page 1

COMMUNITY

February2010www.redbridgecvs.net

InsideWe are the champions p3

BASIS Programme p5

Photography in Redbridge p6

Getting Redbridge Connected p9

A website to “search” for 13

Funding p14-15

Communitya newsletter for the community and voluntary sector in Redbridge

RedbridgeCVS

At the NetworkNetwork Meeting Wednesday 3 February 2010

“Given its geographical location and close proximity to the sites of

the 2012 Games, Redbridge has significant opportunities to benefit

from a wide range of volunteering initiative linked to

several public agendas and 2012”

Heather O’ Meara, Chief Executive of

NHS Redbridge - Health for North East London

Consultation

Ross Diamond - The Volunteering Strategy for

Redbridge (More on page 7)

The Volunteering Strategy

for Redbridge

““Making the Most of Volunteering in Redbridge: A Strategy for 2009 - 2012” was formally launched at the Redbridge Strategic Partnership’s Assembly meeting on 9th December 2009. This strategy is the outcome of research which was undertaken earlier during 2009. The study was commissioned by London Borough of Redbridge and produced by RedbridgeCVS on behalf of Redbridge Strategic Partnership and we hope that the strategy will form the basis or the long term development of volunteering infrastructure in Redbridge.

The research showed that Redbridge was, alongside the City of London, the only part of London not to have a fully functioning Volunteer Centre. It also showed that London’s borough based Volunteer Centres each had, on average, an income of £192,000 per year.

Volunteering has been adopted by the Redbridge Strategic Partnership as a key Local Area Agreement (LAA) target. As a result, the figures that showed that 21.6% of Redbridge residents who said that they undertook formal and regular volunteering in 2008 have led to a local target to increase this future to 23% by the end of this year. 23% is, co-incidentally, the London average for volunteering.

The research showed that key stakeholders in Redbridge all said that the development of an effective Volunteer Centre is central to a coordinated and responsive volunteering infrastructure in the borough. The strategy highlights various ways that volunteering can make invaluable contributions to improving and enhancing life in Redbridge – and in delivering the aims of Redbridge’s Sustainable Communities Strategy and

many of its LAA targets, particularly those that relate to strengthening social cohesion and developing adult skills and employment opportunities.

The report is currently out for consultation until the end of March 2010, and it is available on and RedbridgeCVS’ website. It will also be available on Redbridge i‘s consultation portal by 8th February. (If you would like a printed copy, please contact RedbridgeCVS and we will be happy to send one to you). RedbridgeCVS would like to hear the views of voluntary and community organisations in Redbridge about the strategy and these exciting developments.

If you have comments, please send these by post or email to Ross Diamond at RedbridgeCVS (ross@redbridgecvs.net) by the end of March 2010.

(continued)

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NOVEMBER 2009

No access to the internet

You can use the computers in the RedbridgeCVS Library. Call our Reception Desk

on 020 8553 1004 to book an appointment.

Who’s who?The Community Newsletter is produced bi-monthly by RedbridgeCVS. This edition was produced by Arsim Canolli, RedbridgeCVS Information Manager .

Articles are compiled from a range of sources that come into the RedbridgeCVS office each day.

The next edition and future editions will be featuring more local stories.

If you would like to write an article or suggest a topic for coverage please contact the Editor, Arsim Canolli, on 020 8553 1004 or email him at arsim@redbridgecvs.net

Save a treeIf you want to do your bit to save the planet and save some trees in the process you might want to opt to receive this newsletter by email rather than as a printed version.

Just email info@redbridgecvs.net with the words community email in the subject line.

RedbridgeCVS16-20 Clements RoadIlford IG1 1BATelephone: 020 8553 1004Fax: 020 8911 9128Email: info@redbridgecvs.netWeb: www.redbridgecvs.net

There will be a screening of a short film ‘Domestic Violence: A View from Redbridge’ as well the latest police performance and Stop and Search figures.

T h e g r o u p , f u n d e d b y t h e Metropolitan Police Authority, meets quarterly to consider all aspects of Police and Community Safety within the London Borough of Redbridge. Anyone who lives or works in the borough is

welcome to attend.The meeting will take place from

7-9pm at RedbridgeCVS, Forest House, 16-20 Clements Road, Ilford. Please contact Liz Pearce by phoning 020 8553 1004 or email liz@redbridgecvs.net for more information.

Redbridge Police Community Engagement

Group (RPCEG) is holding its AGM on

Wednesday, 10 March, 2010.

(from the front page) The Volunteering Strategy in Redbridge Summary:

• Volunteering is a local LAAtarget (NI6) – 21.6% needs to rise to 23% in the Place Survey. • Redbridge is currentlyone

of only two London boroughs (alongside the City Of London) that does not have a fully active Volunteer Centre or similar agency. • Other borough VCs in

London benefit from an average of £192,000 of funding supporting a Volunteer Centre year on year. • There is solid basis upon

which to build and a number of high quality volunteering initiatives are in place or in development across the voluntary and public sector• Thereissignificantuntapped

potential for volunteering, particularly amongst hard to reach communities and at neighbouring level; in some aspects of volunteering demand for placements cannot be met and waiting lists of potential volunteers are operational

