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February 2025

Hello everyone and welcome to our new Lambeth Voluntary & Community Sector newsletter!

This will be a monthly communication with key updates, events and opportunities that we hope will be useful for anyone working or volunteering in the community sector in Lambeth. We will send out a newsflash in-between this time as needed, with more urgent information.

Contents include funding and training opportunities, news from Lambeth Council and across the community, what’s on at community events across the borough, and links to support services. We would also like to feature a spotlight on one community organisation each month, to spread the word about some of the amazing work done by the voluntary & community sector in the borough. Please get in touch if you’d like to see your organisation featured.

We would really welcome any feedback for this newsletter - let us know which topics or themes you'd like included, by emailing: voluntarycommunitysector@lambeth.gov.uk

If you would like to arrange a call or visit with the VCS Team to discuss support, we welcome emails to arrange this. And please read on to the Lambeth Council updates below to see your invitation to attend our team's first VCS Networking event

We hope you are happy to receive this newsletter, but if you’d like to unsubscribe, just click on the link at the end of this email.

We look forward to seeing you soon,

Lambeth Council’s Voluntary & Community Sector team

Funding opportunities

Walcot Foundation have launched their next round of expressions of interest in grants up to £90,000 for organisations and schools. The window for expressions of interest is open between 24 February and 7 March. You can book an EOI appointment here

The Strategic Legal Fund (SLF) is offering grants of up to £30,000 to organisations working to support young migrants living in poverty who face significant disadvantage or discrimination due to their immigration status. Deadline: 31^st March.

The Percy Bilton Charity capital funding offers grants of up to £5,000 to charities supporting disadvantaged young people, individuals with disabilities or mental health issues, and older people. Funding is available for capital projects such as furnishings and equipment (excluding office items), building, or refurbishment projects.

Changing Lives is a social value programme that is making Lambeth better by supporting local residents with big ideas to get them off the ground. It’s also providing new employment, training and volunteering opportunities.

The Council commissions Integrate CIC to provide capacity building and advocacy support to Lambeth voluntary and community sector organisations. Sign up to their mailing list for updates about funding opportunities or contact Integrate to arrange a one-to-one visit and fundraising support: contact@integrateagency.co.uk

What's on

Brixton Windmill and the Friends of Windmill Gardens will be offering a Volunteering Open Day on Sunday 2 March - pop in to meet their team and find out about their volunteering roles. And they are looking forward to their first Open Weekend of 2025 on 29 and 30 March - tickets for guided tours are booking up quickly! This year's Easter Family Day is planned for Sunday 13 April.

The Advocacy Academy will be running "Just-Us" for young people aged 13-25, every Wednesday from 3pm- 7:30pm at the Liberation Center , around the corner from Brixton station. There will be snacks, workshops, free spaces to hang out, listen to music or do homework, and programming to support young people to make change in their communities and campaign to see this change.

The Baytree Centre are hosting an exciting International Women's Day event for  women and girls aged 13+ on Thursday 6 March at 5pm. 

Panel discussions with amazing women leaders 🌟

Engaging Q&A session 🤔

Networking opportunities with like-minded professionals 🤝

Delicious food, drinks, and goodie bags from Astrid&Miyu 🎁

Don’t miss out on this empowering event! Register now to secure your spot! 📅

City Sprouts is a free 6 week programme at Vauxhall City Farm focusing on spending time in nature, learning about our natural world whilst having the opportunity to reflect and spend time with others in our unique setting. This is a great opportunity for young people aged 11-16 to build their confidence and aspirations. Sundays from 16 February. Book a place on City Sprouts here See Vauxhall City Farm's full programme of youth workshops and opportunities here

Training opportunities

Free training for February from the London Safeguarding Children Partnership training includes the following topics:

• Safeguarding in relation to gaming and gambling
• Professional curiosity
• Safeguarding children from suicide
• Supporting children with anxiety and eating difficulties
• Cultural competence
• LGBTQ+ safeguarding
• Working with minority faith communities
• Tackling racism and inequalities in safeguarding children
• Prevent – radicalisation into violent extremism

Visit this site to see the full LSCP training programme

Art4Space is offering a Mental Health First Aid course on March 13th and 14th, which comes with accreditation. They currently have a special offer—£50 off, reducing the two-day course fee to £275 instead of £325.

Full details here: Mental Health First Aid course - Art4Space | Award-winning community arts centre

Contact Jewels (jewels@art4space.co.uk) if you’re interested or have any questions.

The Lambeth Community Hubs Network provide an online resource library of templates and guides which are useful for community organisations. The templates (examples include a room booking form, a volunteer handbook template and a data protection policy) are free to download and can be adapted to fit your organisation.

Lambeth Council updates

Lambeth’s Voluntary and Community Sector Team are available to support organisations with capacity building, fundraising and volunteer management. All Lambeth Voluntary & Community Sector organisations are welcome to book an appointment for a visit from our team to discuss ways in which we can support and signpost to support. Contact Jacy, Catherine and Richard at Lambeth at: voluntarycommunitysector@lambeth.gov.uk

Team Lambeth Volunteering

Team Lambeth's volunteer platform is a resource for organisations to promote volunteer opportunities and connect with other local organisations.We also deliver volunteer fairs throughout the year and a regular newsletter to promote opportunities, please email: Volunteering@lambeth.gov.uk to find out more about this. 

