April 2010 e-bulletin

:The latest news from Voluntary Action Waltham Forest.

VAWF News
Local News
Funding News
LINk
Network News
Members News
Training
Sector News

Voluntary Action Training Summer Training Programme

Most courses are FREE for members. Please see our website.

Low Cost Training

If you are working, or volunteering, for a charity or community organisation, and you are receiving income-based benefits then you are eligible for low cost training. Please help us to choose which courses would be worth running by completing a very short survey. Please click here

Raising standards – PQASSO Quality Mark

Gaining a recognised Quality Mark can help your organisation when it comes to applying for funding or contracts. We have ordered 10 PQASSO work packs, at a cost of £98.00 each, which we will loan - on an annual basis and free of charge - to organisations that want to implement the PQASSO standard. If you would like further details please contact Anthony Fincham at Voluntary Action on 0208 521 0377 x 236 or email: anthony.fincham@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk

Vacancy at VAWF: Volunteer Coordinator VC10

£30,391 (pro-rata inclusive of OLW) + pension (6%). 21 hours per week (£15,840)
Fixed term until 31st March 2011, renewal subject to further funding

The purpose of this role is to recruit new volunteers as well as co-ordinate, maintain and develop training and support for all volunteers who play a key part in the running and development of the organisations in which they are placed. More details and an application form.

Deadline for applications: mid-day, Tuesday 11th May.

New rules for organisations that work with children or vulnerable adults.

The new guidance on the Vetting and Barring Scheme is now available from http://bit.ly/isavbuid

Personalisation - What works for me?

Monday 21st June 2010 at Chingford Assembly Hall, Station Road, E4 6AG
10.00 – 2.15pm, Registration 09.30. Lunch will be provided.

A thought provoking personalisation event for private & voluntary Sector Partners in Waltham Forest. The day will support the sector in identifying their organisations strengths, challenges & opportunities and explore their training needs both present and for the future. Staff will be encouraged to explore issues through presentations and group exercises.

To book a (free) place please contact Lorraine Law, People, Policy & Performance at Waltham Forest Council on 020 8496 3630 or email learninganddevelopment@walthamforest.gov.uk

Compact event in London

Compact Voice will be holding a series of Local Compact implementation events around the country. The event in London is on 25th May at the Resource Centre, Holloway Road.

To read the agenda and to book (it is a free event) visit: www.compactvoice.org.uk/category/events/regional-compact-events

Metropolitan Police Authority Standards Committee

The Metropolitan Police Authority is recruiting new members to its Standards Committee. The deadline is 30th April, and the link is here: www.mpa.gov.uk/about/careers/smember/

Meet the Funder: Grass Roots Grants

Wednesday 28th April, 2-4pm at VAWF Upper Ground, 6 Church Hill, Walthamstow, E17 3RY

These grants are for community groups with a turnover of up to £30k for sports projects; arts and culture projects and general projects. There will be a presentation and question and answer session with Julian Martin of 0-Regen.

Meet the Funder: Youth Offer - Thursday 13 May, 10-12pm

Meet the Funder: Comic Relief - Tuesday 8 June, 1-3.30pm.

To book a place on any of these events, please contact Mutmahim on 0208 521 0377 X 224, or email him on: mutmahim@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk

Aiming High: short breaks for disabled children. May 2010 - March 2011

The London Borough of Waltham Forest is seeking to set up two framework agreements for the supply of short breaks for disabled children, aged 3-18 years, as follows: Group based activities such as school holiday playschemes, after school clubs, youth clubs, weekends away etc. Potential providers are invited to submit a written quotation for all or any of these services.

More details from Nadia Saddique, Children & Young People Services, London Borough of Waltham Forest. Telephone: 020 8496 3515, e-mail: nadia.saddique@walthamforest.gov.uk

Deadline for expression of interest: 13 May 2010. Time: 12:00

The Clore Social Leadership Programme

This programme aims to build leadership capacity in the third sector at a time when the challenges and complexities of leadership in the third sector continue to grow. The programme aims to identify, develop and connect aspiring leaders in the wider third sector who are working for the benefit of individuals and communities across the UK. They are now open for applications for the second round of Fellowships. More details at: www.cloresocialleadership.org.uk/

Think Big

O2, working with UK Youth and the National Youth Agency has launched Think Big - a new social action programme supporting young people who want to make a positive difference in their communities. www.o2thinkbig.co.uk

For Fundraising support contact Mutmahim at Voluntary Action on 0208 521 0377x224

Do you use the National Health Service?

