Voluntary Action Camden e-Bulletin 9th October 2015

Camden Council’s Voluntary and Community Sector Consultation; Camden50 Volunteering Awards; Young Women and the Construction Industry – Participants and Partners Needed; Office with Consulting Rooms to Let; Engagement Event- Integrated Early Years Service;Kentish Town Community Centre Annual General Meeting and Bake-off; Patients with a Long Term condition; Rewards for Volunteers in Camden; The Reach Project; Give and Take Days; Well-Beeing Garden weekly workshop; Kings Cross Open Mic – Halloween Spooktacular; New Community Development National Occupational Standards; Leadership programme for healthcare staff; + jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

Camden Council’s Voluntary and Community Sector Consultation
You can find out more information about the consultation, including how to submit your responses by clicking on this link here. The deadline for responses is Wednesday 4th November 2015 at 5pm.
We are also running three events as part of the consultation.
· Mon 12 Oct 2015 6.30pm-8pm at Voluntary Action Camden, 293 -299 Kentish Town Road, London, NW5 2TJ, Map
· Thu 15 Oct 2015 10.30am-12 noon at Fitzrovia Centre, 2 Foley Street, London, W1W 6DL, Map
· Fri 16 Oct 2015 2.30pm-4pm at Swiss Cottage Community Centre, 19 Winchester Road, London, NW3 3NR, Map
Spaces may be limited – to book your place, please email vcs@camden.gov.uk, and do include any access requirements that you may have.
 

Camden50 Volunteering Awards – closing date 21 October
There is still time to apply for a prestigious award as a Camden50 volunteer. We have already received some fantastic nominations from a very wide range of charities, organisations and individuals – so now is the time for you too to let us know about a Camden volunteer who is making a real difference. The judging panel will include: The Mayor of Camden Councillor Larraine Revah, Tulip Siddiq MP, Keir Starmer MP and members of the Camden Youth Panel. Further information from the Camden50 website at Camden.gov.uk/camden50volunteeringawards or email volunteering@camden.gov.uk or call 0207 974 6457.

Young Women and the Construction Industry – Participants and Partners Needed
Budding Builders is a Construction Youth Trust programme which helps to remove barriers to employment by providing young people with an opportunity to learn new, demand-led skills in a variety of different trades; offer CSCS card training and support; and clear progression routes into work or further training.
There is a course in Camden starting the 26th of October, in partnership with Kings Cross Construction Skills Centre. The aim is to target young women who are considering the industry as a career. The course will provide an introduction to the trades, raise awareness about the industry, support and advise the women with future plans and opportunities. We pride ourselves on making the industry accessible to all and inspire people to go beyond our short courses. The course will be led by an experienced female carpenter and we will have female guest speakers to talk to our budding female operatives.
The success of our projects depends on the partnerships we create. We are seeking organisations that would like to refer women onto our October course and organisations who would like to act as our community practical partner for our 2016 projects. Please get in contact with Nicola Mason on 0207 467 9540 or nicola.mason@constructionyouth.org.uk

Office with Consulting Rooms to Let – Good Price, Great Location
VAC has a medium size office to let that would suit a small organisation needing space for approximately 4 or 5 desks. Unusually, we are able to offer a up to 4 private consulting rooms as well. Conveniently located in Kentish Town will all usual mod cons. Contact Kevin at VAC knunan@vac.org.uk

Invitation to Engagement Event – Commissioning 2016/17: Integrated Early Years Service. Children’s Centres Stay and Play Drop-in Services for Children under 5 years and their Families
Camden Council has made a commitment to ensuring that children’s centre stay and play drop-ins are needs-led and provide a flexible offer which will ensure the Council maximises the impact of services to improve life chances for those who would otherwise be at a disadvantage in future years.
As part of the Council savings programme, the budget for commissioning drop-in services has reduced. From April 2016, the budget for commissioning drop-ins is £100K.
In order to start the process you are invited to a meeting on Wednesday 14th October 2015 at 3.00pm at ORT House, 126 Albert Street, NW1 7NE to hear more about the commissioning approach, timescales, priority areas for location of services and the new model of delivery. This will also be an opportunity to comment on the new model and consider how this would work in practice.
If you are interested in hearing more about the commissioning process and would like to attend the meeting, please confirm your attendance with Sabrina Dooknah (Office Manager, Regent’s Park Children’s Centre) via email: sabrina.dooknah@camden.gov.uk or telephone: 0207 974 8948.
Further information about Camden’s children’s centres is available via www.camden.gov.uk/childrenscentres
If you would like to discuss any of the above in advance of the meeting you can contact:
• Liam Hall (Locality Manager) on telephone 07825 707 001 or email liam.hall@camden.gov.uk or
• Sylvia Gilbert (Locality Manager) on telephone 07932 410 562 or email Sylvia.gilbert@camden.gov.uk

