Things we like and want to share with you
Ron the Dog
ViSTA Project
March Update 2010
Thank you to everybody who managed to attend The 1st Somerset Voluntary Sector Assembly - What's in Store for Somerset? It was a well attended, thought provoking day and notes, copies of the presentations and delegate lists will be forwarded to all who attended and available on our website shortly.
ViSTA Training
Our Summer Training Programme is now available and courses will be on the website shortly. If you do not receive your copy please let us know.
March Courses
Managing Performance, Capability and Conduct Issues.
Do you have concerns about how to tackle people problems?
This course will provide the tools to address potentially sensitive issues in a professional, legal and effective way.
When: Thursday 18th March. 9.30am - 12.30pm
Where: ViSTA Training Room, Langport
Cost: Free subject to eligibility through ViSTA/Capacity Builders Modernisation Programme.
Safeguarding Children and Young People
The aim of this course is to provide an introductory level of knowledge and understanding about child abuse and what to do if you suspect a child is being abused and to give a local and national perspective on safeguarding.
When: Monday 22nd March. 9.15am - 4.30pm
Where: ViSTA Training Room, Langport.
Cost: Free
This is the last chance to access funded Safeguarding training through ViSTA and CHYPPS.
Housing Benefit Explained
Our experienced Welfare Benefits trainer will help you to understand the basic rules which surround eligibility for Housing Benefit and when it may be refused. She will also cover calculations of/and payments which can be met by Housing Benefit.
When: Thursday 1st April. 9.30am - 3.30pm
Where: ViSTA Training Room, Langport
Cost: £98
Two FREE Capacity Builders advice surgeries with Nick Lunt, our Charities Finance Advisor as follows:
Gift Aid - Essential Information and Q&A
When: Wednesday 10th March. 9.30am - 12.30pm
Where: ViSTA Training Room, Langport.
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
This is a new legal form of incorporation which is designed specifically for charities. Information and Q&A.
When: Wednesday 10th March. 2pm - 5pm
Where: ViSTA Training Room, Langport.
Bookings for any of these courses can be made via our website http://www.vistaproject.org.uk/ or ring Laura: 08453 580372.
ViSTA Business Support
We can offer Free Human Resource and Financial Management Support for VCS organisations in Somerset - through ViSTA/Capacity Builders Modernisation Programme.
Health Checks
Consultancy
Advice Surgeries
Guidance & useful templates (HR)
For further information visit www.vistajobs.org.uk/management_support.asp
Other News
Apprenticeships in the Third Sector
ViSTA are holding a South West Seminar "Everything You Need to Know about Apprenticeships in the Third Sector".
When: Friday 19th March. 1pm - 2.45pm (including lunch)
Where: Compass Disability Services, Taunton
Cost: Free
- Find out about the benefits/challenges of employing young people and apprenticeships.
- Talk to an organisation who has experience of employing an apprentice
- Q&A
Postcards of your Past - Call for Volunteers
We know that older people have an abundance of stories to tell about their lives and the places where they grew up, and so much to share with younger people in our communities.
ViSTA and CHYPPS (The Children and Young People’s partnership in Somerset) are leading on a project which brings younger and older people together to share stories and provides a great route for people to share their history for the benefit of the younger generation and learn new skills.
We want to encourage people with memories from the 1930s to the 60s to bring along an object that highlights an event from their past (a medal, a household item, clothing, toy). The project team will give free training to the participants to help them record their story and produce and design a digital photograph and postcard from their past.
With help from ViSTA’s staff, the older participants will showcase their postcards and objects to children and young people at organised local community events in a similar style to the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.
The project is funded by Somerset County Council through the Department for Children, Schools and Families Intergenerational Demonstrator Programme. The project team can work with established community groups in Somerset or we can build up a group by recruiting individuals in local towns and villages. If you would like to know more or wish to become a volunteer please email the coordinator, Trevor Smith at trevor@vistaproject.org.uk or telephone on 0845 358 0372. Please note safeguarding procedures are in place for this project.
Vetting and Barring - All you need to know
Mendip Community Support is hosting a Home Office presentation on the new Vetting and Barring Scheme on 26th March at the Canalside Centre, Bridgwater. The event will run from 1.15pm - 4.15pm. Places are limited so pre-booking is essential.
