Make sure your organisation works well - and get a recognised 'quality' award.

Funders look out for them when awarding grants and contracts.

'Policies, Procedures and PQASSO' on Tuesday 13 July. £15 / free for members.

More details here. Booking form here. Please send the booking form to:
sangita@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk or call 0208 521 0377 x 222.

'Managing Your Volunteers' - Wednesday 14 July, 10am - 4pm.

Learn how to create policy to ensure a safe and productive volunteer programme, and find out how how to plan inductions and supervision to encourage a motivated volunteer workforce.

Free to members, £30 for other not-for-profit. More details here. Booking form here.
Please send the booking form to: sangita@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk or call 0208 521 0377 x 222.

London Borough of Waltham Forest - Third Sector Consultation Day

Thursday 22 July

10am-4pm at the Epicentre, 41 West Street, Leytonstone E11 4LJ.

For a flyer please click here. To book or for more information on other ways to take part in the consultation, including an online survey please call Joanna Edler on
020 8496 3000 or email joanna.edler@walthamforest.gov.uk

Job Vacancies at Voluntary Action Waltham Forest

We are seeking to recruit a Certificate of Minimum Standards (CMS) Project Team on short-term contracts until March 2011.

Full-time Quality Standards Project Leader

Part-time (21 hrs) Early Years Quality Standards Development Officer

Part-time (21 hrs) Children and Young People Quality Standards Development Officer

For more details, job descriptions, and application forms please see our website here.

Closing date: 5pm on Tuesday 13 July.

We can advertise your group at the Summer Festivals

Voluntary Action will have a stall at the following forthcoming festivals in Waltham Forest:

Leytonstone YouthFest at Downsell Primary School on Saturday 16 July
Leytonstone Festival on Sunday 18th July
The Mela in Walthamstow behind the Town Hall on Sunday 26 July

If you are a member of VAWF we would be happy to distribute your leaflets or flyers for FREE. Please contact Sarah or Barbara ASAP on 0208 521 0377 x 237 or 221 if you are interested.

Your leaflets included in our next Mail Out

We will be posting a Mail Out to around 600 local community and voluntary organisations, local councillors and our partners, next week (Thurs 15 July) and if you are a member we can include your leaflets and flyers. We do charge £15 to £30 for this service, depending on income.
Please contact our information officer, Sarah Kinson at sarah.kinson@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk
or call 0208 521 0377 x 237 (Mon-Wed) for more details.

Updated fundraising guidance from Charity Commission

The updates include more detail on risk management and advice for trustees on what to consider when choosing fundraising methods and common fundraising issues they might face. News item here or go direct to 'Charities and Fundraising' (CC20).

Calling all Carers - Carers Quality Action Team

North East London NHS Foundation is setting up a Carers Quality Action Team in order to monitor the implications of the Carer Quality Standard. If you would like more information, or to join, please contact Karen Howlett on 0844 600 1200 ext 4382 or karenjoan.howlett@nelft.nhs.uk

Advice Providers' Forum - Thursday 9 September

You are very welcome to attend. 2-4pm at the Jubilee Centre, 2, Cathall Road, Leytonstone E11 4LA. The Centre is in the grounds of the Cathall Leisure Centre. For further details contact Barbara on: 020 8521 0377x 221 or: barbara@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk

The Future of Voluntary and Community Action - Friday, 9 July, 10.30 - 4.30pm

Organised by LVSC for Third Sector Alliance and the London Regional Consortium
St Martin in the Fields, WC2 This free event is aimed at sharing ideas about the future of voluntary and community action in London - and what will and must change over coming years.

