Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin 2nd August 2019

Recruiting new members for the Neighbourhood Assembly on health and wellbeing

Earlier this year a group of residents from west Camden set out on a project to improve health and wellbeing. The Neighbourhood Assembly identified key local challenges and since then, they’ve worked with council staff, community groups and healthcare professionals to develop ideas that can help to change people’s lives.  The second half of the project will develop these ideas further.
We are now looking for more residents from Kilburn, Swiss Cottage, Fortune Green and West Hampstead to join the Neighbourhood Assembly. Members will need to volunteer a couple of hours a week and will work as part of a close team, developing new initiatives to help local people. They’ll also be rewarded for their time with shopping vouchers and time credits.
To find out more contact Henry Langford at henry.langford@camden.gov.uk or 02079743219, and come to the drop in session on Thursday 8th August, 5pm-7pm at Swiss Cottage Library

Let’s Twist Again

TAP Summer Show at the Greenwood Centre for Independent Living
2pm Thursday 22nd August 2019. Free including afternoon tea.
Hilarious and enjoyable fun with the tap dance freestyle group
At The Centre for Independent Living, Greenwood PLace, NW5

Car Free Day 2019

Sunday 22nd September will be London’s biggest ever Car Free Day, each play street will be part of a worldwide event and one of at least 200 streets across the capital marking the day in this way.
Play streets are simple, resident-organised free events where neighbours on a road agree together to close their street temporarily to traffic.
You can sign up your street by contacting PlayStreets@camden.gov.uk
More information at: www.camden.gov.uk/play-streets.  Apply by 9th August

Free Online Safety Workshops For Women

JAN Trust will be delivering free online safety classes for women in Camden throughout October & November 2019. The programme will cover internet safety skills; understanding dangers of online including extremism and gangs; and how to protect your children online. There are 5 x sessions in total and women receive a certificate upon completion of all sessions. For more information or to reserve a space, please contact: info@jantrust.org / 0208 889 9433 / https://jantrust.org/

CPPEG Open Meeting

Tuesday 13 August 2019, 14:00 – 16:00
St Pancras Hospital, Conference Centre, 4 St Pancras Way, NW1 0PE
The main topics of discussion will be
~ The NHS Long Term Plan and Integrated Care
~ Public consultation on proposed move of Moorfields Eye Hospital’s (City Road) Services
~ Public Health prevention strategy
~ Conditions for which over the counter (OTC) items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care: Guidance for CCGs – Implementation
Our PPG newsletter shares all our latest news and opportunities for patients and the public to be involved in our work. Please email camccg.communications@nhs.net to subscribe.

UCL Social Hackathons

Pitch for up to £600 to help tackle a current issue you are facing at your organisation. ‘Hackathon’ is a problem-solving/solution-creating event that takes place over the course of one working day. UCL volunteers come to your organisation to help you find solutions to a problem you face. See examples of last year’s events.  To take part, please submit a pitch via our online form.

Kentish Town Library- Ideas Day

Wednesday 14th August 3pm-6.30pm
3pm-4.30pm: Family workshop for children, parents and carers.
5pm-6.30pm Ideas workshop- everyone welcome

Camden Intergenerational Network

Do you have an idea for the next meeting on Friday 13th September at 2pm? Submit your idea and let us know if you want to present or run a short session by 5pm on Friday 9th August.

Young Camden Foundation News

Young Camden Foundation have just launched a new website and are recuiting for trustees and for a Development Manager.  Read the newsletter and sign up here.

Free group sessions in Camden for people with dementia

Care Visions are running free group activity sessions in Camden for people living with dementia at the St Pancras and Somers Town Living Centre. Sessions are for 2 hours and run on Mondays and Thursdays throughout August and September. Just come along or get in touch to find out more: Nicola Ross Nicola@carevisions.co.uk tel: 0333 323 0047

Young Camden Foundation launches holiday hubs

Camden-based charity Young Camden Foundation (YCF) has announced the launch of two local holiday hubs. Sidings Community Centre and ARC youth club will provide nutritional meals, and access to physical and enriching activities during the summer holidays for local children and young people, especially those eligible for free school meals (FSM). Contact: info@youngcamdenfoundation.org.uk

Camden Climate Change Assembly

Camden recently held a citizens assembly to consider the climate emergency. Read more about it in the Guardian.

Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s

The government is seeking your views on proposals to tackle the causes of preventable ill health in England. Our health is shaped by the environment in which we live, the choices we make, and the services we receive. What action needs to be taken on each of these?  Closing: 14 October 2019

By Deeds and Their Results

The previous Communities Secretary, James Brokenshire, announced ‘By deeds and their results: how we will strengthen our communities and nation’ which “commits to holding a national conversation with communities across England after Brexit, about their view of who we are as a nation, their vision for the future of their community and our country, and what local and national government can do to support their communities to thrive.” History tends to show that summer is not an auspicious time for launching major government initiatives.  Four days later her was replaced as Communities Secretary by Robert Jenrick MP. The previous minister for Civil Society, Mims Davies was then replaced by Baroness Diana Barran as minister for civil society within the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Labour announces new Wellbeing Act

The shadow health secretary John Ashworth has announced that the Labour Party would introduce a Future Generations Wellbeing Act for England in government. The legislation would mandate measures such as a “health equality audit” of all government decisions, and put a new duty on local health services to reduce health inequalities.

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

Heart of the Community Fund

There is a voting unit in the Virgin Money Lounge, Piccadilly and the awards will go to the community organisations with the most votes from Virgin Money customers and Lounge members. Every three months, local community organisations can win £2,000 – with awards of £1,000 and £500 for the runners-up.  Apply to the Virgin Money foundation online by visiting virginmoneyfoundation.org.uk

Small Grants for Social Prescribing

GLA’s Team London have released a small grants programme for groups tackling social isolation. VAC met with Team London officers whilst the grant criteria was being decided and emphasised the need to fund initiatives that were already working well but were coming under pressure from social prescribing referrals. This is one way we can use our social prescribing data we gather to influence decisions.  Full details here.

Youth work grant funding 2020- 2022 engagement sessions

Voluntary sector youth providers are invited to attend a funding workshop to find out more information about new funding and the bidding process: The workshop details are as follows:
~ Wednesday 4th September 2019 at 2 pm at 5 Pancras Square, London N1C
~ Wednesday 12th September 2019, Committee room 3, Crowndale Centre
The youth work funding will be launched on 1st August 2019 with a deadline for submission on 7th October 2019. The focus of this funding is for work with 13 – 19 year olds in Camden and up to 25 if working with young people with learning difficulties or disabilities. rsvp to youthworkfunding@camden.gov.uk

The HS2 Camden Fund

The Camden Fund aims to strengthen the sense of place and alleviate the disruption of the development of HS2 on local people. Aims:
1. A Happier and Healthier Camden
2. A Better Connected Camden
3. A Stronger Voluntary and Community Sector
Closing date: 14th May 2020. Full details at Camden Giving.

‘We Make Camden’ Communities Together Funds successful projects

68 applications were received and reviewed, resulting in 58 organisations awarded just over £70,000 for projects that support cohesion. Details here.

Healthy Minds Programme with Mind in Camden

The latest Healthy Minds community programme is now available.  A range of activities are available from VAC, Mary Ward, Mind in Camden, BWA, Good Gym, the Round House and more.  Find out what’s on and how to book.

