We’re on countdown now for our first Volunteer Awards ceremony since 2017.  We’re calling everyone to come forward to nominate the people of Halton and St Helens who you know give so much of their time and life in supporting causes, people and their environment.

This is your chance to really show us how fantastic the person, group or organisation is! We need you to tell us why you think the individual, group or organisation you are nominating should receive this award. We encourage inspirational and emotive comments. The judges will make their decision on the information you provide. Please note that if successful, the words could be used at the awards ceremony.

Nominations close Midday on Monday 16th October 2023

In October Halton and St Helens VCA will be launching a Training and Networking E-Newsletter. We will be using this platform to share the VCA training offer, highlight our networking events, and promote the training available through our partners and external organisations.

The next Halton VCSE Response meeting will be on Friday 20th October at 11am. The meeting will be conducted online using Zoom (requires internet access only). 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 contact telephone number for the 0-19+ Service has changed.

The 0-19+ Service includes:

• Health Visiting
  
• School Nursing
  
• Enhancing Families Programme
  

Parents, carers and health professionals can contact the service on the new telephone number - 01744 411277.

Halton & St Helens Voluntary Community Action are looking for new team members for a variety of roles working in one or both of our boroughs.  We are passionate about encouraging local people to make changes for good in their communities and helping them find the right support or service that can improve their lives for the better or helping develop a new solution.

Healthy & Home Link Worker (Halton) – 36 hours per week – Salary £25,500 pa

The Healthy & Home project will provide a complementary service to the current discharge pathway Warrington & Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (WHH). It will enhance the current provision within the hospital and create effective and long-lasting links with the Community and Voluntary Sector (VCS).  

Grants Adminstrator (St Helens) – 18 hours per week – Salary £11,110  

Halton & St Helens VCA deliver small grants programmes from a variety of our projects.  From handling grant enquiries to preparing meeting papers and being the key grants database administrator you will ensure all aspects of our grant programmes are handled with efficiency and professionalism.

May I take the opportunity to officially announce my transition from my previous role as Healthy & Home Link Support Worker in Warrington Hospital to a new community based role.

 I am now a Community Link Support Worker in an initiative that has been commissioned by Bridgewater with the providers being Helens VCA and Warrington Voluntary Action.

 The main purpose and aim of my role is to support Bridgewater Community Teams in Halton, fostering a connection with community services and enhancing local health initiatives.

Torus Foundation is the charitable arm of Torus, which is more than just a social landlord.

The Foundation works with tenants and the wider community on a number of projects to help people work towards employment, supporting families through financial advice, and increased the number of tenants and wider community be online with computer training and more.

Through partnership working and relationship building, the Foundation is bringing a positive difference to communities and improve lives across Liverpool, St Helens, Warrington, and the surrounding areas.

Torus Foundation is partly funded by Torus Group’s HMS, which donates a proportion of its profits through gift aid. This is a valuable resource supporting their  aim to improve the quality of life and wellbeing for all their customers.

Local charities and organisations across Liverpool, St Helens and Warrington can apply for up to £1,500 (each financial year) worth of the funding.

The Next Volunteer Coordinators Network meeting will be on Tuesday 14th November - 11am- 1pm this will be a face to face meeting at our Halton office,

The Volunteer Coordinators Network is a network of individuals (paid or unpaid) from VCFSE sector organisations who recruit or support volunteers as part of their role. We will be meeting four times a year, to share best practice around a range of volunteering themes including:

•  DBS checks for volunteers
   
• Keeping volunteers engaged
  Inclusive recruitment processes, training opportunities
  
• Best practice tool kit
  Promoting voluntary opportunities using interesting and engaging techniques
  Celebration event planning
  

Anyone who has direct responsibility for recruiting, supporting or managing volunteers or Volunteer Coordinators in or linked to Halton and St Helens are welcome to join us.

The External Funding Team at Halton Borough Council have produced their latest monthly Funding Bulletin covering recent grants alerts.

If you would like support to bid to any of the funding streams listed in the Bulletin, they can support with this

The Ausism Wellbeing Project are a holistic support service for autistic adults combining therapies, training and support. They are based in Halton and can support anyone, diagnosed or not, aged 16+. 

They are led and informed by their Autistic Perspective Panel of autistic adults. They believe in facilitating their wishes and ideas to help support autistic adults in the way they want.

They know that receiving a diagnosis is only the beginning. They are here to support you with your next steps of understanding and accepting.

'A survivors honest story of childhood sexual abuse'.

From the grooming and abuse to the warning signs, psychological impact and changes in behaviour.

A rare opportunity to hear an abuse story first hand, and to learn how you could potentially spot the signs and engage with a young person who has experienced or is experiencing sexual abuse. No questions are off-limits, Laura is able to talk openly and is keen for her experience to help educate others.

24th January 2024 12:00-13:00

Venue: Teams delivery

Pauline Ruth who runs Trinity Safe Spaces and has been heavily involved in the welcoming of asylum seekers and refugees and and alsop pivotal with the faith network has been awarded the Bene Merenti medal by His Holiness, Pope Francis. This award is a ’Gold Medal’ for ‘Exemplary Christian Service’.

Pauline does so much to safeguard our community and we know her work with refugees and migrants is at the heart of her Christian vocation of service.

Pauline, we applaud you!

As part of exciting new developments in the Refugee Resettlement Service at St Helens Borough Council, they are recruiting for some new posts in the team

They are also looking to recruit a number of volunteers to help deliver their work. Please find attached the advert for the current opportunities, which are suitable for people who have ESOL Entry Level 3 or above. People who have refugee, asylum seeker, or other migrant background are welcome to apply.

St Helens Borough Council, along with partners, recognises that anyone can experience domestic abuse and it is everyone’s responsibility to end it. The council and its partners are committed to ending domestic abuse in St Helens Borough and are asking residents to complete this short survey to help them to understand your views on this issue.

The results of the survey will help form the new domestic abuse strategy for the next 3 years.

Pubs, community halls, gardens, sports clubs and other treasured locations across the UK can benefit from up to £2 million in government funding each through the Community Ownership Fund, which is open again for applications.

Information on the fund’s eligibility requirements is outlined in the prospectus, which also includes information on how organisations can apply

The Halton Health Improvement Team have shared details of some free fully funded training available for anyone working with children and young people in Halton. This training is accredited with the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH).

• RSPH Level 2 Understanding Health Improvement -  10th November 
• RSPH Level 2 Encouraging a Healthy Weight and Healthy Eating - 5th December 

Cancer Education Station Network Day

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.  The meeting will be on Thursday 12th October at 10am till 1pm.  The meeting will be held at St Helens Town Hall, Victoria Square, WA10 1HP.  Lunch to be provided.