Voluntary Action Camden

Voluntary Action Camden Newsletter – 24th March 2023


 


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VAC Weekly Newsletter
24th March 2023

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VAC represents local organisations in conversations with local government and funders, we advise on local issues and we inform, support and train local charities depending on their needs

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

Highlights

This week we spotlight the fact that there will not be a standard VAC newsletter for the next two weeks, this format will return on 14th April.

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

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

Learn more here

Newsletter announcement
Please be aware that there will not be a standard VAC newsletter published on Friday 31st March or Friday 7th April.

Next week we will have a quarterly update, and, due to the Easter break, there will not be a newsletter the following week.

The newsletter will return on 14th April.

Free Community Leadership Course
Starting Tuesday April 25th at St. Pancras and Somers Town Living Centre

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.

Coronation Champions Awards and Coronation Big Lunch
To mark the Coronation of Their Majesties, The Coronation Champions Awards, with the support of Her Majesty The Queen Consort, will celebrate and recognise inspiring volunteers who have made an exceptional difference in their communities.
To learn more and nominate a volunteer, please click here

Little Amal comes to Camden for a festival of hope and art
In a year when Passover, Easter and Ramadan coincide, Little Amal, a ‘global symbol of human rights,’ returns to London to meet multi-faith communities across Camden.
Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10 year old Syrian refugee child carries a message of hope for displaced people everywhere, especially children who have been separated from their families.
To find out more information on the different events and how you can get involved – at home, within the community as well as on the day, please click here

SPACE4 Finsbury Park – Free masterclass
27th March: 6pm – 8pm
This free masterclass focuses on career advice and being interview ready.

These sessions are for those looking to get back into work, those looking for a new role and anyone wanting to brush up on interview skills that could be applied to networking or presenting.

It is an opportunity to master the tools to come across more confidently during an interview, explore what interviewers really want and to work on voice and body language skills.
Everyone welcome, please sign up here ( if you can’t pay the £5 deposit please contact natasha@outlandish.com and we will send you a free registration link)

Invitation: meeting on tackling the climate and ecological crises
Greenwood Centre – Tuesday, 28 March 7pm–9pm
Extinction Rebellion (XR) Camden is inviting representatives of all Camden-based groups and organisations with the aim to join forces in tackling local and global climate and ecological issues – together we can have more of an impact.
Points of discussion: The “Big One” – an ambitious, peaceful project to bring 100,000 people onto the streets of Westminster – 21 to 24 April. Plus local relationship and alliance building.
To register, please click here or for more information please email camdenxr@gmail.com

Free Legal Advice Workshop: How to protect your business
28th March, 7 – 8:30pm, St Pancras Community Association, 67 Plender Street, NW1 0LB
Join SPCA for this free workshop to learn how to protect the valuable assets in your business. Covering topics such as copyrights, trademarks and NDAs

Opening of new nature interpretation centre on Hampstead Heath
Heath Hands are opening a new nature interpretation centre at the Kenwood Dairy from 1st April. If you’re out for a walk with the nicer weather, why not pop in on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday to find out more about nature and wildlife on the Kenwood Estate and wider Heath?
To find out more, please click here

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

Half Price Tickets Offer for Gone Too Far! at Stratford East Theatre
Stratford East Theatre have allocated some half priced tickets for Bola Agbaje’s Olivier Award-winning play Gone too far!
A comic and vibrant play that examines identity and heritage.
You can get 50% off Band A (£32.50) and Band B (£22.50) seats for performances on Fri 24th – Mon 27th March and Wed 29th Mar – Sat 1st April.

To book tickets please call the Box Office on 0208 534 0310 or click here and use promo code GTF50

Old Diorama Arts Centre vacancies
Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC) is an arts creation and community centre, and is currently recruiting two roles:

Project Producer: Stories of Regent’s Park Estate (deadline 2nd April) – coordinating and delivering the Story Trail community engagement, artistic commissions and installation, and supports the delivery of Regent’s Park Estate Community Festival. For more information please click here

Fundraising Manager (deadline 11th April) – seeking an experienced and strategic fundraiser to join our small but ambitious team, to expand our fundraising capacity and contribute to income diversification plans. For more information please click here

The Children’s Society vacancy: Project Worker
The Children’s Society is looking to recruit a determined, engaging person to join our dynamic, ambitious team in our Stride Service.
A key part of this role will be to reduce harm to boys and young men who have been affected by trafficking, exploitation or those who have been missing, by ensuring they are given better support to improve their mental health and wellbeing, increase their understanding of past/current exploitation, increase young person safety through joint working with police, local authority and voluntary organisations to give them better access to protection

For more information please click here

Heath Hands vacancies:
Do you want a varied role in a friendly team on Hampstead Heath?
Heath Hands are recruiting for a project officer (3 days a week, deadline 26th March), an office assistant (2 days a week, deadline 21st April) and some session leaders (casual contracts, deadline 3rd April).
Check out the vacancies 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
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

Sector Infrastructure Funding Report
Voluntary sector infrastructure bodies perform vital roles supporting and enabling voluntary and community organisations, both locally and at a national level. This report from 360 Giving explores how the voluntary sector infrastructure has changed over the last 12 years, particularly by looking at its finances and funding. It highlights a number of challenges around the funding of these organisations.

