Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin – 30th September

Membership is free, click on the link box above and join us today

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

Proud to Be: Black Health and Wellness Event 
Tuesday 4th October at Cafe KOKO: 6:30-9pm
Launching Camden Black History Season, this event will showcase spoken word, music, black entrepreneurship and touch on Camden’s programme for the season.
The event will be hosted by Diane Louise Jordan, a TV and radio personality known as a ‘Broadcaster across boundaries’.
To register your place, click here

NCVO Charity Training: Autumn Programme 

NCVO is offering a range of online charity training courses this autumn, covering topics such as volunteer management, supporting good governance, and outcomes and impact measurement.
To learn more and sign up, click here

Ethical Property Foundation: Energy Efficiency Service 
The Ethical Property Foundation is offering a consultancy service for charities looking to reduce their energy bill costs and ensure that their property improvements are cost effective.
For more information, contact simon.taylor@ethicalproperty.org.uk

Affordable Warmth Information Event 

Thursday 6th October at St Silas Church Hall: 11am

Come along and find out how Camden Council services can help you deal with the cost-of-living crisis. This event is for Camden’s private renters, housing association residents and non-council leaseholders.
For more details about the event, click here

Link UP London’s Flash Consulting: Digital Marketing 
Wednesday 19th October on Zoom: 6-7:30pm
The importance of digital communications could not be denied during the pandemic and, 2 years on, Social Good Organisations are continuing to develop their digital growth.
With a drive to improve but with limited funding available for support, the event provides a free 1-1 session with a digital expert.
To sign up, please click here

Pascal Theatre Company: Free workshop for 13-16 year-old girls 
Saturday 8th October near Euston Station: 2.30-4.30pm
Pascal Theatre Company invites girls aged 13-16 to a workshop on Saturday 8 October to share experiences of, and opinions on, expectations of girls. The event celebrates The Day of the Girl Child (11th October).
The workshop will be led by trained, DBS-checked professionals. Refreshments provided.
For more information and to sign up, contact sally@pascal-theatre.com 

KOVE: Annual General Meeting 

Thursday 13th October at Mazenod Social Club: 1.30-3.30pm

Come and join KOVE at their Annual General Meeting for the launch of KOVE@20 – a celebration of 20 years of campaigns and activities. The guest speaker is Councillor Pat Callaghan, Deputy Leader, Camden Council.
For more information, contact Lynda Stuart on 07773 267505 or John Miles on 07817 424356.

Sadler’s Wells Tickets Offer for Tango After Dark 

Sadler’s Wells is offering £12 tickets for performances of Tango After Dark from Tue 11th to Sat 22nd Oct. Please note that this offer must be booked by Sun 9th Oct.
To book your £12 tickets, click here and enter the promo code: BID12

North London Waste Authority’s New Waste Prevention Plan  

Mon 10th Oct at Islington Climate Centre: 2–4:15pm

Thurs 27th Oct via Microsoft Teams: 5:30–7:45pm

Camden Council is hosting an engagement session to inform and develop North London Waste Authority’s new Waste Prevention Plan for 2022-25. Stakeholders will meet NLWA and hear about the draft Plan, exchange ideas, share interests, and discuss ways to get involved going forward.
To sign up, please click here

Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order: Consultation 

Camden Council is considering new measures to tackle issues around antisocial behaviour associated with irresponsible dog owners in the area.
Find out more and have your say here

FEAST Vacancy: Camden Food Poverty Alliance Coordinator

FEAST With Us is excited to announce that they have been successful in their application to host the CFPA coordinator, in collaboration with Camden Council. This position is a vital next step in the mapping, organising, and connecting of food provisions in the borough to make sure Camden residents get the support that they need.
For more information and to apply, 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
Cost of Living Signposting Resource | London Plus
British Gas Energy Trust Grant

Institute of Health Equity Report: Fuel poverty, cold homes and health inequalities 

This report reviews the evidence on both the direct and indirect impacts of fuel poverty and cold homes on health; the effects of inequalities and the relationship between health inequalities and climate change. It makes the case for prioritising reducing fuel poverty through policy suggestions at both the national and local level.
Read the report here

Government Scheme to Cut Energy Bills

A new government scheme will see energy prices for non-domestic energy customers such as businesses, charities and public sector organisations cut – protecting them from rising energy costs. The scheme will cover energy use for 6 months from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023, and is in addition to the Energy Price Guarantee for households.
Read more here

Help shape Clean Air Action in Camden 

Camden Council is consulting on a new Clean Air Action Plan which sets out their plan for the next 4 years to clean Camden’s air. Share your thoughts and ideas to shape their projects and policies, and find out how you can help by reducing air pollution and protecting your health.
Learn more here

Addressing Poverty in London:

London Challenge Poverty Week: 17-23 Oct 2022 

London Challenge Poverty Week is coming up soon. It is coordinated by 4in10: London’s Child Poverty Network. Find out more here

London Child Poverty Alliance Summit: 20 Oct 2022

The London Child Poverty Alliance are hosting the London Child Poverty Summit on 20 October. Find out more and book your tickets here

Call for ideas around addressing poverty 

Together with Joseph Rowntree Foundation, New Local has launched a Call for Learning & Ideas to explore local approaches to addressing these challenges. Find out more here

Local Newsletters:

SHAK
Young Camden Foundation (Funding Newsletter)
AWN (sign up)
London Sport (sign up)
Fitzrovia Community Centre
Coram’s Field Community Newsletter (sign up)
CAWH Newsletter

If you would like your Camden VCS newsletter added to this list, please email social@vac.org.uk

VAC administered Google Grants
The VAC administered Google Grants scheme is still ongoing.

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 looking to book a venue in Camden.

