We have recently appointed  Alicia Abbott as our new Capacity Building Coordinator. This role is a training and development position, Alicia will be aiming to understand the learning and development needs across the charitable, voluntary, and community organisations in Halton and St Helens.

 Alicia will work alongside the Community Connectors to make regular contact with groups to enhance understanding of training and support requirements.

 As you are the experts in your own fields you are best placed to inform VCA of your training needs. With this in mind we have created a skills audit for you to complete at your convenience. 

Halton & St Helens VCA and Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance have come together to offer you a chance to network with others, raise awareness of the fabulous work your organisation does, whilst gathering cancer information and resources to take back and share with your service users.

We are holding 2 meetings one at our Widnes office on Wednesday 27th September, 10 am till 12 noon and one at St Helens Town Hall on Thursday 12th October 10 am till 1pm. Lunch will be provided at both events

St Helens Wellbeing Core Mental Health training is free and they also have free spaces available for volunteers (discounted rates for staff in volunteer organisations) on the Mental Health First Aid training, which is accredited by Mental Health First Aid England (MHFAE).

Warrington Speak Up are hiring. They are looking for dynamic, determined and person-centred advocate to develop their brand new community advocacy project

Closing date for applications – 12 noon on Monday 11th September 2023

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) are launching a £10 million grant fund in the next few months, open to any voluntary, community or social enterprise organisation seeking funding for projects or activities related to suicide prevention and supporting those affected by suicide, across 2023-24 to 2024-25.

Applications are invited from organisations large and small, but smaller, community-led groups are strongly encouraged to apply. You also do not have to be an organisation whose core business is suicide prevention.  

Loneliness is a serious problem. It can even lead to people dying earlier because of smoking and drinking more alcohol than usual, and poor mental health can lead to self-harm.

We need to do something to reduce the number of people who are feeling lonely or isolated, and how bad it can be for them.

We are working alongside IVAR, the research charity, to investigate ways to reduce loneliness and are seeking your views. Can you help us by completing the electronic questionnaire:? In return you will be entered into a free draw to have a chance to win a £50 voucher.

The Councils in the Liverpool City Region (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral) and West Lancashire Borough Council are jointly preparing a Recreation Mitigation on the Coast Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), in partnership with Natural England and the National Trust.    

 Consultation is underway on the scope and content of the Recreation Mitigation at the Coast SPD. This consultation runs until 8 a.m. on Monday 9th October 2023.    

The North West Film Archive are pleased to present St Helens on Film" at Lucem House Community Cinema Plus+ on Thursday 28th September at 2pm and 7-30pm. This will be an opportunity to explore the film collection from the local area.

Led by a member of the archive’s staff, this specially curated screening will illustrate the industries, cultures and traditions of the lives of the people of the St Helens area over the last 110 years. Drawn from local cinema newsreels, civic and promotional films, as well as regional television news and documentaries these screenings are a must for lovers of the area’s local history.

The Kitchen & Café Assistant role offers an exciting opportunity to serve your community via the wonderful T.A.N.G.O. Community Café. In this role you will assist the Café Team Leader to manage and co-ordinate the daily running of the community café, a place that offers affordable food, sanctuary and a friendly space. They are looking for a friendly and enthusiastic person who will assist with pioneering a new vision into the T.A.N.G.O. café. As well as the day-to-day duties of running a café, they would love to welcome a new Kitchen & Café Assistant onto their team who has a real passion and a heart for community spirit.

he salary is paid at Real Living Wage (set by the Living Wage Foundation), which is currently £10.90 per hour. You will have the option to join the workplace pension scheme.