After roughly 22 years at 7 Mansfield Road, NCVS has moved. Having gone through a very long process, the sale of the building on Mansfield Road is now complete.

We've taken up temporary offices at Foxhall Business Centre on King Street while we consider our business needs and longer term plan.

Our full office address for your records is:

Foxhall Business Centre, 2 King Street, Nottingham NG1 2AS.

Jules Sebelin, NCVS Chief Executive reflects on the changes:

During the building clearance there was a lot of laughter as old photos were uncovered, and there were maybe a few swear words…there was a lot of stuff! By the decree of our Finance Administrator, on clearing more than 22 years of finance and HR files, poly pockets are forever banned. I have added Treasury Tags to that list.  

We made the decision to sell the building pre-pandemic, but this last 18 months has confirmed that decision as the right one. The sale proceeds will be invested in order to provide NCVS with a sustainable source of income, taking pressure off local funding sources. This will allow us to be flexible and adaptable to suit the changing support needs of the voluntary and community sector. 

Over the coming months, as we contemplate a more permanent move, we would be open to discussion with you about what that might look like.

We would consider co-location or options that we haven’t thought of.

Please contact me at juless@nottinghamcvs.co.uk for a chat.

The possibilities are endless!

The next joint meeting of our Children and Young People's Providers Network (CYPPN) and Vulnerable Adults' Providers Network (VAPN) takes place on Thursday 25 November 2021, from 10am to 12noon, on Zoom.

If you are a member of either network, or interested to get involved, don't forget to book your place to ensure you're sent instructions about how to join the meeting. Registration will remain open until 10am the day before.

If you have any queries about this event, please email ncvs@nottinghamcvs.co.uk.

Giving Tuesday is an opportunity for your charity to get involved in a global giving campaign that is celebrated in over 60 countries worldwide.

It's not all about giving through donations and fundraising, although that is an important part of the campaign. It's also an opportunity to amplify your voice, and showcase your work. You could get involved with the day to:

• Engage with current and new donors
• Launch or shine a spotlight on your fundraising campaign
• Raise awareness of your services
• Celebrate your donors and volunteers
• Share stories from your beneficiaries demonstrating your impact.

You are encouraged to personalise the activities and branding of the day for your own organisation. There are plenty of resources to help on the Giving Tuesday website.

Association of Mental Health Providers is pleased to announce the launch of their third round of grants within the Mental Health Sustainability Programme (MHSP). This is a Helplines Fund with Bupa Foundation. The fund will open to applications on Monday 15 November 2021, with a closing date of Wednesday 3 December 2021.

This fund will be used to provide grants of up to £5,000 to support the sustainability of mental health voluntary, community, and social enterprise helpline provider organisations, who have been operational/registered for 2 years+ with a turnover of less than £250,000.

Materials are already online so that organisations can begin planning to make a strong application. Please review the details here.

You can also register to attend a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webinar on Wednesday 17 November from 1pm to 2pm. The webinar is an opportunity to meet members of the Programme team and ask any questions that are not covered n the online documents.

NCVS partnered with easyfundraising earlier this year to tell you about this simple and easy way to raise money for your group or organisation. The fundraising website enables community organisations to generate an income by turning online shopping into donations. Over 6,000 leading retailers will all donate to your organisation for free.

This November, the fundraising website is giving voluntary groups and third sector organisations thousands of opportunities to win donations.

Dave Thomas, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer writes:

Old Market Square already has the Christmas funfair and market in place, Christmas films are on the TV and Emmanuel House is setting up the winter shelter for homeless people. Yes, it’s that time of year already!

So now is the time for me to ask what your organisation is doing between now and Christmas? In particular, what kind of short-term or one-off opportunities can you offer people who would like to volunteer?

We always get people who contact us during the final week up to Christmas wanting to “help those less fortunate” on Christmas Day when they’re off work. We’re ready and willing to tell them that the vast majority of the voluntary sector also has a Christmas break. However, we also know that there are hundreds of community events during November and December that would be much better with a few more people helping.

I’d love to help you find the few extra people that could make all the difference.

Email me at davet@nottinghamcvs.co.uk or phone me on 07564 040767

Dave and volunteer Sue will be at Bulwell Riverside on Friday for Volunteer Local if you would like to drop in between 10am and 1pm. We can't promise they will be in festive attire (not yet!), but here's a photo to inspire your Christmas plans.

Wednesday 17 November 2021, 4.30pm to 6pm
Free online seminar hosted by New Philanthropy Capital (NPC)

In partnership with the Clothworker’s Company, this event for trustees will explore ways to embed climate-related issues into your work, and how to elevate the importance of this issue to support a just and green recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speakers include Nina Vinther, Trustee at Earthworks St Albans and Viv Gray, Founder and Trustee of Birth Companions. The event will be chaired by Liz Gadd, NPC’s Principal of Effective Philanthropy.

