It is vital that you add your voice to respond to the 2024/2025 budget-saving proposals.

While desperate cuts are inevitable to close a £50 million gap in funding, it's imperative that we provide evidence of how some shortsighted (and relatively small) cuts now will resonate for long to come and put even more pressure on statutory services in the longer term. That will be the case, especially, if we lose voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations along the way or disadvantage our sector's ability to enhance the lives of Nottingham people by reducing the number of community spaces available to deliver activities.

These are proposals, and we can still make a difference to the final decisions.

The potential impact on VCSE sector service provision, and on the health and wellbeing of all Nottingham citizens, is immense. This is a time for Nottingham to stand together to do the best for our city.

A meeting for VCSE partners took place on Monday 8 January 2024. Originally designed as an online consultation, the event was delivered as a hybrid event, with up to 100 participants. It was an important turnout with critical questions being asked about the impact on our communities and our sector.

Please submit your written response by Tuesday 16 January 2024.

Whether or not you were able to attend Monday's meeting, it is essential that you now submit a written response to indicate your views and the potential impact. You know the needs of your service users best.

• You can do this by completing the online survey or downloading / requesting a hard copy of the survey which can be returned to libraries.
  
  
• There is also an opportunity to send in documented case studies and evidence to engage@nottinghamcity.gov.uk, to be considered alongside survey responses and equality impact assessments.

Please encourage all Nottingham City residents to complete the survey.

We introduced Angela Kandola and Mimi Gbadesire in a November 2023 e-bulletin. Angela and Mimi are employed as a job share by NCVS to deliver the Changing Futures Programme as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Community Engagement Coordinators.

Here's a reminder of how they can support your work and your service users. Please get in touch if you would like to know more.

People from minority ethnicities are under-represented on the Changing Futures programme, particularly those from Asian and Asian British and White non-British communities. The programme needed provision for assertive outreach and community engagement into these under-represented communities.

Angela and Mimi are connecting with voluntary, community and faith organisations to raise awareness of severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) and how it affects different people. This involves:

• Engaging and communicating with people from different backgrounds to understand the prevalence of SMD and the challenges in accessing services.
• 
  Working with community leaders and groups to design and deliver engagement activities that help to improve knowledge of SMD and impact on communities.
• 
  Building relationships, as well as connecting people with tools, networks, and knowledge about SMD services, especially the Changing Futures Navigators, the Wraparound Multi-Disciplinary Team, as well as the Practice Development Unit (PDU) here at NCVS.

Personalised Commissioning Budget
Angela and Mimi can also fund community organisations to deliver tailored, culturally-specific support where your service's specialist support is requested by an individual through a Personalised Commissioning Budget.

For further information about any aspect of their work, please contact:

AngelaK@nottinghamcvs.co.uk, Tel: 07933 136750

MimiG@nottinghamcvs.co.uk, Tel: 07483 423629

Self Help UK have announced the appointment of Ian Boyd as new Managing Director. Ian joined the charity in November 2023 and will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Self Help UK’s operations, including its strategic direction, service delivery, and fundraising efforts.

East Midlands Chamber has won the tender to deliver Working Well East Midlands in Nottingham City and South Nottinghamshire (Broxtowe, Rushcliffe, and Gedling).

The Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) initiative, known locally as ‘Working Well East Midlands’ is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). The service is delivered by East Midlands Chamber in partnership with Futures Advice Skills and Employment and Inspire Training.

The service is aimed at adults who have a physical disability, health condition or mental ill health, as defined by the Equality Act 2010, to help them move into competitive employment, providing the support they need to maintain that employment.

People can be referred into the service, or can self-refer. The referral portal is now live.

This service will also provide support for employers, helping organisations based in Nottingham City, Broxtowe, Gedling, and Rushcliffe to keep their workforce well. Employers can access free training, health advice, and employee benefits, such as mental health training for line managers and advice from a team of experienced employment specialists.

A reminder that the deadline for applications to this fund is Thursday 25 January 2024 at 5pm.

Applications are open to charities with an annual income between £25,000 to £500,000 where the main focus of your charity is to provide support for one of these eight themes:

• addiction
• asylum seekers and refugees
• care leavers
• domestic abuse
• homelessness
• offending
• sexual abuse and exploitation
• trafficking and modern slavery.

Unrestricted grants of £75,000 over three years will be awarded, alongside tailored development support.

Deadline for applications in the current round is 5pm on Wednesday 28 February 2024. Three further rounds will open throughout 2024.

The FCC Community Action Fund provides grants of between £2,000 and £100,000 to not-for-profit organisations for the provision, maintenance or improvement of community facilities.

