Volunteering
Healthy Minds news update August 2020
Healthy Minds have issued an update regarding their re-opening plans, their news, overviews of the so far progress from their volunteers. There is feedback on their work in their Todmorden allotment and workshop outcomes.
If you can’t see the document below, download it Here
VSI Alliance Update July 29, 2020
VSI Alliance News & Events
Newsflash from the Voluntary Sector Infrastructure (VSI) Alliance team
VSI Alliance News & Events
We’re recruiting!
VOLUNTEERING DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Closing date: 28th August
Are you the person to help shape the future of volunteering in Calderdale? We are looking to recruit a development officer with a proven background in developing and delivering volunteer programmes to a wide range of groups and organisations and with a strong commitment to the values of quality volunteering.
Do you have:
- Previous experience of managing volunteers?
- An interest in developing new and exciting volunteer opportunities?
- Energy and enthusiasm to work with other organisations to create a new approach to volunteering?
- Enthusiasm to help volunteering initiatives within the business world?
- An interest in working with us on the community-based Social Action pilots?
More information: https://www.sectorsupportcalderdale.org.uk/work-with-us/
News
Calderdale News & Information
In case you missed it:
Free Cricket Summer Activity Camps
The Cricket Asylum Foundation will be running free summer activity camps aimed at 7 to 11-year-old children. There will be fun cricket games and activities, run by qualified coaches.
The Studio Rooms Venue Hire and Stage Door Studio Theatre Workshop
The Studio Rooms have spacious rooms for hire at affordable prices, and Stage Door Studio Theatre Workshop are looking for young people aged 7 years upwards, with the hope of presenting The King and I next year.
Worry Flashcards for Students Returning to Education
16 Calderdale young people have worked together remotely to create 13 flashcards to support their peers when returning to education in September.
Regional/National News & Information
West Yorkshire And Harrogate Health and Care Partnership – Weekly Update
This week’s leadership message comes from Hilary Thompson, Chair of Third Sector Leaders in Kirklees and Senior Responsible Officer for Harnessing the Power of Communities at West Yorkshire and Harrogate, and Jo Baker, programme lead for the work.
In case you missed it:
2021 GSK IMPACT Awards – Core Funding and Free Training for Health Charities
Applications are now open for the 2021 GSK IMPACT Awards. Winning organisations will receive core funding of up to £40,000 plus access to excellent training and development to support their leaders.
COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable
Information for shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19.
Consultations
In case you missed it:
Calderdale VCSE Mental Health Impact Survey – Deadline: 31st July
- How it is feeling for VCS providers in terms of demand for more emotional, mental health and wellbeing support – it would be good to know if demand has changed and what you are seeing in general?
- How is the VCS coping regards capacity and resources to support people and community groups – are you seeing the need for more intensive support or other trends in terms of how you are expected to respond to need or demand?
- What have you done or planning to do differently? The things you have or plan to put in place based on how things are evolving and changing at pace – does this need more capacity (resources)?
- What have you stopped doing?
- Anything else you feel would be useful to know or factor in?
Online Events and Training
SS Dance & Wellbeing Online Wellness Event – 1st August
SS Dance & Wellbeing presents a free Online Wellness Day to inspire people to keep moving and make a few positive changes to enhance their wellbeing. The Online Wellness Day will focus primarily on engaging people from within their own homes via social media.
In case you missed it:
Workforce Health and Wellbeing – Free Training for VCS Managers, Supervisors and Those with Caring Responsibilities
The aim is for attendees to confidently hold supportive and compassionate mental health and wellbeing conversations, during and beyond Covid-19.
Funding
New Grant Launched for Holiday Food Support – Deadline: 3rd August
Calderdale Council and Community Foundation for Calderdale have launched the School Holiday Food Support Grant programme to help local organisations who are providing healthy meals and food parcels during the school holidays.
In case you missed it:
COVID-19 Inspiring Futures Programme – Deadline: 31st July
The Inspiring Futures programme will support children and young people between the ages 10 – 24* and the grants will run for a duration of up to 18 months, with awards being made up to £80,000.
