6 October 2010
VCS Assembly News Update 6 October (Issue 52)In this issue:
1. News
2. Dates for Your Diary
3. Funding News
4. Consultations
5. Compact
6. Career Opportunities
7. Important Reminders
1. News
Latest SIP Newsletter now available
Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership's latest newsletter is now available - please see attached. The newsletter includes details of an important event due to take place on the 19 November.
SIP newsletter 30-09-10 (542.1KB)
Shropshire Disability Network
The latest newsletter from Shropshire Disability Network is now available and attached to this update. Information is also available on the Network's website.
Disability Network Newsletter October 2010 (3362.97KB)
Comprehensive Spending Review
RAWM has circulated a useful briefing to help those less familiar with the Comprehensive Spending review Process (CSR) understand the implications of the announcement due on the 20 October. A copy is attached.
The Spending Review (161.34KB)
Digital Switchover
In just six months time, analogue terrestrial TV services for households will start being switched off. (Most of Shropshire will be affected on the 6 April 2011). Thousands of homes previously in digital blackspots will be able to receive Freeview channels for the first time. Switchover Help Scheme information packs are being sent to people in the area who are over 75, disabled or visually-impaired. As a trusted source of information, your organisation can play a vital role in
ensuring nobody is left behind after switchover. Free briefings for employees or volunteers are available along with promotional materials. If you would like more information contact: Jennie Cook Telephone: 07960367464 or Email: jennie.cook@eaga.com
Do you have the greenest roof in the Marches?
What if you and your neighbours could own and earn money from a green power station in your community? Four Marches green organisations have got together to help you make this a reality. Your town or village could have a 100kW solar photovoltaic roof producing energy by the end of next summer. We're looking for community groups who want to see carbon saving on a significant scale in their community and want to create a local green investment opportunity. There is
no risk, financial or otherwise, in taking part in this competition. The winner is given free access to expert support, legal fees and the costs of planning, to help deliver their project. All that is required of you and your group is to find the ideal roof, which needs to be within the Rural Regeneration Zone1. The group will then be supported to raise the funds they need to pay for the installation by setting up a co-operative and raising money locally through a share offer,
giving local people the chance to invest and make a decent return on local green energy. The competition is being run by Sharenergy as part of Marches Community Solar, comprising local energy experts Sharenergy, Marches Energy Agency, Wind & Sun and Household Energy Service. Sharenergy is a community renewable energy incubator delivered by Energy4All and funded by Advantage West Midlands. To enter the competition and for guidance on identifying the right sort of the roof go to
http://www.sharenergy.coop/solar-competition or call Etty Flanagan on 07817 242991. The deadline for entries is midnight on Tuesday 26th October.
Volunteering Opportunities
If you need volunteers or know people who wish to volunteer contact Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership's Volunteering Team via:
Steve Jones Co-ordinator 01743 360641
Lisa Darkin Central Shropshire 01743 237872
Clive Leworthy Southern Shropshire 01743 341172
Kim Thompson Lawrence Northern Shropshire 01691 656882
Shropshire Broadplaces Offers Volunteering Opportunities
A Broadplace is run by local people for the local community and offers computers and other equipment for all to use. Activities may include drop in sessions, homework clubs, special interest sessions and training. There are 36 Broadplaces in Shropshire with 350 volunteers but more volunteers are needed to help with activities such as opening up the venue, helping others with use of computers, undertaking marketing activity, etc. Potential volunteers can tailor the
support they offer to meet the time they have available and the skills they have. Volunteering offers the opportunity to meet people and learn new skills. To find out more call the Broadplaces office on 01743 210311 or visit www.shropshirebroadplaces.org.uk
Ludlow Assembly Rooms Seeks Volunteers
Ludlow Assembly Rooms has published a booklet encouraging more people to volunteer and support the work of the Assembly Rooms. There is a wide range of volunteering opportunities on offer including stewarding, front of house work, Box Office support, event organisation, marketing, administration, research and technical and facilities support. Whatever the skills, interests and age of potential volunteers there should be an opportunity. For more information contact Helen
Mawson. Telephone 01584 813706 or email: Helen@ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk
Volunteer Drivers Needed at Friendly Neighbours
If you know of anyone who may wish to volunteer as a driver for North Shrewsbury Friendly Neighbours, please encourage them to contact Julie Thomas on 01743 235505.
Have you seen the new brochure from the Hive?
The Hive has published its Autumn 2010 brochure with a wide range of events taking place throughout October, November and December. Activities include gallery events, music events including Jazz, Folk and Blues, seasonal workshops, and theatre events. Fore more information email: admin@hiveonline.org.uk or telephone 01743 234970.