Register via Eventbrite

Thursday 2 December 2021, 9.30am to 1.30pm, Free online event

The Nottingham City Council Priority Families programme has changed its name to 'Supporting Families'.

This webinar will:

• Update you on the programme which has been extended to 2024/2025
• Introduce guest speakers Honor Rhodes OBE from Tavistock talking about Relationships and Lisa from Probation talking about how the organisation has changed
• Provide bite-sized learning workshops focusing on Housing, Domestic Abuse, Financial Resilience/Stability, Mental Health, Crime and Data Sharing.

Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Please email Project Officer Kate Thurman for more information: Kate.Thurman@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.

Monday 13 December 2021, 4.30pm to 6.30pm, Free to attend
Join in person at Lakeside Arts, University Park, University of Nottingham or watch the live stream online

In this panel discussion, leading experts from the University of Nottingham, the University of Oxford and digital marketing agency, Hallam, will explore the future of marketing. There will be festive drinks and nibbles for those that attend in person.

This is a business networking event and may be of interest to voluntary and community organisations, but is not specifically aimed at the not-for-profit sector.

Find out more and book your place

Thursday 18 November 2021, 10.30am to 1.45pm

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

Before registering for this Designated Lead course, participants should ensure they have attended the NCVS Introduction to Safeguarding Children and Young People course (or alternate refresher training) within the last three years.

Cost: £25 per participant

Thursday 6 January 2022, 10.30am to 1.45pm

An online course giving a basic understanding of roles and responsibilities in the safeguarding of adults and how to respond to concerns.

Cost: £25 per participant

Wednesday 19 January 2022, 10.30am to 1.45pm

An online course giving a basic understanding of roles and responsibilities in the safeguarding of children and young people and how to respond to concerns. 

Cost: £25 per participant

Thursday 3 February 2022, 10.30am to 11.45am

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

Wednesday 8 December 2021, 10am to 12noon

What is the right structure for your organisation? This new two-hour online session will explain your options and provide you with some useful tips to help you through the process of registration and beyond.

Cost: £20 per participant

Tuesday 25 January 2022, 10am to 11.15am

For organisations and community groups who are new to applying for funding, or for those in need of a refresher. Relevant for groups applying for COVID-19 funding and recovery support as well as other general funding.

Cost: £10 per participant

Thursday 10 February 2022, 11am to 1pm

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

Cost: £20 per participant

Tuesday 22 February 2022, 1pm to 3pm

This two-hour online session is intended for trustees who have completed our 'Being a Trustee' course and want to further develop their involvement and awareness of trustee duties.

Cost: £20 per participant

Wednesday 1 December 2021, 10am to 11am

This one-hour online session aims to share some ideas about how best to deal with the inevitable disagreements, personality clashes and conflicts that arise from time to time among a team of volunteers.

Cost: £10 per participant

Tuesday 7 December 2021, 2pm to 3pm

A one-hour online session to help your volunteer role descriptions stand out, ensuring you attract enthusiastic volunteers.

Cost: £10 per participant

Wednesday 12 January 2022, 10am to 11am

This one-hour online session looks at methods that have proved to be effective in volunteer leadership, including the best ways to plan, involve, support and retain volunteers.

Cost: £10 per participant

Wednesday 26 January 2022, 10am to 11am

In this one-hour online session, we will identify some of the barriers that potential volunteers face to becoming involved in your organisation and share ideas to remove these barriers.

Cost: £10 per participant

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

Join our free online hub www.pdunottingham.org

Follow us on Twitter @NottinghamCVS #PDUNottingham.

Tuesday 23 November 2021, from 9.30am to 4.30pm
Online via Zoom

We’re pleased to announce the full programme for our upcoming development day dedicated to women’s experiences of severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD). We have planned a number of talks that will take place online throughout the day. Participants are welcome to register to attend all sessions or a selection of them.

Talks include:

• 9:30 to 10:30 - Local Evaluation: A presentation of local research exploring women’s experiences of Severe and Multiple Disadvantage (SMD)
  
  
• 10:45 to 12:00 - The impacts of care proceedings on women
  
  
• 13:00 to 14:00 - Housing First for women
  
  
• 14:15 to 15:15 - The experiences of women from minority ethnic backgrounds
  
  
• 15:30 to 16:30 - Domestic abuse and multiple disadvantage: local responses

 Register now to find out more about each of the talks and to confirm your place.

CA Plus invites you to register for one or more of the following webinars to support your financial planning and processes.

Employee or Self Employed – what to do when you are paying someone for services provided
Tuesday 30 November 2021, 10am to 11am

An introduction to online accounting software using QuickBooks online
Wednesday 1 December 2021, 10am to 11am

Finance and accounts for non-finance people
Thursday 2 December 2021, 10am to 11am

Using Excel - some basic tips and tricks when using Excel
Wednesday 8 December 2021, 10am to 11am

Read more about all events, and register your place, on the CA Plus website.

