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Looking Back……Springing Forward (Early Help Partnership Event)

January 30, 2023by Angel Lakha in Blog, SCVO News tagged ,

The Sandwell Early Help Looking Back….. Springing Forward Event is on Friday 24 March 2023, 10.00 am – 1.00 pm at the Bethel Convention Centre, Kelvin Way, West Bromwich, B70 7JW

It’s been almost a year since we launched the Sandwell Early Help for Children and Families Strategy 2022-2024; and wow, what a year it’s been! So many of you have joined us and continued with us on our journey of support for children and families in Sandwell and have contributed to the positive changes made and seen in Sandwell’s approach to Early Help.

Our ‘year on’ event will reflect on the last year.   Sharing what our journey has involved, where we have reached and, more importantly, where we are heading.  It will give attendees the opportunity to hear from Partners about their contributions, developments and experience of Early Help processes in Sandwell.  The Event will look at what our children and young people know about Early Help, and how together we can ensure they know how to access the support available to help achieve positive outcomes for them.  Our event will also showcase some of the activities/services available locally for children and young people.

Booking is essential and you can book your place(s) here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/looking-back-springing-forward-tickets-522737079677

For further information, please contact Angel on 07587 136072 or email angel@scvo.info

 

Building Fundraising Capacity in the Black Country CBC’s new Fundraising Fellowship Scheme

January 24, 2023by Libby Mahoney in Blog, News and Events tagged , ,

Creative Black Country has developed a new scheme to support communities involved in arts and culture activities to build fundraising capacity.

The Fundraising Fellowship Scheme will offer opportunities to learn, share and practice fundraising skills to support creative ideas.

There are two ways to be involved:
Fellow Are you looking to develop your fundraising skills?
Host Are you looking for someone to help with your fundraising?

What does this mean?
Fellow – you can receive mentor support, training sessions and real-life fundraising experience.
Host – you can host a ‘Fellow’ to support fundraising plans and applications for a project idea.

OR Combination – Fellow and Host can be from the same group or organisation

Who is the scheme for?
Fellow – any person who would like to develop creative fundraising skills who is based, or working, in the Black Country (Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall or Wolverhampton)
Host – any community group, small CIC, charity, festival/event or creative organisation who wants to develop creative or cultural ideas/projects in the Black Country

Sounds like you, or your group and like to find out more?
Information Session – we will be holding an online session on Thursday 2nd February at 10.30am on Zoom where you can find out more and ask questions. Please email yvonne@creativeblackcountry.co.uk to book a place.

Why is this scheme important?
1. supporting emerging fundraisers or those whose role may need these skills e.g. community group lead, coordinator or project lead
2. supporting the community groups, organisations, festivals who may only need someone for a few days, or on a project basis, who can’t afford to pay a fundraiser.
3. creating a fundraising resource that could be shared across the region
4. raising the profile of fundraising as a career choice (a role always in demand!!)

Timescale
There is limited availability so please register interest by 5pm on 10th February 2023
Outcome – successful or not will be notified by Scheme to begin in March for approximately 6 months
We imagine up to 6 mentor sessions (e.g. monthly) plus 2-3 training sessions and meet-ups with whole group to share experiences. These could be in person or online.

To register interest as a Fellow or Host and for more information please click here

Any queries please email yvonne@creativeblackcountry.co.uk

‘Cost of Living’ Impact on our Voluntary Sector

January 17, 2023by Stuart Ashmore in Blog, SCVO News tagged

The beginning of a new year can often come with fresh expectations, provide us with new resolve or give us opportunities to renew our efforts for the organisations and community groups we lead.  Unfortunately, however, we rarely get the chance to leave behind the challenges of the year just gone entirely.  Whilst the country endures winter and the worst cost of living crisis in decades, we are aware that this is having a real impact on many community groups and organisations. 

In the last few months of 2022, SCVO undertook research into the how the current financial crisis has been impacting, and will impact, our Sector organisations, and how significant the ripple effect on how we engage and support Sandwell residents is.  SCVO are now making the findings of this research available HERE.

