Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin 8th September 2017

Euston Area Environmental Justice Inquiry – Three Events for Local Residents and Community Groups; Cloud Nine Festival; Camden Funders Fair for Local Community Organisations; Free Furniture for Community Groups; Time for a National Tower Blocks Network? New LGBTQ dementia café; Camden Family Members Reference; ArchWay With Words 2017 + funding, jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

Impacts of Somers Town Community Investment Programme 20th Sep 6:00pm
Impacts of Channel Tunnel Rail Link, St Pancras 27th Sep 6:00pm
Impacts of HS2, Euston, Oct 4th 6:00pm
Evidence examined includes health, environmental and air quality studies, community research, community consultation responses, comments on planning applications, alternative development proposals, and your Witness Statements.
For each event you are invited to complete a Witness Statement. You can do this on the night or download the template.
You can find out more and book a place online or you can email acharles@vac.org.uk or call 02072 846550 and leave a message to book your place.
Hosted by Environmental Law Foundation, Somers Town Neighbourhood Forum, University College London and Voluntary Action Camden. Chaired by David Hart QC, Chair of the Environmental Law Foundation.

Cloud Nine Festival
Presented by West Euston Partnership, Fantasy High Street and Old Diorama Arts Centre
A free one day family event using arts to celebrate celebrating 40 years of arts, architecture and community life in Euston and King’s Cross.
Saturday 16 September, 12pm – 4pm, Cumberland Market, Euston, NW1 3RH
Crazy Creative Corner for children, Happiness health check games, football tournament and more.
To volunteer send your name, previous experience (if any) and contact mobile number to: fantasyhighstreet@gmail.com by 6pm on Monday 11th September.

Camden Funders Fair for Local Community Organisations
Monday 2nd October 10:00am-13.00pm
See VAC Events section below for full details.

Free Furniture for Community Groups
The TSSA, (Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association) a trade union based in Euston, are leaving their building due to HS2. As a result they have a lot of office furniture to give away to voluntary and community groups in Camden. You will need to arrange collection. Contact Iain Anderson on 0207 529 8003 email andersoni@tssa.org.uk

Time for a National Tower Blocks Network?
Community Links ran the National Tower Blocks Network in the 1980s and 1990s, to gather and share information about the issues in tower blocks and published two National Tower Blocks Directories which contained details gathered from tower blocks owners and from tenants and community groups.
The information that we collected enabled the network to share good practice and also it supported local and national campaigning. This campaigning led to the demolition of structurally unsound large panel system blocks from Ronan Point in Newham to Royston Hill in Glasgow. The campaign had national impact and the government gave instructions to local authorities to deal with the structural faults in all similar blocks.
People who were involved in the past, including expert advisers, and people who are currently affected have suggested that a Tower Blocks Network is developed again. It would focus on fire safety issues and gather information about tenants and residents’ specific concerns in their blocks and about their views on the proposed national changes which are being considered within Building Regulations (eg sprinklers, gas disconnection).
The aim would be to do all in our power to prevent a fire such as Grenfell ever happening again, to ensure that all the factors are fully considered irrespective of cost and that tenants and residents are integrated into the decision making processes of the future.
Do you work with residents who live on high rise estates? Would you, or they, like to be involved? Can you help us to gather this information?
If you can please contact frances.clarke@community-links.org

New LGBTQ dementia café in Camden
The Rainbow Café is a new monthly group for lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans (LGBTQ) people living, or caring for someone, with dementia. The café, set up by Opening Doors London (ODL), launches on 9 October at Tavis House in London from 2 – 4pm. It will offer a safe, welcoming and social environment for people to meet and gain peer support. The Cafe continues on the second Monday of the month.
For more information contact Sally Knocker sally.knocker@openingdoorslondon.org.uk

Camden Family Members Reference
A group for carers of an adult with a learning disability will meet next on Wednesday 13 September at 10.30-12.30pm at Charlie Ratchford Centre, Belmont Street, NW1 8HF. The focus will be on updates about the Centre for Independent Living and the new Councillor’s surgeries for people with learning disabilities and their carers.
For more details / RSVP please contact: philippar@centre404.org.uk Tel: 020 7697 1336

ArchWay With Words 2017 Fact & fiction-packed! Thursday 21st – 28th September
We open with the return of Will Self! There’s two of Britain’s most exciting writers of fiction for Young Adults Alex Wheatle and Patrice Lawrence, the mighty Harriet Walter talking about playing Brutus and other leading Shakespeare roles, and Professor Steve Jones on ‘Revolutionary Science in the Age of the Guillotine.’ We’ve got new novels and non- fiction books, short stories, science, theatre, music, film, storytelling, poetry. Full details at Archwaywithwords website.