Kentish Town Community Centre Annual General Meeting and Bake-off!
Saturday 24th October 12.15pm – 4pm
We’re excited to announce our next Bake-Off happening alongside our Annual General Meeting. Hear what we’ve been up to, suggest things KTCC should focus on over 2016 and eat some tasty cake. A special children’s category means everyone can get baking this Autumn, so get practicing! Free, open to all. http://www.ktcc.org.uk/

A Patient Group meeting at Camden CCG that has been organised for patients with a Long Term condition.
The Patient Group has been organised for the 19th October from 5.30pm – 7.30pm in ROOM 4LM1, 4th Floor Stephenson House, Camden CCG, 75 Hampstead Road. Food and Refreshments will be provided. Anyone who is available to come at this time will be very welcome. Notify reception that you have arrived for the Camden Care Planning Patient Group and you will be taken up to the room
If interested you can contact Ade by email ( Adetola.Adeniran@camdenccg.nhs.uk).

Rewards for Volunteers in Camden
Volunteer Centre Camden is offering two ways to reward you for volunteering in Camden.
Volunteer Centre Camden is happy to be partnering Value You to offer volunteers who’ve completed 100 hours of volunteering a discount card for local businesses in Camden as well as a certificate to recognise the valuable contribution that volunteers make to Camden. You can read all about it here: http://volunteercentrecamden.org.uk/value-you-100-hour-volunteering-certificate/
And Volunteer Centre Camden will be taking 45 volunteers in Camden on a free tour of the Houses of Parliament on Monday 16th November as an extra special thank you for all of your hard work in making Camden a better place. Many thanks also to MPs Tulip Siddiq and Keir Starmer for making this possible. (If you are a volunteer, you will need to ask your supervisor to sign you up.) You can read all about it here: http://volunteercentrecamden.org.uk/reward-your-volunteers-with-houses-of-parliament-tour/

The Reach Project
A new activities club for older, isolated women of ALL cultural backgrounds
Join us on Mondays from 10am – 1pm
Starting with the following dates:
12th October 2015 at Camden Cypriot Women’s Organisation, 2c Falkland Rd, NW5 2PT
19th October 2015 at The Charlie Ratchford Centre, Belmont St, NW1 8HF
26th October 2015 at Camden Cypriot Women’s Organisation, 2c Falkland Rd, NW5 2PT
For Arts, Crafts, Games, Knitting & Basic IT workshop
Tea, Coffee and Biscuits will be provided
Please call Androulla on 020 7267 7194 for more information or email info@ccwo.org.uk

Give and Take Days
Your chance to pass on things you no longer need and pick up something you do for FREE.
Camden on Sunday 11 October 2015 at Highgate Library Civic and Cultural Centre, Children’s Corner, Croftdown Road, London, NW5 1HB.
The event will run from 12 until 3 pm – You can donate from 12 to 1.45 pm and take items for free from 2 to 3 pm.
You can donate books, DVDs/CDs, garden ware, IT, tools, clothes/shoes, small furniture, small electrical items and toys. We also accept: large furniture and white goods. We will NOT accept broken or unsafe items.
Items too large? You can have large furniture and white goods collected for free email manuela@lcrn.org.uk or text 07811237329.
Repair workshop – you will have the opportunity to repair your own electrical items and learn the most common DIY by participating to our repair workshop.

