Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin 19th February 2021

Don’t Miss Out – Google Mentoring and IT Support

VAC are working with Google to bring support to small grass roots organisations in Camden.  We will be releasing details of the wider programme soon, but groups can sign up for the Google offer now including bespoke tech sessions, as well as 1-1 mentoring.  To get involved, be sure to register your interest here before 24th February.

Evaluation advice from UCL’s Evaluation Exchange

Looking for practical ways to build evaluation and learning into your work?
Join the free session ‘Making time for evaluation and learning: top tips when resources are tight’ to:
• Discover how to make evaluation possible in the context of the pandemic
• Make connections to help you access future evaluation support
• Share your experience and learn from others to build organisational resilience
Key speaker: Elizabeth Parker, Principal for Evidence and Impact at the charity sector think tank NPC.  Thursday 11 March, 11am – 12:30pm
Register at Eventbrite.  More info contact Ruth r.unstead-joss@ucl.ac.uk

Loss and Bereavement Awareness Webinars

Bereavement awareness training is designed to support you to feel confident to talk to bereaved people in a simple, empathetic way, to be able to find the right words, and to provide signposting to support where needed.
The training will provide tips and do’s and don’ts to guide conversations. Sessions are on-line, use Zoom as the delivery platform and are 75 mins long.
Mar 11, 2021 10:15 am – sign up here
Apr 14, 2021 11:15 am– sign up here
May 18, 2021 01:15 pm- sign up here
Find out more at the website.

Adult Apprenticeship Workshop

Online Workshop 2nd March 2pm
Lost your job through covid? Want to re-train for a new career while still claiming benefits?  Apprenticeships could be the answer.
To find out more and book your place email michele@qcca.org.uk or ring 020 7267 6635

Supporting Refugees into Employment

Breaking Barriers, a charity supporting refugees across London into meaningful employment, education or training.
The support we provide includes tailored employment support, workshops, English and IT courses, and access to work experience and jobs with our corporate partners. You can make referrals here.

London Faith & Communities event

Tuesday 23rd February, 4.30-6.00pm
Next steps in pandemic response. Reflections on the government’s road map.
To register for this event here.

Newsletters

Kings Fund Integrated Care Bulletin
Young Camden Foundation
SHAK
Healthwatch Camden
All Ways Network
West Euston Partnership
KOVE, a community action group of older people active in north Camden, produces a weekly e-bulletin of information and activities. To join the mailing list contact: deborah@kove.org.uk

Integration and innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all.

This government White Paper sets out legislative proposals for a Health and Care Bill. The proposals are designed to support the health and care system to work together. Many of the proposals build on the NHS’s recommendations in its long-term plan. It could be crucial for the VCS:

• “It’s about population health: using the collective resources of the local system, NHS, local authorities, the voluntary sector and others to improve the health of local areas.”
• “In this paper we refer to health and care partners for brevity’s sake, but to be clear, we believe that this means everyone who works tirelessly to deliver high-quality care and support to people all over the country, including NHS organisations, local authorities, voluntary partners and charities.”
• “A key responsibility for these systems will be to support place-based joint working between the NHS, local government, community health services, and other partners such as the voluntary and community sector.”
• “Members of the ICS Health and Care Partnership could be drawn from a number of sources including Health and Wellbeing Boards within the system, partner organisations with an interest in health and care (including Healthwatch, voluntary and independent sector partners and social care providers)…”

Ethnicity and poverty are Covid risk factors, new Oxford modelling tool shows. 1.7M more told to Shield.

Campaigners demand black, Asian and minority ethnic groups have higher priority for vaccination. GPs sending letter to 1.7M telling them to shield to end of March using new modelling tool. Full story in the Guardian.

Charities call on government to create an Emergency Support Fund

The #NeverMoreNeeded campaign has issued an open letter to the Prime Minister, calling for the creation of an Emergency Support Fund for communities and causes.
The letter comes as charities respond to growing need for their services while wrestling with an estimated £10bn funding gap caused by the pandemic.

