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Sandwell’s Voluntary and Community Sector – Use of Digital Survey

April 29, 2019by Leona in Blog, SCVO News tagged

SCVO would like to canvass your views around your current use of digital technology to support the effective delivery of your organisation’s aims.

Digital technology can mean many things to different people. For the context of this survey, we are specifically looking at 5 key areas for the Voluntary Sector – promotion, fundraising, service delivery, evaluation and information security.

You can complete the survey from the following link – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LRDMG9Y

The results of this survey will help us identify if there is a need to hold workshops or briefing sessions around any of the areas.  Your responses are valued and we thank you in anticipation of your time.

Although SCVO may share findings from this survey, the detail of individual responses will not be shared.

Please complete the survey by Friday 24th May 2019

If you’ve any questions about the survey please contact Leona Bird – 0121 525 1127 or e-mail – leona@scvo.info

Sandwell Aquatic Centre – Voluntary Sector Briefing Event

April 23, 2019by Leona in Blog, SCVO News tagged

We are sure that you have heard about the Aquatic Centre which is going to be built in Sandwell to support the 2022 Commonwealth Games, but would you like to know more about what’s been agreed to date and learn about future hopes for the legacy of the Games and the Centre?

SCVO, in partnership with Sandwell Council, would like to invite you to a briefing session for local Voluntary and Community Sector organisations in Sandwell to find out more about these plans.  This session will provide an overview of plans for the new Centre and a chance to ask questions.  There will be more specific focus groups organised to discuss the long-term community impact and legacy following this briefing and details of these will be available at this session.

Please join us on Tuesday 14th May 2019 from 11.45am – 1.00pm.

The venue will be confirmed nearer the time of the event.  To book your place, please do so through this link https://sandwellaquatics.eventbrite.co.uk

 

An Introduction to the Voluntary Sector Briefing Session

April 2, 2019by Leona in Blog, SCVO News tagged

Are you in a new role and would value an overview of the vast range of services available to help and support Sandwell residents? Or are you new to the area or part of a newly formed community group and would like to find out more about other groups and organisations who are delivering activities locally?

This session is informal and open to anyone who feels they have a limited knowledge of the VCS in Sandwell or would like to improve their knowledge and also find out about SCVO’s support offer.

The session will cover:-

  • Information about the range of VCS organisations in Sandwell
  • What is Sandwell Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)?
  • How can SCVO support your organisation grow and thrive into the future?
  • Opportunities for networking and help with promoting your services
  • How you can keep up to date with local developments and help to shape and influence local decisions.

The session is taking place on Tuesday 11 June 2019 from 12.30pm – 2.30pm at SCVO Offices, 1st Floor Landchard House, Victoria Street, West Bromwich, B70 8ER.

Please book your place through the Eventbrite link – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/introduction-to-the-voluntary-sector-11619-tickets-58274724269

Promoting Services in Sandwell – Help us to Help You

April 1, 2019by Leona in Blog, SCVO News tagged

SCVO is working hard to promote the valuable services being provided by Sandwell’s Voluntary and Community Organisations, but with your help we could so much more.

We are promoting service through two online portals:-

route2wellbeing –  helps people find support around health and well being whether for yourself, your family, your colleagues or your community wherever you are in Sandwell.

Sandwell Family Life –  helps people find support for children, young people and families to get the best from life, supporting them to access a variety of community-based services and activities. These range from sports activities to improved emotional well being, from youth clubs to music, arts and culture – as well as support for parents.

Have you got your services listed?

If you haven’t, you are missing out on a great opportunity to let people know about the valuable services you are providing.  It’s simple to do and importantly it’s free! Please contact the office to start listing your services today – 0121 525 1127 or e-mail support@scvo.info.

Help us with promotion

Have you got a screen within your community setting, or do you know somewhere that does?

We have produced two short videos (scroll down to the bottom of our home page) demonstrating the portals. We want to get the message out as far and wide as possible and f you can help us spread the word, please contact the office on 0121 525 1127 or e-mail support@scvo.info.

An Introduction to the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s new five-year Funding Framework and Grants Programme

March 18, 2019by Libby Mahoney in Blog, News and Events, SCVO News tagged , ,

We are pleased to invite you to an event that will tell you about the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s new funding framework and National Lottery Grants for Heritage.

Over the last six years, the National Lottery Heritage Fund (formally known as the Heritage Lottery Fund) has supported 50 new projects in Sandwell, totalling over £6.33 million.

If you are interested in applying or considering applying for funding for a heritage related project, this is your opportunity to find out more about what’s involved, check your eligibility to apply and find out about this new funding programme.

Jackie Lee, part of the development team at the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Birmingham office will lead the event. She will explain how the new funding framework provides a simpler and more flexible funding offer.  She will introduce the audience to the new single open grants programme, which is for all types of heritage project, and which includes new resources and digital guidance on the website to support applicants.

This event will help you recognise the range of heritage and activities National Lottery Heritage Fund supports and explain how you can access guidance and advice that will help your develop your heritage project idea.

The event will take place on Thursday 11th April 2019, 10am until 1pm in SCVO’s Board Room, 1st Floor, Landchard House, Victoria Street, West Bromwich, B70 8ER. Registration opens from 9.45am for a prompt 10am start for those booked onto the event.  This event is targeted primarily at those groups from Sandwell’s voluntary and community sector and groups whose main beneficiaries live in Sandwell.  Groups from outside the borough may attend but priority will be given to Sandwell groups as above.

