Cervical Screening Programme – Important News!

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme saves an estimated 5,000 lives every year in the UK and provides the best protection against cervical cancer. However uptake of this life-saving test is at a 19 year low and incidence of cervical cancer is worryingly high with nine women diagnosed with the disease every day in the UK.  The National Target for the uptake of cervical screening is 80%. In Hammersmith and Fulham CCG performance is currently 58%.

The target audience -In England, Northern Ireland and Wales and Scotland;

  • Women aged 25–49 invited every 3 years
  • Women aged 50–64 invited every 5 years

A report by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust was published in January of this year, which audited activities undertaken by local authorities and clinical commissioning groups, to increase cervical screening coverage in England. It made some key findings as follows:

  • Almost half (44%) of local authorities have not undertaken any activities to increase screening attendance in the last two years
  • Almost two thirds (60%) of CCGs have not undertaken any activities to increase screening attendance in the last two years
  • Of the local authorities and CCGs who reported undertaking no activity, many simply stated it is not their responsibility to do so
  • There are many local authority public health teams and CCGs working hard to increase screening coverage amongst their populations. However, inconsistency in activity is leading to a potential postcode lottery where lack of awareness could be putting lives at risk
  • Despite the need to improve screening accessibility, provision through sexual health services has dramatically fallen in some areas resulting in reduced access to potentially life-saving cervical screening.

Hammersmith & Fulham GP Federation together with the Royal Marsden Vanguard are launching a campaign to raise more awareness of this issue and to take practical steps to increase uptake. Could we ask that you share this information within your organisations and encourage women to go to their local GP and ask for a smear test. It

The link below is for the Jo’s Trust Website that provides useful information for professional and public audience

https://www.jostrust.org.uk

For further information contact – carolinedurack@nhs.net

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Code Consultation: Fundraising Platforms, Complaints Handling & TPS Assured

The Fundraising Regulator (FR) has launched a three-part consultation on the Code of Fundraising Practice that aims to improve standards in relation to online fundraising platforms, complaints handling and the TPS Assured Certification. This consultation has two separate timescales.

The first two parts (A and B) invite feedback on specific issues raised by the sector in relation to complaints handling and the TPS Assured Certification. The deadline for response on these is 28th February 2018.

Part C proposes to introduce a new section to the Code for online fundraising platforms and aims to ensure that these platforms provide adequate and clear good practice guidance to individuals setting up a fundraising page on their sites.

It also aims to ensure relevant platforms follow the legal requirements set out within the recently introduced Payment Services Regulation 2017. The deadline for response on fundraising platforms is 14th March 2018.

These changes come as a result of the engagement had between the Fundraising Regulator and many of the fundraising platforms, and with the Financial Conduct Authority, the statutory regulator for the Payment Services Directive.

All have recognised the need for regulation following a sharp rise in the use of fundraising platforms over the past few years by members of the public wanting to raise money for causes they care about.

The consultation document can be found here. Please send your response to consultations@fundraisingregulator.org.uk

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The Care Quality Commission: Consultation 3, Independent healthcare

Tell us your views on our proposals – we want to hear from anyone with an interest.

Today, we publish our plans to evolve regulation of independent healthcare services in England.

The proposals in this consultation document represent the evolution of our approach, rather than introducing new methods. It builds on our knowledge of independent healthcare services and our specialist expertise. It will enable a more targeted, responsive and collaborative approach, in line with our strategy.

CQC has been given the power to award ratings to some of these services for the first time. This is important for people who use services, as it will provide more transparency about the quality and safety of services provided by the independent healthcare sector.

Independent healthcare services include:

  • Community health services
  • Diagnostic imaging, dialysis services, and refractive eye surgery, termination of pregnancy services (laser eye surgery)
  • Hospices
  • Acute hospitals
  • Ambulances
  • Doctors and clinics
  • Mental health care
  • Substance misuse services
  • Online/digital services

We believe that we should take a consistent approach and regulate all services as far as possible in the same way, irrespective of the type of organisation they are or how they are funded.

We would like your views on our proposals to:

  • Rate independent healthcare services using our new powers.
  • Evolve our approach to regulating independent healthcare over time to be more focused, targeted and intelligence driven in line with our strategy.

Click here for further information and how to respond

If you have any questions about this consultation, please email us at nextphase@cqc.org.uk

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Charity Fundraiser: Screening of I, Daniel Blake

Shepherds Bush Families Project & Children’s Centre (SBFP&CC) is a local charity based in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.

