Derby City Council have today launched the Your City, Your Say consultation on the Corporate Voluntary and Community Sector Grants Process.  The consultation is open until 8 April and DCC are consulting on the corporate application form, general guidance, information sheets, monitoring intentions, commissioning and decommissioning, challenges and funding agreements - in short the grant journey.

 

There are a number of documents associated with the consultation and it would be best to print out the supporting documents before filling out the online questionnaire so that you can refer to them.  All responses will feed into the grant journey. 

 

If you require a paper copy of the consultation email Ian Chennery or call 01332 711203.

 

To take part in the consultation visit the DCC website and don't forget that the consultation closes on 8 April.  

Your Sector, Your Say 2011 is fast approaching! The event takes place on Wednesday 23 March and the theme of this year's event is 'Planning for Success in Uncertain Times'.  This is your chance to have your say and set the priorities for the voluntary and community sector for the coming year.  

  

Your Sector, Your Say 2011 will be held at the YMCA, 770 London Road in Derby starting at 10:00 am with coffee/tea and registration and finishing around 3:30 pm. There will be a series of workshops during the day and a chance to network in the afternoon.

  

We hope you can join us for this FREE event which includes refreshments and a buffet lunch.  If you would like to book a place please email Abbi Steanson or call 01332 227710.

  

We look forward to seeing you there!  

Please note that the Self Help Forum due to take place on Tuesday 15 March at Oddfellows, 32 Charnwood Street, Derby has been cancelled due to low demand.

 

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to people who had already booked a place. 

 

Do you have any services or resources that you would like to share with other voluntary and community groups? Spare furniture or equipment? Training or advice?

 

Or is there something you need? Or would like to swap?

 

We have created a Community Classifieds section on our website as one-stop shop to offer and request support and services, resources and equipment.

 

As the community classifieds section grows we will have sections for 'we want', 'we've got' and 'let's swap'.

 

If you have anything you would like to share, swap or give away email Jayne Williams or call 01332 227749. 

 

We look forward to matching up groups and services!

The Public Administration Select Committee is to launch an inquiry into the Big Society in an effort to pinpoint how to make it a success and identify actions that the government can take to promote it in light of criticism over the last few weeks. 

 

For more information visit the PASC website.  The committee is asking for people to submit their views, please email responses by 18 March.

 

Want to keep up to date with events, training, fun days, workshops - in fact anything that's happening in the voluntary and community sector?  Then visit the Community Action website!

  

We have recently created an interactive calendar of events that you can add your own events to.  We hope that the Voluntary Sector Calendar will become the place to go to find out about what's going on and when.  It will also be useful as a planning aid and hopefully prevent large events being scheduled for the same day.  So to get started click here.    

   

Do you ever leave meetings less informed than when you went in?  Would you like to enhance your own skills at managing meetings better?  If so, this course is for you!

 

By the end of this session, learners will have:

 

A better understanding of the need for structure and process to achieve better results from meetings;

Developed practical steps to ensure meeting attendees know their roles and responsibilities before, during and after meetings; and

Explored techniques for re-energising meetings.

 

The course takes place on Wednesday 30 March from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Community Action, 4 Charnwood Street, Derby. 

 

The course is FREE for voluntary and community groups and £50 for statutory organisations.  For more information or to book a place call email Liz Gumbley or call 01332 227738 by Wednesday 23 March.                                    

Charities will be able to influence the direction of new vetting and barring rules as part of new government measures to allow anyone to comment on new legislation as it goes through Parliament.  For more information visit the One East Midlands website.

 

From 31 March the National Commission for the Compact will cease to exist.  For advice and information on all matters relating to the Compact visit the Office for Civil Society website or the Compact Voice website  - the voice of the voluntary sector on the Compact that provides training and resources and represent the sector's concerns to the government.   

Charities should organise themselves into consortia if they want to compete with the private sector in delivering public services on a large scale, according to Jonathan Lewis, chief executive of Social Investment Business.  Speaking at the Funding the Future conference in London this week, Lewis told delegates that there was a lot of scope for charities to win contracts.  To read the full article visit the Third Sector website.

Community groups, local residents and voluntary sector organisations will benefit from powerful new rights designed to transform the way that local services are run.  Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, has outlined the action the Government is taking to ensure that the most is made of the energy, expertise and experience of the voluntary sector.

 

Speaking at the National Council of Voluntary Organisations conference, the Communities Secretary praised those councils that have recognised that voluntary and community groups could hold the key to better value and better services when setting their budgets, and he accused those councils that are failing to engage the sector of "short sightedness."  To read the article in full visit the Communities website.

Do you find that you are not very confident when filling in application forms or aren't too sure where to apply for funding?  If so, this course is for you!

 

By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

 

• Recognise what funders are looking for in an application
• Understand the importance of meeting funders criteria
• Identify possible funding sources that match their organisation's objectives

The course will be held on Tuesday 19 April from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm - registration is at 9:45 am - at Community Action, Charnwood Street in Derby.

 

The cost of the course is:

 

£10 for voluntary and community groups - with a turnover of less than £10k

£25 for voluntary and community groups - with a turnover of more that £10k

£50 for statutory partners 

 

To book a place email Liz Gumbley or call 01332 227738 by Friday 1 April.

 

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service has created a Community Fire Safety Champion scheme and is now looking for people to volunteer to join. 

  

If you are a member of a local voluntary or community group or would like to be a champion in your work place or neighbourhood please email Derby Fire & Rescue Service and they will send you all the information you need.

  

Are you thinking about starting a social business?  Do you run a charity or voluntary group and are you thinking about trading to generate income?  Have you heard about social enterprise and wondered what it is and if it might be relevant to you?

 

If you are considering starting up a social enterprise and are looking for a clear understanding of why it is the business model of choice for socially and environmentally minded people, then the 'First Steps in Social Enterprise' workshop is for you.  It will help you explore the practicalities of starting a social enterprise, providing you with an awareness of the different legal structures available and the management, governance and funding aspects of setting up your business.

 

Social Enterprise East Midlands (SEEM) are holding two workshops in March:

22 March at the Castle Cavendish Business Centre, Dorking Road in Nottingham;

28 March at JET, 284-286 Normanton Road in Derby. 

 

The workshops are FREE to attend and will run from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

 

To book a place email SEEM or call 0115 871 4760.

 

Kari, the black women's network, are holding a health and wellbeing workshop on Saturday 26 March from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at Derby West Indian Community Association in Carrington Street, Derby.

  

Why not go along, network and enjoy a light refreshment. The day will include alternative therapies, blood pressure checks and hair and beauty.

  

For more information call 01332 371529.

Faith Matters and Derby Community Safety Partnership are holding the launch of 'Our Faiths and Our Shared Futures' at Derby Multi-Faith Centre, University of Derby on Tuesday 22 March from 1:30 to 4:00 pm.  The event will start with a networking lunch.

  

For more information or to book a FREE place email Faith Matters or call 0207 5548847. 

BBC Radio Derby are looking for stories from voluntary and community groups that show how local people are being impacted by the funding cuts to the voluntary and community sector.  If you can help them please email Ian Williams or call 01332 375001. 

  

Derby Women's Centre, in partnership with Citizens Advice and Law Centre, are holding a FREE benefits workshop on Thursday 17 March from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at at the Derby Women's Centre, 4 Leopold Street in Derby.

 

For more information or to book a place please contact Elaine on 01332 341633.   

 



Jayne Williams
Community Action Derby