Category: Newsletter

What is Happening at Greenwood Place?; Camden Disability Action AGM; Help co-produce an Information and Advice Strategy for adult social care; Improving health through digital technology: Call for evidence; Property Advice Clinic; Holloway Art Lending Library; iBUG and Key Changes Unique Talent Show; Hopscotch Invitation to tender; VAC Payroll Service; Stay Well This Winter; Offices to Let in Kentish Town; London Fire Brigade Consultation; Comic Relief Local Communities Programme + jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

Camden Disability Action Meeting about Greenwood Place and the Centre for Independent Living
Tuesday 26th January 5pm – 7pm
Charlie Ratchford Centre
Belmont Street London NW1 8HF
Greenwood Place will be a multi-use space for disabled people and the headquarters for Camden’s first ever Centre for Independent Living (CIL). Come and catch up on what is happening with the building works and to discuss the suggested proposal for how it should be run. Camden Council’s Commissioning Team will be attending to explain the process for selecting an organisation and to support our discussion about the design of this new service.
To book, please contact 207 284 6550 or follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
For more information, or if you have any specific requirements (e.g., diet, BSL interpreter), please email info@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.

Decision made at Camden’s Cabinet
The report ‘A New Strategic Relationship with the Voluntary Sector’ was approved at cabinet in December. The press release is on the Camden council website. The full report that went to cabinet is available here.

Camden Disability Action Annual General Meeting
Monday 15th February 2016 from 6 – 8 pm at Arlington Conference Centre, 220 Arlington Road, London NW1 7HE.
Guest speakers will include Cllr. Sally Gimson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health.
To register, please contact Anju Bhatt via email on abhatt@vac.org.uk or telephone 0207 284 6550.

Help co-produce an Information and Advice Strategy for adult social care
We all need good quality information and advice to make sound decisions.
Information and advice for Camden residents is available from voluntary sector partners in the community. This is why Camden council want to want to co-produce an Information and Advice Strategy for adult social care and an action plan with partners.
If your organisation is interested in working together with staff and residents to produce an Information and Advice Strategy for adult social care please email: shana.nessa@camden.gov.uk to confirm your attendance.
We are meeting on 22 January 2015 at 10.30am at our offices in Pancras Square.

Improving health through digital technology: Call for evidence
The London Borough of Camden and Camden CCG have started a project looking at digital health technology and how this can be used to improve access to health information and support among children, young people and their families in Camden.
We will be working with local residents to understand what technology they currently use and how this could be improved. We are especially interested in how technology such as apps, websites, social media and text messaging could be used to increase awareness of services, improve self-management around minor ailments and long term conditions and provide basic advice and improve care coordination.
We are keen to hear from local organisations with any information you may already have gathered on this topic as this will help inform our approach and avoid duplication, as well as any upcoming engagement events where we may be able to deliver a session on health technology.
Please contact chloe.gay@islington.gov.uk or on 0207 527 8343.
By coincidence the Kings Fund have just released an interesting report: The digital revolution: eight technologies that will change health and care.

Property Advice Clinic
The Ethical Property Foundation will be providing a free property advice clinic for charities and not for profits in Camden on 14th January. Two of the Foundation’s advisers will be on hand to provide 20 minute one to one discussions on property issues including renting, leasing or buying property, maintenance or property disposal.
Please contact Donna Turnbull at VAC to book your free 20 minute slot between 10am-1pm. dturnbull@vac.org.uk tel 020 7284 6567

Holloway Art Lending LIbrary
Holloway Art Lending Library exhibits participating artists’ work and lends it to members. The aim of the project is to promote the work of professional artists, encourage the work of amateur artists and give the public the opportunity to enjoy original art in their home or place of business.
Lending exhibits take place quarterly and allow members to borrow one artwork for two months, free of charge. For more information click here

iBUG and Key Changes Unique Talent Show Tuesday 19th January
This popular event showcases some of the best talent in the Islington community including music, DJing and stand up comedy.
The event will be held at St Luke’s Centre, 90 Central Street, EC1V 8AJ. Doors open at 5:30pm. Show time approx 6pm-8pm. Free entry and refreshments.

Invitation to tender
Hopscotch invites tenders from organisations and individuals to write the Stage 2 proposal of an employment project funded by the Big Lottery Building Better Opportunities (BBO). This will also involve carrying out a consultation into the barriers to employment and economic activity for BAME women in the following nine boroughs: Camden, City of London, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Wandsworth and Westminster. In addition, materials and a toolkit will need to be developed. For further information please contact Isabelle Terrisson, Senior Operations Manager on 020 7388 8198 or isabelle.terrisson@hopscotchawc.org.uk. The closing date for expressions of interest is Tuesday 12th January.

VAC Payroll Service
Did you know that we offer a payroll service? Find out what we offer on the VAC website and call the Finance Team to find out more Tel: 020 7284 6561/6582 Email: financeteam@vac.org.uk

Support a young person who’s looking for work or training
Over the next year, the council will work with Fitzrovia Youth in Action (FYA) to help 100 young people improve their prospects of getting into employment or training.
FYA needs dedicated and passionate professionals to mentor young people, especially those who are unemployed or not in education or training.
FYA also need business partners that will offer young people work experience and find out what it’s like to be at work.
Further information
If you would be interested in mentoring a young person, or if your business could offer a work experience placement, please contact insight@fya.org.uk

Stay Well This Winter / Local Awareness Services Awareness
Camden CCG has kicked off a six month period of marketing and engagement activity in support of the NHS England / Public Health England Stay Well This Winter (SWTW) national campaign, as well as to help highlight to local residents appropriate use of services within Camden. Campaign pack downloadable here.

Office to Let in Kentish Town- 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. Conveniently located in Kentish Town with all usual mod cons. Contact Kevin at VAC knunan@vac.org.uk

London Fire Brigade Consultation
The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority are holding a public consultation on how to make £6.4 million of savings for 2016/17. The consultation is being held between 7 December 2015 and 1 February 2016.
Four public meetings will be held across London from 11 – 20 January. More information about the consultation meetings is available on the London Fire Brigade website.

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

Voluntary Action Islington, British Somali Community, NICE, the Calthorpe Project, 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

Spending more on prevention will improve public services
Commission calls on the government to allocate 5% of spending to prevention, rather than allow for problems that will become costly failures. See the Guardian for details.

New Year resolution to help the charity sector fight back
2016 needs to be a year of celebration, determination and clarity on the impact we have. See story in the Guardian.

Unlocking Dormant Assets
Charities could be in line to receive hundreds of millions of pounds from a scheme being launched by the Cabinet Office to unlock dormant assets such as stocks and shares and direct the money towards good causes. See Third Sector magazine.

Hey, you want nonprofits to act more like businesses? Then treat us like businesses
A timely rant about being more ‘businesslike’ from the NonProfit with Balls blog.

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

Comic Relief Local Communities Programme Launches Second Round
Applications are now being accepted for the Comic Relief Local Communities Programme in London with a deadline of 1 March 2016 (5pm).
Grants are available to charitable organisations and groups for projects that improve people’s life skills, education, employability and enterprise.
Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available and must be for at least 30% of the total costs of the project.
Projects should be run by people directly affected by the issues being dealt with, and priority will be given to small, locally-based groups or organisations in areas of disadvantage that have a clear understanding of the needs of their community.
The following organisations are eligible to apply:
~ Residents associations.
~ Community groups.
~ Social Enterprises.
~ Community Interest Companies.
~ Community Interest Organisations.
~ Credit Unions.
~ Community centres.
Examples of activities that can be funded through this programme include, but are not limited to, the following:
~ Furniture projects.
~ Benefit advice services.
~ Community sport initiatives.
~ Food co-ops.
~ Initiative designed to combat fuel poverty.
~ Employment and employability projects.
~ Community consultation exercises.
~ Training schemes for committee members, volunteers and staff.
Funding can be used to cover core costs, salaries and project costs.
The deadline for applications is 1 March 2016 (5pm). Full details here.

Reaching Communities Fund and Awards for All One to One Advice Sessions
28th January 2016. 10.30 – 4.30.
With Jane Sterland Regional Officer for the Big Lottery
Voluntary Action Camden, 293-299 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2TJ
Reaching Communities and Awards for All are still amongst the best grants to go for. Jane will be offering you one to one advice on your application to the Reaching Communities Fund and Awards for All. You can book a one hour slot to discuss your draft application with someone who is very knowledgeable and experienced. People who attended the last advice day were very pleased with the support they received.
‘Yes invaluable. Would always come. Support was brilliant’.
‘Yes I would certainly recommend it. We were given a generous amount of time with someone who was extremely knowledgeable and a very clear communicator’.
To get the best out of the session you need to get a copy of your draft application to VAC by Friday 15th January. Your draft application will then be sent to Jane who can then read it and prepare comments ready for when you meet with her.
To book a place please contact acharles@vac.org.uk. Tel: 0207 284 6553.

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

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:
• 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).

Camden Intergenerational Network meeting – Tuesday 19 January 2016
Things are changing. Please come and discuss the future of the Camden Intergenerational Network and ideas for future collaboration to promote and develop intergenerational work. Come and meet Corinna Gray, the new Partnership Development Manager of the ‘Ageing Better in Camden’ programme who will be taking on co-ordination and development of the Network including the CIN e-newsletter and coordination of Network meetings. All members welcome.
Vanda Carter, Strategy Officer, London Borough of Camden. email: vanda.carter@camden.gov.uk tel: 020 7974 2810 www.camden.gov.uk

Understanding & Supporting People with Paranoia & Beliefs (2 days)
Mind in Camden. Wednesday, 3rd and Friday 5th February 2016 at 10:00 – 4:30
Do you want to find out a bit more about the experience of voices and beliefs?
Are you supporting someone and want to improve your knowledge and confidence?
Or perhaps you already run a Hearing Voices group and/or a Paranoia & Beliefs Group and want to brush up in your awareness and skills?
The course will cover the following main areas:
Understanding the experience of Voices and Beliefs
Different ways of making sense and coping with voices and beliefs
Testimony from people with lived experience
At New Horizon Youth Centre, 68 Chalton St NW1. Book at Eventbrite

Ageing the Evidence
• What are the facts about ageing with HIV?
• What do we fear? What are our concerns?
• Are to expect more complications?
• Are we afraid of disclosing our status and experiencing stigma & discrimination?
• Can we expect to age prematurely?
• What are the long term effects of medication?
• How can we monitor our own health?
NAM are leading a major research study and need your feedback.
Speakers:
Dr Ian Williams – consultant psysician – will present the latest medical evidence.
Zoe Smith and Roger Pebody from NAM will present their research on the psycho-social implications and the concerns of PLWH.
To book or for more information call: 020 3317 5177
Duncan Catterall Seminar Room, Mortimer Market Centre, London WC1E 6JB
Thursday 28th January 6.00 – 8.00 www.bloomsburynetwork.co.uk

Free Speakeasy – ready to run course
It involves three days of training after which you will be able to deliver either a full FPA Speakeasy course or elements of the FPA Speakeasy course without accreditation.
Training aims
By the end of the two days you will:
• understand key aspects of sexual health and sexuality – especially as they relate to work with parents in talking with their children
• know how to deliver the FPA Speakeasy course for parents and carers without accreditation.
Training requirements and time commitments
• Participants need to attend all three days of the training on (March 1st, 2nd and 3rd 9:30am – 1pm at 5 Pancras Square, Room 1.4 Coram, London, N1C 4AG)
• Run at least one parents group at their local school or community group in Camden.
FPA Speakeasy course for parents and carers (without accreditation)
The Speakeasy course for parents and carers offers a non-threatening, group-based opportunity for parents and carers to acquire the confidence and skills they need to talk to their children about growing up, relationships, sex and sexuality. It is designed to be a fun and relaxed course, providing an atmosphere where parents can learn together from one another’s experiences.
To book a place please contact Sandra Soteriou on sandra.soteriou@camden.gov.uk

CSE In Plain Sight -Free training
We are offering free training and guidance to parents to help inform you how best to protect your children and young people from sexual exploitation after dark.
The training will cover all aspects of CSE, advising you how you can safeguard your children both on and offline.
Please come along on February 10th from 11am – 12.30pm Crowndale Centre, Ground Floor , Mezzanine The Eversholt, 218 Eversholt St, NW1 1BD.
Nightwatch is a one year Training and Outreach pilot funded by the Department for Education.
To book a place please contact Sandra Soteriou on sandra.soteriou@camden.gov.uk

Camden and Islington Recovery College
The Spring 2016 prospectus is now ready and is available online at http://www.candi.nhs.uk/our-services/education-and-employment/recovery-college.
Don’t forget the Open Day on Monday 21st December at 4 St Pancras Way. The Recovery College will then be closed until the start of term on 4 January.

Homestart Camden Annual General Meeting
Thursday, 21st January 2016 11am – 2pm.
We would like to welcome families, volunteers, funders and colleagues to our 20th AGM at:
Kentish Town Community Centre, 17 Busby Place, London, NW5 2SP.
RSVP Via email: info@homestartcamden.org or ring 020 7424 1603.

‘End of Life Care’ Conference: Thursday 11 February 2016, 10.30am – 3pm
The Eighth Annual Joint Conference from Age UK London and the Social Care Workforce Research Unit & Making Research Count at King’s College London (CPD certified)
Venue: Henriette Raphael Function Room, Henriette Raphael House, King’s College London Guy’s Campus, SE1 9RT, near London Bridge Station
Please book your conference place via: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/end-of-life-care-tickets-20054605866

Camden Mental Health Forum
Tuesday 26 January from 6-8pm at The Hub, 8 Fairhazel Gardens, London, NW6 3SG
The forum is an opportunity for people living with mental ill health, their carers, families and friends as well as mental health professionals to come together and discuss mental health issues in the borough including considering the future shape of services.
The meeting will be chaired by Councillor Maeve McCormack, the Council’s Mental Health champion. Contact Paul Kent, London Borough of Camden Tel: 0207 974 6921 Web: camden.gov.uk

Voluntary Action Camden in Partnership with the Mary Ward Centre
ILM Certificate in Team Leading
Need a course that is the ideal launch pad for your management career? Start with this nationally recognized qualification that is designed for new and aspiring team leaders – get an in-depth introduction to the role and its responsibilities. This is a classroom-based afternoon\evening course delivered by tutors who are current practitioners in the sector. One session per week over 23 weeks plus online materials starting in January 2016. If you are in receipt of JSA/ESA or are unemployed and receive another income related benefit this course is FREE. Full fee £597. Call Roz on 020 7269 6033 or email roz@marywardcentre.ac.uk for details.

Drop-In Mindfulness Meditation
Thursdays 2.30pm – 3.30pm at The Stress Project
Mindfulness is the practise of focusing your attention on being in the present, without judgement. It is clinically proven and ideal to help improve sleep, de-stress and reduce anxiety.
£2 – No need to book, just turn up
www.stressproject.org.uk 2 Shelburne Road N7 6DL tel: 020 7700 3938

Volunteer Coordinators’ Forum and AGM
Save the date: Wednesday 27th January
Time and Venue TBC
Contact Sheila at Volunteer Centre Camden [sheila@volunteercentrecamden.org.uk]

Winter Volunteering Fairs
VCC are hosting three volunteering fairs this Winter.
The fairs are a perfect way to meet people who want to volunteer in Camden. And they have a 46% recruitment rate.
Thursday 21st January 6-7.30pm at Swiss Cottage Library
Please make sure you have weekend and evening volunteering opportunities, as many people who attend evening fairs work during the day.
Thursday 28th January 12-2pm at St Pancras Community Association
Wednesday 24th February 12-2pm at Working Men’s College
And you can easily book your places via Eventbrite here.

Developing Partnerships in the Arts and Cultural Sectors
24th February 2016, 10 am- 4.15 pm, Cockpit Arts, London
Looking at the benefits of where, when and how to find the right partner, this course will offer a simple structure for developing and working in partnerships.
Full of practical techniques for working together with other organisations and individuals, the day will leave you equipped to successfully deliver youth arts projects and events through partnerships.
Ideal if you are looking to work in partnership with other organisations to deliver youth arts projects. You will gain:
~ Tips for identifying and approaching suitable partners
~ Information on how to develop partnerships and partnership agreements
~ Techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of your partnerships
Cost: The fee for this course is £130, limited bursary places are available.
Book your place at www.artswork.org.uk/event or contact Rachel Hall via rachelhall@artswork.org.uk / 02380 332491 for further advice and information.

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

Opportunities at JW3
Family & Schools Programmer Part Time (28 Hours PW)
CRM Systems & Web Manager
Ticketing Services Administrator (part-time)
Volunteer Youth Leader
Application details on the website. Please email completed application form and CV to charlotte@jw3.org.uk. Deadline for applications: Sunday10 January 2016

Two new job vacancies here at Hillside Clubhouse
Individual Placement and Support (IPS)
Employment Service (CAMDEN)
Mental Health Employment Support Worker – 35 hours £26342
Mental Health Employment Support Team Manager 14 hours £12532
Hillside Clubhouse is a dynamic mental health charity in North London. This exciting new pilot project will deliver employment and wellbeing support to people with common mental health problems to the IPS Model of employment support and the team will be embedded in existing clinical and JCP teams. You will have a sound track record in working with people with mental health problems or disabilities and supporting them to gain and retain work as well as employer engagement skills. The Manager will also have experience of project, systems and people management. Prior IPS experience is preferred but not essential.
For an application pack please email gsell@hillsideclubhouse.org.uk or telephone 020 7700 6408.
Closing date: Monday 25 January at 5 pm
www.hillsideclubhouse.org.uk

Digital Inclusion Worker (interim contract – 4 months) – Apply by 11th January
The Cardinal Hume Centre has a vacancy for a Digital Inclusion Worker (interim contract – 4 months). All details can be found at
https://www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk/about-us/vacancies/
Please note that the closing date for applications is Monday 11 January 2016 at 5.00pm and first-round interviews are planned for Thursday 14 January 2016.

New Horizon Youth Centre seeks Volunteers
Looking for a challenge, reward or a change in direction? Come and volunteer to support young homeless/vulnerable people achieve positive futures in Kings Cross. New Horizon Youth Centre’s twice award winning training programme will facilitate your volunteering in our youth work or advice teams. We provide regular support, lunch, travel expenses and the chance to work alongside dynamic and creative teams of professionals and young people. Please visit http://nhyouthcentre.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer to download a pack or to find out more.

AgeUK Camden seeks Temporary Information/Data Input Officer
4 month contract (part time 21 hours per week)
Local Government Scale 5-6 SP22 – 28 £23,658 to £27,879 pa pro rata 6% contributory pension
Ideally to be available to start no later than Mid February 2016
Are you experienced in using and updating databases and on line information directories? Do you enjoy a busy and rewarding environment? Age UK Camden’s Information/Data Input Officer will be crucial in delivering an effective up to date database for organisations across Camden who want to access information on resources for older people.
The post is based at our head office in Tavistock Square, Camden. AUC offers a contributory pension, and season ticket or bicycle loan facility.
For further details and an application form visit our website www.ageukcamden.org.uk or email jobs@ageukcamden.org.uk or telephone 020 7239 0400.
Closing date: 9:30am Wednesday 20th January 2016
Interviews: Tuesday 26th January 2016

Chief Executive- Voluntary Action Islington
Salary: up to £56,000
Our new Chief Executive must have the skills and qualities to be a leader of the diverse voluntary and community sector in Islington. We are looking for a commercially astute manager, with a strong track record in leadership and successful partnership working, ideally across sectors.
Full details including job description and application form on our web site
Closing date 9am on 18th January 2016
Interviews will be held on 25th January 2016

Marketing and Communications Volunteer
British Somali Community is a women led charity based in Camden, London which has operated for 20 years. We are focused on improving Somali children’s educational achievements, improving access to health and social services and improving the overall well-being of the Somali community.
We are looking for a creative and tech-savvy volunteer to join the team and help drive our marketing and communication. The volunteer will help develop a marketing and communication strategy for the BSC and support the team in creating marketing materials for our services, assist in organizing events and some office administrative duties when required. Although this is a voluntary role, with lunch and travel expenses covered, there is a possibility of it becoming a funded role.
Please send your CV and a short covering letter explaining your interest in the position as soon as possible to: info@britishsomali.org

Alexandra Road Park Seeks Volunteers
This new park seeks volunteers who can help with conservation and promotion of Alexandra Road Park. Contact Jenny Kurktchieva, Jenny.Kurktchieva@camden.gov.uk or call 020 7974 2367.

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 phone: 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/

Offiice Space for Hire
Camden Cypriot Women’s Organisation in Kentish Town, have office space for hire within a community building which is centrally located, The building is a few minutes walk from Kentish Town tube and mainline services as well as various bus stops.
The office, which is spacious is roughly 6 metres square, fits 4 desks freely and has a corridor which is also good for use, would be suitable for meetings or one to one sessions. Both spaces are light and airy and a viewing is highly recommended.
The building has step free access.
For further information or to view, please call Koula Ioannou on Tel: 0207 267 7194 or email koula@ccwo.org.uk

IKWRO seeks Partners
IKWRO are currently looking into collaborating with relevant organisations in Camden to extend our work and support victims as well as professionals. IKWRO is a registered charity which provides advice and support to Middle Eastern and Afghan women and girls living in the UK who are facing Forced Marriage, Child Marriage, “Honour” Based Violence, Female Genital Mutilation and Domestic Violence. We offer advice in Farsi, Dari, Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish, Pashto and English and run a free counselling service in Farsi, Kurdish, Arabic and English. IKWRO also provide training for women and girls to help them understand their rights in the UK. In partnership with other organisations we assist survivors of violence with accessing English language classes and education, training and employment opportunities, so that they can become financially independent. We also campaign to raise awareness about issues including “Honour” Based Violence, Forced Marriage, Child Marriage, Female Genital Mutilation and discrimination by Sharia courts and to push for better laws and policies to protect women’s and girl’s rights.
Contact Elaha Walizadeh on 0207 920 6460 for more information.
Email: Elaha.Walizadeh@ikwro.org.uk web: http://ikwro.org.uk/

Camden Community Connectors
Tackling social isolation among older people
Camden Community Connectors is a new six year project working across Camden to tackle social isolation and loneliness among older people. Our team of five local Area Coordinators is working with volunteers to identify and support people aged 60+ and help them reconnect to local activities and meet new people. We’re also building up an accessible ‘asset map’ of all services that support older people in Camden. We’d love to hear from you if you want to work with us, refer an older person, volunteer or if you just want to know more.
We’re part of the Ageing Better in Camden programme funded by Big Lottery. To find out more, check out our website or call us free on 0800 161 5716 .

Greenwood Place Update
Demolition will begin on the Greenwood Place site soon. Read the lastest update here.

Need some online Help?
Don’t forget VAC’s toolkits and resources pages at www.vac.org.uk/our-work/toolkits-and-resources
There are resources to help you in many areas of work. For instance our HR resources can be found here: https://vac.org.uk/our-work/toolkits-and-resources/employment-hr-resources/

Camden Consultations
You can find all Camden consultation on the Wearecamden consultation hub.

FREE VAC Membership for Unfunded Groups: Voluntary Action Camden Small organisations with no paid staff and a turnover of less than £1,500 can now join for FREE. To take advantage of this offer just fill in the membership on the online form here.

Camden Community Festivals Fund; Decision made at Camden’s Cabinet; CIL Spending Ideas; COP21 Paris: what happened?; IKWRO seeks Partners; Trust for London News; Camden and Islington Recovery College; Homestart Camden AGM; Selfiecop; + jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

Camden Council is supporting this grants programme in recognition of the contribution made by community festivals and events to strengthening Camden communities and in developing a rich culture and economy within the borough.
The fund is to sustain and develop Camden’s rich culture, its strong communities and dynamic partnerships by supporting quality, creative events, projects and activities. This year the fund is managed by Voluntary Action Camden (VAC).
Applications are welcome for grants of £200 to £5000 for:
~ Small-scale events with a capacity of under 500 people, the maximum amount that can be applied for is £500. A copy of the application form can be downloaded here
~ Larger-scale events with a capacity of 500 people or more the maximum that can be applied for is £5,000. Please note the average is £1,000. A copy of the application form can be downloaded here.
A copy of the detailed guideline can be downloaded here
The application process is open from Wednesday 9th December 2015
The deadline for completed applications is: 6pm on Monday 29th February 2016
Contact
If you would like more information and/or to be sent hard copies of the application forms and the guidelines please contact acharles@vac.org.uk Tel. 020 7284 6553. Fax. 020 7284 6551. VAC, 293-299 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2TJ.
Please note your grant is only administered by VAC. For all other aspects of your event please contact Camden Council’s events team. events@camden.gov.uk Tel: 020 7974 5633.

Decision made at Camden’s Cabinet
The report ‘A New Strategic Relationship with the Voluntary Sector’ was approved at cabinet on Wednesday. The press release is on the Camden council website. The full report that went to cabinet is available here.

CIL Spending Ideas
The new system of Community Infrastructure Levy could raise £8-9 million a year in future. Suggestions for spending next year’s CIL are required by 8th January 2016. You can view details and the estimated CIL spending by ward here. You can submit ideas to your local councillor or directly to CIL@camden.gov.uk

COP21 Paris: what happened?
More than 190 nations gathered at the 21stConference of Parties (COP21) in Paris earlier this month to agree global measures to reduce emissions and mitigate dangerous and irreversible climate change which scientists warn would be associated with an increase in temperatures of over 2°C on pre-industrial levels. Continued use of fossil fuels means that we are already halfway there with warming already at 1°C above pre-industrial levels. Read the Camden Climate Change Alliance assessment.

VAC Payroll Service
Did you know that we offer a payroll service? Find out what we offer on the VAC website and call the Finance Team to find out more Tel: 020 7284 6561/6582 Email: financeteam@vac.org.uk

IKWRO seeks Partners
We are currently looking into collaborating with relevant organisations in Camden to extend our work and support victims as well as professionals. IKWRO is a registered charity which provides advice and support to Middle Eastern and Afghan women and girls living in the UK who are facing Forced Marriage, Child Marriage, “Honour” Based Violence, Female Genital Mutilation and Domestic Violence. We offer advice in Farsi, Dari, Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish, Pashto and English and run a free counselling service in Farsi, Kurdish, Arabic and English. IKWRO also provide training for women and girls to help them understand their rights in the UK. In partnership with other organisations we assist survivors of violence with accessing English language classes and education, training and employment opportunities, so that they can become financially independent. We also campaign to raise awareness about issues including “Honour” Based Violence, Forced Marriage, Child Marriage, Female Genital Mutilation and discrimination by Sharia courts and to push for better laws and policies to protect women’s and girl’s rights.
Contact Elaha Walizadeh on 0207 920 6460 for more information.
Email: Elaha.Walizadeh@ikwro.org.uk web: http://ikwro.org.uk/

Trust for London Newsletter
The latest newsletter is out and includes lots of research on poverty, low pay, pollution and many other factors affecting Londoners and the voluntary sector.

