I hope you all managed to get out and enjoy the absolutely gorgeous weather we have had the last few days. This month's vInfo is full of exciting news. Lots of people are anxious about what the change in government will mean to the Voluntary Sector and future funding initiatives. Unfortunately I have no magical answers but I can say this edition is full of tangible and practical advice that can help in the meantime.
We finally have a full team again - hurray. We would like to welcome Holly Challenger, our new part-time YVA. She is based at the Volunteer Centre Kensington and Chelsea and will be working with 16-25 year olds across Central London, with a particular focus on Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Camden and Islington. Holly will be working on Wednesday afternoons, Thursdays and Fridays. She may well be in contact soon with a young person desperate to start volunteering with you! The rest of the team has been busy meeting organisations and creating opportunities. We are currently looking forward to having a busy summer helping you all find the perfect young volunteers for your projects. We are particularly looking to create some full-time volunteering roles. If your organisation would like to involve a young volunteer full-time for 13 weeks please do get in touch and we will help you with the practicalities.
The vinvolved Central London team is currently undertaking a research project into the issues of young parents volunteering. Although there has been a plethora of research into the benefits of volunteering for young people, our research team has not found any on volunteering and young parents. Our research team has done some amazing research so far looking into current practices, government policy and good practice in involving young parents. In order to complete their research they would like to interview some young parents who volunteer. Does your organisation currently involve young parents? If so would they be interested in talking to our research team? If they are please could you contact Emma.
Lloyds TSB - Foundation Community Programme
Lloyds TSB Foundation is increasing the funds available for their Community programme. The funding project will run until 2013, the aim of the foundation is to help disadvantaged people play a fuller role in their community. They are particularly focusing on projects which improve community/ social involvement and improve life chances.
To be eligible:
- You must be an underfunded charity (12 months of reserves or less.)
- If you work locally you must have an income of £1 million or less.
- If you work nationally you must have an income of £5 million or less.
- Your work must enable disadvantaged people to play a fuller role in the community.
Grants are for one to three years appropriate to the size and nature of the organisation, for more information please visit Lloyds TSB Foundation.
Westminster Small Grants
The Westminster Small Grants scheme has approximately £89,000 to distribute during 2010-2011. This scheme will provide small grants of up to £3,000 to enable voluntary and community groups to deliver local activities in Westminster. The scheme will enable voluntary and community groups to deliver local activities in Westminster and contribute to the LAA priorities. The projects applied for must support one or more of the following priorities:
1. Tackling unemployment.
2. Developing your social enterprise.
3. Reducing health inequalities by promoting healthy living, physical or mental well being.
4. Supporting the most socially excluded families.
The deadline for the submission of applications is Wednesday 2 June 2010 at 12noon.
Sport England Small Grants Scheme
The Sport England Small Grants Programme has been set up to support local community sport projects which seek to increase participation, sustain participation or develop opportunities for people to excel at their chosen sport.
The small grants programme will provide funding for community-level activities that help people become involved in sport, keep people in sport or help people improve their performance at their chosen sport. They anticipate this fund will be used for example, for purchasing sports equipment for local clubs, running coaching activities for the community and getting more coaches qualified. The fund will be efficient at getting small amounts of funding to grassroots sport in England.
For more information and an application form visit Sport England.
Our websites resources section offers the volunteer manager everything they need to know about involving young people in their organisation, useful websites and forums, and case studies on the experiences of young people, it’s worth a look. Youth Action Network offer training, capacity building support, networking opportunities and awards and funding to voluntary organisations that support young people to develop their own volunteering opportunities.
Understanding Safeguarding and Child Protection when Working with Young People Date: Thursday 17th June 2010
Venue: Youth Access, London
Suitable for: Counsellors, information/advice workers, youth workers, managers and supervisors of those who work with young people. Aim: To develop participants’ understanding, knowledge and competence in dealing with safeguarding and child protection issues and concerns when working with young people. This is a 1-day training course using a variety of interactive and participatory methods.
Prices:
• Youth Access Members: £55.00
• Voluntary Sector: £88.00
• Statutory Sector: £110.00
For more information and a booking form visit Youth Access.
Youth Homelessness after G v Southwark, a year on…To develop participants’ understanding, knowledge and competence in dealing with safeguarding and child protection issues and concerns when working with young people. This is a 1-day training course using a variety of interactive and participatory methods.
• Youth Access Members: £55.00
• Voluntary Sector: £88.00
• Statutory Sector: £110.00
Date: Thursday 24th June 2010
Venue: Youth Access, London
Youth Access and Shelter are inviting people to a FREE seminar on the House of Lords landmark judgment of May 2009 which clarified how local authorities should provide accommodation and support to homeless 16 and 17 year olds - the seminar will examine the impact of the judgment for those advising young homeless people. seminar on the House of Lords landmark judgment of May 2009 which clarified how local authorities should provide accommodation and support to homeless 16 and 17 year olds - the seminar will examine the impact of the judgment for those advising young homeless people.
The seminar will cover:
- An Outline of the G judgment
- An explanation of the law and guidance that local authorities must follow
- Implications of the G judgment and what it means for those advising young homeless
- Child in need assessments
- How similar cases are being decided by the courts
For more information and a booking form visit Youth Access.
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