NCVS e-bulletin - Thursday 30 May 2024

The Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS) e-bulletin will be back in a fortnight. The deadline for contributions and comments is Monday 10 June 2024. Email communications@nottinghamcvs.co.uk

Did you know we keep an archive of past NCVS e-bulletins? View the archive here.

‘Preventing and Tackling Mental Ill-health through Green Social Prescribing’ was a £5.77 million cross-governmental project that completed the delivery of a Test and Learn phase in March 2023. Green Social Prescribing (GSP) is the practice of supporting people to engage in nature-based interventions and activities to improve their mental health.

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System (ICS) was one of the seven national sites selected to run the Test and Learn programme from April 2021 to March 2023 and has now received further funding to deliver a one-year extension programme locally. Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS) led the Test and Learn pilot programme, known as GreenSpace, and will continue to lead the one-year extension, working with system partners across the city and county.

As part of this funding, we are recruiting for two new roles.

Green Social Prescribing Programme Lead
We are looking for an experienced individual to lead the GreenSpace GSP extension programme. This will include managing key work strands and deliverables, the work programme for two Project Officers, leading the design and delivery of the GSP referral pathways and cohort activity, building and maintaining system relationships, ensuring robust and accurate data capture and reporting, sharing key learning, and carrying out activities to further embed green social prescribing into the local health system.

• Hours: Part time, 28 hours per week.
• Salary: £35,000 to £37,500 per annum pro rata.
• Closing date: Thursday 6 June 2024, 12 noon.

Green Social Prescribing Project Officer x 2 posts
We are recruiting two Project Officers to co-ordinate all operational elements of the GreenSpace GSP extension programme. This will include co-designing and delivering selected GSP referral pathways, building stakeholder relationships, ensuring robust and accurate data capture, gathering key learning and carrying out activities to further embed green social prescribing into the local health system.

• Hours: Part time, 28 hours per week.
• Salary: £27,945 to £29,945 per annum pro rata.
• Closing date: Thursday 6 June 2024, 12 noon.

You can read more about the GreenSpace project here.

Thursday 13 June 2024, 10am to 12 noon
Online via Zoom

NCVS will be hosting and facilitating a varied agenda, with presentations, collaborative workshops, and time for networking.

We have a packed agenda for June, with the following topics being covered:

• Hot topic
  If you were designing a voluntary sector infrastructure organisation, like NCVS, from scratch - what would it look like? This will involve a JamBoard exercise to give all the opportunity to contribute and to assist group discussion - introduced by Amanda Chambers, Health and Wellbeing Programme Manager at NCVS.
  
  
• Update on the Social Enterprise Accelerator Project
  This is the new name for the growing the social economy project which was introduced at our last meeting in March, a collaborative partnership between Nottingham Trent University's (NTU) National VCSE Data and Insights Observatory and NCVS, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Presentation delivered by Chris Hill, Social Enterprise Development Coordinator at NCVS.
  
  
• Thriving Nottingham Integrated Wellbeing Service presentation
  A chance to hear about the new Thriving Nottingham health and wellbeing programmes and opportunities for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations to be part of the co-production work. Presentation delivered by Jamie Robson, Engagement Lead for Thriving Nottingham.
  
  
• Nottingham Recovery Network presentation
  Learn more about Nottingham Recovery Network which provides a single point of free support, advice and treatment for people facing drug and alcohol issues in Nottingham City. Presentation delivered by Nikki Kershaw, Framework Housing Association.

Please register to ensure you receive the Zoom meeting link. If you have any questions about this event, please contact ncvs@nottinghamcvs.co.uk.

On Wednesday 22 May 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a General Election scheduled for Thursday 4 July. In response, Orlando Fraser KC, Chair of the Charity Commission, urged charity leaders and trustees to take caution during the lead-up to the election, emphasising adherence to guidelines regarding charitable status and political neutrality. The Commission has provided guidance to help charities navigate this sensitive period, encouraging them to focus on issues aligned with their mission and to offer constructive criticism without engaging in partisan activities.

There is also guidance on charity campaigning in a general election period that you may find useful.

Don't forget to have your say on Thursday 4 July by registering to vote. 

Join Nottingham Refugee Week for the launch of a series of events celebrating the week. This year's theme is 'Our Home' encompassing everything from places we gather to share meals to our collective home, planet Earth. Everyone is invited to celebrate what 'Our Home' means to them.