Camden and Islington Recovery College
The Spring 2016 prospectus is now ready and is available online at http://www.candi.nhs.uk/our-services/education-and-employment/recovery-college.
Don’t forget the Open Day on Monday 21st December at 4 St Pancras Way. The Recovery College will then be closed until the start of term on 4 January.

Homestart Camden Annual General Meeting
Thursday, 21st January 2016 11am – 2pm.
We would like to welcome families, volunteers, funders and colleagues to our 20th AGM at:
Kentish Town Community Centre, 17 Busby Place, London, NW5 2SP.
RSVP Via email: info@homestartcamden.org or ring 020 7424 1603.

Camden Community Connectors
Tackling social isolation among older people
Camden Community Connectors is a new six year project working across Camden to tackle social isolation and loneliness among older people. Our team of five local Area Coordinators is working with volunteers to identify and support people aged 60+ and help them reconnect to local activities and meet new people. We’re also building up an accessible ‘asset map’ of all services that support older people in Camden. We’d love to hear from you if you want to work with us, refer an older person, volunteer or if you just want to know more.
We’re part of the Ageing Better in Camden programme funded by Big Lottery. To find out more, check out our website or call us free on 0800 161 5716 .

Office to Let in Kentish Town- 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. Conveniently located in Kentish Town with all usual mod cons. Contact Kevin at VAC knunan@vac.org.uk

Selfiecop
The Community Safety Partnership heard from the Police about a new app to protect children and young people re sexting, nude selfies and cyber-bullying.
https://www.selfiecop.com/ Currently android only but other version in development.

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

Voluntary Action Islington, British Somali Community, NICE, the Calthorpe Project, 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

Volunteer Nation
Bank of England Chief Economist Andy Haldane explores a hidden engine of the British economy – its volunteers. The UK has an unpaid army of workers which hides in plain sight. “This is a fantastic success story, which is largely missed. And it could be even more of a success story if people knew about it,” says Haldane, the country’s most senior economist. But their efforts are often unmeasured, unrecognized and sometimes used, it is argued, as a substitute for services and employment once provided by the state. Haldane explores the impact this volunteer army has on our economy and our communities and asks what more we could do to harness their efforts for the greater good of us all. Listen again on BBC iplayer.

Season on Goodwill?
The right wing press have launched an unprecedented series of attacks on the sector in the run up to Christmas (probably not much else going on the world…). The Telegraph kicked off with a major article from the True and Fair (sic) Foundation run by Ms Miller claiming that many charities spent less than half of the money they raised on ‘good work’. Of course the story is nonsense and both the Charity Commission and the Cabinet Office warned the Telegraph against publishing such a damning story based on faulty reasoning but they went ahead anyway. NCVO explained concisely why the report was flawed and described it a ‘complete rubbish’ and ‘the worst report I’ve seen in 20 years’ and described Ms Miller as ‘more interested in self-publicity…’ . Ms Miller is no stranger to publicity, being the second wife of multi-millionaire hedgefund boss Alan Miller. The final irony is that The True and Fair Foundation fail to mention in their report that their own 2013 ratio of charitable expenditure to total income was less than 50% and therefore by their own measurement they too are ‘bad’. Though at least they managed to submit their accounts on time that year, unlike previously. Surprisingly the Metro did a very good piece explaining why the Telegraph article was so wrong.
Later in the week the Times then had a major story about high pay in the charity sector. Never mind that this story was about a handful of charities, and many had good explanations for these payments. Such stories damage the whole sector even when they are totally irrelevant to the 99.995% of charities that underpay their staff.
Today the Times has a front page story ‘Charities cashing in on relatives of dead’
They claim charities are trawling through public records of wills so that they can chase bereaved relatives for gifts. According the NCVO the whole story is based on one letter sent by one charity.
Civil Society has a good analysis of why the right wing press are attacking charities and what the sector needs to do about it. Not doubt there will be more to come and it all leaves very little room to report on fracking, the migrant crisis, the middle east, EU and so on.

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

Reaching Communities Fund and Awards for All One to One Advice Sessions
28th January 2016. 10.30 – 4.30.
With Jane Sterland Regional Officer for the Big Lottery
Voluntary Action Camden, 293-299 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2TJ
Reaching Communities and Awards for All are still amongst the best grants to go for. Jane will be offering you one to one advice on your application to the Reaching Communities Fund and Awards for All. You can book a one hour slot to discuss your draft application with someone who is very knowledgeable and experienced. People who attended the last advice day were very pleased with the support they received.
‘Yes invaluable. Would always come. Support was brilliant’.
‘Yes I would certainly recommend it. We were given a generous amount of time with someone who was extremely knowledgeable and a very clear communicator’.
To get the best out of the session you need to get a copy of your draft application to VAC by Friday 15th January. Your draft application will then be sent to Jane who can then read it and prepare comments ready for when you meet with her.
To book a place please contact acharles@vac.org.uk. Tel: 0207 284 6553.

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

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:
• 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).

Property Advice Clinic
The Ethical Property Foundation will be providing a free property advice clinic for charities and not for profits in Camden on 14th January. Two of the Foundation’s advisers will be on hand to provide 20 minute one to one discussions on property issues including renting, leasing or buying property, maintenance or property disposal.
Please contact Donna Turnbull at VAC to book your free 20 minute slot between 10am-1pm. dturnbull@vac.org.uk tel 020 7284 6567

‘End of Life Care’ Conference: Thursday 11 February 2016, 10.30am – 3pm
The Eighth Annual Joint Conference from Age UK London and the Social Care Workforce Research Unit & Making Research Count at King’s College London (CPD certified)
Venue: Henriette Raphael Function Room, Henriette Raphael House, King’s College London Guy’s Campus, SE1 9RT, near London Bridge Station
Please book your conference place via: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/end-of-life-care-tickets-20054605866

Camden Mental Health Forum
Tuesday 26 January from 6-8pm at The Hub, 8 Fairhazel Gardens, London, NW6 3SG
The forum is an opportunity for people living with mental ill health, their carers, families and friends as well as mental health professionals to come together and discuss mental health issues in the borough including considering the future shape of services.
The meeting will be chaired by Councillor Maeve McCormack, the Council’s Mental Health champion.
If there is something that you would like to talk about at the forum please contact me (see below).
Other dates for 2016:
· Tuesday 12 April 6-8pm (venue to be confirmed)
· Wednesday 13 July 6-8pm (venue to be confirmed)
· Wednesday 12 October 6-8pm (venue to be confirmed)
We look forward to seeing you at the forums.
Paul Kent, London Borough of Camden Tel: 0207 974 6921 Web: camden.gov.uk

Voluntary Action Camden in Partnership with the Mary Ward Centre
ILM Certificate in Team Leading
Need a course that is the ideal launch pad for your management career? Start with this nationally recognized qualification that is designed for new and aspiring team leaders – get an in-depth introduction to the role and its responsibilities. This is a classroom-based afternoon\evening course delivered by tutors who are current practitioners in the sector. One session per week over 23 weeks plus online materials starting in January 2016. If you are in receipt of JSA/ESA or are unemployed and receive another income related benefit this course is FREE. Full fee £597. Call Roz on 020 7269 6033 or email roz@marywardcentre.ac.uk for details.

Drop-In Mindfulness Meditation
Thursdays 2.30pm – 3.30pm at The Stress Project
Mindfulness is the practise of focusing your attention on being in the present, without judgement. It is clinically proven and ideal to help improve sleep, de-stress and reduce anxiety.
£2 – No need to book, just turn up
www.stressproject.org.uk 2 Shelburne Road N7 6DL tel: 020 7700 3938

Volunteer Coordinators’ Forum and AGM
Save the date: Wednesday 27th January
Time and Venue TBC
Do you have a low-cost (or free!) venue VCC could use?
If so, contact Sheila at Volunteer Centre Camden [sheila@volunteercentrecamden.org.uk]

Courses at Castlehaven
Castlehaven have two new courses starting in the new year for anyone aged 19yrs +, the courses are the outcome of a partnership between the Castlehaven Community Association and the WMC – The Camden College.
An accredited Level 1 Course in Working with Children. Every Tuesday 10am-3pm from Tues 12th Jan 2016 (A great course for parents/carers of school children, who are looking to getting back into work).
A Free Taster Course in Floristry on Fri 29th Jan 2016 (With the potential to start an 8wk course in starting a business in Floristry).
Contact Castlehaven Community Association, The Community Centre, 21 Castlehaven Road, NW1
t: 020 7485 3386 e: info@castlehaven.org.uk web www.castlehaven.org.uk

Winter Volunteering Fairs
VCC are hosting three volunteering fairs this Winter.
The fairs are a perfect way to meet people who want to volunteer in Camden. And they have a 46% recruitment rate.
Thursday 21st January 6-7.30pm at Swiss Cottage Library
Please make sure you have weekend and evening volunteering opportunities, as many people who attend evening fairs work during the day.
Thursday 28th January 12-2pm at St Pancras Community Association
Wednesday 24th February 12-2pm at Working Men’s College
And you can easily book your places via Eventbrite here.

Developing Partnerships in the Arts and Cultural Sectors
24th February 2016, 10 am- 4.15 pm, Cockpit Arts, London
Looking at the benefits of where, when and how to find the right partner, this course will offer a simple structure for developing and working in partnerships.
Full of practical techniques for working together with other organisations and individuals, the day will leave you equipped to successfully deliver youth arts projects and events through partnerships. The training will use an interactive approach to explore issues such as defining roles and setting realistic targets, along with troubleshooting for problem areas – including when and how to bow out gracefully if partnerships aren’t working!
Ideal if you are looking to work in partnership with other organisations to deliver youth arts projects
You will gain:
~ Tips for identifying and approaching suitable partners
~ Information on how to develop partnerships and partnership agreements
~ Techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of your partnerships
Cost: The fee for this course is £130, limited bursary places are available. 25% early bird discount for bookings made before the 24th December 2015.
Book your place at www.artswork.org.uk/event or contact Rachel Hall via rachelhall@artswork.org.uk / 02380 332491 for further advice and information.

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

Chief Executive- Voluntary Action Islington
Salary: up to £56,000
Our new Chief Executive must have the skills and qualities to be a leader of the diverse voluntary and community sector in Islington. We are looking for a commercially astute manager, with a strong track record in leadership and successful partnership working, ideally across sectors.
Full details including job description and application form on our web site
Closing date 9am on 18th January 2016
Interviews will be held on 25th January 2016

Marketing and Communications Volunteer
British Somali Community is a women led charity based in Camden, London which has operated for 20 years. We are focused on improving Somali children’s educational achievements, improving access to health and social services and improving the overall well-being of the Somali community.
We are looking for a creative and tech-savvy volunteer to join the team and help drive our marketing and communication. The volunteer will help develop a marketing and communication strategy for the BSC and support the team in creating marketing materials for our services, assist in organizing events and some office administrative duties when required. Although this is a voluntary role, with lunch and travel expenses covered, there is a possibility of it becoming a funded role.
Please send your CV and a short covering letter explaining your interest in the position as soon as possible to: info@britishsomali.org

NICE is recruiting lay and community members
NICE committees and working groups are made up of health, social care and other professionals and practitioners, patients, service users, carers and members of the public, and technical experts.
NICE is looking for lay and community members in different areas to help us develop our guidance, and all of our lay and community members are paid a fee to attend meetings and we cover travel and other expenses. See the full range of opportunities at the NICE website.

The Calthorpe Project seeks new Chair of Trustees
The Calthorpe Project, a charity and social enterprise in the rapidly changing area of King’s Cross in London, is looking for a new Chair of Trustees. Please see weblink below for more details:
https://reachskills.org.uk/opp/chair-trustees-needed-unique-multi-purpose-inner-city-green-oasis
This is a voluntary role, but would be ideal for someone who wants to ‘make their mark’ on an organisation for the benefit of local people and the environment. Applicants will need a track record of managing change, leadership and governance, and negotiating multiple stakeholder interests.
The Calthorpe Project has a 30 year history and a future full of potential. With your help the Calthorpe Project will continue to play a vital role in the London Borough of Camden for many years to come.

Alexandra Road Park Seeks Volunteers
This new park seeks volunteers who can help with conservation and promotion of Alexandra Road Park. Contact Jenny Kurktchieva, Jenny.Kurktchieva@camden.gov.uk or call 020 7974 2367.

University College London’s GC Voluntary Sector Programme in 2015-16
Host a full-time team volunteer placement in June 2016
The UCL Volunteering Services Unit is looking for up to 25 community partners to participate in the Global Citizenship Voluntary Sector Programme 2016.
Each participating organisation will host a team of 4-8 UCL students who are passionate about the voluntary sector. That team will learn about working life in your organisation and complete a project of your choosing whose output will add value to your organisation.
The next programme takes place 31 May – 10 June 2016 and we are recruiting voluntary organisations to host placements now, at www.uclu.org/gcvoluntarysectororgs.

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 phone: 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/

DocHouse Community Discount
5 B 4 5 – great documentaries, any daytime screening, Mon– Thurs, £5 before 5pm
DocHouse is the UK’s first cinema dedicated solely to screening documentaries, be they past classics or great new releases. We show thought provoking and entertaining films and have an extensive online learning annex exploring all things documentary so we are passionate about keeping all of the local community fully updated on the DocHouse programme and its affordability.
You can see the full programme and sign up for our newsletter at http://www.dochouse.org/ or find our brochure at Curzon Bloomsbury.

Camden and Islington Public Health will re-procure Direct Action Project
This is a community based mental health promotion service for young people (aged 12-24) and for parents/carers of young children in Islington.
Ahead of inviting bids, we are conducting a market engagement exercise which will run until 16th December (12 noon). This is not an invitation to tender, but will help inform the procurement and shape the service specification. The questionnaire is now live and available through the Council website.
There is no requirement for potential providers to be physically located in Islington, although they will require familiarity with Islington services and facilities.
If your organisation may be interested in bidding for this contract, we would be grateful if you could complete the questionnaire through the London Tenders Portal (details in the link above).

Further Consultation on Crossrail 2
A proposed new railway serving London and the wider South East, Crossrail 2 would run underground through London between Wimbledon and New Southgate/Tottenham Hale and link into the existing national rail network above ground for destinations in Surrey and Hertfordshire.
Crossrail 2 would link in with London Underground, London Overground, Crossrail 1, national and international rail services.
Further details about the proposals are available at www.crossrail2.co.uk, where you can access a range of factsheets and view an interactive map of the proposals.
To respond formally to this consultation, please visit www.crossrail2.co.uk to leave a comment or provide a response to the consultation questions contained in the feedback form. The consultation will run until 8 January 2016

Greenwood Place Update
Demolition will begin on the Greenwood Place site soon. Read the lastest update here.

Need some online Help?
Don’t forget VAC’s toolkits and resources pages at www.vac.org.uk/our-work/toolkits-and-resources
There are resources to help you in many areas of work. For instance our HR resources can be found here: https://vac.org.uk/our-work/toolkits-and-resources/employment-hr-resources/

Camden Consultations
You can find all Camden consultation on the Wearecamden consultation hub.

FREE VAC Membership for Unfunded Groups: Voluntary Action Camden Small organisations with no paid staff and a turnover of less than £1,500 can now join for FREE. To take advantage of this offer just fill in the membership on the online form here.

Healthwatch Camden’s ‘Start Here’ Guide launched; Decisions to be made at Camden’s Cabinet this month; Camden Community Connectors; Camden and Islington Public Health will re-procure Direct Action Project; Further Consultation on Crossrail 2; Healthwatch Camden report reveals wide variations between GP practices in Camden; Improving Outcomes for patients with Long Term Conditions; Kentish Town City Farm Christmas Fair; + jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

The Start Here guide finally is live. It was launched it at the Healthwatch Camden Annual General Meeting (AGM). You can have a look at it here.
If you want to find out about a service, your choices or to get involved, this is your starting point.
Healthwatch Camden is an independent organisation offering information and advice on access to services, and to enable local people to monitor the quality of local services.

Decisions to be made at Camden’s Cabinet this month
Next week Camden’s Cabinet will meet to decide how we make savings from some key services as well as considering the latest information on the financial position.
Proposals being presented to Cabinet include a new strategy for the delivery of the future library service and a new framework for supporting the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS). Full details on the Camden council website.

Camden Community Connectors
Tackling social isolation among older people
Camden Community Connectors is a new six year project working across Camden to tackle social isolation and loneliness among older people. Our team of five local Area Coordinators is working with volunteers to identify and support people aged 60+ and help them reconnect to local activities and meet new people. We’re also building up an accessible ‘asset map’ of all services that support older people in Camden. We’d love to hear from you if you want to work with us, refer an older person, volunteer or if you just want to know more.
We’re part of the Ageing Better in Camden programme funded by Big Lottery. To find out more, check out our website or call us free on 0800 634 8474.

Camden and Islington Public Health will re-procure Direct Action Project
This is a community based mental health promotion service for young people (aged 12-24) and for parents/carers of young children in Islington.
Ahead of inviting bids, we are conducting a market engagement exercise which will run until 16th December (12 noon). This is not an invitation to tender, but will help inform the procurement and shape the service specification. The questionnaire is now live and available through the Council website.
There is no requirement for potential providers to be physically located in Islington, although they will require familiarity with Islington services and facilities.
If your organisation may be interested in bidding for this contract, we would be grateful if you could complete the questionnaire through the London Tenders Portal (details in the link above).

Further Consultation on Crossrail 2
A proposed new railway serving London and the wider South East, Crossrail 2 would run underground through London between Wimbledon and New Southgate/Tottenham Hale and link into the existing national rail network above ground for destinations in Surrey and Hertfordshire.
Crossrail 2 would link in with London Underground, London Overground, Crossrail 1, national and international rail services.
Further details about the proposals are available at www.crossrail2.co.uk, where you can access a range of factsheets and view an interactive map of the proposals.
To respond formally to this consultation, please visit www.crossrail2.co.uk to leave a comment or provide a response to the consultation questions contained in the feedback form. The consultation will run until 8 January 2016.

Healthwatch Camden report reveals wide variations between GP practices in Camden
A report by Healthwatch Camden entitled ‘GP practices in Camden: A study of variation 2015’, reveals wide variations in both patient experience and in the delivery of clinical services across Camden’s 36 GP practices. More details on the Healthwatch Camden website or view the full report.

Improving Outcomes for patients with Long Term Conditions
Thursday 17th December (9:30am to 1pm). Refreshments & lunch will be provided in addition to a gratuity payment of a £20:00 gift voucher as a thank you for your time.
Please note that the public who attend must have a long term condition and at this stage the CCG is focusing on holding discussions with patients who have the following conditions:
~ Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
~ Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
~ Diabetes
~ Heart Failure
~ Hypertension
~ Epilepsy
~ Cancer
~ Serious Mental Illness (SMI)
~ Frailty
Workshops will be held to discuss:
o Long term conditions management for Camden patients
o What health outcomes you feel are important for you?
o What health outcomes should be measured to ensure that your care can be judged a success?
Dr Lance Saker, General Practitioner, Hampstead Group Practice & Clinical Sponsor at Camden CCG will be the headline presenter.
To book your place email: martin.emery@camdenccg.nhs.uk or Tel: 0203 688 1755

Kentish Town City Farm Christmas Fair
12:00 – 4:00pm Sunday 13th December
at 1 Cressfield Cl, London NW5 4BN
Come along to the annual Christmas Fair and you can have fun and help support the farm and animals. There will be a Christmas Cafe with soups, cakes and John’s mulled wine. Father Christmas arrives on a pony at 1;30pm and there will be a Christmas Grotto (£3.50), live music, Christmas crafts and arts, Face Painting, a Lucky dip and Prize Raffle Draw.
KTCF Christmas Cards are also available at the farm and our Christmas Fair. Cost: £5 for 10 cards. See more at ktcityfarm.org.uk

Two Kingsgate Community Centre Christmas Events
Winter Festival 2015, 12th December 11am to 3.30pm at Kilburn Grange Park – stalls, ice rink and magical surprises. For info email info@kingsgatecc.org.uk or call 020 7328 9480
Under 5s Drop In Christmas Party 16th December 1.30 – 3.30pm at Kingsgate Community Centre

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

British Somali Community, NICE, The Sherriff Centre, Alexandra Road Park, Nafisyat, Ransackers, 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

 

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

Reaching Communities Fund and Awards for All One to One Advice Sessions
28th January 2016. 10.30 – 4.30.
With Jane Sterland Regional Officer for the Big Lottery
Voluntary Action Camden, 293-299 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2TJ
Reaching Communities and Awards for All are still amongst the best grants to go for. Jane will be offering you one to one advice on your application to the Reaching Communities Fund and Awards for All. You can book a one hour slot to discuss your draft application with someone who is very knowledgeable and experienced. People who attended the last advice day were very pleased with the support they received.
‘Yes invaluable. Would always come. Support was brilliant’.
‘Yes I would certainly recommend it. We were given a generous amount of time with someone who was extremely knowledgeable and a very clear communicator’.
To get the best out of the session you need to get a copy of your draft application to VAC by Friday 15th January. Your draft application will then be sent to Jane who can then read it and prepare comments ready for when you meet with her.
To book a place please contact acharles@vac.org.uk. Tel: 0207 284 6553.

Solve waste problems through crowdfunding
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s new campaign Waste Not UK (recently aired on the BBC) has set out to discover why we produce so much waste across the UK. A third of food in the UK never gets eaten, yet 13 million people in this country are struggling to afford to eat. Evidently something needs to be done about it!
Our friends down at Crowdfunder have teamed up with Hugh to support innovative projects to actively solve waste problems. If you have a waste project that you wish to get off the ground, why not start crowdfunding it today?
Or, if you want to show your support for other waste tackling groups, check out the campaign page.

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

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:
• 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).

Property Advice Clinic
The Ethical Property Foundation will be providing a free property advice clinic for charities and not for profits in Camden on 14th January. Two of the Foundation’s advisers will be on hand to provide 20 minute one to one discussions on property issues including renting, leasing or buying property, maintenance or property disposal.
Please contact Donna Turnbull at VAC to book your free 20 minute slot between 10am-1pm. dturnbull@vac.org.uk tel 020 7284 6567

Camden Mental Health Forum
Tuesday 26 January from 6-8pm at The Hub, 8 Fairhazel Gardens, London, NW6 3SG
The forum is an opportunity for people living with mental ill health, their carers, families and friends as well as mental health professionals to come together and discuss mental health issues in the borough including considering the future shape of services.
The meeting will be chaired by Councillor Maeve McCormack, the Council’s Mental Health champion.
If there is something that you would like to talk about at the forum please contact me (see below).
Other dates for 2016:
· Tuesday 12 April 6-8pm (venue to be confirmed)
· Wednesday 13 July 6-8pm (venue to be confirmed)
· Wednesday 12 October 6-8pm (venue to be confirmed)
We look forward to seeing you at the forums.
Paul Kent, London Borough of Camden Tel: 0207 974 6921 Web: camden.gov.uk

Voluntary Action Camden in Partnership with the Mary Ward Centre
ILM Certificate in Team Leading
Need a course that is the ideal launch pad for your management career? Start with this nationally recognized qualification that is designed for new and aspiring team leaders – get an in-depth introduction to the role and its responsibilities. This is a classroom-based afternoon\evening course delivered by tutors who are current practitioners in the sector. One session per week over 23 weeks plus online materials starting in January 2016. If you are in receipt of JSA/ESA or are unemployed and receive another income related benefit this course is FREE. Full fee £597. Call Roz on 020 7269 6033 or email roz@marywardcentre.ac.uk for details.

Drop-In Mindfulness Meditation
Thursday 2.30pm – 3.30pm at The Stress Project
Mindfulness is the practise of focusing your attention on being in the present, without judgement. It is clinically proven and ideal to help improve sleep, de-stress and reduce anxiety.
£2 – No need to book, just turn up
www.stressproject.org.uk 2 Shelburne Road N7 6DL tel: 020 7700 3938

Camden & Brent councils proposals for a major development of Kilburn High Road
Monday 14th December at The Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road – from 11am to 3pm. refreshments will be provided.
The objectives include making the High Road a safer place for everyone (the area is a top accident spot) trying to make it a more attractive place for people, businesses and visitors. Proposals include widening pavement areas, installing a central median strip – island in the middle of the road, traffic measures: 20mph speed limit, de-cluttering the footways. Following the public meetings there will be a period of public consultation. see: Camden.gov.uk/khr
KOVE have been campaigning for safer road crossings for considerable time and this initiative allows people to contribute their views and suggestions.

CPPEG Open Meeting
Monday 14th December, St Pancras Hospital, Conference Room 2-4pm
o Presentation 1: Team Around The Practice (a new service which aims to optimise the care of people with mental health issues in primary care) Presenter: Terilla Bernard, Mental Health (TAP) Project Manager
o Presentation 2: Patients with a long term condition (what do patients want a care plan to look like?) Presenter: Adetola Adeniran, Project Manager – Long Term Conditions and Cancer Programme
Camden’s Team Around the Practice officially launched
Clinicians, service users, carers, and commissioners gathered on Wednesday 25 November to launch Camden’s newest mental health initiative, the Team Around the Practice. The Team Around the Practice, or TAP, is supporting patients with mental health needs who might have previously found themselves on long waiting lists or ‘falling through the gaps’. The TAP is being provided by the Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust and Mind in Camden, and is working exclusively with Camden GPs.