Well-Beeing Garden weekly workshop
4:00pm, Thursday 15th October
Kentish town health centre, 2 Bartholomew Road, London NW5 2BX (map)
Join us for our weekly workshop in the Well-Beeing Garden instructed by professional gardeners you will gain an insight in to the community garden that is based on ideas of healthy living.
Each week there will be different gardening activities to try.
Please get in touch if you would like more information: info@freespacegallery.org

Upbeat & Kings Cross Timebank & present: Kings Cross Open Mic – Halloween Spooktacular
Friday 30th October 2015 6-9 pm at
The Crypt Holy Cross Church Cromer Street WC1H 8JU. World Music, International Dance & Special Guests. Come along to perform, dress up or just to enjoy the evening.Everyone welcome.
Entry: £2.50 or 3 time-credits(Free for performers) Ticket includes free food.
Any proceeds made will go towards running the next Open Mic event
For more information contact Lucia – T: 07762151783 E: upbeat@upbeatmusic.org

Federation for Community Development Learning Community Development National Occupational Standards
The new summary and tree poster for the Community Development National Occupational Standards 2015 are available to download from www.fcdl.org.uk

On The Bride’s Side
King’s College London presents: On the Bride’s Side, subverting migration discourse in Europe.
A Palestinian poet and an Italian journalist met five Palestinians and Syrians in Milan, fleeing the Syrian war, and decided to organize a fake wedding to help them complete their journey to Sweden to ask for political asylum. From Milan to Stockholm, the wedding cortege crossed Europe over a four day journey of three thousand kilometers with a friend dressed up as the bride and a dozen wedding guests.
This journey brings out the stories, hopes and dreams of the five refugees and their rather special “traffickers”, and reveals a transnational, supportive and irreverent Europe that rejects and ridicules the laws and restrictions on immigration and defends people’s right to travel. A documentary and a political act, a real and fantastic story,
On the Bride’s Side challenges our perception of migration, asylum seekers, and borders, transforming masses into people and numbers into names.
15 October 2015
Edmond J Safra Lecture Theatre, King’s College London
For more information and booking, please follow this link

Leadership programme for all healthcare staff in Camden.
The Programme will run every Wednesday afternoon from 2pm to 6pm, for 8 weeks, beginning on Wed 7th October and ending on Wed 25th November.
The programme is suitable for all health and social care staff from across Camden, including medical, pharmacy, dental and optometry staff, health care assistants, practice nurses, voluntary sector and social care staff. All participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance after completing the 8 week programme.
bookings@greenlightpharmacy.com

Bank Paperwork
Has your bank recently asked you to complete unnecessary paperwork or jump through bureacratic hoops in relation to your group’s or organisation’s account? If you’ve had a recent experience drop us an email in confidence to Knunan@vac.org.uk

Free training, outings and events for unpaid carers in Camden
For a full list of events of carers in Camden please visit the Camden Carers website.

Healthwatch Camden
Latest Information DIgest is on the Healthwatch Camden website.
Catch up with the latest Camden news and what’s happening on Our Blog

The Camden Capacity Building Bulletin is produced monthly, targeting the community and voluntary sector in Camden. It provides up to date/recently live information and news on funding and training. To access the latest information please follow the Link www.camden.gov.uk/cbbulletin

Homestart Camden, North London Rape Crisis, MOPAC, Somers Town Community Association, VAC, Age UK Camden and Camden PA are recruiting. See Jobs and Volunteers section below.

Camden Shares. The website for exchanges in Camden. www.camdenshares.org.uk

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

Intolerance for Event on Tolerance
The Conservative Party reacted to unsubstantiated allegations against Muslim charities by removing their right to speak at conference. David Ainsworth of Civil Society, says this is unacceptable behaviour from the country’s ruling party.

Commissioning Under Attack
Kathy Evans of Children England recently said that commissioning was broken. Now Barnardo’s have also publicly criticized public sector contracts and have called for reform.

100 Neighbourhood Referendums
One hundred communities across the country have now taken control of development in their local area by voting for the adoption of their Neighbourhood Plans. London is lagging behind the rest of the country – with the exception of Camden. Read more about this story at Locality and the Huffington Post.

