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We are looking for an ICT Development Worker who will champion the merits of ICT to the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in the East Midlands area

Key tasks include:

To research, develop and implement both a regional and 7 sub-regional IT/ICT strategies.
To monitor and analyse policy and news relating to the use of ICT
To develop and maintain a directory of regional IT/ICT training and support providers
To facilitate regular regional ICT network meetings

Office based within the East Midlands. An information pack and application can be downloaded from www.highpeakcvs.org.uk/jobs or by telephoning 01663 735350 or email hello@highpeakcvs.org.uk.

Closing date for applications is 5pm Thursday 10th July 2008.
Please note that CV’s will not be accepted.

Mid-Derbyshire Citizens Advice Bureau Vacancies

All posts require travel around the districts of Amber Valley and/or Derbyshire Dales.
All posts are subject to the pending 2008 pay award.

Administrator
Based in Heanor
18 hours a week Salary Scale 4(18) £16536 pro rata

This role has been created in recognition of the need to provide dedicated support to the offices in Amber Valley, we are looking for someone who has good ICT and organisational skills, is able to undertake various admin tasks and has some customer service experience.

Children and Families Advice Worker
Based in Matlock
15 hours a week Salary Scale 5(22) £18907 pro rata

This post is available due to a reorganisation and we are looking for someone who has experience of welfare benefits, money advice and an understanding of the issues facing families.

GP Surgery Advice Worker
Based in Matlock
13.5 hours a week Salary Scale 5(22) £18907 pro rata

The current post holder has moved onto a different role in the organisation and we are looking for an experienced advice worker able to work in an outreach location.

GP Surgery Advice Worker
Based in Heanor
6 hours a week Salary Scale 5(22) £18907 pro rata

Due to the expansion of our GP programme we are looking to recruit an experienced advice worker able to work in an outreach location. There is the future possibility of increased hours or the option to combine with the above posts.

Money Advice Worker
Based in Belper
18 hours a week Salary 5(24) £20099 pro rata

We are looking to appoint someone who has experience of dealing with multiple and complex debt cases.

If you like an informal conversation on any of these posts please contact Emma Hagger Bureau Director on 01629 57482. If you would further information and an application pack please contact the Administrator on 01629 57482 or email admin@md.cabnet.org.uk

Closing Date 9th July 2008
Interview Date to be confirmed

Consortium Manager – Third Sector Support for Derbyshire (3D)

30 hours per week
Salary NJC PO Scale 39 £31,606 per annum pro rata (pay award pending)
Base to be negotiated with post holder, but must be able to travel around the county and to meetings within the East Midlands region.

Derbyshire Rural Community Council is seeking to appoint a manager with experience at senior level in the voluntary sector to provide leadership and support to a consortium of 27 VCS infrastructure organisations. Good networking and communication skills are required and experience in representing the sector in wider partnerships is essential.

Closing date: 5pm on Monday 21st July 2008
Interviews: Wednesday 30th July 2008

Application packs are available from the DRCC website www.derbyshirercc.org.uk, or contact Emma Simpson at e.simpson@derbysrcc.org.uk or on 01629 821926.

High Peak Borough Council Annual Sports Awards

This year's High Peak Sports Awards have now been launched, inviting you to nominate a sports person, team, coach, or volunteer, who has achieved in sport, over the last 12 months.

There are 13 award categories, across a range of sporting areas that gives the opportunity to recognise the high level of sporting achievement in the High Peak. The awards also give winning nominees the opportunity to be recognised at a county level, as all winners will automatically be put forward for the Derbyshire awards that take place in November, at Pride Park, in Derby.

Closing date for nominations is Friday 22August.

For further details see - www.highpeak.gov.uk/culture/sportsdev/sportsaward.asp

Evaluation and Monitoring Course

Or… How to know and show what you’ve done!

When do you know if you have achieved what you set out to? How can you measure activity and success?

All funders want to know what you have done with their money and you need to show them what difference it has made. So you need to be organised from the start about what information you collect and what other ways you can use to assess how effective you have been.

This half day course will give you an introduction into useful ways of evaluating and monitoring, including what’s an output and how is it different from an outcome?

