Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin – 26th August 2022

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

We also have information on our next VAF, and a range of local events and opportunities from around the Camden area.

Connect.
Using our directories, forums and knowledge of Camden we are able to work in partnership with others to foster collaboration.

We can help to bridge any gaps in capability by promoting and supporting partnerships which benefit all those involved.
Such partnership often produces results which are much more than the sum of its parts as groups lift the potential of one another.

Even when we cannot help directly, our team can provide you with the contacts you need to connect with others.

Learn more here

This is an opportunity to share your knowledge and ideas to design the delivery of the 2 key objectives in the North Central London ‘Working with the VCSE Sector Strategy’ delivery plan.

1.    How can we design and deliver innovative community-focused and strength- based models of care in Camden?
2.    What do procurement and contracting processes that support a strong and thriving VCSE sector look like in this new environment?

Learn more and register here

Castlehaven Community Picnic at Elm Village – This weekend
Saturday 27th August: 11am – 4pm

Looking for something free & fun for the whole family this Saturday?
Come along to the Elm Village Open Space Community Garden (Barker Drive, NW1 0JW) between 11 am – 4 pm for a community picnic.
Bring your own picnic and participate in a variety of activities such as seed sowing, watering, and nature-themed arts & crafts.
Please note the Elm Village Open Space is NOT accessible via wheelchair.

Good Childhood Report Briefing Invite
Thursday 22nd September: 10:30am – 1pm

The Childrens Society undertake research into the wellbeing of the children and young people of England and reports its findings nationally. This meeting is focused on the findings and is aimed at professionals who work with, manage services or commission work to support children, young people and families.

Learn more and register here

Special educational needs consultation
Closing date: Thursday 22nd September

Camden Council is asking parents, carers, children, young people and professionals to have their say on the new draft Camden SEND strategy to improve services for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities

Watch our short animated film here
Find out more and have your say here

Stakeholder workshop: What does it mean to live a good life in Camden?
Tuesday 20th September OR Tuesday 27 September, 15:00-16:30

This online workshop by London Borough of Camden is about ‘Good Life Camden’, a wellbeing framework which is being built to measure what it means to live a good life in Camden.
They are seeking the perspective of organisations working in Camden on what your beneficiaries, customers or service users tell you is important to them – from health, to education, to civic participation – and any data you can share to help build a framework with the people of Camden.

To register for Tuesday 20th September, please click here
To register for Tuesday 27th September please click here

VAC is looking for an SEO Volunteer
VAC has gone through the process of developing a brand proposition, values and redesigning our website, but we now need some assistance to ensure our website is properly optimised so that we can better reach those in Camden who are looking for our help.
We are looking for an expert SEO volunteer who can help VAC handle SEO for our website so its pages are represented accurately in search engines, presenting information in ways that make it easier to find the organisation.

For more information please click here

hopscotch vacancies
hopscotch women’s centre has the following vacancies available:

HR Administrator
On Call Coordinator
Fieldcare Supervisor

For all the information and to apply for any of these roles, please click here

Mind in Camden vacancies

Resources Team Assistant: 21 hours per week
Closing Date: 05/09/22 at 09.00am

Community Mental Health Recovery Support Workers
Closing Date: 12/09/22 at 09.00am
1 post:17.5 hours per week, 1 post: 35 hours per week

For all the information on both of these roles and to apply: click here, phone 020 7911 0822 (24hrs), or email recruitment@mindincamden.org.uk

SHAK vacancy: Female Youth Worker
Closing date: 18th September

SHAK looking to recruit a Female Youth Worker to work at the ARC youth Club on the Alexandra & Ainsworth estate in Kilburn, Camden, NW London.

For more details and to apply please click here

IAMI Ltd vacancy: Youth and Community Worker
Closing date: Sunday 11th September

The Youth and Community Worker will focus on support, engagement, programme growth, developing ideas for, and implementing our Volunteer Programme and User led activities, as well as delivering some project activity.
We’re looking for an experienced professional, strongly aligned with our values, passions, and beliefs, to lead on Youth and Community work at IAMI Ltd

For more information 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
Coram’s Field Community Newsletter (sign up)

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

Age UK Camden: Support for Residents
Application deadline: 15th September 2022

Hardship Grants of up to £500 are currently available via Age UK Camden – this is specifically for Camden residents aged 66 years or over with £6,000 or less in savings who are struggling financially.

Further information is available here
Find the Application Form here
For queries please email: hardshipgrants@ageukcamden.org.uk or call 020 7239 0400

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

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

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

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

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 Participation@Camden.gov.uk to join the meeting

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

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

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

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

Past Voluntary Action Forums: Resources

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

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Greenwood Centre, Greenwood Place, London, NW5 1LB

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