Voluntary Action Camden

Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin 5th May 2017

Highlights
VAC Survey: Training Needs Analysis Survey; Mental Health services in Camden portal; Camden Town Shed; Menu of Preventative Interventions; Healthwatch Camden survey; Action for Prisoners’ and Offender’ Families Resources; Connections – An art exhibition by Creative Carers Collective; HR Support in Camden; Moneytalk Camden; Camerados Camden + funding, jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.
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Feature
VAC Survey: Training Needs Analysis Survey

.VAC and the Mary Ward Centre are putting together a comprehensive training programme for the next 18 months. This is specifically focused on the employment and skill needs of voluntary and community organisations.
The questions in this survey are designed to help identify how the voluntary and community sector can help address some of the big challenges facing Camden, and to determine what knowledge and skills their team will need to achieve this.
All completed surveys will be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win five hours of free organisational development support from VAC, for example 121 assistance on writing a funding application.
Thank you for participating in our survey. Your feedback is important.

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NEWS & POLICY

New Website to help find Mental Health services in Camden
If you suffer from mental health problems, think you might, or care for someone who does, this site is for you. This website has information about local mental health and wellbeing support services in Camden and has been developed by Camden CCG. www.mentalhealthcamden.co.uk

Camden Town Shed – new sessions
The Shed invites older people especially men to use our well-equipped workshop for all skills in wood Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10-4pm on a donations basis. Maiden Lane Community Centre St Paul’s Crescent (off Agar Grove) NW19XZ. www.camdentownshed.org
New sessions being added are
Mondays 1.30 – 4.00 Make or mend with wood. No experience required. These sessions welcome people needing supervision. Agencies should contact the supervisor Alan Alison on 07429 651676
Wednesdays 2.00 – 4.00 Hand-building with clay (not using the potters wheel) . Drop in and make whatever you like (boxes, plates, models, artworks, tiles etc) with an experienced maker present to advise. No experience required. Kiln firing on site.
Enquiries to Mike Jenn 07757 024749

Menu of Preventative Interventions Published by Government
Public Health England has released their menu of preventative interventions that help to improve people’s health and reduce demand on health and care services. The interventions listed can all demonstrate a reduction in costs to health and care services, and can be used to inform local planning and commissioning. Costs of interventions, savings and ROI are all listed making this a very useful information when planning and costing preventive work. For more information please click here.

Healthwatch Camden survey
The survey looks at what people in Camden do when they need to see a doctor quickly. It is aimed at improving how people use urgent care services such as A&E, walk in centres, NHS 111 etc.
www.tinyurl.com/healthwatchurgentcare

New Resources: Action for Prisoners’ and Offender’ Families Resources
Action for Prisoners’ and Offender’ Families have published a series of leaflets aimed at providing information and support for offenders and their families. The leaflets available are:
~ Booklet for Young People – Relative in Prison.
~ Guide to Adoption for Women Prisoners.
~ The Impact of Parental Imprisonment on the Mental Health of Children and Young People.
~ The Outsiders – Living with Separation.
~ The Outsiders – Preparing for Release.
~ The Outsiders – Sent to Prison.
~ The Outsiders – Telling the Children.
~ When Social Services are Involved – Guide for Women Prisoners.
For more information please click here.

Connections – An art exhibition by Creative Carers Collective
Creative Carers Collective is an art group run by Camden Carers Service. We offer carers the opportunity to use art and creativity to help them find a unique voice which helps them reflect upon and express their experiences of caring, life, love and everything in between.
Events/Trade Schools
Saturday 6 May 10.00-12.30 – Accessing Creativity in Everyday Life
Sunday 7 May 15.00-17.00 – Illustration and Cartoon Skills
Saturday 13 May 14.00-17.00 – My Life in Five Objects
Sunday 14 May 14.00-16.00 – Learn how to make Harmony Flax Bow
Sunday 7 & 14 May at 11.00 – Creative Walks
Join us for the Opening Evening on 05/05/17 from 5.00pm onwards
For more information on exhibition and events please contact Sitara: sitara@camdencarers.org.uk, or visit www.camdencs.org.uk
Please book for Trade Schools as spaces are limited. To book go to:
http://precinct.rfsk.org/events/connections-art-exhibition/