Aromatherapy course

This three week course will give you an introduction to the benefits of aromatherapy to enhance health and well-being. Discover oils that have seasonal and medicinal benefits and make your own sample products
Wed 14th August – Making Refreshing Shower Get
Wed 21st August –  Making Hydrating Facial Mist
Wed 28th August – Making Nourishing Aloe Vera Face and Hand Cream
10:30am – 12 at Swiss Cottage Community Centre, 19 Winchester Rd, NW3

Safeguarding Courses from VAC in 2019

details from Dianne Carlton Ogunyemi email: DOgunyemi@vac.org.uk

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

Curious Explorers: Relaxed Mornings

Wednesday 14th August, 9am – 11am, Free—Booking recommended
A relaxed morning during the school holiday for children with autism or other social communication conditions, their siblings, parents and carers. Join us for an Environment themed morning with activities inspired by Earth, Sea and Sky.
• Decorate your own plant pot.
• Have a go at making your own sea creature out of clay. or make a Diorama
• Explore the museum collection with our Animals themed Scavenger Hunt.
• Relax in our Sensory Colouring Space
• Benefit from reduced noise levels in the galleries
• Enjoy early opening and a dedicated space at the museum from 9am
This event is most appropriate for children aged 5 to 15.
If you have any questions, please email emma.crew@jewishmuseum.org.uk

Storytelling: Empathy Sundays—Environment

Sunday 11 August 11am – 11.45am, Free—booking recommended
Explore empathy, emotion and social action through storytelling at our Storytelling: Empathy Sundays. Each workshop will include a storytelling session designed to develop a wide emotional vocabulary and a craft activity to demonstrate how to show empathy in a practical way. Reading books with children is an important and fun way to develop empathy skills and by identifying with characters in stories, children can learn to identify emotions and see things from another point of view.
We will read stories about caring for the environment, in particular, focusing on planting seeds and flowers. Participants will help plant some seeds and flowers in planter pots. For ages 3 – 8 years.

Supported Employment Techniques

in partnership with BASE for Camden colleagues.
This five day course runs on Thursday 19th – Friday 20th and Tuesday 24th – Thursday 26th September. rsvp by 12 July to Elizabeth.Lloyd@camden.gov.uk
We are keen to ensure that colleagues working with residents with disabilities have access to the training and support they need to do this, so please look at the website and let us know if there’s any other training that could support you in your role.

Resilient Families Training

3-day course: 1/8, 8/8, 15/8, Crowndale Centre, 218 Eversholt St, NW1
Developed in partnership with the internationally-renowned Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families and the Centre for Parent and Child Studies at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, this 3-day course will give you knowledge, skills and practical tools for helping children, families and adults.
To register, or for more information, contact learning@camden.gov.uk

Relaxed Early Opening for Families

Sunday 11 August, 9:00 – 11:00
Free | Ticketed | Suitable for families with children on the autism spectrum and other sensory needs.
The British Library  https://www.bl.uk/events/relaxed-early-opening-for-families
An event for families with children on the autism spectrum and other sensory needs. Enjoy the Library free from the hustle and bustle of the general public.

Lauderdale House seeks Education & Outreach Officer (Heritage and Arts).

This is an opportunity to play a crucial role in:
• delivering our Education and Outreach programme, ‘Opening the Doors’, engaging local young people, children and adults in creative and heritage opportunities, and taking it to the next stage.
• creating new opportunities for heritage and artistic educational outreach work
How to apply: email to Katherine Ives at kives@lauderdale.org.uk: With your CV, two referees and a covering letter explaining why you are interested in the post and how your skills, experience and personal qualities make you suitable for this role Applications close Monday 2 September.

Rainbow Memory Cafe Coordinator

10 hours per month £15.49 per hour. Closing Date: Friday 30th August 2019
Opening Doors London is seeking to recruit a Rainbow Memory Cafe Coordinator for LGBT+ people aged over 50. The post attracts an hourly rate as above and accrued annual leave.
To apply, see the application pack including the full job description and person specification at    www.ageukcamden.org.uk or email jobs@ageukcamden.org.uk.

Elfrida Rathbone Camden seeks Office Administrator

28 hours/week, 4 days; £26131 – £26871 (£20905-£21497 pro rata)
Closing Date: Monday 12th August, 10am (interviews on Monday 19th August)
For further details of the roles, and to apply, go to www.elfridacamden.org.uk/work-with-us/. If you have any questions ring  020 7424 1601 or email info@elfridacamden.org.uk.

