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

Featured in this edition:

• Informal Adult Learning - Shaping the Way Ahead
• Fabulous News For Independent Living For Disabled People In The North East
• Can You Help The Open Clasp Theatre Company?
• Sunderland CVS EGM and Information Event - Tuesday 22nd April - 10am-12.30pm
• Adult Learners' Week - 17 and 23rd May
• Training and Education
• Job Vacancies
• Funding Information
• Volunteering Opportunities

If you would like to announce anything or have a feature you would like included in future e-newsletters, please contact Sue Lowe on 0191 5228447 or e-mail sue.lowe@sunderlandcommunitynetwork.org.uk

Informal Adult Learning - Shaping The Way Ahead

The Workers' Educational Association - North East Region, in association with NIACE, has arranged a regional conference to help shape responses to the DIUS consultation paper, Informal Adult Learning - Shaping the Way Ahead.   This Conference will take place on Friday 2 May 2008 at the Conference Suite, International Centre for Life, Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, from 10.00 am - 4.00 pm.

Keynote speakers and a detailed programme of workshops and sessions are currently being finalised, but we can confirm that one of the main speakers will be Rt Hon Nick Brown, MP, Minister for the North East.  Nick Brown was particularly keen to attend this Conference.

For further details please contact: Nigel Todd on 0191 2126100

Fabulous News For Independent Living For Disabled People In The North East
Ivan Lewis, Health and Care Services Minister, announced last week that Vision Sense is part of an important national Department of Health programme to work towards independent living of disabled people.  The project helps meet recommendations of the Improving Life Chances report that: by 2025, disabled people in Britain should have full opportunities and choices to improve their quality of life and will be respected and included as equal members of society.   As part of this strategy, Vision Sense will work in partnership to develop an Action and Learning Site in Sunderland over the next year, to involve and empower disabled people from a diverse range of communities and experiences, to run and sustain their own independent living and advocacy, advice, information and training. Vision Sense will be mentoring user-led organisations through the PDA team in Sunderland and with statutory health, social care and funding partners, supported by CSIP. Only twelve sites have been chosen nationally, through a stringent and challenging Department of Health process (others are in Gateshead, Whitby and Hull, so the North has done well!). This is huge chance for disabled people in the North East to gain choice and control and to influence independent living across England.  

Click here for further details:  www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/Socialcarereform/Userledorganisations/DH_083152

You can view visionsense's website here:  www.visionsense.co.uk

Can You Help Open Clasp Theatre Company?
Open Clasp need a rehearsal venue for their brand new show “A Twist of Lemon”. If you have or know of a building they could use from 11th August 2008 – 3rd September 2008 please let them know.

The venue must:

- be big enough to accommodate sets, staging and equipment

- the size should be at least 20ftx20ft (6mx6m) floor space; at least 12ft (3.7m) high
- have at least 6 power points
- be available for us to have exclusive access during the rehearsal period
- be secure

Ideally it would be on the ground floor or have a large lift, there would be toilets and space for the cast to get changed and access to a kitchen.

If you can help please get in touch with Artistic Director, Catrina McHugh on 0191 230 1698 or catrina@openclasp.plus.com.

Sunderland CVS EGM and Information Event - Tuesday 22nd April - 10am-12.30pm
Sunderland CVS Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) will be held on 22 April followed by a information and networking event. It’s an ideal opportunity to meet the staff and find out about all the services and support Sunderland CVS can offer.  The event starts at 10.00 am and will be held at Sunderland CVS. Lunch will be provided.

For further information or to book a place please contact Andrea on 0191 565 1566 or email: andrea.carr@sunderlandcvs.co.uk.

Adult Learners' Week - 17 and 23rd May

Adult Learners' Week is the UK's largest celebration of learning and takes place between 17 and 23 May 2008. The week encourages adults to give learning a go, whether it’s learning for pleasure, catching up on skills missed out on at school or getting that new job or promotion.

As part of Sunderland Libraries' celebrations, the City Library and Arts Centre foyer has been booked for the week and organisations working with adult learners are invited to  provide information stands throughout the week. This is an excellent opportunity to distribute information on your organisation, showcase the work of learners, publicise adult learning opportunities and provide taster sessions.

If you would like to take part, please get in touch with Kate McCubbin, on 0191 5141235, detailing the day(s) you are available and whether it is a.m., p.m. or both and the type of information stand you intend to provide. There is enough space for three or four stands each day and as space is limited, this will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. The closing date for expressions of interest is 30 April.

Mind in Gateshead is running a FREE ten week practical skills course divided into two parts designed to develop a listening ear and more effective communication skills.

Part one is an introduction to learning and using skills needed to listen, and develop a listening ear to become a more effective helper. Part Two is designed for those who want to build confidence and self esteem through more effective communication, know how to deal with difficult situations, feelings and emotions and learn to identify and use the language and body language needed to communicate more effectively in various situations.