HR Support in Camden
VAC provides free HR advice and support to Camden voluntary organisations employing staff. Get in touch to discuss your HR consultancy needs, from recruitment to redundancy and everything in-between. VAC’s HR support aims to help trustees and managers understand employment law and to have robust HR procedures that reflect good practice so fewer workplace issues arise, and HR crises are averted or managed effectively. Call Kevin on 020 7284 6557 or email knunan@vac.org.uk

Moneytalk Camden North – final subsidised Financial Education Facilitator Training Courses
Moneytalk Camden North is a project based on the award winning financial literacy resource Made of Money, developed by anti-poverty charity Quaker Social Action. It aims to help groups talk about money and its impact on their lives, as well as learn vital money management skills.
Our last 2-day comprehensive training courses are on 11th & 12th July and 4th & 11th October click here to find out more and download a booking form. Contact: mtcn@qsa.org.uk tel: 020 8983 5047

Camerados Camden
Camerados have opened a public living room in Camden. A place for everyone, and where we can all look out for each other and encourage more people to be camerados to each other. It opens on Monday 8th May 2017 – Fri 26th May 2017 (Mon-Fri, 11am-4pm) in the garden of St Michael’s church, a 1 min walk from Camden Town tube station. All welcome especially if they’re having a tough time or feeling a bit lonely.

Camden Carers Service
Camden Carers Service (CCS) offers advice, support and activities for family and other unpaid carers across the borough.
Help is just a phone call away on 020 7428 8950 or email info@camdencarers.org.uk – read more about our services at www.camdencs.org.uk or www.facebook.com

Ageing Better in Camden
Read the latest newsletter from Ageing Better in Camden online here.

MEWSo Newsletter
MEWSo aims to defend and protect women from violence both at home and in the wider community. MEWSo is offering free counselling services. We do not have a waiting list and we offer 10 free of charge counselling sessions in Arabic. Get in touch if you have suitable referrals: office@mewso.org. You can read the latest newsletter online here.

Healthwatch Camden
View the latest news and views from Healthwatch Camden here.

Camden Capacity Building Bulletin
The February Capacity Building Bulletin is available here.

Ageing Better in Camden
Read the Ageing Better in Camden Newsletter Spring Edition 2017 here

Age UK Camden, Kingsgate Community Centre, Camden Futures, Camden CCG, VAC, Kings Cross Construction Centre and Camden PA are recruiting. See Jobs and Volunteers section below.

You can join in on Facebook. Like us if you like us.

Follow all the Camden Voluntary Sector news on OneCamden on Twitter.

You can read more about all of these stories on our news page at www.vac.org.uk/new

National
NCVO tells politicians to support volunteering and grant funding
NCVO has called on the government to widen access to volunteering and improve the availability of grant funding, in its election manifesto published today.
In Charities and volunteering make Britain great, the umbrella body has outlined five key points for political parties to consider when drawing up policies about charities.
NCVO said that small and local charities could “do much more” if there was more grant funding.
The manifesto suggests that the government “create a legacy for small and local charities for a generation to come” using money freed up from dormant accounts to create endowment funds that could be run by community foundations. It also suggests buying local community assets, such as pubs and green spaces, to “put them in the control of local people”.
It also called for reforms to public sector commissioning, suggesting that public bodies “should use grant funding instead of large contracts”, and arguing that when public bodies do use contracts, they should take more account of the “wider social value”. Full story at Civil Society

Social Action and People with Complex Needs
The Office for Civil Society and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Dual Diagnosis and Complex Needs are gathering evidence about how social action can drive better services for people with complex needs. The evidence will be presented at an event in June chaired by the Minister for Civil Society, and a report will be published later in the year, with best practice examples identified through the review. The deadline for evidence is Sat 20th May. For more information please click here.