Up to 25 new ICT Apprenticeships

Camden Council’s Digital Services team will soon be recruiting up to twenty five ICT Apprentices for an autumn 2019 start. Starting salary £19,804 per year
These roles will be open to Camden residents, former Camden secondary school students and Camden care leavers. Please email apprenticeships@camden.gov.uk or call 02079748778 or 02079743463

Lifting Limits seeks skilled volunteers

Lifting Limits works to promote gender equality.  We work with primary schools to challenge the gender stereotyping which can limit children’s choices and aspirations.  We are looking for volunteers who could offer us a few hours a month help in the following areas:
• PR
• Bookkeeping
Anyone interested please contact Caren on info@liftinglimits.org.uk.

Child Mentor Volunteers Needed

The Kids Network is looking for fun, committed and passionate volunteers to make an impact to the lives of little Londoners. Our flexible year-long mentoring programme supports children aged 8-11 with their social and emotional development during the transitional period between primary and secondary.
As a mentor, you will:
~ Facilitate weekly 1:1 sessions of 1-3 hours.
~ Build confidence and resilience in your matched child
~ Connect with a community of mentors through peer to peer support.
~ Receive ongoing personal support from The Kids Network Team
Contact Freya on 07533 098102 / f.brocchini@thekidsnetwork.org.uk.
Or visit our webpage for more information and an application form: https://thekidsnetwork.org.uk/become-a-mentor/

PENHA seeks 3 new Trustees

The Pastoral and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa (PENHA) is an African-led and inspired charity, established for 30 years.  Its mission is to reduce poverty among the pastoralists in the Horn of Africa
PENHA Board of Trustees are looking for three trustees to join the Board
Please send your CV and cover letter to our Company Secretary Mr. Bereket Tsegay, email b.tsegay@penhanetwork.org before September 2nd 2019.

Volunteer with VAC and develop experience and skills in public health

VAC provide training, and work opportunities for Camden volunteers who can commit 2 hours per week.
We offer free Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH) training to volunteer as a Community Links volunteer, part of a new Care Navigation and Social Prescribing service in Camden. Community Links volunteers signpost residents to community based activities and help with formal referrals where community based activities are needed alongside clinical care.
Contact: Mandira Manandhar, Community Links Co-ordinator (Mon, Tues and Thurs) 020 7284 6550/6573 or email: mmanandhar@vac.org.uk

VAC is recruiting volunteers to help us in our building in Chalk Farm

We are recruiting volunteer receptionists to be the first point of contact for visitors. You will be an important member of the VAC team of volunteers and staff and will have access to training and ongoing support.
Contact Kevin Nunan at VAC on 020 7284 6557 or knunan@vac.org.uk

Need a Meeting Room near Chalk Farm
Special rates for Camden network events

VAC now has 3 new rooms to hire out for Events/Training, etc. at our new base in the Charlie Ratchford Centre in Chalk Farm.
There is a large room for up to 60 people, ideal for large events.
The training room can hold up to 20 people comfortably for training/workshops
The Lounge is a open area for anything that is not confidential and can hold up to 20 people. Smartboard, level access throughout, reasonable prices.
Rates and full details on the VAC website. Special rates for Camden networks.

Summer activities for children and young people

Youth, play and leisure centres across Camden are running packed programmes – and to help young people and their families to find out what’s on Camden have produced a handy guide to summer activities for young people, as well as the Council’s main Summer Programme.
The Council has also launched a new website for children and young people, called Camden Rise, where local activities, opportunities and support is all brought together in one place in a way that is much easier for young people to find what they’re looking for.
And don’t forget this year’s Camden Summer University, which begins on 25 July. Places are still available on some courses so avoid disappointment and book your free places now.

Want to Share a Skill, Space or Equipment?

Simply add your request to Comoodle Camden, the new local online sharing platform which facilitates sharing for community benefit.

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

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