On 7th February at the Vue Cinema in Westfield London the charity will be screening the award-winning film I, Daniel Blake in order to raise awareness of the plight of families who are homeless and those families and individuals struggling with the impact of universal credit. The two often go hand in hand and the impact of Universal Credit thresholds, payment waiting time and unfair sanctions can often lead to family homelessness.

The number of households living in temporary accommodation has risen by 11% over the past 3 years according to Shelter, with over 85 000 children living in temporary accommodation across London only. Families are often the hidden face of homelessness.

Homelessness isn’t only about sleeping rough on the streets. Housing insecurity and homelessness cover a wide range of situations. Many homeless people have a roof over their heads without having a proper home, because where they live is temporary, insecure, overcrowded, unsanitary or unsafe.

“At SBFP&CC we help families who have unmet housing needs and suffer social and economic hardship. We do this by working directly with infants, children and young people and their parents through a range of daytime activities, to meet their emotional and practical needs”, Tina Mayers, CEO.

Prior to the movie screening there will be a drinks reception where you will have the chance to find out more about SBFP&CC services over a glass of wine and canapés. For tickets, please check the charity’s eventbrite page as this takes you there immediately.

If you wish to support SBFP&CC further, you can purchase raffle tickets for as little as £1, with prizes such as vouchers from Belstaff, Westfield, Sainsburys, The Bush Theatre, K-West Hotel&Spa, Lacoste, Montblanc, Aspinal, Waitrose etc. To purchase a raffle ticket, or get more information about ways to support this vital work, please email info@sbfp.org or Beatrice@sbfp.org.

Location: Vue Cinema, Westfield London, Shepherds Bush, Ariel Way, London, W12 7GF

Date: Wednesday 7th February 2018

Time: 6:00pm – 10:00pm

Ticket price: £6

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Training, Workshops and more initiatives for small charities

About The FSI (The Foundation for Social Improvement)
Our aim is to support charities to become more efficient, effective, accountable and self sustaining. We do this by delivering expert knowledge, strategy and support to charities so their futures are secure and their users protected.

The FSI Monthly Newsletter is back with more great initiatives, including:

  • New speakers announced for our Skills Conference
  • Our three-day London training event has been launched
  • Our 18th Small Charity Index is released today
  • Fundraising qualification, bursaries and discounts
  • Saw this and thought of you opportunities
  • New funds for small charities
  • Dates for your diaries

To view the newsletter Click Here

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Get Started in Radio for 16-25 year olds

The Prince’s Trust & Media Trust have teamed up to offer a FREE one-week course

  • Receive training on the art of radio and podcasting
  • Based in the Media Suite at Queens Park Rangers Football Stadium
  • Learn how to technically devise, record, edit and present compelling radio shows and podcasts
  • Produce your own podcast in groups by the end of the week
  • Meet new people and improve your confidence, team work and time-management skills
  • Receive up to three months’ progression support from the Prince’s Trust to help you find further work or training
  • Travel and Lunch paid on programme

Taster Day: Tuesday 27 Feb 2018

Main Programme: 5 – 9 March 2018

Location: West London

How to Refer:

·        Use our Online Form (Please specify ‘RADIO’ in the ‘Which programme are they interested in?’ section)

·        Call our Customer service team on 0800 842 842

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Council awards extra funds to help Foodbank keep families out of crisis

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is providing extra support to the Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank (HFFB) to keep more families out of crisis.

The number of food parcels given to families visiting HFFB during 2017 was 9,430 – almost double the number handed out in 2016. Many people who visit the Foodbank also need support with a range of issues, including managing debt, paying bills, applying for benefits and avoiding being made homeless.

“The extra money from the council will fund important new research to identify the main needs of those visiting the service”, said Cllr Sue Fennimore, Deputy Leader of H&F Council.

In addition, the funds will help to cover the Foodbank’s growing running costs and the provision of essential supplies as the number of visitors continues to increase.

Needing help

The rise in the number of families needing help has been largely driven by the government roll-out of Universal Credit, forcing many to wait weeks without any money to pay for basic needs.

“The council’s special grant of £96,000 will ensure the Foodbank can continue to help everyone that comes through their doors, by being able to provide the right help at the right time”, said Cllr Fennimore.

“It is appalling that in this day and age families are being forced to make a decision between paying the bills or eating a proper meal.”

Welcomed

HFFB has welcomed the news of extra council funding which will be phased over a 15-month period.

