January 2017

Monthly Archives

Shaw Trust Partnership Opportunities – DWP Work and Health Programme Expression of Interest

January 30, 2017by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Safer, Stronger Communities, VCS Feature tagged , ,

Shaw Trust is pleased to announce that it has been successfully shortlisted in five Lots under the DWP’s Framework Umbrella Agreement for Employment and Health Related Services. Shaw Trust is the only charity to make it through to this stage and as a result, they are now able to tender for the DWP Work and Health Programme in the following LOT areas:

• Central
• North East
• Southern
• Home Counties (London will be commissioned separately)
• Wales

Shaw Trust is looking to engage with a wide range of experienced local providers who have the ability to provide innovative, effective and integrated solutions that support: skills and employability, health related conditions such as physical disabilities, learning difficulties, mild/moderate mental health conditions and enterprise opportunities to help individuals with differing and often multiple complex needs, progress into sustainable employment.

Shaw Trust would like to hear from organisations of all sizes and capabilities that combine a deep understanding of the communities they serve together with a track record of high performance working with similar customer groups.

How to apply
If you are interested in applying to become a partner on the Work and Health Programme, please:

a) Read the ‘Read First’ document
Shaw Trust W&HP Expression of Interest – Read First (PDF, 268 KB, opens in new tab or window)

b) Complete the Word EOI Template (this supports preparation and can be retained for your records) Shaw Trust W&HP Expression of Interest – Response Template (Microsoft Word .docx 1.01 MB, download document in new tab or window).

c) Transfer the information from the Word Template into the Online EOI via SurveyMonkey – online expression of interest form (opens in new tab or window)

The deadline for expressions of interest is 9 am Friday 10 February 2017. Please note that we can only Online Expressions of Interest received via SurveyMonkey will be accepted.

If you have any problems accessing the Expression of Interest form or have any further questions, please contact partnerships@shaw-trust.org.uk.

Happy Painters Art Exhibition Launch at Brasshouse

January 30, 2017by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, News and Events tagged , ,

You are invited to North Smethwick Development Trust’s Happy Painters group art exhibition launch on Friday, 3 February between 5.30 and 7.30 pm.

The venue is the Brasshouse Community Centre, Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick B66 1BA.

A light buffet and refreshments will be served.

The art exhibition runs for one month.

Healthwatch Sandwell Public Meeting

January 30, 2017by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Did you know...?, News and Events tagged , ,

Healthwatch Sandwell Health and Social Care Group is holding a public meeting on Thursday, 9 February 2017, from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. The meeting is about Review of Procedures of Lower Clinical Value (PLCV).

With Sandwell and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group, some routine procedures are known as ‘Procedures of Lower Clinical Value’ (PLCV). PLCV refers to procedures that are of value, but only in the right circumstances.

The CCGs across Sandwell, Birmingham and Solihull believe that there should be a single, consistent approach which is fairer to patients and in line with the latest clinical evidence. They have worked together to review the criteria for 21 policies (45 procedures) to make sure this is the case.

The meeting is on Thursday, 9 February 2017, 10.30 am to 12.30 pm at The Salvation Army, Merton Close, (off Pound Road) Oldbury B68 8MG. Everyone is welcome.

To book a place contact 0121 569 7210, email info@healthwatchsandwell.co.uk or book directly on Eventbrite.

Local SCOPA story features in new national publication

January 30, 2017by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Health & Wellbeing tagged ,

A new hard-hitting publication by the Older People’s Advocacy Alliance (OPAAL) and Macmillan Cancer Support features the inspiring real life local story of Diane.

“Facing Cancer Together” demonstrates the power of independent advocacy. Diane’s story tells how she was supported, both practically and emotionally by Sandwell Cancer, Older Peoples Advocacy Project, SCOPA.  There are 12 stories. All can be read on the OPAAL website.

You can find out more about the Sandwell’s Cancer, Older People and Advocacy project by visiting their website, by telephoning 0121 520 7070 or by emailing Dave.Bradshaw@sandwelladvocacy.org.

If you have been affected by cancer and are interested in finding out more about becoming a volunteer advocate you can contact Juanita Williams at volunteering@sandwelladvocacy.org or any of the staff on 0121 520 7070.

Visit the SCOPA website.

Applications invited for Comic Relief Tech vs Abuse Initiative Funding

January 30, 2017by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Funding tagged , , ,

Comic Relief has rolled out a new ‘Tech vs Abuse’ funding initiative, a small targeted fund for technological innovation and creative digital solutions, to improve the safety of women and girls affected by domestic abuse.

