West London Zone is a dynamic new project aiming to help 13,000 children and young people over the next 10 years to flourish in youth and adulthood. Inspired by the Harlem Children’s Zone in New York and President Obama’s Promise Neighbourhoods programme, we ensure that children and young people get the right specialist support they need – whether that’s academic assistance, mental health work, fitness projects or family support – and that their strengths and needs are properly tracked as they grow up. We are recruiting some Link Workers to help us achieve this ambition. You will work mostly in the community, helping the children and families to engage in their support and ensuring that the social sector organisations and the school or children’s centre are engaged in the WLZ model. Some time will be spent in the WLZ office, where you will report on how the children and families are progressing and how the wider community are engaging with the project. You will help to develop the WLZ model to take it from the current pilot to a scalable model. We need individuals who love applying themselves to thinking through new ways to fix problems and overcome challenges just as much as they love working directly with young people and families. For more information, and to apply please go to www.westlondonzone.org/careers
Would a homeshare scheme suit your parent? According to the UK Office of National Statistics the number of people aged 85 and over is projected to reach 3.5 million by 2035, 2.5 times larger than in 2010. If the population continues to age at this rate the number of elderly who’ll need support will increase significantly. Programmes are growing around the country to help older people enjoy some company and get help around the home by sharing their property with a younger person. What is the Homeshare scheme? The Homeshare scheme began to meet the growing need for support services for the elderly in the North London community, although it now covers the whole of London. Budget cuts have meant that the local authority has limited resources with which to support elderly members of the community who wish to remain independent in their own homes but don’t qualify for help from social services. With the current economic climate putting pressure on the incomes of both younger and older generations Novus London Carers´ Centre Consortium developed the Homeshare scheme to bring young people into the homes of older people to provide live-in support, in the form of companionship and household help, in exchange for a roof over their heads. How does the scheme work? If your parent starts to feel lonely or perhaps they feel vulnerable in their home, without anyone for company, they can contact Novus who will find a suitable homesharer for them. Your parent and the homesharer are introduced and their relationship progress is monitored to make sure that both parties enjoy the experience of living together. Who uses the scheme? Currently there are around 30 Homeshare matches across London (60 people involved in the programme) using the scheme. Novus is the only charity in London currently running such a programme. The aim is to widely promote the scheme so that more people to remain independent and in their own homes for longer. The majority of the Householders are older women living on their own. Our Homesharers have an average age of 30 (although there are no upper limits, we do have a couple of Homesharers in their 50s) and are all either working or studying in London How are homesharers selected? Everyone who applies to become a homesharer must first be interviewed at Novus as well as go through a reference and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) – previously known as CRB – check. We only introduce a person to your parent if we believe they will be a good match. We make sure that they have similar preferences to your parent so they have things in common when it comes to sharing a home together. Can my parent choose their homesharer? Your parent, and you, can choose who they share their home with. You can interview potential homesharers before they move in to make sure that they get on with your parent and are suitable to take on household tasks. What does a homesharer do for my parent? The homesharer commits to spending at least 10 hours a week with your parent to help them with domestic tasks such as cleaning, laundry or shopping etc. As they live in they also provide an added element of security and friendship for your parent. It’s important to highlight that our homesharers are not carers but they are genuine caring and responsible individuals who benefit from sharing a home with your parent as much as your parent benefits from living with them. What does my parent have to provide for their homesharer? Your parent needs to provide their homesharer with a bedroom and access to the rest of the facilities of the house. The idea is that they share the space which means time together watching television, in the kitchen, garden etc. Are there rules my parent needs to set? Your parent, and indeed yourself, can set ground rules with their homesharer from the very beginning. As each match up is unique – some people will need a quiet home environment, whilst others will want a more social environment – it’s important that your parent shares how their dayto-day life works with their homesharer so that they can agree on a convenient schedule for both of them. What if they don’t get on? Before a homesharer moves in we advise them on how to coordinate their life with your parent’s to ensure they spend time with each other and most importantly that they get on The first month your parent shares their home is always a trial period. We monitor our matches to make sure your parent is happy with the person who has moved in. If, for any reason, they don’t get on with them we try our best to rematch both your parent and their homesharer as soon as possible. What if the homesharer wants to move out? Whether you parent’s homesharer has decided to move on or your parent needs to replace them with a carer they will both need to give us a month’s notice. How much does it cost? In comparison with current home care agency prices, the Homeshare scheme could help to reduce the cost of supportive services for your parent by 80%. With the average home and live-in care providers charging £600-£700 a week for their services, the monthly fee of £130.00 for the Homeshare scheme is considerably cheaper. How is the money used? As the Homeshare scheme is self-funded and Novus relies on the £130 fee that your parent (or you) pay for the programme each month. This fee is allocated towards those working to monitor the matches, evaluate homesharers, visit service users as well as general administration and advertisement. Homeshare is run by Novus London Carers´ Centres Consortium a charity formed by Carers’ Centres across London. If you’re interested in the scheme and want to find out more you can contact Zakar Hussain on zakar.hussain@novus-homeshare.org.uk or visit www.novus–homeshare.org.uk
Action on Disability are running free training for people who employ their own personal assistants (PAs). The training will run monthly from: July 2016 until February 2017 at St Paul’s Centre in Hammersmith. We’re also running training for your PAs. This will be in the same venue and at the same time. The trainers are: Kelly Munn and Peter Gay, now working together as the Personalisation Partnership. When: 12.00 midday to 4.00 pm on each day 2016 July 19th, August 16th, September 22nd, October 18th, November 15th, December 15th 2017 January 17th, February 21st Where: St Paul’s Centre, Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, London, W6 9PJ Free lunch and refreshments will be provided at every session You just need to: Employ Your Own Personal Assistants (PA’s) Live in Hammersmith and Fulham Training for you as employers includes: The responsibilities of being an employer Safer recruitment Communication and managing your PA Getting the best deal for payroll, insurance and from care agencies Training for your PAs includes: The PA role & Independent Living Moving and transferring First Aid Insurance and pensions Career development ‘Out of Pocket Expenses’ We can pay you back for any reasonable expenses you have attending – please contact us about this.