Camden Patient Participation Groups
Read the latest news about the Camden PPG here.

Ageing Better in Camden
Ageing Better in Camden is a partnership of older people and Camden organisations, working together to tackle social isolation and loneliness among older people. Read the latest update here.

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

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

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

Volunteer Centre Camden
For all things volunteering contact VCC. You can read the latest VCC news here.

Camden Council, Homestart, Camden Giving, Age UK Camden and Kings Cross Jobs 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

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

Clarion Community Grants Programme
Open for applications until Monday 20th November 2017 (12 noon) to community, voluntary and charity groups.
Clarion was formed following the merger in 2016 of Affinity Sutton Group Limited and Circle Housing Group and is the largest housing group in the country. Through the Community Grants Programme – managed by Groundwork – it awards grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 to charities, community organisations and voluntary groups for projects which primarily benefit its residents.
To get updated information on how to apply and to see the criteria, please visit Clarion Community Grants Programme
If you do have any further queries about the grant please contact Katie McNie– Groundwork – Senior Programmes Manager – info@groundwork.org.uk

£1 million to make your area greener
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan wants community groups to apply for his £1 million Greener City Fund to help plant more trees and plants and create more green play areas in every neighbourhood in London.
Trees and plants play an essential part in reducing London’s dangerously polluted air and contribute to London’s biodiversity. The Mayor wants to protect London’s Green Belt and help make the capital the world’s first National Park City.
Groups can apply now for grants between £5,000 – £50,000. These grants can be used for a range of projects from lining walking routes to schools with air quality boosting trees, to creating mini play spaces, and community gardens in built up areas.

Span Trust
Span Trust, a registered charity, supports projects that will ‘alleviate poverty, disability, age or ill health, and advance urban regeneration through the improvement of the built environment’ and which include ‘a design element’. Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 are provided to charitable and exempt organisations for capital costs.
Please see our website for more details: www.spantrust.org.uk

Helping London-based projects that benefit Londoners and their communities
The Improving life for Londoners fund helps organisations based and working in London to deliver projects which will address inequality and lift people out of poverty in the capital.
Trust for London and City Bridge Trust have £100,000 available to organisations using crowdfunding to raise funds and deliver projects which will benefit Londoners and the communities they live in. Successful projects will be delivering practical solutions to support people on low incomes, led by communities that will benefit from the work. Find out more here.

Camden Funders Fair for Local Community Organisations
See main story for full details.

Camden Funders Fair for Local Community Organisations
Monday 2nd October 10:00am-13.00pm
The event is for voluntary and community organisations with a focus on groups with a turnover of under £100,000. You will have the opportunity to personally meet the funders, hear about their funding pots and book a twenty-minute spot to discuss your proposed project in greater detail. After the event VAC will be offering you 1-1 bid writing support.
This is a great opportunity to make new contacts and secure new sources of income. If you would like any further information, please do contact Simone at VAC on 020 7284 6555. Fax 020 7284 6551. Email. shensby@vac.org.uk
All places must be booked in advance. To book a place please follow this Eventbrite Link, Or Email acharles@vac.org.uk and let us know if you have any specific requirements. Venue: Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1

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

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

October Volunteer Managers’ Forum and Coffee Morning
Join VCC for the Volunteer Managers’ Forum and Coffee Morning on Tuesday 17th October, 10am-12pm in Camden to discuss all things volunteer management with volunteer managers in Camden, and beyond.
This event is open to volunteer managers everywhere. Sign up at Eventbrite.

Camden Clinical Commissioning Group AGM, Thursday 21 September 14:00 – 15:00
At the Royal College of General Practitioners, 30 Euston Square, NW1 2FB.
Representatives from the CCG will present the 2016-17 accounts alongside a review of our performance. There will also be an opportunity to discuss future plans with our Governing Body and the full agenda will be available shortly.
Please register for your place, giving any accessibility requirements, via Eventbrite. The full agenda will be available shortly. If you have any questions, please contact Camden CCG via camccg.communications@nhs.net or 020 3688 1700.

Autumn 2017 Wellbeing Volunteering Fair
Book now to recruit volunteers at the VCC Volunteering Fair in Camden on Tuesday 10th October (World Mental Health Day).
Volunteering is good for mental wellbeing. With this in mind, we are inviting people who want to volunteer to kickstart their mental wellbeing by meeting you and finding the perfect volunteering role. This fair is open to all kinds of organisations, with all kinds of volunteering roles. Book at Eventbrite.

