the echo Developing a high quality, proactive voluntary sector for the benefit of the residents of Dudley Borough by positively engaging partners in support of voluntary activity.
Dudley CVS Chairman Signs Historic Asset Transfer Agreement Dudley CVS Chairman, Mike Abrahams, has signed a 25 year lease agreement with Dudley MBC that will see a redundant council building being brought back into use as a public amenity. The former day care centre and Age UK Dudley HQ in Stafford Street, Dudley, has been unoccupied for over three years. Dudley CVS plans to renovate and restore the building as a health and well-being Mike Abrahams hub in the heart of Dudley, working in partnership with voluntary sector organisations and statutory sector partners. Caroline Webb, Dudley CVS Senior Development Officer, said: “This is the first asset transfer in Dudley borough that has used the model procedures drawn up by Dudley MBC and Dudley CVS. It is a really exciting adventure for all of us at CVS and we are looking forward to seeing the building once more being utilised, not only in the daytime and weekdays, but also evenings and weekends for community activities and private functions.” There will be regular updates on the Stafford Street building refurbishment project in future Echo Stafford Street, Dudley newsletters. Dudley CVS offers support and guidance to local voluntary and community organisations considering taking advantage of land and buildings asset transfer opportunities in Dudley borough. Contact Caroline Webb on 01384 573381. E-mail:carolinewebb@dudleycvs.org.uk
In this issue November 2014 Front Page Asset Transfer signed Hope Centre Queen’s Award
News Pencil cases packed Personal Health Budgets Event for disability groups Moto in the community Advantage charities New befriending service In a Nutshell
Funding Clothworkers Foundation George Henry Collins Eleanor Peel Trust Sylvia Waddilove Foundation Hilden Charitable Fund Heritage Lottery Fund Headley Trust British Foreign School
News Safeguarding adults Reaching Communities Talent Match update Screwfix Foundation
Volunteering Dudley Volunteer Awards Newlife needs volunteers
Our Services What we can do for you
Hope Centre’s Royal appointment…….. Dudley CVS sends congratulations to Camilla Philips and her dedicated team of volunteers at The Hope Centre in Halesowen for earning the Queen’s Award for Volunteering. The Duke of Gloucester presented the certificate, personally signed by the Queen, in October.
AVAILABLE IN LARGE PRINT ON REQUEST Visit our website www.dudleycvs.org.uk
NEWS
Pencil Cases Packed and Ready to Go The first one hundred pencil cases for the Dudley CVS Pick-Up-and-Pack-a Pencil-CaseAppeal are ready to be distributed to local voluntary groups which support children and families in Dudley borough. Five hundred pencil cases have been supplied by Brian Lacey of Alfabet Ltd, based in Lye and a donation of ÂŁ250 from Paul Billingsley of Kingswinford based Accord Steel Cladding has enabled Dudley CVS to purchase a selection of geometry sets, pencils, pens, postits and even scientific calculators. Staff at Blaze hairdressers in Kingswinford gave up their lunch breaks to pack the cases. The pencil cases are deliberately anonymous and with slightly different contents so that they cannot be identified by fellow pupils. They will help equip some of the 15,000 children in Dudley borough living in households where income is classed as being below the poverty line, with one of the basic needs of the classroom. If your voluntary group knows of children and families who might benefit from receiving pencil cases, please contact Eileen Fielding at Dudley CVS on 01384 573381. E-mail: volunteer@dudleycvs.org.uk
Personal Health Budgets Langstone Society and Headway Black Country are working with local CCGs and NHS England to raise public awareness about Personal Health Budgets. Since last month, people eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare have a right to a personal health budget, including a direct payment for healthcare. A personal health budget is an amount of money to support a person's identified health and wellbeing needs. The health and wellbeing needs are planned and appropriate budgets agreed between the person and their local NHS team. From April next year personal health budgets will be offered more widely, for example, to people with long term health conditions or people with mental health problems. Langstone Society and Headway Black Country have been appointed to help inform local voluntary and community organisations about personal health budgets and the role they can play in advising their service users. Langstone Society is a registered charity operating across the borough of Dudley and provides a diverse range of services for disabled people. Headway Black Country supports brain injury survivors, their carers and families whose lives are often turned upside down by a brain injury. For further information E-mail: stephen@headwayblackcountry.co.uk or pjaunzems@langstonesociety.co.uk
Showcase event for groups representing people with disabilities An event to showcase the work of local voluntary organisations, community groups and charities which represent people with disabilities is planned for 3rd December at Insight House in Pearson Street, Brierley Hill. Groups are invited to take along small displays and promotional materials and to speak about the work they do. A number of local organisations have already indicated their intention to attend, including: Pocklington Trust, Age UK Dudley, Spurgeons and MacMillan Nurses. The non-political event is being hosted by Craig Greenwell, who is a Disability Officer for the Labour Party. For further information call Craig Greenwell on 01384 830322. Dudley CVS Locality Link Officers will also be attending.
