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Bulletin Contents - 24 March 2009Children’s Play Area Maintenance Training Event Training Opportunities in the Summer at Hope Valley College Volunteering High Peak Free Training Voices of Dark Peak’s Upland Communities Effective Ways to Tackle Workplace Stress Increasing Concern over Sector Impact of Downturn Working Together on Volunteering Policy Adult Care Providers Form Alliance The Learning and Skills Agenda and the Voluntary Sector Laptop and Broadband for Community Groups Futurebuilders Launches Cashflow Fund Tracking and Valuing Volunteer Time Looking at Government Definitions of Volunteering Researching Youth Action Volunteering | ||
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Children’s Play Area Maintenance Training Event10am-1pm Tue 21 April 2009 The training is aimed at organisations with a management responsibility for children’s Play Areas. There are many legal requirements that managers of play facilities are required to conform to, such as regular inspections/risk assessments, the keeping of such records and routine maintenance of equipment. Many playgrounds in Derbyshire are the responsibility of town and parish councils, playing field committees, village hall management committees or other voluntary organisations. The aim of this training is to provide advice, information and guidance on basic inspection and maintenance with a series of practical demonstrations and presentations.
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Training Opportunities in the Summer at Hope Valley CollegeFood Safety in Catering Level 2 CIEH Qualification Wed 13 May, 9.30 - 5pm First Aid at Work (HSE Qualification) 4x Fridays, 09.30 - 4 pm, starting 1 May Computerised Accounts - SAGE Level 2 Mon & Wed evenings, 6-9pm, starting 1 June For details of other courses in the Hope Valley, including Gardening, Holiday Spanish, Beginners French and Italian,Lip Reading & Communication, Keep Fit, Art and Pottery, ring 01433 620662. For information about courses across the High Peak and Dales, go to www.derbyshire.gov.uk/adulteducation |
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Volunteering High Peak Free TrainingAttracting and Recruiting Volunteers Course is free to attend and aimed at volunteer managers and volunteer using organisations. Also includes Lunch and chance to Network. Help with transport and childcare is available. For more information about the project and upcoming training – go to: www.buxtonvc.org.uk/index.asp?ID=207 www.vcglossop.org.uk/index.asp?ID=191 Or contact the team on 07973 383490 or by email: highpeakvol@gvb.org.uk Coming soon…. Volunteer Recruitment Road-show! In the Hope Valley and New Mills Volunteers’ Week Party! For your organisation and your volunteers Why not get involved! |
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Voices of Dark Peak’s Upland CommunitiesDr. Stuart Burgess, the Chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) has issued a call for evidence from the people living in the high hills and moorlands of Derbyshire and Staffordshire’s Dark Peak. Dr Burgess will head a two-day invitation-only panel meeting at Buxton in Derbyshire on March 25 and 26, to hear evidence directly from hill farmers, businesses and representatives of upland communities. The Rural Advocate’s call for evidence closes on April 30. Comments can be made online at www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/projects/uplandcommunities/overview or in writing to Uplands Inquiry, Commission for Rural Communities. |
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Effective Ways to Tackle Workplace StressA further section of the revamped stress website from the Health and Safety Executive 'Effective ways to tackle workplace stress' is now online, to help "employees, HR staff and Board Directors discover effective, lasting answers to workplace stress". Don't spend all day popping the virtual bubble wrap (requires Flash), www.hse.gov.uk/stress/tacklestress/index.htm |
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Increasing Concern over Sector Impact of DownturnThe Charity Commission's latest Economic Survey of Charities, following up one conducted in September, has found that 52% of charities surveyed said that they had been hit by the credit crunch, compared with 38% previously, but only 3% of charities had considered collaborating with another charity and 3% had considered merging. Read the main results at www.charitycommission.gov.uk/news/downturn.asp or download the full research report www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Library/common/downturn.pdf . The union Unite believes that the picture for charities, particularly job losses, is bleaker than the survey reveals. |
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Working Together on Volunteering PolicyRepresentative organisations from across the sector have agreed at a recent summit meeting to aim to provide a coordinated public response on volunteering policy issues. The groups involved include NCVO, chief executives group Acevo and local support umbrella NAVCA, as well as Volunteering England. Third Sector news item at www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/890264/ (registration required). |
