Voluntary Action Camden

Voluntary Action Camden e-Bulletin – 8th September 2023

 

 


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VAC Weekly Newsletter
8th September 2023

VAC Membership
VAC represents local organisations in conversations with local government and funders, we advise on local issues and we inform, support and train local charities depending on their needsMembership is free, click on the link box below and join us today

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Highlights
This week we spotlight our new VAC communications role and our VAC Camden New Groups Network.We also have our usual information on events and opportunities from around the Camden area.

VAC is hiring!
Do you want to be our next Communications Officer?

Closing date: 5pm on 19th SeptemberThe primary purpose of this role is to develop and implement the marketing & communications strategy for VAC by leading our communications work. This includes curating our high-profile weekly newsletter, running our social media channels and creating web content. You will be working with all our staff as well as a range of external stakeholders and partners.
You will be responsible for building awareness of VAC’s work and impact, as well as the wider voluntary and community sector in Camden, to a range of different audiences.

To learn more and apply, please click here

CONNECT  SHARE  LEARN
NEW VAC MEMBERS SUPPORT GROUP                                         

We know the importance of having someone to talk to when you are just starting out, so whether you have recently registered your organisation; are drafting your Articles of Association; or developing a fundraising strategy, this group is for you. This is a closed group to anyone who we have supported over the past year. Please email vguetova@vac.org.uk today to join the Camden New Group.
 

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 by no later than 12pm on Wednesday for inclusion in the Friday newsletter.

VAC Consultancy Service
Contact us today if you need advice or support to develop any aspect of your established or aspiring Camden voluntary and community sector organisation.
Learn more here

Disability Action Plan
The government has proposed a disability action plan for 2023-2024. This is an open consultation to which both organisations and individuals can respond.
Deadline: Friday 6th October

Inheritance Tax
Potential plans from the government to abolish inheritance tax could cause charities to lose out on legacy funding. Note that you may need to create an account to read this article from Third Sector.

Charity Commission updates Investment Guidance
The Charity Commission have updated their investment guidance ensure your trustees are up to date by checking out NCVO’s Governance round up

Receive a free utility bill audit from Utility Aid

Utility Aid have retrieved a whopping £6 million for the sector from overspending on their bills. There could be a variety of reasons you’ve been charged incorrectly including consecutive estimates, incorrect VAT and Tariffs

Free energy audit

Camden Community Partner Fund 2024 to 2031 – DEADLINE APPROACHING
The deadline to submit a completed Expression of Interest form is 12 noon on Wednesday 20th September
The Fund is for Camden organisations who are deeply rooted in their communities and will provide unrestricted funding for seven years from April 2024 to March 2031.
More details about the fund including guidance notes and the application form can be found here
The Community Partnership Team will be hosting an online information session on Tuesday 5th September so organisations can find out more about the fund.
To register, please click here
You can also watch a recording of one of the online sessions here
If you have any further questions, please email vcs@camden.gov.uk

London Borough of Camden
Healthy Start – help to buy healthy food 

Parents and carers who are on low income and pregnant, or who have at least one child under the age of four, can get financial help to buy fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk, and infant formula. They could receive around £440 over a year while their child is under one, £220 a year for each child aged one to three (under four), and about £140 while more than 10 weeks pregnant.

To find out more and to apply, visit findfood.camden.gov.uk/healthy-start
For help in applying, you may call freephone 0800 731 0232 or 0800 389 5789 or visit your local Children’s Centre.

Cost of Living Fund launched
Applications close on 16th October
The £76M Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund launched on the 24th July.
The fund is designed to support organisations across England to maintain or expand critical cost of living services.
Funds of between £10,000 and £75,000 are available to frontline organisations delivering the following services:

•    food and emergency supplies – food and other ‘banks’
•    emergency shelter – homelessness services
•    safe spaces – domestic abuse services and youth services
•    warmth – warm spaces / hubs
•    financial and housing advice.

The fund is part of the £100M for charities announced in the Spring Budget. It will be administered by the National Lottery Community Fund.
For more information, please click here

‘Strengthening Communities’ grants from the Henry Smith Charity
The Henry Smith Charity’s ‘Strengthening Communities’ programme offers grants of £20,000 – £60,000 per year for up to three years to small not-for-profit organisations delivering activities that promote connection and wellbeing in, or immediately next to, neighbourhoods that are among the 10% most deprived in the UK.
For more information, please click here

Suicide Prevention Funding
The government is due to make available a £10 million grant fund for suicide prevention VCSE organisations in England across 2023-24 to 2024-25.