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NEWS
Moto in the Community Trust The Moto in the Community Trust is the charitable arm of Moto Hospitality, the UK’s leading motorway service area provider. The Trust aims to make a real difference to communities around Moto’s 63 locations by enabling each location the opportunity to adopt a local community partner that will benefit from: • Visiting their partnered Moto site; • Exhibiting publicity material; • Collecting for their own registered charity on specific fundraising days; • Taking advantage of the grant scheme. Organisations interested in becoming a local community partner should first e-mail information about their charity to Moto stating the service area nearest to their location (must be within a 25 mile radius of a Moto site). They should also provide details of their short and long term objectives along with ideas on how Moto staff can work with them. Local community partnerships run from 1st January to 31st December each year. For more information call 01525 714467. E-mail: motocharity@talking360.com Website: motointhecommunity.co.uk/local-charities
In a nutshell... From online trading to selling services, such as consultancy or training, many charities are finding new ways to raise income to deliver their work.
advant~age, is a national social enterprise set up to help not for profit organisations to raise funds through commercial trading. This is achieved by enabling charities to sell products and services, such as funeral plans/flowers and gifts to their supporters and service users. advant~age currently works with over 25 charities across the UK helping them raise unrestricted income. For more information, contact Jenni Brighton on 0121 262 3036 E-mail: jenni.brighton@advant-age.co.uk Website: www.advant-age.co.uk
West Midlands Police is inviting members of the public to nominate deserving police officers, PCSOs, civilian members of police staff, special constables or community members for the 2014/2015 Diamond Awards. There are ten award categories and the deadline for nominations is 31st December 2014. For further information go to: www.dudleycvs.org.uk/latest-news-top/898police-seek-public-votes.html A free legal information day for parents and carers of disabled children and their families is planned for November 27th in Kings Heath, Birmingham. For further information go to: www.dudleycvs.org.uk/latest-news-top/901free-legal-information-day.html
Dudley MBC Housing Support unit is looking for volunteers to be part of a new befriending service call Stay Connected. Volunteers will provide support to council tenants in maintaining their tenancies. The volunteers will ideally be people with some spare time and who are community-minded with good inter-personal social skills. Examples of volunteer help includes finding information and advice for the service user. For more information call Saima Irfan on 07827 873394 or e-mail saima.irfan@dudley.gov.uk
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FUNDING
This foundation’s aim is to improve the quality of life for people and communities facing disadvantage. It provides capital funding for registered charities through the two grant programmes: 1. Main: above £1,000 (average £25,000); 2. Small: £500-£10,000 (average £7,000) where annual turnover is below £250,000 and projects cost less than £100,000. Organisations applying must work in one or more of the following priority areas: • Alcohol/substance misuse supporting people affected by drug and/or alcohol dependency and their families; • People with physical/learning disabilities and/or mental health issues; • Disadvantaged young people such as those in or leaving care or not in employment, education or training; • People affected by domestic or sexual violence or abuse; • Elderly people particularly those living in areas of high deprivation; • Homelessness; • Minority communities facing both disadvantage and discrimination; • Prisoners/ex-offenders and their families; • Visual impairment. For more information go to: foundation.clothworkers.co.uk/Who-weare.aspx
George Henry Collins Charity Small grants (up to £250) are available for registered charities undertaking charitable activities within a 25 mile radius of Birmingham city centre. Applications can be made at any time. For more information, contact Chrissy Norgrove, c/o Martineau Johnson, 1 Colmore Square, Birmingham B4 6AA. Tel: 0870 763 1487 or E-mail: E-mail: christine.norgrove@sghmartineau.com
