Kva newsletter july 2013

July 2013

Newsletter The newsletter for Kingston’s voluntary & community sector

The Skiff Club took part in an awesome challenge to raise funds for Love Kingston, rowing from Lechlade to Teddington over four days. Thanks team! Find out who

else has been donating to Love Kingston on page 5.

Are you ready for RideLondon?

Last summer was the highlight of the year with the memorable and outstanding event of the Olympics. We all miss the exciting games, especially the Cycle Races that passed through our town, where our very own Sir Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain won a Gold Medal. Without your marshalling support, the races would not have been so successful.

To celebrate the wonderful achievement of all the Olympic British Gold Medallists, Boris Johnson and his agencies have created a new two day festival of cycling over the first August weekend.

In this edition Contacts in KVA

2

News

2

Funding

7

Go Kingston Volunteering news

9

Health & Social Care

11

ICT Hub

12

Training & events

14

Keep up to date with KVA online:

twitter.com/KingstonVA

Continued on page 9 Kingston Voluntary Action, Siddeley House, 50 Canbury Park Road, Kingston KT2 6LX Tel: 020 8255 3335 Fax: 020 8255 8804 Email: info@kva.org.uk Website: www.kva.org.uk Registered Charity No. 257551

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News

Editorial Sorrel Parsons Hilary Garner Lynda Evans

Editor Chief Executive Deputy Chief Executive

Kingston Voluntary Action 020 8255 3335 Hilary Garner Lynda Evans Maria Tunmer Patricia Turner Zahida Saddiq Sanja Kane

Chief Executive Deputy Chief Executive Joint Health & Social Care Manager Joint Health & Social Care Manager Capacity Building Manager Transforming Kingston’s Infrastructure Project Co-ordinator Sorrel Parsons Information & Communications Co-ordinator Judith Naylor Children & Young People First Project Worker Julie Woodhouse Community Accountant Lesley Chesterman Temporary Accountant Michael Green Community Hub Project Development Polly Healy Administrator Sue Lawrence Finance Administrator

Kingston Community Furniture 020 8942 5500 Adrian Collins James Deane

Project Manager Operations Manager

Eco-Op Project Co-ordinator Workshop Supervisor Unit Supervisor Bike Trainer Bike Mechanic Support Worker

Superhighways 020 8255 8040 Kate White Colin Cregan Nine Htet Sue Quilter

Manager ICT Support Worker ICT Support Worker Admin Worker

GO Kingston Volunteering 020 8255 8685 Maria Dockrill Position vacant Douglas Craik Karen Demptser Jenny Graves

Are you looking for new premises for your community group?

If you fancy working in one of the most iconic and beautiful spaces in Kingston, then your luck may be in...there are office spaces now at Kaleidoscope (as the Substance abuse charities have moved out).

The building is a light and airy modern space, with a full height central atrium, a garden, a cafe area opening onto a decking balcony and car parking spaces.

There is a shared meeting room and all the offices at the back of the building on the ground floor open straight onto the garden. It is a fantastic space for volunteers to work - not at all the usual 'cupboards' without windows that we often use!

If you want to find out more, phone Hilary Pannack on 020 8546 4665 or 07957 603 705.

Energy saving help for your home

Kingston Eco-Op 020 8942 5503 Bart Ricketts Chris Williamson Sinead Mccormack Jonathan Rowland Marcus Greatwood Sam Carey

www.kva.org.uk

Manager Buddy Scheme Co-ordinator CRT Co-ordinator Volunteer Project Support Volunteer Interviewer

New non-profit organisation greendealcentral.org.uk Ltd is trying to arrange free Solar Panels and External Wall Insulation (EWI) for households in the UK. Visit http://bit.ly/152BbEG or call 07767 640323 to find out more.

Got some good news to share?

If you have some great news, know of a useful resource to share or would like to advertise in this newsletter please contact the editor.

Next edition: October to December Deadline for copy: 12 September 2013 Membership of KVA

Please recycle this newsletter Rather receive it by email?

If you would like to amend your contact details or prefer to receive the newsletter by email please contact the editor.

Membership is open to all voluntary and community groups who are based or work in Kingston. For details of how to become a member contact Polly Healy admin@kva.org.uk

Disclaimer: information contained in the Newsletter and inserts come from a wide range of sources. Opinions or statements expressed may not necessarily reflect those of KVA. KVA aims to ensure all information is correct and up to date.

