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As you will know I became the new MP for the High Peak in May. Since then my life has turned upside down and I have been getting used to being the MP.

As we now enter the summer recess I don't want to sit idly by as the summer progresses. I want to use this valuable time away from Westminster and back in the High Peak to meet with as many groups, businesses and organisations across the constituency as I can.

If you would like me to visit your own group then please call my temporary office on 01298 22521 where arrangements can be made for me to visit you or if you prefer to come to me that can also be accommodated.

The next few months and years are going to be very challenging for everyone, but I want to make sure that I know as much as possible about as many groups as I can so that I can make better decisions for us all here in the High Peak.

Many thanks, Andrew Bingham,
Conservative Member of Parliament for the High Peak.

Enterprising Services Support Fund

A small grants programme for social enterprises across Derbyshire

Do you have an idea for a social enterprise that provides a service for your local community? Are you looking for a one off small amount of money to make it happen?

Derbyshire County Council is supporting the development of local enterprises that provide a range of services to support local communities and the roll out of personalisation.

Examples of how the fund could be spent are:

Cleaning support for older people
A shopping service for isolated people
Healthy exercise classes tailored specifically for those less mobile
Befriending and social activities

These are just examples, but successful applications are likely to support independent living, have a practical nature, and aim to promote a sense of belonging and community.

The funding is available to support the costs of projects that will help local people have choice about the practical services they purchase to help with their care.

It is a one off funding pot for projects which will be implemented before the end of March 2011. The following sections outline what will be taken into consideration when judging applications.

Themes

Encourage healthy activities and interaction
Enable access to services
Offer practical support for older and vulnerable people in the home
Encourage the participation and engagement of local people

>> Guidance Notes

>> Application Form

Development Fund

Available from the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak Accessibility Partnership

The project funding is available to deliver small scale improvements that will contribute to improving access to services for the benefit or residents and/or visitors in Derbyshire Dales and High Peak.

There are two amounts of funding available:

a capital fund with a maximum funding limit of £5,000 per project; and
a revenue fund with a maximum funding limit of £1,000 per project.

We are looking for transport related initiatives which either help reduce people’s need to travel to facilities, or provide transport to enable people to access essential services – for example, education, work, healthcare, food shopping or leisure.

If you would like an application form and guidance on making an application please contact David Marsden on 01629 536750 or david.marsden@derbyshire.gov.uk

The closing date for applications to be received is 5.00 pm on Thursday 30 September 2010. Funding must be spent by 31 March 2011.

Derbyshire Health and Housing Group

Derbyshire County PCT is working in partnership with local authorities, voluntary sector and housing organisations to provide funding to address the needs of vulnerable people and communities across the county to help develop:

new innovative/sustainable projects;
start up funding;
projects that are strategically relevant;
added value to services; and
working in partnership with other agencies.

This may be relevant to your project if it links into the aims and objectives of any of the following strategies Local Housing and Health Strategies: Homelessness Strategy; Inequalities; Health Delivery Plans/Choosing Health; Supporting People Strategy; or Local Area Agreements (national indicators) or if it promotes housing and care needs of vulnerable people.

For an electronic application form and guidance notes please contact jane.horton@derbyshirecountypct.nhs.uk or sarah.hanel@derbyshirecountypct.nhs.uk or call 01773 525025

Door Drop Volunteer: CPRE South Yorkshire and the Friends of the Peak District

We need volunteers to deliver fundraising and campaign information to residents at locations in the Peak District (majority being on the eastern side) and South Yorkshire (majority being Sheffield based). The door drops are to recruit more vitally needed members for our charity, Friends of the Peak District

A good level of fitness is needed as deliveries will be done door to door on foot. Volunteers should enjoy working outdoors and be prepared to work in all weathers. A driving license would be desirable but not essential and a pool car is available to volunteers over 25.

For more information contact Lindsay Doyle-Price at Friends of the Peak District and CPRE South Yorkshire on 0114 266 5822 or lindsay@cprepeakandsyorks.org.uk

Disability Derbyshire (DCIL) Volunteer Counsellor Vacancy

Disability Derbyshire, Coalition for Inclusive Living (DCIL) are looking for a student placement counsellor, in their final year of diploma training or a qualified counsellor seeking hours towards accreditation in the High Peak area.

Position includes: contribution towards travel, expenses and supervision; peer support groups and agency support.

Please contact Debbie on 01773 740 246 for further information and an application form.

DCIL’s Counselling Service is BACP accredited.

Enable: Young Disabled People's Project

We want to find out about your experiences of trying new activities through The Stuff website or through the Enable Project. Please click here to take part in a quick survey to tell us what you think of local services for disabled people. All surveys will be put into a prize draw for a chance to win a £25 iTunes or HMV voucher! The closing date for this survey is 1 October.

