Community Action, the umbrella organisation for voluntary and community groups in the city, has been chosen as a local delivery partner for the government's new National Citizen Service in Derby.  We will work with v, the National Young Volunteers Service, and the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust to bring the "Summer of a Lifetime" pilot scheme to 16 year-olds in Derby next year.

v will be managing the partnership and will co-ordinate the delivery of the National Citizen Service through its network of partners to deliver 1065 places in a range of locations across England.  As one of v's local partners, Community Action Derby bring a wealth of experience and knowledge from the voluntary sector.  To read more visit the Community Action website.

Come along and exchange your news, views and ideas with voluntary organisations and community groups.  Disability Direct; Women's Work; Addaction; and the Multi-Faith centre are just a few of the organisations who will be there.  If you would like to book a stand at the event email Abbi Steanson or call 01332 227710.  We only have a few places left for stands!  

When:        Wednesday 15 December 2010.

                    10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Where:      Carriage Shop Theatre, Derby College, Roundhouse Road, Pride

                    Park, Derby, DE24 8JE.

Drop in for a short time or stay a while; tea, coffee and mince pies will be provided.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Do you find that you are not confident about the procedure involved in taking minutes? Do you take too many notes at meetings?  This course will help you gain knowledge of how to write a set of minutes and the process afterwards for sending the minutes out to other meeting members.

By the end of this session you will be able to:

Identify the roles of a minute taker;  

Plan and prepare for a meeting;

Complete a set of minutes; and

Understand the procedure after a meeting.

Date and Time:  Wednesday 8 December 

                              10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Venue                  Community Action 4 Charnwood Street Derby

Cost                      FREE for voluntary and community organisations

                               £50 for statutory organisations 

For more information or to book a place email Liz Gumbley or call 01332 227738. 

City for Children and Young People

Executive and Safeguarding Board is developing the vision and priorities for 2011-2014.  It is also assessing the structure needed for the future co-operation between organisations working with children in Derby, in light of national changes to statutory requirements.

Cultural City

Currently developing a new cultural strategy which included a stakeholder event in October.

Year of Culture Derbyshire: Following the DCMS announcement putting the Year of Culture competition on hold, stakeholders met in November to discuss proposals to raise the profile of culture in the city and county by still holding a Year of Culture possibly in 2015.

City for Stronger, Safer and Cleaner Communities

Currently developing new strategic priorities to link to the Derby plan.

City Growth

City Growth Executive has been dissolved and the Derby Renaissance Board is now in place, made up of strategic representatives from local partners including the third sector.  Structure and terms of reference have been agreed with five sub groups under the main Board.

Proposals for the Local Economic Partnership (LEP) arrangements with Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire working together, have been agreed by Government.

Healthy City

The expected NHS white paper will have a major impact on how health services are commissioned and how public health is delivered. Some statutory health improvement responsibilities will transfer to the council.  A new Public Health Service will be established but more details are expected from Government. Local Directors of Public Health will be jointly appointed by local authorities and the new public health service.

There is a proposal to dissolve Healthy City Executive and create a shadow Health and Wellbeing Board in preparation for new statutory responsibilities.

Kevin Curley, Chief Executive of NAVCA, told delegates at NAVCA's annual conference to put the issues of housing and homelessness 'into your in-tray'.

Kevin said: "As people who work in charities we are never concerned with who the Government is. We are only concerned with what the Government does.  I believe the Government in recent times has made it more likely that people will become homeless."  To read Kevin's speech - Big Society: from Rhetoric to Reality - in full visit the NAVCA website. 

Derby REC have been inspired to build a BAME network in Derby to efficiently campaign for BAME communities to have their voices heard and respond to the needs of their communities effectively.

Speakers at the event include the Mayor of Derby City Cllr Amar Nath; Jeremy Crook OBE, CEO of Black Training and Enterprise Group; Mr Malcolm Cumberbatch, Chair of Sheffield BME Network; and Robin Landman OBE, CEO of Network for Black Professionals.  

If you are interested in attending please email Derby REC or call 01332 372428.

Derby City Council has produced a draft Local Economic Assessment to inform the priorities of the city's new economic strategy and the Derby Plan. This is now available for consultation on DCC website.   Your views are important, so please answer the consultation questions and give your comments.  Please email Chris Pook with feedback and comments by 30 November 2010.