News

Page 3

Child poverty seminar discusses impact of welfare reform in Kingston On 8th May, KVA held a Seminar on Child Poverty in Kingston in partnership with Kingston Council. The focus of the day was the likely impact of the welfare reform changes. There were presentations from: Kate Bell from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) on the early impact of the benefit cuts across London Mary Francis from RBK reported on progress on the RBK Child Poverty Strategy.

Paul Pickhaver gave an update on the increasing demand for Kingston FoodBank Michelle Boundy explained how the local Credit Union, SurreySave operates Justine Rego from RBK presented the latest data on Child Poverty levels locally.

Presentations are available on the KVA website at: http://bit.ly/12DYJfv Impact in Kingston Voluntary and community organisations in Kingston are facing increasing demands for help from clients whose benefits are affected by the changes. This is likely to increase further as the Benefit Cap is introduced in Kingston on July 15th.

Statistical information from Kingston Council shows that lone parents are the largest group most affected by benefit changes.

Norbiton is the ward most affected by the “Bedroom Tax” and the Benefit Cap,

followed by Chessington North and Hook.

The picture across London

useful by members of the voluntary sector.

Significant joined up work across the borough related to analysing, supporting and CPAG is collecting evidence guiding individuals in from across London of how people are being affected by Kingston that are being affected by welfare benefit the benefit changes. Kate changes. RBK set up a Bell at CPAG is setting up a monitoring project to assess corporate welfare reform project; Turn2us telephone the impact of the cuts. support helpline and online If you have any data on the support has been effective increase in demand for your for advisers who are helping organisation or case studies clients to maximise their of how families have been incomes. affected, please email them Increased joint working, for to Judith Naylor at KVA, example RBK Housing cwd@kva.org.uk to be working with CAB on Debt passed on to Kate.

Relief orders; with Kingston Child Poverty Strategy: Centre for Independent Success Factors in Living on how best to Kingston support families with Mary Francis, RBK’s Strategic initiatives, such a discretionary housing Lead on Child Poverty, quoted these success factors, payments, and with the Resettlement team on many from voluntary and families in need. The RBK community groups in her Report to Kingston Strategic Lodgers Scheme and the Rent Deposit Scheme are Partnership. These factors considered positive sources emerged at the Seminar: of help.

Increased use of Crowdmap Increased publicity and to log the incidence of involvement in SurreySave; poverty issues in Kingston the credit union was (CAB coordinated), such as extended to Kingston in 2012 use of the Food Bank and providing access to savings residents reporting lack of and loans for Kingston access to legal aid. residents, including those Kingston Observatory suffering financial exclusion. (www.kingston.gov.uk/kdo) £250,000 has been loaned to provided easy access to the the community. Training and latest data related to child publicity have been provided poverty, following release of regarding loan shark activity.

2011 census data. It has Continued on page 6 been deemed extremely

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www.kva.org.uk

News

Kingston Chamber of Commerce chooses Love Kingston We are thrilled that Kingston Chamber of Commerce have chosen Love Kingston to be the Chamber’s charity for 2013/14.

The President applauded the achievements of Love Kingston when it was announced at their AGM in May and encouraged everyone to get behind the campaign.

Jerry Irving said “Kingston Chamber of Commerce is delighted to confirm its support for Love Kingston as our chosen charity for the next 12 months.

demonstrate their support for the wider local community.

Love Kingston’s new campaign supports five local projects committed to “pathways out of poverty” and Kingston Chamber looks forward to working alongside Elaine and her colleagues to ensure their success”.

We look forward to working with Kingston Chamber of Commerce over the coming months.

Charity is an important aspect of corporate responsibility for any business and, through the Chamber, members are able to

More news from Love Kingston We are delighted that CNM Estates has recently become a founding donor of Love Kingston.

Waitrose Surbiton recently raised £492 through their Community Matters coin scheme.

Find out more or donate to Love Kingston at www.love-kingston.org.uk

Visit www.love-kingston.org.uk or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ LoveKingstonDay

Love Kingston is now on Twitter. Follow us @LvKingston and chat with us on #lovekingston

Support vulnerable people with changes to mobile network Do you work with older people or vulnerable adults who are registered either as disabled, blind or partially sighted? If you do then we want to work with you to ensure that broadcast services that your users depend are not interrupted this summer when the new mobile network, 4G, is activated.

nobody needs to lose their services and help is available to everybody.

