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VIEW
FROM THE PEAK -
The Newsletter of the Small Group Project
Winter 2003 - Issue No 7
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High
Peak CVS - What is a Small Group? - Borrow Resources |
| News
from Groups |
Town
End Friday Club - Access Groups - Footsteps - SVCA - SOB |
| What's
New at SGP? |
Mini
Trainings - Development Workers Forum - SGP Advisory Group |
| Noticeboard |
High
Peak CVS Training - Funding |
High
Peak CVS
The Small Group Project is now well established at High Peak
Council for Voluntary Service. You can find us at the Bingswood
Trading Estate in Whaley Bridge which is near the canal. Members
of the Access Groups have audited
the premises and their recommendations will be addressed as
soon as possible.
The CVS staff now include Tony, our part-time information
officer, as well as Kevin and Gina. I am also pleased to welcome
Andréa who is the new part time support worker for
the Small Group Project and who is already proving to be a
valuable addition. |
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What
is a Small Group?
I'm
often asked what is a small group. It's not easy to define. It
is not necessarily dependant on the number of members. The Project
tries to support those groups that are most in need. This can
be those that are disadvantaged in some way, for example older
people or disabled people. It might be groups that are marginalized
or stigmatised such as lesbian and gay groups or minority ethnic
groups. Groups who meet in the more rurally isolated areas are
also a special focus for the Project. We try to prioritise this
kind of group, and especially groups who do not have paid staff
and have limited resources. However, we do our best to help anyone
who approaches us for support, and now that the Small Group Project
is part of the High Peak CVS, this will be easier.
Borrow
our Resources
We can loan your group various resources free of charge.
These include:-
Whiteboard - like a blackboard only white. You
can borrow this for your meetings - it fits on top of a table
and uses special markers which we can lend you.
Digital camera - to record your group's events.
Gazebo - book early for the summer.
Computer - a spare computer is at our office
for your occasional use. Ring us to book it.
Display boards - why not borrow these to publicise
your group's activities.
Reference Books and Fact Sheets - we can help
you to find the information you need.
Funderfinder / Trustfunding - two databases
to help groups seeking funding.
To borrow any of these items ring Andréa on 01663 735350. |
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There
are many advantages for groups who become members of
the CVS - and membership is FREE! If your group has
not yet signed up, contact Gina at 01663 735350. |
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News
from the Groups
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Town
End Friday Club
This is a very popular club for older people in Chapel-en-le-Frith.
They meet each Friday for a cooked lunch and social
activities. The members have a regular sing-along
at their meetings and occasionally demonstrate their
singing ability at local concerts. They also enjoy
regular trips out. The Club is supported by a dedicated
team of volunteers and Social Services staff.
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The
Club has recently been working very hard at
developing its Management Committee.
The
Committee has also been acquiring fundraising
skills to ensure that they can continue to offer
the service that their members value so much.
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Access Groups' Success
All three Access Groups in the High Peak have been successful
in their separate bids to Comic Relief for funds to
carry out access auditing on cafes.
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The
Buxton, Glossop and Hope Valley Access Groups
will now be able to develop and publish guides
which will be useful to residents and visitors
alike in assessing which cafes are able to meet
their access requirements.
This
will include such information as whether wheelchairs
can be accommodated, whether the toilets are
accessible and what provision there is for visually
impaired people.
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'Access Hope Valley's recent Awareness Raising
Day'
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Footsteps
Whaley Bridge's friendly drop-in centre. Footsteps,
now has a well-resourced computer suite and working
in partnership with the University of Derby they have
opened a Computer Training Club.
The increasing popularity of the drop-in means that
they would appreciate the input of more volunteers.
There are many rewarding ways that people can be involved.
If you can spare some time to help call in or phone
01663 732395. |
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Sett
Valley
Community Association
The association will hold its inaugural meeting
in February to establish itself in representing
and promoting the benefit of people living in
the Ollersett area of New Mills.
The
Association will have representatives from streets
and from young, elderly and disabled. It will
associate with the local authorities, voluntary
organisations and inhabitants in a common effort
to improve the conditions of life for the inhabitants
of the area.
It
will seek to advance education, to improve physical
and economic conditions and to provide facilities
in the interests of social welfare for recreation
and leisure-time occupation.
For
more details contact Chair Lynne Cardwell (01663
747136) or Secretary Angela Bennett (01663 746952)
Survivors
of Bullying (SOB)
SOB is a new group starting up to provide local
positive support to anyone who is being or has
been bullied, or parents of bullied children.
It aims to embrace the importance of self worth
and make people no longer feel excluded by society
because of their experiences. If you would like
further information contact Sandy at High Peak
CVS.
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What's
New at Small Group Project?
'Mini-Trainings'
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This is a new
development in our training provision. Usually, training
courses that are provided for the voluntary sector are open
to representatives from lots of different groups and organisations.
People who are less experienced or less confident can be
left behind. Also, it is sometimes difficult to make the
training relevant to the needs of the wide variety of groups
who attend.
'Mini-Trainings'
are designed to be delivered to members of just one group
at a time. Some are suitable for sub-groups of two or three;
or even to individual members. They can to be delivered
in informal settings - such as your own meeting place. Each
Mini-Training will be adapted to suit the particular circumstances
of the group being trained.
