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Tipton Community Fun Day

July 16, 2019by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Did you know...?, News and Events tagged ,

A feast of community and family entertainment is set to thrill people of all ages at the 13th Annual Community Fun Day in Tipton. The event will be held at the Victoria Park, Victoria Road, Tipton, from 12 noon to 6 pm on Sunday, 4th August 2019.

A mini zoo, fairground rides, car boot sale, bouncy castle, children’s activities, dancing and a live band are among many attractions. There will be something for all and a lot of fun to be had.

This highly anticipated community and the family event attracts thousands of people from Tipton and across the borough. Please click link to see videos and pictures of previous events.

The event is a great opportunity for public and the private sector agencies to promote their services and take advantage to engage with the community.

To book a stall please contact Syeda Khatun on 07533675358, 01215576766 or email Syeda.Khatun@bwa-org.co.uk.

Dementia Pathfinders FREE Training Day

July 15, 2019by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Did you know...?, Training Support and Resources tagged ,

There are still spaces available on the Dementia Pathfinders free training day, part of the Kingfisher Buddies project. The project is run in partnership with Agewell CIC and Dementia Pathfinders CIC. The project is funded by the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund.

The Dementia Training Day is on Tuesday, 23 July 2019, at Rounds Green Library, Martley Road, Oldbury B69 1DZ. The time is  9.30 am to 3.30 pm (registration from 9.15 am).

Learning Outcomes:
➢ Understand the factors that can influence communication and interaction with individuals who have dementia
➢ Understand how a person-centred approach may be used to encourage positive communication with individuals with dementia
➢ Understand the factors which can affect interactions with individuals with dementia.

Click here to book via Eventbrite

Places are limited, therefore apply now to avoid disappointment.

2020 GSK IMPACT Awards – funding and free training for health charities

July 10, 2019by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Did you know...?, Funding tagged , ,

The GSK IMPACT Awards provide core funding, training and national recognition for charities doing excellent work to improve people’s health and wellbeing. Up to 20 awards will be made ranging from £3,000 to £40,000. To be eligible organisations must be at least three years old, a registered charity, working in a health-related field in the UK, with income between £80,000 and £2.5 million.

Winning organisations will have a film made, receive support with press and publicity and be given a set of promotional materials. They will also be offered free training and development valued at a further £9,500.

In 2020 there will be three days of training leading up to the GSK IMPACT Awards ceremony in London. After this participants will be invited to join the GSK IMPACT Awards Network which connects past award winners both online and at meetings, to get and give support, share best practice and continue their professional development.

Many participants have commented that the training, the new ideas and enthusiasm that they take away, and the connections they make is even more important than the award money.

To apply go to: www.kingsfund.org.uk/gskimpactawards

Closing date for applications: 23 September 2019

Sandwell Libraries Praised for Service

July 9, 2019by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Did you know...?, VCS Feature tagged , ,

Sandwell Council provides a “very valued” and “high performing” library service to people in the borough, according to a special survey of its work.

A report by the Local Government Association’s Library Services Peer Challenge makes a point of highlighting the fact that the council had retained a good service despite significant decreases in budgets since 2011.

It reports that the library service benefits from good management and staff who display inclusive and creative working styles and work well with a large bank of volunteers and partners.

The Peer Challenge team, which spoke to 45 people including staff, councillors and partners in a number of meetings involving key stakeholders, also praised the council for the fact that all of the council’s 19 strategic libraries made a significant contribution to the quality of life in Sandwell.

“It was encouraging to hear that the council continues to invest in all its buildings, for example, even the smallest of these at Brandhall, Hill Top and Rounds Green have recently installed accessible toilets,” the report says.

“The political vision for all libraries continues to be great places of opportunity and learning with a strong family and community focus,” it adds.

The Peer Challenge team advised library bosses to look carefully at the development of community hubs in libraries, such as that already proposed at Blackheath Library.

It also urges the council to expand joint procurement activity for libraries with the four Black Country authorities to explore the potential for enhanced joint procurement.

