NCVS e-bulletin - Thursday 22 August 2024

The Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS) e-bulletin will be back in a fortnight. The deadline for contributions and comments is Monday 2 September 2024. Email communications@nottinghamcvs.co.uk

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

Join the NCVS team! We're looking for an innovative communicator.

Changing Futures Communications and Marketing Coordinator
We are looking for a creative individual to drive positive change through effective communication. Join us in championing the great work of the Changing Futures Programme, supporting those facing Severe and Multiple Disadvantage (SMD) in Nottingham. This role is in partnership with the Changing Futures Programme.

• Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week (initial 12 month contract with a possible extension dependent on funding)
  
  
• Salary: £27,945 to £29,945 per annum
  
  
• Closing date: Tuesday 27 August 2024, 12 noon

Thursday 12 September 2024, 10am to 12 noon
Online via Zoom

An opportunity for members to come together via Zoom to network, discuss current work, develop wider partnerships, and hear from speakers.

NCVS will be hosting and facilitating a varied agenda, with presentations, collaborative workshops, and time for networking. Keep an eye out for the agenda.

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

The Text Notts service, which allowed people to text 'Notts' to 85258 for mental health advice, will end on Saturday 31 August 2024.

After this date, texting 'Notts' will direct users to the national 'Shout' service instead. To continue receiving mental health support via text, simply text 'Shout' to 85258. For more details on the 'Shout' service, visit their website.

For urgent mental health care in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, use the 24/7 crisis line at 0808 196 3779 or visit crisis sanctuaries. More information on crisis services and other mental health support can be found here.

Need a break from caregiving?

The Radford Care Group is here to help. At The Pauleen Davies Centre (25 Prospect Street, NG7 5QE), they offer support so you can take time for yourself while your loved one enjoys engaging activities and social interaction. We can also assist with transportation.

Sessions range from three hours to a full day and are available to all carers in Nottingham City and across Nottinghamshire.

To find out more, contact the team by phone at 0115 9786133 or by email at info@radfordcaregroup.org.uk.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 1 September 2024, 12 midnight

Severn Trent has funding of between £5,000 and £20,000 (depending on the size of the organisation) for one year to help not-for-profit groups get through this incredibly challenging time. This funding is for groups that deliver a vital service for local residents and improve wider community wellbeing, especially supporting those most vulnerable.

There is a rolling deadline

Tesco Stronger Starts is open to charities and community organisations to apply for a grant of up to £1,500. Every three months, three local good causes are selected to be in the blue-token customer vote in Tesco stores throughout the UK.

Applications are open to all local good causes, but they are currently prioritising helping projects that support children’s food security and health and local store-nominated good causes.

Grants will be awarded to schools, voluntary or community organisations (including registered charities and companies), health bodies (e.g. Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), NHS Hospital Trust, Foundation Trust), parish and town councils, local authorities, and social housing providers.

There is no deadline

The UK Fund offers substantial funding for existing projects that bring diverse communities together. They now support initiatives that empower children and young people to use their voices to influence change. UK-based charitable organisations can apply for grants ranging from £500,000 to £5 million, covering two to ten years of activity. The fund expects to support around 20 organisations annually.

This fund is intended to amplify the impact of ongoing work, so they will not fund brand new initiatives or projects focused primarily on service delivery.

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.

Mental health has been back in the news over the past couple of weeks following the BBC Panorama programme about the tragic events in Nottingham in June 2023. This has understandably raised concerns among some leaders of volunteers about whether they should involve individuals using mental health services as volunteers.

My response is always that involving mental health service users in volunteering can bring significant benefits for the organisation as well as for the volunteer, but it also presents challenges that organisations must carefully navigate.

Thursday 19 September 2024, 10am to 12 noon
Online via Zoom

An online networking meeting for anyone with an interest in managing, supporting or leading volunteers. Share your experience, give and receive advice, and network with people who understand volunteers and volunteering.

Please register to ensure you're sent instructions about how to join the meeting on Zoom.

If you have any questions about the LoVN or this meeting, please contact Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at Nottingham CVS, by emailing davet@nottinghamcvs.co.uk.

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.

Thursday 5 September 2024, 10am to 3pm
Richard Herrod Centre, Foxhill Road, Carlton, NG4 1RL

This event is for members of voluntary and community sector organisations in Gedling borough and is free to attend.

You are invited to meet with other Gedling voluntary and community sector organisations to celebrate the fantastic work happening across the borough. They will share stories, expertise, and resources and identify ways groups can collaborate to empower communities to thrive.

Lunch will be provided.

Wednesday 18 September 2024, 9.30am to 12 noon
Derby Museum and Art Gallery, The Strand, DE1 1BS

On Friday 1 August 2025, the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) will assume control of the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), previously known as the Adult Education Budget. Throughout the year, EMCCA will innovate and collaborate with delivery partners, organisations, and stakeholders to enhance the ASF's effectiveness in addressing the skills needs of communities, businesses, and residents in the East Midlands.

As part of this transition, EMCCA is hosting an in-person stakeholder engagement event to:

• Clearly communicate the planned changes and their impact.
• Outline EMCCA's strategic and operational plans for devolution.
• Provide timelines, milestones, and key actions.
• Offer various ways for stakeholder engagement and feedback.
• Use feedback to shape future plans.
• Build strong relationships with partners for a smooth transition.

Spaces for this event are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with only one space per organization. Please send your ASF/AEB Adult Skills leads or experts.