Let us know what issues in health and social care that you think the Local Involvement Network (LINk) should be highlighting in the coming year 2010-2011.

Please email us at: infolink@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk by Tuesday 4 May, although we will be pleased to hear from you throughout the year.

Advice Providers Forum

Tuesday 25 May, 2-4pm at Jubilee Centre, Cathall Road, Leytonstone E11. More details here.

Children and Young People Service Providers Network (CHYPPS) Forum

Tuesday 29 June, 4-7pm. Topic: Extended schools. If you are interested in working in partnership with schools then please put this date in your diary. More details here.

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Job Vacancy: Give or Take Events Coordinator for the Forest Recycling Project (FRP).

FRP Give or Take events are community waste exchange events that provide local residents with opportunities to get rid of unwanted items that can be reused by others.

Salary: £21,376 pro rata. Hours: 15hrs / week +
Contract: 9 Months initially but may become a permanent post subject to successful fundraising.
Closing Date: Friday 14th May 2010 at 12pm. Interview date: Wednesday 19th May 2010

More details at www.frponline.org.uk/html/jobs.html

What about women? - Election Hustings

Waltham Forest Women’s Network (WFWN) invites you to a Walthamstow General Election Hustings (Women only) on Tuesday 4 May, frrom 10am to 12.30pm at: Priory Court Community Centre, 11 Priory Court, Walthamstow, London E17 5NB.

Spaces are limited so if you would like to attend please RSVP to Nadia at wfwnhustings@googlemail.com or call 07939 244 899.

Keeping our elders fit and healthy - Can you help?

Tamil Elders, a group based in Walthamstow, are looking for someone to provide light exercise classes, preferably during the day on Tuesdays, for a group of 20-25 people.

They can provide a venue for light exercise but would need an alternative venue for Yoga.

Alternatively, they would like someone to sponsor the provision of exercise classes. If you can help please call Mrs Ratnam on 0208 521 6218.

Meeting Rooms for Hire in Wood Street

A variety of spaces to hire from small rooms for 3 or 4 people, up to a hall for 200 people.

At the Soul Project, 245 Wood Street, Walthamstow E17 3NT.

For more information click here for a flyer and here for a booking form or contact: 0870 626 0712.

Send us your news

If you would like your news or advertisements to appear in our next e-bulletin, please send the details to sarah.kinson@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk or call 0208 521 0377x 237 (Mon-Wed).

The deadlines for the next three issues are: 7 May, 11 June, 9 July..

The Tendering and Commissioning Process

Tuesday 25th May, Tuesday 1 June & Tuesday 8th June (three day course)
9.30-4pm. £85 for members, £120 for other not for profit. Light lunch included.

For more information please click here. For a booking form please click here.

Preparing for Audit/Independent examination

25 May, 10am-3pm. Free for members, £20 other not for profit.

Excel Spreadsheets for Accounting

14 June, 10am-3pm. Free to members, £20 other not for profit.

From Project Idea to Funding Application

30 June.
Please email Mutmahim to register an interest, at mutmahim@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk

Introduction to QuickBooks

13 July, 10am-3pm. Free to members, £20 other not for profit.

Policies, Procedures and PQASSO

13 July, 9.30am-1pm. Free to members, £15 other not for profit.

What training do you need? – Please tell us what local courses you would like to see.

If you have any requests, please email your suggestions to our training officer, Marjorie Price (who works Tuesdays and Wednesdays) at marjorie@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk.

Low Cost Training

If you are working, or volunteering, for a charity or community organisation, and you are receiving income-based benefits then you are eligible for low cost training. Please help us to choose which courses would be most useful for you by completing a very short survey by clicking here.

For more information or to book onto these courses please contact Sangita at Voluntary Action Waltham Forest on 0207 851 0377 x 222 or email: sangita@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk

Free Safeguarding Adults Awareness Training

This half-day course is run by Waltham Forest Council. It will give an overall awareness of the issues of abuse, potential abuse and prevention of abuse of vulnerable adults (aged 18+). It will inform staff of their responsibilities and the relevant legislation involved. It will enable staff to identify specific issues & concerns. The training is free but there is a charge for non-attendance.

9.30am-12.30 for a morning course. 1.30-4.30pm for an afternoon course, at Silver Birch Hse, Gate A, Uplands Business Park, Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow E17 5DS

Dates: 20th May (am or pm) 3rd June (am or pm), 16th June (am), 5th July (pm).