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

Opportunity for capital funding for VCS organisations in Camden Town with Primrose Hill Ward
The Council is in receipt of money arising from a property development in Camden Town with Primrose Hill Ward, as a result of Section 106 (S106) obligations on property developers, under Camden’s Planning Guidance.
This opportunity relates only to money provided to improve community facilities, it does not relate to S106 money received for other purposes, such as infrastructure and parks and open spaces.
The community building or facility must be one of the following:
• Owned by the organisation
• Occupied on a long-term lease
• Owned by the council
If your voluntary & community sector organisation would like to make a proposal for S106 capital money for community facilities, and your premises and service provision fits these criteria, please contact jeff.hopwood@camden.gov.uk or adam.demosthenous@camden.gov.uk.
A proposal form will be supplied, to easily enable response to the following:
• A brief description of the proposal, including how much money you are seeking – an estimate is fine at this stage
• Any relevant deadlines
The form will also ask for information about:
• How an allocation would ensure that the recipient’s facilities / services are available for the local community
• Whether the organisation or facility has received S106 Community Facilities funding before
• Whether the capital project has any match funding or pledges of match funding
• How the proposal will address Camden Plan priorities and the Council’s investment tests:
www.camden.gov.uk/camdenplan
www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/council-and-democracy/publications-and-finances/twocolumn/camden-financial-challenge-.en?page=3.
Proposal forms will need to be returned by the 6th November 2015, officers intend to consider the proposals during November, and discuss with ward members and relevant Cabinet Members. Decisions are expected to be made by the beginning of December. Further information please contact the named officers above.

Last Chance! – Mishcon Green Fund now open to projects in London
Through the Mishcon Green Fund we will provide grants up to £2,000 per project to initiatives that have a positive environmental impact and which are situated within London. There is a total of £15,000 available in the pot for 2015.
All applications need to be submitted by midnight on Sunday, 11th October 2015. Before applying please read the application guidelines and criteria here, there are some tips for answering the questions in there too.
Please note this grant is available for non-formal community groups, charities and not-for-profit organisations in London. It’s not open for profit making entities.
Please use the online application form.
If you’re having any problems or questions, please email us on mishcongreenfund@projectdirt.com.

Stepping Stones Fund
All interested charities and social enterprises in the Greater London area are invited to an information session about the Stepping Stones Fund, a £1m social investment readiness grant programme of City Bridge Trust and UBS.
The second round of the Fund is now open for applications. This programme provides grants and risk finance to enterprising organisations that wish to prepare themselves for social investment in order to improve their social outcomes. There are three strands you can consider:
1. obtain capacity building support that will help you better access social investment in the future
2. pilot new ways, ideas or business models aiming for better social outcomes
3. secure risk finance that can catalyse a social investment package.
The deadline for applications is 12 o’clock on 16th November, 2015.
For more information and to register for a place on:
15 October 2015
29th October

Free Sport
About FreeSport – FreeSport is part of the Mayor’s Sports Legacy Programme, enabling organisations and community groups to apply for grants between £400 and £1,500 to run free sports activities for Londoners. We fund activities of all kinds of activities from football or rugby to circus or ‘chairobics’!
Projects must:
· Provide a minimum of 8 hours activity, with 70% of participants taking part in at least six hours.
· Ensure that 10% of participants consider themselves to have an impairment, disability or need assistance to take part in activities.
· Aim for 20% of participants being inactive (not done any physical exercise for four weeks) prior to taking part in the sessions.
We offer guidance and support to applicants about how they can deliver these targets. FreeSport aims to inspire people of all ages and abilities to try a new sport, but also to inspire organisations to run sports sessions more regularly.
How to apply – It’s a straight forward process and we have lots of information for those who may never have applied for a grant before. Applications open until 26 October 2015 – Midday. FreeSport activities must take place between the 15 January 2016 and 15 April 2016.
To find out more about FreeSport, you can visit: www.london.gov.uk/freesport

The Edge Fund
The Edge Fund support work run by and for communities facing discrimination and injustice. We fund work carried out by individuals and grassroots groups in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England that find it difficult to get funding elsewhere. Specifically, we fund work that challenges abuses of power and aims to change society by bringing an end to the systems that cause injustice. While applicants may be working on short term reforms, ​we are looking for applicants that ultimately aim to end or replace these systems with a just alternative, rather than trying to improve or reform them.
To apply for a grant of up to £3,000 you need to answer 5 questions in no more than 2 pages. The deadline for applications is 5pm Sunday 25 October. Read more.

