Unsubscribe
View in your browser
Your Fortnightly New & Information Bulletin from Halton & St Helens VCA
Welcome to the latest VCA E-Bulletin
 

Every fortnight we bring you the latest, news, events and information from the VCFSE sector and partners across Halton, St Helens and the wider area.  If you would like to feature in our next e-bulletin please click our link below and submit your story.
 
Submission for Ebulletin
Are You Delivering A Service Over Christmas?

Halton & St Helens VCA are gathering the information around services which will be accessible to residents through the period of Friday 20th December 2024 til Friday 3rd January 2025.

If your service or activities are open or closed please let us know as we will circulate this information as widely as can.  The information on closed services is just as useful!
Find out more
Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum Are Hiring

Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum has a vision to be a premier visitor attraction, recognised as the best science discovery centre dedicated to chemistry and a unique Museum of the chemical heritage of NW England.

They currently have the following job vacancies:

Weekend Cook

Visitor Services Team Member – Casual Staff
Find out more
Voices from the Frontline Fund – Open for Applications

Grant-making charity RosaUK has launched its Voices from the Frontline fund, which offers grants of up to £10,000 to support campaigning and influencing work that enables women and girls to use their voice to achieve change.

Deadline: 4pm on Monday 9th December 2024
Find out more
Domestic Abuse Training

Introduction to Domestic Abuse - 28th November. 09:30-11:30. Online 

This 2-hour online training session provides you with an introductory overview of domestic abuse. This training is suitable for anyone who has an interest in learning more about what domestic abuse looks like, and how to support victims.

This training is also beneficial for anyone working in the third and voluntary sectors.
Find out more
Christmas Crisis Intervention Micro Grants Programme

Grants from £100 - £1,000 are available for VCFSE organisations to run activities that will support people from the communities of identity or experience below that may struggle to achieve higher levels of mental wellbeing over the Christmas period.

We are looking for activities that will support people to maintain or raise their levels of mental health and wellbeing and or divert individuals from reaching crisis points where clinical intervention is required.

The grants can be used for a variety of purposes which could include, equipment, online solutions, printing, distribution, staff-time and facilitators. We would expect that applications will reflect good value for money.

Closing Date: Midday Monday 2nd December 2024
Find out more
Affordable Community Transport Service for Charities, Community Groups and Schools

FFS Community Transport is proud to offer an affordable 17-seat minibus for hire, designed to support schools, charities, and community groups across St Helens.

Their service helps enhance social inclusion and well-being by providing access to essential cultural, educational, and community activities. From school trips to sporting events and community outings, their minibus is available with a fully licensed, DBS-checked driver.

They offer competitive pricing and are happy to discuss regular bookings or longer hires at discounted rates.
Find Out More
Halton Princes Trust Programme

The upcoming King’s Trust Team (formerly Prince’s Trust) programme will run from Monday 27th January 2025 and will be held at the Runcorn Fire Station. The current programme is well underway, so now is the time to start looking ahead to the next. 

Recruitment is now starting for this fantastic opportunity, they will be meeting young people throughout January to secure their place.

The aims and objectives of the programme are below and what they need now is up to 14 young people aged between 16 – 25 years to come and develop their personal skills on this amazing programme. 
Find Out More
Bereaved By Suicide Support - St Helens Residents

St Helens Council would like to take the opportunity to remind everyone of the postvention support available to anyone in St Helens who has been bereaved/affected by suicide
Find out more
Get Grants Free Bid Writing Workshop

Whether you have a wealth of experience in fundraising or are new to applying for grants the Get Grants free Bid Writing Workshop will help you explore how to identify grant funding opportunities.
Find out more
The Autism Wellbeing Project CIC - November 2024 Newsletter

The Autism Wellbeing Project are a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting autistic adults in Halton and the surrounding areas.
Find out more
Healthwatch GP Survey

Residents across Cheshire and Merseyside are being urged to make their voices heard and help shape the future of local GP and health services by taking part in a new survey launched by local Healthwatch.

Plans to improve patient access to primary care services were launched in spring 2024. They want to see what change, if any, people have noticed since then in their experience of GP services.