Please contact us immediately to arrange a time when we can come to see you. understand what’s happening and what they can do to ensure that their services aren’t affected.

Over the next two months we will be reaching out across Kingston to make sure that the most vulnerable people

We want to come to your events, your lunch clubs or your meetings and speak to the people you work with.

The message is simple:

Call Christopher Burton on 07588 813 189 for more information or to arrange a time when we can visit.

Further information can be found at www.at800.tv Kingston Voluntary Action is working with at800 to ensure vulnerable adults do not lose their TV services.

News

Page 5

Age Concern Kingston and Kingston Community Furniture are joining forces Two organisations which support vulnerable people in the local community are merging in order to maintain and improve the services they offer to local people.

Kingston Community Furniture (KCF) was established by Kingston Voluntary Action (KVA) in 2005 with the aim of offering quality used furniture at affordable rates to low income groups, and at the same time reducing landfill.

KVA, which supports the local voluntary sector and helps set up new voluntary groups, has run KCF since then. Having successfully developed KCF into an important local resource KVA’s Board decided to look for a new partner for the project to merge with, as long term running of practical services is not part of its remit. After investigating several options the Board has agreed that another local voluntary group and KVA member, Age Concern Kingston,

would be the best organisation for KCF to merge with.

Age Concern Kingston has been providing services to local people for over 65 years, and more recently through its intergenerational projects working with young people, and its outreach services - Handyperson and Help@Home, offers support to other vulnerable people in the borough as well. It sees these and its Housing Choices service, which assists people who would like to downsize their accommodation to something more suitable to their needs, as a good fit with the KCF service.

Sharing management and administrative services makes the activities of both organisations more cost effective. In addition the combined organisations can take advantage of future opportunities which will increase the benefits to the local community.

Hilary Garner CEO of KVA

said: ‘We are in the business of developing services for the residents of Kingston.

After almost a decade of building up the project and recent thorough testing by KVA Trustees and its management this merger offers us the best solution for KCF’s long term sustainability.’

Shane Brennan CEO of ACK said: ‘This is an exciting venture for ACK to be taking on, we aim to keep on developing KCF, while still maintaining its distinctive role within the community and its current 3 core elements of: environmental impact; social impact (alleviating poverty); and business activity. We feel the coming together will also be of benefit to ACK by enabling us to crystallise our intentions to broaden the scope of our activities to allow us to better face future challenges and continue providing important services to the community’

Royal Albert Hall offering discounts for local communities Friendship Matinee is offering the chance to visit world-class shows at the Royal Albert Hall for just £5.00 a ticket.

Friendship Matinee, the Royal Albert Hall’s

membership scheme aims to provide people supported by charitable, community and voluntary organisations access to the arts.

The aim of the scheme is

to provide inspirational and rewarding experiences, for groups who may not come to the Royal Albert Hall for whatever reasons.

Download a form at http://bit.ly/14v9ofC

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News

www.kva.org.uk

Facts and stats from the Community Development Network The Community Development Network took place in the Richard Mayo Centre on the 25th June, with Pippa Mackie, Chief Executive for Kingston’s Citizens Advice Bureau opening the discussion with a presentation on the impact of welfare reforms. It is expected that reforms to the Council Tax will mean local families paying more tax. The second adult rebate is also being removed.

Under the reforms, the Single Room Supplement (bedroom tax) will affect approximately 451 homes in the borough.

Another worrying statistic also showed that 25% people using the Foodbank are currently in work, with 38% registering themselves as sick or disabled.

This talk was followed by a presentation from Kingston Data Observatory on the changing face of the local area. Katherine Dallas, Senior Business Analyst at KDO highlighted demographic changes from the 2011 census, showing that the population has grown by 8.7%, taking the new total to 160,000, a jump from 147, 273. The data also shows that as of 2011, the number of people who describe themselves as limited by health problems or disabilities has hit 19,900.

Continued from page 3

The vast majority of those eligible for free school meals are registered to receive them. A 2012 DfE report on Free School Meals shows that Kingston has one of the lowest under registration rates in the country at 4% (100 pupils), compared with 33% (900 pupils) in Richmond.

Kingston Centre for Independent Living (KCIL)

A presentation was made by the South London CVS Partnership regarding the digital switchover to 4G set to take place in 4 weeks’ time. A support service is being offered to vulnerable groups who may have trouble with the switchover, which will only affect Freeview channels.

