Hello everyone and welcome to the last South Forum e-newsletter before Christmas.

Featured in this edition:

• South Forum Says Goodbye to Jackie
• Christmas Fayre at Jubilee Centre
• The Prince's Trust Music Programme
• Open Day for Prince's Trust Team Programme
• Live and Unsigned Music Competition
• Training and Education
• Job Vacancies
• Funding Information
• Volunteering Opportunities

On behalf of the Management Committee and Staff of the South Forum, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2008.

The next e-newsletter will be out on Friday 11th January, so if you would like to announce anything, or have a feature, please contact me on 0191 5228447 or e-mail at sue.lowe@sunderlandcommunitynetwork.org.uk Regards Sue Lowe, Administration Officer

South Forum Says Goodbye to Jackie

As most of you know, Jackie Nixon leaves the South Forum at the end of December. She has asked for the following to be included in this newsletter.

Dear Members and Trustees
It saddens me to bid farewell to the South forum, but I am leaving at a time when the Forum’s foundations are strong and stable. I will be leaving at the end of the month and going to work for Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust NHS. I will still be working in Sunderland but with a city wide remit.
I wish the South Forum every success to continue, grow, develop and be a voice for the South workers, individuals and community groups. It has been a pleasure working with the people and groups of the south area. I have developed as a professional through this experience and I thank you ALL for giving me this opportunity.
I will be attending the South forum meeting in January to bid farewell in person.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2008.
Kind regards
Jackie Nixon
Development Coordinator

I am sure you will all join me in wishing Jackie the very best of luck in her new job and to thank her for everything she has done for the South Forum.

Christmas Fayre at Jubilee Centre - 12th December 2007
The Christmas  Fayre held at the Jubilee Centre was opened by the Mayor and Mayoress and attended by over 300 people.   It was a huge success and everyone enjoyed meeting Santa.

In the photograph:  Mayor Leslie Scott and Mayoress Ann Scott, Jessica Milburn from East Herrington Primary School, Kyle McArdle from Farringdon Primary School and Jemma Cole, Jubilee Centre Manager.

The Prince's Trust Music Programme

In partnership with Artswork and BBC Blast, The Prince's Trust will be running a music programme in February 2008 for young people within the NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) @ The Sage, Gateshead.

Click here for further details.

Open Day for Prince's Trust Team Programme 

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service are currently recruiting for the next Prince’s Trust Team Programme which commences on 21st January 2008.   They are hosting an Open Day on Wednesday 9th January 2008, at North Moor Community Fire Station (Farringdon), for young people, youth workers and organisations to come along and learn more about the twelve week personal development programme.

For further details click here

Calling all UK Vocal Talent : Enter Now : Live and Unsigned Music Competition.

Auditions are coming to Newcastle in January.

Live and Unsigned is a national talent competition which is coming to the Tyne Theatre in Newcastle in January 2008.  They are seeking singers, musicians and bands to audition.  To audition or for further information click here.   If you want to view their website click here.

IGNITE Offers Bursaries for Certificates in Regeneration at the University of Northumbria - January 2008

IGNITE has announced that it will be offering bursaries for 14 places on the Certificate in Regeneration at the University of Northumbria starting in January 2008. This is a new programme of study aimed at developing skills and knowledge in regeneration and neighbourhood renewal.  The Certificate is a part-time programme, with no formal examinations, just a few written assignments and will be delivered between January and May 2008. The majority of these bursaries will be offered to people involved in rural Market Towns Partnerships in the North East, but there will also be a number of bursaries offered to people working as paid staff or volunteers/ activists in urban regeneration projects within the North East from the community and voluntary sector.

If you have experience of regeneration on a local issue and would like further information, or to apply for a bursary for a place on the course, please click here.  Applications need to be returned to IGNITE by Friday 18th January 2008.  The course starts on Wednesday 30th January 2008.

Jiu-Jitsu Lessons Coming to Portland School in January 2008

Do you want to learn the art of the Samurai Warrior??? Learn how to use the weapons of the ancient Samurai Warrior????  Then this could be for you. 

The lessons start at Portland School in January 2008.    See attached poster for more details .

Adult Learning Extravaganza - Friday 11th January 2008

On Friday 11th January, between 10.00am-3pm, City Library and Arts Centre is hosting the "Adult Learning Extravaganza".  More than 20 adult learning providers, projects and advice agencies will be on-hand to offer information about courses, enrolment sessions and free taster activities.  An array of stalls will be situated throughout the library building for you to browse at your leisure. For further information click here.

Want To Give Your Kids A Better Future?  Are you a lone parent and not working?  The Shaw Trust is running a 2 week voluntary course to help with confidence building, money and childcare worries, advice on benefits, tax credits and child support problems. 