It also suggests that the council should replace old computers and modernise the digital offer in all 19 libraries.

Councillor Bob Lloyd, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for culture, said: “The council is very pleased to have such a useful and thought-provoking report from the Peer Challenge team.

“We were delighted to see that they supported the work we are doing and will look carefully at some of their recommendations for the future.”

Source: Sandwell Council

Thanks But No Thanks: When Should Charities Refuse Donations?

July 9, 2019by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Did you know...?, Training Support and Resources tagged , ,

Recent high-profile scandals have left many charity trustees wondering how to do the right thing when it comes to accepting certain donations.

Trustees have rightly been wanting to make sure that money does not come from sources that might compromise the charity’s reputation, independence and work.

Responsible trustees right across the sector will have been watching closely how others have managed difficult decisions in recent months, following concerns about the ethical implications of accepting money linked to sullied commercial brands or gala dinners that fell wide of the mark in terms of what is acceptable in the 21st century.

We seem to be moving beyond the days when fundraisers might have chased corporate giants doling out the biggest cheques without necessarily considering where the money came from.

Only hours after the Presidents Club Charitable Trust story broke, the sector was already alive with questions about whether charities should accept and/or return donations from the charity. And more recently, the Sackler Trust suspended all new charitable donations amid claims linking the family fortune to the opioid crisis in the US.

It’s clear that charities are being increasingly conscious of their purposes when considering these difficult judgements, weighing up concerns about how the funds were raised against the financial impact of turning them down.

Thinking back to when I first became a trustee myself, this wasn’t a mainstream concern; many charities saw maximising their short-term income for the cause as being straightforwardly in their best interests.

What we’re seeing now suggests trustees are listening to an increasingly civic-minded and conscious public, and thinking about how they can best live their charity’s values and stay true to their raison d’être.

This shifting, more conscious approach to trusteeship is not to be knocked. It can be seen across a whole range of issues – from calls for further clarity around ethical investment policies, to charities acknowledging the need for transparency, admitting when projects have failed, and reporting to the Commission when things go wrong.

From where I stand, it seems that the sector is increasingly emboldened by its own values, not just in what it does, but also in how it acts and behaves.

As regulator, we welcome this. Charities are more than just a sum of their balance sheet and services they provide to a community. They belong to the public, and exist for the betterment of society, so it is right that they are considering what the public, their beneficiaries and volunteers think and feel about sensitive issues when making decisions about money.

To read the full Charity Commission Blog click here.

Source: GOV.UK

How Charities are Responding to Cyber Security Threats

July 8, 2019by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Did you know...?, VCS Feature tagged ,

The Cyber Security Breaches Survey is an annual report by The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It reports on how businesses and charities are responding to the cyber security threats they face.

It’s welcome news that more charities than before have taken positive steps to improve their cyber security, according to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2019.

Since launching the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) small charity guide in March 2018, NCSC have worked in close partnership with bodies across the sector.

Together we are working to raise awareness about the cyber crime threat and provide practical actions charities of all sizes can take to protect themselves.

Results from the Charity Sector

These survey results are the first indication that collective efforts across the sector are contributing towards a positive change.

Amongst charities, the biggest statistical shift in the survey has been how cyber security is viewed by trustees and senior managers, with an overall 22 point increase over 2018’s results.

Strong increases are seen across small, medium and large charities, with cyber security now being seen as a high priority in 68% of charities with an income under £100,000; 82% of charities between £100,000 and £500,000; and 94% of charities with an income over £500,000.

To read the Charity Commissions full blog click here.

Source: GOV.UK

Citizens Advice Sandwell’s Help to Claim Service

July 5, 2019by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Did you know...?, Training Support and Resources tagged ,

Citizens Advice Sandwell offers support with making a new claim for Universal Credit. From opening an account to receiving first full payment, their trained advisers can help your clients to:

• Set-up a Universal Credit account
• Complete their claim to-dos
• Verify their identity
• Make sure they are providing the right evidence to the Jobcentre
• Understand what Universal Credit will mean for them.

