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

What's featured in this edition.

• Blue Watch's Annual General Meeting
• Chinese Lantern Making Workshops - at the YIP Women’s Group
• National IT volunteering awards 2007
• Volunteer walk leaders training day
• MP joins Wearside First Credit Union
• Sunderland's Mental Health community celebrates World Mental Health week
• Sunderland Juvenile Service - Tall ships youth trust
• Training and Education
• Job vacancies - at South forum and SNCBC
• Funding information
• Volunteering opportunities

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

Blue Watch's Annual General Meeting

I would like to invite you to the Annual General Meeting of Blue Watch Youth Project on Wednesday 3rd October 2007. The meeting will be held at Blue Watch Youth Centre, Burdon Lane Ryhope and will start 6pm, prompt.  The meeting will last for approximately forty-five minutes followed by refreshments and a buffet .  I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the continued support you have given Blue Watch throughout the past year. for further details contact Anthony Semley Project Manager, Tel: 0191 521 4060 Fax: 0191 521 4067  Email: bluewatchyouthcentre@yahoo.co.uk

Chinese Lantern Making Workshops - at the YIP Women’s Group

Monday 1, 8, 15 & 29 October, 12.45 – 2.45pm, Monkwearmouth Station Museum, North Bridge Street, Sunderland, SR5 1AP, (Short walk from St Peter’s metro station)

FREE workshops for women. Create fantastic Chinese lanterns for Sangini’s Diwali celebration, the Sunderland Festival of Lights taking place on Saturday 3 November. Children welcome if supervised – unfortunately childcare can not be provided.  No need to book, just come along and join in.  For more information contact Louise Taylor 0191 534 6661 or Tracey Brown 07968 390317

National IT volunteering awards 2007

you can win £250. Nominations close on October 6th.

Visit website for further details http://www.it4communities.org.uk/it4c/home/Awards2007/awards.jsp

Do you have an IT project that has been developed with the help of IT volunteers that deserves a reward or does a volunteer provide your IT support and deserve an award as recognition? To apply fill in a short form for your chosen category (you can use the same project/volunteer and nominate in all relevant categories).  This year we have 4 award categories, each offering the opportunity to win £250 for your organisation, a trophy for the volunteer and publicity on our website and in national press.

VOLUNTEER WALK LEADERS TRAINING DAY

Are you interested in becoming a walk leader ?  Discover the skills of walk leadership?

This training day will provide you with the knowledge of how to leads walks safely and a greater understanding of the health benefits of walking.  The day will include slides, handouts, groupwork and a practical exercise of walk leadership around Herrington Country Park.  On successful completion of this training day you will receive a ‘Walking Your Way to Health’ Volunteer Walk Leader Certificate.  (Please wear sensible shoes!).  Wednesday October 17th 2007, 9.30 – 3.00 pm, Buffet Lunch provided, Herrington Country Park, Education Centre.  For further information or to book a place please contact Cath Halse: Ford, Pallion and Millfield CD Project, The Community Shop, 5 St Luke’s Terrace, Sunderland, SR4 6NQ, Tel: 0191 567 4477 Fax: 0191 567 4488, Email: cath.halse@sunderland.ac.uk

MP joins Wearside First Credit Union

Local MP Sharon Hodgson says "I am putting my money where my mouth is and signing up to the local Credit Union, Wearside First."  The MP has been a strong supporter in the Commons of Credit Unions says "Credit Unions are a sensible alternative to doorstep lenders and high street companies charging extortionate interest rates."  The Wearside MP said: "I decided to take the next step and join myself to encourage more people to follow suit. By saving just £5 a week members can help three families to secure affordable loans. Credit unions are not just for those on low incomes but can provide a sensible financial solution for everyone. Personal debt is becoming a big problem across the country and Credit Unions are a true Labour way of making everybody's money count."  Mrs. Hodgson added: "several trade unions have or are setting up Credit Unions for their members and there was a meeting to promote them at the recent TUC conference. I shall seek to encourage support within the Labour movement and more widely."  Mrs. Hodgson visited the Millennium Centre, Concord, Washington on Wednesday 19th September at 10am to open her new Wearside First Credit Union Savings Account.  Wearside First is one of thousands of Credit Unions in the UK providing affordable finance to local people. It is open to anybody who lives or works within the boundaries of the City of Sunderland.  If you would like further information on how to become a member of Wearside First Credit Union, please contact 0191 514 7491 or visit the Head Office in Waterloo Place, Sunderland.

SUNDERLAND’S MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY CELEBRATES WORLD MENTAL HEALTH WEEK

(Part of the Global Mental Health Education Campaign 2007)

Theme: Mental Health in a Changing World - The Impact of Culture and Diversity.  You are cordially invited to join us for coffee, biscuits and a chat at Sunderland City Library on Saturday 6th october 2007,10.00 AM to 3.00 PM.  Free raffle prize courtesy of Raich Carter Sports Centre.

Sunderland Juvenile Service

has arranged an informal presentation by John Simmons who is the main contact for the Tall Ships Youth Trust. We would like to invite anyone who is interested in finding out what's involved to attend the session.  The Tall Ships Youth Trust is a registered charity dedicated to the personal development of young people through the crewing of tall ships.  They work with people who are 14 to 25 years old; there are more opportunities for 16 years and upwards but even if someone is 13 and interested in sailing in a year or so, it’s still worth talking to them. 

Their website address is: http://www.tallships.org

The session will take place on Friday 19th October from 9:30am, will last approx 45mins / 1 hour and will be held at Sunderland CVS Training Facility, 134 High Street West, Sunderland, SR1 1UD.  If you or any colleagues or young people you know are interested please come along. It would help us with tea / coffee arrangements if you let us know beforehand that you will be attending: Please either email sunderlandsjs@aol.com or tel 567 8906.   We hope to see you at what is sure to be a friendly and informative session.

