Hello everyone and welcome to our edition of South Forum e-newsletter. 

What's featured in this edition:

• Half Term at the Jubilee Centre
• Sunderland Community Network Members' Meeting
• Race Night
• Northumbria University Skills Gap Survey
• SCVS Round Table Event
• Celebrate International Women's Day
• Training
• Job Vacancies
• Funding Information
• Volunteering Opportunities
• Services

If you would like to announce anything or have a feature, please contact me by calling 0191 5228447 or e-mailing sue.lowe@sunderlandcommunitynetwork.org.uk

Regards Sue Lowe, Administration Officer

Half Term at The Jubilee Centre

Animal Extravaganza - Wednesday 20th February 1.30-3pm.

Come along and meet lots of small animals including rabbits, mice, guinea pigs, lizards, spiders and snakes.

Puppet Making - Thursday 21st February 1-3pm

Come along and make an animal puppet and have some fun.

Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

For more information contact the Centre on 0191 522 8447

Sunderland Community Network Members' Meeting – 28th February 2008

The next meeting for Sunderland Community Network Members will be held on Thursday 28th February 2008 at Angel House, Borough Road, Sunderland SR1 1HW.  Three presentations from members of Sunderland City Council about the Sunderland Strategy (draft); Local Area Agreements and the Sunderland Compact have been arranged.   This is a great opportunity for members of the voluntary and community sector to be able to ask questions about these important areas.  The meeting will begin promptly at 10.30am and will end at 12.10.  Please contact Niki Mackay on 0191 565 1566 for further information.

RACE NIGHT - 23rd February 2008

Barnes Angels Football Club will be hosting a Race Night at the Laburnum Cottage in Hendon on Saturday 23rd February from 7pm-11pm.   If you would be interested in going, please contact Brenden Ward on 07717 207447 or brendenward35@yahoo.co.uk   (Brenden has some complimentary tickets available for South Forum members.)

Can You Help ...... Northumbria University Skills Gap Survey

Northumbria University is currently carrying out research aimed at identifying the skills gaps and needs of those working in the public, private and voluntary sectors dealing with the impact on communities of the arrival of migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees. Other related issues to be explored include social inclusion, strengthening and enhancing community cohesion and engagement.  The University would like to canvas opinions on what kind of training and skills gaps currently exist in this field. The results of the research will help to develop appropriate forms of Continuing Professional Development programmes and short courses which may also offer pathways to, for example, Masters level qualifications. The survey should take between 5 and 10 minutes to complete. If you would like to complete the survey please follow this link:

http://northumbria.ac.uk/sd/academic/sass/res_con/cpp_main/bordersurvey/?view=Standard

Round Table Event for BME, Refugee and Asylum Seeker Groups

The SCVS is inviting all groups working with, representing and supporting asylum seekers, refugees and members of black and minority ethnic communities to an informal meeting to discuss the issues which affect their groups.  Topics covered will include: management and leadership; volunteer and workforce development; participation in networks, decision making; access to and use of information technologies.  These discussions will help SCVS to plan future services for these groups to offer the support they need.  If you wish to attend contact: Janice Whyte, Sustainable Development Officer on 0191 565 1566 or janice.whyte@sunderlandcvs.co.uk

Women Who Make A Difference

The Coalfield Forum is hosting an event to celebrate International Women's Day at the Welfare Hall, Houghton-le-Spring on Friday 7th March form 10am-2pm.   You are invited to nominate a woman volunteer who has made a difference in your community. Send your nominations, detailing why this woman is so special and how she has made a difference, to The Coalfield Forum, Shiney Row CA, Claremont Drive, Shiney Row, Houghton-le-Spring or email linda@coalfieldforum.org or call 0191 385 4935. Nominations should be received by 4pm on Monday, 26th February.

PEHPS Training Consultancy are offering courses in Professional Training Trainer; Customer Care; Conflict, Violence & Aggression; Anger Management; Stress Awareness; Confidence & Assertiveness; Effective Communication; Presentation Skills; Employability Skills; Food Safety (all levels); Infection Control & Food Hygiene; CIEH Health & Safety; Health & Safety (all levels 1-4); Infection Control in the Workplace; BICS COPC (Cleaning Operators Proficiency Certificate); BICS FPCC Food Premises Cleaning Certificate; BICS Assessor Training; Fire Safety; Risk Assessment and Construction Safety.  For further information on any of these courses, please click here.

Last Call for Free "Time Management Course"

Sunderland Community Network are running a Time Management Course which members of the Network can attend free of charge.  Places are offered to non members from the voluntary and community sector for a nominal charge. The course which will be hosted by SCVS -Training Officer, Rob Charlton, will be held on Friday, 15th February from 9.30am - 3.30 pm at  Sunderland CVS, Riverview House, West Wear Street, Sunderland, SR1 1XD.  Please note the closing date for signing up is 8th February as part of the session involves keeping a time calendar in the week prior to the session.   If you are interested in this course contact either Rob Charlton or Niki Mackay on (0191) 565 1566 TODAY

Working For A Charity - Online Course

New starters in the voluntary sector can now enrol online for the 2008 NCVO Working For A Charity online course, this will give them an overview of working for a charity and boost their career.  The course, Effective Voluntary Sector Management, is aimed at people who have recently joined the voluntary sector or who are looking to make a career move into it.   Volunteers and Trustees can also benefit from this course which will run from February till October 2008.  For more information, visit the Working For A Charity website: www.wfac.org.uk