Young Camden Foundation Build Up Fund: Youth Crime Prevention Training and Organisational Development

£500 – £3,000  Deadline: 9 March 2021
Young Camden Foundation in partnership with Camden Council are pleased to announce round two of the Build Up Fund, this fund aims to support local children and youth organisations to access comprehensive and appropriate training in three distinct areas:
1) Youth crime prevention,
2) Collaborating or sharing best practice on youth crime prevention schemes
3) Organisational sustainability.
More information can be found here

Camden Holiday Activities and Food Programme

Camden has received funding from the DfE to deliver a Holiday Activities and Food programme in the borough and in partnership with the council YCF is planning to expand the Holiday Hub programme to reach more children and young people. Are you interested in becoming a delivery partner? View the presentation with more information about the programme and how you can be supported to become a delivery partner.

Camden Giving Equality Fund – Closes Sunday!

The Equality Fund will provide flexible funding to small charities and social enterprises who are supporting women, families, care leavers, people with disabilities, people from BAME communities, and young people. A panel of 10 Camden residents will award 2 year grants of £30,000.
Grants will support civil society organisations with an annual income of less than £300k and who serve one or more of the priority groups identified to overcome or tackle the root causes of their inequality.  Full details here.

Community Spaces at Risk Fund

The Mayor of London announced £750,000 to work with communities to protect grassroots cultural centres, social clubs, youth, education and other spaces that are locally rooted and critical for supporting vulnerable groups during the pandemic. Find out more at the London.gov website.

The Hampstead Wells and Campden Trust Covid-19 Emergency Fund

The fund is open for applications until 30th March 2021. The fund will provide small grants of up to £2,000 to organisations in the Trust’s Area of Benefit (see website) to support vulnerable individuals and families swiftly and effectively during the current lockdown. The Trust expects grants to be used for food, clothing, utility bills and materials for home schooling or for any other urgent need intensified by the pandemic. No application form is required and details of how to apply are on their website www.hwct.org.uk. Please contact the Trust’s Grants Officer: joanna@hwct.co.uk if you would like to discuss applying for this fund.

£500K Windrush Community Fund Opens For Bids

Charities working with people affected by the Windrush scandal can apply for grants to spread awareness of a government compensation scheme.
The Windrush Community Fund will be managed by Voice4Change England (V4CE), and will make grants of up to £25,000 to charities, community groups and grassroots organisations.
Those grants can be used to raise levels of engagement with the government’s Windrush Scheme and Windrush Compensation Scheme.

National Lottery Community Fund Re-Opens Regular Funding Programmes

Applications for all three programmes are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Catherine Capaldi Awards

Elfrida Rathbone Camden are delighted to announce that the Catherine Capaldi Awards are open for applications.  These awards are open to anyone who identifies as a disabled person and who has an idea or solution to break down a barrier faced by disabled people or to improve their access to services, inclusion or community participation.  More information and how to enter here.

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

VAC Events

Keep in eye on our Events Calendar to book and for more info.

Camden Voluntary Action Forum

The forum is open to all Camden voluntary and community  groups and organisations, community activists, social entrepreneurs, volunteers and anyone interested in local voluntary action. The Forum currently meets monthly online on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 11am.
The recording and presentation from the Wed 20th Jan Forum is available here.
The next Forum is on Wednesday 24th February.  Details and booking here.

Past Voluntary Action Forums: Resources

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

Safeguarding Courses:

Check back for details of upcoming courses

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

Henna Activities

Henna has a full programme of activities – 3 or 4 a day, 5 days a week.  From Exercise to art, mediation to therapy.
Abbey Community Centre, 222c Belsize Road,LondonNW6 4DJ    Hennainfo@hennaorg.co.uk  Web: www.henna.org.uk Tel: +447752681828 (for Arabic) /+447538127988 (for Bangla,Urdu,Hindi)  Facebook:  HennaAsianWomensGroup   Twitter: @HennaAsianWomen  Instagram @HennaAsianWomen

Understanding Early Help

In partnership with Camden’s Early Help Service, VAC’s Community Safeguarding Partnership invite all to attend this special training workshop.
Presented by trainer Becca Dove, Head of Family Support and Complex Families in Camden, this 1 hour session will explore what early help does and how they can support families in our community to get help sooner rather than later.
Book your free place on either of the two dates below.
24th February  or 25th February.