TaxAid
TaxAid have leaflets available that have been designed to provide information and offer support to people with a tax problem. If you would like copies for users of your services or members of your local community telephone 0845 120 3779 and request copies. Alternatively access information from the website at: http://www.taxaid.org.uk/
Improving the definition and count of social enterprises (from VolResource)
The Third Sector Research Centre is calling for clarity in measuring, and defining, social enterprise. A new research report shows that "different surveys have been based upon samples drawn from widely disparate populations", and different definitions lead to large differences in the number of social enterprises reported. The Guardian's Public news item gives an overview, at:
http://www.guardianpublic.co.uk/third-sector-research-centre-social-enterprise
Social Enterprise Coalition agrees that the growth of the sector demands stronger identity and infrastructure. Or download 'Approaches to measuring the scale of the social enterprise sector in the UK' from:http://www.tsrc.ac.uk/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Rcd7%2f7PK0CE%3d.
Key tips on thinking about setting up a co-op
A short piece on the Co-operative Enterprise Hub 'Thinking of becoming a co-operative? Read this first' gets a pointer as a good "warm up" for those just getting into the idea of co-ops, for whatever reason. Gives three key tips. From Third Sector Forums, http://www.thirdsectorforums.co.uk/
Communicate results, not just missions (from VolResource)
New Philanthropy Capital's new report on impact reporting analysed public information from twenty of the top 100 charities by voluntary income. "Whilst nearly all the charities we analysed were good at describing what they did - their outputs - less than half communicated clearly what changes they achieved in people's lives - their outcomes." Charity Finance Directors' Group (http://www.cfdg.org.uk/) have said that NPC's conclusions echo some of the early emerging results from their research project on impact reporting, conducted in partnership with CASS Business School. Download Talking about results (requires registration) from: http://www.philanthropycapital.org/publications/improving_the_sector/improving_charities/talking_about_results.aspx
Rural Issues Raised with Government
On 7 September, the Communities for Rural Communities issued its Agenda for Change, an offer from the rural sector to work with the government at all levels to ensure a thriving rural economy and life beyond the recession. For more information visit the following link:
http://ruralcommunities.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/agendaforchange.pdf
2. Dates for Your Diary
The Big Society in South Shropshire - 15 October
A local event will be held to consider how the Government's vision for Big Society will affect us. The focus of this event will be South Shropshire. The key note speaker is Philip Dunne MP and Steve Jones Volunteer Co-ordinator will also address attendees. The event will be held at Ludlow Assembly Rooms on Friday 15 Oct 2010. Registration will start at 9:30 am. Please book as soon as possible (by Monday 11 Oct 2010). Email: Lucy.Cooke@shropshire-rcc.org.uk
HENRY Training - 2/3 November
5 places are available on HENRY core training on 2/3 November. If anyone is interested please submit the attached application to Kay Smallbone, Health Development Manager, as soon as possible. Email: kay.smallbone@shropshire.gov.uk. Telephone: 01743 254 294.
Henry Training (282.36KB)
National Women's Enterprise Day - 17 November
The 7th annual conference for Enterprising Women will be held on National Women's Enterprise Day on Wednesday 17 November at Worcester Racecourse. The event will cater for up to 200 women who are involved in Enterprise around the county and beyond. The event is sponsored by Worcestershire County Council & Midwest Rural Enterprise. The event is a highlight in the working calendar to which many women return every year to be inspired, refreshed and
re-energised and make new business contacts. The mix of speakers, workshops and networking make it an event not to be missed, and many attendees return every year as they know the conference provides a wonderful way to build confidence and contacts and potentially new ideas and leads for new business, and some companies even use the event for staff training. After listening to delegates' feedback from 2009, this year's event will have some new and exciting elements,
including a "You Zone", a competition for young female entrepreneurs and an opportunity to contribute to a world record event. Good food, great speakers and some of the usual favourites will make the event great value for money at only £30 per head. To pre-register your interest before tickets go on general sale, email: jos@midwest-rural.org.uk or louiseg@midwest-rural.org.uk or telephone 08718 723763. Tickets are
sold on a first come first served basis and places are strictly limited to 200, so email now to register.
Rural Social Enterprise Conference - 25 November
Better Business: The Plunkett Foundation's 10th Annual Rural Social Enterprise Conference 2010 will take place on Thursday 25 November, 10am-4pm in Telford. Contact Harriet English on 01993 810730 to find out more.
http://www.plunkett.co.uk/whatwedo/BetterBusinessConference.cfm
Social Audit Network Annual Event - 3 December
The SAN Conference 2010 will take place on Friday 3 December at the Castlegate Centre, Melbourne Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. Details of the event including key speakers, workshops and how to book are included in the attached document.
