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A workshop will be held on 17th March 2008, between 6.00 pm and 8.00 pm in the Members Room at County Hall, Matlock. A light buffet will be provided at the start of the meeting.

We are finalising the arrangements for procuring the ‘host’ organisation for the LINk in Derbyshire and the ‘host’ will be attending the workshop.

The main purposes of the workshop will be to:

hear how the ‘host’ intends to start the LINk in Derbyshire;
shape and influence the early priorities of the LINk;
establish how the LINk will connect to existing organisations, both in the statutory and voluntary sector; and
identify organisations and individuals who want to join the transition group overseeing the early months of the LINks implementation

Please phone or e-mail Pauline Armstrong at Derbyshire County Council on 01629 532031 or pauline.armstrong@derbyshire.gov.uk by 12th March if you would like to attend.

Firm Foundations

Derbyshire Community Foundation welcomes applications of £100 to £5,000 for this new grants programme.

Projects will need to meet one of the following aims – reducing economic inequality (helping tackle disadvantage in Derby and Derbyshire) or bringing communities together. Priority will be given to applications which incorporate one of the following concepts – encouraging people to volunteer, offering training, encouraging networking and partnership working or engaging the community in an activity which will help enhance the area.

Groups are strongly advised to contact the Grants Team to discuss project ideas before applying. Applications for minibuses, building costs or access adaptations cannot be accepted. Any Derbyshire or Derby City based not-for-profit organisation that can produce a constitution, annual accounts and original bank statements and has an active management committee can apply.

For more information please contact Sarah Hand or Lisa Farnsworth on 01773 514850.

>> Further details

Greening the Office

'Changing the Way We Work' is a new guide for the voluntary and community sector on greening your office, and saving money. Available as a large (4.91MB) pdf download at www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/guides/greenofficev1.pdf (Source: CRNS.org.uk)

Changes in the Face of Volunteering

Research from the Institute for Volunteering Research and the National Centre for Social Research reveals that most newcomers to volunteering are in their 20s and 30s. They recommend that this should be reflected in more imaginative and targeted recruitment methods, recognising key motivations of learning new skills or improving careers. Press release. This is part of further findings from 'Helping Out', the national survey of volunteering and charitable giving. 'The changing and non-changing faces of volunteering' and 'Who gives time now? Patterns of participation in volunteering' can be downloaded from www.ivr.org.uk/whats-new.htm

BBC Closes Online Action Pages

The BBC's Action Network website, which helps people get involved in community action, is to close at the end of April. However, as part of BBC's commitment to help people engage in civic life and national debate, a new service of 'topic pages', as well as giving the latest news stories on an issue, will link to wider debate through blogs, campaigns and web sites. And many of the Action Network guides and briefings will be moved across too. Details at www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/A33049172

Calling Campaigners and Development Workers

Separate Steering Groups being set up to develop National Occupational Standards for campaigners and sector development workers are inviting those involved in these areas to join them. Applications by 14th April – details on UK Workforce Hub site at www.ukworkforcehub.org.uk/DisplayPage.asp?pageid=12310

Indicator for a Thriving Third Sector Explained

The Office of the Third Sector has published a briefing note for Local Strategic Partnerships on one of the priority outcomes that they can decide to focus on under the new local government performance framework. National Indicator 7 is 'An environment for a thriving third sector'. More detail and the briefing note.

B&Q One Planet Living Awards (OPL)

B&Q has announced the launch of its major new community awards – the One Planet Living Awards (OPL).

The OPL Awards will allow community-based projects to secure up to £10,000 of B&Q products under the new scheme if they can demonstrate how their activities will support one of the following themes – the environment/energy saving, natural habitats and wildlife or local culture/heritage.

B&Q One Planet Living Awards of between £1,000 and £10,000 of B&Q product will be awarded to organisations across the UK and Ireland. In addition, B&Q is offering two awards of £5,000 combined cash/product to schools who submit innovative science-based proposals, showing a real understanding about the environment and the importance of tackling climate change.

To apply for an award, visit their website to download an application form or call the B&Q application hotline number – 0845 300 1001. The closing date for entries is 28th March. Website: www.diy.com/awards

Everybody Counts Awards

Charities across the UK can now enter the contest for cash awards made annually by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). Applications are invited for the Everybody Counts Awards, which offer prizes of £2,000 to chartered accountants for the charity or community project with which they work. The closing date for entries is 28th March.

Awards are made in four categories: younger member, member in business, member in practice and retired member. The winners are selected on the basis of the time, level of involvement and commitment they have devoted to the charity or project as well as the difference their work has made. Chartered accountants do a great deal of voluntary work, acting as financial advisers and treasurers to many charities, but also getting involved in ways unconnected with their work.

Everybody Counts has been successful promoting and encouraging voluntary work and the number of volunteers rises each year. The awards are a way of marking their achievements and the charities themselves benefit when their chartered accountant wins. The winners will be announced at the Presidents Dinner in 2008.

Members wishing to enter the awards should visit www.icaew.co.uk/everybodycounts and apply online. Alternatively, they can contact Jade Peters on 020 7920 8692 for an application pack. Those currently not involved in voluntary work but who would like to be, should visit the site's self-registering and matching service.

Positive Destinations

Positive Destinations is a £2 million grant programme working with projects taking place over three years. It is a UK wide programme which aims to make three larger grants and three smaller grants. As an integral part of Positive Destinations, projects will be expected to generate learning and ensure sustainability of their work beyond the life of the programme.