This can include:

• Village Halls and Community Centres
• Public Play Areas
• Publicly available Multi use games areas
• Skate parks and BMX tracks
• Sport and recreation grounds including pavilions and clubhouses with full public access
• Churches – community spaces only
• Nature Reserves
• Public gardens, parks, country parks and woodlands with at least dawn to dusk access
• Museums.

Only applications for projects sited within 10 miles of an eligible FCC Environment waste facility can be accepted. The nearest Nottingham city waste facility is Eastcroft (NG2 3JH). You can check if you are located near an eligible site here.

Recent changes to its funding policy mean that the FCC Community Foundation will now accept applications for renewable energy projects based at community buildings, including solar panels.

The VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme (delivered by Groundwork) will help voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations across England to deliver more efficient services for people and communities by saving money on their energy bills.

From January, the scheme will also be offering capital grants to implement measures recommended in your assessment.

Applicant organisations must be a VCSE based in England and delivering frontline services. They must be able to demonstrate that they are financially sustainable, require support around energy and are not suitable for blended finance or loan support through other schemes.

The scheme is funded as part of a package of over £100 million of support being delivered by the Government to help frontline delivery organisations with the increased cost of living.

Bookings are open for our next Leaders of Volunteers Network (LoVN) meeting on Tuesday 23 January 2024, 10am to 12 noon, via Zoom.

Register your place to ensure you are sent instructions about how to join the Zoom session.

If you want to get something on the agenda for this, or a future LoVN, please email davet@nottinghamcvs.co.uk.

Wednesday 24 January 2024 from 9.30am to 11am
In-person event: venue now confirmed as Nottingham Business Venture, 6 David Lane, Nottingham NG6 0JU
Free to attend

NCVS is collaborating with Key Fund to hold a free in-person event, where you will hear how Key Fund can support your social enterprise or charity to tap in to non-traditional forms of finance.

Are you curious about social investment? This event will be particularly beneficial for those who have responsibility for developing funding and income streams within a finance or business development role.

Key Fund has been investing in social businesses and enterprising charities across the East Midlands and the North since 1999, and has a special interest in helping small community based businesses thrive and grow.

Social Investment can include loans (sometimes blended with grants) to help you achieve your social purpose. Alongside a good business model, the ability to demonstrate your impact will be considered to determine your eligibility for investment.

Please read client stories from Key Fund which demonstrate amazing impact.

If any of these stories resonate with you, come along to hear more.

The exhibition has now moved to the Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham Innovation Park, Jubilee Campus, Triumph Road NG7 2TU and can be visited there until Friday 15 February 2024.

"Inside out: portraits of emotional resilience" is an artistic exploration of living with mental health challenges in Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.

The project is a collaboration between Andy Farr (a painter and storyteller drawn toward telling stories that often go untold), the University of Nottingham (Dr Helen Frost at UoN), NCVS, and NHS Talking Therapies, with support from the Indian Community Centre Association (ICCA) and City Arts.

The initiative developed out of an NHS and NCVS project to raise awareness of mental health in Nottingham BAME communities, and better promote access to NHS Talking Therapies.

Next meeting is Tuesday 23 January 2024, 10am to 12 noon
Nottingham Women’s Centre, 30 Chaucer Street NG1 5LP

Are you involved in an organisation, group or project providing services and support to women?

The Women’s Organisations Network (WON), facilitated by Nottingham Women's Centre, is an informal forum for groups and projects that work with women to meet, learn about each other, and share support. It’s also a useful networking opportunity and a great way to stay connected during these challenging times.

Email samra@nottinghamwomenscentre,com to find out more and register to attend.

Sunday 21 January 2023, 2pm to 5.30pm
Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
Participants £26, Observers £14

The proceeds from this concert will help to support refugees in Nottingham through the work of two charities: Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum (NNRF) and Nottingham Arimathea Trust.

Do you love singing? If you love singing and can read a bit of music, this inspiring workshop is for you. Come and Sing is an afternoon of choral singing to lift the spirits. Music will be a mixture of old and new, including some of John Rutter’s own well-loved choral works. If you’re not a singer yourself, come along as an observer instead.

Thursday 25 January 2024, 12.30pm to 2pm
Online via Zoom, free to attend

This free seminar is run by New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) in partnership with The Clothworker's Company, and is aimed at all trustees regardless of their experience.

The session will examine different aspects of building an effective Board, including:

• Exploring the practical ways in which boards can work together more effectively
• Considering some of the challenges that Boards face and how to avoid common pitfalls
• Examining how to build Boards with the right range of skills
• Providing insights into how trustees can think about and better manage risk.
  