Volunteer Coordinators’ Forum and AGM
At this point all you need to do is save the date: Wednesday 27th January
Time and Venue TBC
Do you have a low-cost (or free!) venue VCC could use?
If so, contact Sheila at Volunteer Centre Camden [sheila@volunteercentrecamden.org.uk]

Alexandra Road Park Events November/December 2015
Saturdays (until 12.12.2015 for this year) – 10.00am – 11.000am – Boot camp, (in the Bowl area) free
Saturdays (until 12.12.2015 for this year) – 11.00am – 12.000pm – Pilates, (in the Bowl area) free
Fridays – 4.30pm – 6pm – Cricket, Winter location: Quintin Kynaston, Marlborough Hill, London NW8
17 December 2015 – 6:30pm – 9pm – Talent night, venue: TRA Hall, Alexandra and Ainsworth estate, Rowley Way, London NW8. To take part, audition and rehearse for the competition please send an email to stephen@shakonline.co.uk with your name, address, contact details and the type of performance with which you would like to take part in by 3rd of December.
If you have any questions, please call 0207 624 8935.
Jenny Kurktchieva, Alexandra Road Park HLF Activities Co-ordinator Telephone: 020 7974 2367

Courses at Castlehaven
Castlehaven have two new courses starting in the new year for anyone aged 19yrs +, the courses are the outcome of a partnership between the Castlehaven Community Association and the WMC – The Camden College.
An accredited Level 1 Course in Working with Children. Every Tuesday 10am-3pm from Tues 12th Jan 2016 (A great course for parents/carers of school children, who are looking to getting back into work).
A Free Taster Course in Floristry on Fri 29th Jan 2016 (With the potential to start an 8wk course in starting a business in Floristry).
Contact Castlehaven Community Association, The Community Centre, 21 Castlehaven Road, NW1
t: 020 7485 3386 e: info@castlehaven.org.uk web www.castlehaven.org.uk

Winter Volunteering Fairs
VCC are hosting three volunteering fairs this Winter.
The fairs are a perfect way to meet people who want to volunteer in Camden. And they have a 46% recruitment rate.
Thursday 21st January 6-7.30pm at Swiss Cottage Library
Please make sure you have weekend and evening volunteering opportunities, as many people who attend evening fairs work during the day.
Thursday 28th January 12-2pm at St Pancras Community Association
Wednesday 24th February 12-2pm at Working Men’s College
And you can easily book your places via Eventbrite here.

Developing Partnerships in the Arts and Cultural Sectors
24th February 2016, 10 am- 4.15 pm, Cockpit Arts, London
Looking at the benefits of where, when and how to find the right partner, this course will offer a simple structure for developing and working in partnerships.
Full of practical techniques for working together with other organisations and individuals, the day will leave you equipped to successfully deliver youth arts projects and events through partnerships. The training will use an interactive approach to explore issues such as defining roles and setting realistic targets, along with troubleshooting for problem areas – including when and how to bow out gracefully if partnerships aren’t working!
Ideal if you are looking to work in partnership with other organisations to deliver youth arts projects
You will gain:
~ Tips for identifying and approaching suitable partners
~ Information on how to develop partnerships and partnership agreements
~ Techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of your partnerships
Cost: The fee for this course is £130, limited bursary places are available. 25% early bird discount for bookings made before the 24th December 2015.
Book your place at www.artswork.org.uk/event or contact Rachel Hall via rachelhall@artswork.org.uk / 02380 332491 for further advice and information.

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

Marketing and Communications Volunteer
British Somali Community is a women led charity based in Camden, London which has operated for 20 years. We are focused on improving Somali children’s educational achievements, improving access to health and social services and improving the overall well-being of the Somali community.
We are looking for a creative and tech-savvy volunteer to join the team and help drive our marketing and communication. The volunteer will help develop a marketing and communication strategy for the BSC and support the team in creating marketing materials for our services, assist in organizing events and some office administrative duties when required. Although this is a voluntary role, with lunch and travel expenses covered, there is a possibility of it becoming a funded role.
Please send your CV and a short covering letter explaining your interest in the position as soon as possible to: info@britishsomali.org

NICE is recruiting lay and community members
NICE committees and working groups are made up of health, social care and other professionals and practitioners, patients, service users, carers and members of the public, and technical experts.
NICE is looking for lay and community members in different areas to help us develop our guidance, and all of our lay and community members are paid a fee to attend meetings and we cover travel and other expenses. See the full range of opportunities at the NICE website.

The Calthorpe Project seeks new Chair of Trustees
The Calthorpe Project, a charity and social enterprise in the rapidly changing area of King’s Cross in London, is looking for a new Chair of Trustees. Please see weblink below for more details:
https://reachskills.org.uk/opp/chair-trustees-needed-unique-multi-purpose-inner-city-green-oasis
This is a voluntary role, but would be ideal for someone who wants to ‘make their mark’ on an organisation for the benefit of local people and the environment. Applicants will need a track record of managing change, leadership and governance, and negotiating multiple stakeholder interests.
The Calthorpe Project has a 30 year history and a future full of potential. With your help the Calthorpe Project will continue to play a vital role in the London Borough of Camden for many years to come.

Alexandra Road Park Seeks Volunteers
This new park seeks volunteers who can help with conservation and promotion of Alexandra Road Park. Contact Jenny Kurktchieva, Jenny.Kurktchieva@camden.gov.uk or call 020 7974 2367.

University College London’s GC Voluntary Sector Programme in 2015-16
Host a full-time team volunteer placement in June 2016
The UCL Volunteering Services Unit is looking for up to 25 community partners to participate in the Global Citizenship Voluntary Sector Programme 2016.
Each participating organisation will host a team of 4-8 UCL students who are passionate about the voluntary sector. That team will learn about working life in your organisation and complete a project of your choosing whose output will add value to your organisation.
The next programme takes place 31 May – 10 June 2016 and we are recruiting voluntary organisations to host placements now, at www.uclu.org/gcvoluntarysectororgs.

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 phone: 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/

Spent: A short play and workshop about women, austerity and debt
Performed by women affected by the criminal justice system
Available to book February and March 2016 at conferences, seminars or staff training. Suitable for criminal justice agencies, women’s organisations, policymakers, funders, probation and other frontline organisations working with vulnerable women. Clean Break is a theatre company which focuses exclusively on women in the criminal justice system through education and performances in the community, custodial settings, and at theatres and festivals.
For Further Information and to discuss booking and fees contact: Kirstin Shirling 0207 482 8623 kirstin.shirling@cleanbreak.org.uk

Greenwood Place Update
Demolition will begin on the Greenwood Place site soon. Read the lastest update here.

Need some online Help?
Don’t forget VAC’s toolkits and resources pages at www.vac.org.uk/our-work/toolkits-and-resources
There are resources to help you in many areas of work. For instance our HR resources can be found here: https://vac.org.uk/our-work/toolkits-and-resources/employment-hr-resources/

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

Camden Consultations
You can find all Camden consultation on the Wearecamden consultation hub.

FREE VAC Membership for Unfunded Groups: Voluntary Action Camden Small organisations with no paid staff and a turnover of less than £1,500 can now join for FREE. To take advantage of this offer just fill in the membership on the online form here.

Property Advice Clinic; Camden Adult Social Care Annual Report; CPPEG Open Meeting; Healthwatch Camden GP report; Proposed development of Kilburn High Road; Clean Break Appeal; ILM Certificate in Team Leading; Drop-In Mindfulness Meditation; Kentish Town City Farm Christmas Fair; Last First Thursday; Safeguarding Refugee and Migrant Children and Young People; What Do We Need To Do To Make London A Fairer City?; Follow-up to the Crossroads Womens’ Centre Conference; Kentish Town Neighbourhood Plan; Camden Mental Health Forum ; BSL service at NHS Contact Centre; Greenwood Place Update; Two Kingsgate Community Centre Events; + jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

‘Demonstrating Our Resilience’ Voluntary Action Camden’s AGM.
VAC’s AGM was held on Tuesday evening on the topic of resilience and the support that people need to make things happen. Ciaran Price, Director of Policy (Directory of Social Change) gave a national perspective on resilience (pictured).
Ossie Stuart talked about the setting up of Camden Disability Action, then Pastor Noel spoke about the role of small BME faith groups followed by Clover Crumbie from the Nubian Users Forum with some thoughts on the mental health challenges faced by black and minority ethnic groups. John Boyle rounded up the case studiesby outlining the work of South Hampstead and Kilburn Community Partnership. You can view a Storify of the evening here which we will add to in the coming days.

Property Advice Clinic
The Ethical Property Foundation will be providing a free property advice clinic for charities and not for profits in Camden on 14th January. Two of the Foundation’s advisers will be on hand to provide 20 minute one to one discussions on property issues including renting, leasing or buying property, maintenance or property disposal.
Please contact Donna Turnbull at VAC to book your free 20 minute slot between 10am-1pm. dturnbull@vac.org.uk tel 020 7284 6567

Camden Adult Social Care Annual Report 2014/15 – how did we do?
The council has published the annual local account for adult social care which outlines how LBC are meeting the needs of people who access these services and what the local priorities are. The purpose of this local account is to feedback to residents what was achieved, where LBC can improve and what the plans for the future are. This provides information to help be more transparent to residents and to hold Camden to account. You can read the full details on the Camden website.

CPPEG Open Meeting
Monday 14th December, St Pancras Hospital, Conference Room 2-4pm
o Presentation 1: Team Around The Practice (a new service which aims to optimise the care of people with mental health issues in primary care) Presenter: Terilla Bernard, Mental Health (TAP) Project Manager
o Presentation 2: Patients with a long term condition (what do patients want a care plan to look like?) Presenter: Adetola Adeniran, Project Manager – Long Term Conditions and Cancer Programme
Camden’s Team Around the Practice officially launched
Clinicians, service users, carers, and commissioners gathered on Wednesday 25 November to launch Camden’s newest mental health initiative, the Team Around the Practice. The Team Around the Practice, or TAP, is supporting patients with mental health needs who might have previously found themselves on long waiting lists or ‘falling through the gaps’. The TAP is being provided by the Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust and Mind in Camden, and is working exclusively with Camden GPs.

Healthwatch Camden report reveals wide variations between GP practices in Camden
A report by Healthwatch Camden entitled ‘GP practices in Camden: A study of variation 2015’, reveals wide variations in both patient experience and in the delivery of clinical services across Camden’s 36 GP practices. More details on the Healthwatch Camden website or view the full report.

4th IARS Annual International Conference: “Community-led Solutions to Gender Inequality, Victimisation and Offending”
Tuesday 15th December, Middle Temple – London
The IARS International Institute is pleased to invite you to this exciting international conference on 15th December 2015 (9:00 – 17:00) at The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, Middle Temple Lane, London EC4Y 9AT, UK. Prices from £15. Full details here.

Camden & Brent councils proposals for a major development of Kilburn High Road
Monday 14th December at The Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road – from 11am to 3pm. refreshments will be provided.
The objectives include making the High Road a safer place for everyone (the area is a top accident spot) trying to make it a more attractive place for people, businesses and visitors. Proposals include widening pavement areas, installing a central median strip – island in the middle of the road, traffic measures: 20mph speed limit, de-cluttering the footways. Following the public meetings there will be a period of public consultation. see: Camden.gov.uk/khr
KOVE have been campaigning for safer road crossings for considerable time and this initiative allows people to contribute their views and suggestions.

Double your donation to Clean Break tomorrow through the Big Give Christmas Challenge
Clean Break is taking part in this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge – donations made online via this link from MIDDAY SATURDAY can be DOUBLED pound for pound thanks to match funding from the Reed Foundation and Harriet’s Trust. Your donation will help women offenders and women at risk of offending transform their lives through participating in Clean Break’s theatre-based education programme, delivered from the company’s Kentish Town studios. Hear Clean Break students on why this work is so important here.

Voluntary Action Camden in Partnership with the Mary Ward Centre
ILM Certificate in Team Leading
Need a course that is the ideal launch pad for your management career? Start with this nationally recognized qualification that is designed for new and aspiring team leaders – get an in-depth introduction to the role and its responsibilities. This is a classroom-based afternoon\evening course delivered by tutors who are current practitioners in the sector. One session per week over 23 weeks plus online materials starting in January 2016. If you are in receipt of JSA/ESA or are unemployed and receive another income related benefit this course is FREE. Full fee £597. Call Roz on 020 7269 6033 or email roz@marywardcentre.ac.uk for details.

Drop-In Mindfulness Meditation
Thursday 2.30pm – 3.30pm at The Stress Project
Mindfulness is the practise of focusing your attention on being in the present, without judgement. It is clinically proven and ideal to help improve sleep, de-stress and reduce anxiety.
£2 – No need to book, just turn up
www.stressproject.org.uk 2 Shelburne Road N7 6DL tel: 020 7700 3938

Kentish Town City Farm Christmas Fair
12:00 – 4:00pm Sunday 13th December
at 1 Cressfield Cl, London NW5 4BN
Come along to the annual Christmas Fair and you can have fun and help support the farm and animals. There will be a Christmas Cafe with soups, cakes and John’s mulled wine. Father Christmas arrives on a pony at 1;30pm and there will be a Christmas Grotto (£3.50), live music, Christmas crafts and arts, Face Painting, a Lucky dip and Prize Raffle Draw.
KTCF Christmas Cards are also available at the farm and our Christmas Fair. Cost: £5 for 10 cards. See more at ktcityfarm.org.uk

Last First Thursday of the Year
Please join us for our Social Enterprise Xmas Meet Up, where you can have your say.
Thursday, 3rd December 2015 6pm-8:30pm/late
At Brigade, The Fire Station, 139 Tooley Street, London SE1 2HZ
Agenda: Fun, network and to get to know each other.
RSVP: The venue has allowed us a private space, but there will be a fee of £7, which will allow for a glass of Prosseco on arrival,With limited capacity, I will advise only if you can commit and show on this date to RSVP.

Safeguarding Refugee and Migrant Children and Young People
The free training session aims to improve the understanding of the rights that children and young people have under the Equality Act 2010; and the duties that are imposed on children’s services and voluntary and community organisations when they are providing services.
Issues addressed include: Domestic violence, Sexual exploitation, Trafficking, Female Genital mutilation and abuse related to witchcraft in order to raise the awareness of these issues and the role of community organisations in ensuring the protection and safeguarding of children and young people.
10 December 2015; 9:30am Registration; 10:00am Start, 16:30pm Close
Harecourt URC, 120 St Paul’s Rd, Islington, Greater London N1 2LR
Contact Ezechias Ngendahayo: ezechias.ngendahayo@refugeecouncil.org.uk, or telephone 020 7346 1163 or follow this link.

What Do We Need To Do To Make London A Fairer City? A free event being organised by Age UK London and the London Fairness Commission
Thursday 10th December 10:30am to 3pm
The Stowe Centre, 258 Harrow Road, London, W2 5ES
London is undoubtedly a great success; a growing, dynamic and diverse world city. Whilst London’s success is rightly celebrated, many are beginning to question if this success is leading to a fair society for all its residents. The London Fairness Commission has been established to convene the first citywide debate on fairness in over 100 years and the first to ask Londoner’s what they think about their city.
We want to hear your views about what we need to do to make London a fairer city, particularly with regards to older adults.
The meeting will be run using a process called ‘Open Space’, allowing everyone at the meeting to raise the issues that matter to them, share and develop ideas and consider recommendations for the future. It will be participative, energetic and focused.
This meeting will support older Londoners as well as their groups and organisations to influence the London Fairness Commission’s recommendations, which will be published in April.
Lunch provided. If you would like to attend please:
Register online here http://bit.ly/1WOGp5K
Email Lizzy Willmington Lizzy.Willmington@toynbeehall.org.uk Or call 020 7392 2993

Follow-up to the Crossroads Womens’ Centre Conference
Conference session showings will be at the Crossroads Women’s Centre, one at a time over four weeks – discussion after each panel.
Thursday 3 Dec, 6.30pm: Reproducing the human race – valuing mothers & other carers
Thursday 10 Dec, 6.30pm: Caring under austerity, climate change, occupation and war
It will be an opportunity for those who wanted to come to the conference but couldn’t as well as for those who wanted more discussion. At 25 Wolsey Mews, NW5 2DX
Other events coming up
Tuesday 1 Dec, 12 noon: the All African Women’s Group and Black Women’s Rape Action Project are holding a Lobby of Parliament against the new anti-immigration bill.
Every Wednesday between 1-2pm: petitioning on Kentish Town Road.
Thursday 17 Dec, 6.30pm: The ECP is showing, at the Crossroads Women’s Centre, the original film of the 1975 sex workers’ occupation of a church in Lyon, France. Crossroads Womens’ Centre

Kentish Town Neighbourhood Plan
Kentish Town Neighbourhood Forum has submitted their proposed Neighbourhood Plan to Camden Council, in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012.
We are consulting residents and interested stakeholders on this proposed Plan.
The Plan sets out a range of policies on matters including design quality, enhancing Kentish Town Road and community engagement. It also proposes to designate 5 Local Green Spaces in the area. The Neighbourhood Plan, if approved, will be used, alongside council policies in making planning application decisions in the neighbourhood area.
To view the proposed Neighbourhood Plan (including a map showing the boundary for the Plan) and further information on how to respond to this consultation please go to: www.camden.gov.uk/neighbourhoodplanning
Hard copies of the Plan and documents are available to view at Kentish Town Library
Comments must be received by 29 January 2016 by e-mail to planningpolicy@camden.gov.uk or by post to Strategic Planning and Implementation Team, LB Camden, Judd Street, London, WC1H 9JE

NHS England’s Customer Contact Centre launches British Sign Language service
British Sign Language (BSL) users are now able to get in touch with NHS England’s Customer Contact Centre using a video call supported by a BSL interpreter. The new BSL service, operated by InterpreterNow, is available whenever the contact centre is open. The service can be accessed using a PC or laptop equipped with a webcam. A free app is also available for smartphone and tablet users. This technology will enable BSL users to communicate with us directly and independently – without having to rely on friends or family members.

Camden Mental Health Forum
Tuesday 26 January from 6-8pm at The Hub, 8 Fairhazel Gardens, London, NW6 3SG
The forum is an opportunity for people living with mental ill health, their carers, families and friends as well as mental health professionals to come together and discuss mental health issues in the borough including considering the future shape of services.
The meeting will be chaired by Councillor Maeve McCormack, the Council’s Mental Health champion.
If there is something that you would like to talk about at the forum please contact me (see below).
Other dates for 2016:
· Tuesday 12 April 6-8pm (venue to be confirmed)
· Wednesday 13 July 6-8pm (venue to be confirmed)
· Wednesday 12 October 6-8pm (venue to be confirmed)
We look forward to seeing you at the forums.
Paul Kent, London Borough of Camden Tel: 0207 974 6921 Web: camden.gov.uk

Greenwood Place Update
Demolition will begin on the Greenwood Place site soon. Read the lastest update here.

Two Kingsgate Community Centre Events
Winter Festival 2015, 12th December 11am to 3.30pm at Kilburn Grange Park – stalls, ice rink and magical surprises. For info email info@kingsgatecc.org.uk or call 020 7328 9480
Under 5s Drop In Christmas Party 16th December 1.30 – 3.30pm at Kingsgate Community Centre

Spent: A short play and workshop about women, austerity and debt
Performed by women affected by the criminal justice system
Available to book February and March 2016 at conferences, seminars or staff training. Suitable for criminal justice agencies, women’s organisations, policymakers, funders, probation and other frontline organisations working with vulnerable women. Clean Break is a theatre company which focuses exclusively on women in the criminal justice system through education and performances in the community, custodial settings, and at theatres and festivals.
For Further Information and to discuss booking and fees contact: Kirstin Shirling 0207 482 8623 kirstin.shirling@cleanbreak.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

British Somali Community, NICE, The Sherriff Centre, Alexandra Road Park, Nafisyat, Ransackers, 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

Court finds Benefits Cap unlawfully discriminates against disabled people’s carers
The High Court has ruled that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has unjustifiably indirectly discriminated against unpaid carers for disabled family members by failing to exempt them from the Benefits Cap. The Court upheld the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s submission that the rights of carers under Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights had been contravened by a failure to consider the impact on disabled people. View the newsletter online.

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

Reaching Communities Fund and Awards for All One to One Advice Sessions
28th January 2016. 10.30 – 4.30.
With Jane Sterland Regional Officer for the Big Lottery
Voluntary Action Camden, 293-299 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2TJ
Reaching Communities and Awards for All are still amongst the best grants to go for. Jane will be offering you one to one advice on your application to the Reaching Communities Fund and Awards for All. You can book a one hour slot to discuss your draft application with someone who is very knowledgeable and experienced. People who attended the last advice day were very pleased with the support they received.
‘Yes invaluable. Would always come. Support was brilliant’.
‘Yes I would certainly recommend it. We were given a generous amount of time with someone who was extremely knowledgeable and a very clear communicator’.
To get the best out of the session you need to get a copy of your draft application to VAC by Friday 15th January. Your draft application will then be sent to Jane who can then read it and prepare comments ready for when you meet with her.
To book a place please contact acharles@vac.org.uk. Tel: 0207 284 6553.

Solve waste problems through crowdfunding
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s new campaign Waste Not UK (recently aired on the BBC) has set out to discover why we produce so much waste across the UK. A third of food in the UK never gets eaten, yet 13 million people in this country are struggling to afford to eat. Evidently something needs to be done about it!
Our friends down at Crowdfunder have teamed up with Hugh to support innovative projects to actively solve waste problems. If you have a waste project that you wish to get off the ground, why not start crowdfunding it today?
Or, if you want to show your support for other waste tackling groups, check out the campaign page.

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

Mental health workshops for Camden-based BMER groups – Free
Introduction to Mental Health Awareness (full day): Wednesday 9th December (10am to 4.30pm)
This one-day interactive session looks at how we define mental health and mental illness. It offers the opportunity to explore the impact of stigmatisation and stereotyping on individuals and society. Focusing on two of the most common disorders – depression and anxiety – we will explore vulnerability, risk factors and the importance of early intervention to support recovery. We will also discuss what we can all do to look after our mental health.
Please note that due to requirements of our funding, we can only offer places to Camden-based BMER community groups or Camden voluntary sector organisations whose main focus is working with BMER groups. We can accept a maximum of two people from any one organisation.
To book your place, please go to our website and follow the instructions to book via Eventbrite:
https://vac.org.uk/events/category/health-mental-health/
If you have any questions, please contact the Mental Health Team on mentalhealthteam@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.

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:
• 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).

Volunteer Coordinators’ Forum and AGM
At this point all you need to do is save the date: Wednesday 27th January
Time and Venue TBC
Do you have a low-cost (or free!) venue VCC could use?
If so, contact Sheila at Volunteer Centre Camden [sheila@volunteercentrecamden.org.uk]

Alexandra Road Park Events November/December 2015
Saturdays (until 12.12.2015 for this year) – 10.00am – 11.000am – Boot camp, (in the Bowl area) free
Saturdays (until 12.12.2015 for this year) – 11.00am – 12.000pm – Pilates, (in the Bowl area) free
Fridays – 4.30pm – 6pm – Cricket, Winter location: Quintin Kynaston, Marlborough Hill, London NW8
17 December 2015 – 6:30pm – 9pm – Talent night, venue: TRA Hall, Alexandra and Ainsworth estate, Rowley Way, London NW8. To take part, audition and rehearse for the competition please send an email to stephen@shakonline.co.uk with your name, address, contact details and the type of performance with which you would like to take part in by 3rd of December.
If you have any questions, please call 0207 624 8935.
Jenny Kurktchieva, Alexandra Road Park HLF Activities Co-ordinator Telephone: 020 7974 2367

Courses at Castlehaven
Castlehaven have two fantastic new courses starting in the new year for anyone aged 19yrs +, the courses are the outcome of a partnership between the Castlehaven Community Association and the WMC – The Camden College.
An accredited Level 1 Course in Working with Children. Every Tuesday 10am-3pm from Tues 12th Jan 2016 (A great course for parents/carers of school children, who are looking to getting back into work).
A Free Taster Course in Floristry on Fri 29th Jan 2016 (With the potential to start an 8wk course in starting a business in Floristry).
Contact Castlehaven Community Association, The Community Centre, 21 Castlehaven Road, NW1
t: 020 7485 3386 e: info@castlehaven.org.uk web www.castlehaven.org.uk

Winter Volunteering Fairs
VCC are hosting three volunteering fairs this Winter.
The fairs are a perfect way to meet people who want to volunteer in Camden. And they have a 46% recruitment rate.
Thursday 21st January 6-7.30pm at Swiss Cottage Library
Please make sure you have weekend and evening volunteering opportunities, as many people who attend evening fairs work during the day.
Thursday 28th January 12-2pm at St Pancras Community Association
Wednesday 24th February 12-2pm at Working Men’s College
And you can easily book your places via Eventbrite here.

Developing Partnerships in the Arts and Cultural Sectors
24th February 2016, 10 am- 4.15 pm, Cockpit Arts, London
Looking at the benefits of where, when and how to find the right partner, this course will offer a simple structure for developing and working in partnerships.
Full of practical techniques for working together with other organisations and individuals, the day will leave you equipped to successfully deliver youth arts projects and events through partnerships. The training will use an interactive approach to explore issues such as defining roles and setting realistic targets, along with troubleshooting for problem areas – including when and how to bow out gracefully if partnerships aren’t working!
Ideal if you are looking to work in partnership with other organisations to deliver youth arts projects
You will gain:
~ Tips for identifying and approaching suitable partners
~ Information on how to develop partnerships and partnership agreements
~ Techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of your partnerships
Cost: The fee for this course is £130, limited bursary places are available. 25% early bird discount for bookings made before the 24th December 2015.
Book your place at www.artswork.org.uk/event or contact Rachel Hall via rachelhall@artswork.org.uk / 02380 332491 for further advice and information.

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

Marketing and Communications Volunteer
British Somali Community is a women led charity based in Camden, London which has operated for 20 years. We are focused on improving Somali children’s educational achievements, improving access to health and social services and improving the overall well-being of the Somali community.
We are looking for a creative and tech-savvy volunteer to join the team and help drive our marketing and communication. The volunteer will help develop a marketing and communication strategy for the BSC and support the team in creating marketing materials for our services, assist in organizing events and some office administrative duties when required. Although this is a voluntary role, with lunch and travel expenses covered, there is a possibility of it becoming a funded role.
Please send your CV and a short covering letter explaining your interest in the position as soon as possible to: info@britishsomali.org

NICE is recruiting lay and community members
NICE committees and working groups are made up of health, social care and other professionals and practitioners, patients, service users, carers and members of the public, and technical experts.
NICE is looking for lay and community members in different areas to help us develop our guidance, and all of our lay and community members are paid a fee to attend meetings and we cover travel and other expenses. See the full range of opportunities at the NICE website.

The Calthorpe Project seeks new Chair of Trustees
The Calthorpe Project, a charity and social enterprise in the rapidly changing area of King’s Cross in London, is looking for a new Chair of Trustees. Please see weblink below for more details:
https://reachskills.org.uk/opp/chair-trustees-needed-unique-multi-purpose-inner-city-green-oasis
This is a voluntary role, but would be ideal for someone who wants to ‘make their mark’ on an organisation for the benefit of local people and the environment. Applicants will need a track record of managing change, leadership and governance, and negotiating multiple stakeholder interests.
The Calthorpe Project has a 30 year history and a future full of potential. With your help the Calthorpe Project will continue to play a vital role in the London Borough of Camden for many years to come.