With 22 fabulous events lined up, including shared meals, film screenings, football tournaments, and weaving workshops, there's something for everyone. Don't miss the Launch Party at Sneinton Market, Gedling Street, NG1 1DS, on Saturday 15 June 2024, from 11am to 3pm. Enjoy food from around the world, music, yoga, family-friendly activities, and goodies from Lush.

Please note that they can reimburse the cost of bus tickets for anyone currently seeking asylum who presents their ticket at the event. Most events are free, but some may have a cost. If you are seeking asylum, contact the team via email at nottinghamrefugeeweek@gmail.com or on Instagram @nottsrefugeeweek to reserve a prepaid ticket.

Pulp Friction CIC, a local group, has won the People's Choice Award at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show.

Pulp Friction support Learning Disabled and Autistic people into the world of work, their Growing Skills Garden was voted as the winner by the general public.

'Our Growing Skills Garden has always been about inclusion and bringing people together, so winning an award decided by the people feels very special to us. We're delighted visitors have been able to see the hard work and care that has gone into the space. A massive thank you to everyone who voted for us. You've made a small organisation from Nottingham very, very happy.'

Congratulations!

The Place, part of Change Grow Live, has released a new video to highlight their support for under 25s struggling with substance abuse or impacted by substances.

Aimed at professionals, this video is designed to encourage those they support to engage with the service. If young people or adults are hesitant to consent to a referral, The Place can arrange for a worker to meet with them and explain the services, helping to facilitate the referral process.

Wednesday 5 June 2024, 2pm to 3.30pm
Online via Teams

The Cultural, Heritage, and Creative Capital Grant is a major initiative under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). This grant is designed to nurture and support Nottingham's vibrant cultural, heritage, and creative sectors, ensuring they continue to enrich our city's dynamic tapestry.

By engaging with this grant programme, you can significantly enhance Nottingham’s cultural landscape, create lasting impacts, and safeguard our heritage for future generations. They invite you to bring forward your groundbreaking ideas and demonstrate the immense talent and creativity our city embodies.

Click here to express your interest and register for the upcoming meeting. A Teams meeting link will be sent to the named attendee.

The deadline for applications is Friday 5 July 2024, 5pm

The Christmas Challenge is the UK’s biggest match-funded campaign. For seven days, supporters of participating charities can double their donations and, in doing so, make an extraordinary difference to some of the world’s biggest challenges.

Eligible organisations must be a UK-registered charity with a charity commission, OSCR or NI and have an annual income of at least £25,000. Charities must be registered on BigGive.org (free to register).

Big Give is also hosting a webinar on Wednesday 5 June 2024, 12 noon to 1pm, via Zoom, with tips and advice on completing your Christmas Challenge application and an opportunity to ask questions. Register for the webinar here.

The deadline for applications is Friday 12 July 2024

The Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Self-harm and Suicide Prevention Strategic Steering Group (SPSSG) has funding available between £500 and £6,000. Community and voluntary sector organisations in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire can apply for small grants to provide activities or support for local people to improve their mental wellbeing, which may help prevent suicide.

Administered by Nottinghamshire County Council, decisions will be made in collaboration with Nottingham City Council Public Health team. There is a limited amount of funding available, and they anticipate awarding 10 to 15 grants in total. They may decide to part-fund projects if demand is high.

Priority will be given to projects supporting males, people with autism, young individuals at risk of self-harm, the financially vulnerable, and those bereaved by suicide. Funding excludes ongoing staff or organisational costs, renewable fees or licenses, non-voluntary or community sector groups, and alcohol support services.

There is no deadline for applications

The Bernard Sunley Foundation supports registered charities and Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) in England and Wales, focusing on community, education, health, and social welfare. They offer three grant levels: large (£20,000+), medium (up to £20,000), and small (£5,000 and under).

What they fund:

• Capital projects, which include new buildings, extensions, refurbishments and recreational spaces.
• New minibuses and other vehicles that provide a vital service to those most in need in their local community.
• Churches and other places of worship with a strong, secular community focus.
• Charities or CIOs (Charitable Incorporated Organisations) registered in England and Wales.
• Certain organisations with exempt status, such as specialist schools, scout and guide groups, housing associations, cooperatives and community benefit societies.

We're regularly updating the funding news on our website, so click the button below and find the fund for you!

Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS, continues his series of articles in support of Leaders of Volunteers.