Both parts of the course are suitable for anyone:

· Working in helping/ caring professions
· Seeking to personally develop communication skills
· Wanting to build confidence and self esteem

Listen and Be Heard Course will be held at Mind in Gateshead, Wellbeing centre, Dunsmuir Grove, Bensham, Gateshead, NE8 4QL on the following dates

· Part One will run from Monday 21st April 2008 until Monday 2nd June 2008. 10.00-12 Noon
· Part Two will run from Monday 9th June 2008 until Monday 14th July 2008. 10.00-12 Noon

Please Note- The maximum number to participate in each group will be 10. To enrol Part Two you must attend Part One.  Facilitators for these courses will be Joan Wilson and Nazia Ahmed who are counsellors employed within the Mind in Gateshead Counselling Service.

For a booking form, please contact Nazia at MIND 0191 4774040 or Narinder & Elena at 0191 4784103 

2 Part time Project Management Posts at Ford, Pallion and Millfield Community Development Project
These posts are supported through funding by the Northern Rock Foundation and are offered in the first instance to May 2009.  2 people are required who have proven leadership, community development and project management experience and skills to work on a part time basis.

Strategic Manager - 3 days per week (Salary £20,484 – Pt 42 NJC Scale)
To provide a strategic leadership and financial management role within the organisation and manage a small staff team. Key responsibilities include:
• Provide management for the Community Involvement and Volunteer Support Service for the West Area (Children’s Centre contract)
• Work with the West Area Forum Steering Group to establish the West Area Forum
• Provide a leadership role for collaborative work at a local level
• Identify and secure funding to enable sustainability of the work

Community Development Manager – 2 days a week (Salary £10,426 – Pt 32 NJC Scale)
To provide community development leadership and support for new and developing local community projects within Pallion and Millfield. In particular this post will be responsible for :
• Establishing a Charity Shop as a community business in conjunction with a partner charity

• Providing direct support and funding advice to local community organisations to ensure their sustainability
• Build capacity of local volunteers, groups and networks

Additional hours for both posts may be available subject to project funding being secured For further information and to receive an Application Pack please contact Vicky Bond or Cath Halse on 0191 5674477 or email cath.halse@sunderland.ac.uk

Closing Date for Applications: Tuesday 22nd April Interviews: Friday May2nd

Department for Children, Schools and Families – Pathfinders for Play Facilities (England)
The Government has announced a new initiative investing £225 million to improve local play facilities. The Government’s commitment to build or upgrade playgrounds and set up new supervised adventure playgrounds was outlined in the Children’s Plan in December. Now, 65 local authorities in England will be invited to bid become play pathfinders from April 2008. Those who submit successful bids will each receive around £2 million capital funding, along with additional revenue funding, to enable them to work with children, young people and their communities to develop innovative play sites with challenging equipment and natural landscapes. The initiative aims to give all children the opportunity to play actively outdoors, and to ensure that the play sites are accessible for disabled children.

Any of the 65 local authorities who are unsuccessful in becoming a pathfinder, but who submit satisfactory bids, will be offered capital funding of approximately £1 million to develop public play areas, with the first allocations starting April 2008. This will support the Government’s aim of developing up to 3,500 public play areas by 2011. By 2010 all local authorities will have been offered capital funding and a chance to be a part of this agenda in partnership with their local communities.

Among the local authorities who have been invited to bid are: Durham, Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Stockton, and Sunderland.

Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, said: “I want to encourage local authorities to work with children, young people and their communities to develop play facilities which will really make a difference in their local area. I’d urge them all to consider how this money can best help the children and young people in their boroughs."

Department for International Development – Platform2 – new global volunteering programme (UK)
The Department for International Development (DFID) has announced a new £10 million Global Volunteering Programme, called Platform2, for young people aged 18 to 25 years. The programme will offer young adults from less advantaged backgrounds the opportunity to live, work and learn about life in poorer countries.

The programme is funded by the DFID and implemented by a partnership of Christian Aid, Islamic Relief and BUNAC (British Universities North America Club, which organises international volunteering, work, teaching and summer camp placements)

Over the next three years the scheme will sponsor 2,500 young adults. The first groups of volunteers will go to Ghana and South Africa in May, and subsequent groups will go to India, Malawi and Peru. Volunteers will spend ten weeks in a developing country working on community development projects such as building schools and community centres, developing allotments and school pitches, and contributing to HIV/AIDS awareness initiatives. On their return to the UK, the volunteers will attend residential weekends where they will work on personal activity plans for awareness-raising activities in their local communities.

To find out more about the programme contact Anja Nyberg or Caroline Clark at BUNAC: Tel: 0207 2513386
Email: enquiries@gyvp.org

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