Grants of between £500 – £5000 available for voluntary and community organisations serving residents of Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham. Applications must be for projects that support people to stop smoking and raise awareness of the harmful effects of smoking. Organisations can apply to deliver one or both of the following: Advice to residents to help them to successfully stop smoking Educational campaigns and activities to increase awareness about the harmful effects of smoking and where residents can get support to stop The deadline for submissions is Monday 1st August 2016. Projects can start as soon as funding is agreed in August 2016 and should be completed by 31 March 2017. Download guidance notes Download application pack
We seek to appoint a dynamic Project Coordinator with a proven track record in project development and partnership working with a strong understanding of the Coordinated Community Response (CCR). Standing Together coordinates the ground breaking multi-agency response to domestic abuse. Our work is recognised nationally and we continue to influence local and national policy and practice by initiating and driving innovative projects. Our key mission is to work with agencies within the CCR framework to provide safer options for survivors and their children, ensuring that their perspectives are at the centre of service planning and delivery. We also aim to improve the way agencies respond to perpetrators, in particular in holding them to account for their abuse. The role will focus on the coordination and development of projects related to health, children and young people in the Tri-Borough (Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea). This includes, but is not limited to, the delivery of training to improve services and responses to survivors and their children and coordinating the Operational Group comprising professionals from both the statutory and voluntary sector agencies. Salary: £30,537.00 (includes ILW) Location: West London Application packs are only available on our website www.standingtogether.org.uk CLOSING DATE FOR COMPLETED APPLICATIONS: 10am Monday 11th July 2016 For any queries, please email admin@standingtogether.org.uk or call the office on 020 8748 5717.
Community Champions Project Manager White City | London Salary: £27,500 (pro rata) Part Time Post – 3 days per week Fixed Term – To June 2019 White City Enterprise wishes to appoint a highly motivated individual with extensive experience of project and volunteer management. We have a longstanding history of developing and managing innovative volunteering projects which recruit members from local communities to participate in leading the delivery of initiatives to support their community in meeting identified needs. Our volunteer Champions will engage service users and residents to identify and respond to local health and wellbeing concerns; and will work alongside key services to help improve access, experience and effectiveness. Our project will help to promote access to the new Parkview Health Centre in W12. It will enhance service users’ experience by providing a welcoming and supportive face on arrival and signposting to services in the centre as needed. Champions will also apply their local knowledge to work with relevant partners to design and deliver targeted campaigns and activities to improve knowledge, awareness and behaviour change in specific areas of health and wellbeing. We are looking for a well-organised, motivated and enthusiastic individual for the Community Champions Project Manager post. You will bring to the role project management skills and experience, budget management and monitoring and reporting on delivery; preferably in health and wellbeing projects. You will have experience of coordinating volunteers and have the ability to engage and apply creative techniques for recruiting, motivating and supervising volunteers. You will possess excellent interpersonal skills, both with individuals and in group settings. You will be a confident communicator, applying positive communication skills to engage with diverse communities. With partnership working at the heart of our project, you would bring to the role an ability to foster and maintain positive working relationships with a wide range of organisations and professionals. You will be able to work in an ever changing environment, with an ability to work under pressure with minimum supervision. To receive an Application Pack, please contact Suzy Donald (Suzy@whitecityenterprise.org.uk or on 020 8811 2494). Please note only completed application forms will be accepted for this position. CVs will not be accepted as part of the application process. Closing date for applications: Wednesday 6th July 2016 (12:00pm) Interview date/s: Tuesday 12th July 2016 JD & Person Spec If you would like to have an informal chat about this position, please telephone Suzy Donald on 020 8811 2494
