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Imago Newsletter - Issue 41 - July 2021 

Imago is recruiting!


We have a variety of roles available in the following teams:
  • Children & Young People
  • Mental Health
  • Adult Services
  • Social Prescribing
  • Volunteering
Vacancies are advertised and updated on our website: www.imago.community/work-with-us

Are you ready for something new? Or know someone who is?

We are looking for passionate, dedicated people to join the team and make positive changes to the lives of others.

See Hear Respond

Imago was a delivery partner in See Hear Respond, supporting children and young people who were affected by coronavirus. We offered support with education reintegration. To see our work as a delivery partner in See Hear Respond, led by Barnardo’s and funded by the Department of Education, please view the showcase via this link. Imago is featured on page 123.

Calling Carers


Do you care for an adult? Would you like to meet other carers or maybe you know someone who would? Then come and join our online carers group, held every other week via Zoom. We hold a dementia focused group on a Tuesday and a generic carers group on a Friday.

Please call our Hub on 0300 011 1965 to register your interest. We look forward to seeing you there.

Sevenoaks Young Carers have days out


On the 1st and 3rd June 2021 33 Young Carers aged 7-18 attended the Cyclopark Gravesend, taking part in a variety of cycling activities with coaches from the Cyclopark. The support provided by Sevenoaks District Council enabled us to provide Young Carers with a break from their caring roles.
 
Over the two days, the Young Carers were able to take part in various cycling activities, including mountain bike trailing. It was an absolute pleasure to watch the Young Carers, supporting each other and overcoming their personal challenges. JS – 'I have enjoyed everything about the day! One track was big and fast!'
 
Then our Sevenoaks Young Carers had a brilliant day out at the Hever Festival Theatre where they watched a hilarious comedy called ‘Planet Earth 3’. We wanted to say a big thank you to Ailsa and the team for making us feel so welcome. We had the most wonderful weather for it and even managed to have an ice cream and go in the water maze! The trip was funded by the Ivy and Jane Charitable Fund.

"I really enjoyed the show and I liked how we got to socialise with people we had never met before and it was fun"

Short Breaks

 
Our Short Breaks Saturday group had a fantastic time recently with Wild Classroom UK. We took a group of 11 young people to learn all about outdoor cooking in the beautiful setting of Mount Ephraim gardens, near Faversham.

They took no time at all in getting stuck in, cooking and grilling over a fire pit and preparing lots of different foods too including asparagus, radishes, fish, bread, vegetable kebabs, fruit medleys and even pancakes!

The young people had so much fun cooking and discovering new foods - "I've had the best day ever, it was so much fun getting to cook outdoors, I've never done this before and tried grilled radishes, but the fruit pancakes were the best."

The group also got the chance to explore the gardens and had a lot of fun trying to conquer the ‘Miz Maze’ – a medieval labyrinth created using long grasses, plants and flowers.

A massive thank you to both Wild Classroom and Mount Ephraim gardens for such a memorable day.

CAMEO activities


CAMEO (Come and Meet Each Other) is a Big Lottery funded project which supports people aged 50 or over, living in Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley, who are socially isolated or experiencing loneliness due to changing life circumstances.

The groups have been meeting online using Zoom and have had some really interesting talks. In June the focus was on healthy living and members heard all about local health walks, ways to enjoy the countryside, how to keep fit and healthy and meet new people.

For more information or to get involved please contact Carol Gale on 0300 011 1965 or email navigation@imago.community

Jackie’s journey with Imago – from receiving services to becoming a befriending volunteer


“Last year not long after my husband passed away, I had a call out of the blue from Zoe via a referral made for a Care Navigator. Zoe was supportive and patient with my tears and sadness. Then the calls stopped (as arranged) after her work had been completed.  After a few months Zoe phoned to check how I was (as agreed as part of a follow up) and hinted in our chat that there was a possibility, if I was interested, in becoming a telephone befriender for Imago.
 