The first two
Mini-Trainings available are:-
- Successful
Fundraising
- How to run
Effective Meetings
We will be developing
other Mini-Training sessions such as:-
- Minute-taking
skills
- Roles of Committee
Members
- Setting up
a group
Up to now three
groups have benefited from the Mini-Training. As with all
the services the Small Group Project provides these Mini-Trainings
are completely free of charge. We can also meet other costs
such as providing a crèche, which we did for the Hadfield
Centre Playgroup. |
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Mini -Training Session at
Hadfield Centre Playgroup
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your group would like to receive this kind of tailored,
individualised training, give us a ring at 01663 735350 |
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HIGH
PEAK DEVELOPMENT WORKERS
The Small Group
Project has helped to set up a Forum for Development Workers
in High Peak.
A contact
list is on the CVS Website. If you want to know
who would be the best person to offer advice to your group
check this list or give us a ring. |
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SGP
funding
secure to 2005
We have
now secured funding from Learning and Skills Council
to support the training element of the Project.
Together with our other successful bids from Comic
Relief, TSB Lloyds and Joint Finance we now have enough
funding to continue our work until 2005!. |
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SGP
Advisory Group
We are currently
recruiting members to the Advisory Group for the Small Group
Project. In order to understand the needs of groups, the Advisory
Group is made up of members from the groups with whom the
Project has worked.
If you would
like to know more about supporting and influencing the work
of the Small Group Project by serving on its Advisory Group,
please give me a ring at 01663 735350. All expenses incurred
by members are reimbursed. |
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One
World Festival. High Lea Park, New Mills 7th June 2003.
The New Mills One World Festival is the region's premier open air
free festival. It promotes the themes of peace, the environment,
and world and community development - the idea that the world is
for us all to share.
Organisations active in these fields bring stalls to promote their
work. There is live music, speakers, refreshments, art, children's
entertainment and more…
Whether your group is big or small, this is your big chance to promote
your activities to hundreds, nay thousands, in the High Peak. If
you'd like to book a stall, or indeed simply volunteer to help on
the day (lots is needed) please contact Esther Jones, Tel 0161 427
5399, Email esther.jones@btopenworld.com.
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Noticeboard
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HIGH PEAK
CVS TRAINING
Business Planning for your Organisation:
18 February 9.30am-12.30pm at Buxton Methodist Hall. What's
the purpose of a business plan and considering a case
study. FREE (Childcare costs can be met for this meeting)
Developing a Funding Strategy: - 20 March 1.30-4.30pm
at Buxton Methodist Hall. (Follows up the Business Planning
session. FREE
Monitoring and Evaluation of your work or projects:
18 March 9.30am-12.30pm at Bradbury House, Glossop. FREE
Child Protection - signposting for training and support:
25 March 1.30-4.30pm Venue to be confirmed. FREE
First Aid Appointed Person: - 24 March 9.30-4.30pm
at High Peak CVS (a small charge applies)
REMINDER!
Pick n Mix at Losehill Hall on 3rd Feb FREE
Workshops , displays, stalls. Find out more about
funding, applications, charity law etc. Contact Gina
01663 735350 for further info. |
GETTING
YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS
A Series of 5 sessions. You can attend them all or just
choose which you need. Each is to be delivered twice to
give maximum opportunity to attend. All FREE
1. Marketing your Organisation - 17 Feb 1.30-4.30pm;
19 Feb 9.30-12.30pm
2. Radio - press releases and interview techniques
26 Feb 9.30-12.30pm
3. Newspapers - getting press releases into print
- 3 March 9.30-12.30pm; 5 March 1.30-4.30pm
4. Creating effective Newsletters - 10 March 9.30-12.30pm;
12 March 1.30-4.30pm
5. PowerPoint Presentations - 17March 9.30-12.30pm;
19 March 1.30-4.30pm
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE ABOVE COURSES, RING
GINA AT 01663 735350
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Awards
for All grants
£500-£5000 to groups that support community
activity. In our region the focus is particularly on Children
/ young people; Black and minority ethnic communities; Disabled
people or their carers; Older people and Groups in the most
deprived rural communities. For an application pack phone
0845 600 20 40.
BT
Community Connections this is your last chance for an
Award of £1000 for an internet ready computer and
12 months' subscription to the Internet. The last round's
closing date is 28 February. For further info go to btcommunityconnections.com
This
Newsletter is available in other formats - If you require
a copy in large print, Braille or on tape, please get in
touch.
For further information about any of these things, or the
Project in general, please contact :
Sandy Schofield
Small Group Project
C/o High Peak CVS,Unit 1a, Bingswood Trading Estate, Whaley
Bridge,
High Peak SK23 7LY
Telephone (01663) 735350 Email:sandy@highpeakcvs.org.uk |
FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES
Local Network Fund can give funds of between £250
and £7000 for groups working with and for disadvantaged
children and young people aged up to 19yrs. There are 4 themes
that groups can apply under:-
Aspirations and Experiences - achieving goals and having experiences
they might otherwise miss out on.
Economic Disadvantage - addressing family problems associated
with low income
Isolation and Access - support for those who feel alone or
are unable to access services
Children's Voices - a chance for children's opinions to be
heard.
For Application Pack ring 0845 113 0161
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Champions Fund supports people who want to change
their community for the better with grants up to £2000.
Funding is to help develop skills and knowledge so that
individuals are better equipped to achieve their aims.
It can pay for training, travel expenses, visits to similar
projects or help in overcoming particular barriers. If
you have a good idea that would benefit your community
ring Derbyshire Community Foundation on 01332 592050. |
Sandy Schofield -
Co-ordinator for Small Group Project
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