The broad purpose of the fund will be two-fold. Firstly, to support the VCSE sector to meet the increased demand, in part brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Cost of Living crisis. Secondly, to support development of innovative preventative activities/services aimed at people at elevated risk of suicide.
The aim is to launch the fund in the coming months.
If you are interested, please sign up to the “Find a Grant” portal, so that you receive notifications once it is launched. You can do so here

Community Justice Fund Launches New £30m Improving Lives Through Advice Grants Programme
The Expressions of Interest (EOI) close on 15th September at 4pm.

Improving Lives Through Advice (ILTA) is a new five-year funding programme delivered by the Access to Justice Foundation with support from the Community Justice Fund. It is designed to support the delivery of free legal advice to marginalised people and communities across England. The programme will open in 2023 with two funding rounds and grants launching in 2024.
To learn more, please click here

Camden Giving have launched
Equality Fund:

  • An unrestricted two year grant of £30,000 (£15k per year).
  • Restricted to Camden based organisations with a maximum annual income of £300,000.
  • Aimed at addressing inequalities experienced by Camden residents due to race and/or disability.
  • Closing date: Friday 29th September


We Make Camden Kit:

  • £2000 grants
  • Available to Camden based schools, organisations, TRAs or residents applying for community projects
  • Focused on the core missions of: Access to food for all, opportunities for children and young people, representative communities, eco-friendly neighbourhoods and stronger communities
  • No closing date, applications are renewed fortnightly


Decisions will be made by panels of Camden residents using a participatory grant making model.

To re-discover funding removed from this list, please see our newsletter archive here

CHECK OUT OUR CURRENT FUNDING PAGE FOR A ROUND UP OF THE LATEST FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAMDEN GROUPS.

Other available funders include:

VAC UPCOMING TRAINING:

Understanding the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
VAC Virtual Event – Tuesday 19th September: 2pm – 3pm
Kiran Rehal is the DBS Regional Outreach Adviser for Greater London and a point of contact for any enquiries about DBS.       
To register a place please click here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/understanding-the-disclosure-and-barring-service-dbs-tickets-694817015397?aff=oddtdtcreator
Open to VAC Members only.
If you are a voluntary service or group delivering services in Camden and are not a member of VAC, please join here: https://vac.org.uk/get-involved/membership


Thinking of setting up a CIC              Thursday 19th October 2023 10:30am to 12:00pm
CIC (Community Interest Company) is the often the first organisational structure community groups decide upon.
In this workshop, participants can expect to hear from a local CIC about the journey to registration, discuss the pros and cons, ask questions, and help one another decide if this is an option for your group.
To register a place please click here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/thinking-of-setting-up-a-cic-tickets-680753781887?aff=oddtdtcreator
Open to VAC Members only.

Safer Recruitment for small orgs and community groups
Thursday 21st September 2023 10:00am to 11:30am
Safer recruitment procedures are an essential part of safeguarding in any voluntary organisation or community group. Such practices help to ensure your staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children and young people and are a vital part of creating a positive environment to keep children safe from harm.
To register a place please click here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/safer-recruitment-for-small-orgs-and-community-groups-tickets-699564776077?aff=oddtdtcreator
For more information please contact: Dianne Carlton-Ogunyemi, our Community Partnership Lead to find out more.
Open to VAC Members only.

OTHER EVENTS AND TRAINING IN CAMDEN:

UCL Volunteering CRIS Community Research Initiative Dissertation Showcase                                                           15 September 2023 10:00-13:30!
Celebrate this year’s exciting collaboration projects between UCL master’s students and our local Voluntary & Community Sectors. Get inspired for ways to get your organisation involved for 2023-24!
Register at our Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/student-dissertation-showcase-tickets-678009583917
Contact CRIS@ucl.ac.uk for any questions.

“Zen in Mind” – The Zen Project and Mind in Camden
Thursday September 21st, 12pm-4pm, Free Community Festival at the Surma Community Centre (1 Robert Street, NW1 3JU) – “Zen in Mind” – The Zen Project and Mind in Camden bring to you another of their monthly festivals to celebrate mental health and support the local Camden community. Open to all and all activities are free. Free food, massage, mindfulness sessions and more. Climb on board our big yellow American school bus and take part in one of our activities to help create some calm and ease anxiety. We have something for everyone. No need to book – just turn up. More information here.