The Department of Life Sciences, Kingston University, is looking to work with local communities on research projects. Hannah Moir, Senior Lecturer in Health and Exercise Prescription at Kingston University is looking for projects that explore and measure the effectiveness of local health and wellbeing activities in the borough for department researchers and final year students.

Download the full notes from the meeting and presentations at http://bit.ly/13B7pes

launched a new service in September 2012 to help with advice on benefit changes and debt, particularly for clients with disabilities, and to attend appeals with their clients.

Kingston Carers Network Family Support Project provides intensive work with ten disadvantaged families with complex issues over a six month period. This has enabled 30 families to

increase their income and access appropriate sources of help.

Mary Francis retired from RBK at the end of June and we would like to thank her for her excellent work on Child Poverty issues. Justine Rego is the new Strategic Lead on Child Poverty.

Please contact Judith Naylor with any queries or news relating to Child Poverty cwd@kva.org.uk

Funding

Page 7

People's Health Trust - grants for Kingston Local groups and organisations with great ideas to make their communities an even better place to live are now invited to apply for funding to turn their idea into reality in the London Borough of Kingston.

Active Communities is a funding programme for community groups and not for profit organisations. This funding is for you if your project is about community engagement and you:  Have been running/constituted for more than 3 months  Have an income of less than £350,000 a year  Have unrestricted reserves/savings of less than 6 months of expenditure  Are seeking investment of between £5,000 and £25,000 a year, for projects lasting up to two years  Are targeting the most deprived areas (20 to 30 streets or an estate) in any of the following Kingston wards:  Berrylands  Grove  Norbiton Deadline: 15 July.

To register your interest please email Zahida Saddiq on zahidas@kva.org.uk or call 020 8255 3335. Visit http://bit.ly/12DJbZe for a detailed download map of areas within the wards that can be targeted for funding purposes.

BBC Children in Need Important changes

The Heritage Lottery Fund: First World War, Then and Now

SMALL GRANTS Grants are now for one year only and are up to £10,000. Now have a shorter application form which focuses more on the differences made to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people.

Expect a 9 week turn-around.

Grants for communities to mark the Centenary of the First World War. Your project should aim to make a real difference to a wide range of people by helping them understand the war and its impact better, particularly young people.

MAIN GRANTS Hope to minimise fruitless effort for applicants and internally through a two stage application process. Applicants will be required to complete an initial application so they can decline applications with low prospects of success at an early stage.

Those successful at initial application stage will be invited to make a full application.

Deadline: Small grants 1 September, main grants 15 September www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey

Your project needs to achieve a minimum of one outcome from the list below:

Heritage will be: better managed; in better condition; better interpreted and explained; identified / recorded People will have: developed skills; learnt about heritage; volunteered time Communities: more people and a wider range of people will have engaged with heritage. £3,000 to £10,000 and £10,000 + Deadline: ongoing http://bit.ly/11WRCn1

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Funding

www.kva.org.uk

BBC Performing Arts Fund

Nominet Trust

The Community Theatre scheme aims to support the development of not for profit community theatre groups the length and breadth of the UK. Grants awarded through this scheme will allow groups to carry out training, attract new audiences, encourage new members and raise their profile in their communities.

Nominet Trust is offering three new digital funding programmes to address issues faced by specific beneficiary groups and explore the potential of new and emerging technologies for social impact.

£5,000 maximum Deadline: 16 September http://bit.ly/120nrYI

£50,000 + Deadlines: Social Tech, Social Change 17 July Digital Edge 4 September Life Transitions 4 September http://bit.ly/161sglF

Hilton Community Foundation

The Big Tree Plant Funding Scheme

Grants to increase the educational opportunities for sick or life-limited children.

Offered for children and young people with disabilities, who are homeless or receiving palliative care. Also available for any children or young people who are currently sick in hospital.

For projects that would like to plant trees in neighbourhoods where people live and work to improve the quality of life for England’s cities as well as rural communities. your project must plant trees in a public place (not hedges) and must involve the local community in some way.