Social Audit Network (166.24KB)
Shropshire Partnership Standing Conference - 13 December
Members of the VCS Assembly are invited to join the Shropshire Partnership Standing Conference on 13 December 2010. The event will be held from 6:30pm in the Council Chamber at Shirehall. The event will look at the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review and the Probation Trust will be speaking about a new way of delivering community justice in local communities. Further details will be emailed nearer the event. In the mean time if you would like to register your
details to receive more information contact Ruth Turner (email Ruth.Turner@shropshire.gov.uk or telephone 01743 252269).
3. Funding News
Latest Funding Update - now available
Please find attached October's External Funding Update. The Funding Update, produced by Gary Spence from Shropshire Council's External Funding Team includes:
- Community Spaces (final deadline announced for this fund that supports work in public green spaces)
- Awards for All (recent successes for Shropshire)
- Sita Trust Young Person's Volunteering Fund (2011 deadlines)
- Education Partnership Grants (funding for joint activity between schools and scientists)
- Comic Relief - Older People's Programme (news of next deadline)
- Youth Music Open Programme (forthcoming deadlines)
- Faiths in Action (details of fund that supports inter-faith projects)
- Education Grants (grants for educational projects that explore the design and use of buildings and public spaces).
External Funding Update Oct 10 (50.96KB)
New Capital Grant Funding Available From Social Enterprise Investment Fund
The Social Enterprise Investment Fund (SEIF) is for start up or existing social enterprises working in health and/or social care service delivery and is sponsored by the Department of Health and managed by The Social Investment Business. For the remainder of the current funding year it has been announced that the Fund is focusing primarily on disbursing capital grants and loans. As part of this, capital grants of between £50,000 to £450,000 are
being made available from 4 October 2010 until 1 November 2010, to organisations delivering health and/or social care services in order to help them meet all or part of the costs of tangible resources and capital expenditure. These capital grants can be used for:
property or land purchase;
some fees relating to capital projects including solicitors, architects and surveyors;
property renovations and refurbishments;
purchase of vehicles;
equipment for delivery of services eg fixtures and fittings; and
IT equipment.
All applications from health and social care delivery organisations will be considered; however, particularly interest will be paid to funding proposals that address the following priorities:
Carers' organisations.
User-led organisations working with users on personal budgets.
Dementia.
Long-term conditions.
Social care spin outs.
The deadline for applications to this funding strand is 1 November 2010. For more information visit: http://www.socialinvestmentbusiness.org/
With thanks to Gary Spence, External Funding Officer and Joe Bubb, Team Leader Funding & Programmes
4. Consultations
Next steps for mental health care in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin REMINDER
Public consultation: 6 September - 6 December 2010
There are a number of ways being proposed to strengthen community mental health services in this area. These include having more community-based staff to support people in or near their homes, to help prevent illness getting worse and to reduce the necessity for hospital admission. The services will also be reshaped to be more responsive to patient needs. The plans also propose to build a more modern and therapeutic mental health village adjacent to the existing
Shelton site in Shrewsbury. This would offer an environment more suited to the needs of those patients who need hospital care. Shropshire County PCT wants to hear your views about these proposals and so launched a 12 week consultation on 6th September 2010. There are many ways to have your say including completing a consultation questionnaire or by attending a drop in session:
21/09/2010 3.30pm-6.30pm Meeting Point House, Telford
27/09/2010 10am-1pm The Cedars, Shelton Hospital, Shrewsbury
06/10/2010 12-3pm Whitchurch Civic Centre
15/10/2010 1pm-4pm Craven Arms Community Centre
The consultation document and questionnaire for you to give your feedback are available at: www.shropshire.nhs.uk/consultations or www.telford.nhs.uk/consultations or http://www.southstaffshealthcare.nhs.uk/ and the questionnaire can also be completed on-line. Alternatively, for more information or a copy of the document, please e-mail consultation@shropshirepct.nhs.uk or consultation@telfordpct.nhs.uk or telephone on: 0800 032 1107 or 01952 580473. The materials are available in different languages and formats.
5. Compact
National Compact Under Renewal
A consultation has started on a new version of The National Compact, which seeks to govern relationships between the public and voluntary sectors. The draft has been produced by Compact Voice, which represents the voluntary sector on the Compact, to reflect the approach of the new coalition government and in advance of October's Comprehensive Spending Review. The new version has 37 key principles compared with 95 previously. Visit: http://www.compactvoice.org.uk/renewal Responses by 29th October.