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

Energy Saving Trust: Energy Redress Fund
Energy Saving Trust has been appointed to distribute payments from companies who may have breached Ofgem rules. Registered Charities, Community Interest Companies, Co-operative Societies and Community Benefit Societies can apply for funds to deliver energy related projects that meet the scheme priorities and benefit people in England, Scotland and Wales.
Learn more here

The People’s Project Fund 
Closing date: 12pm on Friday 7th October 2022, or when an application limit has been reached.

The National Lottery is giving community organisations the chance to apply for funding of up to £70,000. After a national campaign the winners will be decided by public vote.
Learn more here

Resident Opportunities and Empowerment Grant
Closing date for applications: 2nd October 2022

This new grant is intended to enable non-profit making organisations with social housing sector experience to help tenants take an active role in how their home is managed.
Learn more 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

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

The “B” Word Series Events 

Every Wednesday from 5th October at the London Irish Centre.

The series of events hosted by IamI includes the Spoken Word sessions ‘Enough Words’. Team up with facilitators to work towards producing your own piece and perform live to family and friends. The Melanin Rising Workshop explores the ingredients, special properties and the making of skin cream.
Book your space here

Black Entrepreneurs Event 

Wednesday 5th October: 6pm-8pm

As part of Black History Season, Camden is hosting a Black Entrepreneurs event to provide tools for business owners and start-ups to succeed in the world of business. Hosted by Ndu Uchea (Word on the Curb) and a panel of industry experts, the event will be an opportunity to gain invaluable insight into areas including building confidence, resilience and overcoming self-sabotage.
To sign up, please click here

Free Health & Well-being Opportunities for Adults in Camden
In response to the current cost of living crisis, Castlehaven Community Association has launched a brand new programme of free activities and workshops, providing adults in Camden with free access to health & well-being activities and learning opportunities.
From weekly Self Defence, Pilates, Mindfulness & Boxercise sessions to one-off workshops such as Foraging, and CV Writing, we have opportunities for everyone to cultivate healthy habits
For more information please click here

Free workshops for the Camden Community from Hampstead Theatre and The Winch
Hampstead Theatre and The Winch are delighted to launch a programme of free workshops for the Camden community.  Uniquely devised in partnership with residents from the local area, ‘Community Creates’ will provide free arts and crafts activities in various local locations from September 2022 through to 2023.
A programme and more information is available both from Hampstead Theatre here
And The Winch 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

Volunteering with VAC! Join our Community Links Team
Are you able to commit to at least 2 hours per week and interested in supporting people in your community to access health and wellbeing services?

Community Links Volunteers are a part of the Care Navigation and Social Prescribing Service in Camden. They support social prescribing in a variety of ways including signposting residents to community-based activities, helping with referrals, motivating users to connect with new interests and activities, accompanying residents to appointments and introducing them to a range of different opportunities in Camden.

For more info and to apply, please click here
Or contact Mandira Manandhar on mmanandhar@vac.org.uk or 020 7284 6573

Free Specialty Coffee Traineeship with Well Grounded 

Get free training, accreditations, work experience and job opportunities in coffee on an 8-week Alpro-sponsored programme this October.

You’ll learn everything you need to be a barista, take on a 4-week work placement and go into work in the coffee industry.

To apply, please contact info@wellgroundedjobs.co.uk

Latin American House vacancy: Office Manager 
Closing date: 3rd October
Latin American House is looking for an Office Manager to be the key person of the organisation’s central operations, providing an effective administrative support function at their Centre.
For more information and to apply, please click here.

Kilburn Older Voices Exchange vacancy: Coordinator
Closing date: 17th October
KOVE are looking for someone with sound administrative skills and a knowledge of charity organisation to support their activities and help develop a more age-friendly Kilburn. You’ll need to work freelance, flexibly, from home for two days a week. A warm-hearted commitment to the full citizenship of all older people is essential.

To view the full job description please click here
The application process starts with an informal phone conversation with the former coordinator, Mel Wright. To apply for this role, please contact: melwillwright@gmail.com

The Salvation Army’s mentoring programme looking for volunteer mentors
The Salvation Army’s mentoring programme supports survivors of modern slavery and are looking for volunteer mentors.
We aim to support, empower and champion individuals to set and achieve their goals, build confidence, and establish life in community.
You would be paired with a fellow mentor to meet with a mentee fortnightly for 12 months. We are looking for female and male applicants.

If you would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact ATMSMentoring@salvationarmy.org.uk

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

LIFT: Affordable Coworking Spaces 

LIFT can help entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds in Camden, Islington, Hackney and Tower Hamlets to access co-working space, no matter your financial situation. This includes people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, women, lone parents and people with disabilities, who are underrepresented in these industry sectors.
For more information, contact lift.futures@islington.gov.uk

Camden Children’s Services BSL Video

Camden Council has published its first video explaining Camden’s children’s services and the support available to families in the borough in British Sign Language (BSL). The video, which features signing interpreters as well as full English subtitles, gives a detailed summary of services and support available for children and families, including Children in Need, Early Help and Child Protection services.
Watch the video here

Startup School for Seniors 

Advantages of Age is offering online courses for Londoners aged 50+ looking to start their own businesses.

The course is delivered online by entrepreneur Suzanne Noble and business coach Mark Elliott. They create a fun, interactive learning experience and support you to progress week by week. Fully sponsored places are available to residents of London.

Register your place on the next available course here.

Canopy: Looking for Partner Organisations 

Canopy is looking for a partner organisation who are working with young people, based in Camden and interested in the environment. They have a project funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and are looking for a partner to deliver with them in Spring/Summer 2023.
For more information, please contact jake@canopy.si.

Past Voluntary Action Forums: Resources

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

Our mailing address is:
Greenwood Centre, Greenwood Place, London, NW5 1LB

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