Standing Together (ST) coordinates the ground breaking coordinated community response to domestic abuse in West London. ST are co-founders, alongside Peabody and Gentoo, of the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) which was founded in 2014 to promote better practice, policy and research in relation to housing and domestic abuse. DAHA is made up of a small team of five who are supporting housing providers in the UK to acquire DAHA accreditation. We offer the Safe at Home domestic abuse course, bespoke training for housing providers. We are seeking an experienced and expert associate trainer(s) on a short-term contract (up to six months) to further develop our training offer to help meet an increase in demand for training courses and delivery. The associate trainer will design and develop new accessible and engaging training courses that includes producing all the content, activities and resources required for delivery by the DAHA team and our pool of associate trainers. Please see link for further details. Link
The 75th anniversary of VJ Day (Victory over Japan) will be recognised on 15th August 2020, commemorating the end of the Second World War. This year is a significant milestone, marking the 75th anniversary since the world woke up to peace. Alongside colleagues at the MoD and DCMS, we are going to be promoting the #NeverForgotten campaign, and we’d really appreciate your support! Get involved It would be great if you could support VJ Day 75 in the same way that you did recently for VE Day and Armed Forces Week by: Using your own social media channels to post relevant content, linked to the #NeverForgotten campaign. Issuing your own call-to-action, encouraging the public to share pictures and memories of their loved ones who served in the Far East and the Pacific, alongside the #NeverForgotten and #VJDay75 hashtags. Sharing content that is posted on Government channels, in particular @DefenceHQ Twitter and MoD Facebook. Tagging @HMGLondonSE and using our tracked link in all posts: https://bit.ly/VJDay75_se Click here to download the toolkit, and find a range of images to use on social media here. Share a case study Please let me know if you would like to submit a case study video from your organisation talking about VJ Day and the significance of the 75th anniversary. We would be delighted to share these in the same way that we did recently for Armed Forces Week, when we had some incredible stories from charity partners across the South East. And if you have any other questions or ideas about how you can support the campaign, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Kind regards, Michael Leafe Regional Campaign Manager Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet Office Communications michael.leafe@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Action Learning To complement our courses and as another offer to engage and support those working with communities, our Director, Wendy, has trained as an Action Learning Facilitator (another Lockdown activity!). We will also be hosting our first Community Development Action Learning Set starting in October. Action Learning is a unique way to tackle real problems or issues in order to get things done. Action Learning brings individuals together in small groups where they can explore issues around their direct experience and develop actions around them through the support and exploratory questions of a group. This will be for a group of 6 and is open for anyone who has a focus on community engagement or community development as part of their work. It is a very structured and facilitated process that has 5 key elements: Issue holders arrive at their own action points and insights about real life work challenges Value comes from hearing others talk through problems and identifying options Leadership, questioning, listening and decision making skills are developed Learning comes from the topics shared and from reflecting on the group process A facilitator guides, encourages and maintains the structure of the session and the focus on learning For those attending we will host 6 sessions and all members will get the opportunity to fully participate in being issue holders, helping colleagues explore questions, reflecting on learning etc. For more information and to book visit our website https://wsacommunity.co.uk/training/ or email hana@wsacommunity.co.uk. Our training programmes are based on our extensive experience, and we have worked to develop a range of courses for a wide variety of people who work with communities, including those in local authorities, housing associations, health and the voluntary sector organisations. We have the long experience of being part of the Community Works training partnership and bring much of that delivery to these courses. The courses will be running from September 2020 and we encourage you to book your places now! The one day courses will consist of two 2.5-hour sessions and there will be one hour’s pre-course work. They are all accredited through Continuous Professional Development and worth a 6-hour credit. The action learning will be over 6 three hours sessions with one session each month for six months. We look forward to seeing you at these workshops and hope our training offer will support the capacity and sharing of good practice across the sector.
1) Going to work Workplace guidance has been updated to reflect the Prime Minister’s statement (17 July), which highlighted that the government’s advice on going to work will change from 1 August. From this date, employers should ensure workplaces are safe whilst also enabling working from home In order to keep the virus under control, it is important that people work safely. Working from home remains one way to do this. However, the risk of transmission can be substantially reduced if COVID-19 secure guidelines are followed closely. Employers should consult with their employees to determine who, from the 1 August 2020, can come into the workplace safely taking account of a person’s use of public transport, childcare responsibilities, protected characteristics, and other individual circumstances. Extra consideration should be given to those people at higher risk. When it is decided that workers should come into their place of work then this will need to be reflected in the COVID-19 risk assessment and actions taken to manage the risks of transmission in line with this guidance. It is vital employers engage with workers to ensure they feel safe returning to work, and they should avoid forcing anyone into an unsafe workplace. Updated guidance for your sector can be found here: https://bit.ly/sectorsocialdist. 2) Face covering exemptions As per yesterday’s Employer Bulletin, from today (24 July), face coverings are mandatory in additional enclosed spaces. Exemptions to this include anyone under the age of 11, or those with disabilities, or hidden health conditions such as breathing difficulties, mental health conditions or autism. People are not required to prove they are exempt and it is for individuals to choose how they would want to communicate this to others. For those who would feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering, exemption cards are available to print or display on mobile phones – https://bit.ly/FCExemptionBadges. Full guidance on face coverings can be found here: https://bit.ly/FaceCoveringUpdatedGuidance. The attached guide provides advice on handling face covering exemptions in stores and branches. We ask that you consider taking the steps and use the language suggested in the guide if you see someone entering or inside a store not wearing a face covering. Please note charity organisations working with the government have been made aware of this too. 3) Update on travel corridors The government has today (24 July 2020) added Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia and St Vincent and the Grenadines to the list of travel corridors, after reviewing the latest risk assessments. The 5 new countries have been added to the current list of destinations from which passengers do not need to self-isolate when arriving in England. The changes, which will take effect in England from Tuesday 28 July 2020. Further details on the announcement can be found here: https://bit.ly/UpdateTravelCorridors. 4) Business events & conferences Business events, conferences and events centres will be given the go ahead to reopen on 1 October adhering to social distancing. A number of pilots will take place at event venues across the country to plan for a return to large-scale events and test how best to implement social distancing practises. Details of these pilots will be finalised in partnership with the sector in the coming weeks. New guidance, published by the Department for Digital Culture, Media and Sport and the Association of Event Organisers, will help event organisers, venue operators and participants in the UK understand how they can work and host business events and conferences and keep both their guests and staff safe. Full guidance can be found here: https://bit.ly/VisitorEconomyGuidance.
