Voluntary Action Camden e-bulletin 9th December 2016

National Warning that Commissioning is in Crisis; Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP) Latest ; Bus Consultation; National Theatre Community Programme; HR Support from VAC; Crossroads Women’s Centre Party; Christmas Markets; PPG Newsletter; Volunteer Centre Camden; Share your views on dentistry; Discover Songwriting; Barnet Giving Fund; Bid for Better; Christmas 2016 Volunteering Opportunities + funding jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

Lloyds TSB Foundation are warning that Broken Commissioning Threatens the Survival of Small Charities and warns of widespread closure of small charities. The report warns that we “urgently need common sense reforms to ensure small charities are able to compete for contracts on a level playing field. This isn’t about spending more money, but making better use of the funds that are available”. The Guardian has picked up the story and writes: “Research finds government’s ‘shockingly complicated’ tendering processes threatens the survival of smaller charities. Smaller charities are being shut out of competition for government and council contracts by “shockingly complicated”, bureaucratic and inappropriate processes…”
The future of many smaller charities with priceless local knowledge and connections is being put at risk by their inability to comply with the myriad requirements and paperwork that typifies official tendering, the analysis suggests.” Civil Society also has an article about commissioning in crisis.
Lloyds TSB Foundation have published a thoughtful article about their reasons for sounding the alarm as well as “Championing Small Charities” containing practical suggestions for funders including:
~ Work with local charities to better understand who they work with, the existing services in your area and learn from their expertise about what support is needed
~ Ensure any commissioning involves contract sizes and processes proportionate to what you are trying to achieve to allow small charities to have a fair chance of succeeding
~ Use grants wherever possible
~ Improve transparency in commissioning and supply chains and challenge bad practice
~ Provide core, long term funding for small and local charities

Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP) Latest
Have Your Say on the Sustainability and Transformation Plans for Camden. The meeting for voluntary and community organisations is on 14th Dec 5–7:30 at the Town Hall, Judd St. Full details at http://bit.ly/2h2234b
You can read Healthwatch Camden’s statement to today’s consultation meeting STP here.

Bus Consultation
TfL are consulting on changes to a number of bus routes and services which will affect Camden residents. Especially routes routes 3, 6, 8, 15, 22, 23, 25, 46, 73, 137, 172, 242, 332, 390, 425, 452, C2, N2, N3, N8, N15, N22 and N73. Details at TfL website.

National Theatre Community Programme – Introduction to Performance
Wed 18-Jan – Wed 15-March, 7pm-9pm, £180
A chance to explore different approaches to performance in a safe and supportive environment.
Led by theatre director Michael Bryher, this nine-week course is most suitable for those who have not had any prior training. (£144 Concessions, Bursaries Available)
Apply Now before Sun 18-December https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

HR Support from VAC
Caroline Jepson, VAC’s HR Advisor has a new telephone number – 020 7284 6551. Her e-mail remains the same – cjepson@vac.org.uk. At present, due to funding from Camden, Caroline can provide 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. Caroline normally works at the VAC office on Thursdays but, to suit your requirements for one-to-one support, is available on other days by arrangement.
See also the free HR training available to Camden groups listed in this bulletin under Training.

Crossroads Women’s Centre invites children and their mums / dads / nans / carers to a Kids’ Party – Saturday 17 December 2-4pm
with Captain Fantastic 2.30-3.30pm
Entrance and refreshments free.
Party Games, Face Painting, Pizza Snacks, Lucky Dip, Tea & Cake
25 Wolsey Mews, Kentish Town NW5 2DX
Tel: 0207 482 2496 contact@crossroadswomen.net Web: www.crossroadswomen.net

Christmas Markets
This weekend there are Christmas Markets everywhere including West Hampstead at West End Green, Queens’ Crescent Market, and Primrose Hill.

PPG Newsletter
You can read the latest Camden Patient Participation Group Newsletter here.

Volunteer Centre Camden
You can read the latest Volunteer Centre Camden newsletter, including news on the Volunteer Awards and Christmas volunteering here.

Share your views on dentistry in Camden
Healthwatch Camden represents the views of local people and we have the power to influence the delivery and design of local services.
We want to know what you think about dentists in Camden. Please take five minutes to fill in our online survey and have your say: www.tinyurl.com/HWCdental
Whether you visit the dentist regularly or hardly at all, what you say will help us get a better picture of services in Camden and push for improvements. We’ll use the information to create a report about services which will include recommendations to decision makers and service providers.
You can also call us to take the survey over the phone (we’ll call you straight back!) 0203 771 3930.