To read more, including a summary of the key conclusions, 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

Go! London Partnership
Expressions of interest deadline: 28th March

The purpose of Go! London is to use the power of sport and physical activity to transform the lives of young Londoners. The focus is on under-served children and young people aged 4-24, those at a higher risk of poverty, social exclusion and discrimination.
To discover more about the initiatives this fund, 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

Hong Kong Community Fund
Closing date: 27th March

The Greater London Authority (GLA) has launched the Hong Kong Community Fund for 2023, following on from the success of the Welcoming Hongkongers Fund.
The fund aims to support Hongkongers, to make them feel welcomed and build a sense of belonging in their new communities in London.
For more information, including details on an online application support session, 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

Grants to Improve Accommodation for Domestic Abuse Survivors
The Mayor of London, working in partnership with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) is offering a new programme supporting safe, psychologically informed environments (PIE) for survivors of domestic abuse
To learn more, please click here (login required)

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:

Become a Families for Life Community Champion – free training
Find out how volunteering can boost your CV and job prospects, and help share information about free, fun and healthy lifestyle programmes for families.
Join Camden Learning’s free five-week training for parents and carers who want to be Families For Life Community Champions – the course starts on Tuesday 25 April.

For more information, please email syria.chowdhury@camden.gov.uk or call 07734 603 060.

Free ‘Making Every Contact Count’ training
The council is providing free Making Every Contact Count training courses to all staff, volunteers and residents working or living in Camden.
Even short conversations can be used to help to someone who is struggling. MECC is designed to help you to make the most of everyday conversations with residents, and support them with whatever challenges they may be facing.
To view the courses and book, please click here

Free Community Festival at the Likewise Community Centre – “Zen in Mind”
Thursday 30th March, 12pm-5pm

The Zen Project and Mind in Camden bring to you another of their monthly festivals to celebrate mental health and support the local Camden community. The festival is open to all and all the activities are free: free food, massage, mindfulness sessions and more.
Climb on board the big yellow American school bus and take part in one of our activities to help create some calm and ease anxiety. We have something for everyone.
No need to book – just turn up.
For more information, please click here

SWC brain workshop
Have you ever walked passed the big, wavy building on Howland Street and wondered what research goes on there?
Sainsbury Wellcome Centre are designing some fun things about the brain to display to the public. They want to know what local people think, feel, know (and want to know!) about how the brain works.

Join a Brain Workshop on 28th or 29th March. No experience required, £50 voucher for attending.
To find out more and register, please click here

Good Work Camden: Supporting refugees into council vacancies
28th March: 12.30 – 2pm
At 5 Pancras Square, N1C 4AG

In collaboration with Camden Council’s HR department, Good Work Camden is delivering an insight session to support refugees into council vacancies.
The session will:
Provide an overview of Camden Council job applications, including reasonable adjustments.
Give you an overview of how to apply to temporary work with the council through our Talent Pool.
Share live vacancies with hiring managers in attendance.
An interview tips and mock interview session to support your journey into work.
Insight in to the benefits of an apprenticeship and how to apply.

Translators will also be available.
For further information, please click here or contact jobhub@camden.gov.uk to register

NHS and Camden Council: Community Health Event
Saturday 25th March: 12pm-4pm
Location: Lismore Circus, 1-2 Lismore Circus, NW5 4QF

As part of our long-term health inequalities work, Camden Council, in partnership with NHS colleagues from Brondesbury Medical Centre, are holding a Community Health event in Lismore Circus.
This event will bring together and highlight all aspects of health which will include education, physical activity, NHS health checks, family activities and many more to be confirmed.
It is an opportunity to bring people together to open up the conversation of health and wellbeing and get people engaged in health services.

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.

Mind in Camden vacancy – Community Development Manager
Closing Date: 3rd April at 1.00pm

This is an exciting opportunity with Mind in Camden to lead and develop a Community Development Service as part of the new Camden Mental Health Alliance.
Taking ownership of our the newly rebranded Community Development Service that works with local BME communities, you will ensure that we continue to reach under-served communities.
To learn more and download an application pack, please click here, or phone 020 7911 0822 (24hrs), or email recruitment@mindincamden.org.uk

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

Talk for Health vacancy: Programme Manager
Closing date: 13th April

Talk for Health is a small, innovative and award-winning mental health social enterprise on a mission to make therapy accessible to all.
We teach people the skills of therapeutic talk and enable them to participate and/or lead in a network of ongoing groups to support theirs and others mental wellbeing.
We are looking for a Programme Manager who will lead on our service operations across Camden and Islington.
To learn more and apply, please click here

SPCA Vacancy: Caretaker Cleaner (Part-time)
Closing date: 31st March
St Pancras Community Association are looking for a reliable and energetic Caretaker/Cleaner to join our part-time caretaking team.
For more information and to apply please click here

Litter picking and the Great British Spring Clean
Help keep Camden clean by taking part in Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean from 17th March to 2nd April.
If you’re organising a community litter pick then Camden Veolia can provide litter picking equipment.
To find out more, please click here

Young People for Inclusion
Young People for Inclusion is re-launching on 31st March 2023!
YPFI is a youth group for 16- to 25-year-olds who are disabled, learning disabled or neurodivergent: we run activity based sessions combined with life skills, independence building and youth empowerment, and we support young disabled people to create change in the community.
Delivered by Elfrida Rathbone, and based at Somers Town Community Association once every 2 weeks until summer.
Contact andy@elfridacamden.org.uk, and see the webpage for more info and dates.

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

Got an item for the e-bulletin?

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

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