In June 2021, NCVS hosted a conversation with Nottingham's then new Director of Adult Health and Social Care, Sara Storey. During that event she committed to a follow up conversation to discuss future plans for transformation of the adults programme.

Sara is returning to share some of the work so far on the transformation programme for adults and the budget consultation items related to the service area. You will have an opportunity to help shape the work plan to be implemented in April.

Please join us on Thursday 10 February 2022 from 10am until 12 noon, via zoom, to have your say on this important piece of work.

We are looking for a skilled and experienced individual to join our supportive team to deliver creative communications for and about the voluntary sector in Nottingham.

This is a full time Communications and Engagement Officer (maternity cover) fixed term vacancy for 9 months with possible extension.

The role involves providing editorial, strategic, creative and operational communications support across all of NCVS’s work, ensuring our communications are both influential and informative.

Our ideal candidate will will have a high level of experience of social media channels, specifically Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. We require a skilled communicator, eager to work collaboratively with a team of staff and volunteers in a fast paced and rapidly changing environment.

This role plays a big part in supporting you, too, by helping to communicate and promote the work of Nottingham’s voluntary and community sector and the value of volunteering. So please help us by sharing our job advert as widely as you can.
Save / share the full advert (pdf).

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday 31 January 2022.

We've introduced a new course to our training and development programme this quarter. If you would like to know how to create a marketing strategy and be more confident creating the right content for the various marketing channels at your disposal, then this course is for you.

Delivered by Kate Dawson of Well Read, who has 25 years’ experience working with the charity and public sector, this online course will provide a step-by-step guide to putting together your marketing strategy or campaign, with lots of real-world examples to inspire you.

It is designed to support voluntary sector organisations in developing marketing content that will help you engage and influence new audiences.

Join the session via Zoom on Tuesday 8 February 2022 from 10.30am to 1pm. The course cost is £25 per participant.

Congratulations to all who have been recognised in the 2022 New Year's Honours List, which includes a number of voluntary and community sector partners.

You can read a full list in this Nottinghamshire Live article.

NCVS knows how hard everyone is working and how much the whole sector deserves to be celebrated. Whether your efforts result in awards, or whether you shy away from or reject awards, we want to say thank you for carrying on in difficult times.

We look forward to you sharing your stories with us in 2022. Please let us know your good news and your challenges, too, so that we can develop solutions together.

Application deadline: 11.59pm on Thursday 20 January 2022

Small grants of up to £200 are available for non-profit women’s or LGBTQIA+ organisations in Nottingham to put on an event or activity to mark LGBT+ History Month or International Women’s Day 2022.

Free room-hire is also on offer at Nottingham Women’s Centre for anyone who wants to host their event there (during the month of February for LGBT+ History Month; or between 5 and 8 March for International Women’s Day).

You can apply for one or both of these offerings.

Read more on the Nottingham Women's Centre website

We included an item on The Women and Girls Match Fund in a previous e-bulletin (9 December 2021). The fund organisers recognise that a number of charities are managing staff absences due to Covid-19, so the application deadline has been extended by a week until 11.59pm on Tuesday 18 January 2022.

The Women and Girls Match Fund is a match funding campaign for charities that are working to improve the lives of vulnerable, disadvantaged or underrepresented women and girls in England and Scotland.

All public donations made to participating charities via theBigGive.org.uk during the week of the campaign (8 to 15 March 2022) will be matched by DCMS’ Tampon Tax Fund until each organisation’s ring-fenced match funding award of either £2,500, £10,000 or £25,000 is used up.

Read more on the Big Give website

(At the time of writing, the deadline still reads as 11 January at that link, but please be assured that it has been extended.)

Application deadline: 11.59pm on Friday 25 February 2022

The Green Match Fund is a match funding campaign for charities working on environmental issues as part of their core mission. All public donations made to participating charities via theBigGive.org.uk during the week of the campaign (22 to 29 April 2022) will be matched up to a specific amount.

Charities should seek to raise either £2,500, £5,000 or £10,000 in public donations (to be doubled by the match funds).

The reference to “core mission” means that the environment must be mentioned in the organisation’s charitable objects. This may include: biodiversity & conservation; climate change; agriculture & food; sustainable communities; energy; transport; trade & finance; consumption & waste; toxics & pollution. Charities may be working in the UK or overseas.

Read more on the Big Give website

Application deadline: Sunday 20 February 2022

Funding is available to non-profit organisations in the Severn Trent region and will be awarded to new projects aiming to boost environmental sustainability, reduce carbon and help communities care for nature.

Eligible organisations with an average annual income of less than £500,000 over the last three years can apply for £5,000, £10,000 or £20,000 of funding.

Projects must link to at least one of these key themes:

• Green spaces
• Recycling and making the most of resources
• Water saving heroes.

