B&NES News & Updates - 31 August 2010

Welcome to your local E-bulletin for Bath & North East Somerset where you will find information, news and events specifically of interest to those in the B&NES area. National and regional news is found in the weekly General E-bulletin covering all service areas in B&NES and Wiltshire.  Click here for the most recent issue.

B&NES Funding Fair -  Lloyds TSB Cancel Workshop  -  Due to a recent organisational restructure Lloyds TSB are no longer able to send a representative to the Funding Fair on 7 September.  Lloyds TSB have promised to deliver a separate workshop for interested parties in the New Year. We will circulate details of this event as soon as they become available.  In the meantime we apologise for any disappointment to attendees hoping to find out more about their current funds. Bookings for the Funding Fair are now closed.

WHAT DOES THE BIG SOCIETY MEAN TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES? If you would like to find out more about what Big Society means for your community this event is for you. The FREE half day event is being run in partnership with South West Forum who will provide an overview of Big Society along with local speakers. Wednesday 6 October 12.45 - 3.30 at Deaf Plus, Green Park Station, Bath.
Programme:
Overview from South West Forum of the Big Society
David Trethewey, Divisional Director of Policy and Partnerships, Bath & North East Somerset Council
Questions and discussion. Lunch will be provided, so please tell us about any special requirements To book your place please e-mail paula@developecs.org.uk  or call 01225 330090

MORI Poll for Voluntary Groups in B&NES. This autumn, IPSOS Mori will be sending a survey to a selection voluntary sector groups in B&NES asking for their views on how their local authority has performed. If you receive this survey please make sure you fill it in and return it!
The results of this poll will determine the NI7 rating for B&NES.

NIs are National Indicators set by government for local authorities, against which their performance is measured. NI7 measures the contribution made by the local authority towards the creation of a thriving voluntary, or "third", sector, and is a priority indicator in B&NES. Among the questions on the survey will be ones concerning "infrastructure" or "support" organisations --meaning organisations like DEVELOP that offer funding advice and other support services to voluntary sector groups. Please tell IPSOS Mori what you think of our service!
For more information on NationaI Indicator 7, click here to view the 2 Minute Guide to NI7.
 

B&NES Grassroots Grants Programme Now Closed. Quartet Community Foundation is no longer taking applications for the Grassroots Grants programme in Bath and North East Somerset. Over 70 grants totalling just over £190,000 were allocated to grassroots groups in B&NES during the 3 year programme. For information about Quartet's other funds, visit http://www.quartetcf.org.uk/ 

Tendering for Services?  Don't miss your place on this workshop: Tendering for Services: preparing & presenting your bid - Thursday 7th October - Sparkford, Nr Yeovil
 

	Understand the background to the current procurement environment
	Create partnerships and make bidding decisions
	Cost their service and prepare a strong bid
	Determine how to approach the different stages of the tendering and Local & Regional Authority processes
	Demonstrate the skills and evidence base required when presenting a bid

Winning contracts has never been easy – especially when you have to produce a first class, compelling tender document that will make your organisation stand out from its competitors. A good proposal may not necessarily win a contract – but a poor one will lose it in an instant. This course equips managers with the skills and knowledge they need to address issues vital to the process of responding to tenders and Local & Regional Public Organisation procedures for new and existing services.  Cost £129 see    Cascade Training website

Tender Support Project - A reminder that NAVCA has broadened the availability of the Tender Support Project. Local voluntary and community sector organisations anywhere in England can use the project to improve their ability to bid for public service contracts. The NAVCA Tender Support Project provides one-to-one support to help prepare your organisation for contracting or producing a good quality tender submission. The support is provided by an approved high-quality tender consultant. See http://www.navca.org.uk/localvs/lcp/tenders/tsp

Also in the CASCADE Autumn Programe see ‘Survival of the Fittest: creating a simple income strategy that works’ - Tuesday 12th October (Exeter). This introductory course is aimed at frontline organizations, new to the ideas and concepts of sustainable funding (for example by relying primarily on donations and grants). With changes in the political landscape and the present financial downturn, the need to diversify your income streams to strengthen your organisation has never been higher! The course will help you identify and develop creative opportunities for future financial sustainability and includes an easy-to-use template for you to set personal goals at the end of each topic session to develop and take back to your workplace. More information on the  Cascade Training website

Free Membership of Urban Forum until June 2011 for voluntary and community organisations – Urban Forum is a national charity and a membership organisation that supports communities to have a greater say over decisions that affect them. They work with members to influence government policy and support them to influence decision-making locally. See: http://www.urbanforum.org.uk/join/urban-forum-free-membership-offer .

The next B&NES Local Involvement Network (LINk) Meeting will be on 7th Sept, at Manvers Street Baptist Church, Bath.
The Local Involvement Network is a way of supporting people to have their say on health and/or social care services. Individuals, charities and organisations that have an interest in these local services are encouraged to attend. For more information contact: 01225 445538 or e-mail: contact@baneslink.co.uk

The Meriton Education & Support For Young Parents: Courses for parents under 21 every Monday from 13th September at The Percy Centre. Free lunch & crèche provided. Courses include: Maths; English; Budgeting; Caring for your Baby, Citizenship & others. For more details & times 0117 971 7428.    www.percycentre.org.uk/ 

Breathing Space will be at St John’s Church Hall, Keynsham on Thursday 9th September from 2pm until 3.30pm, and continuing each Thursday at the same time until the final day on 30th September. Breathing Space is a new project designed to help people who have found themselves feeling a little lonely or disconnected, are having problems with anxiety and depression, or who may simply be feeling life isn’t as fun as it should be. There will be a get-together once a week for four weeks in September to do art, drink tea, chat and make friends. More information

The next Bath Interagency Forum Meeting will be held on Wednesday 15th September 2010 at Deaf Plus, Green Park Station, Bath from 12.00-2.00pm.