Crowdfunding?
Don’t forget that there is a dedicated page on Spacehive just for Camden projects. And set up costs are free to Camden groups. Find out more at Spacehive Camden.

Don’t forget to sign up to Funding Central for free email funding alerts. Go to www.fundingcentral.org.uk/

Health and Safety for Marginalized Communities 26th November, am, free
Too many people are working in dangerous and unhealthy conditions – and often working long hours for low pay. Job insecurity pushes people to keep their heads down and just get on with the job, even if it’s risking their health. Lots of people may not have the help and support of a trade union. If this sounds like you, then make that change. Attend the VAC/London Hazards Centre training and have some fun learning about your rights and how to enforce them.
Targeted in particular at migrant workers, unpaid carers, cleaners and people working in the hospitality industry. Some of the most marginalised people – probably working long hours, in dangerous conditions and on low pay. More information and booking at the VAC website.

VAC’s Mental Health Training Programme for BMER groups
Are you a BMER group or do you work with BMER communities? If so, then our Mental Health Training Programme is for you! Our next courses are as follows:
• Mental Health First Aid (two-day course: 22nd and 29th October)
• Stigma and Mental Health (half-day workshop: 2nd November)
• Youth Mental Health First Aid (two-day course: 12th and 19th November)
• Introduction to Mental Health Awareness (one day workshop: 9th December)
• Mental Health First Aid (two-day course: 9th and 16th February 2016)
For more information about our any of our courses, please go to https://vac.org.uk/events/category/health-mental-health/. Click on the course you are interested in and follow the instructions to book your place and pay by card (if applicable). The charge for our Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid training courses is heavily subsidised at 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. If you have any queries, please contact us on our team email address: mentalhealthteam@vac.org.uk

VAC has a full programme of courses coming up: Click here to find out more. All courses are £25 for members (unless otherwise stated).

Ageing Better in Camden Launch 12th November 2015
This morning only event aims to answer all your questions about Ageing Better in Camden – what it is; what it offers; how you can get involved. It is open to all and is aimed particularly at older people and people and organisations working with older people. It will have workshops, information stalls and introductory speeches. Please register at ageingbetterincamden@ageukcamden.org.uk or telephone 02072390400.
Ageing Better in Camden has published the Invitation to Tender information for the St Pancras and Somerstown Community Action Project. Please fill in the form to register your interest in tendering (and you will receive emails of any questions and answers that other bidders post). Deadline back 19th November 2pm. http://www.ageuk.org.uk/camden/ageing-better-in-camden/

Opening Doors London Annual Information Fair
Drop in between 2:00pm and 6:30pm on Thursday 15th October 2014
Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9NA
This is a chance for our older LGBT community to attend an information fair focused on Planning Ahead.
Book your free ticket here: https://odlfair.eventbrite.co.uk
• Key Note Talk at 2pm
• Information Stalls from 3.30pm
• Workshops
• Meditation Session
• Play Reading
• Panel Discussion
• Legal Advice
These activities will be delivered by a variety of community partners that support the LGBT Community.
Contact Kate Hancock kate.hancock@ageukcamden.org.uk or 020 7239 0400.

Inspiring Trusteeship – a governance conference for London, Greater London Volunteering
Monday, 16 November 2015 from 10:00 to 16:00
City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, SE1 2AA, London, United Kingdom
Inspiring Trusteeship is our free event for everyone interested in the governance of London’s voluntary and community sector.
Join us and over 200 other delegates for: plenary sessions with Dr Alice Maynard, the Association of Chairs and other speakers looking at new perspectives on governance, and looking at what makes an effective Chair/CEO relationship; workshops on legal issues affecting Trustees, and tips on recruiting Trustees; and a networking lunch to meet with people involved in charity governance from across London, in a marketplace of organisations able to provide you with information and support on charity governance.
To register click here

Outcome launch and day of celebration for women of the LGBT community
Outcome, the LGBT service of Islington Mind Open day 13th October, 11:45 – 15:45
Tasters from our activities (including head massage and ear acupuncture)
Focus group for ideas for a future women only group.
Poetry reading and other entertainments. Free lunch
Join us at 35 Ashley Road, N19 3AG
RSVP: sigal.avni@islingtonmind.org.uk

Volunteering Fairs
Autumn is one of the most popular times of the year for people wanting to start volunteering.
Wednesday 21st October 12-2pm at the Working Men’s College
To book your place and to find our more information have a look at Eventbrite

London for All
London for All / LVSC have a full programme of courses available for the voluntary sector. Go to the London for All website for full details.