• The development of strong lead from Redbridge Strategic Partnership’s Public Service Board to drive the strategy forward and foresee its implementation• The strategy should be

underpinned by the development of a jointly agreed action plan • RedbridgeCVSshouldpress

forward and give priority to their plans to establish a fully functioning, sustainable Volunteer Centre for Redbridge • Thestrategyshowsthegreat

potential for significant increases in the numbers of people volunteering locally.• Local statutory agencies

should explore development of employer-supported volunteering schemes and actively promote the value of such schemes to employers across the borough. • Cross sectorpartnership to

fully engage in the opportunities of 2012

Key findings Key recommendations

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COMMUNITY

We Are The Champions RedbridgeCVS is delighted to announce that all 8 learners on the recent “Commu-nity Empowerment and Leadership” pro-gramme have passed this accredited (level 2) course. The course was the final stage of the LPSA-funded “Community Champions” programme, through which we sought to support new voices to become represent-atives of local communities and commu-nity organisations. The course was aimed at people who wished to represent their community with local service planners. It gave participants the skills to consult their communities, influence policy makers and understand the relevant policy con-texts in which local Councils, the NHS, the police, and other statutory bodies operate.

The course was taught over several weeks and included the following key compo-nents:

•UnderstandingLocalDemocracy•UnderstandingtheLocalPartnershipEn-vironment•MethodsofEngagement(includingwork-ing with groups that face particular barriers and difficulties and other related diversity issues)•RequirementsforEffectiveParticipation•IdentifyingCommunityNeeds•ResearchTechniques• Understanding Routes to Influence andCommunity Representation•WrittenandVerbalPresentationsThere were also sessions dedicated to un-derstanding the local and national con-texts for •HealthandSocialCare;PolicingandCom-munity Safety; Housing and Supporting People; Children and Young People; Leisure and Culture; Education and Skills; the Envi-ronment and Sustainability. The successful learners were:

•BushraTahir•EugeneMartin•HasmukhShah•HarlovleenLakra•JosephAdenuga•NisemaPatel•ValrieGittens•ZubedaQuddos

Certificates were distributed at a special ceremony on 2nd December 2009 at the Voluntary Sector Network Meeting held at RedbridgeCVS office. We would like to congratulate them all for their hard work – and hope that to-gether we can find ways for them to use their new skills and confidence to actively represent the concerns and interests of lo-cal communities’ to the people locally who make decisions affecting all our lives. Ross Diamond, RedbridgeCVS Chief Executive said: “I am delighted that every-one passed. As it was such a success we are planning to put in a funding bid to do something similar in 2010 as we need as many people as possible to be trained up to do this kind of work”. Each of the champions who were present made a short speech about the impact the course had on them.

(From left to right - Nisema Patel, Ross Diamond, Harloveen Lakra, Valrie Gittens)

“I became more aware of things happening in my local area and I have joined Seven Kings Poly-clinic Panel. Through courses such as this we can make chang-es for the better”.

Nisema Patel

“Following the course I now attend my Local Area Ward and I also represent the Chadwell Ward.”

Valrie Gittens

“I would like to thank RedbridgeCVS and the trainer (Ian Beever) as I have learned a lot about different areas and the Council. It has helped my work immensly at the Panjabi Centre.”

Harloveen Lakra

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NOVEMBER 2009

I have recently joined RedbridgeCVS as the Health Partnerships Officer. I have a social work and public health background and have been involved in forming and working with people’s organisations on various developmental issues in India. I have worked in a varied range of sectors like the voluntary, academic and research, and statutory. I have actively worked on issues such as poverty and associated problems like health, well-being and access to basic services amongst the urban and rural poor; rights of working children, young people and women.

My last job involved designing and managing of a community based health programme for self-employed women and their families. In addition, I was actively involved in capacity building of community health workers and outreach teams, networking and policy advocacy to ensure that access to health care is a basic human right for all. I strongly believe that people’s participation in health policy

planning and implementation increases accessibility of health programmes amongst the communities, especially marginalised communities.

My new role at RedbridgeCVS involves building effective partnerships between the voluntary sector and NHS Redbridge so that quality health services reach all those who need it.

I will also be involved in encouraging participation of the voluntary sector in health policy planning and implementation and ensure that NHS commissioners are informed about the services delivered by the voluntary sector and about the service needs of local people. I would be happy to visit your organisation or/and know about your experiences and suggestions about how health care services can be made more accessible for the Redbridge community. Please email me at swati@redbridgecvs.net or contact me on 0208 5149626.

Strengthening the health service in Redbridge

Swati Vyas

A new service provided by Tower Hamlets Law Centre

Have you been discriminated against whilst living in, working in or visiting Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham or Havering?

They provide free legal advice and representation to those discriminated against or harassed on any of the following grounds: race, sex, disability, religion, age or sexual orientation.

Fo r e x a m p l e , h av e y o u b e e n discriminated against at work on any of the above grounds by being:

• Dismissed;• Refused a job, promotion or

training; or• Subjectedtoanyotherdetriment

(eg. discipl inar y ac t ion, warning, demotion)?

They also provide advice to those who have been discriminated against in the provision of goods and services, by public authorities and in education.

For example, have you been refused goods and services (eg transport, leisure or finance) on the grounds of race, sex, disability, religion or sexual orientation?

Daytime appointments, telephone advice and fortnightly Monday evening advice session available. They also have a monthly outreach session in Havering and Barking and Dagenham.

Call Tower Hamlets Law Centre on 020 7247 8998 for details or to arrange an appointment with one of their solicitors. Further information from their website: www.thlc.co.uk or from Tower Hamlets Law Centre, 214 Whitechapel Law Centre, London, E1 1BJ

Do you need free

legal advice on

Discrimination Law?

