AVOW Summer Newsletter 2017 (English)

NEWS Issue No. 75

Summer 2017

CHARITY NUMBER 1043989 | CHARITY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE NUMBER 2993429 AVOW pages english.indd 1

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In this Issue Page 03.

A Message from Chief Officer, John Gallanders AVOW Annual General Meeting 04.

Volunteer’s Day 2017: Myths and Legends 05.

Volunteer’s Week: 1st - 7th June 2017 06.

DragonTale Productions: Day of the Dragon 08.

Upcoming Events 09.

Carers Achievments Dementia Friends 10.

Carers Week: 12th - 16th June 2017 11.

Funding Success 12.

Training Mayoral Reception for Volunteers Accomodation

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03.

A Message from Chief Officer John Gallanders

Local Elections have come and gone and we now have nearly half the Wrexham Council made up of first time Councillors. Whenever there are changes there is the need for all charities to make sure that they make all the Councillors aware of their services and activities. At AVOW we shall ensure that all Lead Members are aware of issues, concerns and opportunities where the Council can work in partnership with the Third Sector.

In the current economic climate of uncertainty for public services it is more important than ever that Local Authorities engage with those organisations that provide preventative services.

We will ensure that Council Members are aware of the value in investing in Third Sector organisations and the substantive Social Return On Investment (SROI) that can be achieved for every £1 spent on preventive provision which generates significant savings in expensive front line provision.

Action points for organisations: 1. Find out who the Councillors are for the areas that you operate in and ensure they are aware of what you do.

2. Find out who the Lead Members are is for your area of work and invite them to see what you do.

3. Arrange for Councillors to meet your beneficiaries, clients and service users.

4. Invite local Councillors to be Trustees.

5. Attend Council Scrutiny Meetings that cover your area of work.

6. Don’t be afraid to challenge Councillors on issues that affect your organisation 7. Don’t forget you have the right to submit a Public Question request to ask for answers at a Council Executive Board meeting.

8. If you have any problems with any funding/contract management contact AVOW. Openness and transparency is important for the Council but also applies for organisations needing to talk openly about issues.

General Election- Although at the time of writing it is yet to be held, there are bound to be ramifications for the Third Sector across the whole of the UK as none of the main stream Parties are paying much attention to the Third Sector in their manifestos and what it can offer to any Government. We shall all wait and see the outcome and the direction the country will be heading towards Brexit to ensure contact is maintained with our elected leadership.

Annual General Meeting

Guest Speaker - Kirsty Williams AM

Diary Marker AVOW Annual General Meeting Friday 21st July 2017 at The Catrin Finch Centre, Wrexham Glyndwr University

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Welsh Government - Cabinet Secretary for Education

Kirsty grew up in the village of Bynea, Carmarthenshire. Graduating from the University of Manchester with an Honours Degree in American studies. Kirsty worked for the Learning Resources Department of Carmarthenshire College in Llanelli before taking up a post as a Marketing and Public Relations Executive for a small business in Cardiff.

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Volunteers Day 10th June 2017

Llwyn Isaf, Wrexham 10am- 3.30pm

Stories in the Teepee from the Play Team DragonTale Workshops on Editing and Interviewing A Childrens Fancy Dress Competition A Mascot Fun Games Event Wood Carving Displays BBQ A Short Play on the Myths of Volunteering

AVOW | TÅ· Avow 21 Egerton Street | Wrexham | LL11 1ND Tel: 01978 312556 | Fax: 01978 352046 info@avow.org | www.avow.org Charity Number: 1043989 Company Limited by Guarantee Number: 2993429 AVOW pages english.indd 4

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05.

June 1st – 7th Volunteers' Week - time to say 'thank you'!

Volunteers' Week is an annual UK festival of volunteering. The main aims of the week are to recognise, reward and recruit volunteers.

Up and down the country there will be parties, award events and outings, recruitment fayres and exhibitions taking place, to recruit, reward and recognise volunteers.

Volunteer Taster Session AVOW will be decorating Room 1 at Tŷ Avow with volunteer related wall art to mark Volunteers’ Week.

Come down for cake and a chat with one of our enthusiastic staff members.

Monday 5th June 2017 9.30am—11am and 1pm—2pm At Tŷ Avow, Room 1, Egerton Street, Wrexham.

To book a space please e-mail vb@avow.org or call 01978 312556 and ask for the Volunteer Centre

Volunteer Managers Network The next Volunteer Managers Network will take place on Tuesday 27th June 2017 from 10am until at the HR Suite, Platform 1 at Llangollen Station.

The Guest Speaker is to be confirmed.

After the meeting there will be an opportunity for a limited number of individuals to travel on the 13.00 train arriving back in Llangollen at 14.40 free of charge so please book your place early to avoid disappointment.