This year, Volunteers' Week will celebrate its 40th anniversary. I remember the very first one!

For the second year running, Volunteers' Week coincides with The Big Help Out. Last year, The Big Help Out was very successful in attracting the level of publicity in the mainstream media that Volunteers' Week has only rarely achieved. Can we harness this publicity for us in Nottingham?

This year's Volunteers' Week is a bit different; as we mentioned in a previous e-bulletin, this year it will be held from 3 to 9 June 2024. To complement these updated dates, Volunteers' Week has released its updated branding for you to use when celebrating your volunteers next week.

Wednesday 5 June 2024, 10am to 12 noon
Online via Zoom

Manage, support or lead volunteers? Join Dave, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS, for our next online networking meeting designed for people to share experiences, give and receive advice and network with people who understand volunteers and volunteering.

If you have any questions about LoVN or this event, please contact Dave Thomas at davet@nottinghamcvs.co.uk. Please register your place below.

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, was one of seven government Green Social Prescribing Test and Learn sites.

While the National Test and Learn may have ended, NCVS continues to embed green social prescribing into health systems to make nature-based/outdoor activities an intervention of choice to support people to improve and maintain their mental and physical health and wellbeing.

We are recruiting for two new roles!

Green Social Prescribing Programme Lead
We are looking for an experienced individual to lead the GreenSpace Green Social Prescribing (GSP) extension programme. This will include managing key work strands and deliverables, the work programme for two Project Officers, leading the design and delivery of the GSP referral pathways and cohort activity, building and maintaining system relationships, ensuring robust and accurate data capture and reporting, sharing key learning, and carrying out activities to further embed green social prescribing into the local health system.

• Hours: Part time, 28 hours per week.
• Salary: £35,000 to £37,500 per annum pro rata.
• Closing date: Thursday 6 June 2024, 12 noon.

Green Social Prescribing Project Officer x 2 posts
We are looking for two Project Officers to co-ordinate all operational elements of the GreenSpace GSP extension programme. This will include co-designing and delivering selected GSP referral pathways, building stakeholder relationships, ensuring robust and accurate data capture, gathering key learning and carrying out activities to further embed green social prescribing into the local health system.

• Hours: Part time, 28 hours per week.
• Salary: £27,945 to £29,945 per annum pro rata.
• Closing date: Thursday 6 June 2024, 12 noon.

Saturday 20 July 2024, 2pm to 5pm
Edwards Lane Community Centre, Alderton Road, Sherwood, NG5 6DX

As part of Nottinghamshire Youth Outreach and Nottinghamshire Police's ongoing commitment to reducing knife crime and serious youth violence, they will be partnering with organisations across Nottingham to host an impactful event for the community.

The event will have:

• Free hot food and refreshments.
• Sports and activities.
• Live DJ and entertainment.
• Guest speakers.
• Stalls.

If you would like to support this event with an activity, stall, or something else, please contact Romel Davis at Romel.Davis@Notts.Police.uk.

Saturday 22 June 2024, 6pm to 7.30pm
Five leaves Bookshop, 14a Long Row, NG1 2DH

This event focuses on the socio-economic contributions of Nottingham's Windrush generation, featuring the locally published book The Life of William Chong: A Windrush Passenger by Bishop James Stapleton OBE and Esther Stapleton-Stone.

The event will share the remarkable story of William Chong, a resident of Tuntum Housing Association who arrived on the SS Empire Windrush in 1948. In 2006, Tuntum Housing Association arranged for Mr. Chong and his son to return to Jamaica for the first time since 1948. During the two-week trip, Mr. Chong met the Prime Minister and Governor General of Jamaica, with coverage by BBC East Midlands journalist Jeremy Ball. Sadly, Mr. Chong passed away in 2014.

This is a free event with complimentary Caribbean refreshments.

More event listings on our website

Head over to the dedicated 'External Events and Training' page on our website to view more events and 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.

Our full Training and Development programme is available to view on our website. All courses take place online via Zoom.

We have new sessions and new dates for 2024/2025. Book now.

Tuesday 9 July 2024, 10.30am to 1pm

This online training will give you a basic understanding of the roles and responsibilities in safeguarding adults and how to respond to concerns.

Cost: £25 per participant

Thursday 1 August 2024, 10.30am to 1pm

This online training will give you a basic understanding of the roles and responsibilities in safeguarding children and young people and how to respond to concerns.