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COMMUNITY

Maddy Edwards is the new Development Coach working with the 10 voluntary organisations that were successful in their application for the lottery funded BASIS Programme. Her first task has been to meet with the groups to conduct an Organisational Health Check which will form the baseline for her work with the groups over the coming year.

Her background is in the Telecoms Industry working as a Consultant Business Analyst, Facilitator, Trainer and Coach.

She is professionally certified as a Team and Leadership Coach. She will use her business and coaching skills for the benefit of the selected groups to enable them to build on the good work already in place and create the structures and processes necessary for their development and growth and sustainability well into the future.

She will be working closely with the RedbridgeCVS Training Manager, Trish Mossey, and the RedbridgeCVS Information Manager, Arsim Canolli to ensure a rounded ‘Third Sector’ approach. As part of the BASIS programme a second tranche of 10 groups will be selected in October 2010 and a third tranche in October 2011.

Contact Maddy on 020 8514 9920 or maddy@redbridgecvs.net

The Big Lottery BASIS programme at RedbridgeCVS is now well underway with the 10 groups selected for 2009/2010 by the RedbridgeChangeUpConsortium.

Organisational health checks will be completed by the time this is published and each group will have agreed an ‘outcome’ that they will work towards for their BASIS year. This programme demands commitment and time from the groups, but their investment in both will be rewarding.

The successful groups for 2009 / 2010 are :• HealthyLivingProjects,• AnxietyCare,• RedbridgeAsianMandel,• ForestFarmPeaceGarden,• AasraHealth&Welfare,• RedbridgeChildrenandYoung People’s Network, • UserLedOrganisation• PanjabiCentre• LeagueofBritishMuslims• RASCALS

The programme provides intensive and personalised support for each group. This will happen in a variety of ways but in particular through a training plan designed specifically to meet the current needs of each of the groups. To date, priority for training covering three areas

• Writing child-friendly fundingapplications;

• RiskManagement;• andDisability:Awareness,Equality

and Inclusion

have already been offered to the groups. Priority has also been given to trustees,

staf f and volunteers of those groups for attendance at an 8 week Business Management course (1 day per week) leading to a Level 2 accreditation.

Regular reviews will be held to help the

groups quickly address any barriers they meet and move on so that they can develop their aims during the year.

Although the successful groups are diverse in both their missions and their reasons for applying to be part of the BASIS programme, we will be encouraging them to network and share skills, experiences and resources wherever possible. We have set up a regular forum, ‘Connect’ where representatives of the groups (trustees, staff and volunteers) will have opportunities to meet and share information and ideas. Each ‘Connect’ forum will include a specialised workshop with an expert – in February we are inviting Phil Miller, Director of Teleos Training, to join us and impart his wisdom on ‘the impact of change’.

We will keep you updated with all that’s happening on the Basis programme and give you news of the groups’ progress but at this point we would just like to congratulate the successful teams and honour their acceptance of the challenges that they are undertaking. We wish them speedy progress!

The BASIS team, RedbridgeCVS:Maddy Edwards (Development Coach)

maddy@redbridgecvs.netTrish Mossey (Training Manager) trish@

redbridgecvs.netArsim Canolli (Information Manager)

arsim@redbridgecvs.net

Helping voluntarygroupsgrow

BASIS Programme 2009-2010

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NOVEMBER 2009

Woodford and Wanstead Photographic Society - Open for New Members

Woodford and Wanstead Photographic Society were founded in 1893 and are one of the oldest Photographic clubs in the UK.TheyareamemberoftheEastAnglianFederation and the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain.

The club is very friendly, and all ages and skills are welcome. Help will be given concerning photographic problems, and if they do not know the answers, they know whom to ask for advice.

They have equipment which members can borrow.

The annual programme of events included talks, monthly competitions, photographic outings and other opportunities to see the work of others and for you to exhibit in the local area.

The club meets fortnightly on Tuesday evening at 7:45pm for a prompt start at

8pm. The clubroom is called ‘Dulverton’ and is reached from the right hand side of Gordon Road, near Cambridge Park Road, Wanstead, E11.

T hey are lo ok ing for some new

members and for further information please contact the Chairman on 020 8989 0568 or look at club website http://www.woodfordandwansteadphotosoc.co.uk/

Skills Station is a voluntary organisation, set up to serve the community, especially charities and voluntary organisations and projects whether large or small, using computers to produce quality desktop publishing and layout. Working in partnership with probation, we have a team of volunteers willing to serve their community by helping you with your desktop publishing. The project offers to design leaflets, posters and letterheads and stationery for charitable use free of charge. Responsible for newsletters, sponsorship support and brochures for many fundraising events,

the project is staffed by unpaid work volunteers who will work for you free of charge. Whether it’s a fundraising mail-merge you need doing, sponsorship forms for an event you are planning or just general publicity in the form of flyers, advertisement design and/or tickets or whether you want a regular newsletter produced to your specifications. Give us a call. It’s free and we want to work to help your organisation. We can offer a collection and delivery service where possible and serve Redbridge, Newham, Waltham Forest,

Barking and Dagenham, and Havering. We may also be able to service you if you fall in the boroughs of Essex, Tower Hamlets and Hackney, please call for details.Telephone Angela 07985 208452

Photography in Redbridge - join the club!

