Halton and St Helens Voluntary and Community Action

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16th November 2022

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

Halton & St Helens VCA AGM

We would like to invite you to our Annual General Meeting which is being held on Tuesday 13th December, at St Maries from 10am.  Please email dmorris@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk if you would like to attend. If you are an affiliated member, look out for your voting form which will be sent out shortly...


Ethical Property Foundation - Property Plan Webinar - 17th November

Leading UK property advice charity, the Ethical Property Foundation is delighted to offer this FREE property webinar for voluntary organisations with CVS Brent. In this enjoyable webinar run by experienced surveyors and property advisers, you will learn how to write a simple, well thought out property plan to secure the future of your organisation in a COVID world. You will receive an information pack with the opportunity to obtain free follow-up expert advice...


Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Brand Refresh Survey

It has been recognised nationally that the “IAPT” brand has become a barrier to access, with services choosing to use individuals names and the public struggling to understand the acronym. This quick survey to help rebrand IAPT is seeking views on 2 options for the service brand name, and 2 options on the tagline. The survey is open until 16th December 2022...


Parent/Carer Engagement

Has your child been involved in the National Child Measurement Programme? Do you want to make a difference? Public Health are undertaking in engaging parents/carers to gain their feedback on the National Child Measurement Programme. St Helens Council will be hosting 3 online sessions for parents to give us their views, parents will also have the opportunity to become involved with shaping future processes and procedures around the NCMP. Come along to one of the online sessions on Wednesday 23rd November 2022, sessions are taking place at 10am, 1pm and 4pm...


Catalyst Co-Creation Consultant Opportunity

The Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum is seeking an individual consultant or consulting company with experience of working within the heritage sector to quote for a contract to carry out co-creation work for Synergy. This is a National Lottery Heritage Funded project and this work will commence 2nd January 2023 with a contract value of £10k. The successful consultant will deliver the co-creation activities for the Catalyst Synergy project to ensure that target audiences are involved in the design of a first-floor heritage gallery, link areas and observatory. They will engage with their designers and provide the final report to inform the design of these areas. The person or company will need to be highly motivated, with a genuine desire to succeed and work to deadlines...


Free Donations For Your Organisation This Christmas

With Christmas shopping in full swing, did you know the online spending that your volunteers and supporters are doing can be turned into monetary donations for your organisation? Simply set up a free easyfundraising account and every time your supporters shop online this Christmas and beyond, the retailer they shop with shares a percentage of what they’ve spent with your organisation for free – at no cost to the shopper. The great thing about easyfundraising is that it enables people to give to your organisation without it coming directly out of their pockets, which is a very good thing during the cost of living crisis. And with lot more of us planning to do our Christmas shopping online this year, it’s a really good time to give it a try. It’s completely free to register and use and is open to voluntary organisations of all shape and size – you don’t need to be a charity. What’s more, the funds you raise this way class as unrestricted funds so you can use your donations as you wish...


State of the Social Sector Survey - We Need Your Help!

Can you help complete a short survey to help the Government understand what charities, community groups and voluntary organisations are experiencing right now? Carried out by the independent researchers at Pro Bono Economics and Nottingham Trent University's National VCSE Data and Insights Observatory, this survey is essential to understanding the challenges faced by organisations right now, and the scale of support that’s needed. NAVCA is part of the consortium of VCS organisations supporting the work. The information you provide will help us communicate how the cost of living crisis is affecting our sector. The survey results will be delivered to government as it reviews which sectors will continue to get help with their energy bills in the new year. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. The survey closes Monday 21st November...


Resources for Children's Grief Awareness Week

Children’s Grief Awareness Week is a chance for us to be more mindful and aware of the impact bereavement can have on children and young people. The Child Bereavement Network are hosting a series of webinars one which explores neuro divergence and grief for further details visit Children's Grief Awareness week Webinar mini-series. The Mentally Healthy School website brings together quality assured resources for education settings. For resources on bereavement, loss and grief visit Mentally Healthy School- resources for bereavement, loss, and grief. Resources for parents, carers and professionals to support children and young people with their grief are available...


Mersey Weaver Scouts- Volunteer Manager Evening

Scout Volunteer Managers inspire and motivate scout teams. They enjoy working with adults and young people in their local area. They are organised, diplomatic and know how to get the best out of people. Their Volunteer Managers are great, but they need more! Volunteering gives you career-boosting skills, improves your wellbeing, and helps you make connections with friends, family and your local community. So what are you waiting for? Join them at their Volunteer Manager Evening on  23 November 2022,  to hear more about the role and how you can get involved. There will even be free pizza...


