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25 January 2023

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

Voluntary Sector Mental Health & Wellbeing Service Directory – Get Your Organisation Listed

We can all honestly say that 2022 was an incredibly challenging and difficult year with people and our communities still recovering from the pandemic along with the current cost of living crisis.  One which we see continuing into 2023 and will likely have an impact in the coming years, particularly on our mental health.  Since the start of the first lockdown in March 2020, voluntary organisations, self-organised groups, charities, faith groups and social enterprises not only looked to continue their services where possible, they also stepped up and met the increase in demand.  This was to make sure people who had been affected the most in our communities were not alone and they can access the support available.

It is acknowledged that nationally we are facing a mental health crisis.  Here at Halton & St Helens VCA we want to showcase all the amazing work our sector is doing to help those in our communities with mental health and wellbeing, recognising that for some people there are services available before someone needs crisis intervention.

We want this directory to be useful to not only other providers and partners but to the public who may just need to know what help is out there. So here is your CALL to ACTION…

St Helens Network Meetings Being Held During January and February 2023

Details of the Network Meetings being held during January and February with links to register for joining details...

New Online Map of Digital Inclusion Services Available Across The Liverpool City Region - Now Live

For the first time, a comprehensive map of the places people can go to ‘get online’, or access digital skills training has been published by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The map is completely open access for use by the general public, but obviously, if people aren’t already online, they may struggle to access it themselves!  So, of equal, if not more importance, is that staff and volunteers from front-line service providers across voluntary/community/faith and public sectors are aware of and can access the map, so that they can advise their service users about local places they can go to get online or access IT training. For all too many people, digital inequalities in terms of a lack of skills, access to a computer, the Internet and digital poverty in general remain key barriers to inclusion; which have arguably been exacerbated by the current cost of living crisis.  Digital exclusion limits people’s ability to do so many things that more fortunate people take for granted, like access online public services (health, local authority, housing providers, etc.); shop and make savings online; search and apply for jobs; connect with friends and family; and pursue personal interests. We know that conversations about these kinds of issues often arise across all kinds of service areas, but staff/volunteers don’t always know where to direct people to.  By accessing this map, now they will...
 

Age UK Mid Mersey Campaigns

Age UK Mid Mersey currently have two campaigns running around winter pressures; Winter Wellness and Winter Warmth. Winter Wellness is focused around keeping well during winter such as keeping up with vaccines, eating well, staying hydrated, getting around safely etc. Winter Warmth is focused around making sure people’s homes are warm. They are currently doing home energy checks for anyone aged 65+ more info on their website. But anyone aged 50+ is encouraged to contact them if they’re struggling to stay warm this winter and they'll see if they can support you in other ways...

DofE Award - Access Without Limits Community Grants Programme - £10,250

Since the launch of the DofE Awards Access without Limits programme, they have successfully onboarded five new community-based youth providers to become direct delivery centres for DofE Award and they are in the application stage with three more. The addition of the programme, will hopefully add value to the services that are already being delivered by those organisations, enhancing their youth offer and opportunity for young people who live in those communities. Due this success, they are now looking to start the engagement process for 2023, three months earlier than planned...

Chain Lane Community Centre A.G.M And New Trustees Wanted

There’s a warm invitation to come to the Chain Lane Community Centre AGM (Annual General Meeting) on Thursday 2nd February, 1.00pm at the Centre. You can attend either in person at the Centre or via ZOOM. They are also looking to strengthen their Management Board and so are keen to hear from you if you'd be interested in becoming a Trustee/Director (they’re a Registered Charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee) of their thriving community centre...
 

Powered by Hip Hop - UC Crew

UC Crew would like to wish you a Happy New Year and thank all the organisations of St Helens for their continued support in helping them to change people’s lives using the Power of Hip Hop arts. You have helped them to: Break down barriers with refugees and asylum seekers at community centre; Provide diversionary activities to young offenders at allotments; Provide a safe space for vulnerable children and young people to learn new arts and make friends; Provide opportunities for them to share Break Dancing history in St Helens; Provide a platform for Break Dancers to represent their infant, junior and senior schools in competitions; Helped them to promote messages about safety and reporting crime. They have an exciting 2023 planned and are always looking for new organisations to collaborate with, so please feel free to get in touch for a chat...
 

Collaboration for Change: Transforming the City Region’s Mental Health Support

The Liverpool City Region is world-renowned for delivering cutting-edge approaches to complex challenges, particularly in health and wellbeing. At present, our region has a few big problems at hand – challenges that cannot be solved by one sector alone. The Liverpool City Region Civic Data Cooperative (CDC) want to work with a range of people and organisations to lift the lid on these challenges, listen to different perspectives and find new ways to address them. Funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and hosted by the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of Liverpool, the Civic Data Cooperative works with local people to do better with data, using it to forge new ideas, improve service delivery and solve the big problems facing our city region today. Following a successful pilot in 2022, CDC are bringing back the ‘What’s Your Problem’ programme for 2023 to focus on the region’s growing mental health crisis, taking a closer look at men and students. There is so much happening in the city region to support people; however, insight shows the gaps, the disconnects and the scale of the issues impacting local people experiencing these difficulties every day. ‘What’s Your Problem’ is a four-part programme specifically designed to remove these barriers and open doors between all those involved in health, care and community product & service design, creating the space to find solutions that truly work...