Voluntary Community Sector Training - September – December 2007
9th October 2007, Diversity & Equality, 9:30am - 3:00pm,£35.00 (Lunch Provided) per place.
17th October 2007, Volunteer Recruitment & Retention, 9:30am – 12noon,£10.00 per place.

23rd October 200, Mental Health Awareness, 9:30am – 3:00pm,£35.00 (Lunch provided) per place

7th November 2007, Community Development Principles, 9:30am – 3:00pm,£35.00 (Lunch provided) per place

14th November 2007, Project Planning – Introduction, 9:30am – 11:30am,£10.00 per place

21st November 2007, Listening / Communication Skills, 9:30 – 3:00,£35.00 (Lunch provided) per place

6th December 2007, Environmental Issues, 9:30 – 3:00,£35.00 (Lunch provided) per place

To request a booking form or further information please contact Rob Charlton on (0191) 565 1566 or

rob.charlton@sunderlandcvs.co.uk            Click here for further courses available 

NECA training - Introduction to Support Work click here for further details

Family training for alcohol misuse taking place In Sunderland with NERAF click here

South Forum Administration Officer

Two year contract Hours 18.5 per week flexible £7,100

We currently have a position for an Administrator Officer for Sunderland South Forum. Duties include taking minutes of meetings, up-dating website, producing e-newsletter fortnightly, producing reports, dealing with incoming and outbound mail, petty cash, dealing with incoming and outgoing telephone calls etc. Ideal candidates must have experience in administration and minute taking, computer literate and an understanding of community projects.  Application form,  Person specification, Job description,   Background information about South Forum. 

For further details contact Jackie Nixon on 0191 522 8447.  Funded by Lloyds TSB Foundation.

SUNDERLAND NORTH COMMUNITY BUSINESS CENTRE

Are you ready to rise to the challenge?  Sunderland is an exciting place to be right now! Business investment is bringing new employment opportunities and we want to expand our team to help residents to access these jobs. If you want a new challenge then read on.   Our aim is to reduce worklessness in Sunderland and empower some of the thousands of local people to realise the employment potential they don’t even know they have.

We are looking for self starters with a clear understanding of the issues facing disengaged adults. We need key players with creative and positive drive to generate new and innovative ideas to attract, engage and develop working relationships with harder to reach workless clients.

Community Engagement Co-ordinator, £20, 232 – £23, 121 (37 hours per week)

Having proven management experience you will be responsible for the production of a Community Engagement Strategy demonstrating clear measurable impacts on reducing local concentrations of worklessness. With a flexible approach you will manage local activity to instill a fresh level of community involvement and help push the service forward into new heights.

Community Engagement Officers - 2 posts, £16, 045 - £20, 232 (37 hours per week)

An excellent communicator, you will have proven organisational skills to plan and implement elements of the Community Involvement Strategy through a variety of community and awareness raising events. The successful candidate will increase participation from those members of the community who are most disengaged whilst developing their skills and confidence.

Employment Counsellors and Mentors – 3 posts- £17,103 - £24,518 (37 hours per week)

Vibrant and confident individuals, possessing excellent communication skills, are required to join the Employment Initiatives Team. The Employment Counsellors will provide information advice and guidance to unemployed adults from static community bases whilst being responsible for developing new outreach provision within the locality.

The Employment Mentor will hold responsibility for establishing a small caseload of harder to reach clients. The role will develop constructive relationships to support and mentor these individuals through their progression into employment. Applicants should have a proven ability in mentoring and delivering advice and guidance.

Skills Enhancement Facilitator, £16, 182 - £19,345 (37 hours per week)

Can you stand up in front of a group of strangers, capture their imagination and enthuse and inspire them! Yes? Then we need you to develop innovative approaches to engage harder to reach client groups to enhance their skills to meet the needs of employers! You should have experience of delivering training or learning, possibly in private industry. To exceed in this role you will need confidence, energy and charisma.

All posts are offered to 31st March, 2008 initially but may be continued subject to further funding.

Please Note: Successful applicants will be expected to undergo Criminal Records Bureau enhanced disclosure nd may be required to work some night time and weekend hours.

For an application form and job description telephone Nicola Day or Melissa Elliott on (0191) 537 3231.Completed applications should be returned by noon on Tuesday 2nd October, 2007 to:

Nikki Vokes, Chief Executive, Sunderland North Community Business Centre, Winchester House, Baxter Road, Town End Farm, Sunderland, SR5 4LW.

Interviews will be held week commencing 8th October, 2007.

Community Assets Programme
The Community Assets programme is funded by the Office of the Third Sector and delivered by the Big Lottery Fund. The aim of the programme is community empowerment. It offers capital grants for third sector organisations and local authorities to refurbish local authority buildings in England for third sector ownership. Community Assets aims to empower communities by facilitating the transfer of genuine assets from local authorities to third sector ownership for the benefit of the community. Genuine assets will generate operational, financial and other benefits for third sector organisations without significant liabilities over a long-term period. View scheme

Capacity builders National Support Services
The aim of the National Support Services funding programme is to raise the skills and effectiveness of sector support services in key areas of need where there are significant current gaps, potential for improved services, and where growth in demand is likely. The key outcome of the National Support Services programme is that by 2011, more sector support providers are delivering high quality support which is relevant to the needs of diverse frontline organisations. The programme has been designed to ensure that a greater proportion of available resources get to the organisations involved in direct delivery.  View scheme

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