The report illustrates the financial pressures experienced by the Sector, most often by those charities who employ staff and/ or own or lease their own buildings or office space.  It also highlights the many ways in which the Sector is adapting and flexing its support offer or extending help in new ways to those who most need it. 

SCVO’s Development Support Team is available now and throughout 2023 to support community groups, charities and other not-for-profit organisations active in Sandwell with practical help, guidance and support.  Whether it’s one-to-one information or training around governance and leadership, help with planning or fundraising, support with financial, staff or volunteer management, or situations of concern or crisis, SCVO can offer you friendly, professional and confidential help.  To find out more about SCVO’s support offer contact Stuart Ashmore, Deputy CEO on 0121 525 1127, or email: stuart@scvo.info

Reviewing Services on Route2Wellbeing and Sandwell Family Life online Portals

January 17, 2023by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, SCVO News, VCS Feature tagged , ,

In 2022 Route2Wellbeing had 11,806 users and 41,842 page views.  Sandwell Family Life had 13,368 users and 28,828 page views. SCVO works in partnership with hundreds of local organisations, other agencies, schools and the local authority.  The resources of Route2Wellbeing and Sandwell Family Life are available to partners, as well as the residents of Sandwell.

We know that the Voluntary Sector work hard to deliver the variety of services that it does.  Many organisations have their services/activities listed on these online portals, run by SCVO.  Having listed the information, it is essential to make sure details are kept up to date. January is a good time to do such an exercise.  We also recommend that groups and organisations repeat the exercise once a quarter.

To that end, we would like to ask logon users (the person set up to add information about services delivered by their organisation), to take a few minutes to check your listing and make any changes that are required.

Even if no amendment is needed to a service, delete and replace a full stop in the body of the text and save. The ‘date page was last updated’ will show the current date.

Does your organisation deliver a service in Sandwell which is not listed on either portal?  We would encourage you to contact Mazeline or Karen on 0121 525 1127 to remedy the situation.   Email Mazeline@scvo.info / Karen@scvo.info

 

A Covid-19 Grant can help you stay safe indoors and out in 2023 Copy

January 9, 2023by Stuart Ashmore in Blog, Did you know...?, SCVO News tagged ,

As the weather cools and we move to more indoor activities the risk of infection from colds, flu and Covid-19 increases. Whilst deaths and serious illness from Covid-19 are a lot less than at the beginning of the pandemic, none of us want to be ill or put vulnerable members of our family and community at risk.

Over the past two years there has been funding to help Voluntary and Community Groups promote safe practices and ensure accurate information is available about vaccinations. If you would like to continue this message and help your community group stay as safe as possible this winter, then this funding may be for you.

Recent funding has helped pay for personal hygiene packs with masks and hand gel for individuals. Additional resources to organisations have assisted to keep premises and members safe, support the translation of relevant information into community languages and facilitate phoning people to arrange to get them to their vaccination appointments.

There have been lots of other very creative ideas so come and talk to us.  If we your idea qualifies, you will be given a simple application form and guidance notes and we will work with you through the application process.

Please contact Liz or Barbara at SCVO to find out more, at Liz@scvo.info call 07923 259821 or Barbara@scvo.info call 07859 913363.

 

Funding to Support Children and Young People in Sandwell

January 9, 2023by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Funding, SCVO News tagged ,

Are you an experienced not-for-profit organisation currently delivering Emotional Wellbeing Support to children and young people aged 5 -18?  Do you deliver these services in Sandwell, Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall or in Wards of West Birmingham?  Can you deliver individual or group support in the areas of Bereavement and Loss, Counselling, Distressed Behaviour, Domestic Abuse, Emotional Literacy or Social Skills and Relationships?

If you can answer yes to any of these questions, you may be interested in the Children and Young People Emotional Wellbeing and Grant Programme 2023. Building on the success of a previous programme, Sandwell Council have allocated a further £500,000 to extend the Programme into 2023.

The Programme must be delivered by December 2023, so this funding is only suitable for existing organisations with capacity to deliver quickly. If you would like an Application Form and Guidance Notes, please email Barbara@scvo.info and give brief details of how you meet the criteria specified above. In addition, there is an open meeting on Teams for potential applicants to raise any queries or questions they have about the Programme or the Application process. This will be held on Wednesday, 18th January between 2 & 3.30 pm. Further information on booking a place is in the Guidance Notes.