£150,000 maximum Deadline: 30 July http://bit.ly/13iYrSO

£500 to £25,000 Deadline: 5pm, 30 August http://bit.ly/14nHCTv

KBC Trust Grants for Youth Projects

Capital Volunteering Legacy Fund

Applications are requested for grants of up to £2000 for youth projects. The Trustees will consider grant aid from organisations working with young people for specific projects outside of their core funding in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

The Legacy Fund aims to support activities which promotes well being and increases social inclusion for people with mental health issues through volunteering.

Beneficiary led projects are welcome.

London only.

£2,000 maximum Deadline: Ongoing Email Paul Cox: zottecox@aol.com

£3,000 maximum Deadline: Last working day September http://bit.ly/14nFdIH

Skipton Building Society: Grassroots

The Screwfix Foundation

Skipton Building Society is celebrating their 160th anniversary by offering 160 donations of £500 each, through its Grassroots Giving Campaign. Only for nonregistered groups.

Grants for community facilities across the UK. Projects can apply for funds to fix, repair and maintain properties in deprived areas and decorate homes for people living with sickness or disability.

£500 maximum Deadline: 31 July http://bit.ly/1axZyjs

£Not known Deadline: ongoing http://bit.ly/15d1wlc

GO KINGSTON VOLUNTEERING Celebrating over 40 years of volunteering in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames

As we say good bye to our three year Good practice project we take a look back at the exceptional work carried out over three years The South London Good Practice project, funded by City Bridge for three years, has sadly come to an end yet not without leaving us and local organisations with a wealth of valuable volunteer management skills, knowledge and information.

The Good Practice Project supported 390 sector volunteer managers over the three year period with training, volunteer coordinator forums, workshops, bespoke in-house training and one-to-one advice to ensure they could in turn offer robust volunteering programmes and quality services to their beneficiaries.

In addition, Good Practice Adviser, Pat Stanley, supported groups to achieve high standards of volunteering through health checks and signing of the Volunteering Charter. Pat’s collaboration with Superhighways on a taster course and film for Volunteers and the Law has also kick-started future online training delivery of the KVA training programme.

We thank Pat for all her hard work and wish her best for the future. KVA hopes to build on Pat’s success and offer further volunteer management courses in the future.

Continued from page 1

Prudential Ride London is planned to be a yearly occasion, with four cycling events spread over the weekend and Surrey will be hosting two of them on Sunday 4th August; the Surrey 100 and the Surrey Classic. 20,000 cyclists are tackling the Surrey 100 mile route and 150 cyclists will race against each other in the Surrey Classic, an extended 140 mile version of the amateur route.

The cycle route is based on the London 2012

Having the Health Check with the Kingston Volunteer Centre ensures you are truly objective about your organisation, helping build on the levels of good practice and further developing standards of delivery - thank you!

Jane Warren - Volunteer Coordinator, Dyscover

11 new volunteer management courses

181 organisations received training and support This was the best course the KVA has run for our organisation Evaluate the impact and value of your volunteering programme

Olympic Cycle Races and both races are shown on BBC TV! Volunteers helped ensure the Olympic Torch Relay and the Cycle Road Races pass successfully through the borough.

Spare a few hours and help us again!

Volunteer roles we expect you to be involved in include Public Space Marshals and Ride Route Marshals.

To get involved please contact GKV@gokingstonvolunteering.org.uk or 0208 255 8685.

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GKV Newsletter

www.gokingstonvolunteering.org.uk

Changes to checks on criminal records of volunteers and staff The requirement and right to check on whether a new volunteer or member of staff has a criminal record has been under considerable change over the last 9 months. The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has merged with the Independent Safeguarding Authority and is now the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The roles that an employer can ask staff (including volunteers) about previous convictions that are “spent” under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 has become more limited and the Act has been amended following an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. In very general terms many roles that required a CRB check are not eligible for a DBS check.

An example of one which is due a check is “any office or employment which is concerned with the provision of care services to vulnerable adults”. However if in doubt about whether you are entitled to ask for a check then the best advice is to ask the DBS: customerservices@dbs.gsi.go v.uk or 0870 909 0811.

If you carry out criminal records checks, you must have a policy on employing ex-offenders. You must show it to any applicant who asks for it.

One major change in the

DBS from 17 June 2013 that will be of great use to the voluntary sector (and volunteers) is the introduction of the Update Service. Anyone who applies for their next criminal record check after this date can choose to subscribe for £13 per year (free for volunteers). This will allow them to keep their criminal record certificate up to date, so that they can take it with them from role to role, within the same workforce.

