the echo Developing a high quality, proactive voluntary sector for the benefit of the residents of

Dudley Borough by positively engaging partners in support of voluntary activity.

In this issue

AVAILABLE IN LARGE PRINT ON REQUEST

Visit our website www.dudleycvs.org.uk

JUNE 2012 Front Page Important Announcement Dudley Volunteer Awards News New DGOH NHS Governor Dudley Borough Interfaith Network News Healthwatch Dudley CCG Lay Members Fairshare Community Chest National Express Grants In a nutshell…. Funding Short Breaks Programme Green Energy Trust ASDA Foundation Brit Trust Hilden Charitable Fund In Kind Direct Go On UK SALRC Buttle UK Volunteering Dudley Volunteer Awards 2012 Launched Jubilee Fever News Grant Applications Failing Awards for All News BT Free Website Build Carer’s Week Our Services

Important Announcement Apologies to Echo readers who only receive the electronic

version of the Echo for the late sending of this June edition. An article published on the front page of the print version of the Echo announced a proposed £250,000 fund from Dudley MBC.

The article was written in good faith using the information available at the time. Unfortunately, there were changes in hand

of which we were unaware and so some information may be inaccurate.

We have held back the electronic version of the June Echo pending further information. Unfortunately we do not have any.

We apologise if any of the items within this Echo are out of date but we hope you will understand the matter has been out of

our control.

Nominations for Dudley Volunteer Awards 2012

Now Open.

See page 6 inside

2

NEWS

New Voluntary Sector Governor Appointed Jackie Kelly, Director of Nursing at Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge, is the new Appointed Voluntary Sector Governor of The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust. Jackie’s role will be to specifically represent the interests of the Voluntary, Community and Faith sector (VCFs); to promote opportunities for the sector to be engaged and to ensure there are mechanisms for information sharing. After Jackie has completed her induction period, she will communicate regular health information updates via the Echo Jackie started working at Mary Stevens Hospice as Ward Sister in 1998 and is now responsible for the hospice's quality of care; she also oversees the valuable contribution that over 300 volunteers give to the hospice. "I see on a daily basis the immense input and support that the voluntary sector provides to local healthcare provision. But their contribution is not always recognised by our statutory sector partners. This is no one's fault, the sectors inevitably have different cultures, but they do share the same passion. What I hope to achieve in my role as a Governor is to raise the awareness of what the voluntary sector has to offer to health professionals and encourage and develop better two-way communication." Jackie will be a Governor of The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust for an initial period of three years. She will continue to be both a full time employee and part time volunteer at Mary Stevens Hospice. Away from her dedication to healthcare, Jackie is a mother of two, who describes her main hobby as being a taxi service to her fourteen year old son and his football commitments. Oh! and Jackie is in the fourth and final year of her Open University MBA course. A busy lady indeed!

Three dozen women from across the Borough took part in ‘The Exchange’ –a Dudley Borough Interfaith Network event, where women talked openly and freely about their role as wife and mother and how their faith affected that.

The informal atmosphere, but full of mutual respect, which made it possible to ask some quite hard questions, such as; “Do you think women being able to earn more than men will affect the roles in the home?” There was also some hard talking about Christian churches needing to be strongly rooted in their community.

HealthWatch in Dudley Dudley MBC is seeking expressions of interest from parties interested in forming a new corporate body to take on the role of and responsibilities of a local HealthWatch in Dudley by April 2013. Healthwatch Dudley will be an independent consumer champion created to gather and represent the views of the public in Dudley appertaining to all aspects of health and social care. Local HealthWatch will be able to recruit volunteers and employ its own staff. It will offer signposting and advice services to patients and people who use social care services. It will also support patient and public involvement in the review and development of services. The closing date for submitting expressions of interest is 5pm on the 27th June 2012. There will be an information event on 5th July. Follow link: http://www.dudley.gov.uk/council-democracy/engagement/local-involvement-networks/developing-a-local-healthwatch/dudley-healthwatch-framework-and-tender-process/the-procurement-process/

3

NEWS

Small community groups operating in the Dudley St Andrews Ward can apply for Community Chest Grants of up to £1,000. Grants can be used for a variety of things, including helping to build a groups capacity, run activities or purchase equipment. Closing date is Friday 6 July 2012. For further information contact Caroline Webb or Jayne Emery on 01384 573381 E-mail: info@dudleycvs.org.uk Download applications forms etc via: www.dudleycvs.org.uk/latest-news/257-fair-share-trust-community-chest.html

In a nutshell...