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Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust has a preference for organisations in the North West of England but support work elsewhere. The Trust only provides capital grants to registered charities in the following categories: 1. Elderly people and carers; 2. Disadvantaged people including those affected by disability, mental ill health and homelessness. Closing date for general grants applications is 31st December 2014 for trustees meeting 25th March 2015. For more information E-mail Mr. A J Twitchett (secretary). secretary@peeltrust.com Website: www.peeltrust.com/general_grants.html Pothecary, Witham, Weld solicitors manage the Sylvia Waddilove Foundation fund. Applicants must meet all of the essential criteria as well as fitting in with other desirable criteria. The majority of grants are for capital spend on buildings/purchase of materials and equipment. Areas of interest include: 1. Visual and performing arts providing grants up to £7,500 for capital costs and up to £1,000 for running costs; 2. Relief of disability/illness - grants up to £7,500; 3. Accommodation (temporary or permanent) for people in need with grants up to £12,500 available; 4. Skills based training of young people – grants up to £5,000. For more information, call 020 7821 8211. E-mail: waddilove@pwwsolicitors.co.uk Website: www.pwwsolicitors.co.uk/fundingapplications/13-the-sylvia-waddilovefoundation-uk
FUNDING
The Hilden Charitable Fund provides grants to projects that address disadvantage as follows: 1. Homelessness; 2. Asylum seekers and refugees; 3. Community based initiatives for disadvantaged young people aged 16-25; 4. Penal affairs. The average grant awarded is £5,000 and preference is given to organisations with an income of less than £500,000 per year. The Trust will consider funding projects as well as core running costs. The next application deadline is 5th December 2014. For more information, call 020 7603 1525 E-mail: hildencharity@hotmail.com Website: www.hildencharitablefund.org.uk
Headley Trust is one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts. Amongst their many areas of interest is to support projects or work addressing health and social welfare issues such as: • Support for elderly people of limited means/dementia sufferers to maintain their independence; • Housing provision for older people; • Music therapy for older people; • Support for older carers of an ill or disabled relative; • Family and parenting support; • Access and practical aids for disabled people. Applications can be made at anytime. For more information, contact The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts: Tel: 020 7410 0330 Address: The Peak, 5 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1AP Website: www.sfct.org.uk/the-headley-trust
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) HLF is providing two funds to mark the centenary of the First World War: 1. Then and now (£300-£10,000) to enable a wide range of people, particularly the younger generation, to understand the war and its impact; 2. Understanding WW1 (£10,000£100,000 and £100,000 plus) for people of all ages to reflect on the events of the war, peoples experiences and how the war has shaped the last 100 years. HLF will support a range of projects/ activities reflecting the heritage of the First World War that are valued and can be passed on to future generations. Applications can be made at any time. For more information see websites www.hlf.org.uk/HowToApply/programmes/ Pages/FirstWorldWarThenandNow.aspx and www.hlf.org.uk/HowToApply/ whatwefund/firstworldwar/Pages/ FirstWorldWar.aspx The British and Foreign School Society (BFSS) supports educational projects in the UK and around the world with grants totalling around £500,000 a year. The majority (85%) are made to registered charities and educational bodies within the UK and internationally that reach out to children in remote or impoverished areas, improving inclusivity in education and providing much-needed facilities. The next closing date for applications is 2nd January 2015. For more information, call Belinda Lawrance on 01883 331177. E-mail: enquiries@bfss.org.uk Website: www.bfss.org.uk/grants
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NEWS