The New Economics Foundation has recently published a new report called Cutting It: The 'Big Society' and the new austerity.  The foundation analyses the opportunities and threats of the 'Big Society' vision and how it will affect businesses, the third sector and democracy.  To read the report visit the New Economics Foundation website.

Consultation on the proposed long term transport strategy for Derby, LTP3, opened on Monday 8 November 2010 and will close on Friday 7 January 2011.  Derby's third Local Transport Plan will set out the overall transport strategy for the city from 2011 to 2026.  Copies of the draft LTP3 are available at Roman House and Council House receptions, Central Library, all local libraries and local housing offices.   

For further information and an online questionnaire visit the DCC website, email Transport Planning or call 01332 641759.

The Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby, Kedleston Road Campus in Derby, is holding a national event for Inter-faith week on Tuesday 23 November from 3:00 pm.  

Join them for a celebration of faith-based volunteering and the arts, with exhibits by groups from across England. This is an interactive event, highlighting the support of volunteers and their connections with faith-based volunteering from a variety of organisations.

The event will be a fun day of performance and worshops featuring: 

inter-faith performances:

art and design workshops;

objects of devotion by the staff of Derby Museum and Art Gallery; and

the final of the arts competition - 'What is faith?'

Food will be provided. For more information on the event and the competition visit the Multi-Faith Centre website or call 01332 591285.   

A credit union that will offer the people of Derby safe local savings and low cost loans was officially launched at the Council House last week.  Derby United Credit Union (DUCU), formerly the Derby West Indian Association Credit Union, was  founded 30 years ago.  In June the Financial Services Authority approved the organisation's change of name to Derby United Credit Union and the extension of its membership to anyone living or working within the Derby city boundary.

Derby United Credit Union offers an ideal solution for people who don't have access to traditional sources of credit or bank accounts.  Credit unions get people into the habit of saving regularly and, after 12 weeks of membership low cost loans can be provided.  DUCU's interest rates are much lower than those charged by door step lenders and loan sharks.

DUCU's main office is on Whiston Street in Derby, but they will be opening a stall in the Eagle Market to provide a more convenient location for members.  Anyone interested in joining or volunteering with DUCU or volunteering should call 01332 369641.  

The East Midlands BME Third Sector Network - hosted by One East Midlands - is holding a funding fair on Thursday 2 December at JET, Normanton Road in Derby from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.   

Why not go along meet with exhibitors and find out what funding options are available for your projects?  While the funding fair is specifically targeted at black and minority ethnic groups the delegate list is not exclusive.

There will be an opportunity for delegates to sign up for 'writing a winning funding bid', a half day workshop taking place on 14 December.

Please note that this is a FREE event.  For more information or to book a place email Michele Payne or call 0115 934 8419.

The visit will consist of a short informal presentation by the host, a question and answer session, a tour of their facilities and local area plus the opportunity to meet some of the key people involved in the project.  The visit will include a buffet lunch and refreshments.

The visit take place on Monday 29 November from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.  For more information and to book a place visit the EMEP website or call 0845 634 4609.

A date for your diary!

Women's Work (Derbyshire) Ltd and its partners would like to invite you to take part in the 100^th Anniversary of International Women's Day taking place on Saturday 5 March 2011 at The Darwin Suite, The Assembly Rooms in Derby.

Each year there is an eclectic and informative range of stalls and agencies that use this day to promote their invaluable services to the general public and hopefully raise the awareness of  each project.  The event takes place between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. If your organisation would like to have a stall at the event please contact Women's Work on 01332 242525.  Stalls cost £20 each and get booked up quickly so book early to avoid disappointment!

There will be a presentation by Derby LINk entitled 'What it is and what it does' together with time for general discussions of topics of interest to members.  Please note that non-members are very welcome to come along.

For more information call 01332 290174. 

Age UK in Derby have launched a new monthly group for over 50s. Called the Knit and Natter group the first meeting will be held on Tuesday 23 November at the 50 Plus Centre in the Eagle Centre Market from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm.

If you enjoy knitting why not go along? - you can take your own knitting or try a new pattern.  The sessions cost £1.50. For more information call Age UK on 01332 343232.