NCVS e-bulletin - Thursday 5 September 2024

The Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS) e-bulletin will be back in a fortnight. The deadline for contributions and comments is Monday 16 September 2024. Email communications@nottinghamcvs.co.uk

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

Thursday 12 September 2024, 10am to 12 noon
Online via Zoom

An opportunity for members to come together via Zoom to network, discuss current work, develop wider partnerships, and hear from speakers.

The proposed Agenda includes:

• Hot Topic 1: Recent violent disorder - inviting your feedback on the impact to your organisation, service users and communities.
  
  
• Talking Therapies Nottingham - Kashmeera Gorecha (Community and Partnerships Officer - NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies) will introduce the services available and the process for referrals.
  
  
• Hot Topic 2: Engaging with the public sector using the VCSE Collaborative Framework - led by Jules Sebelin, Chief Executive Officer at NCVS.
  
  
• Unlocking Community Power: A collaborative working event - find out about an upcoming commissioning event from Nottingham City Council and NCVS.
• General information sharing – an opportunity for attendees to share short updates, discuss any issues, concerns and best practice, or request items for future meeting agendas.

It is important to register your attendance so that you are sent the Zoom meeting link. If you have any questions about this meeting, please email ncvs@nottinghamcvs.co.uk.

You might remember that we introduced Helen Oparinde from a previous e-bulletin; well, now we're ready to shout about the work she's currently carrying out to help those in Broxtowe Borough! 

Funded by Broxtowe Borough Council as part of its UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF), this support will be available up to Monday 31 March 2025 (so take advantage while you can!).

Support from NCVS includes:

• A package of capacity and capability building sessions.
  
  
• Fully funded access to NCVS training courses.
  
  
• Opportunity to post your volunteer roles on the NCVS website.

To learn more and get involved, visit our Broxtowe webpage or contact Helen directly by email at heleno@nottinghamcvs.co.uk or by phone at 07908 357357.

Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT) is an independent energy advice and advocacy service delivered by The Wise Group.

If you or someone you support will have to make the choice between heating and eating. Their team of Energy Mentors is on hand to provide independent, tailored advice to fuel-poor households experiencing energy crises.

Key target groups include:

• People aged 65 and over.
• Low-income households.
• Out of work households.
• Households receiving Universal Credit.
• People with disabilities.
• Anyone in fuel poverty or struggling with fuel costs and is at risk of disconnecting.

The service is fully funded; it is simply a case of you referring anyone that would benefit from the service.

Friday's, 7pm to 9pm at Nottingham University

The Beyond Borders Theatre Group is now hosting workshops that provide first-generation migrants and acting enthusiasts in Nottingham with a unique platform for creativity, language practice, and cultural exchange.

What's on offer:

• Acting skills through fun games.
• A safe and supportive space.
• Cultural exchange.
• Free spots for refugees.

Places are usually £7 per person to join, but there are free spots available for refugees. Contact Christina Tsoutsi by email at tsoutsi_christina@outlook.com or via WhatsApp on 07495 203945.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 16 October 2024, 12 noon

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust offers grants ranging from £75,000 to £150,000 for registered charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), and Armed Forces bases/units. These grants support initiatives that address the impact of domestic abuse and aim to have a long-term effect in preventing domestic abuse within serving Armed Forces communities or assisting those affected.

The Social Impact Fund is currently open for applications. Grant funding of up to £1,500 is available throughout the year, aligned with specific awareness days (please see below). A maximum of three charities will be shortlisted for each award, with the7stars agency team voting on which charity will receive the funding.

Deadlines coming up:

• Thursday 10 October 2024 - World Homeless Day
  
  
• Thursday 31 October 2024 - Black History Month
  
  
• Tuesday 10 December 2024 - Human Rights Day

There is no deadline for Regular Grants, Major Grants are considered at one of eight board meetings.

Garfield Weston has three grant types available for organisations looking for funding: operating or core cost grants, capital project grants, and project or specific activities grants. Organisations can apply for either the Regular Grant, of up to £100,000 funding or the Major Grant which can provide funds over £100,000. Organisations applying for a Major Grant must have an income of at least £1 million a year. 

