As households are feeling the impact of the Cost of Living Crisis, organisations around the borough are pulling together to help those struggling. Please share these resources and if you are in need of support, please don't hesitate to access the help that is available to you.
Citizens Advice Kingston have compiled a useful guide on help available in regards to energy bills, debt management, how to apply for benefits and much more.
Kingston Foodbank is in desperate need of more donations to be able to respond to the need in the community. Please visit Kingston Foodbank to find out how you can access food, hygiene products and other essentials. Please visit their website to find out what items they are in need of and details on where you can donate.
You can also make a donation to the BRITE Box project, tackling food insecurity, here.
Are you in a leadership role for a voluntary organisation in Kingston? Kingston Voluntary Action would like to capture a new up to date picture of our local sector with your help, as we regroup from Covid-19, and would really value your input in the State of the Sector Survey.
After two of the most turbulent years and the dramatic impact they have had on our lives and lives of our organisations, there have inevitably been some changes in our local voluntary and community sector.
We are all working in new ways; new projects and organisations have emerged in the borough and the environment around us is shifting faster than ever, bringing new challenges.
We are grateful for all the feedback you have patiently been giving us through the pandemic. It helped us share your concerns and needs as well as your successes with local and national partners.
When completing the survey, you can also choose to be included in a prize draw. Access the survey here.
*Deadline Friday 27 May 2022*
Welcoming Chloe and Camilla to the KVA-team
Chloe Smith and Camilla Wheal
KVA recently welcomed two new members to the team. Chloe Smith is our Healthy Communities Builder and Camilla Wheal has taken on the role of Communications Manger.
Chloe's role as Healthy Communities Builder is new and came out of the growing need to be more community facing, supporting projects that target inequalities in healthcare and supporting vaccination needs within minoritized communities. For fun Chloe likes to keep up with the spoken word poetry scene and attends live events when she can. She has a love and affinity for all things African after living in Zimbabwe for a time and longs to return as we journey out of Covid.
Camilla has taken over from Ruth Hunter and has previously worked for YMCA in Surbiton and joined KVA after working in Communications for Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness for the last five years. Originally from Sweden, she lives in Surbiton with her husband, their two children and the family cat, Rue. Camilla enjoys live music, comedy, gritty (Nordic) crime-thrillers, interior design, journalism and politics. She has a real heart for issues surrounding childhood, maternal mental health and homelessness.
Bid-Writing with Kingston University
Thank you to Kingston University, Professor Meg Jensen, Professor Brian Brivati, Peter Ely, everyone attending and everyone working behind the scenes to make the KVA/Kingston University Bid-Writing Clinic such a great event. We had a fantastic day together and are looking forward to developing this partnership further. Watch this space for a follow up session in July.
Free Sim Cards for Residents in Need
Superhighways have free sims/data to give away through Vodaphone’s charities.connected
scheme! Each sim has 20 GB of data and unlimited calls and texts. Apply here.
Building a Voluntary Sector Alliance - report out now
The 'Building a Voluntary Sector Alliaance across southwest London' report by Lev Pedro & Associates is out now. Download the report from the KVA website.
Consultation on the 2022 Draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment for Kingston Health and Wellbeing Board
As required by the Pharmaceutical Regulations 2013, Kingston Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) are preparing to publish a revised Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) by 1st October 2022. The Draft PNA is now ready for consultation which is taking place between Tuesday 10th May and Friday 8th July 2022.
Please keep checking our Fundingpage on the KVA website, which includes new funding opportunities, upcoming deadlines and details of funds with ‘rolling programmes’.
As ever, please ensure that you read the eligibility and guidance for each fund very carefully!
If you have any questions about any of the funding opportunities you see on our website, or need help with finding funding or completing an application form, please contact Alison Ewart, our Funding and Organisational Development Officer, at alison.ewart@kva.org.uk.
Easy Fundraising
Easy Fundraising turns everyday online shopping into funds for Voluntary Organisations. You can find them here.