FREE DESIGN SERVICEfor voluntary organisations

Angel of the

North

Photo by Gill

Hutchinson

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COMMUNITY

At the NETWORK

The next Network meeting takes place on Wednesday 3 february 2010 and the agenda is shaping up

as follows.

Health in North East London Consultation Heather O’Meara, Chief Executive ofNHS Redbridge, and Rael Gamsu,Deputy Director of Contracting- Healthfor North East London

The Volunteering Strategy for RedbridgeAn update from Ross Diamond

Future meetings of the Network — have your sayIf you would like to suggest topics for discussion at this or future Network meetings come along to the meeting or call Arsim on 020 8553 1004 or email him at arsim@redbridgecvs.net

If you have any access requirements please contact Arsim Canolli on 020 8553 1004 or email arsim@redbridgecvs.net

The next Network Meeting will be held at RedbridgeCVS, 5th Floor Forest House, 16-20 Clements Road,

Ilford IG1 1BA. Business starts at 1pm with lunch served from 12.30pm.

Future Network Meetings:

3 March 2009

7 April 2010

5 May 2010

Did you know that in our Community Library we have a book called“The Complete Guide to Creating and Managing New Projects for Voluntary Organisations”?This practical guide offers invaluable advice on how to create and manage effective voluntary sector projects. The new edition has been fully revised and updated to include new material on project management and monitoring and evaluation.

Areas covered include:• Developingandtestingideas• Buildingthecase• Fundraisingstrategies• Projectdesign• Legalstructure• Staffingandmanagement• Measuringperformance• Closingdown

The guide is suitable for use within existing organisations or for independent projects, shows ways of tackling common problems and includes case studies, checklists and examples throughout.

RedbridgeCVS has a well-stocked Community Library on a range of subject matter related to voluntary activity. Give us a call on 020 8553 1004 if you want to book a session to use the library..

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NOVEMBER 2009

Darren from Drugsline is running the London Marathon!

Drugsline is a Charity that offers various support services for children in schools such as; educating the children, a free phone support line, one-to-one counsel-ling and support for those that have been affected by their own or other people’s addiction. Darren has been a part of this organisation for over 7 years. As a former addict Darren knows the dangers and consequences of drug ad-diction. He has made it clear that with-out the help that addiction organisations (such as Drugsline) offer to people such as himself, he wouldn’t be where he is to-day. He has been clean for 11 years and his 7 years spent with Drugsline has allowed him to deliver education that he feels is vital to the ongoing battle against drug addiction.

Darren would like you to sponsor him so that Drugsline can continue to offer people help, therefore enabling them to make a better life for themselves and people around them.

You can donate online by clicking the follow-ing link: www.justgiving.com/darren-gold

The Prince's Trust is the country’s leading youth charity, helping young people who have struggled at school, are care-leavers, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. In Redbridge alone The Prince's Trust helped 56 new young people last year, with three in four of them going on to work, education or training.

The charity’s success is dependent on the strength of its partnerships, working with a range of organisations to reach and support those who need it most. In Redbridge, The Trust works with Havering and Redbridge Business Education Partnership to deliver the Team programme, a 12-week personal development course. The Trust’s programme runs in Redbridge from The Constance Bridgeman Centre Pupil Referral Unit,offering an alternative curriculum for 14 to 16-year-olds who are at risk of truanting, exclusion and underachievement.

Young people from Redbridge can access a range of Prince’s Trust Get Into programmes, short intensive training schemes which give young people experience in specific sectors. The Trust runs a range of these programmes throughout London. The Prince's Trust also supports young people from Redbridge in other ways, offering Development Awards and Community Cash Awards, small grants to enable young people to access education, training or work or to set up a project that will benefit their community.

Kulmiye Warsama from Redbridgecompleted The Trust’s Get into Business programme in August. He had left school at 16 without any GCSEs and was going through a difficult time before he came to The Prince's Trust. He was having problems with housing and was homeless for while, losing confidence in himself and his abilities.

The three-week Prince’s Trust course gave him essential skills including marketing, taxes and the legalities of setting in business. Kulmiye is nowworking and laying theground work to start his own recruitment company this year. He said: “The Trust not only gave me a great deal of respect for the details of business but helped me get back my confidence and motivation. I have a stable living environment and am much happier in my life.”

TohelppeoplelikeKulmiyeThePrince’sTrust relies on its partnerships and is keen to work in partnership with local organisations. For further information or to have a representative speak at local meetings about The Prince's Trust in London please ring 0207 543 1234.

The Prince’s Trust in RedbridgeYoung people from Redbridge can access a range of Prince’s Trust Get Into programmes, short intensive training schemes which give young people experience in specific sectors

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COMMUNITY

Redbridge i Getting Redbridge Connected

Tell us your views on:

Redbridge i is an award winning website with many local features for Redbridge community groups and residents.

Hosted by the council, it is a great way for the local community to find out what’s on, where to get involved and stay up to date.

The My Neighbourhood tools on Redbridge i are very easy to use and have both community groups and Redbridge residents in mind.

There are lots of different ways to be part of the community online.

Ask My Neighbour - Got a question you’d like answered? Why not ask your neighbours and select the best answer to share with others in your community.

Events - Find out what’s on where you live. Set a reminder to alert you when an event is happening. Or, add your own community event to share with others.

Pledges - Do something positive in your community. Make or sign up to a pledge and encourage others to help you succeed.

Local News - Get the latest news from your neighbourhood. Or submit your own community news to share with your neighbours.