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.

Dave recently celebrated his birthday (happy birthday, Dave!), which got him thinking about whether organisations are making the best use of older volunteers' skills and experience. Older volunteers bring a wealth of experience and skills from their careers, benefiting various groups, and they also have the chance to minimise the social isolation often felt by retirees. Are we overlooking a vital pool of volunteers? Read more to find out.

Thursday 19 September 2024, 10am to 12 noon
Online via Zoom

An online networking meeting for anyone with an interest in managing, supporting or leading volunteers. Share your experience, give and receive advice, and network with people who understand volunteers and volunteering.

Please register to ensure you're sent instructions about how to join the meeting on Zoom.

If you have any questions about the LoVN or this meeting, please contact Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at Nottingham CVS, by emailing davet@nottinghamcvs.co.uk.

Green social prescribing is a way of connecting people to nature-based activities and green groups, projects and schemes in their local community for support with health and wellbeing. Often this will be through a referral from a Link Worker based at a GP practice or another primary care professional.

Our scheme in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, called GreenSpace, was one of seven government Green Social Prescribing Test and Learn sites.

While the National Test and Learn may have ended, NCVS continues to embed green social prescribing into health systems to make nature-based/outdoor activities an intervention of choice to support people to improve and maintain their mental and physical health and wellbeing.

The latest GreenSpace bulletin is available to read.

You can view it in your web browser now. If you would like to receive future issues directly to your inbox, please email greenspace@nottinghamcvs.co.uk with a request to be added to the mailing list.

If you wish to share any events or stories happening in your organisation, or relating to green social prescribing or nature-based activities, please get in touch with the GreenSpace team. The deadline for submissions for the next bulletin is Monday 23 September 2024.

Friday 13 September 2024, 12 noon to 4pm
The Carousel, 25 Hockley, NG1 1FH

Rock Against Racism is hosting a free event to honour what would have been Stephen Lawrence's 50th birthday. The event will feature spoken word poetry, music, talks, mendhi, and stories of 'back home', along with free food and selected drinks.

Saturday 14 September 2024, 11am to 12 noon
Online via Microsoft Teams

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is working to rapidly improve its service quality. As part of this effort, they held a Big Conversation event on Tuesday 3 September 2024, with a follow-up meeting scheduled for Saturday 14 September 2024, which you can register for here. These events are for service users, carers, families, and local community and voluntary organisations to help shape plans for improving mental health and community services.

Chief Executive Ifti Majid will share the Trust’s plans and discuss how you can influence them and build ongoing involvement with the Trust.

If you have used mental health or community health services, are a carer or family member, or represent a local community or voluntary organisation, you're invited to join.

A survey is also available to share your thoughts on Nottinghamshire Healthcare’s services. Please distribute this information to those you work with, if applicable.

For more information or questions, contact the Involvement, Experience, and Volunteering team at involvement@notts.nhs.nhs.uk or 0800 052 1415.

Thursday 19 September 2024
Trent Conference Centre, Lenton Lane, NG7 2PX

Are you living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis? Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support and Nottingham Hospitals Charity, is hosting a free event for people to see what support is available. 

Pre-booking is essential; please email nuhnt.nuhhealthandwellbeingevents@nhs.net or call the Macmillan Information and Support Service at 0115 840 2650.

Tuesday 10 September 2024, 12noon to 1pm
Online

Join Rethink Mental Illness for a national webinar on World Suicide Prevention Day. This event features speakers who will discuss social responses to those experiencing suicidal thoughts, with a focus on reaching groups that often fall through the cracks of care. The webinar aims to inspire individuals, communities, organisations, and governments to engage in open and honest conversations about suicide and suicidal behavior. By fostering these crucial discussions, we can break down barriers, raise awareness, and build a more supportive and understanding culture.

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.