Dudley Safeguarding Adults is hosting a training day on Wednesday 3rd December between 1.00pm and 4.30pm at Halesowen Library. The training is for anyone who provides care or support to an adult at risk of abuse living in their own home in Dudley borough. It is not appropriate for staff who work in residential homes. The course aims to empower participants to protect those adults at risk of abuse by providing an overview of doorstep crime and scams which target those who may be especially vulnerable. For further information and to reserve a place on the course, contact Julie Totney, Safeguarding Adults Training Administrator. E-mail: julie.totney@dudley.gov.uk
Dudley has got Talent...Match Managers of Talent Match Black Country have issued an update on the progress of the £10.3million project which aims to improve the employment prospects for hundreds of young (18-24) unemployed adults in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. With the project planning and development stages now complete, Black Country Talent Match is now moving into delivery stage. A communications hub and 5 physical hubs have been set up across the Black Country, with 14 organisations in contractual relationships to help deliver the project objectives. Dudley College is the base for the Dudley hub which includes three voluntary/ community organisations: The What Centre, Just Straight Talk and Top Church Training. Over 50 other voluntary groups across have expressed an interest in being part of the Talent match delivery programme. Follow the link to see the full Talent Match update: www.dudleycvs.org.uk/latestnews-top/906-talent-match-up-and-ready-to -go.html
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The Big Lottery Fund (BLF) has announced a change to its Reaching Communities programme. All stage two (and Buildings programme stage three) applicants will be offered an optional additional sum of money to build their organisation’s capacity and/or capabilities. This new funding is additional to any training, evaluation or overhead costs already included in the applicants project budget and is focused on building the capabilities of the entire organisation. The maximum amount available is £15,000 or 10% on project budgets up to £150,000 per application. Funding can be used for training in a variety of development activities such as strategic planning, involving/consulting service users, impact practice (monitoring/evaluation) and fund raising/income generation. This pilot initiative will run for 2 years and the additional grant must be spent in the first year of the project. For more information, call 08454 10 20 30 E-mail: general.enquiries@biglotteryfund.org.uk Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/globalcontent/press-releases/ england/151014_eng_rc_develop-skills-andknowledge
Screwfix Foundation support causes that will change people's lives, helping registered charities with funding for a variety of projects. Organisations in deprived areas can apply for grants to repair their buildings and improve facilities for beneficiaries. Applications can be submitted at anytime. For more information, contact: Address: The Screwfix Foundation, Trade House, Mead Avenue, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 8RT. Website: www.screwfix.com/jsp/landing.jsp? id=ScrewfixFoundation
VOLUNTEERING
Dudley Volunteer Awards 2014 Round Up Brierley Hill Civic Hall was packed to the rafters last month (Thursday 16 October) to celebrate all that is great about volunteering in Dudley borough. Awards were presented by local civic, business and community leaders to winners in nine categories: Business Supporting the Community Award: Paul Billingsley of Accord Steel Cladding, Kingswinford; Community Action Award: Shamim Akhtar of Direxions, Stourbridge; Healthy Communities Award: Springboard Exercise Volunteers, part of Age UK Dudley based in Brierley Hill; Wellbeing Award: shared between Heavens Kitchen Volunteers and Daryll Garland who volunteers with a variety of youth groups; Arts & Heritage Award: Black Country Museum Transport Group Volunteers; Children & Families Award: Gary James, a pioneering fundraiser for children’s charities, especially the NSPCC; Sporting Champion: John Cheadle, a table tennis legend in the Bromley and Pensnett area for over 45 years; Young Volunteer of the Year: Joshua Dudley of Lye who has so far raised over £36,000 for the Midlands Air Ambulance Service; Gordon Lindsay Award for long service to voluntary work: Heather Cruickshanks of Stourbridge for over 36 years service to the Girl Guide movement. Black Country Radio broadcast live from the Civic Hall throughout the awards, with presenters, Phil Dent and Steve Welch interviewing each of the winners immediately after receiving their awards. For further information visit the Dudley CVS website: www.dudleycvs.org.uk/latest-news -top/896-dudley-volunteer-awards-2014round-up.html