To book: contact: Diane Mautterer on 020 8496 3419, mobile: 07967 289208
Fax: 020 8496 3657 or email: dianne.mautterer@walthamforest.gov.uk

Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) Courses

To book on any of the following courses please call Eartha Eloi on 020 8496 6909/8496 3231or email eartha.eloi@walthamforest.gov.uk These courses are free but failure to attend without two working days notice will incur a charge of £40.

The Women's Resource Centre (WRC)

The WRC has a new training calendar, which you can find here on their website.

East London Lesbian and Gay Centre (ELOP)

ELOP's latest training programme is now available.
For a brochure, please email info@elop.org or telephone 020 8509 3898.

Reducing youth offending - Seminar

26 May, London FREE (Booking essential)
London Action Trust are holding a Spring Seminar on reducing youth offending featuring: Matthew van Poortvliet, co-author of a new report by New Philanthropy Capital ‘Trial and Error, Children and young people in trouble with the law, a guide for charities and funders’ and Dr. Judy Renshaw, an authority on youth justice and resettlement, who will give an overview of Cost Benefit Analysis and present on key aspects of her work. Places are limited; to book visit: www.asbonline.org.uk/default.aspx?page=132#Spring

Making the media take notice - Seminar

13 May, London, £35+VAT . The CharityComms seminar is designed to help charities with their media work. They have three excellent speakers lined up, who'll be addressing topics including: how to protect vulnerable spokespeople, how to give a winning interview and a journalist's perspective on charity communications, including what makes a good story. www.charitycomms.org.uk/events

ACEVO Conferences

Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) have the following conferences coming up:
- CEO Summit- Leadership in a New Era: Survival of the Fittest (17 June 2010)
- Future Leaders Summit 2010- New Role, Fresh Thinking, New Challenges (18 June 2010)
- Health and Social Care after the Election- Implications for the Third Sector (14 July 2010)

Click here for more details

New rules for organisations that work with children or vulnerable adults.

The new guidance on the Vetting and Barring Scheme is now available from http://bit.ly/isavbuid

There are several issues in particular that you may need to be aware of:
• Frequency and intensity tests: frequent is once a week or more intensive is four days or more in a single month but in health and personal care services frequent is once a week.
• Exemptions from the requirement to register until 2013
• There will be a new CRB form.

Although not mentioned in the guidance, NAVCA has received assurance from the Office of the Third Sector that Volunteer Centres are not personnel suppliers. Therefore the requirement to check rests with the host organisation and not with the VC.

New Briefings on The Compact

There are two new briefings for voluntary groups and other Local Compact partners from the Compact Voice Network . These are: Make procurement work for you — by using your Compact and Righting Public Law Wrongs: Challenge Unfairness.

Political parties say how they will support voluntary and community action.

The three main political parties have told the National Association of Voluntary and Community Associations (NAVCA) their plans supporting voluntary and community action. These articles are here: www.navca.org.uk/news/electionarticles

Local election campaign pack

Community Matters has published a campaign pack to help local groups engage with political parties in the run up to the election. There is advice on lobbying and on brokering opportunities for the questioning of would-be political leaders. It also has a section on dealing with extremist groups. You can download the pdf here: bit.ly/cmcampaignpack

Volunteering Pledge

Over 200 MPs and parliamentary candidates have signed up to Volunteering England's pledge. They are promising to work hard to support volunteers and organisations that involve volunteers, both in their constituencies and across the country. More details: bit.ly/vevolpled

Council contracts guidance

New government guidance advises councils on how to encourage local voluntary groups to compete for council contracts. MORE:http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1532376

More information and influence on local government

The government has outlined new legal requirements for councils (in England) to respond to petitions and address local people's concerns. Rules for dealing with paper petitions will come into force on 15th June, with e-petitions requirements following in December.

Official news release at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1524301 or go to the guidance at http://preview.tinyurl.com/yl3nnpn

Violence Against Women and Girls Third Sector Strategic Action Plan

The Government Equalities Office has developed a Strategic Action Plan to look at what the Government could be doing to support the sustainability of the violence against women and girls third sector. Deadline: 23 July. http://bit.ly/eqoffviacpl

Fit Notes to Replace Sick Notes from April 2010

From April 2010 the current 'sick note' will be replaced by the Statement of Fitness for Work or 'fit note'.This legislation will affect all employers in Great Britain. More details on the ACAS website here: http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx

Olympic Reward for Volunteering

The Department for Culture, Media and Support has launched a nationwide campaign which aims to use the inspirational power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to motivate the British public to give time to their communities. More details here: bit.ly/dcms25hour

The UK Civil Society Almanac

Each year NCVO produces the UK Civil Society Almanac which provides facts and figures on the the size, scope and characteristics of the voluntary sector. More details here.