Call 0191 568 0920 for further details or see their website www.shaw-trust.org.uk

Click here for details of the SCVS / SCN Training Programme January to March 2008. If you require any additional information please do not hesitate to contact Rob Charlton, Training & Development Co-ordinator on 0191 565 1566 or email at rob.charlton@sunderlandcvs.co.uk

Jubilee Centre Courses for 2008   The Jubilee Centre is a community facility offering craft, art and fun with clay sessions.  The Centre has 10 computers for public use which are available most days with someone on hand to help if you struggle with the computers. 1-2-1 sessions can be arranged at the Centre.  The very popular mother and toddlers' group is £1 per session. All other sessions are priced at £1.50 per week.

Click here for full details of the courses available for 2008.

Sunderland Community Network Offer FREE Training For Their Members

Throughout January – March 2008 the following courses are being offered: Leadership & Motivation; How To Be A Community Representative; Presentation Skills (2 Days); Time Management; Cultural Diversity; Community Development Principles and Assertive Communication (2 Days).  For further information,please click here

To request a booking form please contact either Rob Charlton or Wendy Hadlington on (0191) 565 1566

Computer Training For All - do you want to impress your children or grandchildren? 

Come along and learn how to use a computer. Learn how to contact friends using E-mail, write letters, make posters and lots more.  Working at your own pace in your church hall. If you are interested please give your name to Christine Laws or ring Margy on 0191 5228447.

Introduction to Teaching Adults

Do you have a talent or knowledge that you would like to pass on to others?  A new course which will introduce you to the world of teaching adults starts in January 2008.  Click here for further information.

Sunderland South Forum

Development Coordinator - £24,500 fixed term till 31st March 2009, continuation subject to securing future funding. Funded by Northern Rock Foundation.
The post holder will require a minimum of two years project management experience in the Youth and Community sector.

The successful candidate will be responsible for: -
• Overall coordination of the Project and supervision of staff.
• Working with local people, individuals and organisations within the Sunderland South communities.
• Securing funding for the long-term sustainability of the Forum.
Closing date for applicants 2nd January 2008. Interviews 9th January 2008.

This post is subject to a CRB enhanced disclosure.

Click for application form   job description and person specification

The Box Youth Project Sunderland is looking for Qualified Youth Workers for evening and weekend work and Basic Skills Tutors for day time sessional work. In the first instance, please send your CV detailing qualifications and contacts for references to :

Lisa Wilson - Project Manager
THE BOX YOUTH PROJECT
Hall Farm Road
Hall Farm
Sunderland
Tyne & Wear SR3 2UY

It is with great delight that we can announce that NERAF has been awarded over £100,000 by Northern Rock to develop regionally. You can visit the NERAF website by clicking here.www.neraf.org

Capacity Builders Announces New Funding

On 4th December 2007 Capacity Builders announced new funding for 2008-2011 and details can be found on the website: www.capacitybuilders.org.uk on the news page.

The £30 million fund for 2008-11 has two principle strands, both of which will commence in April 2008: * £12m in consortium development grants to local and regional consortia, tied to agreement of delivery of core roles and strategic outcomes, and a clearer relationship with Capacity Builders.

* £18m modernisation project fund, to help achieve a step change in the way third sector support services are delivered locally and regionally.

New Working Neighbourhoods Fund

The Government has announced the areas in England that will receive a share of the new Working Neighbourhoods Fund. Sixty-six local and twenty-one transitional authorities will receive allocations over the next three years totaling over £450 million in 2008/09, and £500 million in 2009/10 and 2010/11. The Fund is a new, dedicated fund for local councils and communities to develop more concentrated, concerted, community-led approaches to getting people in the most deprived areas of England back to work. It replaces the existing Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and incorporates the Department for Work and Pension's Deprived Areas Fund to create a single local fund. At least £50 million of the £1.5 billion Fund will be available as a reward fund which will go to areas that have made good progress over the first two years on tackling worklessness and improving enterprise levels. Additional information can be found by clicking here.

The Department of Health is reviewing all funding and investment to third sector organisations. This includes primary grant funding streams: Section 64 General Scheme of Grants, Opportunities for Volunteering and other funding through contracts. Third Sector Organisations and other interested stakeholders are invited to respond to the consultation document, which aims to develop a strategic framework for the Department of Health's investment in the Third Sector. The Consultation closes on 20 March 2008 and workshops will take place throughout the country.  Venues for the North East: 6 February 2008 at The Destiny Centre, Stockton-on-Tees and 7 February 2008 at The Assembly Room, Newcastle.  Further details and booking forms for all of the workshops can be found at: www.dh.gov.uk/thirdsectorfundingreview. The consultation document is available on the DH website with a questionnaire response document: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations   You can also contact the Department of Health review team directly: thirdsectorfundingreview@dh.gsi.gov.uk

Big Lottery Fund – Young People’s Fund 2: National Grants Briefing Session

Key aspects of the programme are:
• The focus is on changing the lives of young people by putting them in the lead.
• BIG will only fund projects that involve young people from start to finish.
• Grants will be available for up to five years.
• All projects must have beneficiaries from two or more of the nine England regions.
• Only voluntary and community organisations may apply.

The briefings are aimed at organisations intending to submit an application to the programme. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis and BIG may need to limit places per organisation depending on demand. To express your interest in attending the briefing email: ypf@biglotteryfund.org.uk

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