We are pleased to invite VCVS members to join us for our Annual General Meeting and Conference which will be held on Thursday 7th October 2010 at the Copthorne Hotel, Cardiff.
Registration and refreshments will be available from 9.30am and lunch will follow at the close of the event at 1.00pm.
The AGM and Conference this year will be focussing on how voluntary organisations can best cope during challenging economic times.
Confirmed speakers include Stephen Bubb (Chief Executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations - ACEVO) and Filippo Addarii, Director of Euclid Network, the European Network of Third Sector Leaders. We will use the conference as a vehicle for promoting excellence and leadership within the Third Sector and how the Third Sector in Wales fits into the UK National and European jigsaw.
VCVS' Annual Report, accounts and other associated papers will be available at the meeting. If you have not received your invitation and would like to attend, please contact VCVS. The closing date for any responses is 10th September 2010.
Appointment to Cardiff and Vale Community Health Council - Third Sector Nominations
-Are you currently a board, staff, volunteer or carer member of a third (voluntary) sector organisation in the Vale of Glamorgan area?
-Would you like to make a positive difference to health services and to people's lives?
The Welsh Assembly Government is seeking to appoint volunteer members to the Cardiff and Vale Community Health Council. CHCs are the public's independent ‘watchdog' in the National Health Service in Wales. They represent the public interest and play an important role in influencing the way that health services are planned, delivered and improved.
CHC members are volunteers and their role is to act as the eyes and ears of patients and the public, listening to their concerns and working with the health service to improve the quality of patient care. The Cardiff and Vale Community Health Council will be established from 1 April 2010 with the following Local Committees:
-Cardiff Local Committee
-Vale of Glamorgan Local Committee
Each Local Committee will have three third sector places, nominated by the relevant County Voluntary Council. The CHC is looking for people from all walks of life - the most important requirement is a genuine interest in improving health services for your community. Some key skills which would be useful include: an interest in and understanding of local health issues; being able to work in a team and with a diverse range of people; and an ability to listen to others and exchange views.
Members will be expected to commit to between 3 and 5 days per month. Members are not paid but are able to claim expenses. Please note, you must be a trustee, employee or volunteer with a third sector organisation operating in the Local Committee (local authority) area concerned.
Please contact: Margaret Reid, Health & Social Care Facilitator, Vale Centre for Voluntary Services, Tel: 01446 741706 or e-mail margaret@valecvs.org.uk
This will enable you to apply to be nominated. You will receive an application pack and application form.
New training - Designing a newsletter or other promotional material
Cost:
VCVS Members £20 per delegate per half day session (3 hours)
Non members £50 per delegate per half day session (3 hours)
VCVS is offering computer based design training for members wishing to become familiar with putting together a newsletter or other promotional material using Microsoft Publisher 2003. The training is initially being offered as a 1-2-1 session (or 1-2-2 if two people from the same organisation wish to undertake the training).
The training will be beneficial to organisations as it can and will be tailored to the needs of the individual(s) attending the course. The date and time to be confirmed with interested parties. Computer based training is also available in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint 2003.
If you would like to book any of the training or you have any queries please contact Mark Stillman at VCVS, e-mail mark@valecvs.org.uk or telephone: 01446 741706.
VCVS achieves Small Workplace Health Award!
VCVS has been awarded a Bronze Small Workplace Health Award by the Welsh Assembly Government, and two staff and a Trustee representing the organisation were presented with a certificate and plaque at a ceremony at the Glamorgan Cricket Club, Cardiff on the 2nd September 2009. The Welsh Assembly Government has developed the Small Workplace Health Award specifically for organisations employing fewer than 50 people. It has three levels of award (bronze, silver and gold) to recognise each development stage achieved, and targets the key preventable ill-health issues in the workplace, which also helps to increase organisational performance and productivity.