Giving Insights: Storytelling and the Power of Positive News

Wednesday 24th February 1pm.
Information and link to register for this masterclass here

Community Journalism Training

Camden Disability Action has launched a Community Journalism training programme for Disabled people in Camden to help Disabled people tell our stories, get our voices heard and press for change.
The training supports people to to tell powerful stories about things that are happening in our communities, like the Covid-19 streetscape changes.
It’s one online class per week for three weeks. Each class lasts two hours. As well as classes you will be offered one-to-one mentoring support.
CDA have four places left on our March training course. The dates and times are: 2nd, 9th and 16th March from 2pm to 4pm on zoom.
There is a budget to support deaf people to attend.
Contact Tom McDonough: tom@camdendisabilityaction.org.uk 07908746927

Body Mind Spirit

forum+ has a full programme of events to celebrate LGBT History Month February 2021 celebrating the history and achievements of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Trans communities.

Laughter, fun cooking, and nutrition tips

Watch Sarah make a meal of your choice that you would like to learn to make yourself.  Make some friends! Interact with others without having to leave your home. Tell us your stories – whether food-related or not. Share your own culture and cooking experience with the group.
Join us on Tuesdays 11:00 – 12:00
If you are interested please email lkelly@onehousing.co.uk

Governance in challenging times

Wednesday 24 February – 2 to 4 pm
This session shines a light on two of these challenges as well as allowing for discussions with peers.
~ Running your AGM online: How to cover the essentials and more + top tips for running meetings on Zoom. – with Spotlight team members Charlotte Stannard and Danielle Newson
~ Recruiting board members for diversity – with Getting on Board
This event is open to London-based community organisations whether Locality members or not. Don’t hesitate to invite others to book if they could benefit from attending. Board members are particularly encouraged to attend.  Book here.

Stop Hate UK Helpline

Stop Hate  24-hour helpline – call 24/7 0800 138 1625. Also available by text message on 07717 989 025 and by email talk@stophateuk.org.  Service users with hearing impairments can report via interactive British Sign Language by following the link on www.stophateuk.org.  Or use the online form www.stophateuk.org/talk.
Stop Hate UK will be delivering hate crime awareness training on Thursday 11th March, 2pm-3.30pm and Thursday 13th May 10am-11.30am. This event is for all who would like further awareness of hate crime and ways we can tackle the issue, including use of the Stop Hate UK helpline. To book on a session, email: learning@camden.gov.uk

Art Therapy with Likewise

Spaces are currently available for both 1-1 and group art therapy with trainee art therapists on placement at Likewise. Sessions are free and are currently being held online or over the phone. If you, or anyone you know, could benefit from a supportive space with a creative focus, please contact Anna Thirkettle via learning@likewise.org.uk / 07718652919 for more information.

A Beginner’s guide to the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (Training Session)

Join London Plus for a free 2 hour training session all about the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) on 22nd Feb at 10am.
This interactive session will be facilitated by Lucy Smith (London Plus, Social Research and Data Lead) and will cover the following topics:
What is the IMD? – including indexes and ranks, and the geographical boundaries used to calculate local, regional and national scores
Where and how to download the IMD data – including which files to use to conduct your own analysis.  And much more.  Register here.

Safeguarding adults

The Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board in partnership with the Learning & Development Service have commissioned nine half day online “Safeguarding Adults Awareness workshops” available for the Voluntary and Charity sector
24 February 2021 10.00-13.00 or 13.30-16.30
8 March 2021 13.30-16.30
11 March 2021 13.30-16.30
17 March 2021 10.00-13.00 or 13.30-16.30
To request a place email learning@camden.gov.uk

Introduction to domestic violence and abuse e-learning

This e-learning can be accessed by VCS organisations that solely support Camden residents. It is for those that would like to gain an awareness on domestic violence and abuse. It will provide you with an introduction to what the types and signs of abuse are, how to respond and what actions to take.
Access the e-learning via the L&D Hub if you already have an account. If you are from a VCS organisation without an account for the L&D Hub please find details here  on how to sign-up.