Alexandra Road Park Seeks Volunteers
This new park seeks volunteers who can help with conservation and promotion of Alexandra Road Park. Contact Jenny Kurktchieva, Jenny.Kurktchieva@camden.gov.uk or call 020 7974 2367.

University College London’s GC Voluntary Sector Programme in 2015-16
Host a full-time team volunteer placement in June 2016
The UCL Volunteering Services Unit is looking for up to 25 community partners to participate in the Global Citizenship Voluntary Sector Programme 2016.
Each participating organisation will host a team of 4-8 UCL students who are passionate about the voluntary sector. That team will learn about working life in your organisation and complete a project of your choosing whose output will add value to your organisation.
The next programme takes place 31 May – 10 June 2016 and we are recruiting voluntary organisations to host placements now, at www.uclu.org/gcvoluntarysectororgs.

The Sherriff Centre seeks volunteers
Volunteers needed for a new over 60’s technology help project based in The Sherriff Centre, St James Church, NW6. We are looking for someone for a couple of hours a week who has some knowledge of mobile phones and laptops to answer simple queries over a cup of tea in the centre’s café.
Please contact Jane at hello@thesherriffcentre.co.uk

Nafsiyat seeks a Clinical Services Manager
Nafisyat is seeking a Clinical Services Manager to provide clinical leadership at Nafsiyat and contribute to the overall strategic direction of the charity. They will be responsible for the management of Nafsiyat’s clinical practices and the quality and safety of services provided by therapists.
The salary is £35,000 pro rata over 3 days (22.5 hours) per week.
If you are interested, please send your CV and a covering letter explaining your suitability for this role to recruitment@nafsiyat.org.uk by 5pm on Tuesday December 15th, 2015.
Download the full JOB DESCRIPTION here: http://www.nafsiyat.org.uk/Documents/Uploads/36.pdf

Volunteer Treasurer role at Ransackers
We need a treasurer for an exciting 1 year project (and beyond): We are a small not – for –profit run by volunteers : we promote serious education for older people
The role includes: Keeping all accounts and proof of income & spend during and after project end, plus participation in budget creation for funding bids
Contact: hfarnworth@gmail.com or annateresalefort7@gmail.com

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 phone: 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/

Need some online Help?
Don’t forget VAC’s toolkits and resources pages at www.vac.org.uk/our-work/toolkits-and-resources
There are resources to help you in many areas of work. For instance our HR resources can be found here: https://vac.org.uk/our-work/toolkits-and-resources/employment-hr-resources/

Office Space for Hire
Camden Cypriot Women’s Organisation in Kentish Town, have office space for hire within a community building which is centrally located, The building is a few minutes walk from Kentish Town tube and mainline services as well as various bus stops.
The office, which is spacious is roughly 6 metres square, fits 4 desks freely and has a corridor which is also good for use, would be suitable for meetings or one to one sessions. Both spaces are light and airy and a viewing is highly recommended. The building has step free access.
For further information or to view, please call Koula Ioannou on Tel: 0207 267 7194 or email koula@ccwo.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

Camden Consultations
You can find all Camden consultation on the Wearecamden consultation hub.

FREE VAC Membership for Unfunded Groups: Voluntary Action Camden Small organisations with no paid staff and a turnover of less than £1,500 can now join for FREE. To take advantage of this offer just fill in the membership on the online form here.

Refugee Update; Review of Coroners and Justice Act 2009; VAC AGM; Public meeting on Abusive Crime; Conversation About Hungary; FGM is Everybody’s Business; NICE is recruiting lay and community members; Digital Conference; Air Quality Seminar; Older People & the Arts; Youth and Play Service Survey; + jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

Refugee Update
Camden council is offering to take 20 Syrian refugee families. You can find out more here. Camden Refugee Aid is a local grassroots group made up of volunteers in North London set up to respond to the humanitarian refugee crisis in Calais, Greece and Hungary – and more permanently, provide support for refugees settling in the UK. Values are to be transparent, ethical, efficient and above all helpful and responsive to refugees in need. Find out more at the website. You can find out more at the Camden Supports Refugees facebook page. The government have recently updated their guidance as well.
 

Message from Cllr Hai, Cabinet Member for Customers, Communities and Culture
I am writing to inform you of a public consultation recently announced by the Ministry of Justice aimed at a reviewing the impact of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
As you know I have taken the lead in campaigning for a full review of the coroners’ services on national basis to ensure it is brought in line with a 21st century ethos around support and compassion for bereaved families. My work has included meetings with the Chief Coroner for England and Wales, a range of cross party MPs at the House of Commons, the Rt. Hon Michael Gove MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and other at the House of Lords. More locally I have met with community groups, in particular with the Jewish and Muslim communities and Councillors.
The inability of coroners services to respond to out-of-hours and none invasive post mortem examinations, particularly impacts upon members of the Muslim and Jewish communities who strive to bury their deceased as soon as possible after death as required by their traditions.
I am extremely pleased the Government has listened and taken on-board our suggestions. However, I want to be clear that this is not just an issue for the Jewish and Muslim communities, but also about adopting a more sensitive approach towards all bereaved families.
To ensure our collective voice continues to be heard I would encourage you to please complete and circulate the online consultation to your relevant contacts in order to ensure that the coroner’s service is responsive to the needs of our diverse community.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/review-of-coroner-services-launched
https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/post-implementation-review-of-coroner-reforms
https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/post-implementation-review-of-coroner-reforms/consultation
The closing date is 10th December 2015.

‘Demonstrating Our Resilience’ Voluntary Action Camden’s AGM.
Tuesday 1st December 2015. 5.30pm – 8pm
Arlington Conference Centre, Camden.
Come and take part in a debate on what the role of the voluntary and community sector is, or could be, in building resilience and the support that people need to make things happen. Ciaran Price, Director of Policy (Directory of Social Change) will give a national perspective on resilience.
Ossie Stuart will then talk about the setting up of Camden Disability Action and future plans. Pastor Noel will speak about the role of small BME faith groups followed by Clover Crumbie from the Nubian Users Forum with some thoughts on the mental health challenges faced by black and minority ethnic groups. John Boyle will bring the case studies to an end by outlining the work of South Hampstead and Kilburn Community Partnership.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions and contribute to the discussion.
Refreshments will follow with an opportunity to meet up with old and make new friends. Also keep a look out for the information stalls that will be of interest.
To book, please follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/voluntary-action-camdenannual-general-meeting-2015-tickets-19401410140
For more information, or if you have any specific requirements (e.g. diet or BSL interpreter), please email info@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.

Public meeting on Abusive Crime
Are you concerned about crimes against people simply because of how they look or what beliefs they hold? The CSNB, a community-led charity, is working with the Camden Community Safety Partnership and Camden Police to reduce abusive crime in the borough. If you have worries about victims targeted by abusive or aggressive behaviour and want to help reduce it, or if you just want to find out more, come along and join our conversation.
Thursday 26 November, 7pm Ort House Conference Centre 126 Albert Street, London NW1 7NE.
Speakers to include: Detective Superintendent Helen Williams from Camden Police and Cllr Jonathan Simpson, Camden Council’s portfolio holder for Community Safety.
Food and refreshments will be provided.
This is a public meeting and EVERYONE is invited. For more information contact Peter Ward, admin@camdensnb.org.uk or 020 7383 0000.

Conversation About Hungary
3pm Saturday 21 November, at Torriano Meeting House, hosted by The Hungarian Association of London. Free event.
If you do not know about Hungary or If you know about Hungary
If you agree with its leadership or if you do not agree with its leadership
Ask your questions. Tell your opinion. Listen to others
Is Hungary a Christian country? Is the population ethnically homogeneous? How does its history relate to the refugee crisis?

“FGM is Everybody’s Business”
This is a website designed and led by young people and aims to raise awareness of not only the practice of FGM but also all the fantastic work that young people, organizations, communities and individuals are doing to tackle and end the practice.
The website will be launch on: Wednesday the 25th of November. This is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and starts 16 Days of Activism.
We would be grateful it you could sign up to participate in our Thunderclap – the link is below:
https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/34418-fgm-everybody-s-business
You can sign up on various social media outlets – Facebook, twitter or tumbler

NICE is recruiting lay and community members
NICE committees and working groups are made up of health, social care and other professionals and practitioners, patients, service users, carers and members of the public, and technical experts.
NICE is looking for lay and community members in different areas to help us develop our guidance, and all of our lay and community members are paid a fee to attend meetings and we cover travel and other expenses. See the full range of opportunities at the NICE website.

Keeping it Human in a Digital Age? – A Free Conference in Camden Town on Digital Tech
10am – 4.30pm 25th November 2015
Ort House Conference Centre, London, NW1 7NE
This conference will consider what the challenges and opportunities are for VCSE organisations arising from the rapid growth of the use of digital technology.
~ How can the use of digital technology support VCSE organisations to be able to communicate more clearly and effectively to funders, statutory, private sector and broader society?
~ How can VCSE organisations use technology to design and deliver services which meet the needs of the vulnerable and marginalised people they work with?
To register for a place please book here

Air Quality Seminar
25 November, 8:30-11am. Refreshments provided at City University, Islington.
Join businesses in Camden and Islington to find out what you can do to improve local air quality whilst also enhancing employee wellbeing and cutting energy and transport costs. This seminar will bring businesses together to: share examples of what the Council and local businesses are doing to improve air quality; set out the steps you can take to improve air quality; highlight the benefits to your business, including cost savings and improved business efficiencies; provide details about local air quality projects your business can get involved in. Visit our Eventbrite page to book your place.

Older People & the Arts in London
Age UK London has brought together a wide range of arts groups, large and small, created and driven by and/or working with, older people in London. We are a holding a live conversation and debate to share ideas on how the benefits of the creative arts can be moved further up the Health and Well being agenda for older people.
Speakers and participants are coming from the arts, policy makers and funders in London.
Weds 2nd December, Clarence House, London South Bank University 6, St George’s Circus, London SE1 6FE 1pm to 4:30pm.
Nearest Tubes: Elephant and Castle / Waterloo
To register contact Rosemary Chapman at rchapman@ageuklondon.org.uk or phone 07786 375663

Youth and Play Service Survey
Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey and help Unite understand what has happened to your local Youth and Play services.

Vote for Camden Carers
Camden Carers Centre has been nominated by Nationwide customers to take part in Nationwide Building Society’s Community Match (local charity voting scheme). We stand to be awarded £500 for carers in Camden if we get the most votes at the end of the voting period – which is 8 January 2016.
So, if you visit one of the following Nationwide branches: Camden, Strand, Portman Square, Wigmore Street, Holborn, Chancery Lane or Shepherds Bush, before 8 January, please take a token and drop it into the voting box for Camden Carers Centre.
Share on Facebook or https://www.facebook.com/Camdencarersservice or Twitter https://twitter.com/CamdenCarers

Cockpit Arts Christmas Open Studios
26-29 November 2015
Cockpit Arts, Cockpit Yard, Northington Street, London WC1N 2NP
Opening times: Thursday 6pm-9pm, Friday- Sunday 11am-6pm
Tickets: £5 entry

Courses at Castlehaven
Castlehaven have two fantastic new courses starting in the new year for anyone aged 19yrs +, the courses are the outcome of a partnership between the Castlehaven Community Association and the WMC – The Camden College.
An accredited Level 1 Course in Working with Children. Every Tuesday 10am-3pm from Tues 12th Jan 2016 (A great course for parents/carers of school children, who are looking to getting back into work).
A Free Taster Course in Floristry on Fri 29th Jan 2016 (With the potential to start an 8wk course in starting a business in Floristry).
Contact Castlehaven Community Association, The Community Centre, 21 Castlehaven Road, NW1
t: 020 7485 3386 e: info@castlehaven.org.uk web www.castlehaven.org.uk

Need some online Help?
Don’t forget VAC’s toolkits and resources pages at www.vac.org.uk/our-work/toolkits-and-resources
There are resources to help you in many areas of work. For instance our HR resources can be found here: https://vac.org.uk/our-work/toolkits-and-resources/employment-hr-resources/

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

The Sherriff Centre, Kingsgate Community Centre, Hopscotch Asian Women’s Centre, Nafisyat, Ransackers, British Postal Museum, AWLPA, Homestart Camden, 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

Sector Responds to Rumours Government will raid £320m a year from the Big Lottery Fund
Sector leaders have called for a statement and urgent meetings but there is no clarity yet. Articles in Civil Society magazine and the Huffington Post warn of fire consequences if the plan goes ahead.

Can councils and residents collaborate meaningfully?
‘Power should not rest with public services.’ In some circles this challenge to the decision–making power of police authorities, health services, town hall bureaucrats and their ilk would be prelude to a fight. Here, in the company of people committed to helping communities play their part in shaping public services, it is a mission. Newstart magazine looks at the issues.

You may not have heard of my charity but its work speaks volumes
‘We deserve as much recognition as big charity brands for serving our communities, but instead we are expected to be cheap service providers.’ Issues of commissioners attitudes to small local charities is addressed in this Guardian article.

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

Fundraising opportunities for small charities with the The Brandenburg Choral Festival
The Brandenburg Choral Festival of London is offering small charities the opportunity to raise funds by selling tickets to its choral concerts next Spring.
Charities raise funds by selling tickets to their supporters for a concert selected from the Festival programme and retaining a share (up to 50%) of the value of tickets sold. There are over 40 concerts to choose from covering a range of musical genres including classical, jazz, gospel, folk and contemporary a cappella. All are held at prestigious central London venues including
St Martin-in-the-Fields and St Paul’s Covent Garden. A maximum of two charities will be allocated to a concert. Each charity will be given its own allocation of tickets and there is no financial commitment to pay for any unsold tickets. Reception opportunities are available at most concerts.
Interested charities should get in touch with Brandenburg without delay as we will begin allocating concerts to charities on 24 November.
For further information, including a list of concerts, please contact: Claudia Jenkins, Development Officer – Brandenburg Choral Festival of London
Email: dev@brandenburg.org.uk Phone: 07973 564533 / 01372 209817 www.brandenburg.org.uk.

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

Mental health workshops for Camden-based BMER groups – Free
Introduction to Mental Health Awareness (full day): Wednesday 9th December (10am to 4.30pm)
This one-day interactive session looks at how we define mental health and mental illness. It offers the opportunity to explore the impact of stigmatisation and stereotyping on individuals and society. Focusing on two of the most common disorders – depression and anxiety – we will explore vulnerability, risk factors and the importance of early intervention to support recovery. We will also discuss what we can all do to look after our mental health.
Please note that due to requirements of our funding, we can only offer places to Camden-based BMER community groups or Camden voluntary sector organisations whose main focus is working with BMER groups. We can accept a maximum of two people from any one organisation.
To book your place, please go to our website and follow the instructions to book via Eventbrite:
https://vac.org.uk/events/category/health-mental-health/
If you have any questions, please contact the Mental Health Team on mentalhealthteam@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.

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).

Afruca Events
Training Course: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as a Child Safeguarding Issue (London)
Thursday, 3rd December 2015 9:30am – 4:30pm Cost: £40.00
Venue:Church Hall, Ground Floor, Harecourt United Reform Church, 120 St Paul’s Road, Islington, London N1
Target Group: Child Protection Officers, Education Welfare Officers, Teachers, Heath practitioners, Crime Prevention Officers.
Course Aims: To explore the issue of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and the impacts on victims. Practitioners will also gain further knowledge around the socio-cultural and religious factors underpinning the practice and skills in identifying at risk individuals. The training will also examine the Serious Crime Act 2015 in relation to FGM and mandatory reporting. It will also explore current debates around informed consent and male circumcision.
Accreditation; This course has been independently certified as conforming to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) standards
To register for this training please visit:
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/training-course-female-genital-mutilation-fgm-as-a-child-safeguarding-issue-london-tickets-17688439599
Training Course: Black/African Men and Child Protect
Saturday, 5th December 2015 2:30pm-6:00pm Cost: FREE
Venue: City of Westminster College, Paddington Green Campus, Paddington Green, London W2
Target Group: Black/African Men Only.
Event Aim & Objectives: Statistics show that there is an over-representation of Black/African children in the child protection system. In order to combat this growing problem, we need more men to be present in discussions around child protection and safeguarding. Therefore, this event aims to examine key safeguarding issues faced by children of Black/African origin and explore the role of Black/African men in the child protection agenda.
Event Topics: Key UK Laws on Child Protection, What is Child Abuse, Cultural Practices affecting Black.African children and families, Internet Safety, Domestic Violence/Abuse, Leaving Children Home Alone, Positive Parenting Tips and the Role of Men in Child Protection.
To register for this training please visit:
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/blackafrican-men-and-child-protection-tickets-19222556183?aff=es2

Winter Volunteering Fairs
We’re hosting three volunteering fairs this Winter.
Our fairs are a perfect way to meet people who want to volunteer in Camden. And they have a 46% recruitment rate. Brilliant!
Thursday 21st January 6-7.30pm at Swiss Cottage Library
Please make sure you have weekend and evening volunteering opportunities, as many people who attend evening fairs work during the day.
Thursday 28th January 12-2pm at St Pancras Community Association
Wednesday 24th February 12-2pm at Working Men’s College
And you can easily book your places via Eventbrite here.

Information Day at Clean Break on Friday, 4th December 2015
Clean Break are a safe women-only theatre, education and new writing company based in Kentish Town, in the north-west of London. However on this occasion we welcome men who are working with women and are likely to make referrals to our service.
We offer free education and training in the arts specifically for women who have experience of the criminal justice system and/or are at risk of offending due to alcohol/substance misuse or mental heath needs. This is an invitation, for interested women, and you or your colleagues working with these women.
11-1.15pm: service providers only
1.15 – 3pm: prospective service users also welcome
Users also welcome. Places are limited. To book your place: please email general@cleanbreak.org.uk for a booking form. Further details available here.

SOUP is a micro-granting dinner which celebrates and supports Camden community projects
For a donation of £3.50 on the door, attendees will enjoy a meal using food from local businesses, connect with other members of their community, and hear pitches from local individuals/ organisations before voting on which idea the money raised from the evening should go to.
 Would you like to make more connections in the Camden community?
 Are you working on a project that would benefit from some extra funding?
 Would you enjoy an evening of local food and arts entertainment?
Then join us at Camden Hub (8 Fairhazel Gardens, NW6 3SG) on Wednesday 25th November from 6.30pm – 9pm for Camden SOUP.
For more information, or to request a proposal form to be in with the chance of raising money for your community project, please contact Abigail on 02072784437 or Abigail.darton@hcct.org.uk

Kentish Town Area Action Group meeting
Thursday 26th November at 6.30 to 8.30pm
Voluntary Action Camden, 293-299 Kentish Town Rd, London NW5 2TJ1DN
At this meeting we have decided to focus on the following:
Licensing Policy Review
A presentation by the Licensing Enforcement Team can be updated to better address these issues
Late Night Levy
A short update and an opportunity for residents to ask questions
Community Infrastructure Levy
How we should spend our neighbourhood’s share
There will be a chance to talk more informally with your neighbours and local councillors.
Area Action Group meetings provide an opportunity for local councillors and neighbours to work together to resolve and take action on local issues in the Ward.
Please contact Denise Pittaway on 020 7974 3515 or email Denise.Pittaway@camden.gov.uk in advance of the meeting if you have any particular requirements.

‘Talk Cancer’ workshop 2nd December 2nd 1.30-4.30pm Angel Islington
We are now offering volunteers and health workers the chance to attend this workshop – for free – through our new bursary scheme.
Anyone who works or volunteers to improve the health and wellbeing of their community, can apply to attend Talk Cancer through our bursary scheme. You just need to complete an application form which can be downloaded from our website and send it back to talkcancer@cancer.org.uk

A Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Plan for Holborn
We’re starting this off with two hands-on workshops, facilitated by Angela of ImaginePlaces, with the aim to developing our Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Area Applications for Camden Council. We have organised another two public meetings this month.
18th November, 6pm to 9pm, HCA – Millman Street Resource Centre, 50 Millman St, London WC1N
entrance is via the entry phone door between 34 and 36 Millman Street
25th November- 6pm to 9pm
Blemundsbury TRA Hall, Dombey Street, London WC1N 3PF
Please bring a friend or a neighbour with you and spread the word.
It’s time to get involved and help shape Holborn’s future in a proactive way. Refreshments provided.

Charity and social enterprise management comes to the capital
Anglia Ruskin University are bringing their specialist course in Charity and Social Enterprise Management to London. The course is designed to help third sector people to develop their management and leadership capability, while also gaining a higher education qualification.
~ Fully supported online learning.
~ Optional workshops at ARU’s campus in central London in February and March.
~ The opportunity to network, support and share experience with others
~ Study topics such as leadership & management, marketing, finance, social enterprise, HR etc.
~ All assignments are focused on addressing real issues in the workplace
To find out more please visit www.anglia.ac.uk/csem or call 01245 686 707

Developing Partnerships in the Arts and Cultural Sectors
24th February 2016, 10 am- 4.15 pm, Cockpit Arts, London
Looking at the benefits of where, when and how to find the right partner, this course will offer a simple structure for developing and working in partnerships.
Full of practical techniques for working together with other organisations and individuals, the day will leave you equipped to successfully deliver youth arts projects and events through partnerships. The training will use an interactive approach to explore issues such as defining roles and setting realistic targets, along with troubleshooting for problem areas – including when and how to bow out gracefully if partnerships aren’t working!
Ideal if you are looking to work in partnership with other organisations to deliver youth arts projects
You will gain:
~ Tips for identifying and approaching suitable partners
~ Information on how to develop partnerships and partnership agreements
~ Techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of your partnerships
Cost: The fee for this course is £130, limited bursary places are available. 25% early bird discount for bookings made before the 24th December 2015.
Book your place at www.artswork.org.uk/event or contact Rachel Hall via rachelhall@artswork.org.uk / 02380 332491 for further advice and information.

Learn The Essentials of Inducting and Training Your Volunteers
This introductory-level training will give you all you need to know about inducting and training your volunteers well – giving them the best start with you for a great volunteering experience.
And helping you to avoid many problems down the line!
The Essentials of Inducting and Training Your Volunteers
Tuesday 24th November 2-5pm, @ West Euston Partnership in Euston, Free
To book your place and to find out more information have a look at Eventbrite.

Training For New Volunteer Centre Online Matching Tool (and Database) Volunteer Connect
Volunteer Connect will replace our use of the Do-it website (as well as our back-end database, reporting and matching tool).
We are planning a launch to the public in early December.
And that means that from December we will only promote your volunteering to people who want to volunteer in Camden if you are on Volunteer Connect.
With that in mind, we will be running a number of free masterclasses on how to use Volunteer Connect to add, amend and delete your volunteering opportunities.
We will offer two masterclasses on:
Monday 23rd November10am-1pm or 2pm-5pm at our office in Kentish Town
We have allowed three hours for each one, but it should only take an hour or two of your time to get you started.
You can book in for any of the masterclasses on eventbrite here.
If you have any questions about this, contact Rupal by email or phone 020 7424 9990.

Dementia Cafe
A friendly and supportive monthly café for people with dementia and their carers. The Café runs on the 1st Wednesday of each month 11.00am – 1pm. Next cafe is on 2nd December 2015
Refreshments are provided.
At Kentish Town Congregational Church, Kelly Street, London NW1 8PH
For further information call 0207 561 4820

Recovery College Courses Still Available October – December 2015
Being involved
Understanding Anxiety
Men and Masculinity and more.
Please email if you want to be sent the new prospectus for courses starting in January 2016
4 St Pancras Way, London NW1 0PE
Tel: 020 3317 6904 email: recovery.college@candi.nhs.uk
Opening hours10.00am – 4.00pm

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

Mind Yourself seeks Administration and Reception Worker
Islington, Term: Part time, temporary 20 hours per week, 9am-1pm [ exact working hours are negotiable] for 6 months
Salary: £12.50 per hour [25 days annual leave pro rata]
To provide an efficient and respectful reception service over the phone, by email and in
person to all service users, visitors, suppliers and partners of Mind Yourself
To provide administrative support to the Director, Trustees and staff team including office
management, general IT and secretarial support, written communications and organising
purchase of supplies
Closing date is 27th November. Interviews morning of 4th Dec. Expected start date is 4th January.
claire@mind-yourself.co.uk tel 020 7697 4753 web www.mind-yourself.co.uk

Holborn Community Association is recruiting an Administration and Marketing Apprentice
We have an exciting opportunity for you to train, earn and learn. Holborn Community Association (www.holborncommunity.co.uk) is offering an opportunity to an 18 or over Camden resident, Camden care leaver or former Camden Secondary School student (who is eligible to work in the UK and without a degree) to become an Administration and Marketing Apprentice.
Holborn Community Association is a voluntary organisation based in South of Camden.
• Contract length: 12 months
• Apprenticeship: Intermediate Apprenticeship in Business Administration (Level 2)
• Salary: £182 per week for months 1 to 6. £200 per week for months 7 to 12.
• Hours: 35 hours per week worked Monday-Friday including one evening per week until 7pm arranged with the successful applicant.
• Based: Holborn just off Lambs Conduit Street. Nearest tube station is Russell Square/Holborn.
• Start date: January 2016
To apply for this role you must:
– Be aged18 or over
– Be a Camden resident, Camden care leaver or former Camden secondary school student
– NOT have a university degree or other level 4 qualification
– NOT already have an NVQ 2 in Business administration or Customer Service
– Have a positive attitude towards teamwork and being able to work well with others.
For Further information please email: admin@holborncommunity.co.uk or call 02074052370 option 1
Closing Date 4th December

The Calthorpe Project seeks new Chair of Trustees
The Calthorpe Project, a charity and social enterprise in the rapidly changing area of King’s Cross in London, is looking for a new Chair of Trustees. Please see weblink below for more details:
https://reachskills.org.uk/opp/chair-trustees-needed-unique-multi-purpose-inner-city-green-oasis
This is a voluntary role, but would be ideal for someone who wants to ‘make their mark’ on an organisation for the benefit of local people and the environment. Applicants will need a track record of managing change, leadership and governance, and negotiating multiple stakeholder interests.
The Calthorpe Project has a 30 year history and a future full of potential. With your help the Calthorpe Project will continue to play a vital role in the London Borough of Camden for many years to come.