VCS Network Event on Thursday 27 March Lambeth Council is inviting local voluntary, community and faith sector partners to come together for a VCS Network Event on Thursday 27 March This event will become a regular space for a broad range of local organisations to connect with each other and council departments, share experiences and insight, and explore different opportunities to collaborate. Our aim for these events is to provide an opportunity to listen, strengthen relationships and coordinate local projects, with the overall aim of building an even stronger voluntary, community and faith network across Lambeth. Future events will be shaped by on-going feedback from the sector and will aim to complement other networking events and forums that take place across the borough. Open to all voluntary, community and faith sector organisations and individuals – book your place here

Apply to trade or exhibit at Lambeth Country Show  The free to enter Lambeth Country Show is brought to you by Lambeth Council, in partnership with Brockwell Live, and will return to Brockwell Park this summer, over the weekend of 7 and 8 June.  Applications to trade or exhibit are live and there are several categories that you can apply to trade or exhibit at this year's show.  Please note the following deadlines to apply:  Lambeth Services: Friday 28 February  Performers and Entertainment: Friday 28 February  Apply here: Apply to trade / exhibit / perform | Lambeth Country Show

Lambeth consultations - Have your say

Lambeth Council's participation platform provides a space for people who live in, work in, or visit the area to be actively involved in local decision-making. 

If you'd like to have your say on a range of consultations about Lambeth services, sign up to our Citizen Engagement Platform

Borough data

Lambeth Council provides an online data platform which can be used as a tool by organisations when applying for funding, to show how their support is meeting different needs across the community. 

Get support

Lambeth Larder have produced a comprehensive directory of support services in the borough: Lambeth Larder - The Directory

Energy Support from Age UK

Age UK are offering support and practical advice to people who are struggling with their energy bills or want to improve safety in their homes.

• Energy Boost Service - support includes: - Contacting energy providers - Exploring cheaper providers - Offering practical advice about reducing cost. Phone: 0333 603990
• Home Energy Checks - A trusted handyperson will visit an older person’s home to check its efficiency. The handyperson fits appropriate equipment to increase the energy and thermal efficiency in the home. Phone: 0203 098 949
• Safe At Home - Their reliable and trustworthy Handyperson can help with: - Home Safety Advice - Security Checks - Lock Fittings & Repairs. Phone: 07713 780542

Financial link workers from Lambeth Council will be available for advice and signposting to support at the following locations and dates:

• Wednesday 19 February: 10:00 - 13:00: Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill. 15:00 - 17:00: Brixton Recreation Centre.
• Thursday 20 February: 10:00 - 13:00: Clapham Leisure Centre.                           13:00 - 16:00: Brixton Library.
• Friday 21 February: 14:30 - 16:30: Streatham Leisure Centre.
• Wednesday 26 February: 10:00 - 13:00: Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill. 15:00 - 17:00: Brixton Recreation Centre.
• Thursday 27 February: 10:00 - 13:00: Clapham Leisure Centre.                           13:00 - 16:00: Brixton Library.
• Friday 28 February: 14:30 - 16:30: West Norwood Leisure Centre.

No appointments necessary – just drop in.

Email: costofliving@lambeth.gov.uk Telephone: 020 7926 5059

Lambeth’s Health & Wellbeing Bus will be at the following locations in the coming weeks to provide health & wellbeing advice, 1 to 1 chats, blood pressure checks and cost of living support: Friday 21 February, 10am-4pm: St Mark's Church, Kennington Monday 24 February, 10am-3pm: 338 Streatham High Road, SW16 6HX Tuesday 25 February, 9.30am-3.30pm: The Old Laundry, 20 Eastcote Street, SW9 Friday 28 February, 10am-4pm: Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre, SE11 5ES

Key dates for your calendar

February is LGBT+ History Month Ramadan begins on 28 February 8 March is International Women's Day  The Hindu festival of Holi is on 13 March 21 March is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Job opportunities

Myatt's Fields Park Project are excited to announce they are recruiting for a Donations Marketing Manager and Outdoor Events Manager to help fundraise and deliver their much loved community events.
To find out more email: manager@myattsfieldspark.info 

Volunteer opportunity: Hospital Discharge Volunteer at Age UK Lambeth Help patients safely transition from hospital to their home in Lambeth, providing vital practical and emotional support. Your involvement can reduce hospital readmissions and help individuals regain confidence and independence.

VCS organisation of the month

The Baytree Centre is a women’s and girls’ charity and community hub in Brixton, dedicated to empowering women and girls through education, personal development, and holistic support. Our programmes provide safe, nurturing spaces where participants can build confidence, develop key skills, and access opportunities to reach their full potential.

For Girls (Ages 6–19): They offer a wide range of wellbeing and academic after-school clubs, from art, cookery, and self-defence to football, maths, English, and science. One-to-one mentoring supports academic progress and personal development, while life skills sessions help girls navigate key transitions, build confidence, and develop leadership skills. Their employability programme provides skills workshops, work experience, and career mentoring. Newly arrived refugee, asylum-seeking, and migrant girls without a school place can join our full-time education programme, which includes ESOL classes and school application support.

For Women: They provide ESOL classes, employability workshops, digital skills training, wellbeing activities, and positive parenting sessions. Women can also access one-to-one coaching and a welcoming community with information, advice, and guidance on housing, benefits, and personal development.

They also run mother-and-daughter activities to strengthen family connections.

If you work with women and girls who could benefit from their services, they welcome referrals and collaborations. To learn more, visit Baytree’s website or contact Baytree  directly