 2022 VCSA Annual Assembly brings members and partners together
Last Wednesday, the Shropshire VCSA held its first general meeting of members and partners since 2019. With over 60 guests in attendance, it wasn't the biggest gathering the VCSA has ever had, but it may have been the most anticipated, as the gathering of voluntary groups, charitable organisations and social enterprises all met under one roof for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Made possible by funding from Shropshire Council, the VCSA Annual Assembly has been an important event in the schedule of voluntary and community sector members and their partners in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin since the organisation's founding in 2008, but the pandemic put a damper on this important event for the past two years.
This year's meeting featured two guest speakers on very different, but equally important topics to the VCS community in Shropshire.
Professor John Wynn-Jones of the National Centre for Rural Health and Care presented an overview of the APPG Rural Health and Care Report, and gave his take on the implications for this report on the work of the VCS in Shropshire going forward.
Christopher Martin of Tenders UK presented on the current trends and opportunities in the area of Social Value, and how Shropshire organisations can think about their own position in light of upcoming changes to commissioning.
In addition to speakers, local funders were on hand for attendees to meet and ask questions, including The National Lottery Community Fund, Community Resource, which manages several local funds including the Shropshire Community Fund grants, and Energize STW, which manages the Sport England Tackling Inequalities Fund.
The event finished off with an hour-long workshop on action items that the VCSA can implement connected to its six identified priorities for the year. These are:
- Increasing and strengthening existing opportunities for collaboration in the sector.
- Working to address inequalities highlighted by the pandemic, including health and financial inequalities, loneliness and rural isolation.
- Working to embed the ICS within the VCS.
- Developing VCSA membership, bringing new voices to the table and highlighting the work of the sector.
- Increasing inclusion – diversifying our general membership, Board membership and the voices that are being heard from within the sector.
- Supporting and sustaining the VCS to ensure that it remains vibrant and robust in the wake of the pandemic.
Attendees all agreed that, as valuable as the speakers and workshop were, the most important thing about this year's event was the opportunity to see each other, and to do some much-needed networking and catching up.
For more photos of the event, check on the VCSA's website.
Community Resource CEO to take on ‘The Way’ in epic walking challenge
Community Resource's CEO will be taking on a six-day walking challenge along the Shropshire Way next month to raise funds to support local causes.
Julia Baron will be kicking off her epic trail on Wednesday 4 May from Kingsland Bridge in Shrewsbury and will finish at Tilstock Bradbury Village Hall, Whitchurch the following week.
Julia will spend six days walking around 10-to-15 miles a day, stopping off at organisations and services that have been supported by the charity. She will also be fundraising for Community Resource to help it continue to support communities facing challenges across the county.
Julia said: “I’m a keen walker but Shropshire is a big county so I know this will be quite the feat! What will keep me going in those difficult moments is meeting all the people we’ve helped over the years and raising money for people that the charity will then be able to help in the future.”
In February Julia announced her plans to retire at the end of August after over 22 years at the helm of Community Resource. Her walk will also celebrate her legacy and raise awareness of the charity’s continuing work.
She added: “Community Resource has a long history of helping communities in Shropshire, and I feel privileged to be part of that history. This challenge also gives me the chance to share what we do with as many people as possible so that the charity’s future is as rich as its past.”
Julia will be stopping off at places including Bayston Hill Memorial Hall, the Lyneal Trust near Ellesmere and Bishop’s Castle Foodbank, and will be joined on the route by local people who have been helped by or worked with the charity.
Story courtesy of Shropshire Community Resource. To find out more about the challenge and to support Julia, visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/Juliasontheway
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Third Sector Awards open for entries
One of Third Sector's most important missions – and passions – is to recognise the achievements of charities and provide a platform for examples of good practice.
The Third Sector Awards provide an opportunity for voluntary organisations of all sizes, and the people who work for them, to celebrate their work and the real difference they make to society.
Whether it is supporting beneficiaries, raising awareness of crucial issues or driving best practice among their peers, the vital contributions of charities cannot be overstated. Third Sector want to use their platform to thank the individuals and teams working their hardest to deliver at a time when they have never been more needed.
Entering the Third Sector Awards is your opportunity to shout about just how great your charity, organisation or team is. This is the chance to bring your work to life, tell its story and be awarded for it. The Third Sector Awards pride themselves on educating and inspiring the sector, as well as offering every entrant detailed feedback on their entry from our expert panel of judges.
The awards also offer a free entry scheme for charities with an annual income of less than £100,000.
Early bird deadline for entry is 19th May and the standard deadline is 9th June. For more information or to enter for an award, visit the Third Sector Awards website.
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An exciting new era for Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin
After 22 years based in Mardol Gardens, the trustees of Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin have announced that the charity will be moving to new premises in Shrewsbury later this year.