LGBTQ+ Community Engagement Worker - Sahir House

Sahir House is a vibrant Merseyside-based charity with a big heart. The organisation serves a unique dual purpose – they advocate for and support the needs of LGBTQ+ people and promote better sexual health for all. Since their formation, the needs of people living with HIV has been core to their purpose. They are a bold and empowered community of LGBTQ+ people and allies engaged in creating a brighter shared future.  They are there for people when they need them most. Tnhey do this through their 1:1 support services, counselling, peer support groups, online community, community engagement and outreach programmes, partnerships and more. This is a unique opportunity for a passionate and community-minded person to continue to develop their skills within their evolving regional charity as an LGBTQ+ Community Engagement Worker...


Merseyside Sports Partnership - Sport England Together Fund

Merseyside Sports Partnership (MSP) are currently responsible for taking forward and co-ordinating the Sport England Together Fund in Merseyside. Together Fund is designed to support community, voluntary and third sector organisations and constituted groups who are in a position to engage local communities to be physically active. Focused on four priority audiences - who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 – the purpose of the fund is to address the inequalities and challenges which have been further exacerbated by the pandemic and are continuing to widen in respect of impacting on opportunities to be active...
 


Level 2 Functional Skills - English Evening Class


Do you want to improve your English level? Maybe looking for a new job and want to improve your application? Didn't do your GCSE in English? With St Helens Adult Community Learning, small class sizes and excellent tutoring, you can achieve anything... 


Halton Carers Centre - Toy Appeal

Halton Carers Centre have identified that a number of unpaid carers are really struggling with the cost of living and being able to afford presents for their children this Christmas. So as a service they would like to help as many Families as possible to make Christmas a bit more magical for their child, that's why they are asking for a gift for a child so they can have at least one present to open on Christmas day. They welcome donations for ages 0-18 years...


Halton Holiday Activity & Food Fund (HAF) Winter 2022

Halton Borough Council is delighted to announce that it has secured additional funding to enable local providers to offer free activities & food during the Christmas holiday period to school aged children from Reception to Year 11, who receive benefits-related to free school meals.  There are also a number of places available to other vulnerable groups of children and young people, such as SEND, Young Carers, NEET...


VCA November Network Meetings

Details below of the Network Meetings being held during November with links to register for joining details.

St Helens Community Food Providers Alliance - ONLINE 
Monday 21st November 3.30pm.  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 find out the latest in the development of a St Helens Food Strategy, Food drive and fundraising outcome for World Food Day that took place on the 16th October, Expansion of Pantry provision including a Mobile Food Pantry and also to share our concerns with the aim of having some clear actions to take forward in support of Alliance Members.

St Helens VCFSE Mental Health Alliance 
Monday 28th November 10am.  Following on from our in person and online meetings in August and September it was agreed to further establish the Alliance as a place organisations can work together and share best practice in support for the sectors contribution to the improvement of mental health and wellbeing for local communities.  This next meeting we will look at the THRIVE model which is what our local NHS Commissioners use to map and engage with Childrens & Young Peoples mental health and wellbeing services.  It will also be an opportunity to share examples of how we evidence our impact, what are the various measures we use to demonstrate how each of our activities make a difference to individuals.

St Helens Community Centre Managers Network 
Tuesday 29th November 12 noon.  Open to anyone managing a local community centre or venue in St Helens. Come and join us for an opportunity to network and how we might support each other whilst sharing best practice in regards to managing our centres and venues effectively.  During the meeting we will have the opportunity to discuss the impact of the current cost of living crisis both on your centre/venue but also on those in the community that you are connected with. From this discussion we would look to agree any forward actions that would help support your communities.

And finally a reminder for the forum on Monday; St Helens VCSE Forum - 21st November 2022

Monday 21st November 10am.  We are bringing key partners together to connect with the sector to provide and share key developments and we will update on key work and initiatives in St Helens.  We will be hearing from Becky Coleman at easyfundraising who will be telling us all about the easyfundraising app which enables you and your members to raise money for your organisation when shopping on your phone or tablet with over 6,000 online retailers. 
 


New Memberships and Renewals:

The following organisations gained board approval at the last meeting:

Affiliated members – Paid up members entitled to full benefits (£10)  

Caterpillar Club
Cheshire Asbestos Victims Support Group
Gateway Community LTD
HAMMA Academy of Sports and Martial Arts CIC
Hazlehurst Studios
Pentecostal Residences Charity
POPS UK
The World of Glass


Non Affiliated - Free (but only includes access to up to date information on current news, issues and events)

Come Together Hub CIC

If you would like to find out more about VCA membership and the full list of benefits, our  website has all the details including the online membership form

 


Please feel ree 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/form/vca-news-events-template

 

Halton and St Helens Voluntary and Community Action

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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 Road
Widnes, WA8 6DB

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