Date and time: Wednesday 9th July 2008, 9.45 am to 1.00 pm
Tutor: Nigel Caldwell, Development Programme Manager
Venue: High Peak CVS, Bingswood Trading Estate, Whaley Bridge
Cost: Free to High Peak Voluntary groups without a paid worker
£15 for High Peak Voluntary groups with paid worker
£30 all others

Guidance on Discipline and Grievance

The employment relations body Acas has now issued draft guidance to accompany its new Code of Practice on discipline and grievance. The code has been revised to reflect changes being made to workplace dispute resolution due to upcoming employment law, and has also been streamlined to 12 pages. The guidance is more detailed and somewhat longer. While this is only draft, the importance of the Code is such that it is worth taking into account. www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2080

Training Advice for Volunteers and Employees

As announced in November, the government funded Train to Gain service, which provides specialist advice to employers on training and skills needs, now covers volunteers as well as paid workers. A sector specific guide to Train to Gain has been produced by the Learning and Skills Council, and can be downloaded from www.lsc.gov.uk/whatwedo/employer/VCS.htm or direct link to pdf, 943KB, readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/national/nat-traintogainandthethirdsector-jun08.pdf

Volunteering in the Criminal Justice System

The Government's independent volunteering champion, Baroness Neuberger, is seeking views on volunteering in the criminal justice system. This follows her first report on volunteering in health and social care, and Plaza Publishing news alert last week quoted her as saying that this second review was proving to be "more complicated". Responses by 1st September – the Office of the Third Sector news item includes some specific questions.

Capacity Building Programme for Social Enterprise

A Capacitybuilders Social Enterprise Programme was announced by Third Sector Minister Phil Hope at the Capacitybuilders conference last week. Some six million pounds will be distributed over the next three years, working with social enterprise networks and other local partners, such as Regional Development Agencies, in each English region to identify the best ways to meet local needs. It will be spent on areas such as new mentoring schemes, more accredited advisers and work to develop emerging markets.

Office of Third Sector News item, which includes information on awards under the Improving Reach programme too, or see Capacitybuilders with more details of the programme.

Legal Help for Charity Tribunal Cases

A specialist panel of lawyers is being set up within the Bar Pro Bono Unit (www.barprobono.org.uk) to ensure that every appellant to the Charity Tribunal has the chance of legal representation. With charity law being quite specialised, there is a need to expand and formalise arrangements with specialist lawyers. See Third Sector news item for more, www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/817594/ (registration required).

Parenting Projects to Get Bridging Funds

Children and Young People Now reports that up to eight million pounds is to be used to give voluntary sector parenting projects supported by the Government's Parenting Fund more time to get long-term funding from local authorities. Funding for second round projects was due to end this month, but they could now continue to March 2009. www.cypnow.co.uk/bulletins/Daily-Bulletin/news/817560/

Money Training For Those Working With Young People

A training programme, funded by the Financial Services Authority, has been developed specifically for those working with young people that are, or at risk of being, not in education, employment or training (NEET). The one day course is taking place around the UK. More information is on the Young People and Money website, www.youngpeopleandmoney.co.uk (Source: CommunityNI)

Greening Your Event

The 'Our South West' website has a guide to reducing the environmental impacts of conferences and seminars, which now includes a 'Greener Events Guide Checklist for Outdoor/Community Events' (small pdf).
See www.oursouthwest.com/SusBus/gevents.html#companion-guides (Source: Acre Alert)

Benchmarking Made Simple

'Benchmarking made simple: a step-by-step guide', produced for the Performance Hub, is available for download (pdf, 467KB) from authors Charities Evaluation Service website at www.ces-vol.org.uk/index.cfm?pg=112 It covers practical issues such as when it is appropriate to share experiences with others through a benchmarking exercise and finding partner organisations to benchmark with.
Direct link: www.ces-vol.org.uk/index.cfm?format=238

Technology and Social Communication

This month's NCVO ICT Development (was ICT Hub) feature articles have a 'social media' focus. 'What can Social Media do for you?' has a good run through of the ‘Web 2.0’ tools and terminology and ways of communicating more widely. www.icthub.org/articles/What_does_social_media_do_for_you.html

Safe Communities Toolkit to Protect Children and Young People

The Safe Communities Toolkit is FREE to voluntary and independent community groups working with children. The Toolkit helps community organisations get the essentials in place to safeguard children they have contact with.

The Toolkit aims to help the whole community by making sure children and young people can take part in organised activities safely. The Toolkit will be used by community groups and clubs that work with children of all ages, and that provide activities such as arts, hobbies, religious teaching, and early years care. After-school clubs and youth clubs will also find it useful.

Details and download on the website nspcc.org.uk

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