Seeks Volunteers to train as Peer Support Workers A new community outreach project in Birmingham and the Black Country is aiming to make a real difference to the everyday lives of disabled children who struggle to get the specialist equipment support they need. Reaching Out is a two-year support programme operated by two charities: Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children and Include Me TOO, with backing from the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund. Outreach support workers from Include Me TOO will be working with local groups and communities, particularly those from black, asian and minority ethnic backgrounds to make more families aware of the specialist help available through Newlife Foundation’s equipment services. Reaching Out is currently seeking to recruit local volunteers with experience of caring for a disabled child to become peer support workers to parents and carers. A five day training programme for peer support volunteers begins on Tuesday 18th in Wolverhampton between 9.30am and 2.30pm followed by training days on 25th November; 9th December; 13th January and 20th January 2015. All participants who complete the five day programme will receive a certification and support. For more information call Melanie on 07508 848920 or 01902 711604. Full details go to website: www.dudleycvs.org.uk/latest-news-top/903new-project-to-help-local-disabled-childrenneeds-volunteers.html
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How can we help?
DUDLEY CVS works with all community and voluntary groups, however small or large the organisation. We work with a range of partners, putting us at the forefront of voluntary and community sector representation. KEEP UP TO DATE Visit our website www.dudleycvs.org.uk to find out about new developments affecting the voluntary sector, locally and nationally. BECOME A MEMBER Membership is free to any voluntary and community organisation operating in Dudley. Sign up today and start enjoying a range of services and support. SOURCING FUNDING If your group is considering options for funding, Dudley CVS can help you identify sources of funding and assist in developing funding applications.
SPECIALIST HELP Dudley CVS offers support tailored to suit your specific needs. Our Core Service Officers have years of experience available to local organisations. Help is wide ranging and includes, among other services: community engagement; enterprise development; asset management; business planning; legal structures and conflict resolution. GROUP DEVELOPMENT Established larger organisations can sign up to our Building Blocks organisational development toolkit. New, emerging and developing small groups can receive expert oneto-one guidance through our Route Map programme.
CHILDREN’S SERVICES Dudley CVS has officers dedicated to the needs of children and young people, families and those organisations and professionals working with children in Dudley VOLUNTEERING Dudley CVS Volunteer Centre provides all the expertise that would-be volunteers and volunteer managers might need. Guidance and training on managing, legislation recruitment and retaining volunteers is available all year round. We can also match up those seeking to volunteer to those groups looking to recruit volunteers. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE With health services under review, our assigned support officers are in much demand by both services providers and service users.
PUBLICITY Our marketing and communications officers can help local groups to raise their profile and maximise their promotional needs. Advice on producing newsletters, leaflets promotional materials and media relations. INTERFAITH Dudley CVS has a dedicated support officer to the Dudley Borough Interfaith Network which brings together Network members to develop greater understanding between faith communities. ADMIN SUPPORT Voluntary groups requiring ad hoc or regular support with learning basic computer skills, printing, mailings, book-keeping, payroll etc. can use Dudley CVS admin services at very competitive rates. CAN’T SEE WHAT YOU NEED? Call the number below.
For additional information about all CVS services contact: Telephone: 01384 573381 E-mail: info@dudleycvs.org.uk