Bookings are filling up fast for our new Mental Health Aware course but there is still time to book yourself on for our first available session - Monday 17 May (2021).

Run by Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA) Instructor Claire Henson, the course will provide a great starting point for anyone in the field of mental health or for an organisation wanting to raise staff or volunteer awareness of mental health issues.

Upon completion of this online course, each participant will receive a certificate of attendance to say they are Mental Health Aware and a resource pack from MHFA England.

We have three dates available to book onto. The course will be delivered online via Zoom and costs £40 per participant (£25 course fee, plus £15 resource pack). 

If you're a member of our Children and Young People's Providers Network (CYPPN) or Vulnerable Adults' Providers Network (VAPN), don't forget to book your place at our next virtual meeting.

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 27 May 2021, 10am-12pm, via Zoom.

Many issues raised at previous meetings have been relevant to both Networks, so this meeting gives participants an opportunity to develop wider partnerships. Alongside time for networking and discussion, there will be a number of presentations. Speakers will be confirmed soon.

A mobile Covid-19 vaccination bus is travelling across Nottingham to help drive uptake amongst eligible groups.

The local NHS has teamed up with Nottingham City Council, and local voluntary and community organisations to launch the service.

The new vaccination bus will travel to different parts of the city over the next few weeks to offer the vaccine to targeted groups of people in areas where vaccination uptake is lower. A team of NHS staff are on board the bus to administer the vaccine.

This week, the bus is stopping at the following locations:

• Today (Wed 21 April), 10am-1pm - Bestwood Park Church, Beckhampton Road, Nottingham, NG5 5NG
  
  
• Today (Wed 21 April), 1pm-4pm - Disability Support, Bramble Close, Old Basford, Nottingham, NG6 0QG
  
  
• Thurs 22 April, 10am-1pm, The Pelican Pub, Bracebridge Drive, Bilborough, Nottingham, NG8 4PN

In order to be eligible to use this service, residents must be in any of the following priority groups:

• Aged 45 or over
  
  
• In an at-risk group
  
  
• A carer or a frontline health and social care worker

To book, individuals can just turn up or book a slot online here. 

From today (Wed 21 April 2021), organisations can apply through Nottingham City Council for a share of The UK Community Renewal Fund.

The Fund has been set up by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and will be administered on a local level by the city council.

The UK Community Renewal Fund will support communities to pilot programmes and new approaches ahead of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Through these pilots, the government wants to unlock new ideas and programmes which better support people and communities in need across the UK.

A new £150 million Community Ownership Fund will be launched by the government this June (2021), to help communities support and continue to benefit from the local facilities, community assets and amenities most important to them. 

From summer (2021), community groups will be able to bid for up to £250,000 matched-funding to help them buy or take over local community assets at risk of being lost, to run as community-owned businesses.

Small to medium organisations in the UK that work with communities facing racial inequality can apply for project or core costs of up to £10,000, through The Global Majority Fund.

The fund was launched by Comic Relief in early 2021. In February 2021, Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) were selected as Intermediary Partner to distribute funds on behalf of Comic Relief, National Emergencies Trust (NET), The Clothworkers Foundation and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

The fund is specifically aimed at supporting UK-registered charities or Community Interest Companies (CICs) that are led by individuals from and/or focused on communities experiencing racial inequality within the UK.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available from the Schroder Charity Trust to support UK-registered charities with their core and project costs. 

In order for a charity to be eligible, their work must feature within any of the following categories:

• Arts, culture and heritage
  
• Education, training and employment  
  
• Environment and conservation
  
• Health and wellbeing
  
• Strengthening communities
  

This opportunity is open to registered charities only with an annual income of less than £2,500,000.

Don't forget to book your place on our next Leaders of Volunteers Network (LoVN) meeting.

The meeting will take place online via Zoom on Wednesday 12 May 2021, from 10am-12pm.

This online event is open to anyone with an interest in managing, supporting or leading volunteers.

More info about what to expect from this session is available on the NCVS website.

As you may know, everyone in England without symptoms can now take a free rapid coronavirus test, twice a week. NAVCA is gathering feedback on behalf of the government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), to understand the implications of this on volunteering policy and are keen to get responses from the voluntary sector on the following two questions:

• Are you or any organisations you work with changing, or planning to change, their approach to volunteer involvement following the introduction of twice-weekly testing? And if so, what are you/they doing to change the approach?
  
  
• Government advice is that people who need to leave home to work or volunteer should be tested twice per week. What issues (if any) would you/they face if you chose to follow this advice? Would you face any barriers to following this advice?
  

Please send any comment to NCVS Volunteering Development Officer Dave Thomas at davet@nottinghamcvs.co.uk. All responses will be passed onto NAVCA.

NCVO and the University of Kent are conducting a survey to understand what support may be needed to ensure that volunteering can play a key role in the national recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Volunteers have played a vital role in the response to Covid-19. People and organisations in communities across the country have supported each other in many different ways and continue to do so. At the same time, however, some volunteers have had to pause, stop or change the way they volunteer as a result of the pandemic.

The purpose of this survey is to understand more about the impact of Covid-19 on volunteering, bring insight to the current situation for volunteering in England and understand what support may be needed to ensure that volunteering can play a key role in our national recovery over the months to come.

This survey forms part of a wider UK study into the role of volunteering in the pandemic response. Visit the research project website for more information here.

The finding from this survey will inform national recovery and future pandemic preparedness.

Wednesday 5 May 2021, 10am-11.15am

An interactive online session for Trustees (or members of Management Committees) of organisations whose activities put them in contact with vulnerable adults or children.

