eNews

Bulletin Contents - 28 May 2009

TRAINING

IT Surgery

Fri 5 June 10.00am-1.00pm OR Tue 3 Nov 10.00am-1.00pm
at High Peak CVS, Bingswood Trading Estate, Whaley Bridge

This course is for anyone interested in learning about computers, who currently has little or no “hands on” experience. The session will be for absolute beginners to unravel the mysteries of technology starting from plugging in and switching on, mouse and keyboards basics, navigating windows, using My Computer, Windows Explorer and creating new folders. Also, when things go wrong, how to put them right. So come prepared with your computer problems!

Free to High Peak voluntary and community groups without paid workers, £20 to voluntary and community groups in the High Peak with paid workers, £25 to voluntary and community groups outside the High Peak, £35 all others

Further details at highpeakcvs.org.uk/training/events.asp

Contact Louise - louise@highpeakcvs.org.uk , 01663 736431

Fundraising for Beginners

Thur 11 June 10.00am-1.00pm OR Thur 1 Oct 10.00am-1.00pm
at High Peak CVS, Bingswood Trading Estate, Whaley Bridge

Short of cash? Would you like to know how to go about making grant applications – and be successful?

This is a FREE introductory session for those with little or no experience of making applications for grant funding.

The task of applying for grants can seem awesome. This session will provide you with a step-by-step process including where and how to find out who to apply to, how to make your cause look attractive to the funder, and inspire you with confidence to have a go!

Further details at highpeakcvs.org.uk/training/events.asp

Contact Louise - louise@highpeakcvs.org.uk , 01663 736431

Programme to Strengthen Rural Churches

The Arthur Rank Centre will launch a £180,000 training project to strengthen churches in the countryside. The first part of the work will begin immediately and the first training modules will become available to churches in 2010 -

www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/news/current_news/rurallifeandfaithlaunch_280409.pdf

EVENTS

Sustainable Communities Act: Have Your Say

The Sustainable Communities Act, gives people the opportunity to come up with proposals to improve where they live.

High Peak Borough Council have recently invited local residents, groups and organisations to put forward proposals on improving the place where they live, giving local people the opportunity to improve their local neighbourhood.

As part of the Act, the Council wants to set up a representative panel to consider the proposals received and would like to invite you to be involved in this panel. The panel will assess the proposals to make sure that they meet the criteria set out in the Act and decide which if any of the proposals should be submitted by the Council to the Local Government Association (LGA).

The panel will meet on Monday 1 June 2009 starting at 2pm at High Peak CVS, Unit 1A, Bingswood Trading Est, Whaley Bridge, High Peak, SK23 7LY to discuss and consider the proposals submitted. This will be the only meeting of the panel for this year's round of proposals. The proposals received cover Planning, Highways and Climate Change issues.

Places are limited, so please contact Customer Services on 0845 129 77 77 or
email kerryt@highpeak.gov.uk asap if you would like to attend or if you are unable to attend the meeting but would still like to be involved.

Guidance on the Sustainable Communities Act is available on the High Peak Borough Council website at www.highpeak.gov.uk/neighbourhood/sustain/ or for further details on the Sustainable Communities Act visit www.lga.gov.uk.

Faiths in Action Regional Networking Event

Thur 28 May 1pm – 3.30pm
at Derby Multi-faith Centre

You are invited to join this networking event, for faith based, statutory, voluntary and community groups working in the region to get to know one another, share best practice and find out more about the Community Development Foundation’s Faiths in Action programme. This event is free, including lunch. Please register by emailing james.moore@cdf.org.uk or Tel: 01223 400341. Places offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Making Regeneration Work

Derby and Derbyshire Launch Events, ‘Making Regeneration Work – An Introduction to Ep2’

Ep2 is a new skills programme for people that work or live in disadvantaged areas in the East Midlands and who are committed to regeneration. It’s different because it is about empowering communities to carry out regeneration for themselves and is founded on the belief that every community, however disadvantaged, contains the seeds of its own transformation. The programme consists of a series of innovative tools and techniques designed to meet the situations that regeneration practitioners and others find themselves in every day.

The ‘Making Regeneration Work – an Introduction to Ep2’ events provide the background and current policy context to the programme, a description of the Ep2 tools as well as an opportunity to use the tools in a choice of facilitated workshops. The event also includes a presentation on the ‘Coaching for Regeneration’ programme of training and how the application and benefits of a coaching approach can be used to support community and local economic regeneration. The programme has been developed by a range of partners including the New Economics Foundation

The Ep2 programme is supported by emda and the next four events in Derby and Derbyshire are available free of charge. For further information and to book a place please go to the Programme Calendar at www.ep2online.org or email Steve Collins, Programme Manager at steve@regenerationem.co.uk

New Discipline and Grievance Rules

Free briefings for VCS organisations in June 2009
5 June 2009 10.30am - 12.30pm at Derby CVS

A revised Acas Code of Practice has been introduced. As employers and managers we are expected to follow this guide and the good practice it lays out. If we don't, and end up at an Employment Tribunal, the employee's compensation could increase by up to 25 per cent if you have acted 'unreasonably'.

