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

What's featured in this edition.

• Mayor Supports Wearside First
• 'Get to know your Community Support Officer'
• Disability awareness- FREE
• Sunderland’s Take a Stand Campaign
• A690 Game On Football League

• Training and Education

• Funding information
• Job vacancies- Coordinator jobs
• Volunteering
• Services- ARCH - Racist incident reporting system

Regards Jackie Nixon South Forum Development Coordinator

If you would like to announce any thing or have a feature please contact me on 0191 5228447 or e-mail me on

jackie.nixon@sunderlandcommunitynetwork.org.uk

Mayor supports Wearsidefirst

The Mayor of the City of Sunderland has shown his support of Credit Unions and their work, by becoming a member of Wearside First Credit Union.  The Right Worshipful, the Mayor of the City of Sunderland attended his local Credit Union Collection Point at St Chad’s Church on Wednesday 5th September, to commend volunteers on the support they provide to their local community.  Wearside First Credit Union is a mutual organisation providing members who live or work in the boundaries of the City of Sunderland with access to savings and affordable finance.  Kerry Graham the Wearsidefirst Development Manager says, “It is an honour to have the support of Mayor Les Scott. His support allows us to assist more local people with access to affordable finance and sets a good example to encourage other local people to join and save with their Credit Union”.  If you would like further information about Wearsidefirst or would like to become a member please contact 0191 514 7491 or visit our Head Office in Waterloo Place, Sunderland. (Local Collection Points can also provide further information, please ask a member of staff for further details).

'Get to know your Community Support Officer'

This is an informal setting away from the police station where members of the community can speak one on one with a number of our CSOs to address any problems they may be having in their area.

Venue: North Moor Fire Station, Farringdon

Time:3pm till 5pm

Date: Tuesday 18th September 2007.

Disability Awareness For groups in the South Area - FREE

Do you know about disability awareness?

Do you know how to make your literature accessible?

Do you know if your group/organisation is accessible for everyone?

Free training and resource pack, courses can be adapted to the needs of your group, for further information and a chat about what is available please ring me Kim Hunter 0191 522 9913

Sunderland’s Take a Stand Campaign against Stigma and Discrimination in mental ill-health has joined forces with other members of Wearside’s Mental Health Community to organise a ‘Coffee, Biscuits & Chat Day’ at Sunderland City Library in Fawcett Street on Saturday 6th October 2007 from 10.00 am until 3.00 pm.  This event is a celebration and recognition of the importance to our local community of October’s World Mental Health Week and is part of the Global Mental Health Education Campaign for 2007. The theme of the campaign this year is ‘Mental Health in a Changing World – the Impact of Culture and Diversity’. The event is open to everyone with special invitations being extended to community groups in Sunderland to attend. Members of TASC will be in attendance throughout the day along with staff from Sunderland City Library’s Books on Prescription Service, the Sunderland Teaching Primary Care NHS Trust, and people from Sunderland’s mental health resource centre, Headlight. Headlight will be exhibiting service user artwork and will have on sale a new book on depression detailing the life story of a local woman. The Raich Carter Sports Centre has kindly agreed to lend their support by providing the prize for a free raffle.

A690 Game On Football League

• Teams wanted for Friday Midnight league   
• Fun and Competitive 5 aside football
• Free to enter prizes for winners
• ages 13-16 yrs
• starting from 28th September from 7pm till 9pm
• hosted at Silksworth Puma centre

For further information or entry forum contact A690 staff or visit 1 Paton Square, Plains Farm or phone 0191 5227925 and speak to Nick Hill or Paul Woodhouse, Football coaches.

Introduction to Family History

Farringdon Community Sports College, Allendale Road, Farringdon, Sunderland.  A 10 week course commencing Tuesday 18th September 2007 at 6pm.  A friendly informal class which will show you how to research your ancestors and build your family tree.  For more details and enrolment contact Maureen Wilkins on 0191 5536013 Ex 165.

The Box Youth Project - Connect Course for 16-18 yrs

Gain a qualification with tutor support and receive £30 week EMA payment, teamwork, communication skills, career advice, leisure activities, one-to-one support.  For more information contact Karen 0191 5225031

Tyne and Wear Training Calendar - October 2007

This Calendar is designed to provide a ‘snapshot’ of local workforce development training opportunities available to the voluntary community sector within the City of Sunderland and surrounding areas.

The Calendar is compiled by Rob Charlton (Training & Development Co-ordinator – Sunderland CVS) on a monthly basis. If you have any training you would like included within the calendar e-mail the details to Rob before the 10th of each month.  For further information contact Rob on 0191 565 1566 or rob.charlton@sunderlandcvs.co.uk

View Training Calendar - October 2007 here.  (Excel format)

NERAF

are pleased to facilitate Alcohol Concern's Family Training Programme Training For Alcohol Misuse at Angel House.  Please refer to attached flyer for details.  To book places please contact Alcohol Concern directly on 02072 640520 or email training@alcoholconcern.org  click here for flyer

Connecting Communities Plus - Community Grants
Description: Connecting Communities Plus is a grants programme designed to support practical action to help achieve the goals set out in Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society, the government's strategy to increase race equality and improve community cohesion. The programme facilitates tailored initiatives to meet the specific needs of disadvantaged communities, rather than treating all BME communities in the same way. Connecting Communities Plus Community Grants are aimed at locally run and managed voluntary and community organisations with an income of less than £50,000 per year, run by volunteers or with one full time or two part time paid staff. The the third and final round of the fund is also supporting local projects that will focus on the legacy of the slave trade following the 200th anniversary of the passage of the 1807 Abolition of the Slave Trade Act in 2007.