The opportunity has arisen to move into offices previously occupied by Nationwide Building Society on the corner of Claremont Street and Bellstone. Work is now underway to make the accommodation ready for staff to move into later this year.
Heather Osborne, Chief Executive Officer of Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin, said: ‘Mardol Gardens has served us well over the years but has always had problems: it isn’t fully accessible for people with a disability, its tucked away down an alley so not easy to find and whenever the river floods so does the basement.’
‘The new accommodation will make the charity much easier to access for older people. The position is ideal, close to town centre shops, bus stops and car parks, which means we will be able to offer our support to even more older people.’
‘It feels like a fresh start for the charity, especially after the challenges of Covid, and our staff are really excited at the prospect of welcoming older people into more accessible offices to provide services such as advice, advocacy, practical support at home and social opportunities. I hope we will be here for the next 20 years.’
The charity anticipate moving into the new offices towards the end of the summer.
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'Worrying About Money?' leaflet now available in interactive digital form
Many VCSA members and partners have found the 'Worrying About Money?' leaflet produced last year by Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance, the Independent Food Aid Network and other Shropshire organisations, to be a vital tool in reaching their communities with information about services.
Now, this important leaflet is also available as a digital, interactive tool, where advice and support specific to Shropshire can be accessed by those struggling with finances .
Sophie Padgett, Coordinator of the Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance, thinks that this new tool will be useful for getting the word out about what help is available during the cost of living crisis.
Sophie says, -
"The printed flyers are still available, but this new digital tool can be a real help to families, and people who have perhaps never sought financial help before. We know that coming forward for support can be daunting, and the system often seems overwhelmingly complex to navigate, so this step by step interactive tool will help to quickly and concisely show you the local support agencies that are best placed to help."
The aim of these flyers is to reduce the need for charitable food aid by helping people access any existing financial entitlements and advice on income maximisation as a cash first response to food insecurity. Read more about the cash first approach to tackling food insecurity here.
The new interactive digital tool can be shared using this link. You can also request free printed versions of the leaflets here.
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Visiting to be re-introduced at Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals
In-patient visiting is to be re-introduced at the Royal Shrewsbury and Princess Royal Hospitals from Tuesday 3 May, after it was previously suspended in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Visitors will be asked to continue to help restrict the spread of the virus by following some key requirements, including wearing face masks and observing social distancing when in the hospitals.
Throughout the pandemic, and in line with national guidelines, The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), which runs the county’s two acute hospitals, has needed to restrict visiting to adult wards to just compassionate visiting and for those patients with specific needs.
This will now change from Tuesday 3 May, with all adult in-patients allowed one visitor per day, as well as continuing to provide the additional flexibility and support needed for compassionate visiting. Separate arrangements remain in place for Critical Care, Maternity, Children’s wards, and the Neonatal Unit.
COVID-19 numbers in the hospitals remain at significant levels and – in order to protect those being cared for, visitors, and staff – visitors will be asked to not attend if they are COVID-19 positive, are showing relevant symptoms, or have been in contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive. More on this news, including full details of the new arrangements in place for visiting can be seen on SaTH’s website. Visitors are asked to please check the website before coming to the hospitals.
Jubilee resources and information page available from Shropshire Council
Is your organisation or local community planning to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee?
Shropshire Council has put together a resource page for planning your activities, including information on how/when to apply for road closures (May 6th), information on planned events and how to participate, and a list of funds you can access for small amounts to plan your own events and activities.
Check out the website and start planning now!
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Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin CCG seeking input on Shrewsbury Health and Wellbeing Hub plans
The NHS in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin is calling on local communities to share their views on a brand-new, state-of-the-art health and wellbeing hub in Shrewsbury.
The health and wellbeing hub would bring a new approach to providing local health and wellbeing services that work together to offer high-quality care for local communities.
The new facility, which could open in July 2025, could be a fantastic resource for Shrewsbury, with a wide range of health and wellbeing services provided by the NHS, Shropshire Council, and voluntary and community organisations, all under one roof.
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) will be carrying out a series of focus groups in May 2022 to discuss the proposals and to understand what’s important to local people when they are accessing health and care services.
Other focuses will be to explore ideas that participants may have about the hub, the future of GP services in Shrewsbury, and what services within the hub would be beneficial for themselves and the local community.
Dr Charlotte Hart, GP and Clinical Lead for the Shrewsbury Health and Wellbeing Hub, said:-
“We really hope that the hub will be a local facility to be proud of, delivering fantastic health and wellbeing support at the heart of the community we serve.
“To deliver this, understanding what is important to local people is important to us. The views of our communities will be integral in shaping the clinical model and improving our plans. We’d love to hear their thoughts."
The focus groups will run between Thursday 26 May to Tuesday 31 May 2022, with a mix of online and face to face events. Those wishing to take part in the focus groups should fill out an online questionnaire to register their interest. Further information about the health and wellbeing hub can be found on the CCG website.
