,

Online Peer Support Sessions for Voluntary Sector Leaders from IVAR

We would like to offer you the chance to sign up to an online peer support session, offered by our partners at The Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR). You can sign up for your first session here – dates are currently available up to the end of June.

These 90 minute sessions, for up to 10 voluntary sector leaders at a time, will give you the opportunity to explore and discuss the challenges you are currently experiencing, precipitated by the COVID-19 outbreak. We understand that you may be facing huge stress and uncertainty, and hope that these sessions will offer a space to share experiences, dilemmas and worries.

One leader who has already taken part commented that: “It was really powerful to be part of one of these sessions … incredible to hear about the wide range of experiences and challenges faced by colleagues and to identify together commonality within that diversity.”

As a by-product of this work, IVAR will also feedback to funders the kinds of challenges that voluntary sector organisations are currently facing. This will help funders to think about what kind of support they need to be offering, and how.

If you are unable to attend, but would like to be kept informed about future dates please email vanessa@ivar.org.uk.

/by
,

Product Giving Alliance

In Kind Direct along with FareShare, Charity Digital and International Health Partners, have launched last Friday the Product Giving Alliance. In the last year (April 2019 – 2020), they estimate that together, the value of goods and services they have provided to charities supporting vulnerable people was worth more than £59m. Find out more.

/by
,

Coronavirus Community Support Fund

The long-awaited Coronavirus Community Support Fund, made up of £200m of the £750m promised by government 6 weeks ago, has finally launched. You can read DSC’s response to the launch and how to apply here, but get your skates on, applications need to be in as soon as possible! Find out more.

/by

Corporate Insolvency & Governance Bill

This new bill, passed yesterday, changes the rules around charities trading insolvently as a result of the current pandemic, and allows for online board meetings even if not expressly permitted by your constitution. If you’ve got an AGM or Board meeting coming up or your organisation is struggling financially, this is a really important read. Find out more.

/by
,

NHS H&F CCG Daily Bulletin to Increase Mental Health Awareness

Today we are highlighting the online resources that you can use to manage your mental health and wellbeing.

We know that people access information in different ways and want to ensure you have access to support that suits your needs and lifestyle.

Please browse the different online support resources below and try using one or two to improve your mental wellbeing. Please also share the ones you like with other colleagues.

If you haven’t already, please complete our kindness matters survey which ends tomorrow.

To read the bulletin on mental health awareness click here

/by
,

Open Age Virtual Activity Programme

Open Age have been continuing apace with our development of a remote offering that our members can access from the safety of their own homes. After testing for a two week period we launched a very basic programme of remote activities on Monday the 4th May and have been steadily building on this ever since.

Our “How to use Zoom” classes have proved to be a popular and effective way of ensuring our members are able to access this new tool. In these sessions we invite small groups to join a teleconference where they are talked though how to download Zoom to their device and how to set up an account. They are then sent a meeting invite and talked though how to join a meeting before the session moves to using Zoom itself, and members are given a short introduction to its various features.

Between 4th and 15th May we ran 33 of these session for 93 members. All those that took part are now able to access our remote activity offered via Zoom.

For the Open Age Virtual activity programme for next week please click here.

/by
,

Natwest Coronavirus Support: Clubs, Societies & Not-for-Profits

Natwest want to help community organisations access the support, funding and digital services that are available. Find out more.

/by
,

Your Voice Counts!

We want to hear about the treatment and care you received.

Whether you’ve had a positive experience or there is room for improvement, have your say on the Healthwatch Hammersmith and Fulham website today.

You can even leave feedback anonymously.

Flyer

/by
,

ValueYou – Free Discount Cards for Long Serving Volunteers

ValueYou is a charity which provides free discount cards to long serving volunteers who have volunteered over 100 hours within the past 12 months. The card is free and is a way of saying ‘Thank you’ to volunteers for their hard work.

The ValueYou initiative started in London, where it currently runs in eighteen Boroughs with more than 650 independent high street businesses taking part. There are a wide range of independent businesses offering discounts, such as cafes, hair & beauty salons, book stores and much more, which offer a minimum of 10% discount to cardholders, and several businesses that offer discounts of up to 25% off on online purchases.

Volunteers can use our online application forms if they volunteer for a registered charity, a hospital, school, library, parks service and some non-registered charitable organisations: To apply, you will need to provide the email address for the person that manages your volunteering to use the online application form. If you don’t have this email us at coordinator@valueyou.org .

Our initiative partners with local independent businesses who want to give by offering a discount to our volunteer members. Membership is free of charge, and our work helps to encourage people to shop locally and support small businesses. We first launched the scheme in Ealing in February 2014, and we’ve steadily been adding new areas to where our services are being offered.

For more information or to apply, visit www.valueyou.org or contact us on coordinator@valueyou.org .

/by
,

Self-Care for Chairs of Smaller Charities

In smaller charities, Chairs often take on multiple roles and have to balance competing priorities. The Association of Chairs has put together a handy list of hints and tips. Find out more.

/by