Communities – 9 ways to break them
Julia Unwin, Chair of the Independent Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society has written an interesting (and brief) article – “Communities – 9 ways to break them”. It should be required reading for everyone interested in the future of civil society. Read the article online here.

Eight page spread on community assets in the Sunday Mirror
In case you missed it – last weekend’s Sunday Mirror ran an eight page supplement on People Power – the power of community assets to transform communities. View the article here.

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FUNDING

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

Neighbourhood Planning Grants and Support Programme – Final Year
The Department for Communities and Local Development’s £22.5 million Neighbourhood Planning Grants and Support Programme (2015-2018) aims to support local communities that are drawing up a neighbourhood plan for their area.
This is the last year of the funding programme, and Locality, which is delivering the programme, has announced that applications can be made from now until 31 January 2018. It has also announced that expenditure through a grant must be completed within six months or before 31 March 2018,
Locality has announced the following two updates:
~ Modifying the plan after it has come into force: Groups can now apply for funding to modify their plan, irrespective of whether they have already claimed their full grant allocation of £9,000 (or £15,000 for a priority group).
~ Groups undertaking site assessments and housing site allocations: Groups who are undertaking a site assessment for a site allocation, OR groups who are allocating sites for housing or mixed development can now be considered complex – allowing them to apply for additional support for complex groups (technical support and grants of up to £15,000).
Full details at the My Community website.

Trust for London and City Bridge Trust launch £100,000 Crowdfunding initiative to tackle poverty and inequality in London
In collaboration with Crowdfunder and The Social Innovation Partnership, Trust for London and City Bridge Trust have launched a new £100,000 fund available to organisations using crowdfunding to raise funds and deliver projects which will address inequality and lift people out of poverty in the capital.
The Improving life for Londoners fund will provide up to 50% of the target (to a maximum of £10,000), with projects expected to raise at least the first 25% from the crowd.
The fund is keen to support charitable work that:
~ Provides practical solutions to support people on low incomes
~ Addresses local problems in creative ways
~ Is led by communities that will benefit from the work
If you think your organisation fits, check out our Crowdfunder page.
Do you want to know more about crowdfunding, and how to run a crowdfunding project? You can sign up to crowdfunding workshops online here.

UCL Grand Challenges Small Grants Scheme
Closing date: 9am, Monday, 22 May 2017
Up to £4,000 available for a wide range of research-informed, societally relevant, cross-disciplinary activities undertaken from 1 August 2017 to 31 July 2018
Up to £6,000 is available for proposals that address the GCSC Priority Theme of Urban Mobility, with additional funding from the UCL Transport Institute. Further details
Proposals must address a Priority Theme relating to one of the six UCL Grand Challenges – Global Health; Justice and Equality; Tranformative Tech; Human Wellbeing; Cultural Understanding; Sustainable Cities
Applications must be led by UCL academic staff members (honorary researchers included) at postdoctoral level (or equivalent) or above. Full details here.

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VAC EVENTS

Project Management Starter
Thursday 11 May 6.00 – 8.30pm
Mary Ward Centre, 42 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AQ
The aim of this short course is to enable students with limited practical experience of managing a project to become familiar with the theories and practice of project management. Details here

Healthy Minds Programme – “Let’s Talk About Mental Health”
Monday, May 15 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm or Monday May 22 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
St Pancras and Somers Town Living Centre, 2 Ossulston St, London, NW1. Details here.

Low Cost Trustee/ Management Committee Training from VAC and Mary Ward
Governance in the Voluntary and Community Sector

18 May 2017 – 22 June 2017 6 Thursday evenings 17:30-20:30 in Camden
A short evening course for trustees/management committee members or anybody who is interested in developing the knowledge and skills required to be a member of a governing body in the voluntary or community sector. Ideal for new trustees as an induction, for experienced trustees who want a refresher and for those just starting out as trustees. The course is a partnership between VAC and Mary Ward. Full details at the Mary Ward website.