View scheme

Children, Young People and Families Grant Programme
The Children, Young People and Families Grant Programme is a national grant programme, managed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (formerly the Department for Education and Skills).  The grant programme funds work of national significance to improve outcomes for children, young people, and families. These outcomes are embedded in the Children Act 2004 and the Every Child Matters: Change for Children Programme.  2008-09 Grant.  The amount of funding available in 2008-2009 is approximately £11m. Funding is available for both strategic and project grants.  Click here for further details

European Social Fund programme for 2007-2013 -is due to commence in October / November 2007. 

The Learning & Skills Council has just launched the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire process via the Bravo Solution website - https://lsc.bravosolution.com/web/login.shtml. This is a web-based eTendering portal that will be used for managing the LSC's tendering activities, which include ESF. Any organisation wishing to tender for ESF funding should register on this eTendering portal and complete a PQQ. The deadline for PQQs is 28 September. The first ITTs (invitations to tender) are likely to issued in mid-November with a deadline in mid-December (dates to be confirmed). Potential providers should consult the LSC website for the latest information.

Jobcentre Plus will be conducting a similar exercise in the near future. This will be advertised on their website.

Community Development Coordinator – (Black and Minority Ethnic Groups and Mental Health)

Band 6 (£22,886 - £31,004 per annum), Full Time: 37.5 hours, Ref: TPCT06-187
The Public Health Locality of Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust is a recently established dynamic and substantial team with responsibilities across a full range of public health priorities.   Click here for further details

Coalfield Forum Development Coordinator - NJC Salary Point 29 – 31 (£23,175 – £24,708) (Pay Award Pending), Fixed Term Until 31st October 2008.

As the Coalfield Forum Development Coordinator you will support the ongoing development of Sunderland Coalfield Forum to enable it to be become a flourishing independent organisation that is representative of the communities it serves. You will seek to develop the capacity of individuals, community groups and voluntary organisations so that residents of the area can advocate and campaign for change to improve services and opportunities that impact upon their quality of life to build sustainable communities for the future. A particular focus will be working with people with disabilities and their carers, disadvantaged communities; older and young people.  Candidates must have relevant qualifications/experience e.g. Youth and Community Work or relevant qualification. The post holder will require a minimum of two years management experience in either a voluntary or paid capacity.

Closing Date for Applications – 27th September 2007   Interviews to take place – 4th October 2007

Age Concern Sunderland Are looking for volunteers to help with serving lunches and organising activities for the elderly who visit their Day Clubs situated throughout the City. They also need volunteers for other projects, including their new Hospital Discharge Scheme, and Friendly Faces Home Visiting project.	Farringdon Jubilee Centre Urgently require a volunteer to help out with some admin and reception work on a Wednesday and Thursday morning. As the centre can be busy at times volunteers would need to be able to deal with members of the public and have some basic admin skills. If you feel you able to spare a few hours a week then please get in touch.
St Benedicts Hospice A volunteer is required to assist in the Tea Bar at Sunderland Magistrates Court on a Tuesday morning. The hours are 9 am – 12 noon and duties include serving hot and cold drinks, crisps and biscuits. All profits raised are in aid of St Benedict’s Hospice.	If you are interested in any of the above opportunities please contact the Volunteer Centre Sunderland on (0191) 567 8902 or call into 4 Toward Road, City Centre, Sunderland. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am till 4pm. A postal registration service is also available. Alternatively email us at: sunderlandvc@aol.com or visit www.do-it.org.uk to view these and other volunteering opportunities.

ARCH - Racist incident reporting system

Call free 08000 778 378

Have you or someone you know been a victim of a racist incident?
Have you witnessed a racist incident?
You can report an incident 24 hours a day on a free telephone number 08000 778 378. Ask for an interpreter if you need one.
You can also report face to face with people from the following organisations:
• City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
• City of Sunderland College
• North of England Refugee Service
• Northumbria Police
• Sunderland City Council – Customer Services Centres
• Young Asian Voices
• Gentoo Sunderland
• Safe Partnership Limited
• University of Sunderland
• Victim Support Sunderland
You can walk into any of these places and say that you want to report a racist incident.

When you report an incident:
• You will be asked some details about when and where the incident happened and if you know the perpetrators.
• You will then be asked if you would like the incident to be referred to other agencies that can help you.
• If you don’t want any further action, that is no problem. The system is confidential.
• You can stay anonymous. It is important to report incidents even if you do not want to leave your name.
In an emergency always call 999.

ARCH is a city wide network of organisations that can help victims of racist incidents and also take action against perpetrators. If you are a partner agency and need to access the reporting system.  For more details on the ARCH Partnership: email: sunderlandarch@sunderland.gov.uk

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