Voluntary Action Camden Newsletter – 14th April 2023

Membership is free, click on the link box above and join us today

We also have a bumper issue, stuffed full of information on a huge range of local events and opportunities from around the Camden area.

Camden Council VCS Grants Programme (2024-2031) Survey
Closing date: Thursday 20th April

Camden Council would like to hear your views on their new 7 year funding programme. The results of the survey will be used to inform the design of this £4 million-per-year grants programme.
The survey is anonymous and takes about 20 minutes to complete.
You can complete the survey here

Camden Jobs and Skills Event
Thursday 18th May 2023, 10am – 3pm
Regents Place 10 Brock Street Regents Place, Camden London NW1 3FG

Are you interested in changing careers, finding a new role, or upskilling to access high-growth sectors? If so, this is an opportunity to network, meet local and inclusive employers and get the latest tips to give you the edge in the labour market.

•    Talk to employers, recruiters and training providers face-to-face
•    Network with dozens of professionals that will help you build your career
•    Have a specialist review your CV and provide improvement tips
•    Find local jobs and training courses
•    Attend pop-up workshops, delivered by recruitment specialists Matrix
•    Get a professional photo taken for your LinkedIn profile

To register, please click here
Or for further information, email goodwork@camden.gov.uk or call 0207 947 1666

IT HUB for local Disabled people at the Greenwood Centre.
Camden Disability Action will be running an IT HUB at the Greenwood Centre every Monday (bar the Bank Holiday Mondays) from 5pm to 9pm in the main foyer/reception area from now until 12th June 2023.
The IT HUB offers a warm space to local Disabled people and their friends, family and support workers. People who register on arrival, will have free use of laptops with accessible equipment plus Wi-Fi. Tea and Coffee will be provided.

To learn more, e-mail: reception@camdendisabilityaction.org.uk, call 0203 833 1111, or drop in to us at The Greenwood Centre, 37 Greenwood Place, London NW5 1LB

West Hampstead Memory Cafe
Wednesday 19th April: 1.30pm – 3.30pm
At West Hampstead Community Centre, 17 Dornfell Street. NW6 1QN

This free event is funded by Right at Home and is an afternoon of lunch, coffee and Art and Movement for those aged over 60 who live with memory challenges.
Carers and family members are also welcome.
For more information please call 0203 921 1111 or email camden.hampstead@rightathome.co.uk

Talk for Health events:
Talk for Health is running a peer counselling skills programme from Friday, 21st April for 4 consecutive Fridays between 10am – 4pm at Cripplegate Foundation.
Our Programme teaches the skills of authentic talking, empathic listening and managing a group. This enables all our graduates to go on and join or set up their own ongoing groups for connection and wellbeing.
To find out more and register, please click here

Talk for Health also have an Online Special on Breathwork with practical breathing exercises to help connect the body and the mind on Wednesday, 19th April from 6pm – 8pm
To find out more and register, please click here

Earthquake Support Group
Roj Women provides group sessions in Turkish for those who were affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. The sessions will be facilitated by two therapists to offer a safe space to think and talk about the impact of earthquakes on the community.
1st Group is for women on Mondays 17-24 April & 1 May at 11:30am at Selby Centre
2nd Group is for everyone on Sundays 16-23 & 30 April at 1:30pm at Kurdish Community Centre

Interested in saving money and energy?
Come along to Castlehaven Community Centre from 11am – 12:30pm on the 27th April for a free advice session with Camden Think & Do and Power Up North London.
Learn the tips and tricks that can help you save money, reduce your carbon footprint, and make your home more energy efficient.
For more information, please email ellie@thinkanddocamden.org.uk

Celebrate Earth Day at Castlehaven
Enjoy nature-themed activities for the entire family in Castlehaven’s Community Park from 10am – 2:30pm on Saturday 22nd April.
Activities include, a scavenger hunt, making clay tree faces, hanging decorations, and making a wishing tree.
This drop-in event is free; no registration is needed. Children will need to be accompanied by an adult.
For more information, please email our Environmental team at environmentalteam@castlehaven.org.uk

Camden Libraries fine amnesty
Please return your overdue library books to any of the Camden Libraries before 30th June and all existing fines on the returned books will be waived.