The Equality Act requires local authorities to prepare an accessibility strategy. The consultation provides an opportunity to comment on the strategy and express an opinion on the local authority priorities for disability access to schools to view please click the following link. http://www.dudley.gov.uk/council-democracy/council-directorates/children-services/

4Us Annual General Meeting 20th June 4Us is a social club for young adults with learning difficulties based at the Source Youth Centre, Barnett Lane, Wordsley, DY8 5PY. It will be hosting its AGM at the Centre on 20th June, 6.30pm. 4Us leaders will present a report on its successes over the past year as well as sharing its aspirations for the future. 4Us is keen to bring new people on board and there will be elections to its committee.

The National Express Community Grants closes on the 29th June 2012 One of the main aims of the National Express Foundation is to provide grants to charitable and community groups for projects which foster cross-community cohesion and understanding among children and young people. The first awards are intended to be made in the summer of 2012 so that groups can make use of the fund during the Autumn. Applications are required to include information which can be downloaded from the website link below. Applicants should indicate what size of grant they are seeking, and explain what they could deliver for the level of grant applied for. The Trustees plan to award more small grants (up to £5,000) than large grants (up to £10,000). For an application form and guidelines, visit http://nationalexpressgroup.com/ourway/communitygrants.aspx

Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has announced two opportunities for members of the public (Lay Members) to play an important part in shaping and developing the emerging CCG. Dudley CCG membership comprises 52 GP practices with a total registered patient population of approximately 313,000. The first opening is for a Lay Member with particular responsibility for Governance. This will require someone who can bring a strategic insight and impartiality to the governing body, overseeing key elements of governance, including audit, remuneration and conflicts of interest. The Lay member will chair the Audit Committee. The second Lay Member will have responsibility for public and patient involvement; ensuring that the public voice of the local population is heard and that the CCG builds and maintains an effective relationship with Local Healthwatch whilst also drawing on existing patient and public engagement and involvement expertise. Both posts will require a time commitment of approximately 3-5 days per month and remuneration for each is £7882 per annum. Some time commitment may be required in the evenings. The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Monday 2nd July 2012. Further information can be found on Dudley CVS website from the following link: www.dudleycvs.org.uk/latest-news/262-dudley-ccg-lay-members-required.html

4

FUNDING

The ASDA Foundation was set up in 1988 to support local good causes

chosen by employees and is funded by profits from the mid-week national lottery. The Foundation supports organisations that require financial assistance and have the support of local ASDA colleagues. Potential applicants should contact their local store/depot – 4 around Dudley, at Merry Hill, Netherton, Brierley Hill and Dudley High Street. See website http://charities.asda.com/asda-foundation

Dudley Children’s Services has released further information about the Short Breaks Programme. Short Breaks Programme is available to organisations in Dudley borough to apply for grants through 2 schemes: 1. Small Grants, up to £499, apply anytime. 2. Capital Grants for equipment/resources,

up to £5,000, next deadline dates (if funding not spent in full in previous rounds) 21st June and 18th July 2012.

Dudley Children’s Services will support organisations providing activities for disabled children and young people. For more information, contact Alison Cooper, telephone 01384 815813 E-mail: Alison.Cooper@dudley.gov.uk

Brit Trust Brit Trust supports a wide variety of charities that embody the Trusts guiding ethos "to encourage young people in the exploration and pursuit of educational, cultural or therapeutic benefits emanating from music.” Only registered charities can apply to the trust by completing the application form on the website. Trustees meet annually in September and all applications should be received by the trust no later than August for projects planned in the following year. See website: www.brittrust.co.uk/funding

Green Energy Trust Local community groups/not for profit organisations can apply for grants of up to £25,000 for the installation of renewable technologies (most projects receive around £10,000 for up to half the cost of the chosen renewable technology). Projects must have a strong community benefit and wider educational element. The Trust considers all kinds of renewable technologies including small-scale hydro, wind power, biomass, landfill gas, solar energy and ground source heat pumps. Trustee meets twice a year to consider applications (usually during the first week of April and October) and applications can be submitted at anytime. For more information, contact the secretary of the Trust: Tel: 0141 568 3492 E-mail: greenenergytrust@scottishpower.com Website: www.scottishpowergreentrust.co.uk/content

The aim of the fund is to address disadvantage in communities with priorities around homelessness, penal affairs, asylum seekers/refugees and young people aged 16-25. Applications invited at anytime via online form. For more information, contact the secretary of the Trust Rodney Hedley: Tel: 0207 603 1525 E-mail: hildencharity@hotmail.com Website: www.hildencharitablefund.org.uk/index.htm

The Hilden Charitable Fund

5

FUNDING

Society for the Assistance of Ladies in Reduced Circumstances (SALRC) The society is making available £100,000 this year for grants to organisations working for the benefit of women in financial need. Priority will be given to projects • supporting women who

are victims of domestic violence or

• increasing the take-up of State benefits by women.