ACLs L.O.C.A.L Leaders Programme

Are you a volunteer? or hoping to become a volunteer? Are you a member of a local community group? Do you work or help at a local charity? ACLs L.O.C.A.L Leaders Programme has various sessions to help you in your community/ voluntary role. For more information...

Easyfundraising

If you are looking for a simple and effective fundraising activity, thousands of third sector and voluntary organisations recommend easyfundraising. Through easyfundraising 7,000 online retailers such as Amazon, eBay, Just Eat, Trainline and Sainsbury’s will donate to your organisation when your volunteers, staff and supporters shop with them. It means everyday online spending turns into a continuous income stream your organisation can put to good use. Take the experience and knowledge of other organisations to make 2023 your best fundraising year yet...

Halton’s Health Walks Scheme - Volunteers Wanted

Active Halton want everybody to live happier and healthier lives. You could help to achieve this by Volunteering with Halton’s Health Walks scheme.  They need people to lead or support health walks in Widnes and Runcorn, maybe one 30/60/90 minute walk per week. Full training and support provided...

Independent Custody Visiting scheme: Recruitment Intake (2023)

Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner is currently looking for more volunteers to join the Independent Custody Visiting (ICV) scheme. The ICV scheme was set up following an inquiry in the aftermath of the Brixton and Toxteth riots, which recommended that policing activity should be monitored and made publicly accessible and scrutinised.  ICVs are members of the local community who volunteer to check on the welfare of people detained in police custody. They call at police stations in pairs, unannounced and write short reports about their visit. The Commissioner is then informed of any issues that arise during a visit, to consider if appropriate action is required. An ICV’s recommendations can require the police to make improvements for the welfare of detainees. Consequently, ICVs play a valuable role in maintaining public confidence in this important area of policing. While there are no specific requirements to apply, volunteers must be over 18 years old and live or work in Merseyside...

Webinar - Social Value 101

Social Value has evolved from something that is a nice-to-have to an impactful, essential and permanent change in how we do business. However, despite this, there is no legal definition of Social Value and much confusion about how best to navigate it. The Social Value Portal are running a webinar on Thursday 26 January, 14.00 GMT and will take you through where Social Value has been, where it is going – and how you can get started...
 

Funded Mental Health First Aid Training

Sean Bailey Wellness CIC will be delivering the new two day adult Mental Health First Aid course at The Brindley Theatre on Monday 27th February and Monday 6th March, 9.30am until 5.30pm. There are eight fully funded spaces for not for profit organisations operating within Halton. To complete the course there must be full attendance across both days...

FREE – Used Office and Canteen Furniture and Equipment

Warrington Disability Partnership are working with a national company who are closing down a very large local site. This has resulted in them having a large number of items of office and canteen furniture and equipment that can be donated to local charities and community groups operating in Warrington and Halton...

St Helens Youth Hub Consultation & YP Listening Service Networking Event

YMCA St Helens would like to thank everyone who has completed a survey giving your views and ideas to help shape their plans for redeveloping part of the YMCA building transforming it into a designated mini-youth hub, aimed at providing high quality opportunities for 12–18-year-olds, with a particular focus on young people who may not (for various reasons) feel able to access larger facilities/centres. They would now like to invite you to come and hear more about their plans, share your ideas, find out more about what youth support they currently offer, with a light networking lunch at the end. This is on Thursday 2nd February 11am and will take place in the base for their Young Persons Listening Service on the 3rd floor of the Beacon centre...

Can You Help A Runcorn Board Gaming Group?

Do you have a room that a Runcorn Board Gaming group could use.  It is a monthly group held on a Saturday between 11am and 11pm.  Normal attendance is between 8 - 12 people and attendees are 18+. If you can provide a venue please email dmorris@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk who will forward your details...
 

Cheshire Police Community Cashback Fund - Closes This Friday 9am 27 January

The Commissioner is keen to support Widnes and Runcorn as much as he can via the Community Cashback Fund and we’d like to get a few more expressions of interests from across the Halton area. Local community groups, businesses and members of the police family across Cheshire have until 9am on Friday (27 January) to apply for the Community Cashback Fund, operated by Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer. Taken from money seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), Widnes and Runcorn Local Policing Units have been allocated £10,000 each from the fund. The aim is for local residents and businesses to work with their neighbourhood policing teams on projects to improve their community. ‘Not for profit’ organisations such as charities, ‘friends of’ groups, neighbourhood groups, social enterprises and community groups are encouraged to apply. Local businesses and Parish Councils can also apply to the fund, as well as local policing teams themselves...

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