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

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OTHER EVENTS

Improving Records Management in Charities
15th June 2017, 15:30-18:30, The British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, St. James’s, London SW1Y 5AH
What records do charities need to keep? How long should they be retained? What legislation and regulations on record keeping do charities need to comply with?
We invite you to learn more about these topics at the launch of a new toolkit to help charities and voluntary organisations improve records management.
Record keeping is an important but often overlooked part of running or working in a voluntary organisation. It is vital for good governance and necessary for complying with the wide range of regulations that apply to voluntary organisations in England and Wales. Good record keeping can help you tell people who you are, what you do and why donors and the public should trust you. However, many organisations find it hard to know quite what the state of their records is and what do to with them. There is a lack of advice, training and knowledge about record keeping and a bewildering array of different regulatory requirements. Free. Book online here.

Wild Bunch Club Tuesday May 9th
‘A club night run by people with learning difficulties for everyone’
At Electrowerkz, Angel. For further info contact siren@elfrida.com or ring the Elfrida Society on 020 7359 7443.

CEB Pro Bono Impact Day
Tuesday 9th May 2017. Victoria House, 37-63 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury Square, London, WC1
CEB is a strategic consultancy which uses data to make companies efficient by focusing on employees, customers and operations. They have specific expertise in the following areas:
~ Communication & differentiation – effectively tailoring messaging to specific audiences
~ Strategic planning – defining and achieving key objectives, improving performance measurement systems, planning for the future.
~ People management – recruiting the right people, putting together an effective team, and managing people.
A team of experienced strategy consultants, HR, sales and marketing professionals from CEB* will:
~ help you work through a key strategic challenge you are facing as an organisation and develop a plan of action to address the challenge, or
~ deliver a workshop to meet an immediate development need, e.g. improving the pitching and presentation skills of corporate fundraising staff.
*The team you are assigned will depend on the nature of the challenge you have.
This is a free advisory session, provided through the pro bono commitments of CEB employees.
You will need to commit a minimum of 8 hours (up to 2 hours before the day to attend scoping calls and provide information, 5 hours on the day, and 1 hour on follow up calls). Apply online here.

Why Every Professional Needs to be Equipped to Safeguard Against Harmful Practices
Thursday 1st June 2017
Amnesty International Human Rights Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London, EC2A 3EA
Hear real case studies from specialist organisations working with women and girls at risk of “Honour” Based Violence, Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation across Europe. Learn about good and bad practice and hear from public sector leaders about the importance of continuing professional training and have opportunities to network.
https://ikwroeuroconference.eventbrite.com

Camden PPG Forum – Wednesday 17 May 5.00 – 8.30pm
Come to the Forum and listen, learn and participate in three great sessions:
~ PPG success stories – be inspired by the bright ideas of other PPGs in Camden
~ GP Neighbourhoods – hear the latest on how developing GP Neighbourhoods could work, and share your views on how PPGs and patients can be involved
~ Transforming mental health services in Camden – participate in this interactive session about the future of local services.
The Arlington Conference Centre, 220 Arlington Road, NW1 7HE.
The venue is wheelchair accessible and refreshments will be provided.
If you would like to attend, please email engagement@camdenccg.nhs.uk or phone 020 3688 2456 (Becky) or 020 3688 1755 (Martin). Please let us know which PPG you belong to, and if you have any dietary requirements or accessibility needs. If contact us if you have any questions.