Responding to domestic violence and abuse online workshop

This two-hour online workshop can be accessed by VCS organisations that solely support Camden residents. It will help you become more aware of the indicators of domestic violence and abuse and what to do in these instances. The workshop will explore the dynamics of a domestic abuse situation and what the barriers are for the victim/survivor seeking help. You’ll also be provided with information where help is available for the victim/survivor.
Please book via the L&D Hub if you already have an account. If you are from a VCS organisation without an account for the L&D Hub please find details here  on how to sign-up.

Thriving Communities

The programme focusses on social prescribing and covid 19 related support delivered by the voluntary and community sector. Information about the programme and the Thriving Communities learning opportunities are here.
Watch recordings of all webinars here.
You can also sign up to the network and ideas hub and get access to free webinars and learning.

Age UK Camden Information and Advice coffee mornings

Information and Advice team will be hosting three virtual coffee mornings on the following days between 11-12pm:
~ Wednesday 24th February
~ Wednesday 31st March
Each meeting will be hosted via Zoom. To join the January meeting, please follow this link
Meeting ID: 837 2165 2832  Passcode: 014913

Camden Safeguarding Children Partnership

Multi-agency online training programme Spring Term 2020-21
A full programme of multi-agency safeguarding training on zoom and teams.
To book onto the free training, please visit the Partnerships’s website. You will be required to register an account if you haven’t done so already.

Street Storage seeks Marketing and Fundraising Manager

12-month fixed term, full time, 35 hours a week.
£28,000pa + Benefits Location: London E8
Do you want to make a difference to the lives of people experiencing homelessness and help grow a small but essential charity?
Award-winning homelessness charity Street Storage is looking for their first Marketing and Fundraising Manager to join their small team. A full job description can be found here with details on how to apply. Marketing and Fundraising experience in either a paid or voluntary position, or evidence of applicable, transferable skills are required alongside strong communication, computer and literacy skills. Closing 28th February.

COVID-19 Health Champions

Join the COVID-19 Health Champion movement to get the latest advice and guidance about COVID-19 so that you can help and share the information with your community, and let us know what is and isn’t working. You can access trusted information through regular updates and weekly online drop-in sessions about the vaccine, testing and more.
If you work, live or volunteer in Camden, simply complete the form here to sign up! If you’ve got questions, email CHC@islington.gov.uk.

Volunteer Needed for Age UK Camden Dementia Befriending Scheme.

Do you speak Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian?
We are really keen to find a person who speaks one of these languages to befriend an older woman living with dementia in the Camden community.
If you enjoy talking to people and have a friendly, relaxed approach, you could make a big difference to the quality of life someone by joining our Dementia Befriending Service. AUC provide training and ongoing support.
For enquiries and applications contact: Volunteer@ageukcamden.org.uk

Kilburn Older Voices Exchange (KOVE) seeks treasurer

KOVE, a longstanding local community action group for older people based in Kilburn and West Hampstead, is looking for a treasurer. This voluntary role will not require bookkeeping, but some involvement in planning the annual budget with the Chair and Administrator, plus some routine financial tasks and reporting to five Steering Group meetings per year. Experience of working or volunteering in finance or budget management would be helpful. If you are interested, or know anyone who might be, please ask them to contact Peter Lush for a chat on 07973 845 285.

The Sherriff Centre seeks Trustee

The Sherriff Centre, a not for profit organisation based in West Hampstead, NW6 are looking to recruit an experienced building projects professional to join the board of trustees.
Based in a church which is listed and with large scale building projects to undertake in 2021 and  looking for some expertise to lead on this. This is a voluntary trustee position and meetings take place every 2 months, currently via Zoom.  Interested candidates should be available in addition to the regular meetings to oversee building works.
Experience of overseeing and managing large scale building works, liaising with contractors and working to budgets would be essential experience.
Visit https://thesherriffcentre.co.uk/  for more information and email hello@thesherriffcentre.co.uk  to apply.