Thomas Pocklington Trust supports people across London who are living with sight loss. To enable vision impaired residents across Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster, Thomas Pocklington Trust has established a local working group;Central West London Vision (CWLVis). This group will increase thenumber of services available and will signpost you to support and activities across the three boroughs. As part of the work CWLVis will be doing, we aim to keep you informed of it by bringing you a newsletter each season. This newsletter is divided into three sections: help and support, out and about, and socialise and learn. On a quarterly basis we will compile a set of events you might like to take part in. If you want to try something new, develop an existing hobby or to keep up to date with what is going on in your borough, this newsletter is just the ticket. If you know of any activities, or have an article you would like to contribute, please send the details to leah.boylan@pocklington-trust.org.uk or phone07580 977 336. We will publish this every three months starting from May. The submission deadline will be the second week of the previous month. For example, the deadline for August will be 11 July 2016. Help and support Kensington and Chelsea Sensory Impairment Team–The Town Hall, Hornton Street, London, W8 7NX. Contact number: 020 7361 2968 Hammersmith and Fulham Sensory Impairment Team– H&F Advice, Ground Floor, 145 King Street, London, W6 9XY. Contact number: 0845 313 3935. Westminster Sensory Needs Services –64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP. Contact number: 020 7641 5426. Blindaid– An organisation offering support for vision impaired people across the three boroughs to include home visiting, supplying radio and audio equipment and a telephone befriending service. Please phone 0207403 6184 to find out more. Action for Blind People– The resource centre for London and the South East provides the opportunity for blind and partially sighted people to find out more about local services and to try out or buy specialist assistive equipment. It is not necessary to make an appointment but please call 020 7391 2151. Hammersmith and Fulham Action on Disability–A wide range of accessible services are delivered for members to include peer support, adisability forum and an employment service. To find out more, please telephone the team on 020 7471 8510 Action Disability Kensington and Chelsea-This organisation is run by disabled people in the borough and provides support to enabledisabled people to live independently and campaigns for an inclusive society. Activities include advice groups and an internet café. If you would like to see more of what they do, please contact 020 8960 8888 Dial-a Ride – This service is operated by Transport for London and is available for those who are disabled and unable to use public transport. To become a member please contact 0343 222 7777 to request an application form. Once approved you will be able to make bookings. Disabled Person’s Railcard–This card is for those who find travelling by train difficult because of their disability. It allows holders to receive 1/3 off standard and first class tickets for themselves and a friend. It costs £20 a year. If you would like to get in touch with the team please call:0345 601 0132 Healthwatch Central West London– This is an independent charity and membership organisation working to ensure your voice counts when it comes to shaping and improving local health and care services. If you would like to find out more, please contact 020 8968 7049. Citizen’s Advice Bureau.–There are branches in each of the three branches. Please find their contact details below: Kensington– 2 Acklam Road, W10 5QZ. Contact number: 0208962 3485 Chelsea–Old Town Hall, Kings Road, SW3 5EE. Contact number: 0844 826 9708. Hammersmith and Fulham–7 Northend Crescent, London, W14 8TG. Contact number: 020 73851322. Westminster–21a Conduit Place, W2 1HS. Contact number: 08444 771 611 Action Disability Kensington and Chelsea– An information and advice project is available to offer disability related help and support. For more information about ADKC, please call 020 8960 8888 Hammersmith Diabetes Group–This support group affiliated with Diabetes UK holds a support group on the second Wednesday afternoonof the month at the White City Community Centre at 1.30–3.30. If you would like to attend please call 07944 995 376 Fulham Diabetes Group–This educational groupgives members the opportunity to meet others with diabetes and share experiences of how to manage the condition. The meeting is held on the second Monday of each month at 6.00 pm–8.00 pm at the NHS Walk-in Centre on Parsons Green. The group is free and there is no obligation to return. Please phone 020 7736 0044. Out and about Westminster Abbey – A touch tour is available for visually impaired visitors in large print or Braille. Tours with a volunteer can be pre-bookedin advance. Please phone 020 7222 5152 for further details Victoria and Albert Museum – regularly host tours for people with avision impairment. The theme for March is Europe 1600–1815 and it will take place on 15 March. Please phone 020 7942 2000 for all enquiries. The Science Museum– Free audio described tours of the spirit collection are available on request. To find out more about these tours please contact 0870 870 4868 Metro Blind Sport–This London based charity aims to open doors to sport for blind and partially sighted people of all ages and sporting abilities. For further details about opportunities in your area please call 020 8255 7788 Hammersmith Community Garden Association– This local environmental charity manages several community gardens across theborough. They provide health and wellbeing projects and training schemes. If you would like to take part, please contact 07890 514 050. Socialise and learn Kensington and Chelsea talking newspaper-The local newspaper is recorded on a fortnightly basis onto audio tape for visually impaired and disabled people. For more information about how to be referred to the service please contact 020 7376 2245. Hammersmith and Fulham Open Age– A programme has been