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Could you recognise someone at risk of suicide? Would you know how to help them? Through a new project offering FREE training in suicide awareness it is hoped more and more people will be able to answer ‘yes’ to these questions.

The Suicide Awareness Partnership Training (SAPT) Project, funded by the Big Lottery Reaching Communities programme and run by Rural Action Derbyshire (formerly Derbyshire Rural Community Council), aims to help reduce suicide by 20% by 2012 in line with the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS) by delivering training across Derbyshire to encourage an openness about the subject of suicide, reduce the stigma and attitudes about suicide and self harm and raise awareness of its close links with mental illness.

According to the NSPS, in England a person dies every two hours by suicide and approximately 4,300 people take their own lives every year. Those living and working in rural communities present a particularly high risk.

The free training will commence in January 2010 and is open to everyone, particularly those that work with people. All that is asked is that all those attending the training aim to help or influence a total of five people over the three year period.

For further information about the training please contact Sharon Lovell on 01629 821921 or email s.lovell@derbysrcc.org.uk.

Derbyshire Alcohol Advice Service Training Programme

Derbyshire Alcohol Advice Service provides free training in Alcohol Awareness and Brief Interventions, including knowing your units, the alcohol continuum, raising the issue and brief interventions.

Training dates available:

16 November 2009 – Ashbourne
24 November 2009 – Chapel-en-le-Frith
30 November 2009 – Bakewell
18 January 2010 – Bolsover

All courses run from 9.30 am to 1.00 pm.

To book a place on the course please visit the website www.daas.uk.com or call 0845 308 4010 to speak to a member of the Training Team.

Discipline & Grievance: New ACAS Code

Thursday 3 Dec 2-5pm (registration 1.30pm) at Riverside Centre, Derby

Are you up-to-speed on the new Acas code?

Presented by employment lawyer, Lin Hinson, this half-day event will take you through the key points you need to know when handling disciplinary issues in the workplace.

By the end of the session delegates will be able to:

understand key legislation - including the new Acas code - when handling discipline & grievance issues;
better avoid making dismissals unfair by looking at theory, techniques and tactics;
understand what policies and procedures to review and update.

To reserve your free place, email Emma Allford, Employment Practice Officer, NCVO, providing your name, job title and organisation.

Training Courses at Enterprise Training Centre

Below is information on two courses which are running at the Enterprise Training Centre again. If you are interested in finding out more please call Jackie Dennis on 07966 617130.

Effective Communication Course
Wednesday 25 November 2009

This popular one day course - delivered by experienced broadcast journalists Grahame Lloyd and Nick Johnson – covers media training and presentation skills. Delegates undergo a series of mock radio and TV interviews and make presentations which are all recorded and reviewed.

Enhance your general communication skills;
de-mystify the methods used by broadcasters;
develop your ability to handle media interviewers; and
make memorable presentations with confidence.

Grants and Support Workshop
Wednesday 18 Nov, 2 Dec & 9 Dec 2009

Need to find funding for your organisation and not sure where to start? This enriching one day course delivered by experienced fundraiser Brian Bell – provides strategies and practical solutions to maximise the potential success in securing funding.

Writing a business plan and the case for support;
Identifying funding sources, research tools and directories;
Outlining what makes a good application; and
Focusing on individual projects specific to each delegate.

There is funding on offer which will enable this course to be fully funded.

Telephone: 01773 590088, Email: sales@enterprisehousebc.co.uk

Funding Fair

4 November 3-7pm at Swadlincote Town Hall - FREE

Thirteen funding organisations representing a range of interests, will be present to discuss thier funding opportunities with local voluntary sector organisations. Funders attending include Awards for All/Big Lottery Fund, Derbyshire Community Foundation, Lloyds TSB Foundation, Loughborough Building Society Community Awards, South Derbyshire CVS Self Help Fund, South Derbyshire District Council Partnership and

This year there is also an emphasis on funding for young people, both as individuals and groups, who may have project ideas that they want to develop. Specific youth funders present will be UnLtd, Change It, DCC Youth Opportunities Fund and (rom 4pm) Youth Music.

For further details contact Eric Clayton 01283 550163 or ericc@sdcvs.org.uk

Help at Home Admin Support Worker at Amber Valley CVS

22.5 Hours per week, working Monday thru Wednesday - £10,843
6 weeks Annual holidays + Bank Holidays + pension ( pro rata)
Contract length: 1 Year

Amber Valley CVS require a highly organised and motivated person for this role which will provide administration support to the Help at Home service. As a point of contact for staff and customers of the service, you will need to have good communication skills using telephone and face to face. To match customer needs with staff availability will require a high degree of organisation with the ability to meet service deadlines.

KEY TASKS:
To complete the administration required to produce timesheets matching customers and staff To maintain database information with all staff and customer enquiries To communicate with Help at Home staff and customers, ensuring quality of service is maintained Able to work with and support volunteers
To take on this very challenging and rewarding roles you will need:- Excellent administration skills, including database use Good communication skills, either face to face or using telephone A customer service focus An understanding of the wider voluntary and community sector

Due to this post having access vulnerable adults candidates will be required to undertake an enhanced CRB Check.

Closing Date: 16 Nov
Interview date: 1 Dec

For an application pack for this post please phone Amber Valley CVS on 01773 512076 or email: recruitment@avcvs.org

Trainee Nextstep Careers Adviser

at Derbyshire Learning & Development Consortium.

Starting salary: £16,440 pro rata
Hours: 22.5 per week

Fixed Term Contract until July 2010 initially. Contract may be extended dependent on ongoing funding and satisfactory performance.