Alexandra Road Park Seeks Volunteers
This new park seeks volunteers who can help with conservation and promotion of Alexandra Road Park. Contact Jenny Kurktchieva, Jenny.Kurktchieva@camden.gov.uk or call 020 7974 2367.

Stonegrove Community Centre seeks Centre Director
Job Title: Centre Director
Salary: £37,476 plus performance bonus
40hrs per week (worked flexibly) Job Share would be considered
Over £4m is being invested in a new state of the art joint Community and Church Centre at Stonegrove in Edgware which will be ready for use by March 2016. This 975m2 purpose designed Centre is the result of years of consultation and will include two large halls, café, kitchen, nursery, meeting rooms, treatment room, offices and a chapel. The Joint Centre will be run by Stonegrove Community Trust, a new locally owned charity supported by London Borough Barnet, Family Mosaic, Diocese of London, and Barratt London.
For further information and application details, please email: info@sct.london
Closing date: 5pm Thursday 3rd December 2015.

Nafsiyat seeks Treasurer
We are looking for a person committed to our objectives to be the Treasurer at Nafsiyat. They will give guidance to the Managing Director to monitor the financial administration of the charity, and report to the Board of Trustees at regular intervals.
Download the full position description here.
If you are interested in this voluntary role or would like to know more, please contact recruitment@nafsiyat.org.uk

University College London’s GC Voluntary Sector Programme in 2015-16
Host a full-time team volunteer placement in June 2016
The UCL Volunteering Services Unit is looking for up to 25 community partners to participate in the Global Citizenship Voluntary Sector Programme 2016.
Each participating organisation will host a team of 4-8 UCL students who are passionate about the voluntary sector. That team will learn about working life in your organisation and complete a project of your choosing whose output will add value to your organisation.
The next programme takes place 31 May – 10 June 2016 and we are recruiting voluntary organisations to host placements now, at www.uclu.org/gcvoluntarysectororgs.

The Sherriff Centre seeks volunteers
Volunteers needed for a new over 60’s technology help project based in The Sherriff Centre, St James Church, NW6. We are looking for someone for a couple of hours a week who has some knowledge of mobile phones and laptops to answer simple queries over a cup of tea in the centre’s café.
Please contact Jane at hello@thesherriffcentre.co.uk

Kingsgate Community Centre – The Kilburn Grange Project seeks Deputy Team Leader
Closing date: Friday 27th November 5pm
Hours: Term time: 15 hours per week: 3 hours per day from 3pm to 6pm Monday to Friday and occasional Saturdays 11am -3pm (Rotational)
Holiday Project: 8.30am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday (extended hours)
Rate of Pay: £12.00 an hour (qualified level 3 or above)
The project is run for children and young people between the ages of 8 and 14 inclusive (and young people with special needs and disabilities up to the age of 19).
The postholder will take a lead role with the Community Play and Youth Development Manager in the planning of a programme of activities designed to meet the needs of the children and young people in the area.
Kingsgate Community Centre, 107 Kingsgate Road, London , NW6 2JH
Tel: 0207 328 9480 Web: www.kingsgatecommunitycentre.org.uk email: info@kingsgatecc.org.uk

Nafsiyat seeks a Clinical Services Manager
Nafisyat is seeking a Clinical Services Manager to provide clinical leadership at Nafsiyat and contribute to the overall strategic direction of the charity. They will be responsible for the management of Nafsiyat’s clinical practices and the quality and safety of services provided by therapists.
The salary is £35,000 pro rata over 3 days (22.5 hours) per week.
If you are interested, please send your CV and a covering letter explaining your suitability for this role to recruitment@nafsiyat.org.uk by 5pm on Tuesday December 15th, 2015.
Download the full JOB DESCRIPTION here: http://www.nafsiyat.org.uk/Documents/Uploads/36.pdf

Volunteer Treasurer role at Ransackers
We need a treasurer for an exciting 1 year project (and beyond): We are a small not – for –profit run by volunteers : we promote serious education for older people
The role includes: Keeping all accounts and proof of income & spend during and after project end, plus participation in budget creation for funding bids
Contact: hfarnworth@gmail.com or annateresalefort7@gmail.com

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 phone: 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/

Office Space for Hire
Camden Cypriot Women’s Organisation in Kentish Town, have office space for hire within a community building which is centrally located, The building is a few minutes walk from Kentish Town tube and mainline services as well as various bus stops.
The office, which is spacious is roughly 6 metres square, fits 4 desks freely and has a corridor which is also good for use, would be suitable for meetings or one to one sessions. Both spaces are light and airy and a viewing is highly recommended. The building has step free access.
For further information or to view, please call Koula Ioannou on Tel: 0207 267 7194 or email koula@ccwo.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

Have your say on health and wellbeing in Camden
Camden’s Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) want your views on how health and wellbeing can be improved across the borough.
The HWB exists to improve the health and wellbeing of Camden residents and reduce health inequalities across the borough. It brings together leaders across the health and care system to provide leadership on a range of complex challenges which impact on the health of local people.
The Board has developed a new draft Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy – which sets out the actions they plan to take to improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities in Camden.
The strategy sets out five priority areas which work will focus on:
1. Healthy weight, health lives – making Camden a place where everyone has the opportunity to achieve and maintain a healthy weight
2. Reducing alcohol-related harm – working together to reduce health inequalities, crime, disorder and offending
3. Resilient families – working with partners to reduce families’ dependency on services and focusing on what they need to support themselves
4. The first 1,001 days – ensuring the support we provide from pregnancy and through the first two years of life focuses on the most important outcomes for children
5. Ensuring good mental health for all – promoting positive mental health, improving outcomes for people with serious and long-term conditions and preventing suicide wherever possible.
We want to find out your thoughts, views and experiences on the draft strategy. You can make your views heard, either as an individual or an organisational basis, from now until Monday 30 November in the following ways:
Online – complete an online questionnaire at www.camden.gov.uk/hwb
Email – send your views to jhws@camden.gov.uk
Post – write to us at Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy Consultation, London Borough of Camden, Public Health, 8th Floor, 5 Pancras Square, N1C 4AG. Or by going to the consultation page and completing the online survey https://consultations.wearecamden.org/culture-environment/camdens-jhws-2016-2018

Camden Consultations
You can find all Camden consultation on the Wearecamden consultation hub.

FREE VAC Membership for Unfunded Groups: Voluntary Action Camden Small organisations with no paid staff and a turnover of less than £1,500 can now join for FREE. To take advantage of this offer just fill in the membership on the online form here.

White Ribbon Day 2015: ‘Harmful Practices’; Voluntary Action Camden’s AGM; Fund Bidding Support Workshop; Information Day at Clean Break; Volunteering Placements For Women Offender; Young Carers Support; Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy; Camden’s proposed approach to resident participation; Winter Volunteering Fairs; SOUP the micro-granting dinner; Kentish Town Area Action Group; ‘Talk Cancer’ workshop; Neighbourhood Plan for Holborn; + jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

White Ribbon Day 2015: ‘Harmful Practices’
2nd Annual event: International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women and Girls
10am to 4pm, 23rd November 2015 St Pancras Conference Centre
“Harmful practices are forms of violence that have been committed against women in communities and societies for so long that they are considered, or presented by perpetrators, as part of accepted cultural practice.”
Agenda: Welcome and introductions – Shirley McNicholas – Women’s Lead
Guest speakers: 1) Vanessa Lodge- Chief Nurse NHS England and lead for FGM
2) Aisha Gill – Professor in Criminology specialising in health and criminal justice responses to violence against black, minority ethnic refugee women. (Roehampton University)
3) Domestic and Sexual Abuse Overview – (AR-DSA)
4) ‘Harmful Practises’ panel presentation
5) Networking and stalls
Delicious Lunch will be available , kindly funded by Islington CCG who are supporting this event.
Booking via Caroline.walsh@candi.nhs.uk
 

‘Demonstrating Our Resilience’ Voluntary Action Camden’s AGM.
Tuesday 1st December 2015. 5.30pm – 8pm
Arlington Conference Centre, Camden.
Come and take part in a debate on what the role of the voluntary and community sector is, or could be, in building resilience and the support that people need to make things happen. Ciaran Price, Director of Policy (Directory of Social Change) will give a national perspective on resilience.
Ossie Stuart will then talk about the setting up of Camden Disability Action and future plans. Pastor Noel will speak about the role of small BME faith groups followed by Clover Crumbie from the Nubian Users Forum with some thoughts on the mental health challenges faced by black and minority ethnic groups. John Boyle will bring the case studies to an end by outlining the work of South Hampstead and Kilburn Community Partnership.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions and contribute to the discussion.
Refreshments will follow with an opportunity to meet up with old and make new friends. Also keep a look out for the information stalls that will be of interest.
To book, please follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/voluntary-action-camdenannual-general-meeting-2015-tickets-19401410140
For more information, or if you have any specific requirements (e.g. diet or BSL interpreter), please email info@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.

Fund Bidding Support Workshop
9.30am-1.15pm at Age UK London Offices, First Floor, 21 St Georges Road, London, SE1 6ES
This workshop aims to introduce small organisations to principles of fundraising and how to appeal to funders, help them identify sources of funding and give guidance on how to write successful bids. Lunch will be provided at the end of the workshop. Please note that the door to our offices is actually on Oswin Street. It is not necessary to print your ticket.
Please book at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fund-bidding-support-workshop-tickets-19419270561

Information Day at Clean Break on Friday, 4th December 2015
Clean Break are a safe women-only theatre, education and new writing company based in Kentish Town, in the north-west of London. However on this occasion we welcome men who are working with women and are likely to make referrals to our service.
We offer free education and training in the arts specifically for women who have experience of the criminal justice system and/or are at risk of offending due to alcohol/substance misuse or mental heath needs. This is an invitation, for interested women, and you or your colleagues working with these women.
11-1.15pm: service providers only
1.15 – 3pm: prospective service users also welcome
Users also welcome. Places are limited. To book your place: please email general@cleanbreak.org.uk for a booking form. Further details available here.

Wanted: Volunteering Placements For Women Offenders
HMP Holloway is supporting offenders with rehabilitation through volunteering, and is looking for organisations in Camden that would be willing to involve (women) offenders who are on day release in their offender volunteering scheme. The scheme has proven successful so far.
To find out what it’s all about, including a testimonial from a current offender and volunteer, as well as feedback from organisations who have taken part check out this post on the website.

Young Carers Support
Camden Carers’ Service is looking at how they support Young Adult Carers, aged 18-25. A launch meeting will be held on Tuesday 17 November, 5.30 – 7pm, at The Hive, 18 Harben Parade, Finchley Road, NW3 6JP (The Old Post Office). Pizza and soft drinks provided! Contact Abbie on 020 7428 8950 or email abbie@camdencarers.org.uk for details.

Healthwatch Camden with Camden and Islington Public Health have organised a seminar on the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy on Monday 16th November 10am to1pm
Kentish Town Congregation Church, Kelly Street, London NW1
This is to get your feedback on the document so far; this will be a great way to influence your local health and social care service provision and policy,
At the seminar some of the discussion will be if you:
Agree that if they have identified the right focus for improvement under each priority?
Are there other areas of focus that should also be included, and if so, why?
Have the right measures to show improvement been selected?
Are there other ways to monitor and evaluate the outcomes that they should consider?
The responses will be used to finalise the strategy before it goes to the Health and Wellbeing Board in January. Lunch is included. RSVP to Shelly Telephone: 020 7284 6585 Email: shelly.khan@healthwatchcamden.co.uk

Invitation to Tenants and Leaseholders to respond to Camden’s proposed approach to resident participation
We would like to hear your views on the Draft Resident Participation Strategy by completing the online survey that is available from 4 November to 20 November 2015.
Please first have a look at the draft strategy and then complete the online survey at camden.gov.uk\Resident Participation Strategy

Winter Volunteering Fairs
We’re hosting three volunteering fairs this Winter.
Our fairs are a perfect way to meet people who want to volunteer in Camden. And they have a 46% recruitment rate. Brilliant!
Thursday 21st January 6-7.30pm at Swiss Cottage Library
Please make sure you have weekend and evening volunteering opportunities, as many people who attend evening fairs work during the day.
Thursday 28th January 12-2pm at St Pancras Community Association
Wednesday 24th February 12-2pm at Working Men’s College
And you can easily book your places via Eventbrite here.

SOUP is a micro-granting dinner which celebrates and supports Camden community projects
For a donation of £3.50 on the door, attendees will enjoy a meal using food from local businesses, connect with other members of their community, and hear pitches from local individuals/ organisations before voting on which idea the money raised from the evening should go to.
 Would you like to make more connections in the Camden community?
 Are you working on a project that would benefit from some extra funding?
 Would you enjoy an evening of local food and arts entertainment?
Then join us at Camden Hub (8 Fairhazel Gardens, NW6 3SG) on Wednesday 25th November from 6.30pm – 9pm for Camden SOUP.
For more information, or to request a proposal form to be in with the chance of raising money for your community project, please contact Abigail on 02072784437 or Abigail.darton@hcct.org.uk

Kentish Town Area Action Group meeting
Thursday 26th November at 6.30 to 8.30pm
Voluntary Action Camden, 293-299 Kentish Town Rd, London NW5 2TJ1DN
At this meeting we have decided to focus on the following:
Licensing Policy Review
A presentation by the Licensing Enforcement Team can be updated to better address these issues
Late Night Levy
A short update and an opportunity for residents to ask questions
Community Infrastructure Levy
How we should spend our neighbourhood’s share
There will be a chance to talk more informally with your neighbours and local councillors.
Area Action Group meetings provide an opportunity for local councillors and neighbours to work together to resolve and take action on local issues in the Ward.
Please contact Denise Pittaway on 020 7974 3515 or email Denise.Pittaway@camden.gov.uk in advance of the meeting if you have any particular requirements.

‘Talk Cancer’ workshop 2nd December 2nd 1.30-4.30pm Angel Islington
We are now offering volunteers and health workers the chance to attend this workshop – for free – through our new bursary scheme.
Anyone who works or volunteers to improve the health and wellbeing of their community, can apply to attend Talk Cancer through our bursary scheme. You just need to complete an application form which can be downloaded from our website and send it back to talkcancer@cancer.org.uk

A Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Plan for Holborn
We’re starting this off with two hands-on workshops, facilitated by Angela of ImaginePlaces, with the aim to developing our Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Area Applications for Camden Council.
We have organised another two public meetings this month.
1st Meeting:
18th November, 6pm to 9pm, HCA – Millman Street Resource Centre, 50 Millman St, London WC1N 3EW
entrance is via the entry phone door between 34 and 36 Millman Street
2nd Meeting:
25th November- 6pm to 9pm
Blemundsbury TRA Hall, Dombey Street, London WC1N 3PF
Please bring a friend or a neighbour with you and spread the word.
It’s a great time to get involved and help shape Holborn’s future in a proactive way. Refreshment will be provided.

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

The Sherriff Centre, Kingsgate Community Centre, Hopscotch Asian Women’s Centre, Nafisyat, Ransackers, British Postal Museum, AWLPA, Homestart Camden, 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

Knitters in shining armour
It has never been more important for our beneficiaries that we have what we need to motivate policymakers to take the right decisions – because at the moment they aren’t. Read more at the Directory of Social Change website.

Is the Government planning to strip £320m a year from the Big Lottery Fund to cover its back on cuts to culture and sport?
Reliable sources say that the Government is going to cut the share of National Lottery “good causes” money going to the Big Lottery Fund by over one third – this will devastate charities, community groups and voluntary organisations across the UK.

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

Fundraising opportunities for small charities with the The Brandenburg Choral Festival
The Brandenburg Choral Festival of London is offering small charities the opportunity to raise funds by selling tickets to its choral concerts next Spring.
Charities raise funds by selling tickets to their supporters for a concert selected from the Festival programme and retaining a share (up to 50%) of the value of tickets sold. There are over 40 concerts to choose from covering a range of musical genres including classical, jazz, gospel, folk and contemporary a cappella. All are held at prestigious central London venues including
St Martin-in-the-Fields and St Paul’s Covent Garden. A maximum of two charities will be allocated to a concert. Each charity will be given its own allocation of tickets and there is no financial commitment to pay for any unsold tickets. Reception opportunities are available at most concerts.
Interested charities should get in touch with Brandenburg without delay as we will begin allocating concerts to charities on 24 November.
For further information, including a list of concerts, please contact: Claudia Jenkins, Development Officer – Brandenburg Choral Festival of London
Email: dev@brandenburg.org.uk Phone: 07973 564533 / 01372 209817 www.brandenburg.org.uk.

Stepping Stones Fund
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:

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.

Mental health workshops for Camden-based BMER groups – Free
Introduction to Mental Health Awareness (full day): Wednesday 9th December (10am to 4.30pm)
This one-day interactive session looks at how we define mental health and mental illness. It offers the opportunity to explore the impact of stigmatisation and stereotyping on individuals and society. Focusing on two of the most common disorders – depression and anxiety – we will explore vulnerability, risk factors and the importance of early intervention to support recovery. We will also discuss what we can all do to look after our mental health.
Please note that due to requirements of our funding, we can only offer places to Camden-based BMER community groups or Camden voluntary sector organisations whose main focus is working with BMER groups. We can accept a maximum of two people from any one organisation.
To book your place, please go to our website and follow the instructions to book via Eventbrite:
https://vac.org.uk/events/category/health-mental-health/
If you have any questions, please contact the Mental Health Team on mentalhealthteam@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.

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

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

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

Charity and social enterprise management comes to the capital
Anglia Ruskin University are bringing their specialist course in Charity and Social Enterprise Management to London. The course is designed to help third sector people to develop their management and leadership capability, while also gaining a higher education qualification.
~ Fully supported online learning.
~ Optional workshops at ARU’s campus in central London in February and March.
~ The opportunity to network, support and share experience with others
~ Study topics such as leadership & management, marketing, finance, social enterprise, HR etc.
~ All assignments are focused on addressing real issues in the workplace
To find out more please visit www.anglia.ac.uk/csem or call 01245 686 707

Free Workshop – older people’s organisations – Scams and Frauds – with Metropolitan Police
Tuesday 17 November 2015 10.30 am – 1.45 pm Lunch at 1.00 pm
At Age UK London, 21 St Georges Road, London SE1 6ES
The Bank Initiative is a scheme to help vulnerable adults. This workshop will outline the programme and work with you to develop ways to bring more awareness of scams and fraud to the communities you support.
Speakers:
· DS Keith Batehup, Organised Crime Command, Metropolitan Police
· Bank Representative
Please book your free place early. Email Zara: zghods@ageuklondon.org.uk or call on 0207 820 6781

Developing Partnerships in the Arts and Cultural Sectors
24th February 2016, 10 am- 4.15 pm, Cockpit Arts, London
Looking at the benefits of where, when and how to find the right partner, this course will offer a simple structure for developing and working in partnerships.
Full of practical techniques for working together with other organisations and individuals, the day will leave you equipped to successfully deliver youth arts projects and events through partnerships. The training will use an interactive approach to explore issues such as defining roles and setting realistic targets, along with troubleshooting for problem areas – including when and how to bow out gracefully if partnerships aren’t working!
Ideal if you are looking to work in partnership with other organisations to deliver youth arts projects
You will gain:
~ Tips for identifying and approaching suitable partners
~ Information on how to develop partnerships and partnership agreements
~ Techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of your partnerships
Cost: The fee for this course is £130, limited bursary places are available. 25% early bird discount for bookings made before the 24th December 2015.
Book your place at www.artswork.org.uk/event or contact Rachel Hall via rachelhall@artswork.org.uk / 02380 332491 for further advice and information.

Keeping it Human in a Digital Age?
10am – 4.30pm 25th November 2015
Ort House Conference Centre, London, NW1 7NE
This conference will consider what the challenges and opportunities are for VCSE organisations arising from the rapid growth of the use of digital technology.
The day will include:
~ Panel discussions with leaders from the funding, VCS and public sector worlds
~ Workshops and IT surgeries to support organisations make the best use of digital technology to improve their impact and reach
We will consider questions such as:
~ How can the use of digital technology support VCSE organisations to be able to communicate more clearly and effectively to funders, statutory, private sector and broader society?
~ How can VCSE organisations use technology to design and deliver services which meet the needs of the vulnerable and marginalised people they work with?
The conference will be followed by the HEAR Network’s Accessibility Awards
To register for a place please book here

Castlehaven AGM – Housing in Camden, The Challenges Ahead
Housing In Camden – The Challenges Ahead
with Kier Starmer MP & Cllr Patricia Callaghan on Weds 18th Nov 2015, From 7.30pm-9pm
With networking and nibbles until 9.30pm. For more information contact: Shay Thripp on 020 7 485 3386. Castlehaven Community Association, 21 Castlehaven Rd, London, NW1 8RU
Email on: shay@castlehaven.org.uk web: www.castlehaven.org.uk

Learn The Essentials of Inducting and Training Your Volunteers
This introductory-level training will give you all you need to know about inducting and training your volunteers well – giving them the best start with you for a great volunteering experience.
And helping you to avoid many problems down the line!
The Essentials of Inducting and Training Your Volunteers
Tuesday 24th November 2-5pm, @ West Euston Partnership in Euston, Free
To book your place and to find out more information have a look at Eventbrite.

Training For New Volunteer Centre Online Matching Tool (and Database) Volunteer Connect
Volunteer Connect will replace our use of the Do-it website (as well as our back-end database, reporting and matching tool).
We are planning a launch to the public in early December.
And that means that from December we will only promote your volunteering to people who want to volunteer in Camden if you are on Volunteer Connect.
With that in mind, we will be running a number of free masterclasses on how to use Volunteer Connect to add, amend and delete your volunteering opportunities.
We will offer two masterclasses on:
Monday 23rd November10am-1pm or 2pm-5pm at our office in Kentish Town
We have allowed three hours for each one, but it should only take an hour or two of your time to get you started.
You can book in for any of the masterclasses on eventbrite here.
If you have any questions about this, contact Rupal by email or phone 020 7424 9990.

Dementia Cafe
A friendly and supportive monthly café for people with dementia and their carers. The Café runs on the 1st Wednesday of each month 11.00am – 1pm. Next cafe is on 2nd December 2015
Refreshments are provided.
At Kentish Town Congregational Church, Kelly Street, London NW1 8PH
For further information call 0207 561 4820

An introduction to intergenerational working
An intensive one-day training session ideal for people who would like to organise activities or projects which bring together older and younger people, improve their intergenerational practice or make their organisation or service more age-inclusive.
The day will be of particular interest to staff, managers and volunteers in sheltered housing, resource centres, residential care, community work, youth work, education and teaching, early years settings, community arts, council departments and anyone else who would like to organise intergenerational events or improve their organisation’s intergenerational practice.
Tuesday 24 November 2015 at 9.45am – 4.45pm
Book soon. Free. For further information or to book a place, contact:
vanda.carter@camden.gov.uk / 020 7974 2810

Recovery College Courses Still Available October – December 2015
Being involved
Understanding Anxiety
Men and Masculinity and more.
Please email if you want to be sent the new prospectus for courses starting in January 2016
4 St Pancras Way, London NW1 0PE
Tel: 020 3317 6904 email: recovery.college@candi.nhs.uk
Opening hours10.00am – 4.00pm

DSC Fundraising Fair 19 & 20 November
Two days of practical fundraising training and information for fundraisers at all levels.
Get inspired by 34 workshops covering a wide variety of key fundraising topics: from In-Memory Giving, Ethical Issues in Fundraising and Events Fundraising, through to Stress Management, Digital Fundraising, Telling Stories and Building Relationships. Whether you are just starting out or are an experienced fundraising director, there is a workshop just for you.
You’ll get the tools and techniques to help you raise more funds, to better serve those you help. You can find further information here. Resource Ctr, Holloway Road.
View fundraising tips videos and find out more here.

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

Alexandra Road Park Seeks Volunteers
This new park seeks volunteers who can help with conservation and promotion of Alexandra Road Park. Contact Jenny Kurktchieva, Jenny.Kurktchieva@camden.gov.uk or call 020 7974 2367.

Stonegrove Community Centre seeks Centre Director
Job Title: Centre Director
Salary: £37,476 plus performance bonus
40hrs per week (worked flexibly) Job Share would be considered
Over £4m is being invested in a new state of the art joint Community and Church Centre at Stonegrove in Edgware which will be ready for use by March 2016. This 975m2 purpose designed Centre is the result of years of consultation and will include two large halls, café, kitchen, nursery, meeting rooms, treatment room, offices and a chapel. The Joint Centre will be run by Stonegrove Community Trust, a new locally owned charity supported by London Borough Barnet, Family Mosaic, Diocese of London, and Barratt London.
For further information and application details, please email: info@sct.london
Closing date: 5pm Thursday 3rd December 2015.

Nafsiyat seeks Treasurer
We are looking for a person committed to our objectives to be the Treasurer at Nafsiyat. They will give guidance to the Managing Director to monitor the financial administration of the charity, and report to the Board of Trustees at regular intervals.
Download the full position description here.
If you are interested in this voluntary role or would like to know more, please contact recruitment@nafsiyat.org.uk

University College London’s GC Voluntary Sector Programme in 2015-16
Host a full-time team volunteer placement in June 2016
The UCL Volunteering Services Unit is looking for up to 25 community partners to participate in the Global Citizenship Voluntary Sector Programme 2016.
Each participating organisation will host a team of 4-8 UCL students who are passionate about the voluntary sector. That team will learn about working life in your organisation and complete a project of your choosing whose output will add value to your organisation.
The next programme takes place 31 May – 10 June 2016 and we are recruiting voluntary organisations to host placements now, at www.uclu.org/gcvoluntarysectororgs.

The Sherriff Centre seeks volunteers
Volunteers needed for a new over 60’s technology help project based in The Sherriff Centre, St James Church, NW6. We are looking for someone for a couple of hours a week who has some knowledge of mobile phones and laptops to answer simple queries over a cup of tea in the centre’s café.
Please contact Jane at hello@thesherriffcentre.co.uk

Kingsgate Community Centre – The Kilburn Grange Project seeks Deputy Team Leader
Closing date: Friday 27th November 5pm
Hours: Term time: 15 hours per week: 3 hours per day from 3pm to 6pm Monday to Friday and occasional Saturdays 11am -3pm (Rotational)
Holiday Project: 8.30am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday (extended hours)
Rate of Pay: £12.00 an hour (qualified level 3 or above)
The project is run for children and young people between the ages of 8 and 14 inclusive (and young people with special needs and disabilities up to the age of 19).
The postholder will take a lead role with the Community Play and Youth Development Manager in the planning of a programme of activities designed to meet the needs of the children and young people in the area.
Kingsgate Community Centre, 107 Kingsgate Road, London , NW6 2JH
Tel: 0207 328 9480 Web: www.kingsgatecommunitycentre.org.uk email: info@kingsgatecc.org.uk

Hopscotch Asian Women’s Centre seeks Care Supervisor and a Care Coordinator.
1. Care Supervisor
Hours: 35 hrs per week
Salary: £25,034
Closing date: Tuesday 17th November
2. Care Coordinator (Bengali speaking)
Hours: 35 hrs per week
Salary: £23,122
Closing date: Tuesday 17th November
For a job description and an application form for any of these posts, please contact Ruksana Begum at Hopscotch:
Tel: 0207 388 8198
E-mail: info@hopscotchawc.org.uk
Please do not send CVs as they will not be considered.

