NCVS e-bulletin - Thursday 27 June 2024

The Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS) e-bulletin will be back in a fortnight. The deadline for contributions and comments is Monday 24 June 2024. Email communications@nottinghamcvs.co.uk.

Did you know we keep an archive of past NCVS e-bulletins? View the archive here.

Earlier this year, NCVS recruited for three new roles: Social Enterprise Development Coordinator, Practice Development Unit (PDU) Events Coordinator, and Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator. Last month, we were pleased to welcome Chris as our new Social Enterprise Development Coordinator. Now, we are delighted to welcome Justine and Nikyla to the team as Practice Development Unit (PDU) Events Coordinator and Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator, respectively.

Below, they introduce themselves:

I have worked in the voluntary sector for nearly 10 years, most of which were with Opportunity Nottingham and then Changing Futures, supporting people experiencing SMD. And now I hope to be able to transfer my knowledge and experience from front-line work to work within the Practice Development Unit (PDU).

In my spare time, I really enjoy running. I have done various half-marathons over the years and have another one planned for later this year.

I have a background in education, having worked with families across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire for over fifteen years. I am passionate about empowering and connecting communities to drive positive, local change. I currently volunteer with Nottingham Citizens, Grantham Canal Society, and Fat Lad at the Back Social Bike Rides.

Nikyla will be coordinating a virtual Community Voluntary Service (CVS) in Gedling; watch this space!

The Social Enterprise Accelerator is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It is a collaborative partnership between Nottingham Trent University’s VCSE Data and Insights Observatory and NCVS.

There's still a chance to register for our first fully funded workshops in the Social Enterprise Accelerator programme. These workshops will help you bring your new social enterprise ideas to life or grow your existing Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise organisation.

• Introduction to Social Enterprise workshop, Tuesday 2 July 2024, 10am to 1pm, New Art Exchange, 39-41 Gregory Boulevard, NG7 6BE. This workshop will help you understand what a social enterprise is, what forms they can take, their values, and the steps needed to set one up.
  
  
• Legal and Governance for Social Enterprises workshop, Thursday 11 July 2024, 1pm to 4pm, Broadway Cinema, 14-81 Broad Street, NG1 3AL. This workshop looks at the different legal forms and structures available to social enterprises, looking at the characteristics of the different legal forms. We'll also look at how social enterprises are governed.

You’ll also get to hear about the other elements of the programme.

To book onto either of these workshops, please email vcseobservatory@ntu.ac.uk.

To help strengthen communities during Small Charity Week (Monday 24 to Friday 28 June), members of the public were encouraged to show their support for small charities by making public pledges on social media:

• Listen and Learn: I will learn about the work of small charities in my area.
  
  
• Organise: I will get my community involved with small charities.
  
  
• Volunteer: I will support small charities with my time, voice, and money.
  
  
• Engage: I will do more to improve my community.

It's been wonderful to see the activities of Nottingham’s small charities! How have you been celebrating Small Charity Week?

The deadline for applications is Monday 8 July 2024

Ofgem’s Energy Redress Scheme has four funding streams open for applications, providing grants ranging from £20,000 to £1.5 million. The fund consists of voluntary payments from companies that may have breached Ofgem rules. Managed by the Energy Saving Trust for five years, the scheme prioritises supporting vulnerable energy consumers, developing innovative products and services, and empowering consumers to reduce their carbon emissions.

There are four funding schemes available, and registered charities, community benefit societies, and community interest companies can apply for funding under all of them.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 28 August 2024, 5pm

Lloyds Bank Foundation offers grants for small and local charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs) with an income between £25,000 and £500,000. These organisations must be led by and work with Deaf and Disabled people experiencing poverty. Eligible organisations can apply for a three-year unrestricted grant of £75,000 to support any costs that further their social purpose.

Accessibility needs
If you have any accessibility requirements to access this funding, Lloyds Bank Foundation has guidance documents in Easy Read and large print formats available. There is also a BSL-signed video of the guidance. If you need this document in a different format, then please get in touch with them before Thursday 18 July 2024 at enquiries@lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk. There is a small pot of funding available to cover accessibility needs.

This fund has an ongoing deadline, it is recommended to apply at least 16 weeks before you wish to start any activities or spend the grant money

Social connections and community activities are essential for creating healthier, happier lives and a thriving society. The National Lottery Community Fund supports community and voluntary projects with grants ranging from £300 to £20,000, available for up to two years.

You can use the funding for new or existing activities or to help your organisation adapt to new challenges.

We're regularly updating the funding news on our website, so click the button below and find the fund for you!

Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS, continues his series of articles in support of Leaders of Volunteers.

Are volunteer forms an essential part of our recruitment process, or are they too much like job application forms? This week, Dave examines the pros and cons of volunteer application forms from both the prospective volunteer's and the organisation's perspectives. He provides a list of helpful alternatives and, as always, welcomes your feedback on the subject.