Cost: £25 per participant

Tuesday 27 August 2024, 10.30am to 1pm

This online training will give you a basic understanding of the role and responsibilities of a Designated Safeguarding Lead Person for an organisation working with vulnerable children and young people.

Cost: £25 per participant

Wednesday 14 August 2024, 10.30am to 11.45am

This online training explains your safeguarding responsibilities as a trustee for an organisation working with vulnerable adults or children and young people.

Cost: £15 per participant

Tuesday 10 September 2024, 10.30am to 12.30pm

This online training covers the basic information that all trustees should know.

Cost: £20 per participant

Wednesday 19 June, 10.30am to 12.30pm

This online training takes you through the basics of being a Fire Warden/Fire Marshal and will prepare you to carry out this very important role.

Cost: £20 per participant

Tuesday 4 June 2024, 6pm to 8pm

Learn the basics of taking effective minutes in this online training – and make note taking easy.

Cost: £20 per participant

Tuesday 11 June 2024, 10.30am to 12.30pm

This online training will teach you the basics of health and safety, and explain the process of carrying out a risk assessment in your organisation.

Cost: £20 per participant

Wednesday 6 November 2024, 6pm to 8pm

This online training will refresh your knowledge as a trustee, update you on current issues, improve your personal skill set and help you develop your role for the benefit of your organisation.

Cost: £20 per participant

Tuesday 23 July 2024, 10am to 11am

Identify barriers to volunteering and develop ideas to minimise and remove them during this training, to ensure your organisation isn’t missing out on great volunteers.

Cost: £10 per participant

Wednesday 28 August 2024, 10am to 12 noon

This online training, previously called “How to be a Better Leader of Volunteers”, takes you beyond the basics of managing and supporting volunteers and will explore some of the real-life issues that you’re facing as a Leader of Volunteers.

Cost: £20 per participant

Wednesday 12 June 2024, 10am to 12 noon

This online training takes you beyond the basics of managing and supporting volunteers and will challenge you to consider the difference that volunteers make to your organisation.

Cost: £20 per participant

Thursday 25 July 2024, 10am to 12 noon

In any group of volunteers, there’ll be occasional disagreements, personality clashes and conflicts. Although these are hopefully rare events, this updated, online training will prepare you for when they occur.

Cost: £20 per participant

Tuesday 2 July 2024, 10am to 11am

Start your journey into the exciting and rewarding world of volunteer leadership with this online training that explores the volunteer journey from start to finish.

Cost: £10 per participant

Wednesday 7 August 2024, 10am to 12 noon

Although the law has little to say about volunteers and volunteering, what it does say is important. This online training will help you develop an understanding of some of the legal requirements that relate to your volunteering programme.

Cost: £20 per participant

Thursday 4 July 2024, 10am to 11am

Are your volunteer opportunities struggling to attract people, or people with the right interests and skills for your organisation? This online training will teach you how to enhance your volunteer role descriptions and make them stand out.

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 our PDU Team if you need more information: pdu@nottinghamcvs.co.uk

Join our free online hub www.pdunottingham.org

Follow us on Twitter @NottinghamCVS #PDUNottingham.

Did you know the PDU Online Hub hosts a comprehensive e-learning suite? Check out this fortnight's PDU highlight below.

Wednesday 19 June 2024, 10am to 12 noon

An online forum for professionals, volunteers and people with lived experience who are passionate or curious about co-production, to come together to learn and share expertise.

The theme for this session is 'When to Co-Produce'.

Wednesday 10 July 2024, 10am to 12 noon

Our Employability and Skills CoP is an online forum for professionals, volunteers and people with lived experience of severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) who are passionate about employability, skills led recovery and resettlement, or new to this area and curious to learn more.

The theme for this session is 'Neurodiversity and Employability'.

Thursday 13 June 2024, 10am to 12 noon
Online

In our 2 May 2024 e-bulletin, we listed several dates for Gambling Awareness and Prevention Training for Nottingham City (FCC). The training, specifically aimed at faith and cultural leaders, was initially scheduled for Wednesday 29 May 2024, but needed to be rescheduled.

The gambling harm awareness training webinar is available free of charge for Nottingham's cultural community and faith leaders. The training will include information about national and local sources of gambling information, advice, and support, provided by GamCare, a national organisation.