5 - 11 February 2024
Nottingham venues and online

NSPCC is collaborating with developers, platforms, industry bodies, esports teams and influencers to play and act for a better way to game at their Game Safe Festival.

As well as esports tournaments and livestreaming, the event will host a full day safeguarding in esports conference on Friday 9 February at Confetti X as well as workshops for education professionals and people who work with children on Thursday 8 February.

If you work with adults who game, you may also be interested in finding out more to support their safety.

Wednesday 21 February 2024, 9.30am to 4pm
Indian Community Centre Association (ICCA), 99 Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1QZ
Free to attend

The aim of this event is to bring partners together from across Nottingham City and South Notts to work collaboratively together and inform work moving forward. It will be an opportunity to hear about the work that has been happening so far and to support the service to work better in the future. There will be exhibitions and opportunities to network, as well as a wonderful lunch provided by the Indian Community Centre.

If you would like to have a stall at the event, please contact Martha Highton, Community Engagement Team Manager for NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies. Email martha.highton@everyturn.org.

Thursday 25 January 2024, 10am to 12.30pm

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

Wednesday 28 February 2024, 10am to 12.30pm

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

Cost: £25 per participant

Tuesday 13 February 2024, 6pm to 7.30pm

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 6 February 2024, 6pm to 8pm

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

Thursday 22 February 2024, 10am to 12.15pm

A new interactive hands-on workshop for organisations and community groups who want to practice their skills and would welcome constructive feedback to further develop their skills in writing successful funding applications.
Cost: £20 per participant

Wednesday 24 January 2024, 12 noon to 2pm

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

Cost: £20 per participant

Tuesday 16 January 2024, 10.30am to 12.30pm

Are you acting as secretary or note taker, or do you need to record meetings? Learn how to take effective minutes and make your task easier. This two-hour online session replaces our previous face-to-face three-hour course and will take you through the process of producing a 'minute'.

Cost: £20 per participant

Tuesday 20 February 2024, 6pm to 8pm

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

Tuesday 23 January 2024, 1pm to 2.15pm

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 cost of living funding and recovery support as well as other general funding.

Cost: £10 per participant

Thursday 28 March 2024, 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 13 March 2024, 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

Wednesday 21 February 2024, 10am to 12 noon

For some time, we’ve been asked about training that goes beyond the basics of managing and supporting volunteers. In this new two-hour online session, we’ll explore some of the real-life issues that you are facing.

Cost: £20 per participant

Thursday 8 February 2024, 10am to 12 noon

A two-hour 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 17 January 2024, 10am to 11am

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

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 Katie Hall, our PDU Programme Manager, for more information: enquiries@pdunottingham.org

Join our free online hub www.pdunottingham.org

Follow us on Twitter @NottinghamCVS #PDUNottingham.

Wednesday 31 January 2024, 12 noon to 3pm
This is a hybrid event. Attend in-person at Cleaves Conference Hall, 6 Castle Gate, Nottingham NG1 7AS or view a live stream of the event online via Zoom.

Existing approaches to categorising severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) do not seem to be inclusive of or sensitive to the forms of disadvantage experienced by ethnically diverse communities.

This event includes two sessions exploring experiences of SMD and homelessness in ethnically diverse communities. You can register to attend one or both sessions.

Join us for an interactive session to discuss an ongoing exploratory study by the University of Nottingham and Al Hurraya which examines SMD in ethnically diverse communities in Nottingham (12 noon to 2pm). Followed by research findings from Pathway Housing Solutions on the interconnection between race, homelessness and housing (2pm to 3pm).

Appropriate break times will be scheduled into the final agenda, meaning you can comfortably attend both sessions if you wish to.

A selection of upcoming training which is fully funded and free to attend for Nottingham City workers and volunteers.

Technology and Economic Abuse
Online session
This session is for anyone who has direct contact with survivors or perpetrators of domestic abuse as part of their work.

• Tuesday 23 January 2024, 9.30am to 12 noon - register here
• Thursday 14 March 2024, 9.30am to 12 noon - register here
  
  

Reducing parental conflict
Online and face to face sessions
This session is for anyone working with parents and explores how to recognise signs of parental conflict in the early stages, before it’s escalated to domestic abuse. 

• Tuesday 23 January 2024, 9.30am to 12.30pm at Broxtowe Children's Centre NG8 3AY - register here
• Thursday 8 February 2024, 9.30am to 12 noon online - register here
• Tuesday 20 February 2024, 9.30am to 12.30pm at Loxley House NG2 3AJ - register here

Non-Domestic Abuse Stalking Awareness
Online session
This session will equip you to support someone experiencing stalking that isn’t happening as part of domestic abuse. The session is for anyone who might have contact with someone experiencing it as part of their work.