Application deadline: Monday 28 February 2022

The Let’s Create Jubilee Fund will support voluntary and community groups to develop creative and cultural activities as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. The fund has been created by Arts Council England (ACE) with funds from the National Lottery, and is being distributed in partnership with UK Community Foundations.

The fund is open to voluntary and community organisations with charitable aims and working towards a common goal which does not have to be based solely around arts and culture. This could include youth groups, parent/carer groups and volunteer organisations.

Applicants can apply for grants from £750 to £10,000.

Applications from Nottingham organisations are to be made through the Nottinghamshire Community Foundation (NCF) website.

Whenever I go to network meetings or conferences, I enjoy a game of Buzzword Bingo as much as anyone. But there’s a word that has been creeping into the vocabulary of volunteering which deserves rather more than a tick on the bingo card. That word is “Impact”.

It’s become very popular, although its meaning is sometimes a little blurred.

James Noble is the Impact Management Lead at New Philanthropy Capital, whose blogs on this topic make for interesting reading. His very readable summary sets out the view that impact measurement should be long-term, comparative and robust:

1. Long-term. The difference that our volunteer programme makes is not instant. We should collect our data and evidence over a long period.
2. Comparative. In order to see a difference, we must compare two or more things. This could be a comparison of before and after a volunteer intervention.
3. Robust. To actually ‘measure’ impact we need to do both 1) and 2) with enough rigour and scale to be confident in the results.

In trying to measure the difference our volunteer programme makes, very few of us have the resources or the time to carry out detailed research that meets all three of James’ criteria. But this doesn’t remove our need to produce some evidence...

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, is one of seven government Green Social Prescribing Test and Learn sites. It's all about improving people’s mental health. Green providers, social prescribers, voluntary organisations and community initiatives will help connect many more people with nature-based activities, helping everyone to feel better.

Don't miss out on your last chance to register for these events:

Arthritis Action has a wide range of groups and events this spring for adults living with arthritis. Groups are friendly and actively welcome new attendees to meet other people living with arthritis and share tips and experiences.

An evening online group next meets at 6pm on Monday 17 January.

The afternoon online group is meeting at 2pm on Tuesday 18 January and Wednesday 26 January.

For more dates and to join see the Arthritis Action website.

Thursday 27 January 2022, from 6pm to 7pm
Free to attend

An online commemorative event organised by NCBI Nottingham to express solidarity with all groups targeted during the Nazi Holocaust. Candles will be lit for survivors of the Holocaust, survivors of subsequent genocides, and for allies to targeted groups.

Friday 11 February 2022, from 9.30am to 1.30pm
Free to attend

This event marks the FGM Zero Tolerance Day 2022, an awareness day that takes place on February 6, as part of international efforts to eradicate female genital mutilation in the world. Nottingham is one of the first places in the UK to declare zero tolerance of FGM.

Organised by Mojatu Foundation, this conference will bring together experts, practitioners, professionals, survivors and community members working towards gender equality and the elimination of FGM, and will discuss actual initiatives and concrete ways in which grassroot organisations and professionals can work together to effectively put an end to FGM.

Tuesday 25 January 2022, 1.30pm to 3pm

Learn more about how the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) can support voluntary organisations with safer recruitment in this free online 90-minute workshop.

Free to attend

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

Thursday 24 February 2022, 10.30am to 1.45pm

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

Cost: £25 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

Tuesday 8 February 2022, 10.30am to 1pm

If you would like to know how to create a marketing strategy and be more confident creating the right content for the various marketing channels at your disposal, then this online course is for you.

Cost: £25 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

Wednesday 16 February 2022, 10.30am to 12.30pm

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 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

Tuesday 1 March 2022, 10.30am to 12.30pm

Do you manage a space, office or building? This new two-hour online session will take your Fire Wardens and/or Fire Marshall through the basics. As a result, they will be better equipped to carry out these very important roles.

Cost: £20 per participant

Thursday 10 March 2022, 11am to 12pm

The Board or Committee Secretary is one of the principal roles in a charity or community organisation, yet there are few courses on the subject. In this one-hour online session you will learn why it is so important and that it is definitely not just about taking minutes.

Cost: £10 per participant

Wednesday 23 March 2022, 10am to 12pm

This new two-hour online session will explain the basics of health and safety, then take you through the process of carrying out a risk assessment in an organisational environment.

Cost: £20 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

Wednesday 9 February 2022, 10am to 12.15pm

A two-hour (with short break) online course for Leaders of Volunteers to start to develop an understanding of some of the legal requirements that relate to your volunteering programme.

Cost: £20 per participant

Wednesday 2 March 2022, 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 22 March 2022, 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

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.

Thursday 27 January 2022, from 10.30am to 11.30am
Online via Zoom

Places are still available for our upcoming live webinar exploring an introduction to multiple disadvantage. This event is aimed at professionals and volunteers from all sectors and will include:

• What causes multiple disadvantage and how misunderstanding causes can lead to stigma and exclusion
• How it feels to face multiple disadvantage
• How services can work more successfully with people facing multiple disadvantage
• Why “system change” is so important in resolving multiple disadvantage.