Click here for the flyer and to book see this booking form

LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual) event - Saturday 10th July 12.30 to 3.30pm

Waltham Forest Police would like to invite you attend their latest forum at Leyton Sixth Form College, Essex Road, Leyton E10. Local community representatives will be present. Everyone is welcome - come along and support your LGBT forum. If you would like further information, please contact 020 9721 2036 or email: CannHall.SNT@met.police.uk

BAME organisations and the recession - 15 July, 2 - 5pm
at Haringey Council Chamber, Civic Centre, High Road, London N22

London Funders and MiNet would like to invite community groups to join an informed and frank discussion on the funding of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) organisations, especially in the current financial climate - exploring some of the emerging problems as a result of changes in public spending and drilling down to some of the specific areas where particular groups feel at risk.

For more information and to book please click here.

FREE Voluntary & Community Sector Building Management Training - Friday 16 July

This Womens' Design Service training session will enable participants to reduce maintenance and development costs of buildings currently occupied or which participants propose to manage, lease or purchase. Please book by emailing hcarty@wds.org.uk or by telephone on 020 7490 5210

Love Your Park Week - July 24th - August 1st

If you are a member of a friends of parks groups, or would like to set one up, and there are some useful leaflets and case studies here. www.green-space.org.uk/community/nfpgs/resources.php.

The main website is here:www.loveparksweek.org.uk

Premises Roadshows for the Third Sector - Finchley 27 July, 9.30–2pm

The Development Trust Association present a series of premises roadshows to showcase the support tools and guidance that is available across London. For further information or to book a place email eventbooking@dta.org.uk or telephone 020 7250 8055. The roadshows are free and there will be lunch and refreshments included

Making sense of London's cultural landscape ahead of the
2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games

Monday, 26 July, 1:30 - 5:30pm. Free. For Voluntary and Community groups. Organised by London Civic Forum and The Big Opportunity at the Whitechapel Gallery, E1. Advance booking required via events@londoncivicforum.org.uk For more information call 02087099770 or click here 

Free Marketing Support for Small Charities

The FSI is delighted to be working with The Marketing Academy on a new imitative called Donate28  that will see 28 small charities receiving expert marketing advice, totally free, from some of the country’s best up-and-coming marketers. To be considered, you need to be registered on the FSI Community (it is easy and free – just click the purple tab at the top of the FSI homepage www.thefsi.org

The Walthamstow International Film Festival 2010 - September 5th – 12th

They are looking for your five minute films. Deadline is 31st July. www.e17films.com

The Village Girl's Group - Saturday’s from 10.30am - 1pm

Arts & Crafts Workshops, Self Defence, Flamenco, Drama & Discussion, Sports Activities, Aerobics, Picnics and Trips. At the Asian Centre (contact number and address below).

Youth Club Open Day - Saturday 10th July, 11am - 2pm

Free Open Day dedicated to youth in Walthamstow: Arts Competition, Games and Workshops.

At The Asian Centre WF 18a Orford Rd, Walthamstow E17 9LN. Telephone: 020 8223 0707 or email: info@theasiancentrewf.org.uk or see their website: www.theasiancentrewf.org.uk

Excursions club for 60+

Community Transport Waltham Forest has launched a brand new summer service for older people and people with mobility problems in the borough offering scheduled trips to key attractions in Waltham Forest and surrounds. The excursions club provides supported transport in accessible vehicles for older people and people with real mobility problems who find it difficult to use public transport to plan a special one off summer trip or a series of days out over the summer.

More details here or telephone 020 8521 0665

Sheltered Accommodation Vacancies

Walthamstow and Chingford Almshouse Charity has vacancies at the Walthamstow Almshouses located in Maynard Road and Church End E17. The flats are suitable for single persons over 55, are warden assisted and each flat has an emergency call system. The accommodation is to a high standard, and includes separate bedroom, living room, bathroom/ shower-room and kitchen with appliances. Charges are reasonable and available on application.

Applicants should be living in Walthamstow or Chingford or have lived in Walthamstow or Chingford for a period of up to 5 years, at some time, prior to application and be able to live independently, with or without, a social care package. For an application form please call 0208 520 0295, or email office@wcac.org.uk .The closing date for receipt of application forms is Friday 30th July.