For those unable to attend, there is a survey to gather input, with a closing date in mid-September 2024. You can complete the survey here.

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.

Wednesday 9 October 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

Wednesday 23 October 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 13 November 2024, 6pm to 7.15pm

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 5 February 2025, 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 25 February 2025, 10.30am to 12.30pm

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

Cost: £20 per participant

Tuesday 21 January 2025, 6pm to 8pm

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

Tuesday 12 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

Thursday 24 October 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

Thursday 5 September 2025, 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

Tuesday 22 October 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

Wednesday 2 October 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

Tuesday 12 November 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

Tuesday 1 October 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 11 September 2024, 10am to 12 noon
Online via Zoom

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 'Disclosing convictions and health conditions'.

Wednesday 23 October 2024, 10am to 12 noon
Online via Zoom

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 'How to support people to get involved'.

Mental health in the workplace for managers
This free online training is aimed at anyone who may support colleagues in the workplace in relation to their mental health, particularly employees with people-management responsibilities.

Thursday 17 October, 1.30pm to 5pm. Spaces are limited, so register your space here.

About Workplace Healthy Minds
Nottingham Workplace Healthy Minds is a network of champions who are working together to raise awareness and promote mental health and wellbeing in workplaces across the city. Attending this training and becoming part of the growing network will give you access to:

• Regular updates with the latest mental health resources and workplace support opportunities.
  
  
• Help in creating a mental wellbeing action plan tailored to your workplace.
  
  
• Access to an online platform for sharing resources and best practices.
  
  
• Quarterly meetings for networking, peer support, and personal development on mental wellbeing topics.

The network is open to all workplaces in Nottingham City. They are particularly interested in hearing from smaller organisations (with fewer than 250 employees).

The next meeting of the network is on Thursday 11 September, 9.30am to 11.30am. Please email workplacewellbeing@nottinghamcity.gov.uk for more information about joining the network.

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 nominationss is Friday 30 August 2024

The nomination deadline is just over a week away! Honour outstanding individuals through the Black Achievers Awards. After nominations close, submissions will be reviewed by our esteemed sponsors, and nominees will be invited to the awards ceremony on Saturday 26 October 2024 at the Delta by Marriott Hotel Nottingham Belfry. This inspiring evening will feature celebration, networking, and empowerment.

To get involved, purchase a table, or for more information, email the team at theblackachieversaward@gmail.com. Don’t wait—nominate today!

Are you ready to take your VCSE organisation to the next level? This September marks the launch of a free training and support programme designed specifically for Nottingham’s VCSE organisations.

The SEA Growth Programme targets established charities and social enterprises that have ambitions to grow by adapting their business models, enhancing sustainability, diversifying income streams, or launching new initiatives.

Programme Highlights:

• Business Development Workshops: Tailored to the non-profit sector, these will cover key topics such as growth strategy, financial management, leadership, marketing, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability.
  
  
• Networking: Each session will include a networking lunch to foster connections and peer learning among participants.
  
  
• Location: Workshops will be held at Nottingham Trent University’s City Campus.
  
  
• Additional Opportunities: The SEA Funding Programme offers grants of up to £1,000 for established VCSE organisations looking to grow or diversify their income through social investment. This grant can be used to purchase additional support to explore finance options.

Eligible organisations must be based in or trading from the Nottingham City Council area. The Social Enterprise Accelerator is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and is a collaborative partnership between Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) National VCSE Data and Insights Observatory and Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS).

The public health teams in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire will run a public awareness campaign this autumn focused on mental health and suicide prevention.

The campaign will kick off with World Suicide Prevention Day on Tuesday 10 September 2024, continuing until Mental Health Awareness Day on Thursday 10 October 2024. There are various ways for individuals and organisations to get involved.

This awareness campaign will also lead up to the re-launch of the local NottAlone website, a mental health resource for children and young people, on Thursday 10 October. The site is being expanded and relaunched to serve people of all ages.

This campaign presents a great opportunity for organisations, large and small, to participate. Local sports clubs, particularly those involving men, are among the key smaller organisations they are encouraging to join the effort.

The Local Core20 Ambassador Network Members are seeking information on Health Inequalities Projects that have taken place across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. They are interested in projects of all sizes, spanning various areas of the system. The goal is to share learnings, highlight positive outcomes, and identify areas for future project targeting. They are especially eager to hear about initiatives carried out during 2023 and 2024.

If you're interested in becoming a Core20 Ambassador, NHSE is currently recruiting. More information can be found here. The deadline for applications is Friday 20 September 2024.

Share your experiences and make a real impact on our local healthcare system.

Share your experience of using community pharmacies. Say what works and what needs improvement. It’s confidential, quick, and won’t affect your care. But your experience will help Healthwatch tell the NHS how to make things better. 

A community pharmacy (chemist) is a place where you get your medicines, either prescription or non-prescription. This could be the pharmacy on your high street, in a large supermarket, or a chain pharmacy such as Boots, Lloyds, etc. 

General VCSE sector resources

• The resilient nonprofit - Download your copy of Blackbaud's latest report to learn how successful nonprofits use and optimise their revenue streams to weather an unpredictable funding environment and find resiliency. You will need to enter your basic information to download your copy of the report.
  
  
• Public trust in charities 2024 - The Charity Commission has reported the highest level of trust in charities in ten years. They found that being on a register is reassuring to the sector, and that financial transparency is also important in driving trust.
  
  
• Create your own privacy notice - Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has created a free tool to help you create your own privacy notice. They're a great way to show people you can be trusted with their information.

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