Camley Street Festival 2023 

Join us with your communities on Sunday 17th September (11am-3pm) for a jam-packed day of fun at the Camley Street Festival! 

We’re back for the 3rd year running – bigger and better than before. From artists to local businesses, community organisations and teams from across the council, our stallholders are coming out to showcase and celebrate all the work that is happening in the local area. We are working hard to create opportunities at the Festival that will support local people and your networks, alongside the chance to chat with us about the future of Camley Street.

Find out more here.

The Roundhouse opportunities for young freelancers and entrepreneurs this summer
Self Made: Creative Facilitation Course (Course)
Ages: 18-30 | Apply by: Sunday 10th September at 11pm | £15, free to apply
To learn more and apply, please click here

Head of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (Camden Health Partners Ltd)  – The closing date is 10 September 2023
Applications will be accepted from employees of London Borough of Camden, Camden and Islington NHS Trust, CNWL NHS Trust and GP Practices in Camden and other organisations who are members of the Camden Partnership. The Head of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (Camden) is a fixed term secondment opportunity to develop the operating model and ways of working of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) in Camden.
Ascension Trust – Bridge Watch – Suicide Prevention Programme
A new programme is being delivered by the Ascension Trust in partnership with a range of stakeholders including the RNLI, Police, Port of London Authority, and the NHS, and working across several mental health charities.
The project aims to train and develop volunteers to act as a ‘physical presence’ around the bridges of the Thames, to identify and support those who are at risk of self-harm and suicide by listening, understanding, talking, and working with a team to provide the necessary support needed to help them.
If you are interested in finding out more, express your interest here

Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) vacancy: Senior Researcher x2                                                            IVAR are looking for two experienced researchers or project managers to join our dynamic team.
The role encompasses leading evaluations, research and facilitation. Projects will include work with individual organisations, multi-stakeholder programmes and sector-wide projects that build dialogue between charities and funders. We are looking for people who will thrive on this mix and are comfortable with the wide-ranging responsibilities that come with working in a small organisation.
To learn more and apply, please click here

Learning Disability Network London vacancies: Learning and Development Business Partner x2
Full Time, based in Westminster or Camden
Closing date: Today!
The  Learning Disability Network have a fantastic opportunity for 2 experienced Learning and Development Business Partners to join our friendly team. If you’re someone who is focused, innovative and drives staff learning and development, then LDN London would like to hear from you!
To learn more and apply, please click here

Clean Break seeks Female Health and Wellbeing Volunteer                            This volunteer will support the group coordinator in running a health and wellbeing group for women participating in our programme. To learn more and download an application pack, please click here (and scroll to the bottom of the page)

Social Media volunteer                                We are a theatre production and performance group Further Than The Edge. We’re looking for a Social Media volunteer for our production The Morphea in October at the Bloomsbury Festival. A good opportunity if you want to get involved in the arts sector. We’re a small, friendly team and can provide references. Interested? Contact Rowenna: artists@furtherthantheedge.com

Touch Project vacancy: Administrator Touch Project is looking for an administrator, initially for 3-4 hours per week with the potential for more as the organisation expands in social prescribing for BEH & C&I NHS Foundation Trust.
Ideally, we would prefer a volunteer, but we are willing to pay a London living wage to the right applicant.
The role would work with our founder Kathy and would involve data entry, a monthly news email and other administrative duties.
To learn more about Touch Project, please click here
To learn more and apply for the role, please contact Kathy on 07923737813.
Kathy is dyslexic and would prefer text messages, voice notes or phone calls

Castlehaven Community Association vacancy: Events and Facilities Manager
Closing date: 22nd September
CCA is seeking an organised and experienced Events and Facilities Manager to join their team.
The role involves working with internal and external stakeholders to develop high-quality events, generate revenue, and market Castlehaven’s facilities.
To find out more about the role and how to apply, please click here

Mind in Camden vacancy – Community Services Manager
28 hours per week
Closing Date: 11th September at 13.00

