Hello <<First Name>>from Birmingham Community Matters
This is the first time we've used our mailing list to greet you personally. If it went wrong and we called you [something silly] - sorry! Do reply and let us know so we can fix it for next month.
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Welcome to our February edition
We hope you're doing as well as possible, given the ongoing challenges, and being kind to yourself always.
As you may know, we have moved BCM's services online to continue supporting people with their community groups through the pandemic.
Here's a leaflet explaining how we can currently help you to work through a challenge or idea relating to your voluntary/community organisation or project.
Beyond Covid-19, we plan to continue delivering our services digitally. Being online enables us to reach many more people across Birmingham. But we're also really looking forward to organising face-to-face events when it is safe to do so. We've missed you! And the novelty of eating whole cakes on our own at home has well and truly worn off. We can't wait to start sharing again.
In the meantime, we'd love you to join us for one or all of these events, from the comfort of your sofa:
'Writing better funding applications' Tuesday 23 February
During this session we'll explore with fundraising expert John Ellery of Get Grants:
* What constitutes the 'need' for your project to secure funding
* Ways to make an impact in your application
* How to describe your organisation
* Putting together your budget
* Measuring outputs and outcomes. Sign up at Eventbrite.
'Choosing a structure and running your group'
Monday 1 March
In this small group session we will explore with you:
* Key things to consider for your group when choosing a structure
* The roles of committee members
* What you will need to open a community bank account. See our webinars page for more information.
Severn Trent Community Fund: Virtual Workshop Tuesday 2 March
We're delighted that Sue Heyes, funding officer for the Severn Trent Community Fund, is holding a virtual workshop for Birmingham Community Matters. During the morning session Sue will talk you through the fund criteria and how to apply.
To book a place please email Sue via sue.heyes@severntrent.co.uk.
If the above sessions don't suit, ask us about booking a surgery to work through your particular challenge or idea. BCM surgeries are suitable for people at any stage of setting up or running a community organisation. We are here: just ask! info@birminghamcommunitymatters.org.uk
West Midlands Funders Network: Funding Workshop
Tomorrow (Wednesday 10 February) we're looking forward to representing BCM at this online workshop from the West Midlands Funders Network (sales have ended). Being held in partnership with Heart of England Community Foundation, Birmingham City Council, BBC Children in Need and the National Lottery Community Fund, it's for small constituted groups in the East and Central Birmingham area to discuss the challenges involved in accessing grant funding. Drop us a line if there's anything you'd like to know.
McLaughlin & Harvey, lead contractor at the Alexander Stadium redevelopment, has announced a second round of the You Matter Communities Scheme – with a focus on tacking the local impact of Covid-19.
Open to all Birmingham-based community organisations until Thursday 25 February, the scheme offers support that includes volunteer time, small grants, and the use of excess materials from the construction process.
Are you, like us, a little frazzled? Make space for today's online Midday Calm session (Tuesday 9 February at 12.30pm) with wellbeing practitioner Katie McLeod Peters, hosted by the Living Well Consortium.
Katie's Zoom sessions include a workshop, in which she shares evidence-based strategies for reducing stress and improving your wellbeing, followed by half an hour of calming practices to "help you reset for the rest of the day".
There's another one next Tuesday (16 February) and a 'Wellbeing for Parents' special on Thursday evening at 8.30pm - which comes highly recommend from both Marie and Jo here at BCM.
Deaf Awareness Training for professionals
BID Services is a Birmingham-based charity supporting people who are deaf, hard of hearing, visually impaired or have a dual sensory loss.
To help employers create more inclusive working environments, BID Services is offering free online Deaf Awareness and Hard of Hearing Training sessions for professionals on several dates in February and March.
The not-for-profit arts and architecture collective ReFuture invites young people in the B16 (Perrott's Folly) area to join its arts-based youth clubs on Saturdays - run by professional artists. During lockdown, both Art Pad (for 8-11 year olds) and F.Y.I. (for 12-15 year olds) are taking place online.
The grants and social investment database Funding Central from NCVO is closing on Wednesday 31 March. (You can still use it until this time - it's free for organisations with an annual income under £100,000.)
NCVO's technical partner, Idox, will be offering an alternative solution to smaller organisations with an annual income below £1m.
It is said My Funding Central will be a "new database of grant funding and social investment sources. This service will be available to organisations with an annual income below £1m and will be free for organisations under £30k".
ecobirmingham: Environmental Community Learning Programme
If you work or volunteer with a community organisation based in Birmingham and would like to:
* Get support in 2021 for your organisation to become more environmentally friendly
* Support more activity to promote greener and healthier lives in your area
. . . the Environmental Community Learning Programme could be for you.
ecobirmingham is looking for people who can offer around six days of their time and expertise over 2021. In exchange, the team will offer you free support in developing an environmental action plan for your organisation and your community through peer support, training and fundraising support.
As we all continue to feel the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we're still updating our page of resources for community groups, which includes details of funding, information on continuity/recovery, and local and national support services.
If you have a March or April event you'd like us to consider sharing in our next e-newsletter (coming out in early March), please email info@birminghamcommunitymatters.org.uk as soon as you can.
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Thank you for subscribing to our e-newsletter. We'll be back next month with new useful things we've gathered for you.
In the meantime keep us posted on your community group updates and success stories. You can reply to this message - we enjoy hearing from you.
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Tuesday 23 February
Tuesday 2 March 