Please confirm attendance to val.connelly@avow.org or phone Val Connelly on 01987 312556

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06.

DragonTale Productions

DragonTale Productions Project Launch DragonTale Productions are a £500,000 National Lottery-funded project which aims to capture the single biggest collection of people’s lives in North Wales through radio.

AVOW, Wrexham Glyndŵr University and CAIS have joined forces to launch the initiative which will gather stories via a mobile podcasting van over the next three years.

DragonTale Productions is the new name for Recovery Radio, a project run through AVOW which has provided ambassadors in Recovery to record, edit and produce world-class radio content. Using a purpose-built purple van fitted out with professional broadcasting equipment, DragonTale will tour North Wales collecting a story archive, engaging with communities while providing recovering substance users and members of the public with new skills.

A weekly one-hour show featuring interviews with people at the heart of Welsh communities will be made available online during the course of the three-year project. Regular broadcasts will also go out via community radio stations in North Wales, including Point FM, Radio Flintshire, Deeside Radio and Tudno FM. Charlie Jones, of DragonTale Productions, said “DragonTale Productions is all about telling the stories of ordinary people with extraordinary lives. This funding will allow us to do exactly that across all of North Wales. We want to hear from everyone, from all walks of life and we’ll be as visible as possible in all of the communities we visit.”

Angela Ferguson, Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Media Communications at Glyndwr Unversity, Wrexham, said “This is a fantastic project on so many levels, from community engagement to skills. For the students it’s a unique opportunity to work on a real-life initiative which will provide them with the skills they need as a journalist as they prepare to embark on careers in the media.”

Day of the Dragon Launch at Gwrych Castle

DragonTale Ambassadors

DragonTale Van

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07.

DragonTale Productions

The Launch Friday 24th February 2017 saw the launch of the project in the fabulous grounds at Gwrych Castle in Abergele. The launch signalled the beginning of the three-year project and the unveiling of the much anticipated DragonTale van. The van, adorned with Dragon wrap exterior and Dead Nice Camper’s bespoke interior, made its maiden journey through the castle grounds, witnessed by esteemed guests and ambassadors from the battlements.

The Day of the Dragon launch was broadcasted live through Point FM Community Radio and broadcast via link through community radio stations across North Wales. The DragonTale team and ambassadors were joined by local musicians from across North Wales including Before the Storm, Unplugged – Carl and Lee from Llangollen and vocalist and Glyndŵr University Student Mentor Sophie Francis.

During the proceedings Fear Theatre, the original Recovery Radio group from Champion’s House who will now become Ambassadors for DragonTale, took the stage and performed ‘Ghastly Goings-on at Gwrych’ by Chris Harris.

The broadcast was brought to a close by guest piper John Fraser.

John Leece Jones, Chair of AVOW, said “The event was much enjoyed by all - a great start to a fine project.”

Following the broadcast, DragonTale took the opportunity to thank and celebrate their Ambassadors for their continued support of the project and its aims.

Rona Aldrich, Vice-chair Wales Committee, Big Lottery Fund said “I have no doubt that DragonTale Productions will go on, and quickly, to great things.

I look forward to hearing and reading about your success” Special recognition was given to Ambassador Daryl McCarthy for his incredible contribution to DragonTale Productions, through capturing the identity of DragonTale Productions by his concept, design, and production of the DragonTale logo. Charlie Jones, DragonTale Project Manager, presented Daryl with gifts from the Corn Mill, Llangollen; Llangollen Railway; and Cornerstones, Llangollen; and then called forward Community Champion, Josh Vella, on behalf of A.P.Blakemore, who duly presented Daryl with a cheque in recognition of his positive re-engagement with the community.

#whatsyourstory DragonTale will now continue on their quest. They will be asking #whatsyourstory and travelling across North Wales to secure the biggest storytelling archive of the people of North Wales for the benefit of future generations.

Follow the DragonTale journey through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Soundcloud, or through their website: http://avow.org/en/dragontale/ DragonTale Stones

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09.

Wrexham Carers Achievement

Gill Cartwright recieves the Marsh Award for Volunteers for Wales.

AVOW’s Wrexham Carers Service are pleased to announce that our Telephone Befriending volunteer, Gill Cartwright has been awarded the Marsh Award for Volunteers for Wales.

As well as telephone befriending and being a memeber of Friends of Wrexham Carers Service, Gill is also a volunteer with Cub Scouts and a ‘Robin’ at Chirk Hospital amongst other voluntary service that she undertakes.

We are very grateful to all our volunteers, who provide an amazing servie for our Carers.

Dementia Friends Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition.

Wrexham Carers Service and Dementia Friends

Whether you attend a face-to-face Information Session or watch the online video, Dementia Friends is about learning more about dementia and the small ways you can help. From telling your friends about the Dementia Friends programme to visiting someone you know living with dementia, every action counts.