Only registered charities with an annual turnover below £1M can apply. The closing date for receipt of applications is 31st July 2012. For more information, contact: Tel: 0300 3651886 E-mail: info@salrc.org.uk Website: www.salrc.org.uk/guide_to_grants_for_other_organi.htm

Founded by The Prince of Wales in 1996, In Kind Direct has been helping UK charities for over fifteen years. Last year organisations “saved” almost £4,000 each by accessing essential supplies through the In Kind Direct’s online catalogue where there are over 850 suppliers including many of the UK’s leading manufacturers and retailers who make a wide range of high quality products available. In total, £17M of products were accessed by the UK charitable sector. Organisations must register (for free) to take advantage of the service. For more information, contact: Tel: 020 7398 5510 E-mail: charities@inkinddirect.org Website: www.inkinddirect.org

Organisations can apply for funding to help children and young people in desperate need to make a positive contribution to their lives when their safety, health or development is at risk. Funding can be spent on necessities such as beds and bedding, cookers, fridges or washing machines. Buttle UK has an arrangement with Comet for white goods that are delivered directly to beneficiaries.

Applications invited at any time via Buttle UK's online application system and must be made through a statutory agency or voluntary organisation that is capable of assessing the needs of the child/young person, and that can also administer a grant on behalf of Buttle UK. For more information, contact: Tel: 020 7828 7311. E-mail: info@buttleuk.org Website: www.buttleuk.org/pages/grant-programmes.html

Go ON UK has been set up to help organisations become more digitally aware of the many options open to them as the voluntary and community sector continues to see funding cuts and rising demand for its services. As the need to understand and use digital technology becomes increasingly important it appears that ICT is the biggest skills gap in the

sector and a third of small/medium sized charities say they have nobody they trust to discuss IT needs with. The aim of Go ON UK is to raise awareness of the benefits of digital technology and putting in place practical steps so that organisations can make the best use of digital technologies. See website www.go-on-uk.org

6

VOLUNTEERING

Dudley’s new Mayor and Volunteering Champion, Cllr Melvyn Mottram, has launched Dudley’s annual search for star volunteers. Nominations for 2012 Dudley Volunteer Awards are open until 6th August. Individuals or groups are being encouraged to put forward the names of people who make a difference through community action in all sorts of ways: working with children & families; supporting health and wellbeing; sport volunteers and caring for the environment and community safety. Two special awards for a young volunteer of the year (under the age of 25) and a long service award, in memory of former Dudley CVS Chairman, Gordon Lindsay, are also on offer. Paid members of staff are not eligible. A presentation evening will be held in Brierley Hill Civic Hall in October. Mayor Mottram was joined by Eileen Fielding of Dudley Volunteer Centre, Mike Abrahams Chair of Dudley CVS and Doreen Collins, who scooped the 2011 long service award. Download nominations forms and poster via: www.dudleycvs.org.uk/latest-news/258-2012-dudley-volunteer-awards-launched-.html

There has been plenty to celebrate during the last few weeks and countless volunteers have been at the heart of local festivities! National Volunteers Week coincided with the Big Lunch and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee; lighting up many of our neighbourhoods with street parties and family fun events. Dudley CVS is pleased to have supported lots of local groups to host successful community activities. Dudley Association of Community Networks was assisted with an Awards for All application which led to a £10,000 grant. The funding paid for celebrations in community centres across the borough. Dudley CVS has also been supporting the East Coseley Big Local area, which is earmarked to receive £1 million in lottery funding. Local groups were delighted when The Eden Project offered the area £2,500 to host a Big Lunch. Members of the newly-formed East Coseley Community Forum organised seven community celebrations. For more information about Dudley CVS’s work in East Coseley and to see a gallery of photographs, visit: http://eastcoseleyvisions.wordpress.com/

Let the Party….Carry On……... If you still have a little bit of Jubilee energy left, there is chance to continue celebrating the Diamond Jubilee at Christ Church in Lye on the 13th July. Lye and Wollescote partnership, along with Lye Community Centre, are organising an event to which they are inviting people of all faiths, cultures, social backgrounds and communities to join in. The day also offers opportunities for local groups and statutory bodies to raise money for their own causes and showcase their work and services. There will be historical displays, celebratory gifts, art & craft workshops, themed music & entertainment plus diverse community stalls and multi cultural local food. If you would like to take advantage of taking a free community stall, contact Kathy Glazzard 01384 815618 / 07900 161526. E-mail: kath.glazzard@dudley.gov.uk