Have your say - In our ultra-local forums, and discuss neighbourhood issues with your local community.

Forums- Sign in to Neighbourhood Matters, an ultra-local forum, and discuss neighbourhood issues with your local community. Or have your say on borough-wide discussion forums and tell the community what you think.

If you would like further information, please email nisa@redbridgecvs.net or go to www.redbridge.gov.uk .

Get involved as a volunteer London 2012

London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will depend on up to 70,000 volunteers to make sure the Games run smoothly and successfully. Volunteers will be given training to make sure London 2012 volunteers’ skills are of the highest standard. London 2012 is an opportunity to inspire everyone to develop their interests. It could also be a once in a lifetime experience.

Volunteers will carry out a range of essential tasks, from spectator services to

language services and medical care.The London Organising Committee

of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) will be launching the Volunteering Programme early in 2010. LOCOG are looking for some 4000 disabled people to volunteer at the Games. This initiative is supported by Jonathan Shaw MP, Minister for Disabled People and Minister for the South East.

It is hoped that the involvement of disabled people as volunteers, spectators

Volunteers will carry out a range of essential tasks, from spectator services to language services and medical care.

and Game players will help to change society’s attitudes towards disabled people and show that they are just as capable as non-disabled people.

You can register your interest to be a volunteer and receive email updates by visiting www.london-2012.co.uk/London-2012-Volunteer/.

We will of course keep you updated as more news come in.

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NOVEMBER 2009

Keep Fit and Agile

Latchett Evangelical Church

Every Tuesday morning, during school term time, from 9:30am. Our Mums ‘n’ Tots Group meets every Tuesday morning, during school term time, from 9:30am. We are pleased to welcome you as a parent or child minder, with children of pre-playgroup age and would remind you of your responsibility for the safety and care of your children whilst on our premises. Each morning the Group concludes with a music time and sharing of a Bible story with the children. All our Young People’s Workers are CBR checked.

Brian Henderson07816 408452

latchettnews@ntlworld.com

Latchett Church, Latchett Road, South Woodford, E18 1DL There is a small charge to cover the cost of refreshments and other overheads.

Enter The Charity Awards 2010, the voluntary sector’s premier awards programme at www.charityawards.co.uk. The deadline for entries is Friday 12 March 2010.

Success at The Charity Awards boosts staff morale, enhances your influence, helps funding applications and is a superb opportunity to raise your profile. With such impressive benefits, the effort of entering is repaid many times over!Entry to The Charity Awards 2010 is free to allcharitiesthroughouttheUK.Visitwww.charityawards.co.uk to download your entry form.

Latchet Mums‘n’ Tots Group

St. Andrews Table Tennis Club

With all the emphasis these days from health experts concerning our needs for exercise come and join our club for a game that is suitable for over 55’s. It is a very friendly and enjoyable club and we are looking for a few extra members. It is held in the Wilson room, St Andrews Church, situated at the junction of The Drive and St Andrews Road, Ilford. Bus services pass the door and there is street parking. Table Tennis is held on a weekly basis on Wednesdays from 2.30 – 5.30pm. All the equipment is supplied and you can come along no matter your skill level. Charges are very reasonable: £1.50 per session which includes refreshments. For further information please call 0208 554 4721

The Big Issue for Roma: Exclusion or Engagement?

A conference to explore best practice in public service provision by and for the Roma refugee and migrant community

Venue: Stratford Town HallDate: 25 February 2010

The Roma Support Group would like to invite you to a full day conference. The Roma Support Group have been working with the Roma community since 1998 and would like to share their models of good practice and explore the Roma community’s role in shaping and delivering services. This event is supported by the London Empowerment Partnership. The event is free, and booking is required by 01/02/2010. To book a place, or for more information, please contact dada@romasupportgroup.org.uk

Personal Best is a training and volunteer programme for people who are not in work and have missed out on formal education. Participants gain a recognised level 1 Award and gain experience in volunteering. Over 1900 people have completed the Personal Best Programme across London – more than anything else, they find that it builds their confidence and lifts self esteem, to take further steps towards work, further training and new volunteering opportunities.

The programme is delivered locally across London. Participants’ benefits are not affected, and travel and childcare costs are covered. Trainees are supported by a dedicated Personal Best Adviser throughout the course, and for six months after they have completed the programme.

For more information, see the Personal Best website at www.personalbestprogramme.co.uk. Voluntary organisations interested in Personal Best should ring Colin Wilson, the Third Sector Coordinator, at Greater London Volunteering, Blackfriars Foundry, 156 Blackfriars Road London SE1 8EN.

Community Healthcare Innovation CIC is starting a youth club for young people living in and around Woodford. They will be providing a number of positive activities including badminton, volleyball, table tennis, snooker, café and tuck shop, arts and crafts, big screen gaming, computers and many more activities. This is initially a monthly club operating alternately at Latchett Church and Valley Hall, Valley Hill, Loughton.

The club will start on Saturday 6th February from 7pm to 9pm. For further details please contact Stephanie O’Leary on Stephanie@healthinnovate.co.uk or alternatively you can go to their website www.healthinnovate.co.uk for more information.

Cost: Money for food and some items of craft will be required.

Personal Best

Charity Awards

Youth Club inWoodford

page 11

COMMUNITY

We still have places available for the new FREE National Certificate in Business Level2Qualification.

Who is the programme for?

If you run or work for an organisation or plan to start one, then this programme is for you!