Grants of up to £50,000 requiring match funding, are available for not-for-profit organisations in the UK who can raise their initial funding through a crowdfunding campaign for projects that address Aviva’s current themes of climate champtions and financial empowerment. Deadline: 12 July 2022
B A Better World Crowdfunder BA Better World Fund has teamed up with Crowdfunder to support UK registered charity or social enterprise to support communities to create a better world. The project needs to be aligned to one of the themes of BA Better World Vision which are:
• Environment • Diversity
• Inclusion and Well-Being
• Education and Employability
• Thriving Communities. If your project is approved, you have 6 weeks to plan your crowdfunding campaign. Once launched you need to raise 25% of the project total from 25 unique supporters and the remaining amount is a combination of your fundraising and the match fund from BA. Deadline: None specified
Home Instead charities
Grants of up to £1500 are available for grass roots community groups and charities addressing mental health and isolation in older people in the UK. Deadline: None specified
Grants are available of up to £3,500 for local community groups, charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises in the UK for projects that have a positive impact on communities, people, or the environment. Deadline: None specified
Meet and Greet for RBK Councillors and Voluntary Organisations
Following local elections, Kingston Voluntary Action are inviting you to an evening of networking for local voluntary organisations and new, as well as experienced, RBK Councillors. It's a chance to really show off and celebrate our vibrant sector as well as catch up face to face after two socially distanced years.
This is also an opportunity for Councillors to come along and meet the staff and volunteers of local voluntary sector groups and hear about the fantatsic work being done in the borough.
The event will take place at United Reformed Church in Kingston on 14 July 2022, 6pm-8pm.
"Priority for the Superhighways entry level data training will be for Trust for London funded organisations, supporting better use of data to raise the voice of communities and influence change. However there are spaces available on each course for other small charities and community groups working in London to book. Where sessions are showing as fully booked, please do add yourself to the Wait list as spaces often become available nearer the time. Also - where there is demand, Superhighways will look to repeat the session and contact those on the wait list to be the first to book."
In celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, New Malden Town Centre Partnership are hosting a special event in the aptly named Jubilee Square, New Malden, KT3 4JW, on the 4th June, 11am to 5pm.
TV and Radio presenter Guy Llyod will compère the show which is headlined by KAACHI, the world’s first K-pop girl group to debut from the UK. Bring a picnic blanket and enjoy music, comedy, food, dancing, Korean calligraphy, children's activities and lots more.
Welcome to the Body and Soul exercise class on Mondays, 9.30-10.30am at KingsGate Church. No need to pre-book. Enquiries to info@voh.org.uk.
Drumming Workshop
Kingston Eco-op has won a funding bid from the LCF and ACE to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee. They are running outreach workshops to people with a learning disability and/or mental health concerns and will be delivering two public performances in June. If you would like them to deliver a workshop in your community or you are interested in volunteering please do get in touch on info@kingstoneco-op.org.uk.
Community Theatre Coming to you
Paines Plough Theatre Company are bringing a pop up theatre called The Roundabout to Memorial Gardens in July. It seats 168 in the round and they have reserved slots for community performances.For more infomation, please click here.
Support for Young Deaf People
The Royal Association for Deaf people are running the ABLE2 project, in partnership with ESF and the London Mayor. The project aims to support young deaf people, aged 16-24 who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) with CV writing, interview preparation, job seeking, how to use an interpreter via ATW, as well as run social events.
To refer a young person to the project, email youthadvance@royaldeaf.org and confirm that they are NEET and what they would need support in.
Vegetable Bed Building Day
Host a Queen's Jubilee Street Party in aid of Home-Start
Home-Start are on the lookout for residents who may be holding street parties across Richmond, Kingston & Hounslow this Queen's Jubilee to make them aware of their 'Host a Queen Jubilee Street Party in aid of Home-Start'. For more details on how to get invloved, please visit their website.
Sea Scouts Evening River Cruise
Leander (Kingston) Sea Scouts are running an Evening River Cruise on Friday 17 June, 8-11pm at the subsidised ticket price of £17.50 per person.
Book your ticket here. For queries, please contact Gulshat on gulshat2001@yahoo.com.
Young Careers and Transitions event
Achieving for Children, in partnership with TAG Youth Club and Kingston and Richmond Adult Social Care Teams, are planning a Careers and Transitions event for young people with SEND in Kingston and Richmond on 21st September 2022 at Harlequins Rugby Club in Twickenham. Access the booking form here.
For the latest advice on how you can support Ukraine, please visit the KVA website.
Worried about exams?
Getting It On is a great resource for young people aged 13-19, dealing with a wide range of concerns and issues. Find their 'Exam Stress' page here.