This survey is for young disabled people aged 16 to 25, living in Derbyshire or for their parents, carers or support workers to complete on their behalf. If you are an organisation who has used the website please also feel free to complete the survey but don't forget to add the name of the young person you were helping so they have a chance of winning!

If you need any help completing the survey or would prefer a paper copy please contact Naomi Hope at Disability Direct on 01332 299449 or email naomi.hope@disabilitydirectderby.co.uk

Leading Charity Offers Free Database to Small Charities and Community Groups

Lasa is offering an Advice and Information Management System database (AIMS Free) to all small community groups and third sector organisations across the UK, to help them deliver their services more efficiently and cost effectively in challenging times.

Last year the AIMS Free package was made available to all voluntary and community sector groups and over 700 groups have downloaded the software to-date.

AIMS Free is simple to use and contains everything needed to start capturing details of clients and outcomes. From a survey taken of AIMS Free users 60% of respondents said that they found the package ‘very helpful’, and 100% said that they would recommend it to other potential users.

There is also a paid for version of the AIMS software. Like AIMS Free, this version comes with extensive guides and support materials, but also includes a full support contract, tutorials, and training courses held throughout the year. Details about the package and instructions on how to download and install AIMS Free can be found at www.lasa.org.uk/aims

Finding Ways to Scale up Social Enterprises

The Social Enterprise Coalition is running a Social Franchising Support project, which is looking at ways of scaling-up successful social enterprises and the support this needs, focusing on franchising but also models such as licensing, joint ventures, consortia and mergers. If you have any insights to contribute to the research, see www.socialenterprise.org.uk/pages/socfran.html

Impact of Change of Government on Voluntary Sector Skills Development

Skills Third Sector has written a briefing on 'The voluntary sector skills landscape', which summarises some of the changes since the formation of the Coalition Government, its legislative and policy programme, relevant changes and key players in voluntary sector skills. Pdf, 152KB.

Opening up Local Decision-Making for Women

A new report from Women's Resource Centre examines what helps or hinders women's organisations in creating change at a local level, with women being under-represented in local decision-making. Based on the experiences and expertise of four organisations across England, 'Power and Prejudice' can be downloaded (pdf, 678KB), or see Community Newswire www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6946791

Manifesto for Advocacy Services

Developed by a partnership of national and regional advocacy organisations, 'A Manifesto for Advocacy Services in England and Wales' sets out a series of core beliefs relating to advocacy services and a number of expectations in respect to the sector's relationship with government at all levels (local, regional and national). A pdf download, 2.5MB, via www.actionforadvocacy.org.uk/articleServlet?action=display&article=1818

Safeguarding and Looked After Children: Third Sector Survey

Ofsted has published the results of its first annual survey of third sector organisations representing the interests of, or providing services for, children and young people in every local authority in England.

Partnership Working Between Private and Third Sector Organisations

From chief executives body ACEVO and the CBI, 'Win-Win: The leadership of private and third sector public service partnerships' examines a number of case studies and considers the risks and benefits of such partnership working. The focus is on how leaders can make partnerships work. Download, pdf, 2.38MB, from www.acevo.org.uk/Document.Doc?id=832

Little Evidence that Third Sector Run Public Services are Better

There is little independent evidence to suggest that public services commissioned from voluntary sector organisations are better for users, according to a review by the Third Sector Research Centre.

The review, which examined 48 pieces of research published between 2004 and 2010, states that evidence on the impact of third sector service delivery is scarce and commissioners continue to have doubts about the capacity of these organisations to take on contracts.

www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/news.php?readmore=973

Social Enterprise Photography Competition

Social Vision: Business at its Best is looking for photographic images that capture the unique and transformative work of social enterprise in the East Midlands.

www.seem.uk.net/home/newsdata/seem/154

National Citizen Service

National Citizen Service will act as a gateway to the Big Society for many young people, by supporting them to develop the skills and attitudes they need to get more engaged with their communities and become active and responsible citizens.

The programme will promote:

A more cohesive society by mixing participants of different backgrounds.
A more responsible society by supporting the transition into adulthood for young people.
A more engaged society by enabling young people to work together to create social action projects in their local communities.

A pilot for around 10,000 young people will run from June to September 2011. A competitive tendering exercise for organisations to deliver these pilots has now started - www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/news.php?readmore=990

Independence of Voluntary Sector Organisations Threatened

Voluntary sector organisations that run public services should be aware of the pitfalls encountered by housing associations, according to a new report: Housing Associations in England and the Future of Voluntary Organisations. It says housing associations have lost their independence and their role as campaigning organisations has diminished as a result of assuming responsibility for housing provision and the need to respond to government targets and demands.

The report, funded by the Baring Foundation (Strengthening the Voluntary Sector – Independence Programme) and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, focuses on the timely question of what happens to voluntary organisations if they take over the mass delivery of state services.

www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/DailyBulletin/1019794/Report-says-charities-beware-fate-housing-associations

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