Telephone Banking Advisors - Packages from £13,590 - £17,365 (pro rata)

Full and part time opportunities based at Sunderland Enterprise Park

If you can deliver the best service to our customers, we will give you all the encouragement you need - not to mention excellent rewards.   Friendly, a team player and never too busy to help others, you will relate well to all our customers, helping our Telephone Banking centres match the right products to their needs.  A natural in conversation, you and your voice will sparkle with personality, and you'll know exactly what it takes to connect with your caller.   For further information go to www.lloydstsbjobs.co.uk/telephonebanking

The Church and Community Fund (CCF) makes grants to community projects run by parish churches, deaneries, dioceses and other bodies connected to or working in partnership with the Church of England.  The CCF is a very flexible fund and is able to support imaginative projects that fit its criteria.  Typical projects and activities it might support include: employing a youth worker; renovating an old church hall for use as a community centre; using a church room as a venue to provide hot meals for homeless people.  All projects should seek to strengthen the relationship between the Church and the local community.  The maximum grant is £15,000.  Application forms can be downloaded from www.centralchurchfund.org.uk/applying.html

Next Rounds For Vcashpoint Launched

The youth volunteering charity V has launched the next rounds of its Vcashpoint Scheme. This scheme makes grants of up to £2,500 to 16-25 year olds in England to help them set up their own volunteering project in their community.   The projects must be led by young people and must really make a difference to the community. Each project should create at least three new opportunities for young people to volunteer. 

Further information and application materials are available from www.vinspired.com/vbuzz/campaigns/171/

Age Concern England - Barclays Programme (England and Wales)

The Barclays Programme makes grants of up to £150 to voluntary or charitable clubs for older people.  The definition of club under the terms of the Programme is an organised group of older people meeting regularly for social, recreational and other mutually beneficial purposes.  To be eligible, your club's charitable objectives must be similar to those of Age Concern England: to promote the well-being of all older people and to help make later life a fulfilling and enjoyable experience.     In addition, between now and July 2008, grants are available towards the costs of celebrations, outings or one-off events.  You do not have to be a registered charity to apply, but you do have to be a properly established group with a set of rules and your own bank or building society account.  Full guidelines can be downloaded from www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/grant_giving.asp  The next deadlines for applications are 14th February, 10th April and 15th May.

Northern Rock Foundation – 2008 Grant Programmes now accepting applications (North East and Cumbria)
The Northern Rock Foundation is now accepting applications to its three grants programmes. The Foundation’s overall objectives are to tackle disadvantage and improve the quality of life in North East England and Cumbria.  The Foundation has a total budget of £7 million in 2008, with the funding to be distributed across the following three programmes:

Safety and Justice - this programme invests in organisations and initiatives that reduce the incidence and impact of domestic abuse, sexual violence, prostitution, child abuse and hate crimes by providing better support for victims. The Foundation is particularly keen to encourage new applications to this programme and it will invest in organisations that can help reduce the incidence of these crimes; reduce their impact on victims and their families; reduce repeat victimisation and increase the number of cases going through the criminal justice system.

Building Positive Lives - the aim of this programme is to help people who lack self-confidence or motivation, or who face discrimination, to have the individual support they need to lead more positive and fulfilling lives. The programme will invest in organisations providing one-to-one services that help people overcome barriers, explore their ambitions and achieve their goals. Groups the Foundation wants to target under this programme are: people who misuse substances such as drugs, alcohol and solvents; homeless people; people who face prejudice and discrimination because of their identity, including refugees and asylum seekers, black and minority ethnic groups, and lesbian and gay communities and disadvantaged young people aged 11-25.

Independence and Choice - this programme aims to give people with mental health problems, people with learning disabilities, older people and carers a choice of excellent services that help them to become or remain independent. This programme will fund organisations that provide support over and above what statutory authorities provide. (Please note that it will not fund services that should be the responsibility of statutory organisations or those which were previously funded by local authorities or the NHS.) You will need to have some track record of work in the relevant field and must be able to show that you will run high quality services that meet the widest range of people’s needs. As the aim of the programme is to address gaps in service provision the Foundation will prioritise work where there is little or no existing provision.

The Foundation is also keen to fund work where the people using the services are involved in their development and delivery. Under each of these three programmes the Foundation awards core support, project grants and capital grants and will make grants to support salaries and employment costs.

There is no minimum or maximum grant size: you should work out the genuine costs of your proposal and apply for the amount you need to do the job. Applicants should be a properly constituted organisation. You do not need to be a registered charity but the purpose for which you are applying must be charitable according to law and your constitution must allow you to take on the work you propose.

You can apply online via the Foundation’s website or download an application form from:

www.nr-foundation.org.uk/tn_applying.html, 

For further information contact the Foundation on 0191 284 8412 Email: generaloffice@nr-foundation.org.uk

Sunderland Centre for Volunteer Service (SCVS) provides a range of services to the voluntary and community sector. 

If you would like to know more, or receive details on membership contact:                                         Sunderland Centre for Voluntary Services, Riverview House, West Wear Street, Sunderland  SR1  1XD - 0191 565 1566  - printroom@sunderlandcvs.co.uk - www.sunderlandcvs.co.uk

If you are a carer and caring for someone who suffers with mental ill health, and you feel you need some extra support, Caring about Carers might be able to help you.   Contact: Joyce Jukes at the Wellfield Clinic on

0191 5699450 or call The Grange Park Clinic on 0191 5699096

Please feel free to distribute to your friends, family and colleague with their permission.