Halton and St Helens Voluntary and Community Action

To unsubscribe from this Mailing or to opt out of all Halton and St Helens Voluntary and Community Action Mailings please use the links found at the bottom of the page.

Welcome to the latest edition of the Halton & St Helens Voluntary and Community Action E-Bulletin...

The Coalfields Community Investment Programme – Funding Support For St Helens

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the 5.5 million people living in Britain’s former mining communities. Many of these communities still require support due to the huge impact the closure of the mines had upon them. The Coalfields Community Investment Programme (England) is a £500,000 fund created to support activities that tackle some of the key challenges that still remain in coalfield communities. The fund is open to projects that deliver in the top 30% most deprived coalfield communities. Bold, Earlestown, Parr, Sutton, Thatto Heath and Town Centre areas have all been classed as high priority areas...


A Share Of £165,000 Is Up For Grabs To Help Make The Liverpool City Region A Cleaner And Greener Place

The funding has been made available for community and voluntary groups, schools and not-for-profit organisations, who can reduce household waste, encourage recycling and resource re-use and prevent carbon emissions. The projects will also have to demonstrate wider positive impacts on the environment, health and education. The money is coming from the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority and Veolia Community Fund 2020/21, which has been running annually since 2006. Successful applicants can be awarded up to £30,000 for schemes which operate across all six districts in Merseyside and Halton, and between £1000 and £8,000 for projects which work solely at one local authority level...


St Helens Young Carers Vacancy

As St Helens Young Carers service continues to grow and become well respected in supporting local Young Carers, they are inviting applications from candidates who have the passion, skills and commitment to drive forward their pllans for a Centre of excellence for Young Carers in St Helens by joining their young and committed team...


Focus Employment Hub - Change Of Address

Focus Employment Hub Limited are moving to new offices from 3rd March 2020. The new address is Centrix House, Crow Lane East, Newton Le Willows WA12 9UY. The telephone, email and website will remain the same...


Funding Bulletins from Halton Borough Council – February

Our colleagues from Halton Borough Council’s External Funding Team have prepared some Funding Bulletins containing valuable information for voluntary organisations looking for grants to get projects off the ground. The Monthly funding bulletins offering information on funding opportunities in the following areas: Arts, Community & Voluntary, Environment & Heritage, European, Faith, Health, Schools, Sports and Youth...


Cyberspace: The Impact Of New Technology On Your Business

The internet has revolutionised communication between businesses and consumers and has impacted on products, services, priorities, desires and expectations. From idea to management, production to marketing, selling and purchasing and accounts management to tax filing, businesses are becoming increasingly reliant on internet technology, with many struggling to keep up with new developments. To help companies negotiate the minefield of internet technology, Willowbrook-The Living Well is holding a special business breakfast on Thursday 5 March (7am-9am) with presentations and demonstrations by local companies at the forefront of these new developments: BlueFish Digital, North West Computer Museum and BURPS Ltd - 3D Printing...


Offload Programme to start on 4th March At Saints Stadium

Offload is coming to St Helens with Rugby League Cares and Saints Community Development Foundation (SCDF). The hugely successful men’s mental fitness programme run by the independent charity Rugby League Cares, will kick-off at the home of the Betfred Super League champions at 5.45pm on 4th March 2020. Offload is a health initiative designed by RL Cares with input from State of Mind and is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund in Warrington, Widnes and Salford. It helps men tackle issues such as depression and anxiety and to develop coping strategies to successfully manage the crises we all face in everyday life. Staged over 10 weekly ‘fixtures’, Offload is presented by former Rugby League players and officials who share their experiences of dealing with pressure, health problems and challenging situations...


Appointment Of Independent Co-Opted Member

The Merseyside Police and Crime Panel is seeking a committed and enthusiastic person from the Merseyside area to serve as a co-opted independent member on the panel from July 2020 for a term to end in May 2024. This role is an exciting opportunity to be involved in the arrangements for police governance and accountability, which would involve scrutinising and supporting the Police and Crime Commissioner. The panel is made up of 10 local councillors in total from the five local authorities in the force area, plus two independent co-opted members. The role of a panel member is an important and demanding one. The typical commitment required from a member of the panel is expected to average one day a month, including preparation time. Applicants must live or work within the Merseyside area (Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral). Experience in community safety, victim support, criminal justice and related issues would be helpful, but is not essential. There is no salary for the role, but reasonable travel expenses can be reclaimed...