Discretionary Grant Fund Is Now Open to a Second Round of Applications
The Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund is to support small businesses and registered charities who cannot get support funding. There are still eligible charities who haven’t yet claimed.
Flood Grant Opportunity to Better Protect Properties
Residents and businesses affected by the flooding in February 2020 are encouraged to check if they could be eligible for resilience support.
Volunteering
Volunteer Opportunity – Arts Drop
Arts Drop are in need of volunteers this weekend! Arts Drop is a scheme which creative activity packs to the borough’s most disadvantaged children and young people via their social workers. They can offer to pay a contribution of £25 for a half day or £50 for a full day per person, each day.
About VSI Alliance:
All staff at the VSI Alliance are available remotely to support you and your organisation at this time with various aspects of your work, along with providing key information and resources. For support/advice, please contact info@vsialliance.org.uk, or visit www.vsialliance.org.uk for more contact details.
We can support you with:
- Organisational development
- Social enterprise, business development and asset transfer
- Governance
- All aspects of establishing a new group or organisation
- Quality assurance including Quality For Health
- Safeguarding support
- Fundraising and income generation
- Partnership working
- Specialist financial advice and services
- Volunteering brokerage and development
- Engagement Champions
- Voice and representation of the VCS sector
VSI Alliance Update July 24, 2020
VSI Alliance News & Events
Newsflash from the Voluntary Sector Infrastructure (VSI) Alliance team
Calderdale News & Information
Free Cricket Summer Activity Camps
The Cricket Asylum Foundation will be running free summer activity camps aimed at 7 to 11-year-old children. There will be fun cricket games and activities, run by qualified coaches.
The Studio Rooms Venue Hire and Stage Door Studio Theatre Workshop
The Studio Rooms have spacious rooms for hire at affordable prices, and Stage Door Studio Theatre Workshop are looking for young people aged 7 years upwards, with the hope of presenting The King and I next year.
Worry Flashcards for Students Returning to Education
16 Calderdale young people have worked together remotely to create 13 flashcards to support their peers when returning to education in September.
Regional/National News & Information
2021 GSK IMPACT Awards – Core Funding and Free Training for Health Charities
Applications are now open for the 2021 GSK IMPACT Awards. Winning organisations will receive core funding of up to £40,000 plus access to excellent training and development to support their leaders.
COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable
Information for shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19.
In case you missed it:
New Research Shows the Impact of COVID-19 Mutual Aid Groups
Communities vs. Coronavirus: The Rise of Mutual Aid is an investigation into the mutual aid groups that have emerged during the COVID-19 emergency. It explores the way these groups work, their activities, and the implications for local government and community power more generally.
Consultations
Calderdale VCSE Mental Health Impact Survey
- How it is feeling for VCS providers in terms of demand for more emotional, mental health and wellbeing support – it would be good to know if demand has changed and what you are seeing in general?
- How is the VCS coping regards capacity and resources to support people and community groups – are you seeing the need for more intensive support or other trends in terms of how you are expected to respond to need or demand?
- What have you done or planning to do differently? The things you have or plan to put in place based on how things are evolving and changing at pace – does this need more capacity (resources)?
- What have you stopped doing?
- Anything else you feel would be useful to know or factor in
Online Training
Workforce Health and Wellbeing – Free Training for VCS Managers, Supervisors and Those with Caring Responsibilities
The aim is for attendees to confidently hold supportive and compassionate mental health and wellbeing conversations, during and beyond Covid-19.
Funding
COVID-19 Inspiring Futures Programme – Deadline: 31st July
The Inspiring Futures programme will support children and young people between the ages 10 – 24* and the grants will run for a duration of up to 18 months, with awards being made up to £80,000.
Discretionary Grant Fund Is Now Open to a Second Round of Applications
The Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund is to support small businesses and registered charities who cannot get support funding. There are still eligible charities who haven’t yet claimed.
Flood Grant Opportunity to Better Protect Properties
Residents and businesses affected by the flooding in February 2020 are encouraged to check if they could be eligible for resilience support.
