Hello!
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Please see below a brief update from me plus some information on training and funding opportunities that are currently available.
I look forward to working with you all on this exciting project.
If you have any questions, please email me at miranda@cscic.org
COMMUNITY HUBS STEERING GROUP
We have established a Community Hubs Steering Group made up of representatives from Paganhill Community Group, GL11, Barnwood Trust, Creative Sustainability CIC and County, District and Town Councils. Last week we met for the first time and started to work out our Theory Of Change. This meant going back to the drawing board to really pin down what it is we are wanting (and able) to achieve within a relatively short time frame (now less than twelve months), getting our terminology right (what do we mean by 'hub'?) keeping it strategic and top level, and making sure we have mapped out not only how we believe change happens but also what needs to be in place for our goals to occur. We will meet again in early September to develop this further.
I have started to pilot an assessment tool with a few of the community groups to map their capacity and resource requirements. This involves a structured conversation using the themes identified in Creative Sustainability's research in 2020. These include network engagement, training and skills, safeguarding, finance, communication and place. I'm using the feedback from these sessions to inform the tool's development and plan to also include it in conversations with larger organisations who could become 'Area' or 'Network' hubs.
TRAINING and GUIDANCE
See below a number of free training opportunities:
- The County Council's training portal 'Proud to Learn', has a range of trainings available for community groups and the voluntary sector free of charge. Included on the portal is Introduction to Safeguarding Adults and Children through to Safeguarding Adults Level 3. For details on how to register on the portal, please call 01452 324306 or email proudtolearn@gloucestershire.gov.uk
- The National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has lots of guidance and templates on working with volunteers, including Safeguarding policies.
- Oliver McGowan Learning Disability & Autism training. Research has shown that people with learning disabilities have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. This free training will benefit staff and volunteers in community groups who may occasionally interact with people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. Click here for more details.
- Mental Health: These include Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Lite (1/2 day awareness course) and MHFA (2 day in depth). These funded courses are organised by the County Council's Healthy Lifestyles Service (HLS) and they are free of charge to those working/volunteering for public and VCS sector organisations who come across members of the public (eg support workers, those working to support carers, supporting those who are struggling with finances etc.) To ensure full access for all, the HLS may have to limit places to 2 people per organisation. Anyone who’s eligible can email the HLS at Info@HLSGlos.org with the following information: Name, Email, Role, Organisation/Group and which course you'd like to attend.
- Suicide prevention: Community groups can access free and available online training which includes:
- Zero Suicide Alliance Gateway and Let’s Talk training
- Grassroots Real Talk About Suicide
- Making Every Contact Count (MECC): This is an approach to behaviour change that utilises the millions of day to day interactions that organisations and people have with other people to encourage changes in behaviour that have a positive effect on the health and wellbeing of individuals, communities and populations. Staff and volunteers who engage with members of the public can attend these 2.5 hour trainings online via Zoom. More info can be found here. To book a space on the course, you need to fill out a booking form and email it back to info@hlsglos.org. The dates are below:
- 15th September 2021: 9.30-12pm
- 19th October 2021: 2-4.30pm
- 17th November 2021: 9.30-12pm
FUNDING
The Build Back Better - Councillor Scheme
This is a grant fund open to community groups across Gloucestershire. Over £2.2 million is available to be spent on projects to support the county’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Each County Councillor has £40,000 to spend in their community over the next four years. The scheme is open to a wide range of groups and projects including in areas such as:
- nature and the environment
- physical and mental wellbeing
- digital inclusion
- building connections and improving neighbourhoods.
Applications will be accepted from community and voluntary organisations, charities, community interest companies, town and parish councils, sports groups and other not for profit groups. It is a rolling grants fund which will run from 30th July 2021 until 31st January 2025. All applications must be supported by your local County Councillor, who you can find here. More information on the fund can be found here.
Community Ownership Fund - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The £150 million Community Ownership Fund has been set up to help communities take ownership of assets and amenities at risk of closure and will run for 4 years. Round one is now over but information for Round 2 (open in December 2021) will be published this autumn. More information can be found here.
AND FINALLY....
An interesting report just out from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) on 'Levelling Up: the Role of Charities and Volunteering.' Lots of learning from the pandemic has been used to inform the report's findings and recommendations, many of which are very relevant to this project.
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