After doing all the security checks and assessments in order to make sure it was suited to me and I was suited to the role all done via Zoom meetings, I was asked to join. Since then the lovely gentlemen that I have been given to call, are a joy. We talk about lots of things. One is very lonely and we have varied conversations, for example we talk about football, tortoises, and a cancelled trip on a barge, his broken freezer. I do so look forward to my weekly calls to my clients and feel part of a team with the meetings we have with the other volunteers”.
 
Since joining Jackie has attended volunteer coffee mornings and receives regular support and has had her first supervision. At present Jackie is supporting two clients through weekly phone calls to develop confidence, self-esteem and independence. It is wonderful working alongside Jackie, she is one of our valued volunteers.
West Kent Mediation Logo

Premises required in the Sevenoaks area


Local charity West Kent Mediation is looking for a small part time office, in the Sevenoaks area. The office is required for 2/3 days per week and space is needed for 2 desks, 2 PC’s and a filing cabinet.  They are very flexible and would consider an office share.

Please contact Amanda Bell on 07808 767314 or email theoffice@wkm.org.uk

Volunteer Coordinators Forum


The West Kent Volunteer Coordinator Forums are back!  Our first forum meeting since lockdown began took place on Thursday 17th June.  Although it was on Zoom it was really lovely to see familiar and fresh faces all with an interest in volunteering.  For this first session the attendees talked about:·
  • How they had coped and what they were doing differently
  • The pros and cons of face-to-face v digital volunteering·
  • Recruiting new volunteers to replace the ones that we have lost.
This forum provides a good opportunity to network with others and talk about issues relating to the recruitment, management and retention of volunteers. The dates for the remaining meetings in 2021 are: Tuesday 7th September at 10 a.m. and Thursday 25th November at 2 p.m. If you would like to attend contact Wendy on 01892 530330 or email volunteering@imago.community.

Family Fun Days in Sevenoaks


This summer Family Fun Days are on offer in Sevenoaks.  They are organised and funded by Sevenoaks District Council and are run by Play Place with help from Town and Parish Councils. West Kent Extra will be attending most events with foot darts (what are they?) and popcorn. The KCC Youth Team will also attend some of the events.

They Fun Days start on Monday 26th July in Seal and end on Friday 20th August in Chiddingstone – see the full schedule here.

Is there a need for a Voluntary Sector Hub in Tunbridge Wells?

A space where voluntary and community groups could co-locate and/or share facilities and resources
 
Following scoping work by Imago in 2020, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) has offered to work with local VCS organisations to better understand:
  • space/facilities requirements
  • current expenditure on property/maintenance/utilities
  • the potential for service delivery synergies
  • current and anticipated service delivery requirements
TWBC is asking for feedback and thoughts from those within the sector. Information gathered through a survey will help to assess:
  • the potential interest for setting up a town centre hub, where voluntary and community groups could co-locate and/or share facilities and resources
  • the type and nature of space that may be required
  • the potential costs
  • access to, or unlocking of, likely funding sources and
  • a pathway for moving forward
The link to the survey is here [VCS Hub Survey].  This survey will close on 30 July 2021.

The charitable sector in Kent and Medway: where are we now?


In May and November 2020, Kent Community Foundation invited charities and community groups to complete a survey and tell them how they have been affected by the pandemic and what their immediate future looked like. In May 2021 they asked again for insight into what was happening and how they could help.
 
They found that more organisations are now more confident of survival than in the last survey in November 2020 but the results also show that the demand for services has continued to rise, with 74% saying they had seen an increase compared to 47% in May 2020 and 59% in November 2020. A quarter of those who had seen an increase said they had not been able to meet that demand and 40% said they had to recruit additional staff.
 
Organisations have pulled together during the pandemic, with 40% saying they had collaborated with other third party organisations more than they usually would.
 
Take a look at more of the findings, including how many plan to return to face-to-face delivery of services which had moved online and plans for fundraising in 2021.

Medway Task Force


Medway Task Force is a multi-agency partnership, made up of DWP, Kent Police, Medway Council, Kent Fire & Rescue Service and other agencies. The team was set up to reduce violent crime, build resilient communities and reduce vulnerability, and delivers wrap-around support to the residents of Medway.
 
This is achieved by identifying the needs of a community, or an individual, and bringing in local organisations best placed to implement support.
 