The sessions will cover:
- Background to the changes
- What is contained in the new legislation and the Acas Code of Practice - and how it will affect you
- What is 'Fair and Reasonable'?
- Unfair Dismissal including procedural issues
- Penalties for non compliance with the Code
- How to resolve disputes earlier and in the workplace
- What you need to do next

www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/infusions/one_events_panel/event_list.php?idx=259

OTHER NEWS

Free Energy Audits for Community Buildings

Community buildings in the High Peak can now apply for a free energy audit from sustainable energy charity Marches Energy Agency. The funding is open to all community buildings, including village halls, community centres, churches and schools.

The audits will assess the possibilities for installing a range of green renewable energy technologies in each community building, including solar panels, ground source heat pumps and wood pellet boilers. They will also give recommendations for energy and cash saving measures such as insulation and low energy lighting.

A limited number of studies are being offered completely free of charge to community groups, on a first come, first served basis. Costs are covered by funding from Big Lottery’s Community Sustainable Energy Programme (CSEP), and by High Peak Borough Council.

Joe Bentley, of Marches Energy Agency, said “This is a fantastic opportunity for community groups to find out how they could best cut fuel bills, keep buildings warm and invest in a sustainable future”.

The studies are intended to be a stepping-stone towards an application to capital funding available under the Big Lottery’s Community Sustainable Energy Programme. The programme will cover up to 50% of the cost of purchasing and installing the renewable technologies recommended in the audits. Applications are most likely to succeed where community buildings face high energy costs, where a high level of building usage would offer an opportunity to raise the profile of renewable energy technologies, and where significant CO2 savings are likely to be made.

For further information or to register your interest in the free audits, contact Joe Bentley at Marches Energy Agency on 01743 277108 or email joe@mea.org.uk

For detailed information about the Community Sustainable Energy Programme funding, see www.communitysustainable.org.uk

Derbyshire Sexual Health Promotion Service

Derbyshire Sexual Health Promotion Service (formerly CASH project) is on the move!
From 1st June 2009 you can visit us at our new home: 1 Tennyson Avenue, Chesterfield,
Derbyshire S40 4SN.

SAME phone number: 01246 559431

NEW email: dshps@derbyshirecountypct.nhs.uk

NEW website: www.dsphps.org.uk

More details and other stories in their Newsletter.

Charities and Elections

The Charity Commission has updated its guidance on what charities need to know during the run-up to an election, national or local, or in this case, with an eye on the European elections taking place on 4th June. The guiding principle of charity law is that charities should be, and be seen to be, independent from party politics. Read the guidance at www.charitycommission.gov.uk/supportingcharities/elect.asp

Barnardo's Young Offenders Programme

The programme applies to young offenders aged from 16 to 25 years. It involves a flexible 10 week placement in a Barnardo's shop where the offender receives retail training and it is hoped this will help them develop new skills and enhance their levels of self-confidence.

They have the opportunity to do a Youth Achievement Award putting together evidence of four 15 hour challenges. If a serving prisoner, the first challenge is done in the prison environment looking at issues around jobsearch such as compiling a Curriculum Vitae and so on. The next three challenges can be tailored to the individual offender but might involve things such as operating a till, merchandising and so on. I am very keen to make sure that these three challenges fit in with the interests and aspirations of the individual offender as much as possible. I am also keen to look at ways that the offenders can be supported appropriately with putting together the portfolio.

Young Offenders Programme Coordinator Kate Davis-Holmes (07990 805613) is very keen to have views from others as to how the Programme can best meet the needs of offenders whilst ensuring a good quality experience for the Barnardo’s shops and the criminal justice agencies involved too. There are opportunities across the United Kingdom.

Gift Aid Time Limits Information Now Online

HM Revenue and Customs guide to the Gift Aid claim procedure has now been updated with the time limit changes from 1 April 2010. The general time limits for making repayment claims will be four years and those limits will apply equally to all charities. www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/gift_aid/reclaim.htm#7

First Aid at Work Web Revamp

The Health and Safety Executive has re-launched its First Aid at Work website, with easier navigation, covering employer duties, a range of resources and the 'ask an expert' facility – www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/index.htm

Supporting Students in Volunteering

Volunteering England has published 'Safeguarding student volunteering in the Further Education sector', with the aim to help colleges to support more vulnerable adults and students under the age of eighteen to volunteer. It highlights practical steps to safeguard students in volunteering both on and off campus. Info from Volunteering England.

Five Minute Guides

NCVO has a batch of new online Five Minute Guides (short intros/top tips) on multimedia, retaining new members, copywriting and strategic planning, currently linked from the front page, www.ncvo-vol.org.uk Otherwise, check the AskNCVO section, at www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/askncvo/

Charity Use of the Internet in 2008

The results of Virtual Promise 2008, the annual survey of how charities are using the internet, have been published by nfpSynergy. Some notable results are that 35 per cent of charities had redesigned their website in the last six months, almost half were using social networking, but only a fifth of respondents agreed that their charity was making the most of the internet, halved since 2005. Download pdf, 1.21MB.

Capacitybuilders £3m Programme for Volunteering Support

Capacitybuilders is developing a new £3m programme to boost the support available to people managing volunteers. The programme, to be launched in June, is part of a £6.6m boost for volunteering announced by the Office of the Third Sector on 6th May.

The programme has three key strands including grant funded local projects to further increase the reach and quality of support for local people managing volunteers, work to raise the profile of volunteer management at a national level and bursaries to increase access to training relevant to the management and co-ordination of volunteers. To find out more about the programme, please visit Capacitybuilders website.

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