Researcher – Invitation to Tender

Research on the development and impact of a BAME-led partnership for tackling social isolation among older people in Camden.
Ageing Better in Camden (ABC) is a partnership of older people and Camden organisations, working together to tackle social isolation and loneliness among older people. Since 2018, we have supported the development of a BAME-led partnership to find and engage with older people from smaller minority groups in the borough.
We would like to appoint an experienced qualitative researcher to examine the development and impact of the BAME-led partnership. We are actively seeking applications from researchers of African heritage and/or with substantial cultural understanding of African minority groups in the UK to carry out the work.
The budget is £20k. The research will be carried out between late March and early November.
Please see http://www.ageingbetterincamden.org.uk/latestnews/2021/1/28/researcher-invitation-to-tender for further information.
Deadline for submission of tenders is 9am on 5 March 2021.

Opening Doors Head of Fundraising

35 hours per week permanent
As Head of Fundraising you will be responsible for our fundraising strategy, securing the financial stability of the organisation. We are looking for someone who is energised by challenge, motivated by our values and wants to make a significant positive difference to the lives of older LGBTQ+ people.
Closing date: 5pm Monday 22nd February 2021
To apply, please email your CV and Letter of application, Equalities form and Declaration form to jobs@openingdoorslondon.org.uk

Could you share your digital skills with a disabled person in Camden?

Camden Disability Action is looking for people to join us as Digital Coaches. This means you would work one to one with a disabled person, finding out the sorts of online things they might like to do and helping them to get started on doing them – from shopping to job hunting to gaming to zooming their grandchildren.
Being online is more important in our lives than ever – by sharing what you know about using online services you can help unlock a world of online opportunity for someone.
If you could spare a few hours a week contact CDA.
For more information follow this link to the Volunteer at CDA Page

London Irish Centre seeks Advice Officer (Housing)

Part Time – 2.5 days per week
Up to £30,000 pro rata, depending on experience
We are looking for an Advice Officer to join our Advice Service, which exists to improve opportunities and reduce poverty in London. Working primarily with people who identify as Irish, the service works to empower people using a strengths-based approach.
Application packs are available online
The deadline for applications is 9am, Monday 1st March 2021.

Volunteers Needed – Story tellers/ actors

Are you a good Storyteller and able to address a young audience?
We need speakers to future story times
Contact somerstownhistory@gmail.com for more details

COVID-19 Heath Champions programme

Find out more and sign up to become a COVID-19 Health Champion here:
Sign up here:

The Camden Winter Night Shelter needs volunteers

C4WS are currently sourcing volunteers for the C4WS Winter Shelter and reaching out to organisations that may not be running services this year, or running a different service, with volunteers still willing to give their time.
Please see the volunteer sign up link: https://signup.com/go/bfGANJe

Work Experience Opportunity for Young Person (15 – 18 years)

Work Experience (virtual) with Prestigious Knowledge Quarter partners
February Half term
Design an Exhibition on Local heroes Radical thinkers.  More details here.

Hopscotch Homecare urgently need Care Workers.

Hopscotch Homecare are a very caring,well-established and expanding care agency that has been providing care workers to clients in and around Camden for 20 years. We are looking for care workers who would like to help our clients to continue living safely and independently in their own homes.
Day/Night hours available and must be able to work at least two late shifts a week and alternate weekends  Contact:recruitment@hopscotchawc.org.uk

Census Job opportunities

The next census is in 2021 and the Office of National Statistics is hiring for new local Census jobs, with applications invited for exciting new temporary roles at all levels.  The VCS also has an important role in the census.
All the current openings, application information and FAQs are on censusjobs.co.uk
For more information about the 2021 Census and local communities click here.

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.