Camden Carers’ Service
Has a full range of events and activities for unpaid carers in Camden. Find out more on the Camden Carers’ Service website www.camdencs.org.uk/activities

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

Home Start Camden seeks Volunteers
Are you a parent or do you have parenting experience? Would you like to enhance your skills to offer friendship and support to families with young children? Can you give 3-4 hours weekly, to visit a family with young children who may be going through a difficult time?
Family Support Volunteer
Next Preparation Course Starting 17th November to 10th December
Every Tuesday & Thursday in Kentish Town
Certificates awarded & expenses paid
For information pack ring 020 7424 1603 email: info@homestartcamden.org
www.homestartcamden.org.uk

North London Rape Crisis seeks helpline volunteers
Volunteers needed to provide support to women and girls age 13+ who have experienced any form of sexual violence at any time in their lives. The volunteers will be required to commit to 12 months post training and to attend a 9 week training course on Fridays from 4th December 2015 to 12th February 2016 excluding the two bank holidays in December. You are required to attend 80% of the sessions to be able to proceed to working on the helpline. You will need to have an interest in working with survivors of sexual violence and will have the opportunity to work towards an OCN accredited qualification for ‘Professionals Working in the Sexual Violence Sector’ at level 2 or 3.
Please contact Ammarah Ahmad for the information pack and application form. The deadline to submit applications is by 5pm on Monday 26th October 2015.
Ammarah: Email: volunteering@solacewomensaid.org Tel: 020 7619 1350

The Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime currently have some vacancies for Camden’s Independent Custody Visitors Scheme
Details about the role and how to apply are on the MOPAC website.
Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) are members of the local community who volunteer to visit police stations unannounced to check on the treatment and welfare of people held in police custody. Their recommendations can require the police to make improvements for the welfare of detainees. Working as part of a local panel, they play a valuable role in maintaining public confidence in this important area of policing.

Age UK Camden seeks Personal Health Budgets Direct Payments Support Worker
(17.5 hours per week) Fixed Term Contract up to 30th September 2016
Local Government Scale SO1 £28,845-£30,525pa pro rata for 17.5 hours £14,422.50-£15,262.50 plus 6% contributory pension.
Personalisation Support In Camden (PSIC) is a subsidiary of Age UK Camden. It is a new venture, which has been set up to provide Direct Payments support to under 65’s in Camden until a new disability user led organisation is established.
You will promote the direct payments service, with particular emphasis on Personal Health Budgets for Mental Health service users and also assist in providing support to disabled people, including those with learning difficulties, under 65 years of age, mental health service users, and parents of Disabled Children who wish to receive or are receiving direct payments from the London Borough of Camden.
If you are interested in the above vacancy please see the application pack including the full job description and person specification at the following link to our website www.ageukcamden.org.uk or email jobs@ageukcamden.org.uk.
The closing date for receipt of completed application forms is 9 am on Monday 19th October 2015 and interviews will be held on Friday 30th October 2015.

Somers Town Community Association seeks Operations Manager
Permanent position £35,000 (Pro Rata £30,000) per annum 30hrs a week.
You will have the skills to identify and implement a diverse range of enterprise models whilst also providing leadership. You will demonstrate the ability to support and develop the competence and expertise of our staff team, particularly our youth and community café teams. This represents an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated Operations Manager to make their mark, help shape, strengthen and expand our services.
The successful candidate will have excellent written and verbal communication with strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise, plan and manage workload effectively.
Email: admin@somerstown.org.uk or telephone 0207 388 6088 for a full application pack – Closing date 30 October 2015 at 5.00pm