Tuesday 6 August 2024, 10am to 12 noon
In-person, Base 51, 4a Peachey Street, NG1 4AN

Manage, support or lead volunteers? Join Dave, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS, for our next in-person networking meeting designed for people to share experiences, give and receive advice and network with people who understand volunteers and volunteering.

For this meeting, the group will discuss the exchange of information between volunteers and Leaders of Volunteers. Biscuits will also be provided.

If you have any questions about LoVN or this event, please contact Dave Thomas at davet@nottinghamcvs.co.uk. Places are limited, and you must register to guarantee your place.

From Monday 1 July to Friday 5 July 2024, the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board’s Co-Production Team is hosting a series of events to celebrate National Co-Production Week. This year’s theme is ‘Coproduction: What’s Missing?’ 

The events include:

• Lunch and Learn session (online): Top tips for involving children and young people
• Drop-in session: Ask the co-production team a question!
• Lunch and Learn session (online): top tips for engaging with Refugees and Asylum Seekers

They will also create a ‘celebrating co-production’ video and invite you to share what co-production means to you.

Additionally, Small Steps Big Changes (SSBC) is hosting a shared learning webinar titled "Getting Started with Meaningful Co-production" to provide an in-depth understanding of meaningful co-production and its impact on people’s lives.

For more information on the sessions and how to book, visit Coproduction Week: Programme of Events or email the Integrated Care Board’s Co-production Team at nnicb-nn.icbcoproductionteam@nhs.net.

Wednesday 3 July 2024, 6pm to 8pm
Outside the café by the lake, Highfields Park, University Boulevard, Lenton, NG7 2RD

Active Nottingham, in collaboration with This Girl Can Nottingham and Her Spirit, is on a mission to empower and assist women in Nottingham to be more active this summer.

This partnership is a crucial part of their goal to motivate women from all backgrounds, ages, and stages of life to become fitter, stronger, and healthier together.

If you live in Nottingham, they invite you to join them for an evening of free activities and community fun to inspire more women in Nottingham to move more this summer.

Activities include a Breeze/Her Spirit cycle ride, a social run, learning to Nordic Walk, plus more!

More event listings on our website

Head over to the dedicated 'External Events and Training' page on our website to view more events and training opportunities from Nottingham's Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector.

If you would like to submit an event to feature on this page, please fill in our online event submission form. Events will be approved for publication on the NCVS website at our discretion, taking into account our aims and mission.

Our full Training and Development programme is available to view on our website. All courses take place online via Zoom.

We have new sessions and new dates for 2024/2025. Book now.

Tuesday 9 July 2024, 10.30am to 1pm

This online training will give you a basic understanding of the roles and responsibilities in safeguarding adults and how to respond to concerns.

Cost: £25 per participant

Thursday 1 August 2024, 10.30am to 1pm

This online training will give you a basic understanding of the roles and responsibilities in safeguarding children and young people and how to respond to concerns.

Cost: £25 per participant

Tuesday 27 August 2024, 10.30am to 1pm

This online training will give you a basic understanding of the role and responsibilities of a Designated Safeguarding Lead Person for an organisation working with vulnerable children and young people.

Cost: £25 per participant

Wednesday 14 August 2024, 10.30am to 11.45am

This online training explains your safeguarding responsibilities as a trustee for an organisation working with vulnerable adults or children and young people.

Cost: £15 per participant

Tuesday 10 September 2024, 10.30am to 12.30pm

This online training covers the basic information that all trustees should know.

Cost: £20 per participant

Wednesday 5 February 2025, 10.30am to 12.30pm

This online training takes you through the basics of being a Fire Warden/Fire Marshal and will prepare you to carry out this very important role.

Cost: £20 per participant

Tuesday 25 February 2025, 10.30am to 12.30pm

Learn the basics of taking effective minutes in this online training – and make note taking easy.

Cost: £20 per participant

Tuesday 21 January 2025, 6pm to 8pm

This online training will teach you the basics of health and safety, and explain the process of carrying out a risk assessment in your organisation.

Cost: £20 per participant

Wednesday 6 November 2024, 6pm to 8pm

This online training will refresh your knowledge as a trustee, update you on current issues, improve your personal skill set and help you develop your role for the benefit of your organisation.

Cost: £20 per participant

Tuesday 23 July 2024, 10am to 11am

Identify barriers to volunteering and develop ideas to minimise and remove them during this training, to ensure your organisation isn’t missing out on great volunteers.

Cost: £10 per participant

Wednesday 28 August 2024, 10am to 12 noon

This online training, previously called “How to be a Better Leader of Volunteers”, takes you beyond the basics of managing and supporting volunteers and will explore some of the real-life issues that you’re facing as a Leader of Volunteers.

Cost: £20 per participant

Thursday 5 September 2025, 10am to 12 noon

This online training takes you beyond the basics of managing and supporting volunteers and will challenge you to consider the difference that volunteers make to your organisation.