“We want to ensure that everyone who comes to us is given the right help to get them back on their feet,” said Daphine Aikens, Chief Executive of HFFB.

“Our research project will look at what services our clients need in order to give them the best possible help and advice, and what additional support we can provide in partnership with other local advice organisations,” Daphine added.

How to help

HFFB is still in need of regular donations for food parcels.  You can help by donating any of the following items:

  • Tinned fruit and vegetables
  • Long life juice
  • UHT milk
  • Tinned rice pudding and other non-refrigerated desserts
  • Tinned meat
  • Pasta sauce in jars
  • Toiletries

You can find your closest donation point at H&F Foodbank’s website.

The Foodbank cannot accept any fresh produce. The Foodbank has three sites across the borough and provides other vital services, including two Citizen Advice Bureau advisers who are funded by H&F Council.

For more details, or if you would prefer to make a cash donation to the Foodbank, click here or call 020 7731 3693 or email: info@hammersmithfulham.foodbank.org.uk.

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CORC/Anna Freud Learning Network free eLearning

Child Outcomes Research Consortium (CORC) is the UK’s leading membership organisation that collects and uses evidence to improve children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. We hold data relating to mental health and wellbeing outcomes of more than 400,000 children and young people in the UK, representing the largest data set of this kind worldwide. For more information about CORC please go to http://www.corc.uk.net

In partnership with the Anna Freud Learning Network, we have recently developed a free eLearning module for children and young people’s mental health services staff, ‘Measuring mental wellbeing to improve the lives of children and young people.’ Suitable for voluntary sector staff, data managers, researchers, administrators and those working in schools, the 3rd sector was one of the sectors that we primarily wanted to target when developing the module. I was hoping that you could please disseminate this opportunity to your members in your next newsletter or bulletin? I’ve attached a graphic and also a text blurb below if preferred:

The Child Outcomes Research Consortium (CORC), in partnership with the Anna Freud Learning Network, has developed its first ever online eLearning module: ‘Measuring mental wellbeing to improve the lives of children and young people’

This eLearning aims to increase the awareness, understanding and confidence of non-specialist and school staff who support the wellbeing and mental health of children or young people to access the benefits associated with measuring mental wellbeing. This free interactive short course aims to demystify and simplify the whole process of using outcomes and feedback measures to monitor mental wellbeing and is laid out in six easy to follow parts:

  1. Understanding mental wellbeing
  2. Introduction to outcome measures
  3. The benefits of measuring mental wellbeing
  4. Selecting and using measures
  5. Best practice using measures
  6. Using and interpreting data

Outcome measurement has become a focus of funders, commissioners and policy makers, as a tangible and reliable way in which to assess the welfare of children and young people in the care of wellbeing services and schools. The process can also have important benefits for the children and young people themselves as well as for associated professionals, projects, interventions and services.

This course features engaging activities and quizzes to illustrate how staff can choose and use measures to monitor wellbeing and how to analyse wellbeing information to drive improvement and demonstrate effectiveness.

To access the eLearning module go to http://www.corc.uk.net/elearning/ for more information.

Danielle Antha

Projects and Membership Officer

Child Outcomes Research Consortium (CORC) | Jordan House, 47 Brunswick Place, London, N1 6EB | T: 020 7433 2981 | E: danielle.antha@annafreud.org | www.corc.uk.net

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White City Community Centre for Hire

At White City Community Centre we have a range of rooms for hire at competitive prices. They are ideal for meetings, conferences, AGMs, training and much more.

For more information Click Here or visit the website at: whitecityenterprise.co.uk

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West Brompton Crossing Community Space

Earls Court Partnership Limited, are delighted to bring to your attention a new community space called The Crossing that will be opening early this year as part of the launch of the final phase of the pop-up High Street at West Brompton Crossing.

The Crossing has been designed to be a great space for local organisations, charities and artists to use on a temporary basis, between 2 weeks and a month, to promote their work, project or business within the community.

The use of the space will be completely free of charge, with Earls Court Partnership Limited covering all utilities and wi-fi costs. We hope it will serve as a platform to raise awareness of some of the excellent local organisations and artists that are active in Earls Court. Please refer to the attached flyer for more information.

We are now reaching out to organisations that we hope may be interested in using the community space. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in a tenancy period at The Crossing or have any further questions about the space, please do not hesitate to get in touch with some more information about your organisation.

For more details regarding the space please email us with your name, email, address, phone number & information about your business:
communityshop@westbromptoncrossing.com

Click here for more information

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