Nafsiyat seeks a Clinical Services Manager
Nafisyat is seeking a Clinical Services Manager to provide clinical leadership at Nafsiyat and contribute to the overall strategic direction of the charity. They will be responsible for the management of Nafsiyat’s clinical practices and the quality and safety of services provided by therapists.
The salary is £35,000 pro rata over 3 days (22.5 hours) per week.
If you are interested, please send your CV and a covering letter explaining your suitability for this role to recruitment@nafsiyat.org.uk by 5pm on Tuesday December 15th, 2015.
Download the full JOB DESCRIPTION here: http://www.nafsiyat.org.uk/Documents/Uploads/36.pdf

Volunteer Treasurer role at Ransackers
We need a treasurer for an exciting 1 year project (and beyond): We are a small not – for –profit run by volunteers : we promote serious education for older people
The role includes: Keeping all accounts and proof of income & spend during and after project end, plus participation in budget creation for funding bids
Contact: hfarnworth@gmail.com or annateresalefort7@gmail.com

Asian Women Lone Parents Association (AWLPA) are Recruiting
Asian Women Lone Parents Association (AWLPA) works to support Asian women
who are lone parents, and their children, by providing services that enables them
to improve their lives and wellbeing. Through active support we look to empower
women to participate in their social, economic, health and physical environment.
AWLPA are recruiting two posts:
Part-time administrator
The ideal candidate would be motivated, organised and empathetic to the
situations affecting single Asian mums in London today. They would have
experience of working in an office environment and helping with charity and
project administration and be able to complete tasks within deadlines.
They must be able to use Microsoft outlook, office and excel and have experience
of establishing and setting up electronic and filing systems. The role will require
updating and inputting service user information, monitoring and evaluation,
helping with project support and service delivery to organise events, activities,
workshops, crèche, childcare, writing update reports, answering the phone,
liaising with contractors and local partners and updating the charity website and
other communication.
Role: 7 hours a week at £10 per hour from December 2015 (possibly sooner
subject to interview and satisfactory references).
If you are interested please email: director@awlpa.org for application details. For
further information or an informal chat please contact the office on 0207 833
8085 or visit our website www.awlpa.org
Deadline for applications: Monday 16th November 2015
Project Coordinator
The ideal candidate would be motivated, organised and empathetic to the
situations affecting single Asian mums in London today. They would be bilingual
preferably Bengali/Urdu speaking.
They would have experience of working with vulnerable women and working with
volunteers including support, management, recruitment and training of
volunteers. They must be able to organize and develop activities in relation to the
women’s needs including weekly activities and be able to review, monitor and
evaluate project and its outcomes. They must be committed, innovative,
organised, pro-active and be able to work with a range of partners and hold a
professional manner.
Role: 18 hours a week at £13 per hour from December 2015(possibly sooner
subject to interview and satisfactory references).
If you are interested please email: director@awlpa.org for application details. For
further information or an informal chat please contact the office on 0207 833
8085 or visit our website www.awlpa.org
Deadline for applications: Friday 20th November 2015

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

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 phone: 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/

Office Space for Hire
Camden Cypriot Women’s Organisation in Kentish Town, have office space for hire within a community building which is centrally located, The building is a few minutes walk from Kentish Town tube and mainline services as well as various bus stops.
The office, which is spacious is roughly 6 metres square, fits 4 desks freely and has a corridor which is also good for use, would be suitable for meetings or one to one sessions. Both spaces are light and airy and a viewing is highly recommended. The building has step free access.
For further information or to view, please call Koula Ioannou on Tel: 0207 267 7194 or email koula@ccwo.org.uk

Have your say on health and wellbeing in Camden
Camden’s Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) want your views on how health and wellbeing can be improved across the borough.
The HWB exists to improve the health and wellbeing of Camden residents and reduce health inequalities across the borough. It brings together leaders across the health and care system to provide leadership on a range of complex challenges which impact on the health of local people.
The Board has developed a new draft Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy – which sets out the actions they plan to take to improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities in Camden.
The strategy sets out five priority areas which work will focus on:
1. Healthy weight, health lives – making Camden a place where everyone has the opportunity to achieve and maintain a healthy weight
2. Reducing alcohol-related harm – working together to reduce health inequalities, crime, disorder and offending
3. Resilient families – working with partners to reduce families’ dependency on services and focusing on what they need to support themselves
4. The first 1,001 days – ensuring the support we provide from pregnancy and through the first two years of life focuses on the most important outcomes for children
5. Ensuring good mental health for all – promoting positive mental health, improving outcomes for people with serious and long-term conditions and preventing suicide wherever possible.
We want to find out your thoughts, views and experiences on the draft strategy. You can make your views heard, either as an individual or an organisational basis, from now until Monday 30 November in the following ways:
Online – complete an online questionnaire at www.camden.gov.uk/hwb
Email – send your views to jhws@camden.gov.uk
Post – write to us at Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy Consultation, London Borough of Camden, Public Health, 8th Floor, 5 Pancras Square, N1C 4AG. Or by going to the consultation page and completing the online survey https://consultations.wearecamden.org/culture-environment/camdens-jhws-2016-2018

North Central London Strategic Cancer Partnership Group
An exciting new initiative for Cancer services across North Central London. We will be establishing a partnership to improve the way services work together to meet the needs of patients.
An opportunity to explore shared priorities and concerns but also to challenge each other to build local capacity to provide outstanding support for cancer patients. We want to develop a consistent patient offer across the area that focuses on patient outcomes and their experience of services.
The proposed group would be supported by the Transforming Cancer Services Team (TCST) for London and we are inviting their Director to be a part of the group. We need patient representatives who have experience of cancer services themselves or as families or carers. The group would aim to meet no more than 4 times a year.
The first meeting will be in early November. If you would like to participate please contact helen.saunders@camdenccg.nhs.uk for an informal discussion. We have a rewards and recognition procedure in place to compensate you for your time.

Camden Consultations
You can find all Camden consultation on the Wearecamden consultation hub.

FREE VAC Membership for Unfunded Groups: Voluntary Action Camden Small organisations with no paid staff and a turnover of less than £1,500 can now join for FREE. To take advantage of this offer just fill in the membership on the online form here.

Demonstrating Our Resilience’ Voluntary Action Camden’s AGM; Invitation to the Camden50 Volunteering Awards; Have your say on health and wellbeing in Camden; University College London’s GC Voluntary Sector Programme in 2015-16; Peer Sexual Exploitation; VAC’s Mental Health training course programme; Office with Consulting Rooms to Let; + jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

‘Demonstrating Our Resilience’ Voluntary Action Camden’s AGM.
Tuesday 1st December 2015. 5.30pm – 8pm
Arlington Conference Centre, Camden.
Come and take part in a debate on what the role of the voluntary and community sector is, or could be, in building resilience and the support that people need to make things happen. Ciaran Price, Director of Policy (Directory of Social Change) will give a national perspective on resilience.
Ossie Stuart will then talk about the setting up of Camden Disability Action and future plans. Pastor Noel will speak about the role of small BME faith groups followed by Clover Crumbie from the Nubian Users Forum with some thoughts on the mental health challenges faced by black and minority ethnic groups. John Boyle will bring the case studies to an end by outlining the work of South Hampstead and Kilburn Community Partnership.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions and contribute to the discussion.
Refreshments will follow with an opportunity to meet up with old and make new friends. Also keep a look out for the information stalls that will be of interest.
To book, please follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/voluntary-action-camdenannual-general-meeting-2015-tickets-19401410140
For more information, or if you have any specific requirements (e.g. diet or BSL interpreter), please email info@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.
 

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/

Invitation to the Camden50 Volunteering Awards
The Leader of the Council, Councillor Sarah Hayward and the Mayor of Camden, Councillor Larraine Revah, invite you
to the Camden50 volunteering awards, held as part of the borough’s fiftieth birthday celebrations. The Mayor of Camden
will present certificates to ten exceptional volunteers chosen by an independent panel of judges.
The Awards Ceremony is from 6 – 8pm on Thursday 19 November 2015 at Camden Town Hall, Judd Street WC1H 9JE
Please RSVP to Frances Connelly at frances.connelly@camden.gov.uk or 0207 974 6457 by 10 November 2015

Have your say on health and wellbeing in Camden
Camden’s Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) want your views on how health and wellbeing can be improved across the borough.
The HWB exists to improve the health and wellbeing of Camden residents and reduce health inequalities across the borough. It brings together leaders across the health and care system to provide leadership on a range of complex challenges which impact on the health of local people.
The Board has developed a new draft Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy – which sets out the actions they plan to take to improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities in Camden.
The strategy sets out five priority areas which work will focus on:
1. Healthy weight, health lives – making Camden a place where everyone has the opportunity to achieve and maintain a healthy weight
2. Reducing alcohol-related harm – working together to reduce health inequalities, crime, disorder and offending
3. Resilient families – working with partners to reduce families’ dependency on services and focusing on what they need to support themselves
4. The first 1,001 days – ensuring the support we provide from pregnancy and through the first two years of life focuses on the most important outcomes for children
5. Ensuring good mental health for all – promoting positive mental health, improving outcomes for people with serious and long-term conditions and preventing suicide wherever possible.
We want to find out your thoughts, views and experiences on the draft strategy. You can make your views heard, either as an individual or an organisational basis, from now until Monday 30 November in the following ways:
Online – complete an online questionnaire at www.camden.gov.uk/hwb
Email – send your views to jhws@camden.gov.uk
Post – write to us at Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy Consultation, London Borough of Camden, Public Health, 8th Floor, 5 Pancras Square, N1C 4AG. Or by going to the consultation page and completing the online survey https://consultations.wearecamden.org/culture-environment/camdens-jhws-2016-2018

It’s Caption Caption Awareness Week 9 – 15 November.
To mark the 15th anniversary, Stagetext is organising the first ever Captioning Awareness Week from 9 to 15 November 2015. The aim of this week is to bring together cultural venues and caption users from all over to celebrate and raise awareness of captioning and subtitling.
We want everyone to get involved including theatres, museums, galleries and other arts venues, deaf and disabled organisations and of course: caption users.
Go to http://www.stagetext.org/ for a list of captioned talks, shows, events and how to get involved.

University College London’s GC Voluntary Sector Programme in 2015-16
Host a full-time team volunteer placement in June 2016
The UCL Volunteering Services Unit is looking for up to 25 community partners to participate in the Global Citizenship Voluntary Sector Programme 2016.
Each participating organisation will host a team of 4-8 UCL students who are passionate about the voluntary sector. That team will learn about working life in your organisation and complete a project of your choosing whose output will add value to your organisation.
The next programme takes place 31 May – 10 June 2016 and we are recruiting voluntary organisations to host placements now, at www.uclu.org/gcvoluntarysectororgs.

Peer Sexual Exploitation
Camden parents have been working on a piece of work around peer on peer Sexual Exploitation. They have created a parent-led animation campaign to highlight the issue amongst young people’s relationships and how parents can be involved in reducing this through discussion with their children, spotting warning signs and knowing where to go if they think their child is at risk of (or experiencing or perpetrating) Sexual Exploitation and or Sexual Violence.
Here’s the link to the CSE campaign www.camden.gov.uk/sexualexploitation please do promote this campaign across your organisations where appropriate.
Craig Storrod, the CSE Training and Outreach Practitioner, Barnardo’s who presented at the recent launch event has confirmed he is happy to offer training to voluntary sector organisations. His project work is aimed at raising awareness of CSE amongst the night time economy (staff in hotels, bars, taxi companies etc), but he is very happy to speak to organisations outside this remit.
He has worked with many local authorities and says Camden is years ahead of other local areas in tackling this problem, and he believes the voluntary sector are key to spreading the message.
Organisations who may be interested in the training can contact Craig directly. craig.storrod@barnardos.org.uk

VAC’s Mental Health training course programme
VAC has a full programme of Mental Health courses. See the VAC Events section below.
Or view the Mental Health pages or contact: mentalhealthteam@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.

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

An Exhibition of People’s History Posters
11am to 4pm 9th – 13th November at Torriano Meeting House
More information here.

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

The Sherriff Centre, Kingsgate Community Centre, Hopscotch Asian Women’s Centre, Nafisyat, Ransackers, British Postal Museum, AWLPA, Homestart Camden, 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

When breaking up is not an option – leasing from local authorities – Legal Briefing
Voluntary sector organisations provide valuable and often innovative services to their local community. A local or public authority will often be prepared to grant the long lease of a building or open space to such an organisation, potentially enabling a strategic approach to the property, and in particular, the possibility for capital investment. This Russell-Cooke legal briefing looks at some of the pit falls and says “The most dangerous type of provision that local authorities propose in this type of negotiation is the landlord’s break right. The nature of landlord’s break rights (as opposed to tenant’s break rights) are relatively unusual in the commercial world except in the case of some very short-term occupation arrangements in what are sometimes termed ‘serviced’ premises. Download the briefing here.

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

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:
29th October

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.

Mental health workshops for Camden-based BMER groups – Free
There are places available on the following two VAC workshops:
Mental Health and Stigma (half-day): Monday 2nd November (2-5pm)
Mental health affects all of us in one way or another throughout our lives, yet for many it remains a taboo subject, shrouded in myths and stigma. This half-day session is designed to open up a discussion about how we can explore and break down stigma in relation to mental illness. Using various techniques including film, case studies and discussion, there will be a particular reference to stigma in South Asian communities.
Introduction to Mental Health Awareness (full day): Wednesday 9th December (10am to 4.30pm)
This one-day interactive session looks at how we define mental health and mental illness. It offers the opportunity to explore the impact of stigmatisation and stereotyping on individuals and society. Focusing on two of the most common disorders – depression and anxiety – we will explore vulnerability, risk factors and the importance of early intervention to support recovery. We will also discuss what we can all do to look after our mental health.
Please note that due to requirements of our funding, we can only offer places to Camden-based BMER community groups or Camden voluntary sector organisations whose main focus is working with BMER groups. We can accept a maximum of two people from any one organisation.
To book your place, please go to our website and follow the instructions to book via Eventbrite:
https://vac.org.uk/events/category/health-mental-health/
If you have any questions, please contact the Mental Health Team on mentalhealthteam@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training course.
This will take place over two full days on Thursday 12th November and Thursday 19th November (9.30am to 5pm both days).
This internationally recognised course will be of interest to parents, youth workers, teachers, those who support young people, or anyone who wants to learn more about mental health.
The YMHFA course will teach you to:
• Spot the early signs of a mental health problem in a young person
• Feel confident helping a young person experiencing a problem
• Provide help on a first aid basis
• Help protect a young person who might be at risk of harm
• Help prevent a mental illness from getting worse
• Help a young person recover faster
• Guide a young person towards the right support
• Reduce the stigma of mental health problems
Participants will receive a copy of the YMHFA manual and certificate on completion of the course. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
This training is highly subsidised at only £25 per person. To book your place and pay by card via Eventbrite please go to: https://vac.org.uk/events/category/health-mental-health/.
Please note that VAC can only accept bookings from Camden-based BMER groups or organisations based in Camden working with BMER communities.
If you have any questions please contact the Mental Health Team on: mentalhealthteam@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.

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).

Keeping it Human in a Digital Age?
10am – 4.30pm 25th November 2015
Ort House Conference Centre, London, NW1 7NE
This conference will consider what the challenges and opportunities are for VCSE organisations arising from the rapid growth of the use of digital technology.
The day will include:
~ Panel discussions with leaders from the funding, VCS and public sector worlds
~ Workshops and IT surgeries to support organisations make the best use of digital technology to improve their impact and reach
We will consider questions such as:
~ How can the use of digital technology support VCSE organisations to be able to communicate more clearly and effectively to funders, statutory, private sector and broader society?
~ How can VCSE organisations use technology to design and deliver services which meet the needs of the vulnerable and marginalised people they work with?
~ What are the capacity building needs of the sector and how can funders meet those needs?
~ The London picture on digital exclusion and how to address this issue?
~ How does digital change the way we connect and operate locally and across London?
The conference will be followed by the HEAR Network’s Accessibility Awards
The Access Awards will showcase examples of good practice in accessibility and inclusion by HEAR network members in service delivery, and how small changes can have a big impact!
To register for a place please book here

Castlehaven AGM – Housing in Camden, The Challenges Ahead
Housing In Camden – The Challenges Ahead
with Kier Starmer MP & Cllr Patricia Callaghan on Weds 18th Nov 2015, From 7.30pm-9pm
With networking and nibbles until 9.30pm. For more information contact: Shay Thripp on 020 7 485 3386. Castlehaven Community Association, 21 Castlehaven Rd, London, NW1 8RU
Email on: shay@castlehaven.org.uk web: www.castlehaven.org.uk

Learn The Essentials of Inducting and Training Your Volunteers
This introductory-level training will give you all you need to know about inducting and training your volunteers well – giving them the best start with you for a great volunteering experience.
And helping you to avoid many problems down the line!
The Essentials of Inducting and Training Your Volunteers
Tuesday 24th November 2-5pm, @ West Euston Partnership in Euston, Free
To book your place and to find out more information have a look at Eventbrite.

Healthwatch Camden with Camden and Islington Public Health have organised a seminar on the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy on Monday 16th November 10am to1pm
Kentish Town Congregation Church, Kelly Street, London NW1
This is to get your feedback on the document so far; this will be a great way to influence your local health and social care service provision and policy,
At the seminar some of the discussion will be if you:
Agree that if they have identified the right focus for improvement under each priority?
Are there other areas of focus that should also be included, and if so, why?
Have the right measures to show improvement been selected?
Are there other ways to monitor and evaluate the outcomes that they should consider?
Are there any other comments that you would like to make?
The responses will be used to finalise the strategy before it goes to the Health and Wellbeing Board in January. Lunch is included.
Please let me know as soon as possible if you are coming. Telephone: 020 7284 6585 Email: shelly.khan@healthwatchcamden.co.uk

Training For New Volunteer Centre Online Matching Tool (and Database) Volunteer Connect
Volunteer Connect will replace our use of the Do-it website (as well as our back-end database, reporting and matching tool).
We are planning a launch to the public in early December.
And that means that from December we will only promote your volunteering to people who want to volunteer in Camden if you are on Volunteer Connect.
With that in mind, we will be running a number of free masterclasses on how to use Volunteer Connect to add, amend and delete your volunteering opportunities.
We will offer two masterclasses on:
Monday 23rd November10am-1pm or 2pm-5pm at our office in Kentish Town
We have allowed three hours for each one, but it should only take an hour or two of your time to get you started.
You can book in for any of the masterclasses on eventbrite here.
If you have any questions about this, contact Rupal by email or phone 020 7424 9990.

Dementia Cafe
A friendly and supportive monthly café for people with dementia and their carers. The Café runs on the 1st Wednesday of each month 11.00am – 1pm. Next cafe is on 2nd December 2015
Refreshments are provided.
At Kentish Town Congregational Church, Kelly Street, London NW1 8PH
For further information call 0207 561 4820

An introduction to intergenerational working
An intensive one-day training session ideal for people who would like to organise activities or projects which bring together older and younger people, improve their intergenerational practice or make their organisation or service more age-inclusive.
The day will be of particular interest to staff, managers and volunteers in sheltered housing, resource centres, residential care, community work, youth work, education and teaching, early years settings, community arts, council departments and anyone else who would like to organise intergenerational events or improve their organisation’s intergenerational practice.
Tuesday 24 November 2015 at 9.45am – 4.45pm
Book soon. Free. For further information or to book a place, contact:
vanda.carter@camden.gov.uk / 020 7974 2810

Recovery College Courses Still Available October – December 2015
Being involved
Understanding Anxiety
Men and Masculinity and more.
Please email if you want to be sent the new prospectus for courses starting in January 2016
4 St Pancras Way, London NW1 0PE
Tel: 020 3317 6904 email: recovery.college@candi.nhs.uk
Opening hours10.00am – 4.00pm

DSC Fundraising Fair 19 & 20 November
Two days of practical fundraising training and information for fundraisers at all levels.
Get inspired by 34 workshops covering a wide variety of key fundraising topics: from In-Memory Giving, Ethical Issues in Fundraising and Events Fundraising, through to Stress Management, Digital Fundraising, Telling Stories and Building Relationships. Whether you are just starting out or are an experienced fundraising director, there is a workshop just for you.
You’ll get the tools and techniques to help you raise more funds, to better serve those you help. You can find further information here. Resource Ctr, Holloway Road.

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

The Sherriff Centre seeks volunteers
Volunteers needed for a new over 60’s technology help project based in The Sherriff Centre, St James Church, NW6. We are looking for someone for a couple of hours a week who has some knowledge of mobile phones and laptops to answer simple queries over a cup of tea in the centre’s café.
Please contact Jane at hello@thesherriffcentre.co.uk

Kingsgate Community Centre – The Kilburn Grange Project seeks Deputy Team Leader
Closing date: Friday 27th November 5pm
Hours: Term time: 15 hours per week: 3 hours per day from 3pm to 6pm Monday to Friday and occasional Saturdays 11am -3pm (Rotational)
Holiday Project: 8.30am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday (extended hours)
Rate of Pay: £12.00 an hour (qualified level 3 or above)
The project is run for children and young people between the ages of 8 and 14 inclusive (and young people with special needs and disabilities up to the age of 19).
The postholder will take a lead role with the Community Play and Youth Development Manager in the planning of a programme of activities designed to meet the needs of the children and young people in the area.
Kingsgate Community Centre, 107 Kingsgate Road, London , NW6 2JH
Tel: 0207 328 9480 Web: www.kingsgatecommunitycentre.org.uk email: info@kingsgatecc.org.uk

Hopscotch Asian Women’s Centre seeks Care Supervisor and a Care Coordinator.
1. Care Supervisor
Hours: 35 hrs per week
Salary: £25,034
Closing date: Tuesday 17th November
2. Care Coordinator (Bengali speaking)
Hours: 35 hrs per week
Salary: £23,122
Closing date: Tuesday 17th November
For a job description and an application form for any of these posts, please contact Ruksana Begum at Hopscotch:
Tel: 0207 388 8198
E-mail: info@hopscotchawc.org.uk
Please do not send CVs as they will not be considered.

Nafisyat seeks a Clinical Services Manager
Nafisyat is seeking a Clinical Services Manager to provide clinical leadership at Nafsiyat and contribute to the overall strategic direction of the charity. They will be responsible for the management of Nafsiyat’s clinical practices and the quality and safety of services provided by therapists.
The salary is £35,000 pro rata over 3 days (22.5 hours) per week.
If you are interested, please send your CV and a covering letter explaining your suitability for this role to recruitment@nafsiyat.org.uk by 5pm on Tuesday December 15th, 2015.
Download the full JOB DESCRIPTION here: http://www.nafsiyat.org.uk/Documents/Uploads/36.pdf

Volunteer Treasurer role at Ransackers
We need a treasurer for an exciting 1 year project (and beyond): We are a small not – for –profit run by volunteers : we promote serious education for older people
The role includes: Keeping all accounts and proof of income & spend during and after project end, plus participation in budget creation for funding bids
Contact: hfarnworth@gmail.com or annateresalefort7@gmail.com

The British Postal Museum and Archive seeks Volunteer & Training Coordinator
The Postal Museum, due to open in early 2017, is a major project being delivered by the BPMA to
open a new, national museum in Farringdon, central London.
Salary: BPMA Officer / Professional Grade: £25k – £28k p.a. plus project bonus
Full-time. 18 months fixed term in the first instance
The Volunteer and Training Coordinator is a new role supported by the Heritage Lottery
Fund. The post-holder will take a leading role within the HR Team in planning, development,
delivery and evaluation of opportunities and programmes for volunteers and trainees (e.g.
interns, apprentices, work experience placement students). The role will also involve
working with the wider HR Team in the coordination of a programme of training required to
up-skill staff as well as volunteers in advance of the opening of The Postal Museum.
To apply: Please complete the application form and monitoring form (both available online) and send (preferably via email) to: jobs@postalheritage.org.uk
Closing Date: Monday 16 November 2015, 9am
Interviews expected to take place between 23 November and 3rd December

Asian Women Lone Parents Association (AWLPA) are Recruiting
Asian Women Lone Parents Association (AWLPA) works to support Asian women
who are lone parents, and their children, by providing services that enables them
to improve their lives and wellbeing. Through active support we look to empower
women to participate in their social, economic, health and physical environment.
AWLPA are recruiting two posts:
Part-time administrator
The ideal candidate would be motivated, organised and empathetic to the
situations affecting single Asian mums in London today. They would have
experience of working in an office environment and helping with charity and
project administration and be able to complete tasks within deadlines.
They must be able to use Microsoft outlook, office and excel and have experience
of establishing and setting up electronic and filing systems. The role will require
updating and inputting service user information, monitoring and evaluation,
helping with project support and service delivery to organise events, activities,
workshops, crèche, childcare, writing update reports, answering the phone,
liaising with contractors and local partners and updating the charity website and
other communication.
Role: 7 hours a week at £10 per hour from December 2015(possibly sooner
subject to interview and satisfactory references).
If you are interested please email: director@awlpa.org for application details. For
further information or an informal chat please contact the office on 0207 833
8085 or visit our website www.awlpa.org
Deadline for applications: Monday 16th November 2015
Project Coordinator
The ideal candidate would be motivated, organised and empathetic to the
situations affecting single Asian mums in London today. They would be bilingual
preferably Bengali/Urdu speaking.
They would have experience of working with vulnerable women and working with
volunteers including support, management, recruitment and training of
volunteers. They must be able to organize and develop activities in relation to the
women’s needs including weekly activities and be able to review, monitor and
evaluate project and its outcomes. They must be committed, innovative,
organised, pro-active and be able to work with a range of partners and hold a
professional manner.
Role: 18 hours a week at £13 per hour from December 2015(possibly sooner
subject to interview and satisfactory references).
If you are interested please email: director@awlpa.org for application details. For
further information or an informal chat please contact the office on 0207 833
8085 or visit our website www.awlpa.org
Deadline for applications: Friday 20th November 2015

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

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/

Needed: Service User representative on IAPT evaluation panel
‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ (IAPT) is a national programme to improve access to talking therapy treatment. The current contract for providing this in Camden comes to an end 31 March 2017. We are in the process of redesigning the service to ask people to bid to provide it. We need to make sure that when bids are being scored, service user views are at the centre. We are therefore seeking two people to sit on the evaluation panel that scores each bid.
The role will involve reading various documents, individually assessing and scoring bids and actively participating in group discussions with commissioners, clinicians and other professional colleagues. You will be reimbursed and supported in the role. We are looking for people who:
– Have lived experience of common mental health problems, and accessing IAPT services in Camden
– Are willing to commit to a minimum of 3 months engagement with a procurement process
– Are willing to represent the views of people with common mental health conditions
– Have good communication skills and are able and willing to read, sometimes complex, documents.
Sound like you? Please email mhinvolvement@camdenccg.nhs.uk or call 0203 688 2084 to express an interest by Monday 9th November 2015.