Discover Songwriting – FREE 6-week course starting Tues 10 Jan 2017
Explore lyric writing and melody in this fun and relaxed 6-week course to help express your feelings, boost your confidence and feel good. No experience necessary! There will be song templates in a few different genres to choose from. Over the course you will write and develop lyrics to create your own individual song and have the chance to record it in weeks 5/6.
Each session is 2 hours and will contain a combination of warm-ups, practical exercises, listening, discussion, a little music history and very light theory.
The Kentish Town Health Centre, 2 Bartholomew Road, NW5. Tuesdays from 10.01.17 for 6 weeks.
Group 1: 10am – 12 midday. Group 2: 1pm – 3pm.
Spaces are limited so email ibmuso@gmail.com today to book your free place. Please include which group you’d like to attend and your contact details.

Free HR Courses for Camden Organisations
The Communities and Third Sector team at Camden Council are offering Camden voluntary and community groups a series of HR training workshops. See Other Events section below for full details.

Refugee Therapy Centre, VAC, Kings Cross Construction Centre, Refugee Therapy Centre, Age UK Camden 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

Advice for Daniel Blake
If you saw I, Daniel Blake and wondered what advice he should have been given, then the advisers at the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust have put their heads together and come up with some answers. Their assessment is revealing. Merely the fact that it took an entire team of knowledgeable and experienced case workers tells you something.

Four human rights and equality watchdogs snubbed by minister for disabled people after raising serious concerns about response to report that found it guilty of “grave or systematic” violations of the UN disability convention
The UN’s committee on the rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD) said last month that the UK government had discriminated against disabled people across three key parts of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Now the UK’s official independent mechanism (UKIM) for monitoring implementation of the convention – the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and the Scottish Human Rights Commission – has called on the UK government to “urgently reconsider” its response to the UN report. Read more at Disability News Service.

Standard Article Defends Charity for Business Sake
In an unusual move the Standard has written an article in defence of charity. Not only is that unusual but it is on the city page, written by the business editor. It seems that falling trust across institutions is beginning to alarm the city.

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

Working in Barnet or with Barnet Residents? You may be eligible to apply to the The Barnet Giving Fund
Apply by January 13, 2017 for a small grant of £1,000 – £5,000. Grant decisions will be made in March 2017.
Apply for grants under the following themes:
1. Community Links
2. Resilience and independence
Applications from organisations with an annual turn-over of less than £150,000 are very welcome.
Applications are accepted ONLY through the London Community Foundation’s online application portal. Guidelines, access to the application form and application guidance can be found here:
http://www.londoncf.org.uk/grants/available-grants/barnet.aspx

Bid for Better scheme 2017
The Bid for Better scheme awards grants of up to £400 towards activities or equipment to:
~ improve patient experience
~ promote mental wellbeing
~ or make our services more accessible.
As well as Trust service users, we would like to encourage bids from external organisations whose service users would be benefitted in any of the above ways and benefit two or more patients or users.
In the past, Bid for Better has awarded funding for projects such as:
~ new toys and games for the children’s waiting room at the Tavistock Centre.
~ a recipe of life cooking session for Congolese parents and their teenage children.
~ cameras for the City and Hackney Community Photography Project to support a project which uses creative approaches to engage with patients who struggle with traditional therapies.
~ an outdoor gazebo ‘chill zone’ for young people at Camden Kaleidoscope.
If you would like to apply for up to £400 for your project or idea then we will ask you to complete an application form giving us as much detail as possible. You can apply online.
or you can request a form by post or email by contacting the PPI team: ppi@tavi-port.nhs.uk
The closing date for applications is Thursday 2nd March 2017.
To be considered for funding you must be a Member of the Trust. If you are not a member already it is really easy to join via the Trust website. web: www.tavistockandportman.nhs.uk
If you have questions or need help contact by telephone on 020 8938 2068 or email or you can pop into the PPI office on the ground floor of the Tavistock Centre, 120 Belsize Lane, London NW3 5BA

Heritage Lottery Young Roots
Grants from £10,000 to £50,000
Apply for a grant of £10,000-£50,000 to help young people aged 11 to 25 to explore their heritage, from green spaces, museums, and historic sites to language, local memories and youth culture. Full details at https://www.hlf.org.uk/looking-funding/our-grant-programmes/young-roots

GALAXY Hot Chocolate Fund opens on 7th November
Through the Fund, Galaxy will be donating seventy awards of £300 to warm hearted community projects and people. The fund is open from 7 November to 26th February. For information go to www.galaxyhotchocolate.com

Bright Ideas Fund is open
The Community Business Bright Ideas Fund aims to give your community group the support and tools to start setting up your community business. It will also give your group the early stage finance that you need need to carry out consultation with local people and feasibility studies to develop a community business idea the community wants and needs.
A programme of support and grants of up to £20,000 is available to develop your community business idea. See full details at the Locality website.

