NCVS e-bulletin - Thursday 3 October 2024

The Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS) e-bulletin will be back in a fortnight. The deadline for contributions and comments is Monday 14 October 2024. Email communications@nottinghamcvs.co.uk

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

We welcome two new Green Social Prescribing Officers to the team, they will be working closely with Sarah the Green Social Prescribing Programme Lead.

Welcome Christina and Ellen!

Thursday 17 October 2024, 10am to 2.30pm
The Contemporary, Weekday Cross, NG1 2GB

Following the recent public displays of hate and violence in the UK, come and join in unity to share and learn how we can strengthen our networks and partnerships to build community cohesion in Nottingham.

There will be a panel of speakers as well as an opportunity for you to contribute to solutions and actions.

This More in Common event is being organised in partnership between the Jo Cox Foundation, Communities Inc, The Renewal Trust, NCVS (we chaired a discussion about this at our last Nottingham Voluntary Sector Provider Network meeting), Nottingham City Council and Nottingham Contemporary. You are welcomed to get involved in this Nottingham Together partnership to build positive relationships and actions around community cohesion and plan the next community dialogue.

To reserve a place, please email community.cohesion@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 15 December, 5pm

UK-registered charities that support the homeless can apply for up to £5,000 in funding from Help the Homeless.

Funding will only be provided for 'capital' projects not core or running costs. All applications must relate to projects that assist individuals in their return to mainstream society, rather than simply offering shelter or other forms of support.

The deadline for applications is Friday 30 May 2025

The Pink Ribbon Foundation is offering grants of up to £6,000, with the potential for higher amounts at the Foundation's discretion, to charitable organisations dedicated to supporting those living with breast cancer. Eligible entities include social enterprises, Community Interest Companies (CICs), and charities.

The Foundation's mission is to assist breast cancer charities in helping their clients recover and live longer, healthier, and happier lives. Through its grant-making efforts, the Pink Ribbon Foundation funds practical projects and initiatives aimed at delivering good physical and mental health to individuals with, and recovering from, breast cancer.

There is no deadline and organisations can apply at any time

Charities and not-for-profit organisations can now apply for the Children in Need Core Costs Funding Stream, which supports day-to-day operational expenses such as management, HR, office expenses, accountancy, communications, and governance. Eligible organisations can receive up to £120,000 over three years (£40,000 annually). Quicker decisions are available for grants of £15,000 or less per year.

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.

Volunteers are a vital part of our organisations, offering their time, skills, and energy to support causes they care about. As leaders of volunteers, it’s our responsibility to ensure that their experience is positive and productive. While there are similarities between managing volunteers and paid staff, volunteers have specific needs that require a different approach.

In this article, I’ll outline some best practices for supervising and supporting volunteers, highlighting the key differences between supporting volunteers and managing paid employees.

Wednesday 20 November 2024, 10am to 12 noon
Nottingham Central Library, 1 Carrington Street, NG1 7FH

I'm currently working on the agenda for this LoVN meeting and welcome any ideas you have for topics you wish to discuss. There will always be an opportunity to network, ask questions, and share updates on your activities, with the possibility of biscuits.

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.

The latest GreenSpace bulletin is available to read.

You can view it in your web browser now. If you would like to receive future issues directly to your inbox, please email greenspace@nottinghamcvs.co.uk with a request to be added to the mailing list.

If you wish to share any events or stories happening in your organisation, or relating to green social prescribing or nature-based activities, please get in touch with the GreenSpace team. The deadline for submissions for the next bulletin is Tuesday 22 October 2024.

Saturday 26 October 2024, 6pm onwards
Nottingham Belfry Hotel, Mellors Way, NG8 6PY
Dress code is black tie

As we celebrate Black History Month, the countdown to the prestigious Black Achievers Awards 2024 is well underway! The awards will honour outstanding black professionals, leaders, and changemakers making significant contributions in their fields and communities. NCVS will be present, as we proudly sponsor The Community Award.

The Black Achievers Awards is a black-tie event, offering an elegant evening of celebration, inspiration, and networking. Doors will open at 6pm, with the event starting promptly at 7pm. Guests will enjoy a three-course meal, live entertainment, and the highlight of the evening: the award ceremony, where exceptional individuals and organisations will be recognised for their contributions.