2011 Funding from St Monica Trust closes 30 September 2011. The theme is ‘Older People and Substance Misuse’. 2011 will be the third and final year of this theme. For more information see http://www.communityfund.stmonicatrust.org.uk/

How to Save Seeds - Sunday 19th September.  Time: 2.30 - 5.00pm Price: £2.50 to include tea and cake. Venue - Bear Flat or Bath Organic Community Garden depending on numbers. Further information or to book your place call 01225 319117 or visit http://www.eco-logicbooks.com/index.cfm?fa=book_details&book_id=1080 . Read this online http://www.greenbath.org/seed-saving-workshop
 

The Workshop on Social Enterprises organised by Bath & NES Council and scheduled for September 27th, has been cancelled.
A workshop entitled 'Working in Collaboration' will take place on 22nd September, at a venue to be advised asap. The proposed starting time is 11.00, and it will run until 16.00. This will cover topics such as: collaboration to strengthen future funding bids, maintaining a competitive edge, and potential savings in resource sharing. If you are interested in attending this workshop please contact John Whapshott, Social Care Transformation Project Officer, Adult Health, Social Care and Housing Partnership, Bath & North East Somerset Council. Tel: 01225 477889 Email: john_whapshott@bathnes.gov.uk 

B&NES Voluntary Sector Forum 30 September at the Somer Centre, Midsomer Norton, 10:00 - 12:00. Under the new format for the VSF, booking is open to Chief Officers and Chairs of Trustee Boards for each organisation. If you are unsure who should attend please contact Paula Cannings: paula@developecs.org.uk . Please book so that we have a good idea of the numbers attending See Flyer and Booking Form.

FREE Bristol Child-Safe Seminars - Dates & Locations for 2010 & 2011 - Bristol Child-Safe Partnership Group will be running FREE Child-Safe seminars on the following dates and locations in 2010 and 2011. The Bristol Child-Safe seminar will provide support, information and practical advice, to parents, organisers, volunteers, schools, clubs, a wide range of voluntary and community organisations and, most importantly, children and young people themselves. Dates & Locations Below:

6.50pm – 8.30pm Tues 28th September 2010, at Barton Hill Settlement, 43 Ducie Road, Barton Hill, Bristol BS5 0AX.

6.50pm - 8.30pm Tues 14th December 2010, at Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead, Bristol, BS10 5PY.

6.50pm - 8.30pm Tues 8th March 2011, at The Park, Daventry Road, Knowle, Bristol, BS4 1QD.

All groups attending seminars will receive a Bristol Child–Safe pack, designed for organisations. The pack contains all the necessary information to develop an effective child protection scheme.

For booking and information please call Des Mills or Simona Stollo on 0117 353 22 75 or email des.mills@bristol.gov.uk  or simona.stollo@bristol.gov.uk   View the event on-line at http://www.child-safe.org.uk/events/detail.aspx?nid=59
 

Chief Officers Network - next meeting Thursday 23 September 9.30-12.30 at Clydesdale Bank,3rd floor, Royal Mead.  Topics are consideration of £400 available funding for the network and Commissioning of services by BANES Council as well as the usual opportunity to network. Please contact sonia.hutchison@banescarerscentre.org.uk if you would like more information. Tel: 01225 330090

Get Knitting or donate wool to Age Concern/Innocent/Sainsbury’s: The Big Knit 2010.  Little woolly hats which will be appearing on innocent smoothie bottles in Sainsbury’s stores from 3rd November. For each be-hatted smoothie sold in their stores, innocent and Sainsbury’s will give 25p to the charity to help fund winter warmth projects. Age Concern (B&NES area) have a target of 1000 hats by end of September.
All funds raised for Age UK will help fund projects aimed at promoting winter warmth for people in later life. The hats are a great way to raise funds for what is a serious issue for many people in later life. 80% of the money raised will fund projects on a local level & 20% will go towards funding national winter warmth activity. Knitters can contact Age Concern to get a simple hat pattern & if you don’t fancy making a hat, wool and needles can be donated to your local Age Concern at 18 Kingsmead Square Bath or day centres in Midsomer Norton & Keynsham.
For more information on The Big Knit contact Age Concern Bath & North East Somerset on 01225 466135 or log onto www.acbanes.co.uk
 

 If there is anyone else in your organisation who would like to receive this bulletin please contact Sue Evans sue@developecs.org.uk or

Tel: 01225 33 00 90.

DEVELOP Enhancing Community Support is a Company Limited By Guarantee registered in England and Wales 01986363.

Registered Office 3-4 New Road, Chippenham, SN15 1EJ. Registered Charity1096008.

DEVELOP Enhancing Community Support is a member of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA).