Skills Third Sector believe only a thriving third sector can provide the quality public services that are needed to support the economic recovery and build strong local communities.

They are currently running a consultation process which includes a series of nine regional round table events and an online consultation.

Third sector organisations need people with the right skills, in the right numbers, to be able to make a difference.  The Skills Third Sector strategy is for people who work in charities and social enterprises, policymakers, funders and learning providers who want to deliver a thriving third sector.

For more information or to apply for a place at the round table event email Skills Third Sector, to take part in the consultation visit the Skills Third Sector website.  The East Midlands round table event will take place in Leicester on 1 September. 

 

At least £1 million of Lottery good cause funding is to flow into Allenton in Derby as the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) announces the first 50 areas across England to benefit from its Big Local Trust programme.
 
BIG is investing up to £200 million over the next ten years to help turn up to 150 urban and rural neighbourhoods into better places for everyone to live.
 
The targeted neighbourhoods have all been selected following extensive analysis and discussion and are all places where people face many social obstacles and have a history of difficulty in obtaining resources, including funding from BIG, to help overcome them.  BIG will be working with a wide range of local organisations in each of the first 50 neighbourhoods.  

 

For a full list of areas and more information visit the BIG Lottery Fund website.  

The University of Derby is running a FREE training course in two parts entitled 'Representing the Voluntary Sector'. 

 

The course will help you to: 
Understand Derby City Partnership;
Widen your knowledge of diversity and the city;

Gain new skills to help you represent your community; and
Understand  how decisions are made in Derby city. 

Representing the Voluntary Sector, Stage 1 training course dates are Monday 20 September 2010 or Monday 1 November 2010.
 
Representing the Voluntary Sector, Stage 2 will be held on Thursday 2 December 2010.
 
All courses run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and lunch is provided. To book your place email Abigail Steanson or call 01332 227710.

 

 

Communitybuilders and the Social Enterprise Investment Fund will not pay out any more money until further notice while a government review is carried out.  The funds, set up by the Labour government to provide investment for community cohesion and to develop new social enterprises in the field of health, are worth about £170 million between them. Both are administered by Social Investment Business, which also ran Futurebuilders.

 

 

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Grants support innovative projects designed to promote heart health and to prevent or reduce the risks of heart disease in specific groups or communities. 

 

Grants of up to £10,000 are available to community groups, voluntary organisations and researchers who are spreading the healthy heart message.  Government or local authority funded institutions are not supported, however, community and voluntary groups aided by public money may apply. 

 

For more information and an application form visit the Heart Research UK website. Please note that the deadline for this round of grants is 25 August.

 

The Arboretum Cafe, run by deaf and hearing volunteers, in Arboretum Park is holding activity days throughout August:

 

Decorating biscuits and fairy cakes - Thursday 5 August;
Arboretum Park guided walk - Thursday 12 August; and
Jewellery making - Thursday 19 August

For more details email Nikki Johnson or call 07583 114002. 

www.cutswatch.org.uk has been set up to provide guidance and support to third sector organisations through public spending cuts. The site aims to provide up-to-date news, case studies, guides and information on how to positively deal with spending cuts, along with links to useful events and services. 

 
They want to hear how they can further support your organisation -  

email cutswatch  to give them your views and suggestions or visit the cutswatch website for more information.

   

Derby Counselling and Therapy Centre is a charitable organisation offering counselling and therapy that works with the natural healing forces within people. Established in 1981, they have helped people deal with many problems, both internal and external, that come under the general heading of emotional stress.

 

 

DCAN - Derbyshire Contracts Advice Network - was set up in 2007 to offer support to voluntary organisations who were contemplating the development of tenders and responding to contract opportunities for the first time.
 
The support is also available to organisations within the city but to date limited use has been made of the service.  The service includes one to one support for smaller providers; training events; forums and seminars; and pro-active work with BME Groups, exploring links with other services and projects. 
 
A further popular development has been a 'Tender Alert Service' and use of legal advice provided by a solicitor with specific expertise on public sector tendering and contracting.  A free newsletter is available electronically or by post.
 
DCAN is looking to increase its support to city based organisations and wants to hear your views and experiences.  For advice or more information email DCAN or call 01246 274844.

 

To celebrate UK Day for Older People on 1 October 2010, Community Action Derby is offering the opportunity to win a style makeover to anyone aged 50 years or over and resident in Derby.  Winners will be selected in each of the decades and offered advice about style, fit, and colour of clothes together with advice on hair and make-up as appropriate. The Wallis store in Derby is supporting this local event together with Headcase, a local hairdresser and White Feather Beauty. 

 

The winners will be required to show off their new look at an event in the Eagle Centre Market in Derby on 1 October and will be able to purchase the clothing that they have selected after this date. 
 
Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Community Action website or in hard copy format from Age UK in the Morledge in Derby, Community Action in Charnwood Street in Derby or Southern Derbyshire Pensioners Association offices on the Balcony, Market Hall in Derby.
 
Individuals can nominate themselves, a friend or relative and must say  - in a maximum of 100 words - why the person deserves a make-over.  Winners will need to be available for an appointment on Monday 20 September and for the event on 1 October.
 
The closing date for entries is 27 August and the winners will be notified by 10 September.
 
For more information email Kath Cawdell or call 01332 227733.