Employers benefit too because they can carry out free, instant online checks of an individual's certificate (with their consent), to check that it is up to date. When someone is subscribing to this service, you would only have to seek a new criminal record check if the system tells you something has changed. At the same time the practice of sending a DBS certificate to the “employer” will cease. Only the person being checked will get a copy.

offence and (iii) it did not result in a custodial sentence.

Even then, it will only be removed if it does not appear on the list of specified offences. If a person has more than one offence, then details of all their convictions will always be included.

A caution will be removed after 6 years (2 years if under 18) have elapsed since the date of the caution - and if it does not appear on the list of specified offences.

This means that the key question on the DBS form (e55) which says 'have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence or received a caution, reprimand or warning?' should be treated as saying 'do you have any unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings?' and the applicant must be told this.

For those who are eligible to have a DBS check on spent convictions there has been a major change in what is disclosed. From 29 May 2013 a conviction will be removed from a criminal record certificate if:

If you think that you are not entitled to ask an applicant about spent criminal offences but do wish to ask about unspent convictions then there is a useful check form produced by Kingston Council and a copy can be obtained from crt@gokingstonvolunteering. org.uk

(i) 11 years have elapsed since the date of conviction (5.5 years if person was under 18 at the time) (ii) it is the person's only

For updates on the changes and advice visit www.gov.uk/disclosurebarring-servicecheck/overview

Health & Social Care

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Latest news from Better Services Better Value (BSBV) review On 3 May, BSBV announced recommendations which would see significant changes to the way hospitals work across the region.

This includes two options (of a possible three) that would see both Epsom and St Helier losing their A&E, maternity and children’s services.

Approval process:

For the recommendations to go to public consultation they need to be approved by the Boards of the seven local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). These are: Croydon; Kingston; Merton; Richmond; Surrey Downs; Sutton and Wandsworth CCGs are groups of local GPs who, from 1 April, took over responsibility for buying and planning health services for their local population.

Mental health and debt guide

All of the CCGs have now met, with all of them nominating to send Board members to meet NHS England (the ‘governing’ body for CCGs) at a joint meeting known as the local committee of clinical commissioning groups (LCCCG).

At this meeting, they will decide together whether to take the options proposed by BSBV to public consultation.

BSBV announcement – public consultation: The meeting (which will be held in public) was expected to take place in June.

However, BSBV have issued an announcement, which, says the LCCCG is now expected to meet after the summer.

Importantly, BSBV have acknowledged the further uncertainty that this causes for NHS patients and staff.

Community Wellbeing Service On 1 April 2013 a new integrated mental health and substance misuse service, Kingston Community Wellbeing Service, was launched.

MoneySavingExpert.com have teamed up with voluntary organisations to produce a free 44-page PDF booklet for people with mental health problems and those caring for them.

It covers how to handle debts when unwell, work with banks, free debt counselling, specific tips for bipolar disorder or depression sufferers, whether to declare a condition and more.

The booklet is supported by organisations such as Mind, Rethink, and Citizens Advice Bureau. Visit http://bit.ly/12p3Z6E

This service will bring together the provision of psychological therapies for common anxiety and depression disorders and substance misuse treatment into a single treatment system, with a Gateway Team and a Treatment Team.

The Gateway Team will provide a single point of referral into the Wellbeing Service for both professionals and the public (for self-referral).

A full range of therapeutic, clinical and wellbeing interventions will be delivered by the Treatment and Recovery Team within a service hub and through community and primary settings across the borough. http://www.kva.org.uk/news/health-andsocial-care-news/community-wellbeingservice/

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ICT Hub

The new look Superhighways As part of a reveiw of our services and strategic planning for the future, we identified that we needed to undertake a marketing review and proactively promote our services further.

After many brainstorming exercises and much emailing backwards and forwards, we hope you like the new logo and strapline we've arrived at - harnessing technology for

www.kva.org.uk

community benefit We feel our new look embodies what we are about - both the community initiatives we are involved in running ourselves, as well as the support and development services we provide for other 2nd tier and frontline groups.

There will be a new e-bulletin and revamped website to follow, along with our first ever pop up stand ready for the AGM season!

Find out more at http:// www.superhighways.org.uk/ latest-news/superhighways-hasa-makeover/

Kingston Data Observatory can help you evidence need Kingston Data Observatory, provided by Kingston Council, can provide you with demographic information and analysis of the borough.

