Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin 29th May 2020

Don’t Miss it! The Camden Giving Covid-19 Fund closes for applications end of Monday 1st June (see funding section)

Grant Charities in South Camden

Three local grant-awarding charities offering assistance to people in financial hardship would like to let you know about their offers/schemes.
You can find links to each of the charities at the end of this newsletter, along with further information about their area of benefit, and how to apply.

Covid Top 20 In-Kind Offers

A revised list of Business offers to support voluntary and community sector organisations.  To request an offer email  Covid.InKind@london.gov.uk

Camden Care Choices

The redesigned Camden Care Choices website is now live.   Send comments or additions to fung-yee.lee@camden.gov.uk

Last Chance – Have your say – Financial Impact Survey

It’s really important that when we make the case for the sector that we have a good picture of the financial impact the Covid-19 emergency has had on organisations.  Please take our Financial Impact Survey.

Have Your Say on the QCCA Survey

The Fight C19 emergency response service has been running since March. What services and activities do you need in the next six months.

Activities and Services in your community

Camden Disability Action
Pop Up Think and Do
West Euston Partnership (WEP)
Healthwatch Camden
All Ways Network
The Great Get Together .

Covid-19 Resources

VAC has gathered relevant resources on a range of topics.
Notable recent additions include:

• Independent Age Grant Scheme
• My Community a new website to inspire you
• Healthwatch Camden – Lockdown not good for emotional wellbeing
• Government Support for sector in one place

VAC COVID-19 Pages

Covid-19 Community Directory  (Update your entry here) [Map here]
Covid-19 Update page.
Covid-19 Resources page

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.

Rush In Ballet

Ballet is a good challenge that will lift your spirits. As well as all of the benefits that come with pursuing a craft and with exercise, it is good to see some friendly faces and experience the camaraderie that we all so badly need.
Don’t worry if you feel shy, everyone is welcome regardless of level or how you may be feeling at the moment. You can turn your own camera on or off, so you can either just follow along or get feedback from me if you want it.
You may even find Zoom classes less pressure than being in the studio, as you can disappear from the screen anytime you like to have a rest.
Saturday mornings, 10 AM.  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5836327600

Best Articles

UK volunteering soars during coronavirus crisis
Faster, further, fairer: Putting people at the heart of tackling the climate and nature emergency
Poorer areas miss out as £100m of emergency cash diverted to richer Tory councils with lower infection rates
Responding to the end of lockdown – what charities can learn from World War One
AOC’s Mutual Aid 101

Coronavirus Community Support Fund

A new £200m fimd aimed at small to medium organisations:
~ To increase community support to vulnerable people affected by the COVID-19 crisis, through the work of civil society organisations.
~ To reduce temporary closures of essential charities and social enterprises, ensuring services for vulnerable people impacted by COVID-19 have the financial resources to operate, and so reduce the burden on public services.
Full details on the National Lottery Community Fund website.

Three New Funds from Camden Giving

1.Camden COVID-19 Charity Fund
2. Round 2 Now Open King’s Cross (KX) Fund
3. Future Changemakers Fund – Year 2
Click here for full details.

YCF Partners with Google to Launch the Digital Youth Work Fund

Young Camden Foundation (YCF) has launched the Digital Youth Work Fund sponsored by Google. This fund is designed to support Camden’s children and young people sector by creating or enhancing a digital youth work offer.
YCF will award members grants of up to £5,000
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis with the following deadlines: 29 May, 19 June and 3 July 2020.  Details at YCF website. Questions to grants@youngcamdenfoundation.org.uk.

Food Grant Update

The Food Charity Grant Scheme requires charities to apply for at least £30,000. This is to target funding to those charities who have the capacity to reach the greatest number of people.
For those charities which would be interested in funding below £30,000, the National Lottery Funding is awarding grants from £300 to £10,000 and is prioritising organisations supporting people most likely to face increased demand and challenges as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

Government Support to Small Businesses

The Government support grants to businesses have been tied to those with premises and there are complicated rules making it hard for charities who may well be eligible to access the funds.  We have some detailed guidance. Local Authorities will be publishing their new guidance soon.

London Community Response

The second wave of London Community Response funding currently paused for Delivering Differently   Wave 3 will open in June.  Wave 4 will focus on recovery later in the year.
1. Crisis response – grants up to £10,000 to meet the immediate needs
2. Delivering differently – grants of £10,000 to £50,000 to change how you work

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

Digital & Tech Support Online Q&A

Tuesdays 2 – 3.30pm
Many organisations are having to grapple with moving their office systems online so staff and volunteers can work remotely.We’ll look at:
~ What systems do you need?
~ How do you set them up?
~ What works and what doesn’t?
Q&A session with Gilbert Plant, our digital partner from CITA and WCIT.
Joining details here: https://vac.org.uk/events/
Email alexcharles@vac.org.uk

These sessions will be hosted on zoom.  Ideally you will need a PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone with camera or microphone but you can also join by telephone as well. Click on the link or use the meeting ID.  You will also need the password if one was set. Short guide to joining a zoom meeting.