This is an excellent opportunity to oversee our two onsite services based in the heart of Camden Town.
You will be supported by three staff and a team of volunteers and sessional workers. You’ll be responsible for redesigning the services so they are more accessible and responsive to people’s needs.
We are looking for a manager who is keen to embrace change and who has a strong commitment to community empowerment, reducing stigma, promoting anti-discriminatory practice, and building services that are accessible to all.
To learn more and apply, please click here, or phone 020 7911 0822 (24hrs), or email recruitment@mindincamden.org.uk

Mind in Camden vacancy –
Community Mental Health Recovery Support Worker
Salary: £25,732 incl. ILWA ; Contract: fixed till end of March 2026; Hours: 35; Full details here:  Community Mental Health Recovery Support Worker – Mind In Camden
Closing date:  13.00 on Monday 25th September 2023
Interviews (a two-round process): Tuesday 3rd October and Tuesday 10th October 2023

SHAK vacancy: Community Engagement Coordinator
Closing date: 10th September
SHAK (South Hampstead and Kilburn Community Partnership) are seeking an energetic and talented “Community Engagement Coordinator” to lead on 2 exciting local initiatives.
To learn more and apply, please click here

Volunteers needed to support ESOL classes
Deadline for submission of interest in volunteering is 29th September
Camden Adult Community Learning service (ACL) is looking for volunteers to support tutors who deliver ESOL classes in various Community Centre locations.
We are looking to offer volunteer placements by the end of October 2023.
If you are interested in volunteering with the ACL, please send your CV and a cover letter outlining the reason for your interest in volunteering to Joanna.Basinga@camden.gov.uk, as well as any questions you may have.

St Pancras Community Association is hiring:
Facilities & Admin Manager Part time

The role includes overseeing daily office operations, managing supplies and equipment, liaising with vendors and providing administrative support to the team. In addition, the role includes undertaking all of the Centre’s Health and Safety requirements, as well as taking responsibility for our Hall Hire business, nurturing relationships with clients to encourage repeat business.
See the full description and apply online.  (https://spca.org.uk/jobs/#jobs)

 
SPCA Caretaker/Cleaner part time
Work in a lively community centre, you will need to be good with people and physically fit.  You should be available on weekends and at least two evenings per week.  You’ll ensure that our Community Centre is a safe, secure and happy place.
See the full description and apply online.  (https://spca.org.uk/jobs/#jobs)

SPCA Marketing and Communications Executive part time
Play a crucial role in raising SPCA’s brand in the community. You will be responsible for our marketing and communications strategy and content; manage key communications channels including our website, newsletters, and social media; and coordinate with colleagues to generate content across the organisation.
See the full description and apply online.  (https://spca.org.uk/jobs/#jobs)

Mill Lane Garden Centre Vacancy: Seasonal Staff
Mill Lane Garden Centre is a West Hampstead based social enterprise garden centre, providing training and learning to people with a learning disability.
We’re looking for friendly and outgoing people to work at our garden centre from the end of November until just before Christmas. This position involves supporting with Christmas tree deliveries, moving, and packing Christmas trees all whilst providing excellent customer service to the local community.
For more information, please click here

Age UK Camden and VAC Social Prescribers Innovators Programme 
A new initiative is being delivered by the Camden Care Navigation and Social Prescribing Service, hosted by Age UK Camden (AUC) and Voluntary Action Camden.
The project aims to develop volunteering within the service as a way to help retain existing social prescribers and to support successful recruitment to new social prescriber roles.
Contact Mandira at mmanandhar@vac.org.uk if you are interested in volunteering on this new venture.

Local VCS Newsletters:

SHAK
Young Camden Foundation (Funding Newsletter)
Young Camden Foundation (Events and Training Newsletter)
AWN (sign up)
Fitzrovia Community Centre
Coram’s Field Community Newsletter (sign up)
CAWH Newsletter
St Pancras Community Association (sign up)
Castlehaven in Bloom (sign up)
UCL Volunteering Service Newsletter (sign up)
Latin American House
London Irish Centre
North London Cares: Upcoming Clubs
Castlehaven Community Association (sign up)
Heath Hands

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

Looking for a previous newsletter entry? Find it in our archive here

Find presentations, recordings and resources from past forums here

Got an item for the e-bulletin?

Send your item to social@vac.org.uk by noon on Wednesday for publication in the following Friday’s edition. Submissions should be 50 – 75 words. Please send plain text or a format that can be copied (ie not embedded in an image). Send links to documents rather than attachments. Make sure to include contact details.

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