Sandwell Council of Voluntary Organisations - SCVO. Supporting the Growth of Community Action in Sandwell.

Reaching Communities Outline Proposal Form WorkshopPublished on 3rd May, 2013

On Wednesday 19th June,  SCVO and the External Funding Team at Sandwell Council, will be holding an Reaching Communities Outline Proposal Form Workshop.  This workshop will be held at SCVO. This workshop (maximum of 16 participants) is for groups who have a fundable project and are imminently looking to put together an application to the Lottery are invited to attend. This is not a general training session, it is specialised support to go through the whole of the OPF process.  It will be followed up with further support sessions for groups who have been successful at the OPF stage and who are ...

What is the Go Green Reward Scheme?Published on 26th April, 2013

This scheme is a new and exciting way of rewarding local schools and community projects in Sandwell if they recycle more of their waste.

The scheme will help the environment by reducing the waste sent to landfill but also support local communities and improve things that matter to them, where they live.

Over the next 24 months the scheme will be made available to all wards in the borough but for the first six months the following wards have been selected to take part:

Abbey Newton Old Warley Soho & Victoria Charlemont and Grove Vale Greets Green & Lyng

Residents will

...

Applications Sought for ‘Better Start’ Partnership LeadPublished on 4th February, 2013

Following the recent BIG Lottery announcement that £165m funding for their Fulfilling Lives: A Better Start initiative will be available for local areas to bid for, Sandwell is now seeking a Partnership Lead from within the Voluntary and Community Sector. The Better Start funding aims to deliver a step change in the use of preventative approaches for babies and children from pregnancy to 3 years of age, and aims to reduce later spending on costly social problems. The Sandwell Better Start Partnership Lead will initially be responsible for leading and co-ordinating a diverse cross sector partnership to develop a stage one and ...

Sandwell Council’s Advice Grant StrandPublished on 1st February, 2013

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council recognises the importance of the role of the Third Sector in supporting residents and communities and the role it plays in tackling poverty and challenging discrimination, promoting equalities, access to services and social justice and innovation and partnership. The Advice Grants Strand has been developed in response to the following policy context:  Sandwell is the 12th most deprived borough in England.  40% of residents live on low incomes and one in three children live in poverty.  With the changes brought about between 2012 and 2017 by Welfare Reform and the changes in local government's role and finance, ...

Managing ChangePublished on 30th January, 2013

SCVO is managing a new funding stream to enable voluntary and community organisations to have access to expertise to help them respond to changes in the funding environment and new business opportunity by making changes to the way they function.  Funding is available to support significant change activities within organisations including, but not limited to: Changing your business model Diversifying your services and your potential funding Business planning for change Developing new financial models Legal matters (governance) Practical issues relating to partnership working To be eligible to apply for this funding you must be: A not for profit, voluntary and community sector organisation and A Sandwell based organisation (or ...

Important Workshops for Local Advice ProvidersPublished on 29th January, 2013

You may be aware that the Council's funding arrangements for advice projects is changing in order to meet the priorities of the Advice Services Strategy and in line with the Third Sector Funding Strategy. The deadline for submitting completed applications is: Monday 11th March 2013 at 12 noon. You are invited to a meeting on Thursday 31st January 2013 from 2.30pm - 4.00pm at the Training and Development Centre, Popes Lane, Oldbury (Room 70B) .  Please note this is a repeat of the session held on the 28th January, attendance is only necessary if you didn't make that meeting.  The purpose ...

Ending Gangs and Serious Youth Violence Funding 2012/13Published on 3rd January, 2013

The Voluntary and Community Sector are an essential partner in the delivery of services and interventions relating to ending gangs and serious youth violence. A second round of funding is now available from Sandwell Council.  Please view the links below for the various funding specifications, together with an application form.  Please note that the deadline for applications is Noon Friday 25 January 2013. Tipton Criteria and Guidance Fathers Work Criteria and Guidance Women and Girls Criteria and Guidance Upskilling Criteria and Guidance Business Enterprise Criteria and Guidance Application Form  

Sandwell’s VCS Leaders Survey 2012 – FindingsPublished on 12th December, 2012

During October, SCVO conducted its Annual Leaders Survey, seeing another great number of responses.  The Survey sought feedback on various issues that are affecting the Sector and a copy of the full report can be viewed here. SCVO would like to take the opportunity to thank all those that completed the Survey and will take forward the learning and insights to support its work  in promoting the value of Sandwell’s Voluntary and Community Sector and the difference it makes in meeting the current and future need of Sandwell's communities.  In particular these findings will be shared with local public bodies to support and ...

Voluntary Sector Views Sought on New Community Café OpportunityPublished on 6th December, 2012

Sandwell’s exciting new Portway Lifestyle Centre in Oldbury, due to be opened to the public in September 2013, is looking for experienced voluntary sector partners to help it develop it’s community café facility. The Centre, plans for which have been developed in partnership with a range of local stakeholders including Sandwell Council, service users (including people with disabilities), Sandwell Leisure Trust and Sandwell PCT, will provide a wide range of facilities aimed at encouraging people with disabilities to participate in sport alongside the wider community. It will demonstrate how participation in sport and leisure can contribute to enhanced well being, a healthier ...

A Recipe for SuccessPublished on 15th November, 2012

On Thursday 1 November 2012 SCVO held it's annual AGM and Conference.  With over 85 attendees joining in the debate and discussion.  The theme throughout the morning was one of Sandwell's Ecomomy - the important role the Voluntary and Community Sector has to play in this, the support they may need to play a bigger part and how they can engage with businesses in the future. Chief Executive Officer of  SCVO, Mark Davis, gave an overview of the  support it had provided to the Voluntary and Community Sector over the past year and speakers: Neil McInroy, Centre for Local Economics, Tony ...

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