Startup School for Seniors
This fully sponsored, eight-week e-Learning course is specifically designed for aspiring entrepreneurs aged 50+ in London.
Starting on 11th May, you’ll learn from entrepreneur Suzanne Noble and business coach Mark Elliott as they guide you through the process of starting a successful business of any type. Alongside the main programme is the opportunity to join their sector-specific courses aimed at Creative and Green Economy businesses.
It is a chance to learn, network and get your business off the ground.
To find out more and register, please click here

North London Cares social clubs
Each month North London Cares run free social clubs in the community, either outdoors or in a local venue, online and on the phone.
We understand that being involved and connected can look different for everyone and hope there is something coming up this month that appeals to you.
To find out more please click here or call 0207 118 3838 – option 1 for Social Clubs.

Volunteer Week 2023
Volunteers’ Week 2023 (1st -7th June) is an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering in their communities.
This year’s website is now live and it is full of information and resources, have a look here

The Story of Holborn and it’s Music Halls in Ten Songs
Performed by The Good Companions
Thursday 27th April: 6pm – 7.30pm
At Camden Local Studies & Archives Centre, 2nd Floor, Holborn Library, 32-38 Theobalds Road, London WC1X 8PA

Between 1860 and 1940 Holborn was at the heart of London’s music scene. The Holborn Empire was among the most popular theatres in the city and its stars were household names.
Join the Good Companions for a musical romp through Holborn’s colourful and dramatic history, with rousing, singalong performances of the era’s classic songs.
Admission is free

The next talk in the Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre
Tuesday 18th April: 7.30pm
The next talk in the Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre will be by John Conen on “The Bombing of London 1940-41 – The Blitz and its Impact on the Capital”.
For more details, please click here

Programme and Fundraising Manager (Full time)
Closing date: 24th April

St Pancras Community Centre are looking for an experienced Programme and Fundraising Manager, with well-honed project management skills to help us deliver our exciting programme of work, impressing both our partners and funders in the process.
To learn more, please click here

Third Age Project vacancy: Deputy Manager
This is an exciting and rewarding full-time, permanent position within a successful grassroots older people’s Charity who will support and act as a successor to the General Manager.
We focus on reducing social, economic, health inequalities and empowering older people in taking on volunteering roles as co-producers of our services.
To view the job description please email tony@thirdageproject.org.uk and if you are interested, please submit a CV, and covering letter highlighting your skills and experience to the same address.

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

VAC Cost-of-Living Crisis Resource
The cost-of-living crisis remains a huge concern for families, businesses, and the Community and Voluntary Sector.

VAC works hard to keep our cost-of-living resource page continually updated as part of our efforts to help community groups and residents in Camden navigate through the crisis.

To find out more on the support available, which includes information about local warm hubs, local assistance schemes, Council resources and more, please click here

Camden’s Windrush 75 Programme
22nd June 2023 marks the 75 anniversary of the arrival of HMS Windrush in 1948.
This is a significant milestone; it is the last chance to honour the living pioneers but to also open a wider public conversation about the past present and future of the UK.
As part of the programme, Camden’s Culture Team will be creating a series of podcasts which explores Camden’s Windrush generation, past, present, and future and are inviting members of the community to participate throughout May.
For more information and to get involved please email culture@camden.gov.uk

Cost of Living Document
London Plus’ cost of living support and resources document is filled with useful resources for those experiencing difficulties as a result of the the cost of living crisis. It is always being updating, so it’s worth checking to see if there’s anything new

Cost of Living Good Practice
London Plus also have an organisational good practice document, which spotlights some of the great work from the sector, helping to mitigate the impact of the cost of living crisis. If you have anything useful that could be added to these documents, please contact Henry at info@londonplus.org

Food Aid Resources
The London’s Lifelines website now has a page dedicated to food aid resources, specifically for organisations providing food to those hardest hit by the crisis. It’s still in the early stages and they are looking for more content to add, so if you are a food aid organisation and would like us to include any information, please contact lvsg@londonplus.org

Links to Local VCS Newsletters has been moved to the end of this newsletter

VAC administered Google Grants
The VAC administered Google Grants scheme is still ongoing.