Food for London
In 2016/17 the Fund will shine a light on the disconnect between the high levels of food poverty that exist in London and the tonnes of surplus food that is thrown away, sent to anaerobic digestion or is fed to animals. Food for London will provide support to groups and charities who are using creative ways to repurpose surplus food or provide solutions to address hunger and food waste in London. Grants of between £1,000 and £20,000 are available to support work where there is clear evidence of benefit to those experiencing food poverty, disadvantage or isolation in London.
Full details and how to apply are available on the London Community Foundation website.

Governance in the Voluntary and Community Sector
18 May 2017 – 22 June 2017 6 Thursday evenings 17:30-20:30 in Camden
A short course for members of governing bodies 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. With the knowledge gained from this course you can become an effective participant in the governance of new and existing organisations. Full details at the Mary Ward website.

VAC’s Mental Health Training Programme for BMER groups
Are you a BMER group or do you work with BMER communities?
For more information about our any of our courses, please go to https://vac.org.uk/events/category/health-mental-health/. Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid training courses are only £25 per person. All other mental health workshops are free.
Please note that VAC can only accept bookings from organisations working with BMER communities based in Camden, or which serve Camden BMER residents. Places are limited on each course to a maximum of two people per organisation. Contact mentalhealthteam@vac.org.uk

CPPEG open meeting Monday 12th December (2-4pm) at St Pancras Hospital
The presentations and presenters for CPPEG open meeting on the 12th December are as follows:
Presentation 1: What are Camden CCG plans for digital communications between patients and General Practices?
Presentation 2: What is the patient experience telling Central and North West (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust?
Please RSVP: Martin Emery, t Tel: 020 3688 1755 Email: martin.emery@camdenccg.nhs.uk

Middle Eastern Women & Society Organisation Celebration Event
Community Celebration: Green Towers Community Centre 7 Plevna Road Edmonton London N9 0BU
Saturday; 17 December 2016, Start: 12.00pm
Food and drink. Traditional Middle Eastern Fashion Show. Lots of entertainment.
Everybody is welcome! For more information please contact 07958145666

True Honour Awards 2017 Ceremony
6-9pm Tuesday 7th March 2017, The University of Law, 2 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 4TY
Book at eventbrite. Nominations are opne: True Honour Award nominations

St Pancras and Somers Town Living Centre Celebrating Christmas Around the World
Saturday 17th December 12.00 – 3.00pm, 2 Ossulston Street, NW1
Festive fun, crafts, carols and dance performances. hello@thelivingcentre.org 07958 164725

An introduction to intergenerational working Wed 18 January 2-17 9.45am – 4.30pm
An intensive one-day training session ideal for people who would like to organise activities or projects which bring together older and younger people, improve their intergenerational practice or make their organisation or service more age-inclusive. Free
Training and Development Centre, Crowndale Centre, 218-220 Eversholt Street, London NW1 1BD
To book your place go to www.camdentds.co.uk, search for the course and request a place.
For queries and to make bookings without an account, please email tdsonline@camden.gov.uk or contact Vanda Carter – vanda.carter@camden.gov.uk / 020 7974 2810.

Do You Need Health and Safety Training?
VAC and London Hazards are planning health and safety training for community groups in Camden.
The training is free. To find out more contact Kevin – knunan@vac.org.uk

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 Misconduct Wednesday 16th November 2016
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-misconduct-registration-27067000126
Handling Workplace Investigations Wednesday 7th December 2016
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/handling-workplace-investigations-registration-27067050276
Staff Appraisals Thursday 12th January 2017
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/staff-appraisals-registration-27067569830
Managing Sickness Absence Thursday 9th February 2017
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-sickness-absence-registration-27067617974
Managing Restructure Wednesday 15th March 2017
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-a-restructure-registration-27067674142
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. Shirley is an independent HR consultant. Her background is in social housing where she worked as a HR manager for a number of large housing associations. She is also a trained workplace mediator.

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

Christmas 2016 Volunteering Opportunities
Thinking of volunteering over Christmas? Head over to the Volunteer Centre Camden website to see a range of opportunties.