• Thursday 25 January 2024, 9.30am to 12 noon - register here
• Thursday 29 February 2024, 9.30am to 12 noon - register here

Free two-day employability course: Friday 19 and 26 January 2024, 10am to 3pm
The Plessey Centre, Marconi Drive, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1NX

Please share this opportunity with anyone you know who would be interested.

This is an opportunity for Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) status holders who are new to the area to be trained by industry professionals. The course is for anyone living in the Broxtowe Borough district or Nottingham City boundaries.

Book directly via the link below, or contact Tango at Transform Training Ltd for more information: tango.c@transformtraining.org.uk

As part of the delivery of the gambling related harm strategy for Nottingham City, Nottingham City Council's Public Health team is seeking individuals affected by gambling harm (because of their own gambling, or a loved one’s) who would be interested in being involved in a new lived experience network.

The network will help to raise awareness and tackle stigma around gambling related harm in Nottingham, and help to shape local plans moving forwards.

To take part you must:

• Live, work or study in Nottingham City
• Be aged 18 or over
• Have been affected by your own or another person’s gambling.

Initially, the group will meet virtually and on a monthly basis. This may become more or less frequent depending on the group’s work. You do not need to attend every meeting. You can choose to leave the group at any time and do not need to say why. You only need to share what you are comfortable sharing with others.

To register your interest in being involved in the lived experience network, please complete this short form: https://forms.office.com/e/NCeMmW3yuz

If you would like to be involved but would prefer to stay anonymous, there are still ways to take part. Please contact the team with any questions and to discuss how you might be involved. Email bryany.cornish@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.

For help and support with gambling related harm and a full list of advice, support and treatment services, please visit https://asklion.co.uk/gamblingsupport

As part of the government's Anti-Social Behaviour Plan, Nottinghamshire is one of the areas for the new ‘Immediate Justice’ pilot scheme, where swift and visible punishments are delivered to those who have committed anti-social behaviour (ASB).

Within 48 hours of referral to the scheme, individuals will be required to undertake unpaid activities which benefit their local communities, including supporting local charities, food banks, improving local play areas and public spaces, removing graffiti, tree or bush pruning and other environmental and social improvements as punishment and visible reparation for their actions. .

The Office of the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner has commissioned the Red Snapper Group to deliver the Immediate Justice pilot, starting this month (January 2024).

Red Snapper is seeking potential partners to identify suitable placements where the scheme will have the most impact. For example, cleaning up and repairing vandalism in areas where children play, removing graffiti from public spaces and working alongside charitable organisations sorting donations, assisting in shops, and working in community centres.  

They seek both regular and ad-hoc placements, with the intention that work undertaken by participants in the scheme will enhance current provision, rather than replace the work done by your organisation's staff or volunteers. The ambition is for partnerships to be mutually beneficial to both the public and the participant and also to support you to achieve your organisational aims. All placements will be overseen by a Placement Supervisor and fully risk assessed.

If you would like to find out more, please contact Karen Colledge, Immediate Justice Placement Coordinator: Karen.Colledge@redsnappergroup.co.uk.

You can read more about the Immediate Justice launch in Nottinghamshire on the Nottinghamshire Police & Crime Commissioner website.

If you skipped over the details in the News and Views section above, please take some time to give your response.

Please submit your written response by Tuesday 16 January 2024.

It is essential that you submit a written response to indicate your views and the potential impact.

• You can do this by completing the online survey or downloading / requesting a hard copy of the survey which can be returned to libraries.
  
  
• There is also an opportunity to send in documented case studies and evidence to engage@nottinghamcity.gov.uk, to be considered alongside survey responses and equality impact assessments.

Please encourage all Nottingham City residents to complete the survey.

The fifth Barometer survey launches next week and will be open for your response from Wednesday 17 January to Wednesday 7 February 2024.

The VCSE Barometer is developed and delivered by NTU’s VCSE Data and Insights National Observatory in partnership with Pro Bono Economics. It builds insight into real-time trends, changes and challenges in the UK voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. Findings are shared every quarter with national policy and decision-makers, local infrastructure organisations and the VCSE sector.

The fifth wave survey will ask you what's happening right now for your organisation in the cost of living crisis, and particularly looks at VCSE relationships with local government.

NCVS fully endorses the survey and its value for us locally in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. So please take some time to complete it each quarter. The more local responses there are, the more valuable the data, so that we can consider and compare local experiences in relation to national trends.

New developments are happening to support the sector with each new wave of the survey. You will be able to download your answers, you will have access to a dashboard to compare results and findings will be shared in online seminars.