The organisation says the initiative will attempt to help the millions of women and girls in the UK that are subject to violent and controlling behaviour, most often at the hands of someone they know well.

In a news story in its website it adds that there are organisations throughout the country working to support women and girls, to raise awareness of the issues, advocate for change and equality, and tackle harmful behaviour. It went on to say it is committed to supporting women and girls to take the lead in creating change that will enable everyone to live safe and fulfilling lives.

Comic Relief has been committed to supporting work in this area for over 20 years. While frontline services and strategic advocacy work remain the necessary backbone of support for survivors of abuse, it also recognises that we live in a changing world which is leaving us increasingly dependent on technology for all aspects of our daily lives and interactions.
Applications for funding

Via its Tech vs Abuse initiative applications are being invited to create, adapt, scale up or roll out digital solutions which respond to one of the following design challenges:

  • Fifteen minute window: Provide or curate key information online for women experiencing domestic abuse in a way which is easy to find, simple to navigate and quick to interact with.
  • Effective real-time support services: Enable women to find and access services for support (including referrals) when required, day or night, seamlessly and with minimal logistical and emotional burden.
  • Safer digital-footprint: Provide people affected by domestic abuse and frontline professionals the confidence and knowledge they need to use technology and stay online safely, with full control over their online data, privacy settings and social media accounts.
  • Accessible legal and financial information: Use the creative opportunities of the web to raise awareness of what an abusive relationship looks like, provoking women and girls experiencing abuse to recognise this and get support.

These have been developed through research with over 200 survivors of domestic abuse and 350 sector practitioners. Further details can be found at www.techvsabuse.info.

The application process for ‘Tech vs Abuse’ closes at midday on 13 March. For more details and to apply for funding head to the Comic Relief grants page.

Grants available for National Vegetarian Week 2017 (UK)

January 30, 2017by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Funding tagged , ,

The Vegetarian Society is making small grants of £200 available to help support National Vegetarian Week community activities and events.

Activities need to take place during National Vegetarian Week (15 to 21 May 2017) and must promote National Vegetarian Week exclusively (so no non-vegetarian food or drink) as the primary purpose of the funded activity.

Fundable activities include cookery demonstrations, communal meals, recipe exchange or tasting. Why not check out what organisations did in 2016 as part of National Vegetarian Week here.

The grants are available to:

• Not for profit organisations in the UK (e.g. community groups, schools, and social housing schemes, etc)
• Vegetarian groups, local network groups and student vegetarian and vegan societies
• Informal groups of friends, parents or students.

The two closing dates for the small grant applications are the 26th February and 30th April 2017.

For more information about the grant click here or to order your free resources click here.

Big Issue Invest Launches Funding Programme for Social Enterprises

January 30, 2017by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Funding tagged , ,

Big Issue Invest has launched Impact Loans England, a new £5 million lending scheme aimed at enabling social enterprises to access loan funding of between £20,000 and £150,000.

The programme is funded by Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, with finance being provided by its partners Big Lottery Fund and Big Society Capital.

The Impact Loans England programme is now available to organisations across England with the £5 million to lend over the next three years. The funding is available to organisations keen to do more of the good work they do, whether it’s buying equipment, hiring new talent, or progressing with business development plans.

Daniel Wilson-Dodd, Head of Lending at Big Issue Invest says, “A lot of great organisations struggle to access small and medium-sized loans, so we wanted to provide support for those exciting social enterprises and charities.”

One of the first organisations to take advantage of the new finance scheme is Impact Hub Birmingham. It offers office and events space for like-minded social enterprise and arts organisations, hosting one-off workshops and ongoing collaborative projects. The hub’s city centre building opened in May last year, after a crowdfunding campaign raised an initial £65,000 for an impressive refurbishment of a Victorian warehouse.

“We were interested in building a better Birmingham, and thought that having a place to bring together lots of organisations with good ideas was a good way of achieving that,” says Andy Reeve, co-founder of Impact Hub Birmingham.

The team behind the Hub has encouraged a range of groups to work together on specific policy challenges and themes, like better childcare. “We’re providing the opportunity for people to work together on a consistent basis,” Reeve explains. “The financial support from Big Issue Invest will allow us to expand what we do.”

The Impact Loans England programme is a continuation of what Big Issue Invest has been doing over the past few years in other schemes aimed at helping social enterprises grow, often by accessing finance for the very first time.

