Next week sees the launch of the new Green Social Prescribing Programme for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

The two-year pilot programme aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of communities hardest hit by coronavirus, by connecting people with nature-based activities and local green groups and projects.

Monday also sees the start of Mental Health Awareness Week (10-16 May 2021), organised by the Mental Health Foundation, which this year is focused on promoting the benefits of connecting people with nature to improve their mental health.

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of being outdoors, with millions of us turning to nature as a coping strategy, particularly during lockdown. Evidence shows that being more connected to nature and, through doing this, connecting with other people helps us experience lower levels of stress, fatigue and anxiety, among other benefits. Green social prescribing is a growing movement which carries this principle forward, providing much-needed support to people who are struggling with their mental health, by connecting them with community groups and local green initiatives for practical and emotional support.

We're looking for an experienced Project Officer with a passion for green activity, the environment, and the positive impact this has on wellbeing to join our small and friendly team.

The Green Social Prescribing Project Officer will play an important role in helping to deliver the pilot Green Social Prescribing Programme for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. They will be responsible for the development of green VCS organisations to enable them to develop their capacity to accept referrals from link workers and others (including self-referrals). The Project Officer will also be responsible for mapping green community assets, developing green volunteering pathways and assisting GP practices to achieve green accreditation.

We positively welcome applications from all sections of the communities in which we work and are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed and Living Wage employer.

Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week (fixed term until March 2023)

Location: Currently home-based

Salary: £24,000 per annum

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday 10 May 2021.

One of the feelings many of us have experienced during the pandemic is loneliness. Isolation and loneliness can affect anyone at any age but through our combined efforts to stay safe and save lives, this feeling has been exacerbated.

Join us this Volunteers’ Week (June 2021), for a free online workshop to discuss the topic of loneliness, explore how people in Nottingham have been affected during the pandemic and how volunteering has played an important role in helping to tackle this issue.

This one-off partnership session on Thursday 3 June, from 10am-12pm, is being delivered by our Volunteer Centre and Practice Development Unit (PDU).

We're also planning to publish a series of videos during the week which will feature representatives from across Nottingham's VCSE sector, talking about loneliness and how volunteering has made a big difference in supporting those affected. More details will be released soon!

As lockdown restrictions ease, My Sight Notts is once again inviting people to pre-book appointments for Covid-secure services.

• Bookings are now being accepted for equipment and IT support for visually impaired people keen to learn more about the latest aids and technology
  
  
• The charity's IT group is restarting on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Heathcoat Street, Nottingham, for Covid-secure IT support in a friendly group setting
  
  
• The charity is once again offering a Covid-secure face to face My Guide sighted guiding service for visually impaired people who are keen to take advantage of the easing of lockdown restrictions

Making referrals

My Sight Notts is also accepting referrals for the following:

• Shared Vision, their free Peer Support Group, offering skills and support for people with sight loss
  
  
• Their volunteer-led telephone befriending service for visually impaired people who are feeling lonely or isolated
  

Referrals are also accepted from visually impaired people themselves, their family and friends and from the professionals who work to support them.

For more information call 0115 970 6806 and speak to one of their friendly Sight Loss Advisors, or email info@mysightnotts.org.uk

Nottingham City Council is inviting community and voluntary groups, charities, social enterprises and schools to bid for a share of the government's Holiday Activity Fund, to deliver holiday clubs in communities across the city during the summer and Christmas holidays (2021).

Nottingham City Council is working with the Nottingham Forest Community Trust to deliver the Holiday Clubs.

The grant funding will be used to meet the aims of the Department for Education’s Holiday Activity Fund programme. 

The Magic Little Grants programme has reopened for 2021 - awarding grants of £500 to small charities and community groups across the UK.

The programme is run by Localgiving, alongside six funding partners from the People's Postcode Lottery. This year, the programme aims to double the amount of organisations it supports by providing a total of 2,000 grants.

In our enthusiasm to involve new volunteers, we often say that we welcome anybody whose skills, interests and enthusiasm fit with the role that we are seeking to fill. However, there are a number of legal constraints on who we can allow to volunteer. There are also people who may think they are prevented from volunteering who are not.

The largest potential pool of volunteers, UK citizens and people with 'settled status' face no restrictions at all on their volunteering. Irish citizens can still enter the UK freely and can volunteer while they are here.

Since Brexit, however, almost all European Union (EU) citizens who don’t have 'settled status' or 'pre-settled status' face a new set of rules.

Our next Leaders of Volunteers Network (LoVN) meeting will take place next week on Wednesday 12 May, from 10am-12pm.

This useful and informative session will feed back and develop the work that we started in February's network meeting about the shape of future support for Leaders of Volunteers. We will also explore an idea to share volunteers across organisations and we will discuss plans for Volunteers' Week 2021.

Please register to ensure you are sent instructions about how to join the session on Zoom.

NHS England and Improvement is running a survey to get your views on the NHS Volunteer Responders Scheme. 

The national, app-based, volunteering scheme was set up in 2020, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was developed by NHS England and Royal Voluntary Service, working in partnership with GoodSAM. It is also referred to as the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) scheme, and the GoodSAM app.

• Take part by clicking on the link below - this is your chance to tell the NHS how the scheme has impacted on your local community, your organisations and your volunteers.
  
  
• Share the survey - with your networks and your communities, to make sure that the local VCSE sector, and the people that support it, have their say on this national scheme.

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

Monday 17 May 2021, 11am-3.30pm

Delivered by a registered Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA) Instructor, this introductory course will raise awareness of mental health issues and gives initial guidance on how to support people who may be experiencing mental ill health. 

Cost: £40 per participant (£25 course fee, plus £15 resource pack)

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.

Thursday 13 May 2021, 10.30am-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 of 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.

Wednesday 19 May 2021, 10am-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.

If you work for a charity or a non-profit organisation based in the UK, the Skills Platform would love to hear your views about your digital skills and support needs.

Anyone can complete the survey. They ask a range of questions about your organisational priorities, barriers and funding needs, as well as general digital skills and service development.