1) Updated face coverings guidance Face coverings must be worn in additional enclosed public spaces from 24 July in England, as the government takes further steps to help curb the spread of the virus. As well as shops and supermarkets, face coverings must be worn in banks, building societies and post offices. Under the new regulations laid yesterday (23 July), members of the public will need to wear face coverings – for example, a fabric covering, scarf or bandana – that covers the nose and mouth in additional enclosed public spaces, as well as frequent hand washing and careful social distancing. It will be compulsory to wear a face covering when buying food and drink to take away from cafes and shops. If you are in a premises where you are able to sit down and consume food or drink that you have bought, then you can remove your face covering in order to eat and drink on-site. Face coverings will not be mandatory for: anyone under the age of 11 those with disabilities or certain health conditions, such as respiratory or cognitive impairments that make it difficult for them to wear a face covering Anyone who doesn’t abide by the regulations – and is not exempt under one of the categories set out in the regulations – could face a fine by the police of up to £100, as is currently the case on public transport. Full details of the announcement can be found here: https://bit.ly/FaceCoveringUpdate Updated guidance on face coverings – including how to make your own – can be found here: https://bit.ly/FaceCoveringUpdatedGuidance 2) NHS Test & Trace service in the workplace The guidance on the NHS Test & Trace service for employers, businesses and workers has been updated this week. The update includes redrafting for clarity, a new section on collecting customer and visitor data for NHS Test & Trace has been added, and additional information on if a worker develops symptoms and orders a test. The updated guidance can be found here: https://bit.ly/TandTGuidance Assets for Test & Trace can be found here: https://bit.ly/PHEdigitalresources
Project Grants is open to anyone who needs funding for an arts, museums or libraries project that shows public benefit. We’ve updated our guidance so we can support more individuals and creative practitioners during Covid-19. Guidance We’re making sure individual applicants are well supported and, for now, you won’t need to provide 10% match funding to be eligible. We’re also more likely to fund activity that gives you the time to think, plan and test new ideas and we’re funding a wider range of museum and library activity. Find out about these changes and more on our website. What’s changed? If your question isn’t covered by any of the above, check out our FAQs before you get in touch. We may already have an answer for you! Read the FAQs >
The ACAA provides support, Skills and knowledge to help our communities live and prosper in the UK. The ACAA has started an ‘older people’s virtual social club’. This initiative will assist older people to use Zoom, FaceTime or other video conferencing technology to develop a befriending network supported by volunteers and to develop a peer support group for older people. English flyer Persian flyer
UK Parliament’s local outreach officers have today taken their community and youth group workshops online. Their sessions are designed to show groups in London how the House of Commons and House of Lords work, as well as offering first-hand expertise on how to influence decisions made in UK Parliament, get their voices heard and campaign for change. The workshops are hosted by expert outreach officer from Parliament’s Education and Engagement team and can be tailored to suit the individual needs of each group. There are a range of online workshops available throughout the rest of the year, suitable for a groups with different accessibility levels and experience in engaging with UK Parliament. On the launch of the online workshops, Parliament outreach officer Nichola Luke said: “I work with community groups across London, from Hillingdon to Bromley to Enfield and it’s been inspiring to meet a diverse and passionate range of people. “I am here to support you and your communities to discover more about UK Parliament and engage confidently on the issues that are important to you.” People, power, and UK Parliament: An introduction This 30 minute online workshop is packed with quizzes and activities. Designed for a minimum of 15 people, groups will get a full overview of how UK Parliament works for them, covering: How they can get their voices heard by MPs What the House of Lords does How MPs and Lords raise issues on their behalf Are you influential? Get your voice heard in UK Parliament This hour workshop is designed for a minimum of 10 people and has been created especially for those who have had some basic engagement with Parliament before. Attendees will develop a deeper understanding of how to raise the issues which mean the most to them, including: How they can take action What tools help influence debates, decisions and legislation How they can build relationships with MPs and Lords EMPOWER! For adults with learning disabilities This highly accessible session typically lasts 45 minutes and is full of activities and quizzes to promote engagement and encourage adults with learning difficulties to develop active citizenship skills for life. The session is designed for a minimum of 10 people, including carers and group leaders can also learn to deliver our specialist training to their organisations and communities. To check availability and book a session, please visit here. These online events will replace the face to face sessions held by the outreach officers in their local areas during the coronavirus outbreak.