Deadline for applications is 12 noon on Thur5 Nov. Please send by email or post to Julie Frost, Derbyshire Learning & Development Consortium, 32 Charnwood Street, Derby, DE1 2GU. julie.frost@consortium.org.uk

Interviews will be held on Wed11 Nov.

www.consortium.org.uk/jobs.asp

BT Community Connections

If you are a community or charitable organisation that is looking to extend your work through use of the internet and ICT but don’t have the means, apply for an award today!

BT Community Connections is an award scheme which enables community and charitable groups to get online and make use of information and communication technology (ICT). Groups can apply for a laptop and a year’s free broadband connection and we have more than 1,000 award packages to give to groups who can demonstrate how an award will benefit their work and the local community.

Almost any organisation, working in any field of community benefit, located anywhere within the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland can apply for a laptop and a year’s free broadband connection. The scheme supports a diverse range of community and charitable groups – in the past community projects, silver-surfers, conservation organisations, family support groups, sports teams and youth groups have all been supported so don’t miss your opportunity.

To find out more, simply log on to www.btcommunityconnections.com where you can:

complete an online application form or print a postal application form; and
view case studies of previous winners and read the judges’ top tips to help you complete your application.

If you don’t have access to the internet call 0845 257 6792.

Deadlines for the next round of applications are:

Postal applications 5 January 2010
Online applications 7 January 2010

Eco Barn Raises Money for Countryside Charity

A pioneering eco holiday barn is celebrating its second birthday by raising funds for countryside campaigners Friends of the Peak District. Liz and Andrew have decided to support Friends of the Peak District’s ‘Peak Pound Partnership’ scheme. “We’ve always been aware of Friends of the Peak District and the work they do looking after our stunning landscapes. So for every holiday let we take, we’ll donate a pound. We signed up because it’s a really good way of giving back,” says Liz.

The Woodwards are also keen to encourage local food. Liz works advising local food projects, schools and community groups about food and growing projects. “Guests can pick and use any food from the kitchen garden,” explains Liz. “This year we introduced soft fruit like gooseberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, raspberries. There’s also jam made with this year’s strawberries for our guests to use!”

Any local business can be part of the Peak Pound Partnership. For more information, ring 0114 266 5822 or visit www.friendsofthepeak.org.uk and click on the P£P link.

Investigating the Community Action of Young People

The Universities of Cambridge and Leicester, alongside CSV, are looking for organisations that are willing to complete a five minute questionnaire about the young people they work with.

The survey can be completed online –
www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8fm6psEjKr6cOLwxtZk0QQ_3d_3d
or email tom@tharrison.me.uk to request a copy.

Organisations who take part will be sent summaries of the report and also invited to special events to be hosted by the University of Cambridge, the University of Leicester and CSV.

Quick Guide to Council Acting as Charity Trustee

A quick guide to a local council's responsibilities where it is a corporate charity trustee has been issued by the Charity Commission and the Local Government Association. 'Councillors' guide to a council's role as charity trustee’ can be downloaded (pdf, 251KB) from www.charitycommission.gov.uk/enhancingcharities/toolindex.asp or news item at www.charitycommission.gov.uk/news/lga.asp

Building a Picture of Unregistered Voluntary Organisations

The Office of the Third Sector is working with local groups in Gloucestershire, Bury and Hackney to conduct three pilot projects to survey small, unregistered organisations. The data gathered will supplement the results of the National Survey of Third Sector Organisations carried out earlier this year and will "give decision makers further information on what third sector organisations need in order to thrive". OTS news item.

Sector Consortium Succeeds with Future Jobs Fund Bid

The consortium of third sector organisations, including social enterprises, established to bid for and deliver public service contracts, has been successful in bidding to create almost 3,000 jobs by March 2010 through the Future Jobs Fund. 3SC launched its programme on Monday 19 October – the website is still being developed, at www.3sc.org or Third Sector news item at www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/946690/ (registration required).

Sector Hardship Fund Makes First Grants

The first grant offers from the Government's Hardship Fund have been made to seventy four voluntary organisations across the country, ranging from £50,000 to £250,000. The fund is for organisations with an annual income of at least £200,000 that are suffering financial hardship which is impacting on their ability to deliver vital services in health and social care, housing support, education and training, and advice, information and guidance. Administered by the Community Development Foundation, it is still open for applications. News item at www.cdf.org.uk/web/guest/news-headline?id=106529 or go direct to www.cdf.org.uk/web/guest/hardship-fund

A Manifesto for Rural Communities

The Carnegie UK Trust has produced a follow-on report from its 2007 Charter for Rural Communities. 'A Manifesto for Rural Communities' acknowledges the accelerating pace of economic and social change but sets out some very positive opportunities for rural communities to survive and thrive. NB Not to be confused with last week's news item, the launch of a Rural Coalition for England, www.rsnonline.org.uk/politics/coalition-demands-new-rural-vision.html

Better Information and Advice for Older People

A new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation is 'creating a stronger information, advice and advocacy system for older people'. The Solutions paper highlights recent work in Newcastle which has developed ways of working with existing systems to make them more "older person friendly", efficient, and effective for all concerned. Summary from www.jrf.org.uk/publications/information-advice-advocacy-for-older-people

Blogging Tips for Nonprofits

The goal of the 'blogging for nonprofit' website Blog Tips is to aid nonprofit organisations into the social media world, increasing their web presence and overall visibility. Worth the occasional read, at www.blogtips.org

Compact Week 2009

Compact Week is an annual campaign to promote the Compact, the agreement that sets out shared commitments and guidelines for partnership working between government and the third sector. This year it runs from 2 to 8 November, see www.compactweek.org.uk

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