Since the launch in February 2020, the Task Force has built a good working relationship with Imago and our Wellbeing Navigation and Social Prescribing services in Medway.

Local Organisation Profile: 
Athena Herd Foundation


The Athena Herd Foundation is a Kent based Community Interest Company that provides Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) programmes.

What does this mean? Interacting with horses in this unique way provides meaningful personal connections which supports and develops powerful personal learning, or skills-based support such as mindfulness or building resilience, as well as highly effective therapeutic interventions. When we are with horses, we can experience not just an honest reflection of how we are, but also how we might be different. This is the power of the promise within this work. 
 
Athena Herd Foundation is a market leader in this work, providing powerful local community programmes, and training people internationally to facilitate this work. They currently have access to national lottery funding to support local vulnerable adult groups with programmes that target building positive mental health skills, self-confidence, overcoming anxiety or simply reconnecting with the community.
 
Visit their website or email info@athenaherd.org.uk to find out how this could benefit you or your community.

Free PPE for the Voluntary Sector


The Department of Health and Social Care is offering free PPE (personal protective equipment) for use by voluntary sector organisations.
 
You can express your interest in this free PPE by completing this short form with a few details and then a representative of DHSC will contact you to arrange delivery.
 
Please note that the details you provide will only be passed to DHSC, and the PPE and the delivery are both free of charge. Thanks to this collaboration between DHSC and NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action), over 720 organisations have registered their interest for PPE. So far 167 organisations have been issued with 360,000 face masks and 45,000 visors - and more orders are being issued each week.
 
There's still time to add your organisation and the organisations you work with to the list.

1 in 3 charities won’t return to the office after pandemic survey finds


Nearly a third of charity leaders do not plan to reopen their offices at the end of the coronavirus crisis, a survey has found. The majority of respondents also said that their staff and volunteers were worried about the prospect of returning to work in person. The survey was conducted by One Poll on behalf of the financial services firm Ecclesiastical.

60% reported that their staff and volunteers were anxious about returning to the office when it reopens. The biggest concern was staff catching Covid-19 (58%) while around a third mentioned worries about people not wearing marks or observing social distancing.

RNID is the largest charity so far to announce that staff will be shifting to permanent remote working having sold its London headquarters in January.

Source: Civil Society

Vision for Volunteering


Charity sector umbrella bodies NAVCA, NCVO, Volunteering Matters and the Association of Volunteer Managers have set out plans to collaborate on a long-term plan for volunteering, in a move backed by the Minister for Civil Society.

Vision for Volunteering will bring people together to work on integrating volunteering into post-Covid recovery, harnessing the skills, experience and enthusiasm of volunteers.

People from every aspect of civil society will be asked to share ideas on volunteering, identify what supports and enables people to volunteer, and the barriers which stop people from contributing to their communities.

Resources

In Kind Direct helps thousands of UK charities and community groups access essential items like toiletries, household cleaning and laundry items, clothing and activity supplies, and benefit from savings on office supplies such as stationery, photocopiers and hot drinks. Join In Kind Direct to help you spend more of your money on support, not supplies. Registration is free. Sign up here.
 
Karenza Morton from the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, outlines how charities need to adapt to the times when it comes to marketing strategy. Adapting your marketing strategy when challenging times hit.

Charity Digital: How to write the perfect press release.

Statisticians for Society is a pro bono scheme that connects professional statisticians and charitable organisations. The scheme has become an effective way for organisations to receive support from statistical experts at no cost. 

To read

Crowdfund Kent


In Sevenoaks there are 2 projects crowdfunding through the Kent County Council and Spacehive site.   
 
Concrete Wave Group CIC https://www.spacehive.com/swanley-skatepark - currently £52,541 pledged of £88,297.
 
Citizens Advice in North & West Kent https://www.spacehive.com/citizens-advice-north-and-west-kent £3,252 pledged of £5,814.
 
If you have a project that you think could work using this initiative please do check out the guidance on the website (CrowdFund Kent - Home (spacehive.com).

If you are planning to create a crowdfunding project as part of the next funding round then you can register to join their online workshop on the 20th of July at 10 am.