Held during Black History Month, this event is not only a celebration of individual achievements but also a reflection of the rich legacy and ongoing impact of black excellence across the UK.

Important ticket information
The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday 11 October 2024. Tickets are available through the website. Please ensure you email the names of all attendees and any dietary requirements to the team at theblackachieversaward@gmail.com to guarantee a smooth and personalised experience.

Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate black excellence this month!

Between Monday 7 and Friday 18 October 2024 

Mental Health Awareness Weeks (MHAW) was started in Nottingham by a small group of people with lived experience and carers in 1992, it is timed to include World Mental Health Day. Thanks to the enthusiastic support of many individuals and organisations, it has grown from one week to two and has become part of the local calendar. The 2024 MHAW programme is posted here and is available as a pdf to download here.

Thursday 3 October 2024, 7.30pm
Nottingham Playhouse, Wellington Circus, NG1 5AF
Tickets cost £5 (free for refugees and asylum seekers) with the proceeds supporting the work of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum

Containing over 70 poems, essays, and illustrations, the book, titled Poetics of Migration, marks the end of an Arts and Humanities Research Council Impact Accelerator Account (AHRC IAA)-funded project led by Dr. Hongwei Bao, Associate Professor in Media Studies at the University of Nottingham.

The anthology’s title also gives its name to a fund-raising book launch and performance evening on 3 October, held at the theatre, to celebrate the creativity of migrants, refugees and ordinary people in Nottinghamshire. Tickets can be booked directly through the Nottingham Playhouse website.

Thursday 17 October 2024, 10am to 2pm
Nottingham Council House, Old Market Square, NG1 2DT

This strategy will aim to improve the lives of children (aged 0 to 5 years) and families in our city by addressing key areas that are especially important to us in Nottingham.

The workshop will bring together people from different groups in Nottingham to share ideas and collaborate on creating a vision for a strategy that meets the unique needs of our communities. Your expertise and perspectives will be invaluable in shaping the future of Best Start in Nottingham.

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

Wednesday 27 November 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

Monday 3 March 2025, 6pm to 8pm

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

Tuesday 26 November 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

Tuesday 3 December 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

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

Thursday 23 January 2025, 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

Wednesday 29 January 2025, 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 23 October 2024, 10am to 12 noon
Online via Zoom

PDU would like you to come and join them at the Coproduction Communities of Practice, which will be facilitated by the Lived Experience Team Leaders within Changing Futures. The theme for this session will be around ‘How to support people to get involved in coproduction’. The session will be looking at ways to introduce people to engage with people to coproduce meaningfully and effectively at all stages of the coproduction process. During this session, discussion from the group is encouraged to share thoughts on what has worked and resulted in positive outcomes as well as the challenges and barriers that have been experienced to learn from each other.

During the second part of the session, there will be an opportunity to review the Coproduction Communities of Practice with the group to look at how it is working currently and what members feel would be valuable moving forward. PDU would really appreciate it if people are able to think about what they would find beneficial and want to gain from attending so we can have further discussions during the session to shape the future of the Communities of Practice.

Wednesday 13 November 2024, 10am to 12 noon
Online via Zoom

An online forum for professionals, volunteers and people with lived experience who are passionate about employability, skills led recovery and resettlement, or new to this area and curious to learn more.

The theme this time is 'Trauma-Informed Employability'.

Total Training Provision is a leading provider of fully funded Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications. They are excited to announce their recent funding award from the Adult Skills Fund, aimed at helping residents of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire upskill for further progression opportunities or sustainable employment.

Eligibility for funding requires learners to be:

• Aged 19 or older as of Saturday 31 August 2024
• An EU/UK resident for the past three years or have refugee or asylum status
• Not enrolled in any other fully funded courses

Total Training Provision is eager to discuss how their qualifications can benefit employees, volunteers, or service users. They are open to exploring potential partnerships and tailoring their offerings to meet specific requirements.

For more information or to discuss this training further, please contact the team at info@total-tp.com

Thursday 12 December 2024, 9.30am to 4.30pm
Nottingham Mechanics Institute, 3 North Sherwood Street, NG1 4EZ

Due to an increase in research and a better understanding of early brain development, we now know that babies, toddlers and even the unborn child can be significantly impacted by Domestic Abuse.

Equation recognises those professionals and practitioners who have daily contact with children in the 0 to 5-year age range can play a significant role in helping them overcome some of the challenges they face.

