Hello! 

  

Welcome to Reach Out with a packed issue full of news and information for voluntary and community groups.  

  

The Big Local Allenton project gets underway in December - see article below - with a networking meeting of voluntary and community groups.  We have a round-up of the changes in health and social care decision-making and all the latest information on training courses and workshops.  A reminder too that World Aids Day is 1 December. 

Don't forget to check the Community Action website for the latest news, events and updates for voluntary and community groups in Derby.

If you have any news, information or events that you would like to share with the voluntary and community sector in Derby, please let us know.

Want to keep track of what we are doing? You can now follow us on Twitter and Facebook - just click the links below!

  

Some good news!  This fund is now open for applications but please note the closing date is 5 December. 

  

The maximum that can be requested is £3,000.00 for: 

• Equipment, repairs, refurbishment or alterations to buildings
  that promote equality or improve services or Health and Safety;
• Short term training courses (under one year) that support the health and social care outcomes listed in section one of the guidance. Training could be aimed at empowering service users or carers by developing their skills, knowledge and capabilities or raising the skill levels of staff or volunteers;
• Short term pilot projects (under one year) or research, aimed at testing out innovative approaches or new ideas for delivering health and social care outcomes, or identifying unmet needs.
• Targeted promotional work, for example, to improve equality of access for under-represented groups, or to recruit volunteers from under-represented groups;
• Start-up costs for new health and social care groups, which aim to meet an identified need.

The application form, guidance notes, terms and conditions and evaluation form can be downloaded from theCommunity Action website.  If you need a paper copy of any of the documents email Kath Cawdell or call 01332 227733. 

With the forthcoming Health and Social Care Act there are a lot of changes in how decisions are made. The change has resulted in much uncertainty but it is now possible to outline some of the key bodies and documents that will be impacting on the work of the local Voluntary and Community Sector.

  

Health and Well Being Board.  This body will take on its full powers in the next year and will be responsible for setting the Health and Social Care priorities for Derby.  It is made up of councillors, senior managers from the local authority, Clinical Commissioning Group, the Primary Care Trust, the Local Involvement Network and representatives from the Voluntary and Community Sector.

 

As part of this change Derby City Council are taking responsibility for Public Health and the staff team will be transferred from the Primary Care Trust.

 

Clinical Commissioning Groups.  This body will be responsible for managing the budgets for Health Services and commissioning (organising) most health treatments.  It is made up of mainly GPs, with some other clinicians, such as nurses, and one lay representative. Derby's CCG is called the Southern Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group and roughly covers the city and the districts of South Derbyshire, Amber Valley and Derbyshire Dales.

 

Primary Care Trust Cluster.  This body is overseeing the transfer of responsiblities to the local authority and the CCGs. It covers the whole county and is what is left of the previous health structures.

 

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.  This document is prepared annually and sets out the health priorities for Derby. It is produced by the public health team.

 

HealthWatch Derby will begin in October 2012 and will replace the Local Involvement Network (LINk). It will take on LINk roles as well as others, such as complaints and advocacy.

 

Health and Social Care Bill 2011.  This is the act of parliament that is bringing forward all of these changes and is likely to become law in early 2012.

 

If you would like to know more about how these developments affect you, or how you can influence them, you should attend the Health and Social Care fringe meeting, which follows the Voluntary Sector Forum on 19 January 2012.  The main meeting starts at 10:00 am and the Health and Social Care Fringe meeting starts at 1:00 pm, both at the Chinese Community Centre. For more information, or to book a place, please email Kath Cawdell or call 01332 227733. 

You may be aware that Allenton has been awarded £1million of Big Lottery funding as part of the Big Local Trust.  Allenton was selected as an area that had previously been overlooked for funding.

 

The key idea behind Big Local is that local residents will set the priorities for spending the money to improve their neighbourhood.  A networking meeting for voluntary and community groups that work to support the community in Allenton will be held on Wednesday 7 December from 5:00 to 6:00 pm at Base 2, The Enthusiasm Trust, Above Heron Foods (entrance on the Harvey Road side), Allenton District Centre in Allenton.

 

At the networking meeting there will be:

• Information on Big Local and how you can get involved;
• Information on how your group can work directly to support setting the priorities; and
• An opportunity to meet with other groups working in the area and find out what they are doing.

If you would like a poster to display to spread the word and help to get people involved in having their say just let us know on the contact details below or click to download and print copies.  