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CARERS WEEK

12th-16th JUNE

Do you care for a family member or friend with an illness or disability? _______

Raising Awareness Of Carers Issues We are pleased to be involved with Carers Week 2017, helping to raise awareness of Carers issues and reach out to those with a caring role in Wrexham.

WHAT’S ON……………..

Mon 12th June - Information Stand 9am onwards The Open Market, Queens Square, Wrexham Tues 13th June - Carers Day Trip - Southport*

9.30am – 4.30pm £5 per person with priority for Carers Wed 14th June 10am - 3pm

Information Stand Sainsburys, Plas Coch, Wrexham

Thurs 15th June - Afternoon Tea, 2pm hosted by Friends of Wrexham Carers at T� AVOW, Egerton Street, Wrexham

Fri 16th June 10am-3pm

- Information Stand Wrexham Maelor Hospital

*Booking required for this event

Info stands can also be found at various GP surgeries throughout the week.

Elderly parents? A husband or wife? A child with a disability?

A sibling? Or maybe a neighbour? ________ We can provide information & support that could help you in your caring role. Please get in touch. _______

WREXHAM CARERS SERVICE AVOW Egerton Street Wrexham LL11 1ND 0800 276 1070 carers@avow.org

For further information on all the week’s activities please contact: 0800 276 1070 or carers@avow.org AVOW pages english.indd 10

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11.

Funding Success

AVOW’s Funding and Advice Officer, Heather Hicks, actively assists AVOW’s members in identifying and applying for funding. Here are a couple of success stories;

SHUG Sheltered Housing Umbrella Group were successful with a funding bid, to upgrade the furniture in the Cae’r Glo Community Rooms in Wrexham, so that all residents can take part in communal activities and social events.

The £3,221 Awards for All grant has funded furniture suitable for the needs of residents with mobility issues, plus three entertainment events to reduce social isolation.

Black Lane School Junior Savers and Enterprise Club Pupils at Black Lane Primary School, Pentre Broughton are learning how to manage their money, thanks to a £4,750 grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

A Junior Saver and Enterprise Club has been launched with a financial literacy element which will provide pupils with an understanding of money and the practical experience of money management as part of a drive to raise the level of children's financial awareness.

Understanding finance will create sensible, positive attitudes to money and saving in children and young people, and helping children learn to budget will help avoid debt problems in adult life. The project will also enhance children's math skills, through educating them on the benefits of saving which is very important in the current times.

David Perkins, of SHUG and Heather Hicks, AVOW Funding Advice Development Officer

Heather Hicks Funding Advice Officer

Another major part of the project is to introduce entrepreneurship and enterprise which will encourage children to think of business as an alternative employment option. This will be an extra curriculum activity where each pupil will be asked to develop a business idea at the “Young Enterprise Club” with a competition to pitch their idea to select the best going forward for further development.

Nigel Davies, LEA Governor of the school said “It has never been more important for children to gain financial awareness as they are being regularly bombarded by irresponsible advertising and too many families are becoming trapped in problem debt. The initiative is an important step towards changing this”.

Community Development Phone: 01978 312556 Email: heather.hicks@avow.org

Pupils from Black Lane School AVOW pages english.indd 11

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12.

Training

Avow provides courses for individuals of voluntary and community groups to help improve skills and sustainability of local services.

Emergency First Aid at Work Friday16th June 2017 9:00am to 4:30pm Ty Avow, 21 Egerton Street, Wrexham £65pp

An Introduction to Communtiy Fundraising Tuesday 26th September 2017 1:00pm to 4:30pm Ty Avow, 21 Egerton Street, Wrexham

The training aims to provide techniques in emergency first aid including resuscitation, treating the unconsicous person and treating serious medical conditions.

Everything you need to start fundraising for your cause!

Plus information about free membership of the Localgiving fundraising platform and £200 match funding.

Booking is essential!

Members receive a 10% discount!

Email: communitycourses@avow.org or Call: 01978 312556 to book your place or visit www.avow.org/training-booking/ Mayoral Reception for Volunteers The Mayor of Wrexham (Councillor John Pritchard) and Mayoress (Mrs Ann Pritchard) gave a Reception in the Council Chamber and Mayor’s Parlour at the Guildhall, Wrexham in recognition of volunteering in the County Borough.

Among the guests present were representatives of The Robins Hospital Volunteers, Home Start, Phillip Jones of Advance Brighter Futures and Mrs Val Shields of Gresford all recently nominated for the High Sheriff of Clwyd’s Community Awards 2017.

Office Accomodation AVOW currently has office accommodation to let.

Please contact Ken Rowlands on 01978 312556 for more information.

The Mayor with representatives of Voluntary Organisations and AVOW

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