There is a maximum of 25 places available for this workshop. Please book two tickets only per organisation. All places must be booked through Eventbrite by clicking here.

**PLEASE NOTE** – a cancellation policy applies to the workshop bookings – details will be provided at the time of booking.  There is NO public car parking available at Landchard House.  However, there is plenty of on street and pay-and-display parking in the immediate vicinity,  We are (more or less) opposite the Lodge Road Metro stop, and within 5 mins walk of West Bromwich central bus station.

A Conversation with the National Lottery Community Fund

March 11, 2019by Libby Mahoney in Blog, SCVO News tagged , ,

SCVO in partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund are hosting a series of monthly surgery sessions for those wishing to discuss their submitted initial outline proposal in more detail. The surgery sessions will be held on the second Monday of the month, from 10am until 1pm at SCVO’s Offices, 1st Floor, Landchard House, Victoria Street, West Bromwich, B70 8ER.

The Lottery’s Grants Officer will be available for booked appointments to further discuss your initial proposal and potential next steps. Prior to booking an appointment you must have completed and emailed the National Lottery Community Fund at Midlandsteam@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk with your initial outline proposal (shaped around their 6 bullet points which can be found by clicking here and looking under the ‘What we need to know’ Section on their website).

Future dates for the surgery sessions include:

  • Monday 10th June 2019,
  • Monday 8th July 2019,
  • Monday 12th August 2019,
  • Monday 9th September 2019,
  • Monday 14th October 2019,
  • Monday 11th November 2019 and
  • Monday 9th December 2019.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this unique opportunity and want to book your time slot with The National Lottery Community Fund please email Donna Adams at Donna.Adams@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk or call on 0121 345 7661 to avoid disappointment.

Cradley Heath Trail Drop-in Sessions

March 9, 2019by Libby Mahoney in Blog, SCVO News tagged , ,

SCVO in partnership with Cradley Heath Community Centre have commenced a trial monthly drop-in sessions  over the next three months for Sandwell Community, Voluntary  and Social Enterprise organisations at Cradley Heath Community Centre, Reddal Hill Road, Cradley Heath, B64 5JG.

Libby Mahoney, SCVO’s Small Groups Development Officer, will be available on the first Friday of every month from 10am till 12pm.

The drop-in sessions will take place on:

  • Friday 7th June 2019.

This is your opportunity to discuss your project ideas, business plans or funding application(s) and receive practical support, advice and tips on how to improve the success of your project/application and much more.

Please note your organisation must be based or delivering here in Sandwell to be able to access this service.

To see what other services SCVO provides please visit our website at www.scvo.info

VCS Online Directory Survey

February 4, 2019by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, SCVO News tagged ,

SCVO would love to hear about your experience of using our Voluntary and Community Sector Directory, as part of a review to improve the site and make it more useful, now and for the future.

We should be grateful for your feedback by completing a short two minute survey.

Thank you for your help.

EPIC Funding is Go! Grant application window now open…

January 28, 2019by Stuart Ashmore in Funding, SCVO News tagged

 SCVO is working in partnership with the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to help build long-term resilience within Sandwell Communities.

 

The purpose of the EPIC Grant Programme (Empowering People In Communities) is to enable local voluntary and community organisations to access funding that supports the following broad outcomes:

  • Increased resilience within communities
  • Increased self reliance
  • Improved and stronger relationships within the community
  • Residents are involved in the design and delivery of activities that make a positive change in their communities
  • Asset and strengths based – building on what exists in communities

Extensive community conversations have helped to shape the elements of this programme.  EPIC is a three year grant programme aimed at improving the wellbeing of communities, and tackling isolation and loneliness. It does this by developing stronger relationships and building on what exists within communities. This could include making the most of community spaces, improving access to transport and using people’s skills, talents and experience.

Grants up to £80,000 will be available for projects that are aimed at people (of all ages) who feel lonely or isolated, and projects that aim to improve the wellbeing of communities.

There are three tiers of funding available:

  • under £10,000
  • £10,001 to £40,000
  • £40,001 to £80,000 (working in collaboration)

Applications for Round 1 open on Monday 28th January 2019 and will close on Monday, 18th March 2019 at 12 noon.

Application paperwork (in Word format) and guidance notes (in pdf format) are available for download as follows:

For applications under £10,000:

 

For applications over £10,000 (incl. collaboration):

 

If you would like to discuss any proposals before submitting an application, or you have any general queries, please contact Manisha Patel, Community Partnerships Coach, T: 0121 525 1127 / E: manisha@scvo.info

 

Breakfast Networking Opportunity – For Early Birds!

January 18, 2019by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, News and Events, SCVO News tagged ,

Are you a Voluntary Sector or Public Sector organisation working and delivering services in Sandwell?

Would you like the chance to promote your services to others and help spread the word about the work you are undertaking?

Then please join us for an informal networking session being held on Thursday 14th March at RSPB Sandwell Valley, 20 Tanhouse Avenue, Great Barr, B43 5AG

The session starts at 7.30am and finishes  at 9.00am.  Light refreshments will be provided.  Please do bring along with you any leaflets or flyers you may have (no pull up banners due to limited space).

Refreshments will be provided.  Set you alarm and come and join us!

To book your place please e-mail mazeline@scvo.info or leona@scvo.info or call the office on 0121 525 1127

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