Voluntary Action Camden – Newsletter 20th Jan 2023

Membership is free, click on the link box above and sign up today

We also have information on a range of other local events and opportunities from around the Camden area.

VAC Consultancy Service 

VAC is delighted to announce the launch of our new VAC Consultancy Service. We offer expert support with any issue that affects your established or aspiring Camden VCS organisation, in all areas including funding, volunteers, setting up, governance and more.

Our staff have a vast knowledge of the Voluntary and Community Sector in Camden and if we don’t know the answer to your question, we know someone who will.

We’ll get back to your enquiry within 5 working days, and we’ll send you a list of free, helpful resources in the meantime.

Learn more and apply for support 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.

SMK Campaigner Survey 2022 

The Sheila McKechnie Foundation Campaigner Survey is now open for 2022. SMK wants to hear what the world is like for campaigners and change-makers. Whether you work alone or with others, as a volunteer or employee, they want to hear from you.

Complete the survey here

Free Community Festival in Swiss Cottage 

Thursday 26th Jan: 12-5pm at Likewise, 8 Fairhazel Gardens

The Zen Project and Mind in Camden bring you one of a series of monthly festivals to celebrate mental health and support the local Camden community. Activities are free and open to all, including free food, massage, mindfulness sessions and more. No need to book – just turn up.

Learn more here

Sadler’s Wells Tickets Offer: Peacock Theatre  

Sadler’s Wells is offering £12 tickets for performances of Familie Floz, acclaimed masters of mask- performance, who return to the London International Mime Festival for the first time since 2016. The offer is available for showings Thurs 2nd and Fri 3rd Feb at 7.30pm.

To book your £12 tickets, click here and enter the promo code: MIME12 at checkout.

Youth Nature Wellbeing Project on Hampstead Heath 

Heath Hands is launching a pilot project inviting young people aged 13-16 who struggle with school attendance to take part in nature activities on Hampstead Heath. The new project aims to promote mental wellbeing and practical skills through a combination of hands-on conservation work, nature art activities and forest-school style experiences. Sessions will run in February/March 2023.

Learn more here

Universal Credit Training 

Tuesday 24th Jan: 10am-4pm at Crowndale Centre, NW1 1BD

Good Work Camden has commissioned 6 Welfare Rights training sessions to help participants understand the benefits system. The first session concerns Universal Credit. Learners will gain awareness of who claims UC, when to claim and what they receive; rent and managed payments and common issues and how to resolve them.

To register your place, please contact urmi.kabir@camden.gov.uk

Volunteer Managers’ Forum  

Tuesday 28th Feb at 2pm: Online

Volunteer Centre Camden is hosting a Volunteer Managers’ Forum. Participants will benefit from peer support and networking and can choose the topics to discuss.

Register your place here

Camden & Islington Volunteering Fair

Thursday 2nd Feb at 12.30pm: Online

Want to volunteer in Camden and Islington? Volunteer Centre Camden and Volunteer Centre Islington are hosting a free, online volunteering fair. Participants can meet organisations currently recruiting volunteers, who will ‘pitch’ their volunteering roles in a Dragon’s Den style.

Register your place here

Camden Safer Neighbourhood Board 

Camden Safer Neighbourhood Board is holding a public meeting on 24 January 2023 at 6.30-9pm. It will concern Neighbourhood Policing and addressing Anti-Social Behaviour. The venue is Crowndale Centre, 218 Eversholt St, London NW1 1BD. Participants do not need to register in advance.

For more information, contact camdensnb@somerstown.org.uk

LDN London: Trustee Vacancy 

Learning Disability Network London is proud to have been supporting learning disabled Londoners for over 60 years. They are looking for a new Trustee with the enthusiasm, creativity and commitment to join their board of Trustees.

Learn more here

Education Gardener and Coordinator Vacancy 

Closing date: Monday 13th Feb at 9am

Global Generation is looking for someone who is passionate about involving the community in connecting to nature and gardening. As the Education Gardener and Coordinator, you will be responsible for engaging local children, young people, families and volunteers in Global Generation’s outdoor learning projects.

Learn more here

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
VAC recognises that the cost-of-living crisis is a huge concern for families, businesses, and the Voluntary Community Sector.

We are collating information and resources to help community groups and residents in Camden navigate through the crisis. To find out more, click here

Energy Bills Discount Scheme 

The Government has announced a new Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) to run from 1 April 2023 for eligible non-domestic consumers in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The scheme is available to all non-domestic contracts, including voluntary sector organisations and charities. The discount will be automatically applied.

Learn more here

Proposed Updates to the Euston Area Plan 

Camden Council is consulting on proposed updates to the Euston Area Plan (EAP) – a planning document that will help to shape the future of the Euston area. The Council wants to hear your views on the proposed updates to the EAP. You can review the suggested changes and share your views online via the Council’s Commonplace website here

Women’s Safety in Camden Survey 

Camden Council would like to hear the experiences of all women and girls in Camden to understand how safe you feel living, working and travelling around the borough. The results of the survey will help the Council to work out the right steps to improve the safety of all women and girls in Camden.

The survey is confidential and takes about 15 minutes to complete. To have your say, click here

Local 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)
Abbey Community Centre Newsletter
Heath Hands
UCL Volunteering Service Newsletter (sign up)

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

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

Camden Community Vaccine Project: Round 2

VAC and the C4 Consortium are inviting community groups and organisations in Camden, including unincorporated associations, to design new and expand existing initiatives to encourage vaccine take-up in the borough. This includes tackling misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccine programmes.