If you are not sure whether you should signpost a client, get in touch and Citizen Advice and speak to an Adviser. Call free on 0800 144 8 444

Please click here for further details about the Help to Claim service, plus the locations and opening times of Citizens Advice offices.

This is a drop in service. Clients do not need to book an appointment unless they wish to access support at Smethwick Jobcentre, where an appointment is required.

Sandwell Residents – What Matters To You

July 4, 2019by Leona in Blog, Did you know...? tagged

Healthwatch Sandwell are your local voice for the public in the delivery of health and social care services. As part of our role we carry out evaluations of services to understand the experiences of people who are using them. We use the feedback that we collect to share with the service providers and commissioners and work with them to look for ways that services can be improved.

Part of the way that we do that is to carry out a number of projects that focus on particular services or groups of people living in Sandwell that are based on the priorities of members of the public, service providers and service commissioners. Therefore, we are carrying out this survey to find out from members of the public what you think we should concentrate on for the next 12 months.

Our survey can be found here: https://engagingcommunities.researchfeedback.net/s.asp?k=156163762099

We would be grateful if you could complete our survey and if possible forward it to any contacts you may have.
Thank you for your support. The survey is ongoing.

Henry Smith Charity (Holiday Grants)

July 3, 2019by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Did you know...?, Funding tagged ,

From the 3rd of July 2019, schools, youth groups, not for profit organisations and charities will be able to apply for grants of £500 to £2,500 to support recreational trips or holidays within the UK for groups of disabled or disadvantaged children (aged 13 or under). Although the deadline is the 16th November 2019, decisions are made on a first come-first served basis until all the funds have been allocated.

Priority will be given to applications coming from the 20% most deprived areas in the UK. Funded by the Henry Smith Charity, grants can cover up to two-thirds of the cost of a holiday or trip lasting one to seven days. In this round, trips must be taken before the end of August 2019.

For more details and to apply, complete the eligibility quiz on the website and submit the application form online at least 6 weeks before the trip is due to take place.

More information

Happy Birthday National Lottery

July 1, 2019by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Did you know...? tagged ,

This year The National Lottery celebrates its 25th birthday. It was on 19 November 1994 that the first lottery draw took place.

Since then, more than £39billion from ticket sales has gone towards funding good causes in the arts, sport, heritage and communities across the UK.

“The National Lottery has transformed our lives in the UK over the past 25 years,” says Ros Kerslake, CEO of The National Lottery Heritage Fund

“By buying a ticket, players have revitalised our public parks, supported our landscapes and wildlife, created world-class museums and visitor attractions, invested in new jobs and training, and helped people share countless stories of their rich and diverse heritage.”

Stay Up to Date

There are lots of exciting activities and events planned to celebrate this momentous year.

From showcasing some of the amazing artist, grassroots and Olympic sports people, wildlife, historic places and charities that have benefited from National Lottery funding, to giving back to National Lottery players with our biggest #ThanksToYou week yet.

Sign up to their newsletter to hear the latest updates and announcements as we have them.

Get Involved

Grant recipients who want to join in the celebrations can download a handy 25 Years toolkit. It contains everything from ideas and key messages to logos and social media posts.

And put 23 November – 1 December in your diaries. That’s the week – including two weekends – of this year’s #ThanksToYou celebrations, when National Lottery-funded attractions and projects will be encouraged to throw open their doors and give something back to the players who contribute around £30million to good causes every week.

Life-Changing Projects

Did you know that in the past quarter of a century, more than half a million individual projects have benefited from National Lottery funding?!

That’s the equivalent of 190 life-changing projects in every UK postcode district.

“Quite simply, The National Lottery has made the UK a better place to live and it’s hugely exciting to imagine what could be achieved in the next 25 years,” says Ros Kerslake.

Got an idea for your own project? Find out how to get heritage funding.

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