Thyroid Friends in London, Patients Voices event
13th May 2017, Crown Court Church, Russell Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5EZ
The group has been established since 2010 as the British Thyroid Foundation (BTF) London Group. Recent changes at BTF have meant that we are no longer affiliated to the charity but we remain commited to providing reliable evidence based information and peer support for thyroid patients. If you or someone close to you has a thyroid condition, or you have a professional interest, you are welcome to attend this meeting.
The group is also currently seeking a suitably qualified volunteer treasurer.
website: http://thyroidfriends.weebly.com
email: londonthyroid@gmail.com

Parent & Carer Meet-up
A fun & informative group for parents & carers with children in primary school to connect, share & learn
Term times, starting April 25th 2017. Children not in school are welcome to attend.
For more information please contact Zenobia Talati: 07594373203 or 02075868371
The Winch, 21 Winchester Road, Swiss Cottage, NW3 3NR www.thewinch.org

Money Management, Financial Literacy and Gambling Related Harm
Betknowmore UK are currently delivering a free workshop that aims to raise awareness around money management, financial literacy and “Gambling Related Harm”. The workshops can last from 60 to 120 minutes for group sizes between 4 to 24.
Through this workshop we will be cultivating skills and knowledge on how to best manage your money (debts, budget, savings, bank accounts, loans, credit cards, legal risks related to debts… etc), together with ways to protect yourself and others from the devastating growing social issue that is gambling addiction.
Find out more at www.betknowmoreuk.org email: brigitte@betknowmoreuk.org or call 0800 066 4827

Books Beyond Words Book Club FREE Training
Elfrida Rathbone Camden, St Luke’s Church and Books Beyond Words are collaborating to offer a free half-day introduction to facilitating a Beyond Words book club. Across the country, people with learning disabilities are meeting in small groups to discuss their experiences using the stories they discover in Beyond Words books to help make sense of their lives.
Thursday 27th April, 1.00 – 4.00pm @ St Luke’s Church Meeting Room, 7 Dowdney Close, NW5 2BP
To book your place e-mail: training@booksbeyondwords.co.uk

Governance in the Voluntary and Community Sector
18 May 2017 – 22 June 2017 6 Thursday evenings 17:30-20:30 in Camden
A short evening course for trustees/management committee members or anybody who is interested in developing the knowledge and skills required to be a member of a governing body in the voluntary or community sector. Ideal for new trustees as an induction, for experienced trustees who want a refresher and for those just starting out as trustees. The course is a partnership between VAC and Mary Ward. Full details at the Mary Ward website.

Supersized Volunteering Fair
VCC fairs are a perfect way to meet people who want to volunteer in Camden. And they have a 46% recruitment rate. Brilliant!
VCC are co-hosting our Summer 2017 SUPERsized volunteering fair with our good friends at Volunteer Centre Islington. It will take place in King’s Cross on the penultimate day of Volunteers’ Week 2017.
Tuesday 6th June 12-3pm at Voluntary Action Islington. Book through Eventbrite.

Camden Dementia Action Alliance Conference and “Dementia Bazaar”
Monday 15 May at the Canal Museum, 12-13 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RT.
The morning session (1030-1300, with registration and refreshments from 1000) will focus on the work of the Alliance and will feature a range of guest speakers.
The afternoon “Bazaar” (1400-1600) will be an opportunity for people with dementia, carers and members of the wider community to participate in a range of entertaining activities, as well as obtaining valuable information and advice from Alliance member organisations.
The event will be free to attend. Full details to follow. Contact mark.goodwin@alzheimers.org.uk.

Resilient Families and Early Help training opportunities with the Camden Training and Development Service (TDS)
~ Introduction to attachment theory, 08/05/17
~ IT training in eCAF, 11/05/17
For course information and to book please click on the course title. If you require TDSOnline support, please email TDSOnline@camden.gov.uk.

Improve English Reading Writing and Listening Skills
English ESOL Entry level class
Every Tuesday 10am-12pm
KCB Chadswell Healthy Living Centre, Harrison Street, London, WC1H 8JE
Tel no: 020 7713 5545

Recovery College
Recovery College Spring term has started. If you would like to find out more about the courses take a look at the Recovery College Spring 2017 course guide.