City Nature Challenge 2020

This April, nature enthusiasts are being asked to join international efforts to find and document the wildlife living in cities by taking part in the 5th international City Nature Challenge. Between the 24th and 27th April 2020, more than 250 cities will be competing in the Challenge to see who can make the most observations of nature, find the most species and get the most people involved. Last year, our very own Liverpool City Region took part for the first time, both doing very well, and in 2020, Liverpool will be pitting itself against the likes of London, Panama, San Diego and Cape Town. Recording wildlife is vital in efforts to protect nature. Observations show us where wildlife is thriving or struggling in an ever-changing landscape and this information helps policy makers, scientists, planners and conservationists to make informed decisions when it comes to protecting nature...


My Turn Confidence Building

Teaming up with Citizens Advice and RAISE, My Turn is a programme of support designed to help unemployed men and women in the Liverpool City Region focus on building a brighter future. The programme will support particpants to improve their confidence whilst exploring ways to gain a positive mindset. My Turn will be taking place at Halton Runcorn Citizens Advice running from 10am - 3pm...


Apex Trust’s Women’s Hub On Fridays

This February and March come along to the Apex Women’s Hub at 13-15 North Road St Helens to experience some fantastic life coaching by Michelle Burrows of Get Inspired Coaching. Michelle is a personal growth specialist who is a regular contributor to the Wednesday Women’s Hub delivering both active and mindful sessions which focus on health and wellbeing. During February and March Michelle will be at the hub on Friday afternoons between 1 and 3pm coaching women to focus on how and when to achieve their aspirations. Sessions are open to all women living in St Helens, are free of charge and include refreshments...


VS6 January Meeting Summary

At the first VS6  meeting of 2020, the partnership discussed plans for a Liverpool City Region Assembly where representatives from the VCFSE sector would be introduced to the work of VS6 and invited to contribute to a Manifesto for the sector ahead of the Metro Mayor election in May 2020. To assist with the Manifesto, the partnership agreed to undertake a survey of the VCFSE sector across the Liverpool City region, asking them about their priorities over the next four years and what values they feel are important. This manifesto will be used as the basis for a Metro Mayoral Hustings event to take place in March which the partnership agreed to host. This will see the candidates from major parties questioned on issues relating the VCFSE sector and asked to sign up to our manifesto. Steve Rotheram has confirmed he will be attending...


Haydock Male Voice Choir Concert

Haydock Male Voice Choir are holding a joint concert with Rossendale Male Voice Choir on Saturday 4th April 2020, in St Helens Town Hall, commencing at 7:30 pm. Tickets are priced at £8 and are available by telephoning 01744 734176 (Alan Gaskell)or 01924 602856, (Graham Melling) or from any choir member...


Knitting Patterns Donation

We have very kindly been dontated a large collection of vintage knitting patterns and books, knitting kneedles and also a sewing / knitting box.  Are you a craft group / knitting group that could make use of them?  They are currenlty on display at our Widnes office and are free to anyone who would like them, they can be collected Monday to Friday 10 am to 4pm, no need to book.  There are some photo's of the collection...


See How Playing Bowls Can Improve Your Health And Wellbeing

Residents across St Helens and Knowsley are being encouraged to feel the benefits of being more active by trying a beginners course in bowls.  Taking part can give yourself a boost, feel more refreshed and is a great way to meet new people. Learn the basics of bowls with a FREE series of fun and friendly group sessions. Suitable for complete beginners, with all equipment provided - anybody can join in and no previous experience required! Sessions take place at Rainhill Bowling Club (Victoria Terrace, L35 0LH) from 10.00am to 12.00pm Saturday 28th March 2020 (for 6 weeks)...


Opportunity For 18 – 27 Year Old’s In Cheshire

The Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) have launched a campaign to recruit young people between the ages of 18-27 to join a new youth board for the organisation. The youth board is being set up to give young people living in the sub-region the opportunity to express their values in order to influence the future of Cheshire and Warrington at an exciting and challenging time. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who fits into this demographic to build on their CV as well as having an influence on some of the positive changes that are being made to their home...