Local Councillor Surgeries for People with Learning Disabilities
Camden councillors have started holding surgeries for people with learning disabilities. There will be two surgeries each month on every second Wednesday from 12pm to 2pm and every second Tuesday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. The surgeries will all be held at the Charlie Ratchford Centre and residents who wish to attend will need to book a twenty minute appointment slot.
The surgeries for this month are scheduled for 13th September (12pm to 2pm) with Councillor Heather Johnson and 19th September (6.30pm to 8.30pm) with Councillor Adam Harrison.
Telephone Annabel Amofa to book an appointment 020 7974 3334

Choice and Control: The Power of Personal Health Budgets
Personal Health Budgets are giving people choice and control and transforming health and wellbeing outcomes. Find out how and what the voluntary and community sector can do to help ensure people can access and make the most effective use of Personal Health Budgets by joining this full day event.
Wed 27 September 2017, 10:00 – 4:00pm
The Abbey Centre, 34 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BU
This event is being delivered by the Voluntary Voices Partnership (National Voices, NAVCA and Volunteering Matters) and NHS England as part of the Integrated Personal Commissioning Programme. Free.
Book on Eventbrite. Please contact events@nationalvoices.org.uk if you have any questions.

London’s Environment – Addressing the impact of reduced air quality and public amenities
Monday 25th September 2017, 10am – 4pm. Aimed at older people’s groups and organisations.
Tavis Suite, Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9NA.
Shirley Rodrigues, London Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy
London Environment Strategy
Dr Ian Mudway . Environmental Research Group, King’s College London
Traffic pollution and its impacts on our health
Carla Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Allergy UK
How reduced air quality can cause allergies
Please book on Eventbrite
For further information please call Zara on 020 7820 6781 or email: zghods@ageuklondon.org.uk

MEWSo Conference: Women and Displacement
This seminar will discuss the impact on women who are or have been uprooted and displaced due to a variety of reasons. The practical and psychological effects of displacement are often very individual, and are influenced by the individual’s stage of life.
· Aging in Exile, Parizad Bathai, Psychotherapist (Register UKCP)
· Research on Migrant and refugee women, Dr Elena Vacchelli, University of Greenwich
· A life in exile by Halaleh Taheri
· Storyteller; A woman who has been supported by MEWSo
Guests will leave with a better understanding of why MEWSo exists, the help they provide to those suffering from the psychological consequences of displacement and the vital advice they provide to those aiming to build new lives in a new country.
Please book your place, by email to office@mewso.org.
5th October 2017, 6-8pm at Macquarie Bank Limited, 28 Ropemaker St, EC2Y9HD, London. Free.

Patient Call – Patients who have used Dermatology Services across Camden (and North Central London) 12th September, 17:00 – 19:00
Dr Morgan and Steve Crouch would like to invite patients in Camden to a meeting to discuss their experiences around dermatology services. The meeting would focus on their experiences of current services and to discuss what patients would like for future services. We are looking for patients who have used dermatological services over the last 2 years.
RSVP to Martin Emery (email: martin.emery@nhs.net or telephone 0203 688 1755).
The meeting will be held at Camden Clinical Commissioning Group, Stephenson House, 75 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 2PL

The Camden Society Autumn Term Courses
The Camden Society have published their brochure for Autumn term courses for adults with learning disabilities starting from late September 2017
All courses are free. Courses are not limited to those living in Camden Borough, we are open to all.
We are very proud of our courses and feel they are hugely beneficial to our learners. They can only run, however, if we hit our minimum referral numbers for classes.
We hope to have all referrals signed up by Friday 15th September.
For a copy of the brochure or if you require further information, including further easy read information or have any questions then please do not hesitate to get in contact via 020 7485 8177 or community@thecamdensociety.co.uk

Business Disability Forum Courses
Disability in the workplace
9:30am – 11:30am on 11 October 2017 at Camden Town Hall
Mental health at work
9:30am – 11:30am on 25 October 2017 at Camden Town Hall
The sessions are for chief executives, directors, line managers and HR colleagues. Two places are available per organisation however we will increase this if capacity permits.
T: 020 7089 2404 emilyj@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk web: www.businessdisabilityforum.org.uk

Camden Intergenerational Week 2017
Camden Intergenerational Week is an opportunity to raise awareness of the great multi-generational events and activities going on in Camden. For more information, to get involved and run an activity or get your activity listed in our programme, email Corinna Gray at ageingbetterincamden@ageukcamden.org.uk or call 020 7239 0400.