Positive Destinations invites applications from projects that can demonstrate improved outcomes for participants and a wider impact on the numbers of children and young people falling out of education, training and employment. They recognise that interventions can be effective at a range of points in the lives of children and young people and expect to fund projects working with children and young people of any age up to and including 18, ranging from pre-school to primary, secondary and further education.

You can only apply for a grant online. The deadline is midnight on 30th March.

Website: www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/charity/positive_destinations.shtml

Heritage Lottery Fund - Landscape Partnerships

The Landscape Partnerships programme (£250,000 to £2 million) is changing in 2008. You can apply using their current Landscape Partnerships application pack, for your stage one application, for one further round - 31 March 2008. They will assess your application through our two-stage process. The deadline for Project Planning Grant schemes is now closed.

New Landscape Partnerships application materials and guidance will be available from 1 April 2008. You can apply using the new pack at any time from April 2008 onwards. The deadline for stage-one applications is 30th November 2008 with first decisions in April 2009.

This initiative allows partnerships representing a range of heritage and community interests to tackle the needs of landscapes, whose various elements may be in different ownership. It caters for applications based round a portfolio of projects, which combine to provide a varied package of benefits to an area, its communities which live, work and visit there.

For further information about this scheme, or advice on your project, please complete a Landscape Partnership pre-application downloadable from their website and send it to your local office who will then contact you. Telephone 020 7591 6000, fax 020 7591 6271 or e-mail enquire@hlf.org.uk

Web: www.hlf.org.uk

Voluntary and Community Sector ICT Suppliers Fair

18th March 2008, 12:30pm to 3pm (free lunch included)
at Woodlands Conference Centre, Southport Road, Chorley, PR7 1QR

Need to know more about the ICT services which are available to VCS staff and volunteers?
The Voluntary and Community Sector ICT Suppliers’ Fair, funded by the ICT Hub and the Five Counties Partnership, will allow you to talk to 40+ organisations who supply ICT services to the voluntary sector.

This free informal market place event will allow you to communicate with ICT suppliers providing services such as:

Help with Accessibility
ICT Purchasing
ICT Training
Managing Your Contacts
PC and Network Installation / Repair / Support

See www.nwictchampion.org.uk/?q=node/51 for the event flier and booking form

For more information on this event please contact Oliver Gibson on 0161 277 1028 or via email oliver.gibson@gmcvo.org.uk.

Derbyshire Rural Community Council Chief Officer Vacancy

Derbyshire Rural Community Council will be seeking to appoint a new Chief Officer in the near future. Directors would be interested to receive expressions of interest in such a post, with a view to arranging an informal discussion.

Contact, in complete confidence, Mr Mike Crompton, Chair of DRCC Board on 01663 744248 or pmcrompton@hayfield.uk.com.

Football Development Officer

Derbyshire County Football Association are seeking to recruit a Football Development Officer with the specific remit of developing girls and women's football.

For more details:
www.derbyshiresport.co.uk/job-vacancies/partner-organisations/derbyshire-county-football-association

Learning for Action - Tools for Transforming Disadvantaged Communities

Wednesday 19th March 2008, 9.30 – 5.00
at Kettering Conference Centre

Sustainable change in communities experiencing economic disadvantage remains elusive. Yet in every community, there exists the key elements for transformation. This major one-day event is a chance to experience, learn, reflect and take-away practical action-focused tools and approaches to supporting change towards more sustainable local economies.

Brought to you by nef (the new economics foundation), Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd and the University of Northampton, this event is a stimulating blend of interactive debate and practical breakout sessions, that will encourage discussion about an alternative, value-based approach to regeneration.

Delegates will have the opportunity to experience practical sessions on:

Supporting businesses to become more responsible – moving the focus to positive local economic, social and environmental outcomes
Plugging the leaks – supporting positive local money and resource flows (e.g. high local multiplier, local re-use of waste)
Recognising and developing a strong local asset base (e.g. attitude, skills, knowledge, physical, financial services, natural)
Practical ways for the public sector to become more responsive - working to strengthen and invest in the local economy and environmental sustainability
Supporting a strong community and civic voice – activism, leadership, cohesion, volunteering, political voice, engagement in debate.
Redefining relationships – considering interdependence of communities and drawing on networks for sustainable transformation of local economies.

Who is it for?

Regeneration practitioners and activists working within communities with a vision for a more sustainable future.
Local authorities seeking a more sustainable impact in their area from their services.
Voluntary organisations, faith groups and youth groups with an interest in supporting action in communities.

If you are looking for new and innovative ways to improve the economic well being of your area, then this event is for you.

Places are free, and strictly limited on a first come first served basis. To reserve your place, contact: Sharon Irwin, 01604 892626 or email sharon.irwin@northampton.ac.uk

Nominate a Community Activist or Champion

Nominations are now being requested for New Year 2009 Honours. Nominations can be made until Mid April, but any made after this date can be included for nomination in future rounds. There are still not enough women or people from BME backgrounds being nominated so please do especially pass this to your BME/equality networks.

Further information is at: www.honours.gov.uk/nominate.aspx .

Accessibility Transport Partnership Officer

The Derbyshire Dales and High Peak Accessibility Partnership is a new Partnership created to address accessibility and social inclusion issues. Following the establishment of the Partnership, we have a vacancy within the Integrated Transport Group for a Transport Partnership Officer.

The successful applicant will be responsible for developing and implementing a locally focused Accessibility Strategy for the Partnership, as well as project managing the delivery of an annual programme of capital schemes.

Closing date: 30 March 2008

jobs.derbyshire.gov.uk/jobdetails.asp?jobid=19024

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