The objective of this programme is to prov ide business owners ,

managers, staff, directors, trustees, management committee members and volunteers with the knowledge and confidence to plan and run an organisation/business effectively. This includes gaining competence and ability in research, planning, creating and understanding budgets and forecasts, as well as presentation skills and organising information.

This is an accredited course which

Redbridge Institute of Adult Education (RIAE) has won a major contract to deliver free training in Redbridge and neighbouring boroughs to small and medium-sized businesses, social enterprises and the self-employed. The Train to Gain contract is funded by the European Social Fund and the Learning and Skills Council.

RIAE is working in partnership with four voluntary sector organisations on the project, which is called Get Training! The partners - Barnabas Workshops, Sacoma, Ellingham Employment Services and Bromley by Bow Centre – will help RIAE to deliver training in-house or on employers’ premises.

Joni Cunningham, RIAE Head of Service, said: “This funding means we can offer 350 employees free places on a wide range of high quality courses and help businesses and voluntary organisations to address skills shortages.

“Research has shown that Investing in Skills can bring great benefits to employers in terms of staff motivation and efficiency.”

The training on offer, all of which will lead to recognised qualifications, includes:

• Advice&Guidance• BusinessAdministration• CustomerServices• RetailSkills

• IT• ChildCare• Health&SocialCare• ComplimentaryTherapies• Exercise&FitnessInstructing• EnglishandMaths• ESOL

Employees may qualify for free training even if they only work for eight hours a week. For further details of eligibility and courses, contact RIAE’s Get Training! co-ordinator Marilyn Sandy on 020 8550 2398; email: marilyn.sandy@redbridge-iae.ac.uk.

will be running on 1 day per week for 8 Mondaysandwouldbenefittrustees&staff (including volunteers) not just from the organisation’s perspective but for also developing individuals.

For eligibility criteria and for more information please call Trish on 020 8514 9611 or email trish@redbridgecvs.net

Start – Develop - Grow and Sustain your Organisation or Business ……today!

Funding success means hundreds of FREE courses for workers

The Get Training! Partners (left to right): Linda Bailey (Ellingham Employment Services), Manda

Simmons (Bromley by Bow Centre), Joni Cunningham (Head of Service, RIAE), Omar Bakari (Sacoma),

Bernadette Benn (Barnabas Workshops), Mohammed Rahman (RIAE).

page 12

NOVEMBER 2009

is Given a Warm Welcome Fit 4 Fun

A group of homeless people have found the perfect way to unwind and keep healthy with free Tai Chi classes.

T h e y re cent l y to o k p ar t in t h e RedbridgeCVS-coordinated Fit for Fun scheme, which offers community groups grants of up £750 to help likeminded people hold their own exercise sessions and adopt a healthier lifestyle.

The classes took place at the Welcome Project, on Cleveland Road, which assists the homeless, socially isolated and vulnerably housed.

Manager Sonia Lynch said: “Our service users are homeless or live in short term sheltered accommodation. They have very little to occupy their time so taking part in Tai Chi sessions has helped them to relax and focus on something that they enjoy and keep fit at the same time.”

Any community groups - formal or informal - can apply for the Fit for Fun programme which aims to encourage small

groups of people to exercise together on a regular basis at a time and venue that best suits their needs.

Around 70 groups have now received funding for the 20 hours-worth of free classes in a fitness activity of their choice.

The Welcome Project Tai Chi sessions proved popular with adults of all ages, from those in their early twenties to right through to those in their seventies.

Instructor Phillip Shields, who teaches the ‘soft martial art’, said: “All of the participants found the sessions to be of immense benefit to their overall well-being. The sessions were accompanied by soft, relaxing music. This, combined with the gentle movements, provided a very soothing antidote to the stresses and pressures of their daily lives.”

Christopher, 40, attended the classes. He said: “I don’t see it as an exercise but as a meditation; it helps me feel the inner side of me and my body.”

Seventy three-year-old Elizabeth added: “I like Tai Chi because it is slow moving. It is something to do otherwise I would be sleeping until afternoon.”

If you are part of a group, or know a group of people who would enjoy exercising together in Redbridge please contact Tracy Andrews, Fit for Fun Coordinator at RedbridgeCVS, on 020 8514 9618 or e-mail Tracy@redbridgecvs.net.

Keeping healthy with free Tai Chi classes.

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COMMUNITY

A WEBSITE TO “SEARCH” FOR

Since its launch on June 2009, the newly developed RedbridgeCVS website has made a big impact. A free website for the whole of the voluntary and community sector in Redbridge that provides access to funding opportunities, directory of groups in Redbridge, practical development tools, voluntary sector jobs, directory of venues in Redbridge plus a wealth of other tools and resources, it has already established itself as a one-stop shop for the voluntary and community sector in Redbridge.

There has been a growing interest in the website. To date, RedbridgeCVS website has experienced more than half million hits.

RedbridgeCVS website contains a vast array of useful, relevant and topical information - from news and events listing to factsheets and toolkits. The website is updated on daily basis and every Friday we send an eNews to remind our subscribers of the new content.

Visitors have the option to register on the website and subscribe to the weekly enews. They can also send us an email with the subject “subscribe to eNews”. We currently have more than 800 eNews subscribers.

We are happy to show you some of the webstatistics since the launch of the website:

• Wehaveover 30 venues advertisedwhich have had nearly 500 hits.

• We have advertised over 40 jobvacancies which have collectively had nearly 1000 hits.