Diabetes UK St Helens & District Group

The next meeting of the St Helens & Distict Group of Diabetes UK will be on Wednesday 4th March 2020 at 7:30pm in St Helens United Reformed Church, King Street WA10 2JZ. The church is next to Windle Pilkington hall and the speaker will be Dr Gill Hunt, who will talk about "Looking after your emotional wellbeing with diabetes".  Dr Hunt is a clinical psychologist from St Helens Hospital and has spoken before in February 2017. Anyone with an interest in diabetes is welcome to attend, admission is free and refreshments are avaialble after the meeting...


My Guide Volunteers

In the UK, almost two million people are living with sight loss and around 180,000 rarely leave their home alone. My Guide Volunteering are trying to recruit volunteers in the Merseyside and Cheshire area.  My Guide is a service that allows volunteers to become sighted guides. You will undergo training and learn to safely guide someone with sight loss, navigating environments and building self confidence - all whilst increasing social interaction with those who may not otherwise wish to leave their home. You must be able to give (on average) a few hours a week, and be aged 18 years old or over. This role requires that you have an enhanced disclosure. Guide dogs safeguarding training is included and ongoing support from the My Guide team...

 


VCA Membership

Halton and St Helens VCA are pleased to welcome our new and re-registered affiliated, non-affiliated and associate members.  We all look forward to working with you.

At the last VCA Board Meeting the following organisations had their Affiliated Membership Approved:

Cabbage Hall Allotments
Focus Employment Hub Ltd
Halton Chamber of Commerce
Persona Insight 
Runcorn Reps ASC
The Lester Drive Centre
Torus Foundation

If you'd like to find out about your membership status, click on the link below which will take you to our current list of Affiliated and Associate members, or call Lynne Daffern or Debbie Morris on 01928 592405 / 01744 457100  for more information. 

https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/vca-membership-list


Don't Forget...

Free Digital Drop In

Interested in learning new IT skills? Get more from your tablet, laptop or smart phone with help from a Digital Champion Volunteer. Computer access available or bring your own device. Every Friday between 12 noon and 3pm at our Widnes office...

VCSE Connect

Information about the voluntary, community, charitable sector still remains one of the key issues raised by professionals and clinicians when you ask the question “What could the voluntary sector do?” or “How can I refer this person to something more appropriate?”

As the gateway into the sector, Halton & St Helens VCA holds lots of information and data about local voluntary action.  We have produced that in great detail, in “Here to Help”, provided a search facility on our website, share information with key organisations and have many different ways of sharing what groups do, but still people say they don’t know what groups exist, what they do and how they get to them or refer to them.  So Halton & St Helens VCA has been working on an extension to our database which will display information about groups in an easy format, tell you what they do and when, allow clinicians and other key professionals to log-in directly and make a referral directly to the group (as long as they have agreed to receive referrals).  This means for the first time there will be a single place where referrals to the local voluntary and community sector can be made.

If you would like your organisation to be included in the VCSE Connect directory...


Please feel free to forward this email onto any other organisations/individuals who you feel would be interested. Apologies if you receive this email more than once.

If you have any comments you would like to tell us about this e-bulletin, please send an email to ldaffern@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk or if you have any news/events you would like us to publicise, please complete our News/Events webform: https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/vca-newsevents-template

 

Halton and St Helens Voluntary and Community Action

View this mailing as a web page

Click here to unsubscribe from this mailing
Click here to opt out of all Halton and St Helens Voluntary and Community Action mailings
Tel: 01744 457100 | Fax: 01744 457101 | Email: info@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk
Halton & St Helens Voluntary and Community Action, incorporating Volunteer Centre Halton and Volunteer Centre St Helens, is Registered in England & Wales as a Registered Charity No. 1106001 and a Company Limited by Guarantee No. 2539153.

St Maries
Lugsdale Lane
Widnes, WA8 6DB

This email, and any attachment, is confidential and intended solely for the person(s) to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, or if you believe it was transmitted to you in error, any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. The contents of this message may contain personal views which are not the views of Halton and St Helens Voluntary and Community Action, unless specifically stated.

Email transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses.The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which arise as a result of email transmission.