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Adult Care Providers Form AllianceA 'Care Providers Alliance' has been created by representative bodies for organisations that provide social care for adults, to improve lobbying and "provide leadership to the care sector at a time of considerable change and uncertainty". See the list of 11 members in Third Sector news item, www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/890293/ (registration required). |
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The Learning and Skills Agenda and the Voluntary SectorThe political information website ePolitix.com has an interview with Kevin Brennan, Minister for the Third Sector, about the learning and skills issues facing charities. Read it on ePolitix. |
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Laptop and Broadband for Community GroupsThe latest round of the BT Community Connections award scheme opened on Tuesday 17 March. Organisations working in any field of community benefit from anywhere in the UK (or Republic of Ireland) can apply for a laptop and a year's worth of broadband connection. The closing date for online applications is 11 June (9 June for postal applications). www.btcommunityconnections.com/ |
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Futurebuilders Launches Cashflow FundFuturebuilders England has launched a four million pound fund to provide short-term cashflow to organisations who are delivering public service contracts. The Cashflow Fund will offer bridging loans, reserves cover and overdraft guarantees, either on their own or as part of a Futurebuilders Full Investment. Packages will be tailor-made to best meet the needs and circumstances of the organisation, with a minimum investment of £50,000. There is no upper limit. See news release or go direct to fund details. |
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Tracking and Valuing Volunteer TimeBlue Avocado, an interesting American non-profit resource site, has a new article 'Tracking Volunteer Time to Boost Your Bottom Line: A Complete Accounting Guide', www.blueavocado.org/node/330 It gives some good examples of why tracking volunteer time can be valuable, in raising funds or protecting the organisation. Back in the UK, veterinary charity PDSA has put the value of its volunteer force for the last year at over ten million pounds, giving a 'return on investment' in terms of volunteering costs of 22 to 1. See Charity Finance news item at www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/content.php?id=26599. |
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Looking at Government Definitions of VolunteeringA briefing from voluntary sector consultancy nfpSynergy says that government definitions of volunteering may be over-estimating the current number of volunteers in the UK by using categories which are too broad. Download the briefing (pdf, 152KB). |
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Researching Youth Action VolunteeringResearch into the question "What effect does Youth Action volunteering have on young people and communities?" has been published by Youth Action Network and De Montfort University. The three-year Project Re:action explored the advantages of Youth Action volunteering over placement volunteering – Youth Action is defined as a way of supporting young people to develop and lead their own volunteering opportunities and allowing them to have more choice or say over what volunteering they do. www.youthactionnetwork.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22 |
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Summary to Working in a ConsortiumA summary guide to 'Working in a Consortium' has been published by the Office of the Third Sector for voluntary organisations, for use when considering this approach as a way to get involved in the delivery of public sector contracts. Download from www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/136178/consortium%20summary.pdf (pdf format, 342KB) or the previously released full version (pdf, 335KB) at www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/107235/consortium%20guide%20final.pdf |
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Communities and NetworksThe Community and Networks Connection website pulls together content from a range of people on that subject – cc.fullcirc.com (Source: Social Reporter blog) |
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Chief Executive NAVO Vacancy£40,000 NAVO are recruiting a new Chief Executive to lead Networking Action for Voluntary Action - a specialist VCS infrastructure organisations set up to enhance voluntary and public sector partnerships. This is a permanent position, working to deliver a powerful vision for Nottinghamshire’s VCS to engage and influence the county’s Strategic Partnerships. This role requires a hands-on approach to take the current strategy through to delivery and sustain NAVO’s position within and between the sectors. A strong commitment to collaboration is vital, alongside an ability to seek out win: win solutions to the challenges and opportunities that the VCS face. For an informal chat about the position, please contact Nina Dauban, Chair on 07876502945 or email nina@nottscf.org.uk For an application contact Lesley on 01623 651170 or 664809 Closing date: 8 April 09 |
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Consultation on Community Cohesion in DerbyshireDerbyshire County Council wishes to appoint a consultancy firm to carry out qualitative consultation on community cohesion in Derbyshire. See the advert on the Source Derbyshire website. |
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