• Wehaveadvertisedover50FundingOpportunities which have had nearly 1000 hits.

• Wehave advertisedmore than300events which have had nearly 15,000 hits.

• Wehave advertisedover 250newsitems which have received nearly 20,000 hits.

RedbridgeCVS website is growing to become a useful hub of information relevant to the voluntary and community sector in Redbridge. Please visit us at www.redbridgecvs.net

WWW.REDBRIDGECVS.NET

Community Newsletter

We are very keen to find out about your organisation’s projects and activities, outcomes and impact. We would be very happy to publish articles about the work you do in Redbridge. The Community Newsletter is a newsletter for the voluntary and community sector in Redbridge. It’s your newsletter. We would like to hear your story: how are you coping with recession? What measures are you taking to ensure that you get the support provided by supporting organisations? If you want your organisation, project, activities and so on to appear on this newsletter please contact the editor at arsim@redbridgecvs.net or on 020 8553 1004 With this issue of the Community we have included a questionnaire which we would like you to complete and send it to us so we can update our database to help us keep in touch with you and provide you with the support you need.

page 14

NOVEMBER 2009

Fundingtargeting young people and family learning. Call the helpline on 0845 275 0000 or visit http://www2.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_reaching_communities?regioncode=-uk

THE TUDOR TRUST

The Tudor Trust makes grants in the following priority areas: youth, older people, community, relationships, housing, mental health, substance misuse, learning, financial security and criminal justice. The Trust aims to support smaller community, voluntary and charitable organisations for up to three years. Applications can be submitted at any time. For more information visit http://www.tudortrust.org.uk/

AWARDS FOR ALL ARE NOW EASIER TO APPLY TO!

In response to consultation and feedback, Awards for All have now made their application form and guidance notes clearer and also introduced a new guide to help groups during the application process. In addition, the application form will no longer ask for referee details. The requirement has not been removed all together as they may ask some groups once their application has been looked at, but it will make applying quicker and easier in the first instance. For more information visit http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/england/

THE HERITAGE lOTTERY FUND

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced that the next closing date for applications to the Parks for People programme is the 1st March 2010. Launched

originally as a joint initiative with the Big Lottery Fund full responsibility for the programme has now passed to the Heritage Lottery Fund Local Authorities as well as not for profit organisations that own public parks and gardens can apply for grants of between £250,000 and £5 million for the regeneration of parks and public gardens (including squares, walks and promenades).

Applicants will need to raise at least 30 % of the project costs from their own sources and partnership funding, either as cash or non-cash contributions. The ‘Parks for People’ programme has a two-stage application process. If a Stage One Pass is awarded, applicants can submit a Stage 2 application. Recent awards include a £1.84 million grant to restore Castle Park in Fordsham, Cheshire back to its original historic landscape and to improve sports facilities, the play area, and cafe and kiosk facilities and a £3.5million grant to restore the historic landscaping and buildings, upgrading footpaths, entrances, furniture and signage of Brockwell Park which is located between Brixton, Norwood and Dulwich.

http://www.hlf.org.uk/

THE TESCO CHARITY TRUST COMMUNITY AWARDS

The Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards Scheme provides one-off donations of between £1,000 and £4,000 to local projects that support children and their education and welfare, elderly people and adults and children with disabilities.

GRANTS FOR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION AND CHILDREN’S WELFAREApplications should be made between: 1st December&31stJanuary.Expected Decision date: End of April OR between1stMay&30thJunefordecisions

For regular news of funding

opportunities check the

weekly RedbridgeCVS

eNews.

If you do not currently

receive eNews and would

like to subscribe send an

email to info@redbridgecvs.

net with the word ENEWS in

the subject line.

BBC CHILDREN IN NEED

BBC Children in Need give grants for projects delivered by organisations working with disadvantaged children and young people of 18 and under. Disadvantaged includes:• Illness,distress,abuseorneglect• Disability• Behavioural or psychologicaldifficulties• Livinginpovertyordeprivation.Email pudsey@bbc.co.uk or call the helpdesk Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 020 8576 7788. The next application deadline date is 15 April 2010. Please note that all applications must be filled in online only. Full guidance and application forms are available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants/apply.shtml

BIG - REACHING COMMUNITIES

BIG Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme will remain open until their new open funding stream goes live in 2010. Eligibility criteria have been relaxed, so they will now accept applications for projects that were previously only eligible for other BIG programmes, for example advice, projects

page 15

COMMUNITY

by the end of September.

G R A N T S F O R E L D E R LY P E O P L E AND ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Applications should be made between: 1st February & 31stMarch for decisionsbyendof June.Orbetween1stAugust&30th September for decisions by end of December.

Please note charities can only make one application each year.

If you require any support whilst completing your application please contact the helpline or visit the website to download a copy of the criteria or view the application form.

Tel: 0845 612 3575Website: ht tp: //w w w.tescoplc .com/tescocharitytrust

YOUTH MUSIC

YouthMusic,theUK’slargestchildren’smusiccharity has announced its grant making programme is open for applications. Through its “Open Programme”, grants of between £5,000 and £30,000 are available to support projects that provide music-making activities for children and young people in support of Youth Music’s goals. Youth Music will fund any non profit-making organisation more than one year old, that is committed to music-making activities for children and young people up to 18 (or up to 25 if they have special educational needs, disabilities or are in detention). Youth Music aims to support music making activities principally in out of school hours such as during weekends, holidays as well as in breakfast and after schools clubs. Youth Music understands that programmes may need to begin in school hours especially if the proposal involves encouraging first time participation in music. To help with this, Youth Music will consider applications for programmes where up to 25% of the time is spent in school hours.