North Central London Strategic Cancer Partnership Group
An exciting new initiative for Cancer services across North Central London. We will be establishing a partnership to improve the way services work together to meet the needs of patients.
An opportunity to explore shared priorities and concerns but also to challenge each other to build local capacity to provide outstanding support for cancer patients. We want to develop a consistent patient offer across the area that focuses on patient outcomes and their experience of services.
The proposed group would be supported by the Transforming Cancer Services Team (TCST) for London and we are inviting their Director to be a part of the group. We need patient representatives who have experience of cancer services themselves or as families or carers. The group would aim to meet no more than 4 times a year.
The first meeting will be in early November. If you would like to participate please contact helen.saunders@camdenccg.nhs.uk for an informal discussion. We have a rewards and recognition procedure in place to compensate you for your time.

Camden Consultations
You can find all Camden consultation on the Wearecamden consultation hub.

FREE VAC Membership for Unfunded Groups: Voluntary Action Camden Small organisations with no paid staff and a turnover of less than £1,500 can now join for FREE. To take advantage of this offer just fill in the membership on the online form here.

Cycling Workplaces; Camden Council and Camden’s Voluntary and Community Sector Consultation Update; Trustees’ Week Event: ‘Piggy in the Middle – Can Trustees Please Everyone?’; Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA); The Essentials of Inducting and Training Your Volunteers; CQC Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust; Office with Consulting Rooms to Let; Silk Moth; Castlehaven AGM – Housing in Camden, The Challenges Ahead; + jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

Cycling Workplaces
As an employer in London, you are entitled to free support and services to help you promote cycling in your workplace.
If you have five or more employees, you could benefit from:
1. Free cycle stands*
A wide range of cycle parking to suit the space you have available, including toast rack stands, shelters and folding bike lockers.
2. Free cycle safety checks and bike marking
A mechanic provides bike checks at your workplace to ensure your employees’ bikes are roadworthy.
Plus, staff can have their bikes security marked, to aid recovery in the event of theft.
3. Free cycle safety seminar
A seminar at your workplace on commuter cycling, safety and how London is changing for cyclists.
4. Free commuter cycle skills sessions
121 on-bike cycling sessions for beginner, intermediate and experienced cyclists.
Available as a taster day at your workplace or as individual sessions.
* Stands are provided free of charge. The business is responsible for installation costs.
Register at tfl.gov.uk/cyclingworkplaces
 

Camden Council and Camden’s Voluntary and Community Sector Consultation Update
The closing date for the consultation is 4th November so don’t delay as this will be your last chance. The LB Camden 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.

Trustees’ Week Event: ‘Piggy in the Middle – Can Trustees Please Everyone?’
Wednesday, 4th November 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
This round table discussion raises the issue of the multiple pressures that Trustees feel
The staff, users and funders all seem to have strong views on how trustees should be doing their job. Add to this a recent increase in interest from the press and the public and many trustees are left feeling like piggy-in-the-middle. Can you keep everyone happy? Should you by trying to keep everyone happy? VAC invite you to come along on Wednesday 4th November from 6.00 to 7.30pm to share your experiences of the competing pressures on charity trustees. The evening will start with a brief presentation from Kevin Nunan (VAC) looking at the recent interest in the sector from the public, criticisms from the regulator and how trustees have attempted to deal with it.
Cost: Free More information and to book at the VAC website.
Contact: Kevin knunan@vac.org.uk

Places are available on VAC’s next Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training course.
This will take place over two full days on Thursday 12th November and Thursday 19th November (9.30am to 5pm both days).
This internationally recognised course will be of interest to parents, youth workers, teachers, those who support young people, or anyone who wants to learn more about mental health.
The YMHFA course will teach you to:
• Spot the early signs of a mental health problem in a young person
• Feel confident helping a young person experiencing a problem
• Provide help on a first aid basis
• Help protect a young person who might be at risk of harm
• Help prevent a mental illness from getting worse
• Help a young person recover faster
• Guide a young person towards the right support
• Reduce the stigma of mental health problems
Participants will receive a copy of the YMHFA manual and certificate on completion of the course. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
This training is highly subsidised at only £25 per person. To book your place and pay by card via Eventbrite please go to: https://vac.org.uk/events/category/health-mental-health/.
Please note that VAC can only accept bookings from Camden-based BMER groups or organisations based in Camden working with BMER communities.
If you have any questions please contact the Mental Health Team on: mentalhealthteam@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.

Learn The Essentials of Inducting and Training Your Volunteers
This introductory-level training will give you all you need to know about inducting and training your volunteers well – giving them the best start with you for a great volunteering experience.
And helping you to avoid many problems down the line!
The Essentials of Inducting and Training Your Volunteers
Tuesday 24th November 2-5pm, @ West Euston Partnership in Euston, Free
To book your place and to find out more information have a look at Eventbrite.

CQC Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
CQC the independent regulator of health, mental health and adult social care in England will be inspecting Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust on the week of the 25th January 2016. We would like to hear your feedback on the mental health services before the inspection. There are a number of ways people can feedback their views (we are interested in experiences from the last 12 months only) you can e-mail enquiries@cqc.org.uk telephone 03000 616161 or visit our website and complete the ‘share your experience form’ at http://www.cqc.org.uk/share-your-experience-finder

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

Silk Moth
Join us on Sunday 1st November for a special preview of Silk Moth, a one woman opera about “honour” killing.
Silk Moth places onstage a mother. We are guests at her home. Through music, gastronomy and text, this performance raises powerful questions: what is her role in this horrific ‘tradition’? Is she a victim, submissive, or coldly complicit? Based on a series of workshops and interviews conducted in partnership with IKWRO, this new work tackles a controversial and sensitive issue, created by a team of internationally renowned artists and performers.
Thanks to the Arts Council and Nour Festival. Click here for tickets.

Castlehaven AGM – Housing in Camden, The Challenges Ahead
Housing In Camden – The Challenges Ahead
with Kier Starmer MP & Cllr Patricia Callaghan on Weds 18th Nov 2015, From 7.30pm-9pm
With networking and nibbles until 9.30pm. For more information contact: Shay Thripp on 020 7 485 3386. Castlehaven Community Association, 21 Castlehaven Rd, London, NW1 8RU
Email on: shay@castlehaven.org.uk web: www.castlehaven.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

Ransackers, British Postal Museum, AWLPA, Homestart Camden, MOPAC, 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

When breaking up is not an option – leasing from local authorities – Legal Briefing
Voluntary sector organisations provide valuable and often innovative services to their local community. A local or public authority will often be prepared to grant the long lease of a building or open space to such an organisation, potentially enabling a strategic approach to the property, and in particular, the possibility for capital investment. This Russell-Cooke legal briefing looks at some of the pit falls and says “The most dangerous type of provision that local authorities propose in this type of negotiation is the landlord’s break right. The nature of landlord’s break rights (as opposed to tenant’s break rights) are relatively unusual in the commercial world except in the case of some very short-term occupation arrangements in what are sometimes termed ‘serviced’ premises. Download the briefing here.

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.

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:
29th October

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.

Keeping it Human in a Digital Age?
10am – 4.30pm 25th November 2015
Ort House Conference Centre, London, NW1 7NE
This conference will consider what the challenges and opportunities are for VCSE organisations arising from the rapid growth of the use of digital technology.
The day will include:
~ Panel discussions with leaders from the funding, VCS and public sector worlds
~ Workshops and IT surgeries to support organisations make the best use of digital technology to improve their impact and reach
We will consider questions such as:
~ How can the use of digital technology support VCSE organisations to be able to communicate more clearly and effectively to funders, statutory, private sector and broader society?
~ How can VCSE organisations use technology to design and deliver services which meet the needs of the vulnerable and marginalised people they work with?
~ What are the capacity building needs of the sector and how can funders meet those needs?
~ The London picture on digital exclusion and how to address this issue?
~ How does digital change the way we connect and operate locally and across London?
The conference will be followed by the HEAR Network’s Accessibility Awards
The Access Awards will showcase examples of good practice in accessibility and inclusion by HEAR network members in service delivery, and how small changes can have a big impact!
To register for a place please book here

Mental health workshops for Camden-based BMER groups – Free
There are places available on the following two VAC workshops:
Mental Health and Stigma (half-day): Monday 2nd November (2-5pm)
Mental health affects all of us in one way or another throughout our lives, yet for many it remains a taboo subject, shrouded in myths and stigma. This half-day session is designed to open up a discussion about how we can explore and break down stigma in relation to mental illness. Using various techniques including film, case studies and discussion, there will be a particular reference to stigma in South Asian communities.
Introduction to Mental Health Awareness (full day): Wednesday 9th December (10am to 4.30pm)
This one-day interactive session looks at how we define mental health and mental illness. It offers the opportunity to explore the impact of stigmatisation and stereotyping on individuals and society. Focusing on two of the most common disorders – depression and anxiety – we will explore vulnerability, risk factors and the importance of early intervention to support recovery. We will also discuss what we can all do to look after our mental health.
Please note that due to requirements of our funding, we can only offer places to Camden-based BMER community groups or Camden voluntary sector organisations whose main focus is working with BMER groups. We can accept a maximum of two people from any one organisation.
To book your place, please go to our website and follow the instructions to book via Eventbrite:
https://vac.org.uk/events/category/health-mental-health/
If you have any questions, please contact the Mental Health Team on mentalhealthteam@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.

Trustees’ Week Event: ‘Piggy in the Middle – Can Trustees Please Everyone?’
Wednesday, 4th November 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
This round table discussion raises the issue of the multiple pressures that Trustees feel
The staff, users and funders all seem to have strong views on how trustees should be doing their job. Add to this a recent increase in interest from the press and the public and many trustees are left feeling like piggy-in-the-middle. Can you keep everyone happy? Should you by trying to keep everyone happy? VAC invite you to come along on Wednesday 4th November from 6.00 to 7.30pm to share your experiences of the competing pressures on charity trustees. The evening will start with a brief presentation from Kevin Nunan (VAC) looking at the recent interest in the sector from the public, criticisms from the regulator and how trustees have attempted to deal with it.
Cost: Free More information and to book at the VAC website.
Contact: Kevin knunan@vac.org.uk

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training course.
This will take place over two full days on Thursday 12th November and Thursday 19th November (9.30am to 5pm both days).
This internationally recognised course will be of interest to parents, youth workers, teachers, those who support young people, or anyone who wants to learn more about mental health.
The YMHFA course will teach you to:
• Spot the early signs of a mental health problem in a young person
• Feel confident helping a young person experiencing a problem
• Provide help on a first aid basis
• Help protect a young person who might be at risk of harm
• Help prevent a mental illness from getting worse
• Help a young person recover faster
• Guide a young person towards the right support
• Reduce the stigma of mental health problems
Participants will receive a copy of the YMHFA manual and certificate on completion of the course. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
This training is highly subsidised at only £25 per person. To book your place and pay by card via Eventbrite please go to: https://vac.org.uk/events/category/health-mental-health/.
Please note that VAC can only accept bookings from Camden-based BMER groups or organisations based in Camden working with BMER communities.
If you have any questions please contact the Mental Health Team on: mentalhealthteam@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.

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).

Healthwatch Camden with Camden and Islington Public Health have organised a seminar on the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy on Monday 16th November 10am to1pm
Kentish Town Congregation Church, Kelly Street, London NW1
This is to get your feedback on the document so far; this will be a great way to influence your local health and social care service provision and policy,
At the seminar some of the discussion will be if you:
Agree that if they have identified the right focus for improvement under each priority?
Are there other areas of focus that should also be included, and if so, why?
Have the right measures to show improvement been selected?
Are there other ways to monitor and evaluate the outcomes that they should consider?
Are there any other comments that you would like to make?
The responses will be used to finalise the strategy before it goes to the Health and Wellbeing Board in January. Lunch is included.
Please let me know as soon as possible if you are coming. Telephone: 020 7284 6585 Email: shelly.khan@healthwatchcamden.co.uk

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/

Training For New Volunteer Centre Online Matching Tool (and Database) Volunteer Connect
Volunteer Connect will replace our use of the Do-it website (as well as our back-end database, reporting and matching tool).
We are planning a launch to the public in early December.
And that means that from December we will only promote your volunteering to people who want to volunteer in Camden if you are on Volunteer Connect.
With that in mind, we will be running a number of free masterclasses on how to use Volunteer Connect to add, amend and delete your volunteering opportunities.
We will offer two masterclasses on:
Monday 23rd November10am-1pm or 2pm-5pm at our office in Kentish Town
We have allowed three hours for each one, but it should only take an hour or two of your time to get you started.
You can book in for any of the masterclasses on eventbrite here.
If you have any questions about this, contact Rupal by email or phone 020 7424 9990.

Dementia Cafe
A friendly and supportive monthly café for people with dementia and their carers. The Café runs on the 1st Wednesday of each month 11.00am – 1pm
Refreshments are provided. Upcoming dates:
4th November 2015
2nd December 2015
At Kentish Town Congregational Church, Kelly Street, London NW1 8PH
For further information call 0207 561 4820

An introduction to intergenerational working
An intensive one-day training session ideal for people who would like to organise activities or projects which bring together older and younger people, improve their intergenerational practice or make their organisation or service more age-inclusive.
The day will be of particular interest to staff, managers and volunteers in sheltered housing, resource centres, residential care, community work, youth work, education and teaching, early years settings, community arts, council departments and anyone else who would like to organise intergenerational events or improve their organisation’s intergenerational practice.
Tuesday 24 November 2015 at 9.45am – 4.45pm
Book soon. Free. For further information or to book a place, contact:
vanda.carter@camden.gov.uk / 020 7974 2810

Recovery College Courses Still Available October – December 2015
Being involved
Understanding Anxiety
Men and Masculinity and more.
Please email us if you want to be sent the new prospectus for courses starting in January 2016
4 St Pancras Way, London NW1 0PE
Tel: 020 3317 6904 email: recovery.college@candi.nhs.uk
Opening hours10.00am – 4.00pm

Free English classes to be run in partnership with Working Mens’ College at Conway House (based in Kilburn) and free ESOL classes run by Training Link
Improve your spelling, grammar and punctuation. Come along to the assessment session on:
Friday 6 November 2015, 12-3pm at
Conway House, 18-22 Quex Road, London, NW6 4PL
ESOL Entry 2
‘Funded by the Corporation of London’s charity City Bridge Trust’
Learn English
ESOL: English to Speakers of Other Languages
Level: Entry 2
At Conway House, 18-22 Quex Road, NW6 4PL (Kilburn)
FREE of charge, no registration fee. Every Wednesday 3pm-6pm
To book a place please email gosia.glinska@sih.org
For more information about Training Link and courses they offer please contact admin@traininglink.org.uk or 0207 383 5405

DSC Fundraising Fair 19 & 20 November
Two days of practical fundraising training and information for fundraisers at all levels.
Get inspired by 34 workshops covering a wide variety of key fundraising topics: from In-Memory Giving, Ethical Issues in Fundraising and Events Fundraising, through to Stress Management, Digital Fundraising, Telling Stories and Building Relationships. Whether you are just starting out or are an experienced fundraising director, there is a workshop just for you.
You’ll get the tools and techniques to help you raise more funds, to better serve those you help. You can find further information here. Resource Ctr, Holloway Road.

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

Volunteer Treasurer role at Ransackers
We need a treasurer for an exciting 1 year project (and beyond): We are a small not – for –profit run by volunteers : we promote serious education for older people
The role includes: Keeping all accounts and proof of income & spend during and after project end, plus participation in budget creation for funding bids
Contact: hfarnworth@gmail.com or annateresalefort7@gmail.com

The British Postal Museum and Archive seeks Volunteer & Training Coordinator
The Postal Museum, due to open in early 2017, is a major project being delivered by the BPMA to
open a new, national museum in Farringdon, central London.
Salary: BPMA Officer / Professional Grade: £25k – £28k p.a. plus project bonus
Full-time. 18 months fixed term in the first instance
The Volunteer and Training Coordinator is a new role supported by the Heritage Lottery
Fund. The post-holder will take a leading role within the HR Team in planning, development,
delivery and evaluation of opportunities and programmes for volunteers and trainees (e.g.
interns, apprentices, work experience placement students). The role will also involve
working with the wider HR Team in the coordination of a programme of training required to
up-skill staff as well as volunteers in advance of the opening of The Postal Museum.
To apply: Please complete the application form and monitoring form (both available online) and send (preferably via email) to: jobs@postalheritage.org.uk
Closing Date: Monday 16 November 2015, 9am
Interviews expected to take place between 23 November and 3rd December

Asian Women Lone Parents Association (AWLPA) are Recruiting
Asian Women Lone Parents Association (AWLPA) works to support Asian women
who are lone parents, and their children, by providing services that enables them
to improve their lives and wellbeing. Through active support we look to empower
women to participate in their social, economic, health and physical environment.
AWLPA are recruiting two posts:
Part-time administrator
The ideal candidate would be motivated, organised and empathetic to the
situations affecting single Asian mums in London today. They would have
experience of working in an office environment and helping with charity and
project administration and be able to complete tasks within deadlines.
They must be able to use Microsoft outlook, office and excel and have experience
of establishing and setting up electronic and filing systems. The role will require
updating and inputting service user information, monitoring and evaluation,
helping with project support and service delivery to organise events, activities,
workshops, crèche, childcare, writing update reports, answering the phone,
liaising with contractors and local partners and updating the charity website and
other communication.
Role: 7 hours a week at £10 per hour from December 2015(possibly sooner
subject to interview and satisfactory references).
If you are interested please email: director@awlpa.org for application details. For
further information or an informal chat please contact the office on 0207 833
8085 or visit our website www.awlpa.org
Deadline for applications: Monday 16th November 2015
Project Coordinator
The ideal candidate would be motivated, organised and empathetic to the
situations affecting single Asian mums in London today. They would be bilingual
preferably Bengali/Urdu speaking.
They would have experience of working with vulnerable women and working with
volunteers including support, management, recruitment and training of
volunteers. They must be able to organize and develop activities in relation to the
women’s needs including weekly activities and be able to review, monitor and
evaluate project and its outcomes. They must be committed, innovative,
organised, pro-active and be able to work with a range of partners and hold a
professional manner.
Role: 18 hours a week at £13 per hour from December 2015(possibly sooner
subject to interview and satisfactory references).
If you are interested please email: director@awlpa.org for application details. For
further information or an informal chat please contact the office on 0207 833
8085 or visit our website www.awlpa.org
Deadline for applications: Friday 20th November 2015

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

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.

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

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/

Needed: Service User representative on IAPT evaluation panel
‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ (IAPT) is a national programme to improve access to talking therapy treatment. The current contract for providing this in Camden comes to an end 31 March 2017. We are in the process of redesigning the service to ask people to bid to provide it. We need to make sure that when bids are being scored, service user views are at the centre. We are therefore seeking two people to sit on the evaluation panel that scores each bid.
The role will involve reading various documents, individually assessing and scoring bids and actively participating in group discussions with commissioners, clinicians and other professional colleagues. You will be reimbursed and supported in the role. We are looking for people who:
– Have lived experience of common mental health problems, and accessing IAPT services in Camden
– Are willing to commit to a minimum of 3 months engagement with a procurement process
– Are willing to represent the views of people with common mental health conditions
– Have good communication skills and are able and willing to read, sometimes complex, documents.
Sound like you? Please email mhinvolvement@camdenccg.nhs.uk or call 0203 688 2084 to express an interest by Monday 9th November 2015.

North Central London Strategic Cancer Partnership Group
An exciting new initiative for Cancer services across North Central London. We will be establishing a partnership to improve the way services work together to meet the needs of patients.
An opportunity to explore shared priorities and concerns but also to challenge each other to build local capacity to provide outstanding support for cancer patients. We want to develop a consistent patient offer across the area that focuses on patient outcomes and their experience of services.
The proposed group would be supported by the Transforming Cancer Services Team (TCST) for London and we are inviting their Director to be a part of the group. We need patient representatives who have experience of cancer services themselves or as families or carers. The group would aim to meet no more than 4 times a year.
The first meeting will be in early November. If you would like to participate please contact helen.saunders@camdenccg.nhs.uk for an informal discussion. We have a rewards and recognition procedure in place to compensate you for your time.

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.

Trustees’ Week Event: ‘Piggy in the Middle – Can Trustees Please Everyone?’; Camden Council and Camden’s Voluntary and Community Sector Consultation Update; Needed: Service User representative on IAPT evaluation panel; VAC’s Mental Health Training Programme; Ageing Better in Camden Launch 12th November; Office with Consulting Rooms to Let; Training For New Volunteer Centre Online Matching Tool; Bloomsbury Festival; Musculoskeletal (MSK) Patient Focus Group; Young Women and the Construction Industry; Dementia Cafe; Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy; Strategic Cancer Partnership Group; + jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

Trustees’ Week Event: ‘Piggy in the Middle – Can Trustees Please Everyone?’
Wednesday, 4th November 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
This round table discussion raises the issue of the multiple pressures that Trustees feel
The staff, users and funders all seem to have strong views on how trustees should be doing their job. Add to this a recent increase in interest from the press and the public and many trustees are left feeling like piggy-in-the-middle. Can you keep everyone happy? Should you by trying to keep everyone happy? VAC invite you to come along on Wednesday 4th November from 6.00 to 7.30pm to share your experiences of the competing pressures on charity trustees. The evening will start with a brief presentation from Kevin Nunan (VAC) looking at the recent interest in the sector from the public, criticisms from the regulator and how trustees have attempted to deal with it.
Cost: Free More information and to book at the VAC website.
Contact: Kevin knunan@vac.org.uk
 

Camden Council and Camden’s Voluntary and Community Sector Consultation Update
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. The closing date is 4th November so don’t delay.

Needed: Service User representative on IAPT evaluation panel
‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ (IAPT) is a national programme to improve access to talking therapy treatment. The current contract for providing this in Camden comes to an end 31 March 2017. We are in the process of redesigning the service to ask people to bid to provide it. We need to make sure that when bids are being scored, service user views are at the centre. We are therefore seeking two people to sit on the evaluation panel that scores each bid.
The role will involve reading various documents, individually assessing and scoring bids and actively participating in group discussions with commissioners, clinicians and other professional colleagues. You will be reimbursed and supported in the role. We are looking for people who:
– Have lived experience of common mental health problems, and accessing IAPT services in Camden
– Are willing to commit to a minimum of 3 months engagement with a procurement process
– Are willing to represent the views of people with common mental health conditions
– Have good communication skills and are able and willing to read, sometimes complex, documents.
Sound like you? Please email mhinvolvement@camdenccg.nhs.uk or call 0203 688 2084 to express an interest by Monday 9th November 2015.

VAC’s Mental Health Training Programme
VAC has a full Mental Health Training Programme with a range of courses in the coming months. For example Stigma and Mental Health is a half-day workshop on 2nd November. To find out more, book spaces and view the full programme of courses please see the VAC Training section below.

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/

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

Training For New Volunteer Centre Online Matching Tool (and Database) Volunteer Connect
Volunteer Connect will replace our use of the Do-it website (as well as our back-end database, reporting and matching tool).
We are planning a launch to the public in early December.
And that means that from December we will only promote your volunteering to people who want to volunteer in Camden if you are on Volunteer Connect.
With that in mind, we will be running a number of free masterclasses on how to use Volunteer Connect to add, amend and delete your volunteering opportunities.
We will offer two masterclasses on:
Thursday 29th October 10am-1pm or 2pm-5pm at our office in Kentish Town
We have allowed three hours for each one, but it should only take an hour or two of your time to get you started.
You can book in for any of the masterclasses on eventbrite here.
If you have any questions about this, contact Rupal by email or phone 020 7424 9990.

Bloomsbury Festival
The Festival is under way. One of today’s highlights is Goodensemble’s concert this evening at Goodenough College. There will be some tickets available on the door for a 7.30pm start. Other highlights include Olcay Bayir (FREE) 24th October. Catch the elegant voice of the Turkish singer as part of Bloomsbury Festival.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) Patient Focus Group Wednesday 11th November
Camden CCG are working in partnership with our health and social care providers to review and develop musculoskeletal services for Camden residents. We would like you join us if you have received treatment, following self or GP referral, for management of an orthopaedic, rheumatology or pain condition in a Camden community or hospital setting.
Doreen Murray, MSK Project Lead is planning to hold a focus group with patients on Wednesday 11th November (9:30am to 11:30am at Camden CCG, Stephenson House, 6th Floor (wheelchair accessible).
Would you be interested in attending?
If you are able to attend please confirm by contacting Maggie Adesanya to confirm your attendance via email to margaret.adesanya@camdenccg.nhs.uk or by phoning 020 3688 1746.
If you want to know further information about the focus group you can contact Doreen Murray by email doreen.murray@camdenccg.nhs.uk or by phoning 02036882087.

Young Women and the Construction Industry – Participants and Partners Needed + Event on 26th October
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 be led by an experienced female carpenter and we will have female guest speakers.
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

Dementia Cafe
A friendly and supportive monthly café for people with dementia and their carers. The Café runs on the 1st Wednesday of each month 11.00am – 1pm
Refreshments are provided. Upcoming dates:
4th November 2015
2nd December 2015
At Kentish Town Congregational Church, Kelly Street, London NW1 8PH
For further information call 0207 561 4820

Make sure you are registered to vote
Last year the government introduced Individual Electoral Registration (IER) which means that everyone eligible to vote needs to register themselves – rather than this being the head of household’s responsibility. Voters who were previously registered under the old system have remained on the register during the transition period to the new system, however anyone who hasn’t registered under IER by 1 December 2015 will now be removed from the electoral register.
It’s quick and simple to register to vote online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote – you’ll just need your national insurance number and date of birth. If you’re not sure whether you’re registered to vote, you can find out by contacting Camden’s elections team at electoral.services@camden.gov.uk or by phone on 0207 974 6000.