In case you missed it:
Funding to Support VCS Organisations to Survive – Deadline: 27th July
The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust Charity Survival Fund has been set up in response to ongoing concern about Covid-19’s economic impact on charities.
Can You Help More BAME-Led Organisations to Access Coronavirus Crisis Funds?
Applications open for Infrastructure Organisations to support BAME-led charities and groups to access National Emergencies Trust (NET) funds.
Covid-19 Community-Led Organisations Recovery Scheme
Power to Change has partnered with The Ubele Initiative, Locality, and Social Investment Business to deliver the Covid-19 Community-Led Organisations Recovery Scheme on behalf of The National Lottery Community Fund, with grants of up to £100,000 and business support available.
Volunteering
In case you missed it:
Do You Want to Be Part of Positive Change in Calderdale?
An exciting opportunity has arisen at Halifax Opportunities Trust to join their Board of Trustees and make a difference to hundreds of people’s lives throughout Calderdale.
About VSI Alliance:
All staff at the VSI Alliance are available remotely to support you and your organisation at this time with various aspects of your work, along with providing key information and resources. For support/advice, please contact info@vsialliance.org.uk, or see below contact information.
We can support you with:
- Organisational development
- Social enterprise, business development and asset transfer
- Governance
- All aspects of establishing a new group or organisation
- Quality assurance including Quality For Health
- Safeguarding support
- Fundraising and income generation
- Partnership working
- Specialist financial advice and services
- Volunteering brokerage and development
- Engagement Champions
- Voice and representation of the VCS sector
Contact information:
Delivery Manager, food banks and Sowerby/Ryburn area – contact Jayne Leech: jayne.leech@vsialliance.org.uk
Funding, business planning and any groups in Upper Valley – contact Pat Akerman: pat.akerman@vsialliance.org.uk
Engagement Champions – contact Nikkie Dooley and Jayne O’Connell nikkie.dooley@cvac.org.uk / jayne.o’connell@cvac.org.uk
Communication – e-bulletin/social media – contact Jake Farrar: jake.farrar@vsialliance.org.uk
Volunteering support and any groups in Central Halifax – contact Charlie Johnston: charlie.johnston@vsialliance.org.uk
Organisational development – any groups in North Halifax – contact Rachel Shaw: rachel.shaw@vsialliance.org.uk
Organisational development – any groups in Lower Valley – contact Olivia Swingler: olivia.swingler@vsialliance.org.uk
Locality specialist support – contact Sophie Michelena: sophie.michelena@vsialliance.org.uk
WYCAS: specialist financial advice – contact Helen Galvin: helen.galvin@vsialliance.org.uk
NCS Programme 2020
As you may be aware the NCS Programme will not be looking or going ahead this year as it should. That’s not to say it won’t be happening.
Yes – That’s right it will be happening! We still want to UPLIFT SPIRITS, we still want to REMAIN POSITIVE, we still need our Young People to look FORWARD TO THE FUTURE and more than anything we want to work TOGETHER and support one another during this pandemic. It’s been a difficult time for us all and part of the Keep Doing Good Programme we are wanting to “give back” to our community, call it helping with the recovery of Covid 19.
The Keep Good Programme is all about getting our Young People together and getting them to use and enhance skills on a Programme that will help our community in the Calderdale area and help them gain skills by volunteering and getting there local community back up and running.
We would like to take this opportunity to ask for your help. Our volunteers would love to help and be part of the Social Economic Recovery of Calderdale……to get back up & running from this Pandemic that we are all in.
The volunteering that we can offer to your organization or charity will be throughout August 2020. So come on put your thinking caps on and share some wonderful ideas of how we can get our volunteers to make it a recovery to remember.
Please do feel free to call myself or Pavan Sembi on 07816297175 or email sonita.kaur@brathay.org.uk
Local RSPCA first ever Digital Cat Show for Cats in Urgent Need August 16
We’re about to launch our first-ever Virtual Cat Show which will help us to raise much-needed funds for the animals in our care, like Katie – a sweet 11-month-old cat who arrived with a terrible eye condition requiring surgery and ongoing care.
