Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin 31st January 2020

Talk to a Crick Scientist on World Cancer Day

February 4th 12-2pm, Meet a Crick Scientist session
At the Crick there are more than 1,000 scientists working to expand what we know about how life works. For World Cancer Day, two Crick scientists will be in the Living Centre to share behind-the-scenes insights into how they make science and cancer research happen. Bring your curiosity and have a chat.

Young Carers Awareness Day

Healthwatch Camden’s new director, Matthew Parris, has written a blog to celebrate today’s Young Carers Awareness Day – sponsored by Carers Trust.
‘A Young Carer’s life, their rights & how to help’ pulls together some key information and resources which anyone can use to support the estimated 2,000 Young Carers in the Borough of Camden.

Rents Review

The review into vcs rents in Camden is nearing completion and proposals will be finalized and go to cabinet soon. This presentation summarizes the proposals so far. More details to follow.

WEP Neurodivergent Day

Tuesday 4th Feb at WEP
Aimed at people with the following: Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder
Free advice and guidance to help you at home, work or in study
Contact David to book an appointment with our specialist: david.hermanstein@camden.gov.uk

Camden Patient and Public Engagement Group (CPPEG) open meeting

Tuesday 11 February 2020 14:00 – 16:00
At St Pancras Hospital, Conference Centre, 4 St Pancras Way, NW1 0PE
Our PPG newsletter shares all our latest news and opportunities for patients and the public to be involved in our work. Email camccg.communications@nhs.net to subscribe.

APL Collective Launched

The APLE Collective are working to tackle poverty across the UK. The APLE Collective stands for Addressing Poverty through Lived Experience. The aim is to create a sustainable, grassroots network across the UK to raise awareness of poverty, and work together with others to eradicate it.

Camden Climate Action Plan – Consultation Open

Following the Citizens’ Assembly on the Climate Crisis last year, Camden has recently published its new 5-year Climate Action plan for consultation. The plan responds to the assembly and outlines a programme of projects and activities towards a zero carbon Camden.
The consultation is at www.camden.gov.uk/climateplan  Get in touch with James.Davies@camden.gov.uk if you would like a short presentation/meeting.

Consultation on Community Mental Health Facilities

Work is now underway to co-design Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust’s new community facilities. Please watch a short video and then fill in an online survey to provide initial feedback. You will find a short introduction, a link to the video and a link to the survey below.

Cadfa Youth Programme Planning Meeting

Following the girls’ football visit, CADFA are launching a Summer 2020 youth programme. Interested groups are invited to come along and help shape it.
Saturday 8th February 4-6 pm at CADFA, Café Palestina 53 Fortess Rd NW5 1AD

Winch News

Catch up with all the news from the Winch in the newsletter.  Including being shortlisted for the London 2020 Impact Awards and the new Chalcots Community Manifesto.

Think and Do will be opening its doors soon

Camden’s Think & Do will be opening its doors soon as a community café until May 2020. This new next phase of Think & Do will also see a continuation of eco-action workshops, talks and training. Read more on the Transition Kentish Town newsletter.

Little Village Baby Clothes Donation Drive

Monday 3rd February, 9-11am.
Castlehaven Community Association, 23 Castlehaven Road, NW1 8RU
Do you have any spare clothes, toys and equipment for babies and children? If so please donate them to Little Village Camden on Monday. Details here

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

Camden Community Festival Fund

The fund is now open for applications. All community festivals and events that receive a grant will also receive a waiver of all non-statuary fees and charges which include road closures, trading licenses and parking suspensions. The process for grant applications will be managed directly by Camden Events Service.
Deadline for grant applications is 29 February. All funding decisions will be announced by 31 March.

Social & Community Capital Grants

A fund to enable social enterprises, charities and community businesses to make a positive impact in UK communities. Grants are aimed at organisations that are unable to access mainstream funding.
RBS are offering seven £20,000 grants to allow organisations to develop projects that create direct social impact on a community with need, and that have potential to become a sustainable product or service.

Right to Thrive small grants for community projects:

Have an idea to improve mental health and wellbeing at a community level? Thrive LDN has launched a grant scheme that is designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of Londoners who may experience higher levels of unfair treatment or discrimination. The scheme will award grants ranging from £500 to £10,000 in order to fund grassroots projects – by organisations or by individuals – that work with intersectional or marginalised communities.
Full details here
The deadline for applications is 9am, Monday 2nd March 2020. righttothrive@groundwork.org.uk or 020 7239 1390.