If you wish to attend please email your details to: mcsupport@mbzonline.net by Friday 12th March.
Equality and Diversity Awareness Training
Compass Disability are holding an Equality and Diversity Training day on Thursday 29th April 2010, in Taunton. 9.30am - 4.30pm.
The cost is £90 per person and includes lunch, refreshments, handbook and certificates. For more information, please contact Michelle@compassdisability.org.uk
Direct Payment/Payroll and Banking Service from Compass Disability
Compass Disability Services are launching a new payroll and banking service for people employing their own personal assistants or carers in Somerset.
For the past four years Compass Disability Services have been running a payroll and banking service for users of direct payments in Wiltshire. Using this experience they are expanding these services and offering them to any disabled people in the South West who employ their own care or support staff
More information can be found here
Somerset Market Towns Forum - your local Towns support organisation.
Why not help your town by engaging with a network of local people, all involved in delivering projects in towns and large villages? Other Town organisations charge up to £318 a year for membership, and have no local presence or years of experience of regeneration in Somerset. Membership of SMTF is currently FREE and gives the following services and benefits:
- You receive regular Bulletins with the latest Somerset regeneration news, funding and training opportunities.
- Early notice of Network Events – these are quarterly knowledge-sharing and networking meetings around the County, looking at projects in towns and learning the lessons.
- Access to the SMTF website containing case studies, community plans and contact details.
- Use of the SMTF Information service – find the right people or info fast.
- Discounts on SMTF bespoke Training Courses – members at our ‘Funding your projects’ course on Saturday saved up to £25 against non-members!
- Free access to the regional Market Towns Conference.
- Somerset Market Towns Forum acts as a ‘voice’ for Market Towns and large villages in consultations and on Local Strategic Partnerships.
Contact Matt Day, Coordinator for more information. Matt@somersetrcc.org.uk
Tel 01458 252005.
Voluntary Values
Free Course to Help Smaller Firms Bid for Government Contracts
A free online public procurement course designed to help smaller organisations bid for the public sector contracts can be accessed here (Wired.gov.net website)
Compact Report on European Funding Highlights ESF Shortfalls
A new Compact report supports the key concerns of the Voluntary Value project:
- ‘Short timescales (generally four to six weeks), between the publication of the invitation to tender and the closing date, do not allow time to establish new partnerships or develop new programmes that would be necessary to meet the specification.’
- ‘DWP agreed that the tendering timetables for ESF contracts are shorter than ideal, and do not allow sufficient time for prime contractors to develop strong and reliable relationships with subcontractors, or vice versa.’
- LSC ‘considered that, generally, delivery works best when partnerships are established well before the bidding exercise’. The full report can be viewed here. (Opens tsen.org.uk website).
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The
Opportunity for VCOs who Benefit Older Workers
VCOs specialising in delivering employment and skills programmes to the 50+ age group have an excellent opportunity to promote themselves to ESF providers at a half-day seminar at Taunton Cricket Club, 9 March 2009, 10am to 1.30pm (followed by lunch). The seminar is organised by The Age and Employment Network (TAEN). It is aimed at improving the capacity for ESF providers to deliver to the 50+ age group, an area identified for improvement in the next round of commissioning. To book, go to: http://taen.org.uk/esf/events
Don't forget to check out the ViSTA website from time to time. We will list all our training courses, charitable events happening across the county and the latest news as we hear it.
The Welfare Benefits page is updated monthly with updates from our benefits trainer and also has the latest Benefit and Tax Credit rates for 2010 - 2011.
The fundraising page lists grants/trusts and foundations that are open for applications, along with the latest Funding alerts from Charities Information Bureau and South West Funding Advisers Network.
The VolResource Newsletter is also published on our website. This gives current news and information with a practical focus to help you:
- keep on top of relevant regulations, admin matters;
- be up-to-date with news around management issues, sector developments, government initiatives and other relevant items;
- find useful new and updated resources on the web;
Please forward this newsletter on to others who might be interested.
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Company no 6074763 , Registered Charity no 1119172,
The Town Hall, Bow Street, Langport, Somerset TA10 9QR Tel: 08453 580372 08453 580372 or 01458 259487 01458 259487
Email: Laura@vistaproject.org.uk Website: http://www.vistaproject.org.uk/ and http://www.vistajobs.org.uk/