Cost: £15 per participant

Tuesday 11 May 2021, 10.30am-1.45pm

An online course giving a basic understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the Designated Safeguarding Lead Person.

This interactive course is delivered over one session, but divided into two parts, allowing for a 45 minute break and reflection between part one (10.30am - 11.45am) and part two (12.30pm - 1.45pm). You are required to complete both parts.

Cost: £25 per participant

Thursday 13 May 2021, 10am-12pm

This two-hour online session covers the basic information for all trustees, whether you are new to the role or long-established.

The session is designed for all trustees (Board Members / Committee Members) of voluntary and community sector organisations. It will suit you if you are new to the role or have some experience but have not attended a similar course previously.

Cost: £20 per participant.

Thursday 20 May 2021, 10.30am-12.30pm

A free online workshop on the subject of risk and insurance for community organisations. Led by Tim Larden from Ladbrook Insurance, a specialist insurance broker for the third sector.

Relevant for anyone in a position of influence regarding insurance matters for charities, community groups and not for profit organisations.

This session will look at the basics of risk management as well as focusing on some common areas such as events, working with vulnerable service users and other areas that are regular hot topics for community groups.

Free to attend.

The 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 multiple disadvantage (understood as a combination of mental ill-health, substance misuse, homelessness, offending and domestic abuse, among other issues).

Contact our coordinator Filipa Santos for more information by sending an email to enquiries@pdunottingham.org or calling 0115 934 8428 or 07483 354 441.

Join our free online hub www.pdunottingham.org

Follow us on Twitter @NottinghamCVS #PDUNottingham.

The PDU offers a unique opportunity for voluntary and statutory sector workers who support people experiencing multiple disadvantage across Nottingham and neighbouring areas, to connect, learn collaboratively and share good practice and expertise.

By participating in our events, you will have the chance to develop your knowledge and skills and extend your professional network by making links with other local organisations.

Attendance to PDU events is free of charge, but advance booking is essential. Follow the relevant links below to register your place at our upcoming events.

Please note that it is PDU policy that people with lived experience are invited to participate in our events.

Wednesday 19 May 2021, 10am to 11.30am

Online via Zoom

Join us for a free online event exploring the approach of employing social workers in voluntary organisations that support people experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage. This event reflects on the effectiveness of this approach and includes:

• A presentation by Nottingham Trent University on a piece of research exploring “Social work with voluntary organisations supporting people experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage.”
  
  
• Hearing from social workers with ‘trusted assessor’ status working in Nottingham-based voluntary organisations
  
  
• Hearing Nottingham City Council’s perspective of how this approach is working locally

Audience: This webinar is aimed at professionals and volunteers from all sectors who work with people facing homelessness or multiple disadvantage.

Thursday 13 May 2021, 10.30am to 11.30am

Online via Zoom

An online event exploring the role of specialist multiple disadvantage workers, often referred to as navigators. This event will reflect on the skills and competencies required for these specialist roles, as well as what support is needed for these workers to be effective, including:

• A presentation by CFE Research on the findings from their recent Fulfilling Lives national evaluation briefing on workforce development: “What makes an effective multiple disadvantage navigator?”
  
  
• Insight from Opportunity Nottingham, a specialist multiple disadvantage service
  
  
• Hearing from people with lived experience of multiple disadvantage and receiving support from Opportunity Nottingham

Audience: This webinar is aimed at services who have or are looking to develop specialist multiple disadvantage roles within their organisations.

Nottingham-based domestic abuse, sexual violence and gender equality charity Equation has released dates for its next available training opportunities for Nottingham City and County workers in April.

Please click on the link for the training you are interested in attending and you will be taken through to the Eventbrite booking page.

Understanding and Responding to Domestic Violence and Abuse 

Thursday 22 April 2021, 9.30am-1pm, free to attend for Nottingham City workers.

Non-Domestic Abuse Stalking Awareness 

Monday 26 April 2021, 9.30am-12pm, free to attend for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire workers.

Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse 

Monday 26 April 2021, 9.30am-12pm, free to attend for Nottingham City workers.

Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse 

Tuesday 27 April 2021, 9.30am-12pm, free to attend for Nottingham City workers.

Reflective Practice 

Tuesday 27 April 2021, 10am-11.15am, free to attend for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire workers.

Lots more event listings on our website

Head over to the dedicated 'External Events and Training' page on our website (see link below) to view more 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.

Researchers at the University of Nottingham are looking for people to take part in a new study about the benefits of online group singing for people with Dementia and their carers.

The singing groups will be held on Zoom and will be relaxed and informal. Technical support will be provided for those who are new to using this software.

If you would like to refer someone who has a diagnosis of Dementia to this study or are a carer who would like to get involved, please email Preside.Research@nottingham.ac.uk or call 07971 007 345.

A PhD researcher at the University of York is carrying out research to consider how inclusive (or not) generic community based social care services, groups and organisations are for older lesbian, gay and bisexual people. 

Liz Wands-Murray wants to understand the experiences of people who access these groups or services and those who work or volunteer in them. The research will be carried out through informal interviews and a focus group. The information gathered will be used to provide some guidance which will enable groups to be more inclusive going forward.

Nominations are now open for The National Diversity Awards 2021.

This prestigious awards event celebrates the excellent achievements of grass-root communities, giving them recognition for their dedication and hard work. Charities, role models and community heroes will be honoured at the ceremony, showcasing their outstanding devotion to enhancing equality, diversity and inclusion.

Nominations close on Friday 4 June 2021.