Free HR training workshops for Camden voluntary and community groups
Free and will take place between 9.45 and 1pm at the Town Hall Judd Street.
The workshops are for managers and trustees of voluntary and community groups based in Camden.
Managing Difficult Conversations at Work Wednesday 12th April 2017
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-difficult-conversations-at-work-registration-27067711253
The workshops will be run by Shirley Briggs.

Don’t forget that Camden TDS run a full programme of course which are subsidised or free for voluntary sector partner organisations. There is a link to a list of partner organisations on the home page.

Find more Training Opportunities at www.vac.org.uk

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JOBS AND VOLUNTEERING

Community Association for West Hampstead – seeks Trustees
CAWH is a diverse, lively and expanding Community Association. We run the West Hampstead Community Centre. We are looking for individuals with a strong interest in improving services in the local community to join our Board of Management.
This is a great opportunity to contribute to a local organisation that is making a difference to people in the local area, particularly children and older people. You have the opportunity to gain new skills and experience and to meet new people.
We are particularly seeking a new Treasurer to lead the financial management of the organisation as well as individuals who have skills in finance, human resources and marketing to develop the breadth of our Board. You may have many years’ experience in running organisations or want to broaden your skillset by supporting a charity – we want to hear from you. You will be able to commit to ten meetings a year and would ideally live in or near West Hampstead or be familiar with the area.
If you are interested, please contact the Manager, Carlos Tapia, on 020 7794 3729 (Mon, Wed and Thurs) or e-mail manager@cawh.org.uk

Citizens Advice Camden is seeking Chair of the Board of Trustees
Do you feel passionately about advice delivery? Could you shape future strategy and help us to achieve our mission?
We are recruiting a Chair for our trustee board. We are seeking someone with governance skills who can provide leadership and enthusiasm to lead Citizens Advice Camden into the future. You will ultimately be responsible for the overall direction, vision and strategy of Citizens Advice Camden. We are looking for candidates who can bring innovative ideas, enthusiasm for our values, and excellent judgment to help determine our objectives. You will be prepared to assist our organisation in taking on any future challenges and play a key role in our success.
If you would like any further information please email lisa.yates@camdencabservice.org.uk or look at our website www.camdencabservice.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-us/trustees/
Closing date for applications is 12 noon 15th May.

British Library seeks Community Engagement Manager and Creative Producer
See full details of the posts and how to apply at the British Library website
https://britishlibrary.recruitment.northgatearinso.com/birl/pages/vacancy.jsf?latest=01001089
https://britishlibrary.recruitment.northgatearinso.com/birl/pages/vacancy.jsf?latest=01001088

Treasurer wanted by Age UK Camden
Age UK Camden is recruiting to its trustee/volunteer position of Honorary Treasurer, more details of which are here: http://www.ageuk.org.uk/camden/get-involvednew/get-involvedvolunteer/vacancies/honorary-treasurer/

Volunteer Detainee Support Worker wanted by Hibiscus
Location: Islington and Heathrow Removal Centre
Commitment: 2 days per week for 3 months
The organisation: Hibiscus Initiatives, established in 1986, a voluntary sector organisation with a track record of delivering high quality services over nearly 30 years. We have developed a widely acknowledged specialist expertise in working with marginalised Black and Minority Ethnic, Foreign National and migrant offenders and detainees in custody, and the community. Our person-centred approach is a model that engages and works with clients to support and empower them in dealing with what are often multiple and complex needs and, importantly, addresses the additional disadvantage that language and cultural barriers present.
The role: To provide vital support to people who are resident within the immigration removal centre. Work collaboratively with Hibiscus colleagues and centre staff providing information, emotional support and making referrals.
To apply: Please send your CV and a short covering letter stating how you fit the skills, knowledge and experience to our Volunteer Coordinator: caitlin@hibiscus.org.uk

Camden Futures Seeking Parent Volunteers in the Community
Camden Futures is recruiting parent volunteers to become Community Connectors and support Camden parents accessing community resources. Apply via info@camdenfutures.org.uk or call Francesca on 020 7424 1622 by 25/04/17. Compulsory training will run on 28/04/17, 05/05/17 and 12/05/17.