THE RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield, Bradford & District Branch have been working hard over the last few months to provide fun, interactive online shows for their supporters and their pets. Their usual fundraising events were put on hold this year due to the COVID19 public gathering restrictions, but this August they will be celebrating all things feline by holding their first-ever RSPCA Virtual Cat Show!
Classes in the show include ‘Cutest Kitten’, ‘Best Rescue’ and ‘Cheekiest Cat’. The local RSPCA rehoming centre is encouraging supporters to get their cameras out and capture their cat and kitten photos now to be ready to place their Cat Show entries from August 1st to August 14thvia their Facebook event page. The branch will then host a special live-streamed event from their Animal Centre on Sunday 16th August.
The live show will include the Cat Show winner’s announcement and photos, a chance to meet the cats in their care plus rehoming stories, games, advice and more about our fabulous feline friends.
The Cat Show can be entered by uploading photos and videos of your cat to their ‘RSPCA Virtual Cat Show’ on Facebook or by emailing your entry to: fundraising@rspcahalifaxhuddersfieldbradford.org.uk.
All 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive an official RSPCA rosette delivered directly to their door, all funds raised from this event go towards supporting the care of the animals at the Wade Street Animal Centre in Halifax – particularly for cats like Katie.
Katie – 11 months old at RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield & Bradford Branch – available for rehoming.
Katie arrived at the RSPCA Animal Centre in a very sorry state with an extremely painful eye condition called Entropion. After immediate surgery, this lovely girl recovered well and is now pain-free, but unfortunately will most likely have scarring around her eyes for the rest of her life.
This doesn’t stop cuddly Katie from living life to the full though as not only does she have a cheeky side; she is also very loving and affectionate and has become a firm favourite with the Centre staff.
Digital Fundraiser – Fay Gibbons says “Online events like our Virtual Cat Show are a great way for us to keep in touch with our amazing supporters and their pets too – but it also really helps us continue our welfare work through this extremely difficult time by raising vital funds to help us care for the animals in our centre.
We’re looking forward to seeing lots of fabulous photos and video entries for this new event, and we really hope people enjoy taking part and watching the show as much as we will enjoy hosting it!”
Entry per class is just £2 and this can be paid via PayPal. To enter your feline friend and find out more about the event, you can visit the Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/908224906297137/or find out more on the branches website www.rspahalifaxhuddersfieldbradford.org.uk, where you can also find out information about Katie who is currently available for adoption.
To support the branch through the current COVID19 crisis without entering the competition, you can donate to their #HelpUsHelpThem fundraiser by visiting: www.justgiving.com/campaign/helpushelpthem or text RSPCAHHB to 70085 to donate £1 from your mobile.
The RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield, Bradford and District Branch are a self-funding branch of the National RSPCA, responsible for raising money locally to support our animal welfare work. This year the branch has rehomed 67 dogs, 115 cats and 34 small animals. Our main aim is to rehabilitate unwanted, abandoned and abused animals and find them loving, permanent homes. We rely on public donations and the generosity of our local community to keep the doors of our animal centre open.
Pennine Magpie “Life in Lockdown” short film
Pennine Magpie have put a short film together with highlights of what they have been up to while in lockdown. View this uplifting, touching video to see how they have flourished during these challenging times!
Watch our ‘Life in Lockdown’ short film
Here are some highlights of what Pennine Magpie have been up to throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
The doors to our centre may have temporarily closed, but we’ve found new creative ways for us to all stay connected.
If you haven’t already, please feel free to join the Pennine Magpie Coronavirus Support Group on Facebook. The group has been created to offer a platform for our community to help and support each other. Daily activities are posted to help us all stay connected, learn new things and keep active.
Pennine Magpie is a registered charity 1147911 and a company limited by guarantee 4498986
VSI Alliance Newsflash July 17, 2020
Newsflash from the Voluntary Sector Infrastructure (VSI) Alliance team
VSI Alliance News & Events
Calderdale News & Information
In case you missed it:
Advertising on Phoenix FM – Current Offer During COVID-19
Phoenix FM are inviting organisations to send across information and publicity about current service offers to children, young people and their families.