Wednesday 9 October 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

Wednesday 23 October 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

Wednesday 27 November 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 13 November 2024, 6pm to 7.15pm

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

Tuesday 12 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

Thursday 24 October 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

Tuesday 26 November 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

Tuesday 3 December 2024, 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

Tuesday 22 October 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

Wednesday 2 October 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

Tuesday 12 November 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

Tuesday 1 October 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.

Wednesday 11 September 2024, 10am to 12 noon
Online via Zoom

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 'Disclosing convictions and health conditions'.

Wednesday 23 October 2024, 10am to 12 noon
Online via Zoom

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'.

What is J9? The J9 Domestic Abuse Initiative aims to:

• Raise awareness of domestic abuse.
• Help survivors access support safely.
• Train professionals and community members to recognize and respond to domestic abuse.

Many survivors report not having the chance to speak out due to lack of safety or privacy from their abuser. It can be difficult to know who to contact or what options are available.

The J9 logo displayed at a premises indicates a safe place where survivors can access information and use a phone to contact support services or trusted individuals. J9 creates a network of safe spaces for survivors to seek help.

Equation is offering free J9 training to local organizations and businesses. If interested in becoming a J9 Safe Space, please contact training@equation.org.uk.

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.

The deadline for applications is Thursday 10 October 2024

Harmless, the national center of excellence for self-harm and suicide prevention, seeks dedicated individuals to join its Ethics Committee. This committee ensures that Harmless’ research adheres to the highest ethical standards, protects participants' well-being and rights, and promotes rigorous and impactful research. We encourage applications from a diverse range of backgrounds, including service users, clinicians, mental health professionals, academics, and community representatives.

Are you a social entrepreneur looking to grow your business?

The Social Enterprise Accelerator (SEA) has just the programme for you—new to September, the Growth Programme is designed to nurture established social enterprises through seven key workshops, funding opportunities, and networking opportunities tailored to meet your entrepreneurial needs.

Coming up:

• Creating a growth strategy, Tuesday 10 September 2024, 10am to 2pm. Register here
   
• Revenue streams, funding and social investment, Thursday 26 September 2024, 10am to 2pm. Register here
   
• Financial management, pricing and productivity, Thursday October 10 2024, 10am to 2pm. Register here

If you have any questions about any of this training, please email vcseobservatory@ntu.ac.uk.

The SEA is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered through a collaborative partnership between NCVS and Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) National VCSE Data and Insights Observatory.

The deadline for nominations is Sunday 1 December 2024

The King's Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS), previously the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, was established in 2002 during the Queen's Golden Jubilee to honour outstanding volunteer groups. KAVS is equivalent to an MBE and is managed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sports (DCMS), it recognises volunteer-led work across various fields such as mental health, youth, community, arts, and heritage. You can now nominate any qualifying voluntary group (nominees do not have to be a registered charity) you think deserve this prestigious award.

Key criteria for the award include:

• Led by volunteers and have at least two members.
• Half the members must have UK residency rights.
• The group must be well-respected in the local community and have operated for at least three years.
• The majority of the work must be UK-based.

To nominate, complete the online form and attach two letters of support, nominatons cannot be submitted by a group member. Local assessors will then evaluate the group on various factors, including financial stability and safeguarding before they can move on to the next stage.

If individuals you work with or yourself have used community pharmacies, they have an opportunity to share their experiences and make a real impact on local healthcare services. They can provide feedback on what works and what needs improvement. The process is anonymous, quick, and won't affect their care, but their experiences will help communicate to the pharmacy commissioners and providers what and how to make things better.

General VCSE sector resources and reports

• Treatment for the Charity Sector's Unhealthy Status Quo - Read the latest findings of the VCSE Barometer Survey. Stay tuned for the next survey, opening soon. If enough groups from Nottingham participate, we'll get a Nottingham-specific landing page!
  
  
• Four tips on being an ally - Communities Inc has created a lovely flyer with four things that anyone can do to create a safer environment and show their support to those vulnerable to abuse and attacks.
  
  
• The Status of UK Fundraising: 2024 Benchmark Report - Register your details to access this free report that dives into the world of income trends and drivers, digital maturity, artificial intelligence, technology ecosystems, and much more.

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