More can be found at ht tp: //w w w.youthmusic.org.uk/looking_for_music_

funding/Open_programme.html

THE MATCH FUND

The next closing date for v’s Match Fund is 5 February 2010. The programme aims increase investment in youth volunteering from private companies, charitable trusts/ foundations and individuals by doubling the value of their investment. The private sector investment can be cash or gifts in kind and investments range from £10,000 to £250,000.

The funding is for new opportunities for 16-25 year old volunteers, which have clear community benefits and address one of the following:* Health and well being* Environment* Supporting children and young people* Community cohesion* Poverty* Human rights.You need to demonstrate how you will engage young people who have never volunteered before, including hard-to-reach and under-represented groups.For more information see the vinspired website.

http://vinspired.com/about-us/matchfund

THE IDLEWILD TRUST

The Idlewild Trust makes grants to registered charities (not to individuals) concerned with the encouragement of excellence in the performing and fine arts and the preservation for the benefit of the public of buildings and items of historical interest or national importance. Occasional support is given to bodies for educational bursaries in these fields and for conservation of the natural environment. The Trust’s interest is national and it is unlikely to support a project of local, parochial interest only.

Applying for a Grant

Check below to ensure that your project

does not fall into one of the excluded areas. If your project is not obviously excluded, you may wish to telephone and talk through your application before applying formally. Please ring Tel: 020 8772 3155 on Tuesday or Wednesday between 10am and 4 pm. Apply by post, sending in a fully completed application form together with a covering letter and the documents requested in the Guidelines on their website. The Idlewild Trust does not usually make grants for: Local appeals - unless the artistic significance of the project is of more than local importance; Repetitive nation-wide appeals by large charities; Appeals where all or most of the recipients live outside the UK;Appealswhose soleormainpurposeis to make grants from the funds collected; Endowment or deficit funding; Individuals. NB. These exclusions are to guide you in the process of drawing up an application. If you are unsure about a particular project, please telephone the administrator to discuss it.

Applications from an organisation within 18 months of a previous grant will not be considered, so this should be taken into account when a submission is made.If your application is not successful, you may apply again for the following meeting.

Deadlines for applications: 2010

26 February 2010 for a Trustees’ meeting in May 2010

24 September 2010 for a Trustees’ meeting in November 2010

Idlewild Trust, 1a Taylors Yard, 67 Alderbrook Road, London SW12 8AD Tel: 020 8772 3155 Email: idlewildtrust@lineone.net Website: www.idlewildtrust.org.uk

page 16

NOVEMBER 2009

RedbridgeCVSis funded by

Mission Statement

To promote a strong, effective and independent voluntary and community sectorin Redbridge.

Aims

1. Redbridgevoluntary&community sector to be strong partners when working with local statutory bodies.

2. Redbridgevoluntary&community sector to maintain its independence and flexibility.

3. RedbridgeCVS to be a credible and authoritative representative of the voluntary and community sector.

4. RedbridgeCVS to be able to respondtothevoluntary&community sector support needs; enabling Redbridge voluntary and community sector to grow to meet local needs.

5. RedbridgeCVS to continue to encourage, support and facilitate the development of sustainable services to children.

6. RedbridgeCVS to provide sound financial planning in order to continue the furtherance of our work with the voluntary and community sector within Redbridge and across the East London Network.

RedbridgeCVS Network

Produced byRedbridgeCVS3rd Floor Forest House16-20 Clements RoadIlford IG1 1BATelephone: 020 8553 1004Fax: 020 8911 9128Email: info@redbridgecvs.netWeb: www.redbridgecvs.netCompany No. 2569614 (reg in England)

Registered Charity No. 1005075

Deadlines for publicationissue deadline April 2010 15 MarchJune 2010 15 MaySeptember 2010 10 August

Community

DisclaimerThe views expressed by contributors to this newsletter are not necessarily those of Redbridge Council for Voluntary Service (RedbridgeCVS).

Much of the information in this newsletter is received from other agencies. Redbridge Council for Voluntary Service (RedbridgeCVS) cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies contained therein.

Endnotes

Access to computersRedbridgeCVS now has internet connected computers in its library for use by organisations that don’t have access to their own facilities. You can produce documents, search the internet or use FunderFinder to get information on grantmakers for your projects. Call 020 8553 1004 or email info@redbridgecvs.net, to book a time.

Voluntary Sector LibraryRedbridgeCVS has over 2,000 items in its library covering all aspects of the voluntary and community sector. This includes over 20 fundraising books and many books on Information Technology (IT).

To get access to the library call Arsim Canolli on 020 8553 1004 or email arsim@redbridgecvs.net or you can just drop-in during working hours.

Large formatFor anyone who requires large print versions of the newsletter please email arsim@redbridgecvs.net or phone 020 8553 1004 to make arrangements for delivery.

Network MeetingThe next Network meeting will take place on Wednesday 3 February 2010 at theRedbridgeCVS Offices,5th Floor Forest House16/20 Clements RoadIlford IG1 1BA12.30pmNetworking&Lunch.Meeting 1.00pm-2.30pm.

• HealthinNorthEastLondon

•TheVolunteeringStrategy for Redbridge