The Derby Compact Review meeting will be held on Tuesday 1 November from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at Community Action, 4 Charnwood Street, Derby.

According to best value guidance issued in September 2011, 'Government is committed to the principles in the renewed National Compact - the agreement that aims to ensure that Government and civil society organisations work effectively to achieve common goals and outcomes for the benefit of communities and citizens in England.'

The Derby Compact is our local version of this and the Compact Forum exists to oversee the local relationship, explore issues raised and challenge where non-compliance occurs.  There is an opportunity to sit on this Forum as membership will be renewed at the review meeting. Please email Kath Cawdell or call 01332 227733 by 5:00 pm on Monday 31 October if you wish to nominate yourself to this Forum.  

The Council is consulting on future long-term funding for a number of local voluntary sector organisations.

Before making a final decision the Council wants to gather the views of the organisations, the service users, public, local agencies and organisations that work with the voluntary organisations affected.  The consultation period will end on 30 December 2011.  The outcome of the consultation will be reported to Cabinet on the 21 February 2012 where a decision will be made on the future funding for these organisations.

To take part in the consultastion and for a list of affected groups and an online questionnaire visit the DCC website.    

Derby City Council has some funds available for this year (2011/2012) for direct access by Voluntary Sector providers.

The aim of the grant is to support providers to develop the skills of the paid and unpaid staff who support others out in the community and in their own homes, and will help to achieve better outcomes for people and promote dignity in care.

Groups that provide support to local people are invited to apply for the grant.   For more information email Shelley Bracey or call 01332 641201.  The closing date for applications is 18 November.  

Date:            Tuesday 8 November

Time:            10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Venue:          Derby Cathedral, Cathedral Centre, DE1 3GP

Cost:             £75 + vat per person

For more information or to book a place call 01226 738321 or visit the Drugtrain 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! 

Come along to the next VCF on Wednesday 16 November from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Community Action, 4 Charnwood Street, Derby. DE1 2GT

The forum will look at what motivates volunteers and how to use different strategies to keep volunteers motivated.  There'll also be an update on the Derby Volunteering Strategy and the usual round-up of information sharing and networking.  Light refreshments will be provided.

As always booking is essential; to book a place email Simon Hancox or call 01332 346266. 

Arts projects working with offenders save the taxpayer an average of £4.50 for every £1 invested in them, according to a study from New Philanthropy Capital.  The report, Unlocking Value, was commissioned by Arts Alliance and examined the results of three organisations - Clean Break, Only Connect and Unitas - who work with different groups of offenders. The report found that they brought about savings of between £3.06 and £5.89 for every £1 invested in them.

Only Connect more than halved expected rates of reoffending, from an estimated 57.5 per cent to 25.9 per cent once the charity started working with individuals. This generated savings of more than £3.2m to the criminal justice sector over six years.

Re-offending costs the government between £9.5bn and £13bn a year, with two in five adults re-offending within a year of release, the report said.  Report author David Pritchard said that the findings helped to demonstrate the value of arts organisations working with offenders, but added that more charities working in this field needed to collect data to show the impact they have on people's lives. 

QUAD's regular knitting group, KnitsQUAD, are offering handmade knitted and crocheted poppies in aid of the 2011 Poppy Appeal.  The unique limited edition poppies will be available from QUAD from Saturday 29 October until Friday 11 November for a suggested donation of £5 each.

KnitsQUAD has been running in QUAD since January 2009 to encourage, inspire and bring together knitters, crocheters and yarn artists of all abilities and backgrounds as well as those who would like to learn how!

KnitsQUAD meets fortnightly, on the first and third Monday of the month between 4:30 and 7:30 pm in the QUAD Café bar.  For more information email Hannah or call 01332 285444.   

Are you unsure 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 group 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
• Understand the procedure after a meeting

Date and Time:      Wednesday 23 November 

                                 10:00 am - 1:00 pm (9.45 am registration)

Venue:                     Community Action 4 Charnwood Street Derby

Cost:                         £10 for Community Groups (under £10k turnover)

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

                                  £50 - Statutory Partners  

How to book:           Email training  to request a booking form. The deadline for

                                  returning your form is Friday 18 November.  

Do you want to know more about the effects of alcohol?  Derbyshire Alcohol Advice Service has been commissioned by the Derbyshire Drug and Alcohol Team and Primary Care Trust to provide FREE training for front line workers who work within Derbyshire.

The training is linked to the Drug and Alcohol National Occupational Standards and all attendees will receive a certificate of attendance. Attendance can also be counted as Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points. A free buffet lunch is provided on the day.

The next training date is Thursday 24 November at Long Eaton Town Hall, Derby Road, Long Eaton, NG10 1HU

To book a place visit the Derbyshire Alcohol Advice Service website or call  0845 308 4010. 

When?

Thursday 1 December.

Registration at 9:00 am - training 9:30 am to 12:45 pm.

Refreshments provided.

Where?

Derby city - venue to be confirmed.

Suicide is a problem for society as a whole. To increase awareness - and to help remove the stigma which can be a barrier for those in need of help - this FREE half-day training seminar should be of interest to anyone who wishes to:

• Examine their own attitudes
• Find out (and challenge) the myths that surround suicide
• Discover the likely suicide risk factors and warning signs
• Find out how you might help someone at risk of suicide and self harm
• Take advantage of a great networking opportunity

The training is open to everyone; the general public as well as those whose work is more likely to bring them into contact with people at greater risk of suicide and self harm.

Demand for this training is high and places for this event are limited so advance booking is essential.  Bookings are only accepted with a completed booking form and places are allocated on a first come first serve basis with priority given to people working, volunteering or living in Derby city and surrounding areas.

For a booking form email Sharon Lovell or call 01629 821921. 

The National Audit Office are looking for views and comments from voluntary sector organisations on the workings of the Compact - the agreement on public/voluntary sector relations - by 18 November.

The spending watchdog is investigating the implementation of the public/voluntary sector partnership across central government.  Nick Hurd, the Minister for Civil Society, announced the study last year as part of a series of measures that he said would provide an "unprecedented level of scrutiny of the Compact".

The NAO was initially due to publish its findings in July but they are now expected by the end of the year.  To give your views email the Compact team.

EMFAN offers expert funding advice to voluntary and community groups in the East Midlands. With good advice groups can attract funding to deliver projects and services that help their communities.

The next regional EMFAN event is planned for Wednesday 7 December at Deda in Derby and will be the first meeting of the network in Derbyshire.  For more information or to provisionally reserve a place email Leann Leverton or call 0115 934 8471. 

The network has over 250 members, working in a wide range of organisations, all delivering funding information and advice as part of their role.