The closing date for completed applications is Monday, 30th January at 10.00 am.

 

Merry Christmas!

December 13, 2022by Mazeline Hemmings in Blog, Did you know...?, SCVO News tagged

The management and staff at SCVO would like to wish our readers a very Merry Christmas a Happy New Year.

The final edition of the weekly e-bulletin for 2022 will be on Tuesday, 20th December. The first edition of the New Year will be on Tuesday, 10th January.

We look forward to continuing to bring the latest news, information, opportunities, and support offers to the Voluntary Sector in 2023.

 

Win a £5,000 Funding Boost

November 29, 2022by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Funding tagged ,

easyfundraising is spreading some Christmas cheer by giving away £5,000 in their Advent Calendar giveaway! To join, sign your organisation up to easyfundraising.

easyfundraising partners with over 7,000 brands so your organisation can earn free funding on all online purchases. By signing up, you can be a part of 25 days of advent fun and create an easy and accessible fundraising option your volunteers and the local community can get behind. Remember to spread the word loud and clear with as many people as possible.

Every time they open the door, your organisation gets an entry into the big Christmas Day prize. Plus, they could win daily £100 gift vouchers for brands like M&S, John Lewis, Argos, Boots, Very, and many more.

Give your organisation the gift of easyfundraising this Christmas. Sign up here by clicking here

Play Spin to Win with easyfundraising

October 25, 2022by Libby Mahoney in Blog, Funding, SCVO News tagged , ,

Play Spin to Win with easyfundraising, and your voluntary organisation, charity, or CIC could win up to £50 every day between 31 October – 13 November when staff members and volunteers spin the wheel. To be involved, register your organisation with easyfundraising.

You’ll get access to competitions like these and set yourself up with an effortless fundraising solution that helps pay the bills and creates a better experience for your users. As a fundraising platform, easyfundraising lets over 7,000 brands donate to your organisation every time someone shops with them. So everyday spending transforms into money your organisation can put to good use.

The best bit is that it’s free; for your organisation and the online shopper. The brand covers the cost – it’s their way of giving back to local groups and communities. Come join the fun; register with easyfundraising by clicking here.

Bringing Early Help Home: the next event, Wednesday, 30th November 2022

October 24, 2022by Angel Lakha in Blog, SCVO News tagged ,

Come and meet other practitioners working with children, young people and families in Sandwell. Our events will focus on ensuring there is a clear and consistent understanding of how children, young people and families are supported in Sandwell when needs are identified. 

We will explore how we can grow our confidence in working together and how we can support each other to overcome some of the challenges of multi-agency working. Be a part of a passionate, committed and dedicated workforce of staff and volunteers from all sectors in providing the right support, in the right place, at the right time to children and families.

Spend time alongside others to:

  • Hear more about our Sandwell approach to Early Help
  • Explore how we can be even better through our Multi-Agency approach
  • Refresh your knowledge on how early help positively impacts families in Sandwell
  • Look at how we can make the most of our early help tools and resources
  • Demystify the jargon!!

The Early Help Partnership have arranged four sessions that will be held in community venues around the borough to encourage as many of you to join us for these important events, and will take place as follows:

Wednesday 9 November, 1.00pm – 2.30pm at Brasshouse Community Centre, Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick B66 1BA https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/445524755537

Thursday 17 November, 3.00pm – 4.30pm at The Wesley Centre For All, Spring Head, Wednesbury, WS10 9AD https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/445546982017

Friday 25 November, 11.30am – 1.00pm at Cradley Health Community Centre, Reddal Hill Road, Cradley Heath B64 5JG https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/445552618877

Wednesday 30 November, 1.30pm – 3.00pm at National Metal Forming Centre, 47 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich B70 6PY https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/445557433277

Booking is essential and you will only need to attend one of the above events. Please arrive 15 minutes before time of event for registration and light refreshments.

Bring your passion, your experience and your questions!! Together we can ensure that children and young people in Sandwell have the best possible start in life.

For further information, please contact angel@scvo.info.

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