 

If you are interested in coming along on 7 December please email Kath Cawdell or call 01332 227733. 

Training Rooms - we have four training rooms that can accommodate any number of people from one to fifty - in various layouts.  We offer greatly reduced rates for voluntary and community groups. 

Stop Press - Office space to rent at Community Action, visit the Community Action website or call Pam Rickerby on 01332 227728. 

Date:   12 December

Time:    9:30 am to 12:15 pm

Venue: Community Action Derby, 4 Charnwood Street, Derby, DE1 2GT.

  

A half-day workshop for Derbyshire/Derby city groups to understand and demonstrate the difference your service makes and to prove your value/worth to funders, commissioners and stakeholders.

 

The workshop will provide a brief overview of social return on investment and an understanding of outputs, outcomes and impact measurement.  To book a place email Links CVS.  

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has created dedicated Benefit Integrity Centres (BIC) to assess current claims to benefit and ensure that claimants are receiving the correct amount of money. 

 

BIC sites are contacting claimants by telephone and post to carry out full case reviews on IS, JSA, IB and ESA.  Some claimants or their appointees will inevitably contact external stakeholders if they receive a letter or a call from a BIC, and it is important that you understand what the BICs are doing and how to advise claimants/appointees.

 

To enable you to understand the BIC role within DWP and what claimants need to do if contacted by a BIC, there are three key pieces of information that you need to know:

30 November from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at  
Community Action Derby, 4 Charnwood Street, Derby. 

 

The agenda for this meeting of the Derby Provider Network will include an item on Localism by Kim Harper and an update on the market development work being undertaken by Derby City Council. For further information or to book a place email Kath Cawdell or call 01332 227733. 

The Christmas Rose Memorial Service is held each year in Derby for all those affected by the death of a child to take time out at Christmas.

This year the service will be held on Sunday 4 December at 3:00 pm at the United Reformed Church, near the old Debenhams site, Becketwell Lane in Derby.

For more information call Allison on 01332 872902 or Dorothy on 01773 827160.

The Alzheimer's Society currently provide dementia support, information and peer support services in Derby city - services include Dementia Cafes, Carer Support Groups and the Befriending Service.  From 1 December these services will be delivered by 'Making Space'  as they have been awarded the new contract by Derby City Council.  Making Space will be providing the same services as the Alzheimer's Society and will be asking people if there are any changes they would like to see within the provision.

Foe more information email Making Space or call 01246 592010. 

QUAD in Derby has lined up a unique opportunity for those looking for that perfect gift in the run up to Christmas as the Don't Panic Gift Bazaar returns on Friday 2 December from 1:00 to 8:00 pm and Saturday 3 December from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.  

 

The Don't Panic Gift Bazaar will include 26 stalls throughout the building, selling original crafts, locally made products and all things festive that could make the perfect present.  There will be mince pies and mulled wine on offer, plus a digital QUAD grotto with a variety of scenes set up for people to have their photo taken for a Christmas card.

 

For more information call QUAD Box office: 01332 290606.  Happy shopping! 

The empowering the voluntary sector project has been delivering training to third sector organisations to challenge unjust decision-making processes since September 2006.  This project now brings together Compact Advocacy, NAVCA and the Public Law Project to offer training and legal advice.

 

This workshop is open to all voluntary and community organisations, staff and trustees and also open to voluntary sector partners.

 

The workshop will include an introduction to public law; public law wrong-doing;  Compact non-compliance; and making a challenge.

 

Date:          Wednesday 18 January 2012

Time:          9:30 am to 4:30 pm - arrival from 9:00 am - lunch is included

Venue:       Community Action, 4 Charnwood Street, Derby

Cost:          £40 (plus VAT) for voluntary/community organisations

                     £80 (plus VAT) for statutory partners

Tutor:         Terry Perkins - Public Law Training Officer at NAVCA

 

To book a place email Training or call 01332 227738. 

 

 

Nominations for the vinspired National Awards, celebrating outstanding young volunteers are now open. For the first time the awards will also include a category for the Most Outstanding NCS Team.

 

The vinspired National Awards are about recognising the extraordinary work of young volunteers aged 16 to 25, and youth workers that inspire them. An awards ceremony will be held at a London location (soon to be announced!) in March next year where v will be recognising the fantastic achievements of young volunteers.

 

To nominate a young volunteer visit the vinspired website - nominations close on 30 November.  

 



Jayne Williams
Community Action Derby