Regional/National News & Information
New Research Shows the Impact of COVID-19 Mutual Aid Groups
Communities vs. Coronavirus: The Rise of Mutual Aid is an investigation into the mutual aid groups that have emerged during the COVID-19 emergency. It explores the way these groups work, their activities, and the implications for local government and community power more generally.
In case you missed it:
How Charities Can Survive, Adapt and Thrive Through the Crisis
Resource to help charities adapt to the ‘new normal’, with guidance on new fundraising tactics, managing stakeholders digitally and collaborating with others.
Six Characteristics of a Resilient Charity
The Charities Aid Foundation has noticed six characteristics that show an organisation has the potential to be resilient. They use these to help a charity reflect on their resilience – so how does your organisation measure up to them?
Online Events and Training
In case you missed it:
Resilient Families Workshops
If you want to feel more confident in addressing the risks of online radicalisation and extremism with the parents and families you work with, find out how with this free session from Parent Zone: the experts in digital family life.
Funding
Business Grant Support Scheme Extended – Deadline: 24th July
The grant scheme is available for small and micro businesses facing major impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, which aren’t eligible for the Government’s Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Fund.
Funding to Support VCS Organisations to Survive – Deadline: 27th July
The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust Charity Survival Fund has been set up in response to ongoing concern about Covid-19’s economic impact on charities.
Can You Help More BAME-Led Organisations to Access Coronavirus Crisis Funds?
Applications open for Infrastructure Organisations to support BAME-led charities and groups to access National Emergencies Trust (NET) funds.
Covid-19 Community-Led Organisations Recovery Scheme
Power to Change has partnered with The Ubele Initiative, Locality, and Social Investment Business to deliver the Covid-19 Community-Led Organisations Recovery Scheme on behalf of The National Lottery Community Fund, with grants of up to £100,000 and business support available.
The Social Enterprise Support Fund
The Social Enterprise Support Fund has now launched, providing grants of between £10,000 and £300,000 to help social enterprises during COVID-19.
Vacancies
In case you missed it:
Early Years Practitioner Vacancies – Closing date: 30th July
Todmorden Children’s Centre requires both a Level 2 and Level 3 Early Years Practitioner. The Centre provides a warm and secure environment for children aged between 0-5 years and has recently been awarded by Ofsted ‘Outstanding in all areas’.
Volunteering
Do You Want to Be Part of Positive Change in Calderdale?
An exciting opportunity has arisen at Halifax Opportunities Trust to join their Board of Trustees and make a difference to hundreds of people’s lives throughout Calderdale.
About VSI Alliance:
All staff at the VSI Alliance are available remotely to support you and your organisation at this time with various aspects of your work, along with providing key information and resources. For support/advice, please contact info@vsialliance.org.uk, or see below contact information.
We can support you with:
- Organisational development
- Social enterprise, business development and asset transfer
- Governance
- All aspects of establishing a new group or organisation
- Quality assurance including Quality For Health
- Safeguarding support
- Fundraising and income generation
- Partnership working
- Specialist financial advice and services
- Volunteering brokerage and development
- Engagement Champions
- Voice and representation of the VCS sector
Contact information:
Delivery Manager, food banks and Sowerby/Ryburn area – contact Jayne Leech: jayne.leech@vsialliance.org.uk
Funding, business planning and any groups in Upper Valley – contact Pat Akerman: pat.akerman@vsialliance.org.uk
Engagement Champions – contact Nikkie Dooley and Jayne O’Connell nikkie.dooley@cvac.org.uk / jayne.o’connell@cvac.org.uk
Communication – e-bulletin/social media – contact Jake Farrar: jake.farrar@vsialliance.org.uk
Volunteering support and any groups in Central Halifax – contact Charlie Johnston: charlie.johnston@vsialliance.org.uk
Organisational development – any groups in North Halifax – contact Rachel Shaw: rachel.shaw@vsialliance.org.uk
Organisational development – any groups in Lower Valley – contact Olivia Swingler: olivia.swingler@vsialliance.org.uk
Locality specialist support – contact Sophie Michelena: sophie.michelena@vsialliance.org.uk
WYCAS: specialist financial advice – contact Helen Galvin: helen.galvin@vsialliance.org.uk
VSI Alliance – Calderdale VCSE Mental Health Impact Survey
Calderdale VCSE Mental Health Impact Survey
- How it is feeling for VCS providers in terms of demand for more emotional, mental health and wellbeing support – it would be good to know if demand has changed and what you are seeing in general?
