk donation
Hopscotch Women’s Centre have a collection of desks which are no longer required. The desks are in a good condition and they are looking to donate them.

For photos and more information please contact Frank.Hayman@hopscotchuk.org

Free family yoga sessions for Camden families
Friday 26th August, Saturday 3rd September and 10th September: 11am – 12pm

These classes at Old diorama Arts Centre, NW1 3FE, give parents and children (aged 3 and upwards) the opportunity to explore yoga together through breathing exercises, poses, partner work, games and meditation.
Please wear comfortable clothing and bring water. Yoga mats will be provided.

To book a place, please email: cherylreynald@yahoo.co.uk

Healthy Start scheme
The Healthy Start scheme supports pregnant women and families to eat healthily and to access vitamins.
Do you receive income support? You could get help to buy milk, fruit, vegetables and infant formula.

If you’re pregnant or have children under the age of 4, the Healthy Start scheme can give you:
£4.25 each week from the 10th week of your pregnancy
£8.50 each week for children from birth to 1 year old
£4.25 each week for children between 1 and 4 years old
All pregnant women and families with young children can also get free Healthy Start vitamins from children’s and health centres.

To apply, please click here

Out of Step Running Club – Mental health support through running and community connections.
Newcomer (walking and jogging) sessions – Mondays at 1pm and Wednesdays at 7pm on Hampstead Heath.

Our focus is on improving people’s sense of wellbeing through connections with others and being physically active outdoors.
Sessions are a mix of walking and jogging and are facilitated by qualified run leaders.
Adults of all abilities are welcome to these free, friendly and supportive sessions.

For more information please click here
or sign up here

Save The Date: Collaborative research event
Thursday 29 September from 14.00-17.00

Join the UCL Community Research Initiative for our Student Dissertation Showcase at UCL’s Friends House, Euston Road, London (online/hybrid available too).
You will hear from master’s students and voluntary organisations who decided to do something different by collaborating to carry out cutting edge research.
Learn about the process, get inspired, and even make connections to carry out research like this in your organisation!

Learn more and RSVP here
Or contact CRIS@ucl.ac.uk

Camden Coproduction Network Meeting
Thursday 15 September: 10am – 11.30am

At this meeting we will hear from the Hillside Club talking on the power dynamics working in a Co-productive way and Islington Council colleagues on their Let’s Talk Islington programme
This meeting will take place on Zoom.

Please contact Particpation@Camden.gov.uk to join the meeting

Lifting Limits are recruiting a Trustee with expertise in Fundraising
We are looking for a new trustee with experience in fundraising and implementing fundraising strategies.
Lifting Limits’ mission is to challenge gender stereotyping and promote gender equality, in and through education.

For more information, please read the role description here.
The position has a rolling deadline, so please apply as soon as possible!

Camden Council Vacancy: Community Bus Outreach Officer
Closing date: Wednesday 1st September

Camden Council are looking for people to work as part of our exciting and rewarding community bus team! Camden have been running a COVID vaccination bus for the past year and began a Camden Mobile Health bus earlier this year. This service is already achieving some amazing results and making a difference to the communities connection with their health and wellbeing.

To learn more and 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

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 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, who wish to book a venue in Camden

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

Clarion Futures Digital Grants Programme – Final Funding Round 2022
Applications for Digital Grants Round 11, are currently open, and the deadline for submission is 12 noon, 21st September 2022.

Grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 will be available to organisations seeking to deliver innovative, well designed projects that support Clarion residents and the wider community to address digital exclusion.
Please note that this is a revised timeframe from what has previously been published, and this is the final Digital Grants funding round for this year.

To learn more, please click here

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:

• Camden Giving
• Grants Online
• My Funding Central
• Idox Camden 4 Community
• VAC main funding page

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

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.

For further information, please contact mark@startupschoolforseniors.com

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

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

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

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

Management for 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 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.

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