Kings Cross Jobs
You can view a constantly changing range of job vacancies on the Kings Cross website. For the latest news on jobs sign up to job alerts.

Volunteers are needed in GP practices!
Voluntary Action Camden (VAC) would like to hear from you! We are training volunteers to become Community Health Advocates in local GP practices.
• Do you live, work or volunteer in Camden?
• Would you like to support people in your community to improve their health and their access to services that will help them to maintain good health and wellbeing?
• Do you want to develop experience and skills in the field of public health?
• Can you commit at least 2 hours per week?
VAC is offering free Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH) Level 1 training to those who want to volunteer their time to become Community Health Advocates. The RSPH Level 1 training is a two days course, with a 20 question multiple choice test at the end of the second day of training. It could provide a useful skill set and experience for people who may be interested in following a health related career path in the future.
After completing the training, VAC will support local teams of volunteers to act as links between community based services and GPs. You may wish to take advantage of additional opportunities to increase your knowledge, for example smoking cessation, cancer awareness, diabetes etc. In return for your commitment to the project for 2 hours a week we offer support, out of pocket expenses and other professional development opportunities.
For more information, please contact Mandira Manandhar, Health Advocate Volunteer Co-ordinator (Mon, Tues and Thurs) 020 7284 6550/07930669417 or email: mmanandhar@vac.org.uk
Peter Simonson on 020 7284 6550 or email: projectsupport@vac.org.uk
The RSPH training is provided FREE by on the understanding that participants are available to volunteer for the project and able to attend the regular training and support sessions.

Find Jobs and Volunteering opportunities at https://www.vac.org.uk/

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OFFERS, RESOURCES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Voluntary Sector Should Campaign with Confidence – Dos and Don’ts
NCVO has urged the sector to campaign with confidence. There has been much scare mongering over the Lobbying Act but most of the provisions only apply to organisations “where the expenditure can reasonably be regarded as intended to influence the electoral prospects of parties or candidates.” Few voluntary organisations in Camden will meet this criteria or be spending over £20,000 – the threshold for registering. Although charities have been under attack for campaigning, the tide may have turned. The recent Lords report, ‘Stronger Charities for a Stronger Society‘ praised the sector and declared that it was the “eyes, ears and conscience of society”.
NCVO has issued some clarification:
Five things that charities can do::
~ Continue campaigning on issues
~ Reach out to the candidates and ask their views on issues
~ Publish candidates’ views on issues
~ Host a debate between candidates or invite them to issue-focussed events
~ Publish a manifesto or briefing materials on issues
Four things charities can’t do:
~ Advocate for any individual party or candidate
~ Explicitly compare the organisation’s views to those of individual parties or candidates
~ Donate funds to any individual party or candidate
~ Allow their organisation to be cited in a candidate’s manifesto
Organisations with staff who are involved in high profile political activities in an individual capacity or as candidates may want to consider noting this at the next board meeting and minute how conflicts of interest will be dealt with to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest. Details at Civil Society

Healthy Minds Community Programme
Do you live in Camden? Would you like to take part in a community-based course, workshop or activity? Or perhaps you would like to be more active or meet new likeminded people?
Healthy Minds is a new Mind in Camden project offering local people a wide range of free and low-cost activities to support you in rediscovering your interests and uncovering different community resources. And, if you need a helping hand to find what’s right for you, a navigator or sports buddy will be there to help. You can view a brochure of activities online here.
tel: 020 7241 8996 email: healthymindscp@mindincamden.org.uk

Camden Consultations
You can find all Camden consultation on the Wearecamden consultation hub.

FREE VAC Membership for Unfunded Groups: Voluntary Action Camden Small organisations with no paid staff and a turnover of less than £1,500 can now join for FREE. To take advantage of this offer just fill in the membership on the online form here.

 

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