Are you from the African Diaspora? Have you always wanted to give back to Africa?

This year Africa Foundation Stone are sending 22 volunteers to go and work in Cameroon towards the Millennium goal 1 to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger amongst women and children in Douala and Yaoundé. They are funded by UKaid and have sent over 100 volunteers since their programme began in 2005. If you will like to make a change why not contact them and they will send you more information. Contact: africafoundation@btinternet.com 020 7195 0054 or 020 7195 0055.

The Limes/Walthamstow London E17 – registered Charity No. 1099064

Trustee Directors wanted

The Limes offers a range of activities to disabled and non disabled children and young people in our accessible building and adventure playground. Our Board of Trustees wish to recruit individuals who have skills and a background in any of the following areas: accountancy/financial; business; community development; social enterprise and general management.
If you work in any of these areas and live in or near Waltham Forest please get in touch. 
Contact: Liz Fraser liz@thelimes.org.uk

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 0377 x 237 (Mon-Wed).

Voluntary Action Summer Training

Strategic Planning

Thurs 8 July, 10am- 4pm. Free for members, £30 for non-profit.

Introduction To QuickBooks

Tues 13 July, 10-3pm. Free for members, £20 for other non--profit.

Policies, Procedures and PQASSO

Tues 13 July, 9.30 -1pm. Free for members, £15 for non-profit.

Managing Your Volunteers

Wed 14 July, 10am - 4pm. Free for members, £30 for non-profit.

For more details please click on a title. For a booking form please click here. Please send the booking form to: sangita@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk or call 0208 521 0377 x 222.

Training postponed

The courses 'From Project Idea to Funding' scheduled for 30 June and 'Emergency First Aid' at Work' scheduled for 6th July have been postponed. We hope to run them in the Autumn.

If you are interested in attending either of these courses, please contact our training officer Marjorie Price at
marjorie@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk. Marjorie also welcomes suggestions for training courses that you would like to see us providing locally.

Waltham Forest Third Sector Consultation Day - Thursday 22 July

More details here

Waltham Forest Joint Carers Strategy - 14 June to 30 August

The consultation details are here

Proposals for Changes to Health Services in Waltham Forest - 11 June - 6 September

The consultation document is here www.walthamforest.nhs.
Questions can be completed online here

What is the 'Big Society'?

The National Association of Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) website has a page on the Big Society, the Government's policies to redistribute power from the state to society; and from the centre to local communities, and to give people the opportunity to take more control over their lives. www.navca.org.uk/bigsociety

Spending cuts

Cutswatch.org.uk has been set up to provide guidance and support to third sector organisations through public spending cuts.

NCVO Resources for Coping with Cuts www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/copingwithcuts

NCVO has produced an initial Spending Review briefing (pdf 84KB)

Impact of the Budget

NCVO has produced 'How will it affect you?'

Third Sector Foresight takes a quick look at what the Budget means on their website here.

All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Community and Voluntary Sector

The new chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Community and Voluntary Sector, Alun Michael, has talked to Third Sector magazine. His view is that The Compact hasn't gone far enough. www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/1012689/

Good practice for the compact.

Compact Voice have produced a Local Compact Working Map; highlighting the top 15 performing Compact areas in the country.

Exempt Charities: updated guidance on recent changes

Zero rate VAT on new buildings for charitable use

HM Revenue & Customs has issued a Brief to remind charities that the 'charitable buildings' VAT concession (ESC 3.29) is withdrawn from 1st July 2010, www.hmrc.gov.uk/briefs/vat/brief2610.htmHMRC has also published 'Calculating qualifying use for a charitable or a communal residential building' (VAT Information Sheet 13/10) giving guidance on the new VAT position on such buildings, and aims to help with determining whether a building is intended to be used 95 per cent for a qualifying purpose. Download (pdf, 45KB).