Compact Benefits for local councils
Research identifying the social and economic benefits for local authorities when they apply the Compact agreement, on working relations between government and the voluntary sector, has been published by the Commission for the Compact. They have also produced an electronic toolkit so councils can assess Compact performance and identify potential efficiencies and performance improvements. For details visit the following webpage: http://www.thecompact.org.uk/information/100022/141910/socialandeconomicbenefitsofhecompact/
Shropshire Compact Champions Event
The Compact Champions Network meeting took place on the 28th September. Issues discussed included the Renewal of the National Compact, Big Society and the Compact, the transformation of Shropshire Council and the Compact and the Compact Champions Information Pack. The session also included an opportunity to raise issues and suggest areas of good practice. More information will be circulated to all Compact Champions by email in the next few weeks.
If you would like to become a Compact Champion or book a place at the event please email me, Sarah Dodds, sarah.dodds@shropshire.gov.uk or telephone 01743 252740.
Have you got a Compact story? Email sarah.dodds@shropshire.gov.uk and share it with others.
6. Career Opportunities
Not this time but...
More career opportunities are advertised on the Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership website. Visit: www.ShropshireVCS.org.uk
7. Important Reminders
News Items
Shropshire Artists Get New Gallery
Anyone interested in booking gallery space for an exhibition or workshop should email admin@vanetwork.co.uk or visit the Market Hall.
TaxAid
But initially, if people come forward needing tax advice give them TaxAid's helpline number 0845 120 3779 (open week-day mornings 10am-12 mid-day): professional tax advisers then help them over the phone. Jane Shillaker is TaxAid's Outreach Manager, jane@taxaid.org.uk and Karen Clark is the Outreach Coordinator, karen@taxaid.org.uk. They would be
happy to answer any queries you may have.
Shropshire Council will try to help with translation
Shropshire Council has offered to work where it can, to provide translation support to local voluntary and community groups. You will need to contact Lorna Hullah, Senior Customer Service Coordinator at Shropshire Council. Tel: 01743 210401 or Email: lorna.hullah@shropshire.gov.uk. Although support can not be guaranteed in all cases, if you clearly explain the support you need and the work you are doing, Lorna will
consider your enquiry and do her best to help.
Do you work with Shropshire's most vulnerable communities? REMINDER
If you are working to support vulnerable communities in the following areas of Shropshire please let me know using the contact details at the end of this bulletin:
- Oswestry
- Market Drayton
- North East Shrewsbury
- Ludlow (East including Sandpitts)
Your group or organisation could benefit from being involved in a partnership project. It could raise your profile, open up potential commissioning opportunities and allow you to make new contacts. Don't miss out! Please contact me as soon as possible with details of where you are working and the type of service, project you are delivering.
Funding
Philpotts Fund: Working with older people
The Philpotts Fund is still available for groups working to improve the lives of older people (with particular emphasis on the Monkmoor area). Contact Age Concern Shropshire Telford & Wrekin on (01743) 233123 and ask for an application pack.
Shropshire Museums Development Project, Small Grants Scheme
To find out more email the Museums Development Officer at Shropshire Council. Email:judith.karena@shropshire.gov.uk
Grants available through Shropshire Community Recycling Network 2010-2011
Please contact Rosemary Collie, SCRL Co-ordinator. Telephone. 07792 687903. Email:
rosemary@furniturescheme.co.uk.
Events
Free Training
....for VCS providers working with families and children under the age of 5
HENRY training and supplementary training, including a 2 day course on Solution Focused working, are now available. Please refer to the documents attached to the last newsletter (available on the VCS Assembly Website) or contact Kay Smallbone Health Development Manager, Children & Young People's Services Directorate. Phone 01743 254294 or email kay.smallbone@shropshire.gov.uk.
Courses at the Gateway
Three courses are being held at the Gateway that offer to provide some valuable skills. Information on each of the following courses is attached:
Introduction to Project Management - 1 day 20 October
Introduction to Public Speaking and Presentations - 2 days 24 Nov & 1 Dec
Consultations
Promoting Physical Activity in Shropshire - Social Marketing Project
Shropshire Council, Shropshire County Primary Care Trust and Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin County Sports Partnership have been working together on a pilot project aimed at increasing the amount of physical activity that people over 55 in Shropshire do. Please contact Social Marketing Project Officer, Marta Gajewska on marta.gajewska@shropshire.gov.uk or on 01743 255045.
Homelessness Strategy Consultation
Consultation will close at 5pm on Friday 15 October 2010.
http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/housing.nsf/open/A3A044B0E61AC0708025750F004FD2E3
Back issues of newsletters can be accessed from: www.2shrop.net/shropvcsassembly
Please contact me if you have information you would like to share with Shropshire's voluntary and community groups and organisations.
With best wishes
Sarah Dodds
VCS Assembly Coordinator and Compact Officer
sarah.dodds@shropshire.gov.uk
Telephone 01743 252740