Friday 7 June 2024, 10 am to 1pm
The Salvation Army, William Booth Memorial Complex, 14 Notintone Place, NG2 4QG

Direct Help and Advice (DHA) is hosting training for individuals aged 19 years and over, living in Nottingham City, who do not have Level 2 Maths, to help them navigate the benefits system.

The training will cover:

• The difference between non-means and means-tested benefits.
• Personal Independence Payments (PIP).
• Carers Allowance New style JSA and ESA.
• Universal Credit and Management Migration.

Refreshments will be provided, and participants will be entered into June's prize draw. Free SIM cards are available on request.

Register via the button below, or by calling 0115 9300199 or 07458 104321, or emailing training@dhadvice.org.

Tuesday 11 June 2024, 12 noon to 1.30pm
Online via Zoom

This workshop, delivered by Voice4Change England (V4CE), offers practical insights into leveraging AI, particularly Gemini and Microsoft Pilot, for fundraising. Tailored for smaller organisations and those curious about AI's potential, it covers benefits, risks, and practical applications like enhancing funding proposals and donor communication.

Attendees can expect actionable tips and a Q&A session, setting the stage for future sessions to deepen fundraising strategies.

Please note, this session is part one of a two-part series and comes at a cost of £20 per person for non-V4CE members and £10 for V4CE members. You can sign up to become a member of V4CE here.

If you are a VCSE organisation in Nottingham City or a VCSE organisation recruiting to a job role which covers the Nottingham City area, you can submit a job advert for our website. Adverts remain on our website until the closing date. We feature new adverts once in the e-bulletin, where possible, depending on the volume of new adverts received.

There are lots more job listings on our website. You can view all the job vacancies available by clicking on the 'More Vacancies' button at the bottom of this section.

The deadline for nominations is Friday 30 August 2024

The aim of the Black Achievers Awards is to recognise and promote the achievements of our BME community. This year Hon. Alderman Merlita Bryan and her team will be celebrating 11 years of hosting the awards.

Nominations are open for all nine categories, including the Community Award 2024, which is sponsored by Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS). Please note that the nomination system is based on the quality of information provided for the sponsors to decide the winner, not by public vote. Self-nominations are accepted. Click here to nominate.

The black-tie event will take place on Saturday 26 October at the Nottingham Belfry Hotel, Mellors Way, NG8 6PY. The host for the evening is one of the first Black comedians on BBC - Rudi Lickwood - with a track record of over 25 years in the industry. There will also be performances from across the East Midlands.

It will be a night of glamour not to be missed. Early bird tickets are available to purchase through the website. Please email theblackachieversaward@gmail.com for more information.

The deadline to complete the survey is Sunday 11 August 2024

The Charity Governance Code, last updated in 2020, aims to support charities and trustees in achieving high standards of governance. They are seeking feedback from charities across England and Wales, whether they use the Code or not.

The survey takes less than 30 minutes to complete, but there's no option to save responses, so it's best to allocate enough time to finish it in one go. The survey is open to trustees, charity chairs, staff in leadership or governance roles, and professionals connected to the sector.

The deadline to complete the survey is Friday 14 June 2024

Notts Youth Trends 24 is Nottingham's biggest youth survey, and they are currently asking all schools, youth clubs, and organisations in Nottingham to encourage their young people (aged 11 to 25 years) to participate in its newest edition.

They want to hear what young people think of topics such as:

• Their Future.
• Hobbies and interests.
• Where they live.
• Travel and Transport.
• The digital World.
• Health and wellbeing.

They pledge to shout these voices from the rooftops to politicians, councillors, schools, colleges, and youth organisations—those who need to hear it the most.

General VCSE sector resources

• Adapting for success: Flexibility could hold the key to volunteer recruitment and retention - Read Pro Bono Economics' report on the volunteer recruitment difficulties facing many small charities.
  
  
• Cause for concern: Cost-of-living impact on charities and causes, plus how they can fight back! - Read Easyfundraising's report on the negative impact the cost-of-living crisis has had on charities in the UK.
  
  
• 2024 Volunteer Management Progress Report - Register with your name and email address to receive Volunteer Pro's ninth edition of the report, 'Leadership and Workforce Edition'.
  
  
• The JustGiving Guide to London Marathon 2025 - Register to download the JustGiving guide to building your London Marathon fundraising campaign. With real life case studies to inspire you.
  
  
• Easy on the i - An information design service within the Learning Disability Service at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. It contains symbols, photos, and graphics, available for download both in customisable and ready-to-use formats.

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