Have your say on Special Education Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Services
Did you know that you have access to a free, impartial and confidential Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service? A service that is also offered directly to young people aged 16+?
In Kingston and Richmond, this service is provided by "KIDS", a national charity which provides a number of these services across the country.
The current contract is due to expire 31 March 2023, so we are consulting to understand what parents and carers and children and young people want the future provision to look like.
As part of this process some consultation has already taken place in Richmond. This was led by the Richmond Parent Carer Forum.
Achieving for Children are leading on further consultation in Kingston but also welcome comments from Richmond parents who would like to add their views.
This part of the consultation will close on 6 June.
Good Boost Volunteers Needed
Home Exercise is a pilot project supporting the over 50s in Kingston to be more active at home. Their trained volunteers encourage people to exercise using the ‘Good Boost’ exercise app. If you are interested in volunteering, please email home.exercise@kingston.gov.uk
Better Bones Information Sessions
Information Sessions May-July 2022 - free for anyone interested, out of borough clients, families and friends welcome. No need for advance booking, just turn up on the day.
Self Management in Osteoarthritis: 13 May (10.30-12.00) 192 Tudor Drive, Kingston KT2 5QH
Learn about osteoarthritis and how to look after your joints using lifestyle factors.
Osteoporosis and Bone Health: 23 May (17.30-19.30pm). St. John’s Church, 411 Malden Road KT4 7NY
Learn about how to manage or prevent osteoporosis. We will discuss diet, exercise and lifestyle factors that affects our bones and how to keep them healthy and strong.
Physical Activity: 10 June (10.30-12.00), 192 Tudor Drive, Kingston KT2 5QH
Learn about Physical activity and the type and amount of activities we need to do to maintain our health and wellbeing. Also learn about simple exercises to do at home
Bone Health: 8 July (10.30-12.00) 192 Tudor Drive, Kingston KT2 5QH
Learn about how to look after your bones. We will discuss diet, exercise and lifestyle factors that affects our bones and how to keep them healthy and strong.
To register, please contact: 0300 123 8086 or email swlccg.betterbones@nhs.net
Finance
Employer Bulletin
HMRC Bulletins for Employers are great for updating employers on various tax affairs. For the April edition, please click here.
Employment Allowance
The Employment Allowance is available for employers in 2022/2023. The full amount is for £5,000 and can be claimed by using the HMRC Basic PAYE tools or making adjustments to Class 1 NI-contributions. For more guidance, please click here.
Working from Home
As hybrid or home-working becomes the norm, some are wondering if they can claim travel costs from HMRC. To see the rules for travel expenses, please click here.
We are proud to see the difference Voices of Hope have been able to make to people battling Long Covid symptoms with creative initiatives, such as their Active Breathing Course (ABC).
Read more about the initiative in this NHS-article.
Help is on hand for those with Long COVID
Most people who catch COVID-19 don’t become severely ill and get better quickly, but some can go on to develop longer lasting symptoms after recovering from the initial infection.
If symptoms persist beyond 4 weeks, a diagnosis of Long COVID can be made. Symptoms include: extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chest pain or tightness, problems with memory and concentration ("brain fog"), changes to taste and smell and joint pain.
While research remains ongoing, there are things that can help those with Long COVID. To find more information about Long COVID and what services are available to help you, please click here.
Book your first, second or booster vaccination now
You can visit the NHS website to book your appointment, or for those who would prefer to walk-in, information about walk-in and pop up vaccination clinics across South West London is regularly updated on the SW London CCG website.
Do I need a Spring Booster – and how do I get one?Book your Spring Booster Today
A booster dose will top up your immunity to continue to keep you and those around you safe. Book an appointment 6 months after your last booster dose to get the best protection from your Spring booster.
You can book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment online or walk into a local vaccination centre for your Spring booster if you are:
aged 75 and over
aged 12 and over and have a weakened immune system
living in a care home for older people, contact your care home manager about getting vaccinated.
Anyone aged 5 and over can now also get a COVID-19 vaccination
Monthly Covid briefing sessions
KVA continues to host information sessions, presented by the Public Health team at Kingston Council, monthly on a Monday at 13.30. These 30 minute sessions focus on trends in the transmission of the virus in Kingston, hotspots in the borough and key new messaging. It is your chance to feedback on whether messages are working / where more messaging is needed, and let us know your thoughts on how we can target activity. Register for the next update session, here.