This fully funded training will cover:

• Learning how to identify children living with domestic abuse
• Understanding referral pathways to refer children and adults for specialist support
• Increasing understanding of safeguarding responsibilities with relation to domestic abuse
• Understanding simple ways to help children (0-5yrs) deal with emotions they may be expressing whilst in your service

The Oral Health Improvement team for Community Dental Services in Nottingham is working in partnership with Nottingham City Council to provide free Oral Health training to professionals and volunteers working with children or supporting families in the city. All training is free of charge and is CPD verifiable.

Various dates are available throughout the year.

If you would like to know more about how to sign up, please contact the team at oralhealth.nottinghamshire@cds-cic.co.uk or by filling out this form.

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 Sunday 20 October 2024

This Girl Can, part of Active Nottingham, are looking for nominations for their upcoming awards event. Do you know a champion, unsung hero, or brilliant human in your community who deserves their name in lights for their positive impact? Now is your chance to highlight them up by nominating and celebrating them for all they do in our communities.

Save the date – the awards celebration will take place on Thursday 21 November 2024.

The deadline for nominations is Monday 21 October 2024, 12 noon

The Charity Comms Inspiring Communicator Awards celebrate those whose services to charity communications truly go above and beyond. The awards highlight people who particularly demonstrate spirit, insight, skills, and, above all, are inspirational in their use of communications for a cause or charity.

There are eight award categories for you to share your nominations and help champion the sector’s communications stories:

• Best Collaboration (agency and charity)
• Best Collaboration (freelancer and charity)
• Best In-House Campaign
• Rising Star
• Strategic Leader of the Year
• Team of the Year
• The Accessible Comms Award
• The Inclusive Comms Award

It's Talk Money Week from Monday 4 to Friday 8 November 2024, and they will be encouraging people, organisations, and partners across the UK to #DoOneThing to improve financial wellbeing. A true highlight of the Money and Pensions Service's year, Talk Money Week helps people to open up about their finances—from pocket money to pensions—and continue these conversations all year-round.

The Talk Money Week 2024 participation pack offers ways to tailor your activities to your audiences. 

This year, they are asking organisations to encourage their audiences to do one thing that could help improve their financial wellbeing—to make a noise about it and to inspire others to do the same.

It doesn’t have to be huge. In fact, you could ask them to:

• Review their monthly outgoings for subscriptions they no longer use.
• Involve their child during the next shopping trip.
• Use one of the free tools or calculators on the MoneyHelper website.
• Use the free Pension Wise service for people over 50 with a defined contribution pension.

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday 16 October 2024, 12 midnight

Your voice is crucial—make it count! If we get more than 100 submissions from groups in Nottingham we get our very own landing page full of personalised statistics.

Why your participation matters:

• Influence policy decisions: Now in its second year, the Barometer is making a significant impact within the VCSE sector. Your insights help shape national policies, guiding policymakers to better understand and support our community.
  
  
• Monitor real-time trends: Assist in tracking the impact of evolving challenges, such as volunteer recruitment and retention, funding opportunities, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

What’s on the Agenda for Autumn 2024?

This quarter, the focus is on governance. They are particularly interested in the roles and skills of trustees and directors from an organisational perspective.

The deadline for submissions is Friday 11 October 2024

Nottinghamshire County and Nottingham City Public Health Teams are looking to gather feedback about what type of community assets (people, places, groups, and things) are important in supporting people’s mental wellbeing. 

They would like to hear from people working and volunteering across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire about your views and experiences of the assets in your communities in place to support good mental wellbeing. This will help to inform the Adult Mental Health Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Profile.

For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact david.mcdonald@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or lucy.jones@nottscc.gov.uk.

General VCSE sector resources and reports

• Centre for Homelessness Impact - A free resource of non-stigmatising images of real people experiencing homelessness.
  
  
• Improving your charity’s finances - Read the Charity Commission's advice on actions trustees can take to improve their charity’s finances, protect against financial difficulties and understand what to do if their charity is insolvent or at risk of insolvency.
  
  
• National Voices 2024 - 2029 - This strategy reviews where National Voices could most add value to the problems facing the NHS and determines the best areas of focus. The three strategic priorities are to end unequal access, transfer power to people and communities, and shift the measures of success.

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