Healthwatch Camden with Camden and Islington Public Health have organised a seminar on the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy on Monday 16th November 10am to1pm
Kentish Town Congregation Church, Kelly Street, London NW1
This is to get your feedback on the document so far; this will be a great way to influence your local health and social care service provision and policy,
At the seminar some of the discussion will be if you:
Agree that if they have identified the right focus for improvement under each priority?
Are there other areas of focus that should also be included, and if so, why?
Have the right measures to show improvement been selected?
Are there other ways to monitor and evaluate the outcomes that they should consider?
Are there any other comments that you would like to make?
The responses will be used to finalise the strategy before it goes to the Health and Wellbeing Board in January. Lunch is included.
Please let me know as soon as possible if you are coming. Telephone: 020 7284 6585 Email: shelly.khan@healthwatchcamden.co.uk

Do you have a passion help to improve the outcomes for black and Muslim young male offenders?
We are seeking to appoint members to the Young Review Independent Advisory Group.
Following the launch of the report of the Young Review in December 2014, an interim independent advisory group, chaired by Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey, was set up. Working with government and other agencies, its aim is to improve outcomes for young black and Muslim male offenders.
These are voluntary positions for an initial three-year term.
The people appointed will reflect a wide range of skills and experience but critically will have a strong desire and the knowledge, skills and experience to make a real difference.
For more information and how to apply download the information pack click here.
Closing date for applications is 26 October

Free Vitamin D Supplements for New Mothers and Pregnant Women
Healthy Start vitamins, which contain vitamin D and other important vitamins, are available for free to all pregnant women, new mums and those with children under the age of four in Camden.
Healthy Start vitamins can be collected from 1a, Agar, Regent’s Park, Harmood and Kilburn Grange children’s centres and from Belsize Priory, Gospel Oak and Hunter Street health centres in Camden.
As well as free vitamins, if you receive income support and are pregnant, have children under the age of four, or are under 18 and pregnant, you may be eligible for free vouchers to spend on fruit and vegetables or fresh milk and formula.
Speak to your midwife or health visitor for more information or visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk

Free English classes to be run in partnership with Working Mens’ College at Conway House (based in Kilburn) and free ESOL classes run by Training Link
Improve your spelling, grammar and punctuation. Come along to the assessment session on:
Friday 6 November 2015, 12-3pm at
Conway House, 18-22 Quex Road, London, NW6 4PL
ESOL Entry 2
‘Funded by the Corporation of London’s charity City Bridge Trust’
Learn English
ESOL: English to Speakers of Other Languages
Level: Entry 2
At Conway House, 18-22 Quex Road, NW6 4PL (Kilburn)
FREE of charge, no registration fee. Every Wednesday 3pm-6pm
To book a place please email gosia.glinska@sih.org
For more information about Training Link and courses they offer please contact admin@traininglink.org.uk or 0207 383 5405

North Central London Strategic Cancer Partnership Group
An exciting new initiative for Cancer services across North Central London. We will be establishing a partnership to improve the way services work together to meet the needs of patients.
An opportunity to explore shared priorities and concerns but also to challenge each other to build local capacity to provide outstanding support for cancer patients. We want to develop a consistent patient offer across the area that focuses on patient outcomes and their experience of services.
The proposed group would be supported by the Transforming Cancer Services Team (TCST) for London and we are inviting their Director to be a part of the group. We need patient representatives who have experience of cancer services themselves or as families or carers. The group would aim to meet no more than 4 times a year.
The first meeting will be in early November. If you would like to participate please contact helen.saunders@camdenccg.nhs.uk for an informal discussion. We have a rewards and recognition procedure in place to compensate you for your time.

Westminster Community Network
Do you work across neighbouring Westminster as well? If so you may be interested in this network meeting at Mahatma Gandhi Room at the Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Square, London W1T 6AQ on 11 November 2015 from 1.30 – 4.30pm
This is the first meeting of the Network since it came back into the hands of the Westminster voluntary sector.
RSVP please to j.webster@onewestminster.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

Evelyn Oldfield Unit, Mildmay Community, Solace Women’s Aid, Homestart Camden, North London Rape Crisis, 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

Health bodies routinely ignore the Social Value Act
Public sector health bodies routinely ignore the Social Value Act when they commission services that charities could deliver. Full story at Civil Society magazine.

Anna Turley interview: ‘We are very open-minded about charities’
The new shadow minister for civil society Anna Turley says her party is ready to listen and be radical in a Civil Society interview.

Sticking the boot into charity
An academic view from University of Birmingham

Churches Could be the New Community Centres
Simon Jenkins in the Guardian proposes that churches are put to good use as community centres, community shops, farmers markets, foodbanks, e-shopping collection points and Wi-Fi cafes.

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.

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:
29th October

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.

Mental health workshops for Camden-based BMER groups – Free
There are places available on the following two VAC workshops:
Mental Health and Stigma (half-day): Monday 2nd November (2-5pm)
Mental health affects all of us in one way or another throughout our lives, yet for many it remains a taboo subject, shrouded in myths and stigma. This half-day session is designed to open up a discussion about how we can explore and break down stigma in relation to mental illness. Using various techniques including film, case studies and discussion, there will be a particular reference to stigma in South Asian communities.
Introduction to Mental Health Awareness (full day): Wednesday 9th December (10am to 4.30pm)
This one-day interactive session looks at how we define mental health and mental illness. It offers the opportunity to explore the impact of stigmatisation and stereotyping on individuals and society. Focusing on two of the most common disorders – depression and anxiety – we will explore vulnerability, risk factors and the importance of early intervention to support recovery. We will also discuss what we can all do to look after our mental health.
Please note that due to requirements of our funding, we can only offer places to Camden-based BMER community groups or Camden voluntary sector organisations whose main focus is working with BMER groups. We can accept a maximum of two people from any one organisation.
To book your place, please go to our website and follow the instructions to book via Eventbrite:
https://vac.org.uk/events/category/health-mental-health/
If you have any questions, please contact the Mental Health Team on mentalhealthteam@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.

Trustees’ Week Event: ‘Piggy in the Middle – Can Trustees Please Everyone?’
Wednesday, 4th November 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
This round table discussion raises the issue of the multiple pressures that Trustees feel
The staff, users and funders all seem to have strong views on how trustees should be doing their job. Add to this a recent increase in interest from the press and the public and many trustees are left feeling like piggy-in-the-middle. Can you keep everyone happy? Should you by trying to keep everyone happy? VAC invite you to come along on Wednesday 4th November from 6.00 to 7.30pm to share your experiences of the competing pressures on charity trustees. The evening will start with a brief presentation from Kevin Nunan (VAC) looking at the recent interest in the sector from the public, criticisms from the regulator and how trustees have attempted to deal with it.
Cost: Free More information and to book at the VAC website.
Contact: Kevin knunan@vac.org.uk

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training course.
This will take place over two full days on Thursday 12th November and Thursday 19th November (9.30am to 5pm both days).
This internationally recognised course will be of interest to parents, youth workers, teachers, those who support young people, or anyone who wants to learn more about mental health.
The YMHFA course will teach you to:
• Spot the early signs of a mental health problem in a young person
• Feel confident helping a young person experiencing a problem
• Provide help on a first aid basis
• Help protect a young person who might be at risk of harm
• Help prevent a mental illness from getting worse
• Help a young person recover faster
• Guide a young person towards the right support
• Reduce the stigma of mental health problems
Participants will receive a copy of the YMHFA manual and certificate on completion of the course. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
This training is highly subsidised at only £25 per person. To book your place and pay by card via Eventbrite please go to: https://vac.org.uk/events/category/health-mental-health/.
Please note that VAC can only accept bookings from Camden-based BMER groups or organisations based in Camden working with BMER communities.
If you have any questions please contact the Mental Health Team on: mentalhealthteam@vac.org.uk or call 020 7284 6550.

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).

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/

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

An introduction to intergenerational working
An intensive one-day training session ideal for people who would like to organise activities or projects which bring together older and younger people, improve their intergenerational practice or make their organisation or service more age-inclusive.
The day will be of particular interest to staff, managers and volunteers in sheltered housing, resource centres, residential care, community work, youth work, education and teaching, early years settings, community arts, council departments and anyone else who would like to organise intergenerational events or improve their organisation’s intergenerational practice.
Tuesday 24 November 2015 at 9.45am – 4.45pm
Book soon. Free. For further information or to book a place, contact:
vanda.carter@camden.gov.uk / 020 7974 2810

Recovery College Courses Still Available October – December 2015
Being involved
Understanding Anxiety
Men and Masculinity and more.
Please email us if you want to be sent the new prospectus for courses starting in January 2016
4 St Pancras Way, London NW1 0PE
Tel: 020 3317 6904 email: recovery.college@candi.nhs.uk
Opening hours10.00am – 4.00pm

Wild Bunch Halloween Party
Thursday 29th October 7 – 11pm at Electrowekz, 7 Torrens Street, EC1V 1NQ
Wheelchair access, over 18s only, £5 on the door.
More information at Siren 020 7359 7443 email siren@elfrida.com

National Grandparents Day
A wonderful intergenerational event now in its 8th year!
Tuesday 27th October 2015
11am—1pm: Make Do & Mend, Traditional Games, The Big 1940s Quiz
1.00pm—2.00 pm: free community lunch
2pm—4 pm: Family Bingo with prizes,Fashion Show, afternoon tea, 1940s Singalong with the Wraggle Taggle Band
West Euston Time Bank, H Pod, Cumberland Market, London NW1 3RH
Phone: 020 7383 4382

DSC Fundraising Fair 19 & 20 November
Two days of practical fundraising training and information for fundraisers at all levels.
Get inspired by 34 workshops covering a wide variety of key fundraising topics: from In-Memory Giving, Ethical Issues in Fundraising and Events Fundraising, through to Stress Management, Digital Fundraising, Telling Stories and Building Relationships. Whether you are just starting out or are an experienced fundraising director, there is a workshop just for you.
You’ll get the tools and techniques to help you raise more funds, to better serve those you help. You can find further information here. Resource Ctr, Holloway Road.

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

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

The Evelyn Oldfield Unit Is recruiting 2 part-time posts
Research for Action and Influence Tutor (Ref: RAI)
Women’s Development Worker [Supporting Women Project] (Ref: SWP)
The Evelyn Oldfield Unit is a high profile refugee and migrant-led second-tier organisation at the forefront of developing the capacity of the refugee and migrant sector. The Unit is passionate about the values of gender equality, cultural diversity, community leadership and creating a step change towards more inclusive services for refugee and migrant clients of the refugee, migrant and mainstream voluntary sector.
We are looking for 2 energetic and organised people who are highly passionate in working with people from different cultural backgrounds to join the small team of the charity. Both posts are part-time:
• Research for Action + Influence Tutor 2 ½ days – 17 ½ hours per week (Ref: RAI)
• Women’s Development Worker [Supporting Women Project] 3 days – 21 hours per week (Ref: SWP)
The Research for Action and Influence Tutor will lead on the accredited research programme comprising 3 modules (research, action and influence and presentation skills). He/ she will co-ordinate, deliver, monitor and evaluate the project.
The female* Women’s Development Worker [Supporting Women Project] will design, co-ordinate, deliver, monitor and evaluate the project Supporting Women Project.
Both posts are fixed term until the 31st of July 2016.
*NB the post-holder for the Supporting Women Project must be female as per the funder’s requirements. The post is exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.
Salary: Scale PO2 pt35 – £33,583 including ILW pro-rata
For an application pack, please email to mulat@evelynoldfield.co.uk or please send a 65p A4 SAE to the Director, Evelyn Oldfield Unit (EOU), 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA. Closing date 27th October.
or download the packs from here

Mildmay Community Partnership seeks Centre Assistant
Closing Date: Friday 30th October 2015
Hours: 15 per week – £10/hour Fixed Term Contract: 12 months Mildmay Community Partnership is a membership organisation and registered charity working with and for the community of Mildmay, a ward of Islington in north London. MCP manages the Mildmay Community Centre, an award-winning Passivhaus building available to hire for events, training and community projects. This is an exciting opportunity to join the organisation at a key point in its development. Working alongside the Centre Manager you would help to ensure that the Mildmay Community Centre is a vibrant, well-managed facility that operates for the benefit of local residents.
The Centre Assistant needs to be self-reliant, energetic able to work on their own initiative and to prioritise activities. The ongoing success of the Centre will depend heavily on the organisational skills of the Centre Assistant and their ability to communicate effectively with all members of the community.
To apply, send your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability, when you are available and your motivation for the role by email to mildmaycp@gmail.com (with the subject line ‘Re: Application for Centre Assistant’).

Solace seeks Volunteers
Complex Needs Refuge Support Volunteer
We are looking for a volunteer to work in our Complex Needs Refuge in Camden. This is an extremely varied role which includes helping with the day to day running of the refuge and supporting women with complex needs affected by Domestic/Sexual Violence. The right volunteer must have an understanding and experience working with women affected by Domestic/Sexual Violence, Mental Health and Substance Misuse.
Please contact Ammarah Ahmad for the information pack and application form. The deadline to submit applications is by 5pm on Wednesday 28th October 2015. Email: volunteering@solacewomensaid.org Tel: 020 7619 1350
Psychology Project Volunteer
This is an exciting new role to develop a Psychologically Informed Practice (Environments) at our Complex needs refuge. This role gives the successful candidate the opportunity to take ownership of a project that actively assists our refuge to support our service users with complex needs on the road to recovery and independence. It will help develop research skills and practical application of knowledge in a live environment. A Psychology qualification ideally degree or above and awareness of the impact of Domestic and Sexual Violence is essential for this role.
Please contact Ammarah Ahmad for the information pack and application form. The deadline to submit applications is by 5pm on Wednesday 28th October 2015. Email: volunteering@solacewomensaid.org Tel: 020 7619 1350

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/

Take Back the City
Take Back the City is generating a manifesto for London by meeting with local groups – full details on the website and this 2 minute film about what we’re doing.
We’re meeting 100 groups of people over the next few months to find out what they want to see included in our People’s Manifesto. So far the most popular demands are affordable housing and a living wage. Action on police racism, free transport, open and free green space, and lower tuition fees have also come up as popular demands. You can enter your demands here.

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.

The London Fairness Commission; Wellbeing After Serving in the Armed Forces; Service User representative on IAPT evaluation panel; DSC Fundraising Fair; Office to Let at VAC; National Grandparents Day; Take Back the City; Recovery College Courses ; Wild Bunch Halloween Party; Women’s Circle Free Confidential Support for Women; Camden50 Volunteering Awards; Torriano Poetry; An introduction to intergenerational working; + jobs, volunteers, events, training, offers and resources.

The London Fairness Commission – Have Your Say
The London Fairness Commission has been established to convene the first citywide debate on fairness in 100 years. Launched in June this year, the Commission has so far asked Londoners to consider how they view fairness, whether London is a fair city, and what should be done to make London fairer. They have recently published an Interim Report, reflecting their findings and setting a series of fairness dilemmas for Londoners. The Commission’s recommendations will be published in March, and will be designed to influence the incoming Mayor.
The commissioners are very keen to hear from both the voluntary sector and those who volunteer within their local community, individuals who work in the community sector, or is a member of a local community group, and are holding two Open Space events on Monday 9th November, Museum of London, Terrace Gallery, 10am to 4pm or 6 pm to 8.30pm. Details of the event and booking can be found here.
For further information please contact – lisa@lvsc.org.uk
 

Medicine for Members Expert Talks: Wellbeing After Serving in the Armed Forces
Come and find out what challenges veterans, reservists and their families face, how you can help, and why it’s always worth health professionals asking the question ‘Have you served..?’
Open to staff, service users and the general public.
Monday 26 October 2015 5.30 – 6.30 pm
Conference Hall, St Pancras Hospital, 4 St Pancras Way, London, NW1 0PE
Refreshments will be provided.
Please RSVP to communications@candi.nhs.uk or call 020 3317 7082.

Needed: Service User representative on IAPT evaluation panel
‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ (IAPT) is a national programme to improve access to talking therapy treatment. The current contract for providing this in Camden comes to an end 31 March 2017. We are in the process of redesigning the service to ask people to bid to provide it. We need to make sure that when bids are being scored, service user views are at the centre. We are therefore seeking two people to sit on the evaluation panel that scores each bid.
The role will involve reading various documents, individually assessing and scoring bids and actively participating in group discussions with commissioners, clinicians and other professional colleagues. You will be reimbursed and supported in the role. We are looking for people who:
– Have lived experience of common mental health problems, and accessing IAPT services in Camden
– Are willing to commit to a minimum of 3 months engagement with a procurement process
– Are willing to represent the views of people with common mental health conditions
– Have good communication skills and are able and willing to read, sometimes complex, documents.
Sound like you? Please email mhinvolvement@camdenccg.nhs.uk or call 0203 688 2084 to express an interest by Monday 9th November 2015.

DSC Fundraising Fair 19 & 20 November
Two days of practical fundraising training and information for fundraisers at all levels.
Get inspired by 34 workshops covering a wide variety of key fundraising topics: from In-Memory Giving, Ethical Issues in Fundraising and Events Fundraising, through to Stress Management, Digital Fundraising, Telling Stories and Building Relationships. Whether you are just starting out or are an experienced fundraising director, there is a workshop just for you.
You’ll get the tools and techniques to help you raise more funds, to better serve those you help. You can find further information here. Resource Ctr, Holloway Road.

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

National Grandparents Day
A wonderful intergenerational event now in its 8th year!
Tuesday 27th October 2015
11am—1pm: Make Do & Mend, Traditional Games, The Big 1940s Quiz
1.00pm—2.00 pm: free community lunch
2pm—4 pm: Family Bingo with prizes,Fashion Show, afternoon tea, 1940s Singalong with the Wraggle Taggle Band
West Euston Time Bank, H Pod, Cumberland Market, London NW1 3RH
Phone: 020 7383 4382

Take Back the City
Take Back the City is generating a manifesto for London by meeting with local groups – full details on the website and this 2 minute film about what we’re doing.
We’re meeting 100 groups of people over the next few months to find out what they want to see included in our People’s Manifesto. So far the most popular demands are affordable housing and a living wage. Action on police racism, free transport, open and free green space, and lower tuition fees have also come up as popular demands. You can enter your demands here.

Recovery College Courses Still Available October – December 2015
Being involved
Understanding Anxiety
Men and Masculinity and more.
Please email us if you want to be sent the new prospectus for courses starting in January 2016
4 St Pancras Way, London NW1 0PE
Tel: 020 3317 6904 email: recovery.college@candi.nhs.uk
Opening hours10.00am – 4.00pm

Wild Bunch Halloween Party
Thursday 29th October 7 – 11pm at Electrowekz, 7 Torrens Street, EC1V 1NQ
Wheelchair access, over 18s only, £5 on the door.
More information at Siren 020 7359 7443 email siren@elfrida.com

Women’s Circle Free Confidential Support for Women
FRF (Faith Regen Foundation) is a Female led charity that has 14 years’ experience in helping women to move forward in their lives, gain new qualifications and achieve goals.
Receive professional support and gain information, advice and guidance. Get access to specialist services such as housing, welfare and legal advice.
Free Training 10 week ESOL course 5 day accredited Vocational Courses including: Customer Care, Health and Safety, and Food Hygiene.
Careers Advice: Our trained, bilingual female Advisors are here to help with your CV, interview techniques, job applications, work experience and IT skills.
Know your Rights: Our Female support worker offers help for women experiencing family issues.
Please call Julia on 0207 650 3043, alternatively email: julia@thefrf.org
Office address: 4th Floor, LMC, 46 Whitechapel Road, E1 1JX www.thefrf.org

Last Chance – Camden50 Volunteering Awards – closing date 21 October
Youth volunteer nominations needed. 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.

Torriano Poetry
At Torriano Meetinghouse Sunday October 18th, 7.30pm. Guest readers: Graham Burchell ,Selina Rodrigues, Chris Dodd and Cheryl Moskowitz. Poets from the floor welcome. £5/£4 according to pocket. More details at the website.

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

An introduction to intergenerational working
An intensive one-day training session ideal for people who would like to organise activities or projects which bring together older and younger people, improve their intergenerational practice or make their organisation or service more age-inclusive.
The day will be of particular interest to staff, managers and volunteers in sheltered housing, resource centres, residential care, community work, youth work, education and teaching, early years settings, community arts, council departments and anyone else who would like to organise intergenerational events or improve their organisation’s intergenerational practice.
Tuesday 24 November 2015 at 9.45am – 4.45pm
Book soon. Free. For further information or to book a place, contact:
vanda.carter@camden.gov.uk / 020 7974 2810

International women’s conference ‘Caring, Survival and Justice vs the Tyranny of the Market’
Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 November, which the Global Women’s Strike and Women of Colour (GWS) are organising with support from Single Mothers’ Self-Defence, WinVisible and other groups.
See the Conference webpage for speakers, sessions, tickets. Please get in touch if you would like to come and would need a place to stay.
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1478279442476169/

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

Evelyn Oldfield Unit, Mildmay Community, Solace Women’s Aid, Homestart Camden, North London Rape Crisis, 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

Charities are not getting enough say in local services
Power is being devolved to a local level and traditional “social contracts” are being broken up but the charity sector is not getting enough say in what replaces them according to delegates at a recent conference. Full report at Civil Society.

Tackle Root Causes Rather Than Papering Over the Cracks
A new study says more funders should support innovative or risky projects if they want to tackle the root causes of social problems and not just plug funding gaps.

Call for Integrated Health and Social Care System
Peter Beresford has set out the case for an integrated approach to Health and Social Care in a letter to the Guardian.

Kids Company Back in the News
Civil Society report that Camila Batmanghelidjh, chief executive of defunct charity Kids Company, and its chair Alan Yentob, faced widespread accusations of mismanagement during a three-hour hearing into the closure of their charity. The Guardian was also unimpressed with their performance and said that an opportunity was missed to ‘give clear, concise communications about how it worked and – crucially – what it achieved’. The best response so far is Karl Wilding’s NCVO blog where he points out just how atypical Kids Company were. Not just the extraordinarily amounts of money they received but her closeness to the political establishment (she is even an adviser to Ian Duncan Smith’s, Centre for Social Justice). The public and MPs might not want to believe it but most charities are ‘by and large financially salient, well governed and administratively sound.’

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.

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:
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).

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

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).

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/

Young Women and the Construction Industry – Participants and Partners Needed + Event on 26th October
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

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

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

The Evelyn Oldfield Unit Is recruiting 2 part-time posts
Research for Action and Influence Tutor (Ref: RAI)
Women’s Development Worker [Supporting Women Project] (Ref: SWP)
The Evelyn Oldfield Unit is a high profile refugee and migrant-led second-tier organisation at the forefront of developing the capacity of the refugee and migrant sector. The Unit is passionate about the values of gender equality, cultural diversity, community leadership and creating a step change towards more inclusive services for refugee and migrant clients of the refugee, migrant and mainstream voluntary sector.
We are looking for 2 energetic and organised people who are highly passionate in working with people from different cultural backgrounds to join the small team of the charity. Both posts are part-time:
• Research for Action + Influence Tutor 2 ½ days – 17 ½ hours per week (Ref: RAI)
• Women’s Development Worker [Supporting Women Project] 3 days – 21 hours per week (Ref: SWP)
The Research for Action and Influence Tutor will lead on the accredited research programme comprising 3 modules (research, action and influence and presentation skills). He/ she will co-ordinate, deliver, monitor and evaluate the project.
The female* Women’s Development Worker [Supporting Women Project] will design, co-ordinate, deliver, monitor and evaluate the project Supporting Women Project.
Both posts are fixed term until the 31st of July 2016.
*NB the post-holder for the Supporting Women Project must be female as per the funder’s requirements. The post is exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.
Salary: Scale PO2 pt35 – £33,583 including ILW pro-rata
For an application pack, please email to mulat@evelynoldfield.co.uk or please send a 65p A4 SAE to the Director, Evelyn Oldfield Unit (EOU), 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA
or download the packs from here

Mildmay Community Parntership seeks Centre Assistant
Closing Date: Friday 30th October 2015
Hours: 15 per week – £10/hour Fixed Term Contract: 12 months Mildmay Community Partnership is a membership organisation and registered charity working with and for the community of Mildmay, a ward of Islington in north London. MCP manages the Mildmay Community Centre, an award-winning Passivhaus building available to hire for events, training and community projects. This is an exciting opportunity to join the organisation at a key point in its development. Working alongside the Centre Manager you would help to ensure that the Mildmay Community Centre is a vibrant, well-managed facility that operates for the benefit of local residents.
The Centre Assistant needs to be self-reliant, energetic able to work on their own initiative and to prioritise activities. The ongoing success of the Centre will depend heavily on the organisational skills of the Centre Assistant and their ability to communicate effectively with all members of the community.
To apply, send your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability, when you are available and your motivation for the role by email to mildmaycp@gmail.com (with the subject line ‘Re: Application for Centre Assistant’).

Solace seeks Volunteers
Complex Needs Refuge Support Volunteer
We are looking for a volunteer to work in our Complex Needs Refuge in Camden. This is an extremely varied role which includes helping with the day to day running of the refuge and supporting women with complex needs affected by Domestic/Sexual Violence. The right volunteer must have an understanding and experience working with women affected by Domestic/Sexual Violence, Mental Health and Substance Misuse.
Please contact Ammarah Ahmad for the information pack and application form. The deadline to submit applications is by 5pm on Wednesday 28th October 2015. Email: volunteering@solacewomensaid.org Tel: 020 7619 1350
Psychology Project Volunteer
This is an exciting new role to develop a Psychologically Informed Practice (Environments) at our Complex needs refuge. This role gives the successful candidate the opportunity to take ownership of a project that actively assists our refuge to support our service users with complex needs on the road to recovery and independence. It will help develop research skills and practical application of knowledge in a live environment. A Psychology qualification ideally degree or above and awareness of the impact of Domestic and Sexual Violence is essential for this role.
Please contact Ammarah Ahmad for the information pack and application form. The deadline to submit applications is by 5pm on Wednesday 28th October 2015. Email: volunteering@solacewomensaid.org Tel: 020 7619 1350

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/

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.