Moneytalk Camden North – final subsidised Financial Education Facilitator Training Courses
Final dates in Camden.
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 course is on 4th & 11th October click here to find out more and download a booking form. Contact: mtcn@qsa.org.uk tel: 020 8983 5047

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

Camden Council are Recruiting 2 Community Partner Posts
Community Partner (Counter Extremism)
Directorate: Supporting Communities
Division: Community Services
Location: 5 Pancras Square
Salary: Level 4 Zone 2 (£38,854-£41,959)
Contract: Permanent (subject to external funding), full time, 36 hours per week
Extremism is one of the greatest challenges the country faces and local authorities have a core role to play in building more resilient communities and tackling the harms extremists cause.
This Home Office grant-funded post will help strengthen our work in this area and support national work to build partnerships with local communities and groups, a key part of the Counter-Extremism Strategy:
Community Partner
Directorate: Supporting Communities
Location: 5 Pancras Square, London, N1C
Job level/Grade: Level 4 Zone 2
Salary: £38,854 – £45,069
Contract Type: Permanent
25 days holiday (27 days after 5 years’ service)
Do you want to help Camden’s communities become the best they can be? Are you experienced in working in partnership and building strong relationships? Are you able to think strategically and deliver operationally? Then we have a fantastic opportunity for you.
We are looking for highly motivated and energetic individuals to join our Community Partnership team. You will play a vital role in delivering our VCS strategy, ensuring we maximise the value our communities get from the assets, knowledge and skills of our Voluntary Sector.
Closing dates for applications: Sunday 24th September 2017 23:59
Interviews to be held: September / October 2017

Age UK Camden is recruiting 3 posts
Deputy Manager – Specialist Care – Great Croft Resource Centre
35 hour week
S01 Scp 29-31 (£29,424 to £31,141 pa)
Age UK Camden (AUC) will be delivering a high quality, personalised, safe, caring, effective, responsive and well-led day service to older people with complex care needs, particularly those living with dementia and in the case of Great Croft Resource Centre, including Bangladeshi and other Asian elders living with long term conditions.
Community Development Officer – Henderson Court Resource Centre
21 hours per week
Scale 6 scp 26 – 28 £26,871 to £28,437 pa pro rata
Age UK Camden (AUC) will be delivering a high quality, personalised, safe, caring, effective, responsive and well-led day service to older people with complex care needs, particularly those living with dementia. AUC aims to develop and enhance joint working to meet the needs of older residents within the local community served by the AUC Henderson Court Resources Centre (HRC). AUC and HCRC have a key partnership with Hampstead Community Centre (HCC)
For further details and an application form visit our website www.ageukcamden.org.uk or email jobs@ageukcamden.org.uk or telephone 020 7239 0400. No CVs, no agencies please.
Closing date: Monday 18th September 2017 – 9 am
Interviews: 25th/ 26th September 2017
Project and Learning Administrator
Scale 5 – 6 Scp 22-28 £24,138 to £28,437 pa pro rata – 25 hour week
Ageing Better Camden is looking for a Project Administrator to provide general administrative support to Ageing Better in Camden and to support the learning and evaluation of Ageing Better in Camden.
Closing date – 5pm Friday 29th September, Interview – w/c 9th Oct
For further details and an application form visit our website www.ageukcamden.org.uk or email jobs@ageukcamden.org.uk or telephone 020 7239 0400. No CVs, no agencies please.

Homestart seeks Family Support Volunteer
Are you a parent, grandparent or have parenting experience? Can you give 3 – 4 hours weekly to visit a family with young children who may be going through a difficult time?
Enhance your skills with our training, supervision and fulfilling volunteer role
Next Preparation Course Starting 19th September to 12th October
Every Tuesday & Thursday 9.45 am to 2.45 pm
Certificates awarded & expenses paid
For information pack ring 020 7424 1603 email: info@homestartcamden.org
www.homestartcamden.org.uk

Camden Giving is Recruiting a Deputy Director and Grants Support Coordinator Apprentice
Assistant Director
£32,000-£35,000 Full time
We are looking for a creative and enthusiastic person to become our Assistant Director. This person will be responsible for the operational management of Camden Giving, this is a varied role requiring flexibility, tasks will include managing grants, marketing, fundraising, partnership development, administration and volunteer management.
Application deadline: Midnight 13th September 2017
Please email a CV and Cover Letter explaining why you would like this role and telling us about your relevant experience. Applications and queries should be emailed to director@camdengiving.org.uk
Grants Support Co-Ordinator Apprentice
£17,745 Full time
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a new charity and whilst working studying towards achieving an Advanced Apprenticeship in Business Administration. This role is available to an 16+ year old Camden resident, Camden care leaver or former Camden secondary school student (who is eligible to work in the UK).
Application deadline: Midnight 13th September 2017
Applications must be made though the Camden Apprentice page.
Camden Giving

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.

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