This could be anything from population estimates and future projections to unemployment rates and educational attainment.

This information can help you apply for funding, undertake needs assessments, equality impact assessments, service

planning and much more. You can contact the KDO team directly on kdo@rbk.kingston.gov.uk Find out more at http:// bit.ly/1bc7G7Z We ran a training session in June on using both the KDO and other open data that may be useful for your projects. Download a copy of the presentation at http:// bit.ly/18AY4El

Record use of services prompts move to bigger premises Community Connected is delighted to announce a change to its opening times and training venue, in response to uptake of our free internet and email training, computer repairs and requests for refurbished computers.

New Venue: Piper Hall, Piper Road, Cambridge Road Estate, Kingston Time: 1 - 5 pm Dates: June 27, July 11 and 25, Aug 8 and 22, September 5 and 19, October 3, 17 and 31, Nov 14, 28 and December 12.

All these services are free to residents of Norbiton - please visit the website for more information www.communityconnected.org.uk/ projects/technology-thursdays/ And if you have a minute, please like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ KingstonCommunityConnected so you can keep up with some of the session activities and events we are running .

ICT Hub

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Transforming your ICT - using Mailchimp Mailchimp is an e-bulletin package that enables you to create a newsletter by email that can also be viewed in a web browser.

Recently Superhighways worked with local charity Kingston Welcare to create an enewsletter for their beneficiaries.

Kingston WelCare is an independent charity which offers local families support from experienced Support Workers on parenting issues. It is also involved in facilitating The Parents Forum - a group of local parents and carers who are consulted on services for children, young people and families in Kingston.

Last Year Kingston Welcare won a day’s consultancy from Superhighways – the prize in the draw for completing our survey of member groups – and wanted to put it to good use. There had been regular problems with their monthly Parents Forum newsletter – importing contacts into Outlook, and formatting and compressing a two-sided Word document as an attachment.

Superhighways suggested Welcare start using an e-bulletin package such as MailChimp. We set up a template (and got a new high quality version of the logo produced) and helped them import their contact list. Next Welcare will be attending our new half- day training session on Mailchimp so they can take this forward themselves.

It’s early days but Marjie Grant is very happy with the results so far...

“This is definitely going to save us costs over time in terms of printing & postage.

The new-look newsletter is a good reminder of what’s on. Open rates have been good and new families have come to our Parents Place and taken part in activities as a result.”

If you’d like help setting up an e-bulletin or wish to attend a training session email Superhighways on support@superhighways.org.uk or call our team on 020 8255 8040.

CVAprint design solutions As part of the South London CVS partnership, KVA will let you know about services provided by our CVS counterparts, designed specifically for the voluntary and community sector:

At CVAprint we specialise in providing creative and affordable design solutions for your charity or community group.

We offer a full service bureau producing corporate identity, leaflets, reports, stationery, exhibitions, design, copywriting, marketing, web design and much more.

For more information, contact Ian on: T: 020 8665 7767 E: ian.lynch@cvalive.org.uk W: www.cvalive.org.uk

KCABS crowdmap reveals impact of Welfare Reform in Kingston KCABS is working to alleviate poverty in Kingston including fuel poverty, child poverty and homelessness. They are now ‘mapping’ what is happening locally so you can see at a glance where there are problems and get an idea of the scale of the issues.

A new online map reveals data about clients that are being disadvantaged by Welfare Reform, the number of clients accessing the Foodbank and cases where clients would previously have been eligible for legal aid. Post codes are randomised by ward so it remains confidential.

Find out who is affected and where at http://www.kcabs.org.uk/our-crowdmap/

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Training & Events

Free forced marriage workshops Forced Marriages is an issue that affects a disproportionate number of young people. 78% of 1468 cases reported to the Home Office Forced Marriage Unit in 2011 involved female victims from Asian, European, African, and Caribbean origins.

JAN Trust is able to deliver free interactive workshops to your beneficiaries and staff on the issue of Forced Marriages and can compensate you for costs such as room hire, refreshments and attracting your service users in.

JAN Trust is a charity established in the 1980s that serves women and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.

If you are interested in these free workshops please contact email Sana Malik on sana@jantrust.org or call 0208 889 9433.

www.kva.org.uk

Surbiton Neighbourhood Community Plan meetings The Surbiton Neighbourhood Community Plan is hosting a series of informal public workshops for residents to share their concerns and aspirations for the area.