If you can't attend the workshop, you can complete a project form and they can follow up with you directly. 

Bringing Communities Back Together Fund

The Asda Foundation has launched a new grant to reunite communities, celebrate togetherness, and support groups as Coronavirus restrictions begin to ease across the UK during July, August and September.

Through the Bringing Communities Back Together fund, grants of between £250 and £1,000 are available to either get activities back on track such as gardening clubs, lunch clubs and recreational activities; hold a get-together event such as a welcome back party or community celebration; or a combination of the two.

Applications forms are available from Asda stores. Registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, CICs, and unincorporated clubs or associations have until the 16th August 2021 to submit their applications instore to an Asda Community Champion.

Tesco Community Grants


Groundwork South are looking for applications in Kent for projects up to £1,500. Do you know any community groups looking for funding? Find out more about Tesco Community Grants here - https://tescocommunitygrants.org.uk.

Kent County Council: Saving Lives Innovation Fund


The latest round of the Saving Lives Innovation Fund can now be applied for on the KCC website. It is for new or emerging programmes designed to prevent suicides, save lives and reduce self-harm. There is at least £250,000 available, of which a minimum of £50,000 must go to projects supporting children and young people.

They are particularly looking to fund projects which address the needs of the risk groups identified in their Kent and Medway Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention Strategy 2021-25.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 22nd July.

Kent County Council: COVID-19 Funding


Grants of up to £10k are available for organisations to support the mitigation and management of outbreaks, as well as reintegration schemes. In the response to the coronavirus pandemic, the UK Government has given Kent County Council (KCC) funding to support the mitigation and management of outbreaks.
 
They have developed this grant fund to provide support to local communities with proactive containment, intervention measures and innovative reintegration schemes. You can find more information about the funding available, including eligibility on the Kent County Council website here. The deadline for applications is 6pm on 20th July 2021.
 
The grant fund will support initiatives that prevent or mitigate outbreaks in Kent County Council's geographical area, or that support the safe reintegration of groups that have been disproportionately affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).
KCC is currently accepting bids for:

Last call: Healthwatch Medway Manager


This is an exciting opportunity for someone to lead Healthwatch Medway and help make a lasting difference to Medway’s health & social care services.
 
As the Manager for Healthwatch Medway, you will work with our volunteers to shape the strategic direction and ensure Medway residents are heard by the right people, at the right time, in the right way.
 
We’re looking for someone who:
  • Loves talking to people from all walks of life
  • Is great at problem solving
  • Has excellent communication skills
  • Demonstrates experience working at a strategic level
  • Has worked with volunteers and is passionate about involving them
 
Find out more here: https://www.healthwatchmedway.com/work-us.

The closing date for applications is 16th July 2021.
#AreTheySafe? Free safeguarding events for the voluntary sector
 
Do you work in the voluntary sector as a member of staff, volunteer or trustee?
Have you ever been concerned about someone’s safety but were unsure what to do next?
Do you want to find out a bit about how to recognise and report safeguarding concerns and help keep people safe from harm?
Maybe you know and you want to empower your team, your colleagues, your networks to also know?
 
Then you can join this free safeguarding event hosted by NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action), CAS (Community Action Suffolk) and BVA (Basingstoke Voluntary Action).
 
The event will:
  • share information and guidance on how to recognise and report safeguarding concerns including challenging stereotypes
  • provide an opportunity to network and create contacts to help share best practice
  • showcase and share the newly produced #AreTheySafe resources pack
The event will be happening at 9.30 – 12 on 14th September 2021 and you can book your free place here. Please come along whether you are a safeguarding expert or new to this world and wish to learn more.
 
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Sources include Kent Community Foundation, DSC, NAVCA LINX, NSPCC, NCVO and Bates, Wells and Braithwaite.   If you would like to submit an article or provide feedback on the newsletter please email Wendy McGeachy at Imago – wendy.mcgeachy@imago.community.

 

Contact details for Imago

Our head office is located at 17-19 Monson Road,  Tunbridge Wells – 01892 530330 -  and we have project delivery offices in 10 locations across Kent, Medway, East Sussex, and London (Bexley, Havering and Southwark).

 


 
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