A series of past webinar recordings are also available at the same link.

All sessions take place online and booking is via Eventbrite. For details of Equation's full training programme, visit https://equation.org.uk.

Sexual Violence: overview and referral pathways (free for Nottingham City workers)
Thursday 25 November 2021, 10am to 1pm
This session is developed and delivered by Notts Sexual Violence Support Services to increase understanding and awareness of how to respond and refer when someone discloses.
Book your place here

Domestic Abuse and Covid-19 (free for Nottingham City workers)
Wednesday 1 December 2021, 9.30am to 11.30am
The pandemic is still resonating with survivors, and still must inform working practice.
Book your place here

Additional Risk Considerations for LGBT+ People Experiencing Domestic Abuse (free for Nottingham City workers)
Tuesday 7 December 2021, 9.30am to 12noon
Book your place here

Improving Skills for Supporting Survivors (free for Nottingham City workers)
Thursday 16 December 2021, 1pm to 4.30pm
Book your place here

Thursday 9 December 2021, 2pm to 4.30pm
Online via Zoom

Leading communication professionals from the Company of Communicators and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) UK and Ireland will share pro bono practical advice to help you create vital connections.

Hear about the best social media choices for charities and ways of getting your message across to aid fundraising and support.

Email giftcomm@outlook.com if you have questions or register your place here.

The Company of Communicators is part of the 'Livery' - the City of London's trades associations and Guilds. The Company contributes to society through charitable giving and by promoting the communications profession – including public relations, public affairs, corporate, external, and internal communications.

As we analyse your responses to the NCVS State of the Sector 2021 survey, we're identifying that one of the biggest skills shortages among staff and volunteers is web / digital media.

It's perhaps not a new finding as, in 2019, Matt Collins recognised that people from small charities needed specific help with digital. That's when he launched a telephone service matching small charities with digital experts giving an hour of their time for free. The result was Digital Candle.

This article explains more and shares the three most common issues people have called about. What would you like to ask?

The Gas Safe Charity is offering free carbon monoxide (CO) Zoom workshops this autumn to help launch Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week on Monday 22 November. There are various workshop dates during November and December.

As the days get colder and the heating is turned on, the potential risks of CO poisoning increase. The workshops last about an hour and are a mix of practical information and interaction.

These sessions are aimed at staff and volunteers from any organisation that delivers a service in the home of a vulnerable person. This could be face to face or telephone support. The focus is on the sources, signs and symptoms of CO poisoning and the risks around low level poisoning and what actions to take if you suspect this.

If you would like to book a place, see more on the NCVS website here or if you prefer e-learning in your own time, email e-learning@gassafecharity.org.uk.

Do you run a service where people can be supported to access IT training, helped to connect to digital healthcare, or even loan out devices?

Connected Nottinghamshire (Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s Integrated Care System's digital transformation programme) is conducting research to gain insights into digital support activities taking place across the region.

From this research, the team are working to produce an interactive map (similar to this map in Norfolk) as part of their Digital and Social Inclusion Project. This will ensure they understand what digital inclusion activities are already underway and where to focus efforts by removing barriers for citizens through building on existing capacity.

Connected Nottinghamshire would like to know:

• Name of the service
• Summary of service offered
• Days and times service runs
• Is the service provided in a venue or online (or both)
• Location (including postcode)

Please send details to sfh-tr.getnottinghamshireconnected@nhs.net.

This is an opportunity, open to everyone, to receive investment and specialist mentoring to turn your ideas for change into a business that creates impact.

The Ingenuity Programme at the University of Nottingham is looking to work with local communities across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to improve health, tackle climate change, and build stronger communities following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The free programme is delivered through an online summit, taking place in December 2021, followed by an online development programme and national business plan competition running from February to May 2022.

Participants will hear from those with lived or professional experience of the biggest social and environmental challenges facing the UK today, as well as charity leaders, think tanks, and industry experts. Teams or individuals with the most viable ideas will also be partnered with a mentor to develop their business plan and pitch, with the prize winners announced at the Impact Evening on Thursday 19 May 2022.

Find out more at ingenuityimpact.org.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has joined with Healthwatch and other partners in a campaign to support and encourage more people in England to feedback on health or social care services they or a loved one have experienced.

To get involved, email Jay.Harman@cqc.org.uk or read more here.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is developing a tool to help identify falls risk for adults with intellectual disabilities and look at actions that may be taken to reduce these risks.

Carers/support workers in Nottinghamshire who support adults with intellectual disabilities are invited to take part in a one-off interview to share their views.

More information is available here. The deadline for participant contact is Friday 31 December 2021.

If you are interested in hearing more and potentially taking part, please email (preferred contact) Nicola.Lidstone@nuh.nhs.uk or phone 0115 823 0947.