As part of Social Enterprise Day, Social Enterprise East Midlands (SEEM) are running a FREE all day conference, which will introduce some of the leading social businesses in the East Midlands who are responding to the new economic agenda. It will provide you with information on growth markets for social enterprises and their services, and connect you with the support you need to get your business idea going, keep it running smoothly or take it to the next level.

Phil Hope, Minister of State for Health and Minister for the East Midlands will be the keynote speaker. There will also be workshops, presentations and practical business advice on a variety of subjects.

 

This FREE conference has been organised by SEEM in partnership with Unleashing Enterprise, but places are limited so book early! There is also a travel bursary available to young people who want to attend and lunch is provided.

To download a conference pack please click here, email SEEM or telephone 0115 871 4760.

 

     

Could you recognise someone at risk of suicide? Would you know how to help them? Through a new project offering FREE training in suicide awareness it is hoped that more and more people will be able to answer yes to these questions.

The FREE training, funded by the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Programme, will commence in January 2010 and is open to everyone, particularly those who work with people. All that is asked is that all those attending the training aim to help or influence a total of five people over the three year period.
 
For further information about the FREE training please contact Sharon Lovell on 01629 821921 or email. For more information about the National Suicide Prevention Strategy  please click here  
 
 

At some time in our lives, either now or in the future, we will all come into contact with the care system - whether it be through being cared for ourselves or needing care for a friend or relative. The Government's Green Paper 'Shaping the Future of Care Together' constitutes some of the most fundamental reforms ever in this area. 

 

The Big Care Debate is an opportunity for you to have your say and help shape the future of the care and support system for all adults in England.

 

Derby City Council together with Derby LINk and Community Action Derby invite you to join the big care debate right here in Derby on Wednesday 11 November at the Darwin Suite, Assembly Rooms, Derby from 12:30 to 5:00 pm. To reserve your place please contact Sam Smith or Julia Deacy on 01332 255669, minicom 01332 256666 or email Sam or Julia. Please note that a buffet lunch is included.

 

Don't miss out on this opportunity!

 

 

Nominations are currently being sought from sports projects in Derbyshire for the new BBC Power of Sport Award.

 

The award, supported by Sport England, is being contested in all 12 BBC regions for the first time, and aims to celebrate grassroots sporting projects that have had a tangible positive effect on people's lives.

The award is open to projects of all sizes that involve a recognised sport and have increased the number of people taking part.

Projects could be tackling some of the issues facing grassroots sport such as the drop-off in participation after school age or reach out to under-represented groups such as disabled people, black and minority ethnic groups, women and older people and communities with poor access to sport.

 

For an entry form please click here. Completed forms should be emailed  or posted to Gill Thompson, Power of Sport Award, BBC Birmingham, The Mailbox, Birmingham, B1 1AY. Please note that the deadline for entries is 1:00 pm on Monday 2 November 2009.

 

 

Does your organisation support teenage mums? Are you looking for funding to enhance your service?

 

Connexions Derbyshire Limited has funds available to enhance and complement the work of organisations that support teenage mothers. They would like to invite proposals for activities that help with the achievement of the November 2010 target of 60% of teenage mothers to be in education, employment or training.

 

The deadline for proposals is 5:00 pm on 16 December 2009 and priority will be given to programmes that start before 18 January 2010.
 
The amount of funding for each project is expected to be between £2,000 and £7,000 but if you feel that your programme falls outside these parameters you are welcome to contact Connexions to discuss your ideas.

 

For further information about the funding scheme contact
Carolyn Salt on 01773 570939 or email. 
 

The Social Investment Business is partnering with The Guardian to bring you Social Enterprise 2009 - the future of public services? The event will be held on 19 November at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham.

This is a new event for third and public sector professionals, providing inspiration and practical examples on how developing social enterprises can benefit the community. If you are involved in commissioning, delivering or improving public sector services, the event will provide you with the expertise on how to engage the community and tap into the energy and potential of local people.

 

Confirmed speakers include:

Vince Cable MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Liberal Democrats;

Claire Dove, Chair, SEC, CEO, Blackburne House; and

Jonathan Lewis, Chief Executive, The Social Investment Business.

 

Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain a better understanding of social enterprise and public service delivery. For more information and to book your place visit click here quoting GPMM on the booking form.
 

Derby City Council are running  FREE half-day courses to give service providers the knowledge and tools to help clients keep warm in their homes.

The course will teach participants how to:

identify typical home heating systems and insulation;
understand the problems associated with poor home energy efficiency; and 
provide their clients with some solutions to the problems. 
  
Dates and times for the course are:

 

Thursday 3 December 2009, 2:00 to 4:30 pm
Thursday 28 January 2010, 2:00 to 4:30 pm
Thursday 25 March 2010, 2:00 to 4:30 pm
 
The venue for all course dates is the City Council, 

Kedleston Road Training Centre. To book your place please contact the Derby Advice Administration Team on 01332 256550.
 

Do you know any young volunteers who have received vfifty or vimpact awards? Have you won one yourself?

 

During November, v, the national independent charity for youth volunteering, is intending to publicly thank vfifty and vimpact winners by giving them the chance to star in adverts which will appear in the Guardian or the Times.
 
The ads will include a photo of the young person, their name and age, which organisation they volunteered for and a few words about what they did. It's a fantastic chance for both them and your organisation to get national press coverage!  

 
There's no guarantee that everyone who registers will get featured as there are only 11 spaces left but those who move quickly on this will have the best chance of getting featured in the paper!
 
All the award winners need to do is click here, log in and follow the instructions. They will also need to upload a photo. Good luck!
 

The Mother's Campaign of the All African Women's Group are mothers who have had to flee to the UK leaving their children behind in their home country for reasons of safety.   

 
They have launched a petition for family reunion and urge you to sign it to support their cause.

 

The petition will be available to sign online until Mother's Day 2010 so please circulate this information to as wide an audience as possible and help reunite these families.

 

To sign the petition please click here.