The nine Healthwatch organisations across Cheshire and Merseyside have come together to create the survey, with information gathered to help inform and shape future primary care services across Cheshire and Merseyside. 

The survey, open to all residents, will allow individuals to share their personal experiences of using, or attempting to use, GP services in the past 12 months.
Find out more
Have Your Say On The Local Transport Plan

The Local Transport Plan will outline how the Combined Authority will invest in public transport, roads and walking and cycling networks in Liverpool City Region up to 2040.

It sets out how they will invest in public transport and the road and walking and cycling networks in Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral to create a transport network that gives people more choices, is tough in the face of climate change, and helps us all to lead healthier and happier lives.

However, they know there are gaps in the current transport system and would like to hear from you how these could be improved.
Find Out More
Local Solutions Community Empowerment Fund - Round 5 Applications

The Local Solutions Community Empowerment Fund provides grants up to £2,000 to support local individuals and voluntary groups that will make a positive on our communities.

Local Solutions, a charity celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, delivers services to support individuals, families and communities across the Liverpool City Region and North Wales.

he grants will support smaller projects, ideas and initiatives that come through, or inspire, voluntary social action, rather than to fund larger established charities and community groups.

Closing date: 25th December 2024.
Find Out More
New Memberships and Renewals

The following organisations gained board approval at the last meeting:

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

Chrysalis Centre for Change
Come Together Hub CIC
Crownway Community Centre
Deafness Resource Centre
Downall Green Independent Methodist Church
Focus Employment Hub
Forge Fitness NW CIC
OLCOTWISH CIC - Cafe Laziz
Pure Insight
Vibe Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Vikings Sports Foundation
Wonder Arts

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

Gorsewood Green CIC
Purple Gecko Community CIC
Soroptimist International of Widnes
Town in the Town
Windmill Hill Events Network (W.H.E.N}
YMCA St Helens


Find out more
Focus On Volunteering
 

St Helens Council Family Hub and Children's Centres

 Family Hub and Children's Centres are for families with babies, children and young people from pre-birth until they reach the age of 19 (or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities).

 Family Hubs will be a one stop shop for everything you need to know about bringing up a child in St Helens. Family Hubs and Children's Centres are welcoming, friendly and safe places for families where parents and their children can go to access support, information and services in one place.

Family Hub Volunteer (St Helens)

A range of volunteering opportunities available throughout St Helens Family Hubs across the Borough.

Help to support families get the best start, through activity groups, delivering programmes, being consulted, joining a parent and carer panel, signposting in your community, reaching dads and male carers, after school activities and more.

Parent Champion - As a parent or carer, offering you training in the most up to date information to support families across St Helens. This includes the new childcare funded entitlement, Family Hub offers and what's going in the community. You spend just a couple of hours speaking with families, spreading the word, in your community or networks and help parents and carers gain the right type of support for their family.

Peer group leader - As a parent or carer yourself, access the most up to date training to give you the skills and experience to deliver your own parenting peer support groups with our support and guidance.

If you know of anyone who might be interested please share this link: 

 https://volunteering.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/volunteers/opportunity/10218983
 
Find Out More About Voluntering
Have you heard about The Community Lottery – for local good causes?
 

Charities, community organisations, social business and community groups of all shapes and sizes can sign up, free of charge and get a slice of the ticket proceeds.

A generous 60% of the ticket proceeds from the the Community Lottery will go to charities, voluntary organisations and other not-for-profit groups with the remainder being put towards prizes, operating costs and VAT.

If you are involved with a local good cause that would like to find out more about fundraising with the Community Lottery, simply scan the QR code on the picture or access the "find out more" button below.
 
Find Out More
VCA Activities Directory

Do you know about our Activities Directory? There is always something going on in Halton and St Helens and this is the best place to find out what’s what.


If you have any community events that you would like to add to the directory, the link below, will take you to our community events webform:

https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/add-edit-activity
Find Out More

Registered Office: St Maries, Lugsdale Road, Widnes, WA8 6DB