Following a meeting with a Workplace Health Advisor from the National Public Health Service, staff were keen to gather the evidence required for the Bronze level, and found that much of what was required was already in place. A successful assessment then took place in time for the September ceremony. Staff are fired up with their success and are now working towards the Silver Award! VCVS would like to actively encourage other voluntary organsations to consider working towards the Small Workplace Health Award to demonstrate their commitment to improving the health and well being of their staff.
Please contact Margaret Reid, Health and Social Care Facilitator, telephone: 01446 741706, e-mail: margaret@valecvs.org.uk to find out more about the process involved or visit http://www.healthworkingwales.com/.
Vale of Glamorgan Social Care Workforce Development Partnership
Voluntary Sector Bursary Scheme 2009-2010
Funding for Voluntary Sector Training Events
The Workforce Development Sub Group of the Social Care Workforce Development Partnership within the Vale of Glamorgan has identified the possibility of funding training provision / workforce development activities which would be facilitated by our Voluntary Sector partners themselves. Currently the Vale of Glamorgan matches Welsh Assembly Funding to the value of an additional 30%. This notion will therefore apply to any Voluntary Sector partners seeking financial support from the grant monies. The 30% contribution would cover some, if not all, of the expenses relating to, for example, photocopying, administrative support etc. Please note this Bursary Scheme will terminate on 31 March 2010.
Any interested organisation that provides a social care service in the Vale of Glamorgan and is interested in applying for such funding should, in the first instance, contact Kate Hood either on 01446 704850 or KHood@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk.
Managers of these organisations will be expected to outline the service they provide and the number of staff / volunteers who work for them. The organisation will then be asked for details of the training specified and whether they have a preferred training provider. Written details of the bid will then be sent to the organisation for confirmation and signature. This form must then be returned to Hilary Kinchen within 10 working days.
Bids for funding will be approved by the Social Care Workforce Development Partnership Sub Group. All invoicing must take place through the Partnership, no money will change hands.
Please note financial support will only be provided for trainer costs, venue (if external) and a reasonable cost for teas and coffees. All other expenses must be met by the organisation e.g. lunches, photocopying, backfill costs.
Bids will not be granted for training / workforce development activities provided by in-house trainers, or core training. Consideration will be given to the bidding organisation's preferred training provider.
It is the expectation of the Partnership that wherever possible organisations will open up their training to staff from other Voluntary Sector organisations. Courses will only run where a pre determined minimum number of delegates have been allocated places. Insufficient interest will result in the cancellation of the event at no cost to the Partnership. All contracting and commissioning will take place through the Partnership and will follow the Local Authority's commissioning procedures. It will be the responsibility of the facilitating organisation to ensure the completion and return of all course documentation to the SCWDP Coordinator. Only after this has happened will certificates be issued to delegates.
Communities First Advice and Support Service
Since January 2009 WCVA has been delivering an Advice and Support Service for all Communities First Partnerships and staff on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG).
Many CF Partnerships have identified priorities, devised projects and are working to Local Action Plans in order to influence the service delivery in the deprived communities in which they operate. In the transition to a more ‘outcome focused' approach for the CF programme, support provision was reshaped and the Advice and Support Service is providing flexible, responsive assistance to Partnerships in areas such as:
- Project planning and funding
- Working with service providers
- Legal advice
- Publicising activities
- Conflict resolution
- Running meetings effectively
- Making use of the Outcomes Fund
Already a number of Partnerships have received support on matters such as:
- Merging Partnerships
- Refreshing Partnership members' understanding of the role of a CF Partnership
- Legal advice related to working with children and young people
- Community development practice in areas new to the programme
- Conducting a community consultation
Both Russell and Megan from the Advice Team are available on the CF Helpline 0800 587 8898 or by email help@wcva.org.uk and are able to liaise bilingually.
Draft regulations and model constitutions for Charitable Incorporated Organisations
The draft regulations and model constitutions for Charitable Incorporated Organisations have been published. Full details can be accessed via the Office of the Third Sectors website.