Time to Celebrate Dudley Volunteer Awards

7

NEWS

The Directory of Social Change has been researching grant making trusts for over 30 years. Recent research has discovered the following facts: 1. Only 8% of trusts will consider replacing lost statutory funding despite the ongoing funding cuts faced by organisations. 2. 90% of trusts report that successful new applicants were less than 50% as they appear to support the same applicants year-on-year. 3. Less than 10% of successful awards were made to new applicants. 4. 34% of trusts report an increase in applications received. 5. 74% of grants were under £5,000. 6. 14% of grants were above £10,000. 7. 32% of trusts do not accept unsolicited applications. 8. Many funders continue to receive ineligible applications - in excess of 90% of total applications. 9. Funders report that eligible applications stand 45.9% chance of getting funding. 10. In the last year 43 trusts received over 12,000 eligible applications totalling £16.8M but didn’t make a single grant. 11. 61 trusts received 6,797 eligible applications totalling £17.1M and funded every single one. See website:www.dsc.org.uk/PolicyandResearch/News/Thechanginglandscapeofgrantmakingtrusts?dm_i=6S7,S4XV,3SASLU,2A8FY,1

In a new pilot Awards for All scheme, organisations in the West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber regions will have the opportunity to apply for funding for projects running

repeat and on-going activities. Awards for All has traditionally funded new projects, but will be funding on-going activities on a trial basis in the West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber. This is in response to the pressures that smaller voluntary and community organisations are currently facing. To be eligible, applicants will have to have an income of less than (or equal to) £30,000 according to their latest accounts. Any applications received for repeat and on-going activities over this time period, and meeting the criteria above, will be assessed in the normal way. Awards for All expect the scheme to last for 6 months, but may end it earlier if demand is bigger than anticipated. For more information, please visit: www.awardsforall.org.uk/england/pilot-apply.html

The BT Community Web Kit offers an easy to build website for community groups. In just a few simple steps, you can have a web site to help promote your group. It's said to be straightforward to set-up and maintain. Best of all, it's free. Go to: www.btck.co.uk/Default.aspx

National Carers Week runs between the 18th and 23rd June. As part of a raising carer-awareness campaign, Sharon McGlynn, Dudley CVS Carers Co-coordinator at Russell’s Hall Hospital, has organised an art exhibition and information event at the hospital. Local artists and caring services have been working together on the project and artists have spent five weeks at Artspace, a Netherton based community arts project, producing works to exhibit at the hospital during Carers Week. Each of the pieces has been produced by people who care for a

relative or friend - some have never taken part in an art project before. Activities will take place at the Purple Health Hub in the Russell’s Hall Hospital main reception area between 9am and 7pm each weekday during Carers Week. Contact Sharon McGlynn on 01384 456111 ext 1568 for more information.

How can we help?

DUDLEY CVS works with all community and voluntary groups, however small or large the organisation. We work with a range of partners, putting us at the forefront of voluntary and community sector representation.

KEEP UP TO DATE Visit our website www.dudleycvs.org.uk to find out about new developments affecting the voluntary sector, locally and nationally. BECOME A MEMBER Membership is free to any voluntary and community organisation operating in Dudley. Sign up today and start enjoying a range of services and support. SOURCING FUNDING If your group is considering options for funding, Dudley CVS can help you identify sources of funding and assist in developing funding applications.

SPECIALIST HELP Dudley CVS offers support tailored to suit your specific needs. Our Core Service Officers have years of experience available to local organisations. Help is wide ranging and includes, among other services: community engagement; enterprise development; asset management; business planning; legal structures and conflict resolution. GROUP DEVELOPMENT Established larger organisations can sign up to our Building Blocks organisational development toolkit. New, emerging and developing small groups can receive expert one-to-one guidance through our Route Map programme.

CHILDREN’S SERVICES Dudley CVS has officers dedicated to the needs of children and young people, families and those organisations and professionals working with children in Dudley VOLUNTEERING Dudley CVS Volunteer Centre provides all the expertise that would-be volunteers and volunteer managers might need. Guidance and training on managing, legislation recruitment and retaining volunteers is available all year round. We can also match up those seeking to volunteer to those groups looking to recruit volunteers. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE With health services under review, our assigned support officers are in much demand by both services providers and service users.

PUBLICITY Our marketing and communications officers can help local groups to raise their profile and maximise their promotional needs. Advice on producing newsletters, leaflets promotional materials and media relations.

INTERFAITH Dudley CVS has a dedicated support officer to the Dudley Borough Interfaith Network which brings together Network members to develop greater understanding between faith communities. ADMIN SUPPORT Voluntary groups requiring ad hoc or regular support with learning basic computer skills, printing, mailings, book-keeping, payroll etc. can use Dudley CVS admin services at very competitive rates. CAN’T SEE WHAT YOU NEED? Call the number below.

For additional information about all CVS services contact: Telephone: 01384 573381 E-mail: admin@dudleycvs.org.uk