Limited budget for L&D? No problem! The Charity Learning Consortium have pulled together a guide to free, low cost and reduced price resources for learning practitioners working in the charity sector. Find out more.
We have seen, and anticipate further, increases in demand for DWP’s services due to the Covid-19 pandemic and we need to be able to serve more customers to provide them with the support they need.
To achieve this, we will look to:
- optimise the use of existing estate;
- other organisations and other government departments to provide space; as well as
- explore potential options for new, temporary premises in locations where we expect increased demand.
We can confirm that a new temporary site at 1 Hammersmith Broadway, London, W6 9DL has been identified as suitable space to open a temporary Jobcentre and accommodate experienced and newly recruited Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) Work Coaches to deliver services to our customers approximately three to four months after 24 February 2021.
Work Coaches working from all sites, including the new temporary sites, will be able to decide how best to engage with customers, and to choose the best and most appropriate channel. Work Coaches will use their knowledge of the customer and the local situation to decide whether or not this should be face-to-face, on the phone or online, bearing in mind the latest guidance on both social distancing and guidance on opening offices in line with the local Covid-19 alert levels. The safety of our colleagues and customers remains paramount.
Due to the economic impact of the pandemic, it is vitally important that the Department helps support both new and existing customers through these critical Work Coach roles. This will help ensure that our millions of customers receive the payments and help that they need and to ensure that we continue to support often the most vulnerable members of society.
Please let me know if you would like to discuss our plans. Anu Bilon, Service Leader Anu.bilon@dwp.gov.uk
The Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland have announced that the Social Entrepreneurs Programme has re-opened for applications. Grants of between £1,000 and £7,000 are available to help individuals with an interest in helping people or improving the environment develop the skills, strengths and networks necessary to start up and grow social enterprises, charities, and community projects. People with all abilities and from all backgrounds across the UK are invited to apply for the programme including those working in deprived areas, people of colour and from minoritised ethnic backgrounds, and people with disabilities. The programme is run in partnership with the School for Social Entrepreneurs, and jointly funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. The closing date for applications is 1pm on the 16th April 2021. Click here
AY Group Community Services CIC is a charitable organisation focused on serving and improving the lives of people in our community. When the UK went into Lockdown in March 2020, Shop and Donate was born. From the food donations we receive, we create food parcels which we send on to local elderly and vulnerable residents, NHS staff and other food banks who support thousands of people in need. Shop and Donate is also an online shop, where we sell a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables.
The proceeds from this go into sustaining and improving our growing services! Together with our sister organisation AY Group Community Services CIC we have been very successful in supporting disadvantaged individuals within our community and across London.
Click here to view our timetable
Click here for details on the Social Supermarket loyalty card
Following our Ethnicity and Maternity Care survey – which generated more than 300 responses – Chelsea and Westminster Maternity Voices is holding its first virtual listening event on:
Monday 22 March 2021 (next week) between 10.30 and 12 pm.
This initial event aims to capture the views of Asian and Black women. But, please note that we are keen to learn from the experiences of all service users who have recently used the Trust’s services. This is why we intend to organise subsequent events that will focus on understanding the perspectives of other groups of service users.
To register for this event, click here
Have you got the following skills & experience?
- A professional and friendly telephone manner
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email
- Capacity to deliver online: excellent knowledge of social media, video conferencing, online platforms
- Ability to work on own initiative
- Previous fundraising experience would be necessary
- Having innovative ideas and being able to think creatively
- Commitment to work in compliance with policies and procedures
- Working in a team and independently
- Working to an agreed deadline
- Presentation skills- Presenting to individuals and/or groups
- Comfortable with speaking to strangers and networking to help build our reach and community engagement
- Planning and facilitating community fundraising activities and events
- Able to follow Fundraising Regulator standards and fundraising best practice
- Able to understand and apply our risk management system
- Able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practice
- Able to keep organisational and people’s personal data safe, according to GDPR
Then HF Mencap need you! HF Mencap, is a local charity (affiliated with but not financial supported by Royal Mencap). They are looking for an volunteer to assist the charity to rebuild its revenue due to income losses relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Your role will help the charity, so it can continue to provide its vital services to meet the needs of its users, people with learning disabilities and/or autism and their families.
Interested applicants can contact Priyanka priyanka.kunwar@hfmencap.org or for more information click here.
Social Prescribing London launches on International Social Prescribing Day – 18 March 2021, commissioned by Greater London Authority to specifically support the VCSE sector to deliver on social prescribing.
It is aimed at London-based VCSE organisations and shares information to help them become more involved with social prescribing, including a toolkit, useful resources, and case studies from existing social prescribing services. There’s also support for social prescribing Link Workers with links into local services, and information for commissioners of social prescribing services to help them better understand the VCSE sector.
To find out more, visit https://socialprescribinglondon.uk
Charities and local community groups across the UK who are in need of financial assistance due to the coronavirus pandemic can apply for funding of up to £1,000 to continue their work during the crisis. The Arnold Clark Community Fund will award 500 grants through a monthly draw to help charities and community groups continue their important work which may be at risk due to the pandemic. Only one application will be accepted per organisation and entries must be received by 11.59pm on the last day of each month to be considered for that month. Applications that are unsuccessful one month will be kept in the draw for the following month. The final deadline for applications is the 31st May 2021. Click here
Boost Drinks has launched the Choose Now, Change Lives community grants scheme to help groups benefit their local area. The scheme is inviting charities, community groups, local authorities, health authorities, social housing, and other not-for-profit organisations to nominate themselves for a share of the £20,000 grant fund. This could include community sports clubs, community action groups, youth work, music groups and food banks, etc. Three organisations will be shortlisted to receive a grant of between £1,000 and £10,000. For this funding round nominations must be submitted by 11.59pm on the 9th May 2021. Click here
It’s great news that the government is expanding the workplace rapid testing programme for small businesses. Find out how you can start using the tests in your workplace. Read more
sobus
20 Dawes Road, London, SW6 7EN
Telephone 020 7952 1230
Email info@sobus.org.uk
Registered Charity No.1071089
and Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England No.03471416
Sobus is a new Community Development Agency for Hammersmith & Fulham. It has been created through the merger of the Community and Voluntary Sector Association Hammersmith & Fulham (CaVSA) and the Fulham Community Partnership Trust (FCPT). Building on the strengths of both organisations, sobus aims to provide a wider range of support services for local charities, community groups, social enterprises and start up businesses.