Hopscotch Asian Women’s Centre seeks Bengali speaking Care Coordinator (maternity cover) for the Homecare Service.
Care Coordinator (maternity cover), 21hrs per week (participate in the on call rota) £23, 122 pro rata incl. ILW Closing date: Wednesday 21st December 2016 at 12.00pm
For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Melissa McClelland, Registered Homecare Manager. For all other details and an application pack, please contact Ruksana Begum, HR Administrator: Tel: 020 7388 8198 E-mail: info@hopscotchawc.org.uk : www.hopscotchawc.org.uk

Could you be a volunteer tour guide at Highgate Cemetery?
Whether you love Highgate Cemetery for its beautiful tranquillity, its interesting stories or its spotlight on Victorian history, Highgate Cemetery is a wonderful place to volunteer. Guides needed for weekends and weekdays. No previous experience necessary, full training provided. Apply by Wednesday 14 January to secure a place on a new year training course. Elle Hazlewood
Volunteering Manager, Highgate Cemetery E: elle@highgatecemetery.org T: 020 8347 2474

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.

The Refugee Therapy Centre Seeks Two Posts
Bi-Lingual Psychodynamic Counsellor/Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist
Sessional, depending on the need of clients and Centre requirements
Deadline: 5th January 2016
The person interested to join our team on intercultural therapy must be a qualified Psychoanalytical Psychotherapist resistered with BAP, BCP, or UKCP-CPJA, or Psychodynamic Counsellor ­fully accredited by BACP.
Priority will be given to those fluent in Arabic, Farsi and Turkish language, with some experience of working with refugees, asylum seekers and other minorities.
Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist/ Clinical Psychologist
Sessional, depending on clients need and Centre’s requirements
Deadline: 6pm 5th January 2017
The person interested to join our team of intercultural therapists must be a qualified Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist / Clinical Psychologist and be registered as such with ACP, BAP, BPC, or UKCP-CPJA or fully accredited by BACP.
Experience of working with Refugees and Asylum Seekers or other ethnic minorities is desirable.
To apply, please send your recent CV and covering letter detailing your suitability for the role to:
Refugee Therapy Centre, 1A Leeds Place, Tollington Park, London N4 3RF
Suitable candiadates are interviewed soon after their application and shortlising.
Job pack on http://www.refugeetherapy.org.uk/get-involved/vacancies/bi-lingual-counsellorpsychotherapist.aspx
For further information, please write to: info@refugeetherapy.org.uk.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. *RTC is committed to Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults and will carry out enhance DBS and full pre-employment checks of selected candidates, as well as two references.

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.

Are you looking to employ an assistant to help with your care needs? CamdenPAs can help
CamdenPAs.org.uk is a new service that makes it easy to find a personal assistant (PA) and puts you in control of your care and support.
If you have care needs, you can employ a PA to help you to live as independently as possible.
CamdenPAs features an online ‘marketplace’ for you to browse through a list of profiles of PAs in the borough. Profiles give details about the services they provide, their skills, experience and personal interests.
You can look through the list to find suitable matches and choose someone you like to help support you.
When you find a match you can contact the PA to arrange an interview and see how you get on. If you like them you can then work out contract details such as hours, duties and wages, and hire them.
If you do not find anyone suitable, you can set up your own a profile describing your requirements and interests, for PAs to look through and contact you.
You can employ a PA whether you receive a direct payment or fund your own care. If you receive direct payments you can get support with the employment from Personalised Support In Camden or AgeUK Camden.
Become a PA
If you’re a PA looking for work or are just starting out, CamdenPAs can help you. As well as helping you finding a job, the site features advice on looking for work, becoming a PA and where to get training.
Why not set up your profile today? Find out more, visit: camdenpas.org.uk or phone: 020 7278 4437

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

Moneytalk Camden North – Financial Education Facilitator Training Courses in 2017
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.
We will train you to use the resources and approach to support your own client groups.
In January (18th & 25th) we are running a 2-day training course aimed specifically at those working with groups using languages other than English.
We will also be running 2-day comprehensive training courses on 9th & 16th March, 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

Counselling Space Needed
Street Talk which is an outreach counselling service for women in street based prostitution and women who have escaped from traffickers. Until recently we had pro bono office space and a counselling space, that has come to an end and we badly need both a space where we can see women for counselling as well as just one room as an office. Contact Pip hockton pippahockton@gmail.com

North Central London Sustainability and Transformation Plan
Camden Council have now held two public meetings about the STP. You can read a summary of the STP here or the full publication here. You can read the Leader of Camden Council’s statement here and Camden CCG statement about the STP here, Campaigners have raised concerns. A major consultation with patients, the public and VCS is expected soon. Navca’s advice for the voluntary sector can be found here. Two notable quotes about STPs are:
“locally, the best source of support for linking with the voluntary sector is frequently the council for voluntary services (CVS)…”
“In many ways, STPs represent a complex ‘workaround’ to the fragmentation and complexity introduced by the Health and Social Care Act”.

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.