Clarion Futures Community Grants Programme

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 deliver local initiatives and projects to improve their neighbourhood.
Find out more at the website or for further information or enquiries please contact us at grants@clarionhg.com

Aviva Community Fund

The Aviva Community fund has re-launched as a crowd-funder.
Aviva want to support projects in the following areas:
• Community resilience: Tackling inequality and improving environments to build more connected, more resilient communities
• Financial capability and inclusion: Giving people the tools to become more financially independent
Full deatils on the website.

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.

New IT & Digital Capacity Building Programme

VAC is pleased to announce the launch of our new IT and digital capacity building for the sector, delivered in Partnership with CITA and WCIT. Taking on your priorities from our recent survey, we will be delivering a series of FREE 2 hour workshops covering a whole range of topics from getting started with new IT systems, social media use and strategy, website and CRM development through to data protection, compliance and digital strategy. The first sessions will run on the 21st and 29th January and look at website planning and design, and getting started with new IT Systems.  Please visit our website for more information, download the programme and book your place.

Successful Premises Management – Making the most of your property.

Want to rent out a room?  Make the most of your venue?  Earn income from an underused space? The Ethical Property Foundation is running a free property workshop for non-profit organisations in partnership with Voluntary Action Camden.
Wednesday 26th February at Charlie Ratchford Centre, Belmont Street, London NW1 8HF
10am – 1.30pm Workshop and Lunch (included)
1.30pm – 3.30pm Confidential 1:1 Advice Clinic
You will work with real life case studies from community organisations. Book at Eventbrite.

Safeguarding Courses:

Safeguarding Introduction: Protecting Children in the Community (Level 2)
Introductory course designed for all those who work directly with children, young people or their families. Open to all those who have had little or no safeguarding training before.
Enquire for dates of next course.

Safeguarding Advance: Developing knowledge and understanding. (Level 3)
For those who frequently work with or deliver services to children and their families. Course provides essential information that your organisation / group needs to understands it’s legal obligations in regards to child protection procedures and up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding legislation.
Please contact: Dianne Carlton Ogunyemi, our Community Partnership Advisor Lead tfor future dates as  well as customised Safeguarding training enquires.
Tel: 020 7 284 6575 | Email: dogunyemi@vac.org.uk email (Mon – Wed)

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

WEP’s Free Healthy Mind and Body Projects

Community Choir – Regents Park Singers
Singing with others relieves stress and releases endorphins.  First Monday of the month, at the Hpod, 7.00pm – 8.45pm.
Help with learning… dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, dyscalculia or Autism
Contact David.Hermanstein@camden.gov.uk to book an appointment with our specialist.
Silver Cycling – Cycling in Regents Park
For more information call 020 7388 7932 or email sharon@westeuston.org or Chuks@westeuston.org.

Talk to a Crick Scientist on World Cancer Day

February 4th 12-2pm, Meet a Crick Scientist session
For World Cancer Day, two Crick scientists will be in the Living Centre to share behind-the-scenes insights into how they make science and cancer research happen. Bring your curiosity and have a chat.

Volunteer Managers’ Forum for Networking & Peer Support

Wednesday 19th February, 10am-12pm in Camden to discuss all things volunteer management with volunteer managers in Camden, and beyond.
Get in touch with Shafia  at VCC for the promo code

Camden Dementia Action Alliance

Next meetings of Camden DAA is 10-1pm on 3 February and 1pm to 4pm on 30 March at the Camden Crowndale Centre, 218 Eversholt Street, NW1 1BD
For more information and to book an information session contact: Miles Maier –  miles@camdencarers.org.uk Tel: 020 7428 8950. Mob: 07966 743095

Voiceability Camden Peer Mentor Training

Mon 10th, Tues 11th, Mon 17th, Tues 18th February 10am – 4:30pm
Peer mentors use their own lived experiences of mental health to support someone else to achieve positive changes in their lives.
If you have lived experience of mental health,  and can spare 4 hours a month contact Lucy  camden.peermentoring@voiceability.org or call 0203 3557113.

