In December 2011 Derby City Council developed a new Voluntary Sector Grant Aid Strategy.  The Strategy was launched at the Cabinet meeting on 9 December 2010 and introduced 12 corporate outcomes for grant aided services, a timetable for a grant application process in 2011 and a commitment to fund voluntary sector infrastructure organisations that support local voluntary groups. 

 

After a 12 week consultation period the Strategy was amended and approved at the cabinet meeting on 12 April 2011.  The updated Strategy sets out a new timetable for the grant aid application process in 2011 and a commitment to provide support for voluntary sector groups to take part in the grant aid application process.  Please visit the the Community Action website for all the latest information and a letter to the voluntary and community sector that summarises the recommendations of the April Cabinet Report and sets out the timescale for the grant aid process.  

 

For more information email Ian Chennery or call 01332 711203.

 

To assist voluntary and community groups with completing application forms for Voluntary Sector Grant Aid the Council is working with Community Action Derby to run half day grant application workshops.  The two half-day workshops will be held on 18 May - the start of the grant aid application period - at the YMCA, 770 London Road in Derby from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 4:30 pm.  The workshops will provide an opportunity for groups to:

 

·                  Have an overview of strategy and requirements

·                  Understand how to complete their application form

·                  Discuss how grant-funded projects could deliver the Strategy's outcomes

·                  Network with other groups and consider opportunities for collaborative 

           working and joint bids

 

If you are intending to make a grant application and you would be interested in attending one of the Application Workshops please email Abigail Steanson or call 01332 227710 by 9 May.   

Community Enterprise Derby together with SEEM are holding an event for new and existing social enterprises in the city. The event will outline the enterprise growth strategy for Derby and what this means for social enterprises and will include information about what support is available currently and, more importantly, in the future once direct support from Business Link comes to an end later this year.

  

There will be lots of opportunity to network and have your say on what support you may need in the future.

  

The event will be held on Friday 13 May from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Derwent Stepping Stones, St Mark's Rd, Derby DE21 6AH.  Places are limited so email Janet or call 01332 372245 and book now to avoid disappointment. Closing date for booking is 6 May.     

George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, unveiled a range of measures aimed at helping voluntary sector organisations in his budget.  Read the full article on the One East Midlands website.   

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'. So, 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! 

Derby Area TUC are holding their annual Silk Mill March and Rally on Saturday 30 April. The march will begin and end in the Market Place where voluntary and community groups are invited to have information stalls to promote their work.  The march will go to the Silk Mill and then back to the Market Place for speeches and entertainment.  The day begins at 10:30 am and will finish around 1:30 pm.  For more information email Moz Greenshields. 

  

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.    

   

Derby City Council has 3 community buildings that they are seeking to lease to community groups or voluntary organisations to manage for the benefit of the local community.

 

The centres are:  

• Rykneld Community Centre, Bedford Close, Derby DE22 3HQ 
• Normanton Park Community Centre, Normanton Park, Derby DE23 8DA 
• Cotton Lane Community Centre, Cotton Lane, Derby, DE23 8DA

Organisations interested would need to take on responsibility for the full costs of managing and maintaining the building. This includes heating, lighting, water, rent, redecoration and repairs. However, there would be no liability for business rates for Rykneld or Normanton Park community centres as they are situated on parks.

 

For more information and to arrange a viewing call the Community and Parks Buildings Team on 01332 641259.

 

Employment Minister, Chris Grayling has announced that contracts for welfare-to-work services under the New Deal scheme will be extended until the government's new Work Programme begins in June.  For more information visit the One East Midlands website

 

On 1 April 2011, equality-led organisations lost their place at the Office for Civil Society's key policy-making table. Without representation at strategic level the voice of BME voluntary and community organisations will be lost. This will have a devastating impact on the disadvantaged communities relying on their support.  NAVCA is supporting the campaign for the BME voluntary and community sector to have a strategic voice and encourage people to sign the petition.   

 

 

The YMCA are holding an Easter tea and coffee morning next Thursday - 21 April - from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the YMCA Campus, 770 London Road in Derby. Come along and enjoy home-made cakes and pastries with your FREE tea or coffee!

  

If you would like to have an information stand at the coffee morning - FREE of charge - email Rachel Bradley  or call 01332 579550.   

The Heritage Lottery Fund uses Lottery money to give grants to sustain and transform all parts of our diverse heritage.

 

Heritage means the many different aspects of the past which are valued, and can include:

Memories, experiences and cultural traditions

Languages and dialects

Historic buildings and sites

Collections and archives

Industrial and transport history 

 

There are a range of funding programs available including:

                

Your Heritage - a general small grants program for all types of heritage projects. Awards range from £3000 to £50000

Heritage Grants - the main grants program for grants above £50,000

Repair Grant for Places of Worship - provides funding for urgent, high level repairs to listed places of worship from £10,000 to £250,000

Young Roots - a fantastic program to fund projects led by young people aged between 13 and 25 to find out more about their heritage and develop skills  and confidence

 

Interested? Looking for heritage funding? Then book a half hour, face-to-face interview with Lesley Owen-Jones from Heritage Lottery Fund on Monday 16 May  at South Derbyshire CVS, 48-48 Grove Street, Swadlincote, DE11 9DD. To reserve a place email Eric Clayton or call 01283 219761.  

Derby Rethink Support Group will be launched on Saturday 30 April. The group has been formed to help people who have experienced times of poor mental health and it is hoped that by working together a better quality of life can be achieved for those affected.

  

Come along to the launch day, enjoy lots of fun activities and browse the stalls.  There will be a bbq, tombola, face-painting, card-making and stalls including cakes, books and bric-a-brac.  All money raised from the day will be used to help people affected by mental health issues.

  

The launch takes place at Rethink Steps, side entrance, 29 Charnwood Street in Derby from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. 

  

  

The National Citizen Service (NCS) programme is a full-time volunteer programme for young people aged 16. It is managed by the youth volunteering charity V and delivered in Derby city by Community Action. The delivery of the programme starts in July 2011 and finishes in September 2011.

 

We are looking for Volunteer Peer Mentors aged 18 to 25 to volunteer on the programme and support the project staff to deliver this great opportunity for young people so they achieve the most out of the 7 to 8 weeks. We are looking for volunteers to commit to the full 7 to 8 weeks, but will accept people who can volunteer for some weeks of the programme if not all of it.

 

The closing date for applications is Friday 29 April 2011 due to a CRB check needing to be completed by all volunteers.  For more information visit the Community Action Derby website  If you are interested in volunteering on the programme or finding out more information email Thom Kellogg or call 01332 227736. 

To book a place email Community Action by 6 May.

Derby Women's Centre hold their next coffee morning on Wednesday 27 April between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm at 4 Leopold Street in Derby.  The theme of the morning will be 'April Fun and Celebrations - Royal Wedding, St George's Day, Easter and Spring' and will include refreshments; crafts; various stalls; henna tattooing; biscuit decorating; and face painting.

 

Women and children are very welcome.

 

So, put on your hats - Easter bonnets, wedding hats or woolly hats - and come along to Derby Women's Centre to have some fun and celebrate.

 

For more information call Elaine on 01332 341633.

The Volunteer Centre Derby would like to come and visit you! If your organisation deals with volunteers they would like to hear from you to find out what you think about the service they provide and if you have any suggestions on how it could be improved.  

 

By coming to visit you they can help you keep up to date with current requirements and pick up on any best practice tips you may have to share with other organisations.

 

To arrange a visit or for a chat email Simon Hancox or call 01332 227718.

 

 



Jayne Williams
Community Action Derby