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 4:00 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 would like to attend one of the application workshops please email Kath Cawdell or call 01332 227733 by 9 May.   

To book a place email Community Action by 6 May.

From Monday 27 June to Sunday 3 July, Derby City and Neighbourhood Partnerships is planning a week of activities called Inspiring Derby 2011.  This will be a great opportunity for you to enjoy events, attend tours and participate in activities run by partner organisations.  We want to inspire you with the great things that are happening in your city so please come along and get involved.

 

Watch out for further information and the Inspiring Derby 2011 programme of activities which will be out in May.  There will also be information on the Derby City Partnership website,  publicity in local papers, publications and posters across the city. 

 

For more information please contact Derby City and Neighbourhood Partnerships on 01332 255627.

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.     

Derby City Council has an opportunity for a provider to deliver a Family Conferencing Service.

 

If you are interested in bidding you will need to register your interest formally through the electronic tendering system by 18 May 2011.  To do this visit the Source Derbyshire website  and look for the contract advert under 'latest/live contracts'. Then click on the 'apply online' link to take you to the e-tendering system.  Once there you will be able to register your details and request the relevant documents.  The closing date for submissions is 12:00 noon on 27 May.

 

For further information call Laura Halom on 01332 643272.

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! 

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.    

   

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has launched a new consultation on draft 'Best Value' guidance.  It sets out clear guidelines for local authorities who are considering cutting funding to local voluntary and community organisations.

The consultation sends a strong message to local authorities that councils need to avoid making disproportionate cuts to the voluntary and community sector. 

  

The guidance sets out the specific terms of engagement between the sector and local government and builds on the principles of the Compact. This is more important than ever and should help both partners work together effectively to help identify ways of lessening the impact of cuts on individuals and communities.  

 

The full consultation and details of how to reply can be found on the DCLG website. Please note that the consultation closes on 14 June.

 

 

 

Have you ever wondered how depression affects the brain? Derby Women's Centre are holding a workshop to explain depression and give you tips to stay motivated and see you through the bad times.

 

The workshop will be held on Thursday 12 May from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Derby Women's Centre, 4 Leopold Street in Derby.

 

For more information or to book a place please contact Elaine at

DerbyWomen's Centre on 01332 341633. 

Business in the Community (BITC) is a not-for-profit organisation aiming to engage businesses to act responsibly.  Their business champions are committed to developing community excellence through actively engaging in partnerships to tackle disadvantage and create enterprising communities. There are a number of BITC initiatives that help to inspire businesses to become involved and engage their employees in community activity.

 

Business Champions are individuals, with a minimum of five years management level business experience. They voluntarily share their knowledge and expertise with non-profit and educational organisations in a variety of ways where a commercial perspective is needed, for example, providing assistance with strategic planning, mentoring, coaching, acting as role models or by becoming board members, governors and trustees.

 

If you think your organisation would benefit from Business Champion support email Business in the Community or call 0115 924 7412.  

 

Do you find it difficult to represent your organisation in the voluntary and community sector?  Not quite sure what the role of representative covers?  If so, this course is for you!

 

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

 

• Understand the importance of the role of representative
• Identify the process and level of involvement that is required
• Identify what skills and strengths are necessary to present a clear message   

Date and time  Wednesday 18 May

                            10:00 am to 1:00 pm (9:45 am registration)

 

Venue                Community Action Derby, 4 Charnwood Street, Derby

 

Cost                    £10 for community groups (under £10k turnover)

                             £25 for Voluntary Organisations (over £10k turnover)

                             £50 for Statutory Partners

 

For more information and to book a place email Community Action Derby or call 01332 227706 by Friday 7 May 2011.

  

The YMCA are running a programme called YHOOD, consisting of six workshops, for young people involved in gang culture.  The workshops are designed for anyone who has some sort of involvement with gang culture, to help them build their confidence and self-esteem and to give them exit strategies to this lifestyle.

  

The programme starts on Wednesday 4 May from 6:30 to 7:30 pm running for 6 consecutive weeks.  On completion of all 6 workshops learners will have the opportunity to be part of a residential trip to Cumbria.   

The Belper Cottage Project, established in 1995, hosts various groups from luncheon clubs and knit and natter sessions to family mediation and counselling at their site in Belper.

 

The committee and volunteers all work towards the project's aims which are to:

Provide accommodation with a welcoming atmosphere to friends, strangers, lonely or disadvantaged people;
Offer support and encouragement to those who require it;

Provide a base where groups can meet;
Provide access to counselling for those who require it; and
Develop and coordinate services in response to the changing needs of the community.

Derby Women's Centre are holding wellbeing workshops on on 4, 11 and 18 May at the centre in Leopold Street in Derby from 12:45 to 2:45 pm.

 

For more information or to book a place please contact Elaine at Derby Womens Centre on 01332 341633.

Are you caring for somebody who has, or who might have dementia? 

 

The Alzheimers Society are holding a FREE information programme for carers.  The programme sessions will cover topics such as different types of dementia, behaviour we find challenging, legal information, welfare and benefits information, other agencies that may help and tips on coping as a carer.  Tea/coffee and biscuits will be provided.

 

For the benefit of carers who wish to bring along the person they care for, support workers will be available at the sessions.  Alternatively it may be possible to arrange to provide care at home.

 

The sessions will be held on Friday 27 May and 3, 10, 17 and 24 June finishing on Friday 1 July.  The sessions run from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Grange Banqueting Suite, Burton Road, Littleover, Derby, DE23 6XX.

 

For more information email Derby Alzheimers or call 01332 208845.

 

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS  Foundation Trust are looking for stories of personal experience of mental health problems.  The stories will be collated for a book called Changing Minds which will be launched on 10 October. 

  

If you have a story about how you survived and recovered from a mental health problem, or if you would like to write a poem about your experience, please put pen to paper -  you could help inspire others and help people currently experiencing difficulties to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel. 

  

If you would like to take part in this project please email your contributions or post to Changing Minds, Room 312, Kelvin House, London Road, Derby DE24 8UP by 1 September.  Let Changing Minds know if you would like to remain anonymous.

 



Jayne Williams
Community Action Derby