Safeguarding Courses:

VAC is working with funders so that safeguarding courses can continue online.  Further details to come. There are some basic safeguarding videos on the home page and on the COVID19 Update page.
Tel: 020 7 284 6575 | Email: dogunyemi@vac.org.uk email (Mon – Wed)

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

Online peer support sessions for voluntary sector Leaders

Sign up to an online peer support session, offered by The Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR). Sign up here – dates available to end of June.
These 90 minute sessions, for up to 10 voluntary sector leaders at a time, will give you the opportunity to explore and discuss the challenges you are currently experiencing, precipitated by the COVID-19 outbreak. We understand that you may be facing huge stress and uncertainty, and hope that these sessions will offer a space to share experiences, dilemmas and worries.

FSI Fundraising Conference June 2020

The FSI’s popular Fundraising Conference is back.  Online on 18th June to hear from small charity experts sharing their knowledge and real-life experiences. In light of the challenges facingthe sector the Conference is free to attend for charities under £100k turnover

Furlough Go – Mobilising volunteers during COVID-19 –

Free online event with SPACE4 on June 4th
Furlough Go was built quickly as soon as the COVID-19 crisis gripped the UK. Furlough Go matches community groups who need to take on additional volunteers to respond to the crisis, with furloughed workers who want to help. During this webinar the developers behind the project will talk about how they realised the project so quickly, the impact that it has made so far, and how it can be used by more organisations and in ongoing situations. Register here

Camden Disability Action Leadership Programme

Are you a Disabled person in Camden who wants to do something to benefit other Disabled people? Maybe you always wanted to: Start a campaign? Design a new online service? Start a new peer support group? Or have other ideas about what Disabled people need right now. Find out more here.

Get Involved: Online talks for Kentish Town

A new series of talks, each episode will focus on a community organisation with the aim of raising awareness of their activities, and telling their story in a way that connects with the audience. It is an opportunity to reach locals who would benefit from their
services and also those in a position to support the organisation in some way. For further information email hello@get-involved.org.uk

Free training courses

Training Link has free online courses that people can do at home.  Improve your skills during the lockdown! The courses include Level 2
Food Safety & Hygiene, Customer Care, courses for care work and others. They can be done on a PC or laptop with internet access. For
more information, email Peter Lush on director@traininglink.org.uk

Ageing Better in Camden

ABC are collecting a wealth of resources to keep us entertained, happy, healthy and creative during this time. If you’d like to suggest a resource to add. Please email ageingbetterincamden@ageukcamden.org.uk with your ideas.

Free Online Social Activities Directory

The RecommendMe directory is where people  can search for social activities, events and other things to do.  Includes: Carers art groups on Zoom, Carers online cuppa, Over 60s Peer to peer befriending,  Virtual creative writing for the over 60s, Gardening workshops on Zoom, Boost your emotional strength, Make and mend (chat and stitch) groups.

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.You can use the Brokerage service to request volunteers with specific skills or background for community activity.
Get support and resources from Volunteer Centre Camden
The council has a  page of resources to help community organisations

CDA seeks new Chair

Camden Disability Action (CDA) is looking for a new Chair to build and lead a skilled Trustee board.
We are looking for a local Disabled person who has the skills and enthusiasm to provide strategic leadership for the organisation and to support making Greenwood a centre for social change.

Henna is recruiting an Advice & Outreach Worker

£12.05 ph  2 day pw- 14 hours  Interim 3 months with possible further 6 mths
Must have a willingness and aptitude to conduct outreach and establish contact with agencies and individuals to build a base for Henna Asian Women’s Group.  You will need experience of working with vulnerable adult groups and knowledge of the barriers they may face in accessing services. Contact Rafat.

The Society for the Furtherance of Critical Philosophy (www.sfcp.org.uk)

SFCP, a small independent charity concerned with education, ethics and philosophy and with strong international links, seeks someone to take minutes of Trustee meetings, usually held in Central London, and to liaise with the secretary and trustees. Interest in our values and activities would be an advantage.
Other administrative tasks/meetings by agreement. @ £35/hr.
To discuss this opportunity, please contact the chair Dr Julie-Marie ffrench Devitt Applications on one side of A4 at: galangal19@yahoo.co.uk  website www.sfcp.org.uk.

Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust is Recruiting

The Trust is seeking two new Non-Executive directors and will also be seeking Associate NEDs soon.
Further information and how to apply:
https://jobs.theguardian.com/job/7065257/non-executive-directors/
https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/cap/view/1857606711/?pathWildcard=1857606711&trk=job_capjs

HEAR is Recruiting

HEAR Equality Network:  Interim Managing Director
Invitation for Expressions of Interest for post to start 1st July
(Application by Cover letter/CV: Deadline 26th May)
The HEAR Network of London’s Equality and Human Rights VCS is a small organisation starting an important new phase in its development.  As an important part of this we are appointing an Interim Managing Director, part time, fixed term.
2 days a week, 9 months initially with temporary extension subject to funding, £35,000 pro rata
Full details on the HEAR website.

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.

Camden Social Prescribing and Care Navigation update

Social Prescribing and Care Navigation delivered by Age UK Camden, Voluntary Action Camden and Wish+ is operational, and adapted, as a point of access to services and support during the COVID 19 emergency.
We are aiming to connect residents with emerging support in their local areas where there is appropriate provision.
Referral form can be found here. Minimum requirements are contact details and permission to contact the person needing support.
Freephone: 0800 193 6067 (please leave a message if no answer. Staff are using other phones to call back and keep this one free)
Secure NHS email (referrals only): camccg.socialprescribingreferral@nhs.net
Community Links email (enquiries and referrals): communitylinks@vac.org.uk

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

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