Volunteer Vacancy at VAC
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. Details on the VAC website.
Mandira Manandhar (Mon, Tues and Thurs) 020 7284 6573 or email: mmanandhar@vac.org.uk
Peter Simonson (Mon and Thurs) 020 7284 6568 or email: projectsupport@vac.org.uk

Budding Builders from Construction Youth Trust
Budding Builders is a Construction Youth Trust programme which helps to remove barriers to employment by providing young people with an opportunity to learn new, demand-led skills in a variety of different trades; offer CSCS card training and support; and clear progression routes into work or further training.
There is a course in Camden starting the 26th of October, in partnership with Kings Cross Construction Skills Centre. The aim is to target young women who are considering the industry as a career. The course will provide an introduction to the trades, raise awareness about the industry, support and advise the women with future plans and opportunities. We pride ourselves on making the industry accessible to all and inspire people to go beyond our short courses. The course will be led by an experienced female carpenter and we will have female guest speakers to talk to our budding female operatives.
The success of our projects depends on the partnerships we create. We are seeking organisations that would like to refer women onto our October course and organisations who would like to act as our community practical partner for our 2016 projects. Please get in contact with Nicola Mason on 0207 467 9540 or nicola.mason@constructionyouth.org.uk

Are you looking to employ an assistant to help with your care needs? CamdenPAs can help you.
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 p hone: 020 7278 4437

Socially Responsible Recruiting
A new, award-winning skills matching service that connects employers with skilled and experienced people to do one-off or part-time jobs has launched in Camden, with a strong social benefit ethic.
“There is a very large number of people in Camden who are fantastically skilled and work-ready but are off the radar to employers because they’re not looking for full-time work and aren’t constantly scouring the job ads,” says Jonathan Collie, founder of Trading Times.
These people are highly skilled over 50s, and family carers. Trading Times brings them to you. It’s free to candidates. It costs you only £35, and only when you are connected to the perfect candidates.
Paul Fordham of Abbey Community Centre in Camden said: “”We posted our occasional job opportunity on Trading Times because we at the Abbey Community Centre recognise the value of the flexibility that can come with age. Trading Times offers a tailored means to directly target opportunities at an older group that the vast majority of other job sites simply do not seem to tap.”
Register at https://tradingtimes.org.uk/ and let Trading Times match you with the right local people for your needs.

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

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Survey
UCLH is currently leading a re-design of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) services in Camden, and as part of this programme we are working with The British Lung Foundation to engage with COPD patients. To achieve this we have created an online questionnaire.
COPD encompasses a number of conditions including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, and primarily affects older people who have had long term exposure to cigarette smoke, fumes or dust. There is no cure for COPD but there are treatments to improve symptoms and reduce the occurrence of dangerous exacerbations.
This is an opportunity for any readers suffering from COPD to influence how Camden Services improve going forward.
The questionnaire will be live until Friday 16th October. Click here to go to the survey.

Green Marks of Achievement Drop-in Sessions
The Camden Marks of Achievement certification scheme is a free and externally supported award scheme. These marks are a visible demonstration of your commitment to taking local action to tackle climate change, and can be used as evidence for applying for awards, bidding for contracts, applying for grants, and achieving further certification.
There are three levels of awards (Going Green, Cutting Carbon and Carbon Champion) and a ‘Team Green’ award for staff engagement and behaviour change. Applications are now open and the deadline for applications is 31 October 2015.
For those who are interested in applying but want to discuss their application with us before doing so, we are providing pre-booked half hour slots during our Marks of Achievement Drop-in week, starting 26 October. During this week you can come in to our office to discuss your application face-to-face, or discuss it over the phone.
Deadline for applications is 31 October 2015. Award winners will be recognised on our website and at our Annual Green Drinks.
Marks of Achievement Drop-in Sessions will be held from 26-30 October. To book your half hour slot please email ana.lopez@camden.gov.uk. Please state which days and times you are available. We will be confirming times the week commencing 12 October.

Camden Council and Camden’s Voluntary and Community Sector Consultation
LB Camden’s consultation can be found here. The proposals can be found in a downloadable document here. You can give your views directly to the council via an online questionnaire.

Camden Consultations
Other consultations out at the moment include a consultation on Camden Future Libraries and Camden VCS strategy and changes to early education and childcare and children’s centre services. 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.