Training Programme for Migrant & Ethnic Minority Women

Laamiga are recruiting unemployed women aged 18+ from Black, Asian, minority ethnic refugee and migrant communities to join their Aliyah Project.
Call 0208 257 7317 and leave your name and telephone or email info@laamiga.org.

Talking for Wellbeing

Taster session. Mon 3rd February, 4:00 – 6:00pm. Then you can:
• Come to Talk for Health cafes;
• Do our in-depth 4-day Talk for Health Programme.
• Follow these with ongoing groups for strong peer networks.
Register here to attend the next Taster or for more information contact info@talkforhealth.co.uk or call/text 02034 093201 Hargrave Rd, N19

Camden Resilient Families Practice Model Celebration

24th February 2020, 9.15am-11.30am at 5 Pancras Square.
The Resilient Families Framework is the name given to Camden early help’s way of working. Please book your place at the celebration at Eventbrite

Mental Health Matters event

How do LGBT+ people experience local services and what is the effect on their mental health and wellbeing?  Speakers:
Monty Moncrieff MBE, Chief Executive of London Friend, a charity promoting the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people.
Ben Hoff Ph.D, Clinical Lead for Mental Health at sexual health charity Spectra, where he heads up counselling and mindfulness provision.
Thursday 27 February, 6pm  at St Pancras Conference Hall, St Pancras Hospital, 4 St Pancras Way, NW1 0PE.  Details here.

Therapeutic Gardener Volunteer

Solace are looking for volunteers to work with residents at a multiple needs refuge to maintain the beautiful and spacious garden.
For the full volunteer role description and the application forms please visit Solace Women’s Aid website.  Deadline for applications is 17th February
Please note that our volunteer opportunities are open to women only (exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1), and that these volunteer roles are exempt from the rehabilitation of offenders act 1974 and subject to enhanced DBS checks.

Henna Asian Women’s Group seeks Chair and Trustees

Henna are looking for people from a range of backgrounds, with different experience and skills, who can give commitment and time to help us develop our future strategy and financial stability.
Please contact Rafat Kiani directly on rafat_hennaorg@yahoo.co.uk for further information alongside a Job Description.

LAWRS are looking for committed and motivated Latin American women to join our team

Please take a look at our current job vacancies and find the job descriptions, application and equal opportunities forms at  CharityJob website:  Operations Manager, Counselling and Psychotherapy Coordinator; Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Advice Caseworker – Spanish Speaker; Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Service Manager.

Coram’s Fields Out of School club

Senior Playworker: Salary £20,970, 35 hours per week during term time and school holidays.
Playworker Maternity Cover: Salary £19.201 pro-rata, working 20 hrs term time and 35 hrs during school holidays.
Sessional Playworker: Salary £10.55 per hour, 35 hours during school holidays.
If you are interested in applying for either of these roles, full job description and application form can be found on the website
Alternatively contact Kate Humphrey (OSC Manager) for further information on 02033842212. Closing date is 9am on Monday 17th February 2020.

Ageing Better Camden is looking for a male Outreach Worker

Men’s Sessional Outreach Worker  £13.45 per hour
ABC is looking for a male Outreach Worker to contribute to a Men’s Outreach project within the Outreach Service, to reach, initiate contact and engage with significant numbers of older men across Camden.
Currently up to 24 hours per month with additional hours available for specific events. (Hours and days are flexible). Outreach activity takes place during Monday to Friday between 9am to 5pm.
All documents can be downloaded from www.ageukcamden.org.uk or email jobs@ageukcamden.org.uk.
Closing date: 9am Wed 19th February.  Interview date: Fri 28th February

Community Connectors/Volunteers Recruiting Now

Elfrida Rathbone Camden is looking for volunteers (18+) to support parents and carers living in Camden. No qualifications necessary, just bags of enthusiasm and encouragement, plus a desire to help others. Out of pocket expenses paid.
We offer practical support at our drop-in and 1:1 sessions and organise occasional low-cost/free activities for parents and their children.
Join our next 2 day FREE training on Friday 7th and 14th February from 10am-2.30pm. Lunch will be provided.
Contact Jill  Jill@elfridacamden.org.uk or call 07939877745 for a chat.

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

Reception and Greeting Volunteers in Chalk Farm

VAC 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

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.

Need a Meeting Room near Chalk Farm?

VAC has 3 new rooms to hire out for Events/Training, etc. at  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.

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

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