Cost: £20 per participant

Thursday 25 July 2024, 10am to 12 noon

In any group of volunteers, there’ll be occasional disagreements, personality clashes and conflicts. Although these are hopefully rare events, this updated, online training will prepare you for when they occur.

Cost: £20 per participant

Tuesday 2 July 2024, 10am to 11am

Start your journey into the exciting and rewarding world of volunteer leadership with this online training that explores the volunteer journey from start to finish.

Cost: £10 per participant

Wednesday 7 August 2024, 10am to 12 noon

Although the law has little to say about volunteers and volunteering, what it does say is important. This online training will help you develop an understanding of some of the legal requirements that relate to your volunteering programme.

Cost: £20 per participant

Thursday 4 July 2024, 10am to 11am

Are your volunteer opportunities struggling to attract people, or people with the right interests and skills for your organisation? This online training will teach you how to enhance your volunteer role descriptions and make them stand out.

Cost: £10 per participant

The Practice Development Unit (PDU) aims to promote and facilitate collaborative learning and the sharing of good practice among professionals and volunteers from all sectors, in Nottingham and neighbouring areas, who work with people experiencing severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD). This is understood as a combination of mental ill-health, substance misuse, homelessness, offending and domestic abuse, among other issues.

Contact our PDU Team if you need more information: pdu@nottinghamcvs.co.uk

Join our free online hub www.pdunottingham.org

Follow us on Twitter @NottinghamCVS #PDUNottingham.

Did you know the PDU Online Hub hosts a comprehensive e-learning suite or meetings to discuss best practice? Check out this fortnight's PDU highlight below.

Wednesday 10 July 2024, 10am to 12 noon

Our Employability and Skills CoP is an online forum for professionals, volunteers and people with lived experience of severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) who are passionate about employability, skills led recovery and resettlement, or new to this area and curious to learn more.

The theme for this session is 'Neurodiversity and Employability'.

Wednesday 23 October 2024, 10am to 12 noon

An online forum for professionals, volunteers and people with lived experience who are passionate or curious about co-production, to come together to learn and share expertise.

The theme for this session is 'How to support people to get involved'.

If you are a VCSE organisation in Nottingham City or a VCSE organisation recruiting to a job role which covers the Nottingham City area, you can submit a job advert for our website. Adverts remain on our website until the closing date. We feature new adverts once in the e-bulletin, where possible, depending on the volume of new adverts received.

There are lots more job listings on our website. You can view all the job vacancies available by clicking on the 'More Vacancies' button at the bottom of this section.

Do you need some fresh thinking, a bright idea, or some thoughtful research? Set up a team of final-year Nottingham Business School students for your #NBSBright business challenge. The students will act as your consultants (for free!) leading to a final, in-person presentation showcase late in November. 

The Co-production Team, lived experience experts, and partner organisations are creating a resource to foster the right conditions for co-production. 

During Coproduction Week 2023, feedback was gathered to pinpoint essential requirements for effective co-production. Following a vote on nine potential learning resources gathered from this feedback, a consensus prioritised the development of a resource aimed at establishing optimal co-production conditions.

They now invite you to participate in the Big Coproduction Conversation. Your insights will help assess current understanding, confidence levels, and concerns regarding co-production, shaping the resource's development.

Please take 4 minutes to participate. For more information or to get involved, contact the ICB’s Coproduction Team at nnicb-nn.icbcoproductionteam@nhs.net.

The deadline to complete the survey is Friday 28 June 2024

In recent years, the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Suicide Prevention Strategic Steering Group has focused on developing local suicide prevention communications branding. An external evaluation is now underway to assess the effectiveness of this branding and identify areas for improvement.

The survey takes just five to ten minutes to complete; all feedback is anonymised and respondents can enter a prize draw to win one of two £50 supermarket e-gift cards.

As part of its ongoing commitment to the women and girls’ sector, Rosa is undertaking a large-scale survey of the sector. The results of this project will help us understand more about the current issues that affect the sector, its leaders, and the women and girls it supports. 

They are asking for your views on funding, staffing and volunteers, service demand, and sector concerns to inform funders, media, and more on issues affecting women and girls.

General VCSE sector resources and reports

• The Youth Mental Health Crisis - NPC's new research explores how charities tackle rising mental health needs in youth and suggests ways funders can help. Discover six key areas for impactful change. Contact NPC to learn more.
  
  
• The Voluntary Sector Manifesto - Shaped by feedback from over 17,000 combined members of NCVO and ACEVO, this manifesto presents a vision for the future and makes requests of the next government.
  
  
• The Future Charity Chair: A research project - From July 2023 to February 2024, Bayes Business School’s Centre for Charity Effectiveness surveyed 61 chairs and 23 representatives from support organisations in charities across England and Wales. This report examines the barriers to engagement and explores the role of future chairs.
  
  
• Funeral Expenses Payment Eligibility Checker - With over 12 years of frontline experience, Down to Earth supports individuals struggling with funeral costs. They have developed an eligibility checker to help those currently planning a funeral determine if they qualify for any financial aid.

   

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