Telling Your Covid Stories

How do we tell the story of the sector’s responded to the pandemic?  VAC are collecting your stories about how you responded.  The responses will be used to tell the story of how vital the sector is in supporting Camden through these challenging times.  You can click here https://www.tfaforms.com/4863725 to put your story in writing or contact Len Lauk (llauk@vac.org.uk) if you would prefer to be interviewed.

VCS and Vaccinations

Many people who work in frontline roles in the social care sector, including in voluntary or community organisations, are currently eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination. You may be eligible if you provide direct care and support to an adult who is clinically vulnerable to COVID-19, or to a child who is clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 – in line with national government criteria.
If you think that you, or someone you know or work with, may be eligible for the vaccine please visit this page for more information.  Relevant staff need to fill out this form.
Adult Social Care ran a Q&A session on Tuesday.  View the recording here.
ASC have also provided some useful FAQs
Some slides from a recent national webinar  – slides 5-7 provide some examples of types of roles and work and eligibility under this priority group.
Direct any enquiries to: socialcarevaccinationinfo@camden.gov.uk
At the PPG meeting this week an informative presentation included a useful update on the vaccine roll out on pages 22 – 28 from the health perspective.

Lateral Flow Testing (quick test) for VCS frontline staff and volunteers

‘Lateral flow’ COVID-19 tests are available for all in frontline roles who have regular face-to-face contact with communities, and who do not have any coronavirus symptoms.
Appointments are available at two test sites (Crowndale Library and Swiss Cottage Library) every weekday from 9am to 5pm. Book here.  If your organisation is not on the system, add the name in the notes’ box.

Volunteers needed to support vaccination rollout

There is an ongoing need for volunteers to support the smooth roll out of the vaccination programme in north central London (NCL),  local residents can sign up to help. Find out how here.

Boloh Helpline for BAME Families

Barnardo’s has launched a new helpline where you can talk about your worries, problems and stresses during this time with new helpline Boloh, which provides emotional support, practical advice and signposting to other organisations who can provide further help.
If you know of any families requiring therapeutic support or vouchers to purchase food or clothing, please refer them to the helpline by calling: 0800 151 2605.
For more information on how the Boloh Helpline Advisors and the team of psychotherapists can offer advice, signposting and therapeutic support for the children, young people, parents and carers – please go to: https://helpline.barnardos.org.uk/ or email VAC’s Safeguarding Lead Dianne Carlton-Ogunyemi on dogunyemi@vac.org.uk for more information.

Food Support

Find your local food bank or community organisation providing food at findfood.camden.gov.uk.
If you don’t have internet access, please call Camden Council on 020 7974 4444 and select option 9
You can also donate at findfood.camden.gov.uk/donate

Keeping The Community Directory Up-to-date

As we enter Autumn lots is changing.  Buildings are starting to re-open, some activities are moving back into the real world, some food parcel deliveries have ended, while other food projects continue.  Help us to keep the directory up-to-date by updating your details as they change.
If you would like to make a new entry in the directory use this link.   If you would like to update an existing entry look out for an email from us early next week with a unique link for you to update.
View the Directory here.  View the map here.

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.
Get support and resources from Volunteer Centre Camden
The council has a  page of resources to help community organisations

Fully-funded university places with Camden Scholarships

Birkbeck, University of London  is offering two scholarship places to Camden residents for any of their undergraduate courses starting in October 2021. The deadline to apply is 25 June 2021.
Hult International Business School is offering Camden residents a fully-funded one-year postgraduate Master of International Business degree. The course starts in Sept 2021 and the deadline to apply is 21 May 2021. Full details here.

Request for Camden employers to provide 6 months’ work placements for 19-25 year olds

Camden Youth Pathways Finder project is looking for Camden employers to provide placement opportunities to young people at risk of/involved in youth violence (including remote working). Camden Council will pay the young person London Living Wage for the duration of the placement, provide ongoing pastoral care and support for both the organisation and young person and be a point of contact for any queries that may arise.
To register or to find out more, contact serrina.lobban@camden.gov.uk

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.

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

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