VAC have been funded by Google to provide up to £300 per quarter for small organisations looking to book one-off spaces to work in or to hold community sessions and training, and up to £600 for the ongoing rent of office and hot desking space.

It is available to small voluntary or community sector organisation with income under £150,000 a year looking to book a venue in Camden.

To find out more, please click here
or get in contact with Ricky at Rsingh@vac.org.uk

Lloyds Bank Foundation Launches New £3m Racial Equity Fund
Closing date: 31st May

Applications are now open for unrestricted grants from Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, supporting small charities and CICs led by and working with people who face inequity because of their race or ethnicity.  Around 40 grants will be awarded to focus on immediate and long-term support to help people break free from poverty.
To learn more, please click here

Climate Action Fund – Energy and Climate
This funding aims to inspire and support communities across the UK to address the energy and climate crisis. We’re looking for projects that show how communities can address climate change while tackling the energy challenges through community-led climate action.
To learn more, please click here

London Catalyst’s ‘Partners for Health’ grants
Closing date: Thursday 1st June – 5:00pm

Is your charity tackling health inequalities?
London Catalyst’s ‘Partners for Health’ grants are now open for applications for projects that can demonstrate:
Positive outcomes for people facing significant barriers to health.
A new approach or thoughtful development of service.
Partnership between health and community organisations
For more information, please click here

Cost of Living Support for Youth Organisations
Rolling deadline

Charitable and not-for-profit youth organisations delivering high-quality youth provision whose work is being hindered, curtailed, or cut back due to rising core costs can apply for funding to address these unprecedented demands.
UK Youth, in partnership with Pears Foundation, is offering unrestricted multi-year grants for charitable and not-for-profit youth organisations with an annual turnover of less than £500,000 to help them cover rising prices and increased costs due to the cost-of-living crisis.
To learn more, please click here

National Lottery Awards for All
This is a quick way to apply for smaller amounts of funding between £300 and £10,000.
This programme is here to support communities with the things that are important to them, including mitigating the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and supporting them as they seek to recover, rebuild and grow following the Covid-19 pandemic.
To learn more, please click here

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

Other available funders include:

• Camden Giving
• Grants Online
• My Funding Central
• Idox Camden 4 Community
• VAC main funding page

This free, 5-week course is for Camden volunteers, VCF staff and residents (without a UK degree) who wish to develop their confidence, skills, and knowledge of community work.
Taught by Birkbeck tutors, the course covers topics such as community engagement and development, wellbeing and resilience, and project evaluation. These sessions are a great opportunity to meet others in the sector and network.
To sign up or learn more about eligibility, please click here or email a.hetherton@bbk.ac.uk with any questions.

Free Arthritis Management Group Workshop
Thursday 20th April: 11.30am – 1.30pm

Central YMCA have partnered with Arthritis Action to offer a free group workshop for people living with Arthritis.
The workshop provides practical advice on how to reduce the pain of arthritis through self-management and lifestyle choices, and will be held at Central YMCA KX, just a 5-minute walk from Kings Cross St Pancras station.
Book your place on this free group workshop here

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.

Heath Hands vacancy: Office Assistant (part-time)
Closing date: 19th April
Heath Hands are recruiting for a part-time Office Assistant to join our staff team on Hampstead Heath. You will work in one of the most amazing green spaces in London, helping with administration, communications and the delivery of our volunteering, conservation and community programmes.
To learn more, please click here

Become a Trustee of SHAK
SHAK (South Hampstead and Kilburn Community Partnership) is a resident led charity based on the iconic Alexandra and Ainsworth estate in the Kilburn ward of Camden NW London, an area of high rates of deprivation and poverty but big potential. Our mission is to enable young people and adults to overcome barriers to economic and social inclusion.

We are seeking new trustees with skills in the areas of safeguarding, fundraising, strategy development etc. . We are particularly interested in increasing representation at board level from minority communities
To learn more and apply, please click here

Local VCS Newsletters:

SHAK
Young Camden Foundation (Funding Newsletter)
Young Camden Foundation (Events and Training Newsletter)
AWN (sign up)
London Sport (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)
Heath Hands
UCL Volunteering Service Newsletter (sign up)
Latin American House
London Irish Centre

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

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Greenwood Centre, Greenwood Place, London, NW5 1LB

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