Big Issue Invest anticipates the popularity of this programme and is planning to deliver a deal a week for the first six months after launch. Applications for Impact Loans England are now open. Email impactloansengland@bigissueinvest.com

From: Charity Digital News

Sport England Announces Launch of its New Community Asset Fund (England)

January 30, 2017by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Funding tagged , , ,

Sport England has announced that from 30 January 2017, sports clubs, local authorities, schools and community organisations will be able to apply for funding from its Community Asset Fund.

This is a new £15 million per year capital fund dedicated to enhancing the spaces in the local community that give people the opportunity to be active. This can include traditional sports facilities as well as outdoor spaces like canal towpaths, woodlands and open spaces; etc that can be used as part of an active lifestyle. Grants will be available for all types of projects and organisations can request awards ranging from £1,000 to £150,000.

Statutory bodies and education establishments will specifically need to:
• Provide a minimum of pound-for-pound partnership funding
• Demonstrate the strategic need for their project proportionate to the scale of investment requested
• Limit requests to a maximum of £150,000 within any 12-month period.

This is a rolling programme and applications can be submitted at any time.

For more information on this funding opportunity click here.

Postcode Local Trust Launches First Round of 2017

January 30, 2017by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Funding tagged , ,

The Postcode Local Trust has changed its funding themes and application process for 2017. The Trust has introduced a two stage application process. Expressions of Interest are currently being accepted for the first round.

This year, the Trust will provide short-term, designated funding for good causes across Great Britain which benefit wildlife, enhance biodiversity, or renovate/create new green habitats. Consideration will also be given to sustainable energy projects benefiting local areas.

Grants range from £500 to £20,000 for those in Scotland and England and up to £10,000 for those in Wales.

The funding is to be used for activities, such as:
• Enhancing outdoor spaces such as:
o Community gardens.
o Community orchards.
o Play areas, especially those made with sustainable wood sources or recycled materials.

• Local, biodiversity improvements or habitat restoration such as:
o Wildflower meadow creation.
o Flood prevention schemes.
o Hedgerow boundary improvements.
o Wetland area enhancements.
o Tree planting/woodland creation.

• Outdoor education projects delivered with local communities by environmental charities.
• Green Energy projects which create more sustainable solutions to lowering, e.g., energy costs in a community centre.
• Solar panel, wind turbine or micro-hydro schemes.
• Cultural heritage of an area (stories, exhibitions).
• Volunteering initiatives that help local projects, local areas and local people through, for example, uniform youth organisations.

The project must:
• Have a clear charitable purpose and show visible results within 12 months of receipt of grant payment.
• Demonstrate a sustainable impact beyond its original duration.

Priority will be given to projects that are:
• Creative, far-reaching and will leave a long-term impact once completed.
• Focused on improving the environment for the benefit of local communities and encourage conservation action at a local level.

Grassroots organisations, local charities and non-profit community businesses that are seeking to effect positive change within their local area in England, Scotland and Wales can apply.

There is a two-stage application process.

The deadline for Round 1 Expressions of Interest is 10 February 2017. Further information can be found on the Postcode Local Trust website.

 

Youth Social Action Programme Open for Applications

January 30, 2017by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Funding tagged ,

Worcestershire Community Foundation and Community First are pleased to announce the launch of a new grant fund, the Youth Social Action Programme, aimed at increasing volunteering, fundraising and campaigning amongst people aged between 10 and 20, and up to 25 for young people with disabilities.

They are encouraging grant applications for £5,000 from community groups, charitable organisations including social enterprises and community interest companies (CIC) working in England. Projects must engage young people in ongoing regular volunteering or demonstrate how another youth-led method will be as effective at engaging young people in social action. Applications are invited from now until 5 pm on 27 February 2017.

Big Lottery Fund and Department of Culture, Media and Sport are each investing £20 million seed funding over four years to create the #iwill fund. #Iwill is a UK-wide campaign aiming to get 6 out of 10 young people involved in social action by 2020.

Worcestershire Community Fund have been awarded the grant based on their local expertise and ability to reach local community groups, encourage collaborations, support effective practice, provide policy advice, share innovative ideas and provide strategic grant-making advice to the #iwill fund. They will be working with Community First in Herefordshire and Worcestershire to administer the grants and provide advice.

To apply for a grant and to find out the criteria, in the first instance, download the guidelines and supporting document here.

For further information about the local Youth Social Action Programme, please contact Community First on 01684 312730 or email Grants@comfirst.org.uk

Page 1 of 6123...Last