If you are interested in applying for this funding, or would just like to find out more, please click here

Sports England: Small Grants Programme 

The Small Grants Programme seeks to develop opportunities for communities to get more people physically active. New projects will be supported through providing National Lottery funding of between £300 and £15,000.

Learn more here

YCF Winter Community Fund 

Young Camden Foundation’s Winter Community Fund aims to support children and young people in Camden during winter 2022/23. In January 2023, YCF is reopening this fund on a rolling basis, with a focus on funding short projects during the February half term.

Learn more here

Love Camden: Community Festival Funding 

Closing date: 28th February 2023

Camden Council are delighted to announce that they are opening funding applications for local Community Festivals and Events. Applications are welcome for grants of £200 to £2,000.

Learn more here

Building Strong Communities Fund 

Closing date: 13th March 2023

The Mayor of London is offering funding for London equity-led voluntary and community sector organisations to enable communities to shape their recovery from COVID-19, through community-led projects that help meet certain outcomes.

Learn more here

London Community Energy Fund 

Closing date: 5th February 2023

The London Community Energy Fund provides much-needed support to get community energy projects up and running and deployed faster to reboot the economy and benefit hard-hit communities.

Learn more 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

VAC Free Safeguarding Training Courses 

What better way to start the new year than refreshing your organisation’s essential safeguarding skills?

VAC is offering 3 FREE safeguarding training sessions over the coming months:

Virtual Introduction to Safeguarding for Volunteers and New Starters 

Wednesday 25th January 2023: 10am – 11:30am

Register your place here

Virtual Introduction to Safer Recruitment for Small Organisations and Community Groups 

Tuesday 21st February 2023: 10am – 11:30am

Register your place here

Safeguarding Advanced: Developing Knowledge and Understanding (in-person) 

Wednesday 22nd March at Saint Pancras Community Association: 9:30am – 3:30pm

Aimed at increasing existing safeguarding knowledge for those who have had no safeguarding training in the last two years and need a refresher.

Designed for volunteers, supplementary schools, VCS groups and organisations delivering services to under 18’s and their families in Camden. Lunch and refreshments provided.

To register your place, or for more information, contact Dianne Carlton-Ogunyemi, VAC Community Safeguarding Lead at dogunyemi@vac.org.uk

Free Arthritis Action Clinic 

Monday 23rd Jan at Central YMCA Club

Central YMCA Club have partnered with Arthritis Action to offer a FREE Open Clinic to people living with Arthritis. The open clinic provides practical advice on how to reduce the pain of arthritis through self-management and lifestyle choices.

Click here to book your free, 15-minute session with dietitian Martin Lau

Birkbeck Career Pathways Workshops 

Want support with deciding your next career steps? Have a career in mind but unsure how to achieve it? Birkbeck is hosting free in-person and online career workshops throughout January, designed to give people without a degree space to reflect on their life and goals.

Find a workshop here

Free Digital Skills and Leadership Training 

London South Bank University, with funding from the European Social Fund, is offering free digital skills and leadership training to employed Londoners, with a focus on supporting those living/working in deprived areas, or who are subject to digital exclusion. The training, which is OCN Accredited, is aimed at both smaller employers/groups who cannot afford to upskill their workforces, as well as individuals who struggle to access and/or fund their personal development due to physical or mental disabilities.

Learn more here

SHAK Community Volunteering 

The South Hampstead & Kilburn Community Partnership is looking for community volunteers. Volunteers will help SHAK direct people towards the services available to them, including advice on housing and benefits. SHAK offers free IAG Level 1 training on 23rd and 24th Jan 2023, continuous support and a volunteer toolkit with useful online resources.

For more information, click here or contact SHAK on 02073727021 or info@shakonline.co.uk

Royal Free Charity Vacancy 

Royal Free Charity are hiring a Young Volunteer Programme Coordinator. The post is 37.5 hours a week over five days, and pays £25,000 – £30,450 per annum, subject to skills and experience.

Learn more and apply here

Single Homeless Project: Peer Mentoring 

Single Homeless Project are delighted to announce that they are accepting applications for their peer mentoring training & volunteering program.

To receive an application pack, or to find out more about the opportunity, please click here or contact peermentoring@shp.org.uk

Completed applications must be returned by 5pm on Wednesday 22nd February.

Long Covid Survey
The Community Links team at VAC are working with the University of Southampton to facilitate a study into Long Covid. If you had, or think you had, Covid 3 or more months ago and yet continue to experience symptoms that are not explained by any other health conditions, the study would like to talk to you about your experiences.

Symptoms can include, but are not limited to: exhaustion, memory or concentrations issues, breathlessness, persistent headaches and muscle aches, chest tightness, palpitations, dizziness and sleep disturbance.
As a token of appreciation, a £25 shopping voucher is available for participation.

The Community Links team at VAC can also assist Camden residents with access to the long covid clinic at UCLH.
For further information please contact Nasrin at nrashid@vac.org.uk or Donna Clutterbuck at LongCovid@soton.ac.uk or call/text  “Long Covid Research’’ on 07721520243.

Henna Asian Women’s Group 

Henna Asian Women’s Group provides a platform for people to connect through hybrid services, including exercise, music & singing, ESOL, art & crafts, Henna Support Group, Chai with Henna and the Wellbeing Hub. A hot meal and warm space are provided on Mondays and Wednesdays to support local residents in Kilburn and beyond during the cost-of-living crisis.

For more information, call 0207 372 9860

LIFT: Intro to Coding Course 

Application closing date: 5th February 2023

LIFT Intro to Coding is a 6-week beginner’s programme designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to start a career in the thriving world of software development. No prior coding experience is needed. You will gain core skills in software development and build a portfolio to show to prospective employers.

Find out more here

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

Find presentations, recordings and resources from past forums here