The committee is responsible for local services including: planning, traffic, parks, youth centres, libraries and road maintenance. The workshops are open for anyone who lives or works in Surbiton: Weds 18 September, 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm Grand Avenue Primary School Tues 24 September, 7.30pm – 9.30 pm New Life Baptist Church, Langley Road To register call Christina Gardner, Neighbourhood Manager on 020 8547 5369 or email christina.gardner@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Free money management workshops for your service users Kingston Council and Citizen’s Advice Bureau are offering two hour money management workshops for service users affected by recent welfare reform and benefit changes. These sessions will offer helpful advice to anyone who:   

is worried about how they will be affected by benefits changes has difficulty paying bills or keeping on top of debt would simply like to take better control of their finances.

The sessions are free, friendly and held locally. If your service users would like to attend a session, or for more information or leaflets, email Tony Willis on tony.willis@rbk.kingston.gov.uk or call 020 8547 6053.

Free Community Development and Health Course 2013

Digital storytelling

September to December 2013 14 weeks – Fridays only 9.30am-2.30pm Run by Equalities and Community Engagement Team (ECET)

A short course that reveals how you can showcase your work digitally.

The free course aims to give you the skills, knowledge and information required to be more active in improving the health and wellbeing of your community. Open to anyone living in Kingston. Contact Denise Parry on 020 8547 6097 or email: denise.parry@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Date TBC (September)

Lots of tips, tricks and tools to tell your stories with limited resources.

Contact Sanja Kane on training@kva.org.uk to book.

Training & Events

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Facebook page essentials for non-profits 25 September, 10am to 1pm, Access Learning Centre, Facebook is the most successful social media platform, connecting millions of people throughout the UK. This practical course will help you set up your organisation’s page and give you the essential facts you need to start connecting and sharing with your audience.

Email training@kva.org.uk or call 020 8255 3335.

Take part in Safeguarding Children Level 1 online training Kingston Voluntary Action and Kingston Local Safeguarding Children Board have worked together to offer an online Level/Group 1 Safeguarding Children training course specifically designed for users in the voluntary sector.

The course offers staff and volunteers who are in infrequent contact with children, young people or their parents or carers the opportunity to examine their role in protecting children.

If you are in doubt as to what level of Safeguarding Children training you should take, you can watch four short videos featuring colleagues from the voluntary sector in Kingston who have different levels of access and involvement with children.

Take the course by following this link: http://bit.ly/Zb1Dqg

Free LSCB training for groups The Kingston LSCB (Local Safeguarding Children Board) recognises that in order to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people, all those working with children and with adults who are parents or carers must have the knowledge and skills to carry out their own roles.

This includes being able to recognise and raise concerns about children who may be presenting additional needs and/or who may be vulnerable.

Make sure your staff and volunteers receive the training they need. Downlaod this year’s programme at http://www.kva.org.uk/events-andtraining/training/ programme

More KVA courses to come in the Autumn...

Safeguarding Children Level 1/2 Saturday 21 September Voice website beginners and advanced 26 September, am and pm Emergency First Aid at Work 30 September, 9.30am to 4.30pm To find out more about these and future courses contact Sanja Kane on 020 8255 3335 or training@kva.org.uk

Start fundraising online £26,531.25 raised locally so far What is Localgiving.com?

Localgiving.com strengthens communities like yours by providing local charities and community groups with webpages and access to online fundraising tools, as well as the training to use them effectively.

Localgiving.com provides you with:

These tools will help your organisation to secure reliable sources of support so you can continue your great work.

 Facilities to easily accept donations

 An effective and affordable (currently

free) online presence  Easy-to-use webpages and

communications tools  Simple ways for supporters and

volunteers to find you online and communicate with supporters  Automated Gift Aid on donations to

community groups and charities  New sources of funding to help you

become more sustainable

Your webpage is free for a year with support from Kingston Voluntary Action It’s easy to get started with your webpage. Just contact Sanja Kane on training@kva.org.uk or 020 8255 3335 We can provide one-to-one advice on getting your webpage started. Our partners London Community Foundation and Localgiving.com can provide plenty of follow-up support.

 Access to the growing online giving

community  Space to advertise your needs and run

local promotions  Google Search Engine Optimisation so

donors can easily find you  Approval by the Charity Commission  Groups that are too small to be

registered with the Charity Commission can receive Gift Aid