Halton & St Helens VCA is pleased to announce that the Foundation Stage of our bespoke STAR Standard quality award will be launched on-line in January!

The STAR Standard has been developed by VCA in partnership with local commissioners.  The Foundation Stage covers the basic legal requirements which not-for-profit organisations must have in place, and it is taken from the nine sections of the full award.  It has been designed with two main purposes in mind:

To identify any gaps and areas for development for not-for-profit organisations to help them to improve delivery of services and access to funding opportunities.
To demonstrate the quality of systems and services of not-for-profit organisations to funders, commissioners, service users and partners.

Available only to affiliated members of Halton & St Helens VCA

In the recent volunteer coordinator meeting and introduction to volunteer management workshop we discussed potential workshops and training for 2024.

In order for the VCA to deliver the most useful training and support in the new year I have linked below a short survey for completion, designed to inform future training.

Halton Council External Funding Team hosted an Introduction to Bid Writing workshop at St Marie's on the 28th November, and a follow up one to one surgery will be held on Thursday the 21st of December 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. This is an opportunity for those who attended the session to get some additional support with a current application.

Due to the wonderful feedback the External Funding Team have agreed to hold a series of workshops in 2024 for Halton organisations, details of workshops and dates to be confirmed in the New Year. 

Webinar for Trustees and property decision maker, funded for VCA members. Thursday the 22nd of February 2024, between 10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

In this 2 and half-hour webinar, charity trustees will learn how to work together to make well thought out property decisions to secure the future of their organisation. Led by one of our Register of commercial solicitor and a senior chartered, this features a PowerPoint presentation via Zoom in a Meeting format, discussion, group work and Q & A. Students receive Resources, Certificate of Attendance and with the opportunity to obtain free follow-up guidance from one of our team of chartered surveyors with an introduction our register of commercial property solicitors, planning and VAT specialists.

The next Halton VCSE Response meeting will be on Friday 15th December 2023 at 11am. The meeting will be held at Halton & St Helens VCA, St Maries, Lugsdale Road, Widnes, WA8 6DB. We will hear from some new friends, have plenty of time to engage and update one another on projects and activities, as well as touching base with the local Council and NHS organisations.

The meeting will be held on the 19th January 2024.

The next St Helens VCSE Forum meeting will be on Monday 22nd January 2024. Coffee, registration and networking from 9.30am with the meeting starting at 10am. The meeting will be face to face and taking place at the Willowbrook Living Well and will conclude at 12 noon.

Start the New Year with a funding networking event!

Meet the funders face to face, find out what they have to offer, discuss your ideas and network with your peers.

Guests include:

• National Lottery Community Fund
• Coalfields Regeneration Trust
• VCA Community Accountant
• John Moore's Foundation
  and many more....

Calling all community food providers - do you run a Foodbank, Pantry, Community Cafe or Community Allotment? please come and join us to discuss the latest developments in community food provision.
With so much happening in the world of community food provision in St Helens come and join us to share your latest activities or to share concerns with the aim of having some clear actions to take forward in support of Alliance Members.

Online 18th January, 2024 from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM.

The next Community Centre Managers Meeting will be on Wednesday 24th January 2024 at 12.30pm until 2.30pm

The Beacon, Ground Floor Meeting Room, College Street, WA10 1TF.

Lunch is provided. Guest to be confirmed.

Halton Children & Young People Safeguarding Partnership provides a range of courses for staff working with children, young people and families, or with adults who may be parents or carers. Session include:

• Working together to Safeguard Children
• Lunch and Learn workshops
• Domestic Abuse Awareness
  

Click below for the training timetable, or for more information email  Safeguarding.Training@halton.gov.uk 

St. Helens Council safeguarding team provide access to a wide range of free or low cost e-learning and resources designed to support your work to safeguard children and young people.

• Safeguarding Children levels 1-3
• Safeguarding Awareness Briefings for Volunteers
• Prevent Awareness

Click below for details of all available sessions, and how to book your place. 

2 one-hour online sessions. - Tackling Inequalities 

Clare Bambra, Professor of Public Health at Newcastle University, will present a conversation around the societal and structural inequalities that lead to the compounding impact of emergencies creating gaps in experience. The second session will give time to peer learning and sharing of experiences from partners of successes and challenges in their own work to close/mitigate the gaps in support that see people become more susceptible to vulnerable situations

9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. - Exploring the disproportionate impact 

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Shared experiences across the sector 

Click below to reserve you place.

Age Well training (Loneliness/Falls  )2024

The aim of the training is to:

• Improve knowledge and understanding of factors that affect older people i.e. falls and loneliness.
• Build practical skills using tools that identify people who may be at risk.
• To build confidence in giving out advise on how to minimise risks.
  
• Raise awareness of the various referral pathways & signposting services.
  

The training starts is for 2.5 hours and is offered in both Runcorn & Widnes .

Runcorn Town Hall 9.30 –12 pm, 7th Feb, 10th April, 10th July, 9th Oct

Ditton CC 1pm  – 3pm, 23rd May, 19th September, 28TH Nov

 If you would like to book a space on full day session please email direct to Maureen.Gleave@halton.gov.uk.