Thursday 20 January 2022, from 9am to 12 noon
Online via Microsoft Teams, Free to attend for organisations in Nottingham city

Places are available on this training session delivered by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Nottingham City Safeguarding Children Partnership.

Learning outcomes are:

• To understand what Sudden Unexpected Death in Infants (SUDI) is
• To understand the factors which make some babies more vulnerable to SUDI
• To know what safer sleep is and help you identify risk factors.

Please email ncscbtraining@nottinghamcity.gov.uk with any enquiries.

2.5 hour free session repeated on multiple dates from now until May 2022
Online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams

This awareness session is part of a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) funded National Programme to increase awareness of the potential impact of parental conflict on children. Sessions are delivered by Equation and are an adapted version of the National Awareness module. These adaptations have been made by the Nottingham City Children's Domestic and Sexual Violence Safeguarding Group.

The training is designed to build awareness and support anyone working with families to develop the confidence, knowledge and skills to reduce conflict and drive more positive outcomes. It aims to:

• Increase understanding of the impact of parental conflict on children
• Improve awareness of the potential triggers and signs of relationship distress
• Increase skills needed to identify and react to the impact poor parental relationships have on outcomes for children.

It will also cover the difference between domestic abuse and parental conflict.

The next dates are:

Tuesday 18/01/22 1pm to 3.30pm (via Zoom)
Thursday 27/01/22 9.30am to 12noon (via Zoom)
Tuesday 08/02/22 1pm to 3.30pm (via MS Teams)
Thursday 17/02/22 9.30am to 12noon (via Zoom)
Tuesday 22/02/22 1pm to 3.30pm (via MS Teams)

To book a place or find out more, please email Kate Thurman at RPC@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.

Thursday 3 February 2022, from 9.30am to 10.30am
Online via Zoom, Free to attend

This session is suitable for any colleagues who support families with children under the age of four. It is designed to update you on the changes to the Healthy Start scheme. By the end of the session, you will have the information you need to continue to support local families to access the scheme.

Speakers from Nottingham City Council Public Health and Small Steps Big Changes will:

• Cover all changes to the scheme, including the new pre-paid card
• Explain how the changes affect families and the application process
• Explore Healthy Start’s role in supporting families and healthy eating
• Give information about relevant resources and training.

Online event launches on Tuesday 1 March 2022, then throughout March
£50 fixed fee per participant gives access to all sessions (a small number of free places are available)

Launching on World Self Harm Awareness Day, 1 March 2022, Harmless will host nine live online webinar sessions throughout March. This unique, CPD-accredited conference allows you to join in flexibly at however many sessions you'd like. Sessions will be recorded for those who register and can't make the live events.

A small number of free places are available on a first-come-first-served basis. To apply for a free conference place, please email training@harmless.org.uk to request an application form. Applications must be submitted no later than Wednesday 16 February 2022.

The theme for 2022 is Building Resilience for the Future.

Urgent deadline: nominations close at 12 noon on Friday 14 January 2022 (tomorrow!)

Do you know somebody who has made a valuable contribution to their local community? Would you like to nominate them to be included in this Blue Plaque Project?

Lumina Collective, an art group who work with Backlit, have been selected for a Community Commission for Nottingham's Light Night 2022 and are inviting the public to get involved.

The plan is for the group to create an alternative blue plaque celebrating people of Nottingham who are often overlooked. You are asked to nominate and share stories on people who have made valuable contributions to their communities, for example: local schoolteachers, community group leaders, key workers, a helpful neighbour, anyone who you think is suitable and should have a light shone on them.

The blue plaque will be on display at Backlit Gallery during Light Night 2022 (Saturday 5 February), and will be accompanied by an audio guide that will share the stories behind the people featured within the artwork.

Make your nomination here

If you have any questions please email gina.mollett@backlit.org.uk.

The Urban Worm CIC is a social enterprise that promotes worm farming as the sustainable solution for organic waste management and organic gardening. You may have seen them featured on BBC East Midlands Today earlier this week.

Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, they can gift 1000 packs of 100g of composting worms to British schools, community groups and households, should they first create a DIY worm farm.

This two-year project will empower people to create a worm farm, manage their organic waste responsibly, and make their own worm poo, all for free, from home.

Read more on The Urban Worm website

Organisations who provide health and social care services are looking at the way autistic people are supported from before diagnosis through to end of life.

As part of a local response to the national autism strategy, the Integrated Care System is looking to hear from autistic people, carers and professionals to support the development of a local strategy.

Please share your views and experience to help shape an autism strategy in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Please complete the questionnaire most relevant to you:

• Carers questionnaire
  
  
• Professionals questionnaire
  
  
• Service user questionnaire

The closing date for responses is Wednesday 26 January 2022.