- How is the VCS coping regards capacity and resources to support people and community groups – are you seeing the need for more intensive support or other trends in terms of how you are expected to respond to need or demand?
- What have you done or planning to do differently? The things you have or plan to put in place based on how things are evolving and changing at pace – does this need more capacity (resources)?
- What have you stopped doing?
- Anything else you feel would be useful to know or factor in?
By finding out about the above, this will feed into the wider discussions about how best to support people and enable local commissioners to look at planning investment priorities moving forward. We are keen that community-based provision from our sector is factored in, therefore anything you can offer in terms of insight and intelligence regards the points above would be really appreciated.
The information will be captured via SurveyMonkey. The link to the SurveyMonkey is as follows, which will take you through the questions above and help us collate the responses for submission to our commissioners at the CCG. The deadline for responding to the survey is Friday 31st July 2020.
Link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/calderdalevcsemh
About VSI Alliance:
All staff at the VSI Alliance are available remotely to support you and your organisation at this time with various aspects of your work, along with providing key information and resources. For support/advice, please contact info@vsialliance.org.uk, or see below contact information.
We can support you with:
- Organisational development
- Social enterprise, business development and asset transfer
- Governance
- All aspects of establishing a new group or organisation
- Quality assurance including Quality For Health
- Safeguarding support
- Fundraising and income generation
- Partnership working
- Specialist financial advice and services
- Volunteering brokerage and development
- Engagement Champions
- Voice and representation of the VCS sector
Contact information:
Delivery Manager, food banks and Sowerby/Ryburn area – contact Jayne Leech: jayne.leech@vsialliance.org.uk
Funding, business planning and any groups in Upper Valley – contact Pat Akerman: pat.akerman@vsialliance.org.uk
Engagement Champions – contact Nikkie Dooley and Jayne O’Connell nikkie.dooley@cvac.org.uk / jayne.o’connell@cvac.org.uk
Communication – e-bulletin/social media – contact Jake Farrar: jake.farrar@vsialliance.org.uk
Volunteering support and any groups in Central Halifax – contact Charlie Johnston: charlie.johnston@vsialliance.org.uk
Organisational development – any groups in North Halifax – contact Rachel Shaw: rachel.shaw@vsialliance.org.uk
Organisational development – any groups in Lower Valley – contact Olivia Swingler: olivia.swingler@vsialliance.org.uk
Locality specialist support – contact Sophie Michelena: sophie.michelena@vsialliance.org.uk
WYCAS: specialist financial advice – contact Helen Galvin: helen.galvin@vsialliance.org.uk
Macmillan 2019 Annual Report available to view
The Macmillan 2019 Annual Report is released and contains information about the organisation’s achievements and milestones of the past year.
It can be accessed at this link in the CHFT website: https://www.cht.nhs.uk/services/clinical-services/oncology/macmillan-information-and-support/
As it is a lengthy document, please view the 2-page Service Summary & Key points below:
Macmillan Information Service – Summary & Key Points of Annual Report 2019
The Space @ Field Lane – Latest Newsletter
The first issue of the news bulletin from The Space @ Field Lane is out.
Since the centre had to close its doors due to Covid-19, this newsletter has been compiled as an online community.
Everyone at The Space @ Field Lane are working hard, planning the safe reopening of the centre, in order to restart offering their classes and services.
They will need volunteers to help with the reopening. If you have time to offer, please get in touch.
The newsletter would also welcome adverts from local businesses, your stories and views on how they can best be there for you.
www.thespaceatfieldlane.org.uk
mail@thespaceatfieldlane.org.uk
01484556924