People without Internet access can request a telephone interview by calling 0333 150 3069. If you have any questions or queries, or if you would like to request the documents in other languages and formats, please email mlcsu.involvement@nhs.net or call 0333 150 3069.
Interested in having your organisation's stories of success featured in our newsletter, website or social media? We want to hear from you! Contact: VCSAssembly@shropshire.gov.uk
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Free Online Event -
Rising Costs, Rising Demand: Managing the Cost of Living Crisis
Are you worried about the impact of rising costs on your charity? Have you seen increased demand for your services in the communities you support?
With inflation expected to peak around 8.7% this year, the cost of living is a major concern for charities and communities alike.
This event is an opportunity to meet other charity leaders and share your experiences, both with each other and with NCVO.
Focused on rising costs – specifically, energy, fuel, food and other goods, and wages – this event is your opportunity to gain knowledge and share insights that will inform our policy and advocacy work on behalf of the voluntary sector.
Guest speakers will share case studies and ideas around adapting to meet these challenges, while continuing to provide support to those who need it.
You'll leave the session having:
- connected with other charity leaders to share common experiences and responses to the cost-of-living crisis
- shared your experience and expertise with NCVO’s policy and advocacy team, who will use this insight to lobby the government to provide additional support to the voluntary sector.
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Workshop on providing inclusive gymnastics opportunities in Shropshire
British Gymnastics would like to invite you to a workshop on improving opportunities for children and young people with disabilities to participate in gymnastics in their local community.
They know that many children and young people with SEND and their families face significant barriers to access physical activity outside school. This workshop offers an opportunity for parents and carers to come together to share experiences and thoughts about what can be done to ensure more young people with disabilities have access to high-quality gymnastics activities in their local community.
British Gymnastics are keen to explore how they can work with local clubs, education and health providers and other interested stakeholders to support access to gymnastics activities in a way that is not only fun but also contributes to improved outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
What they learn from the workshop will also help shape their national inclusion plan.
When: Wednesday, 25th May 2022 9.30am arrival/registration for 10.00am start - 1.00pm
Where: At Shrewsbury Town Football Club, Montgomery Waters Meadow, Oteley Rd, Shrewsbury SY2 6ST
Refreshments and a light lunch provided (if booked). Book your free place for this workshop here.
If you would like to promote this event in your communities and networks, you can download this poster as well as this briefing document to share.
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“We know that responsible businesses recognise the importance and value of trying to achieve Net Zero, but that for small or micro enterprises it can be daunting. Cool Shropshire and Telford will give you the tools and knowledge to measure your carbon footprint and help you on the journey to creating an environmental action plan, achieving efficiencies, building resilience against climate change and help towards reaching a Net Zero target”
– Councillor Ian Nellins, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Natural Assets & The Green Economy
CS&T is sponsored by Shropshire, and Telford and Wrekin councils.
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Next Generation Sustainable Living Family Fair
This event is taking place on Saturday 28th May from 11am - 4pm at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms.
The event will feature a Sustainable Living exhibition of over 20 different charities, groups and organisations from across Shropshire and lots of family fun, children's activities, a dog show and a full day of live music and dance performance. It's completely free!
This is a good opportunity to network with other food-related charities and social enterprises.
Check out the event page for more information.
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 Arty Party is a group of over 100 people with learning disabilities, meeting in Telford and Shropshire to explore, perform, create and celebrate art. They are an arts organisation which supports and empowers learning disabled adults to explore, express and celebrate their creativity. They provide training and showcase members’ creative expression through a range of art forms
For full details of Arty Party, what they do and how to get involved then visit their website or take a look at their Facebook page.
They can also be contacted on 07825 070368 or email info@artypartytelford.org
 Keep on Moving Shropshire Festival Launch May 8th
If you would like to promote the Keep on Moving Shropshire Festival, including its launch day event on May 8th, now is the time to get the word out to your networks and service users.
Please download the event flyers here:
Keep Shropshire Moving Festival A4 Poster
Keep Shropshire Moving Festival A5 Poster
Queen's Award for Voluntary Service Nomination Information Sessions
There are briefing sessions to help and encourage voluntary organisations understand the nomination process. If you are considering nomination, the VCSA and the Shropshire Lord-Lieutenant strongly encourage you to attend one of these sessions:
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Wednesday 4th May 2022 at 2pm – 3pm
Telford & Wrekin Council Offices, Addenbrooke House,
Ironmasters Way, Telford,TF3 4NT
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Friday 13th May 2022 at 12pm – 1pm
Garden Room, Methodist Church, 52 Broad St, Ludlow, SY8 1NH
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Thursday 19th May 2022 at 1.30pm – 2.30pm
Council Chamber, Castle View, Arthur Street, Oswestry, SY11 1JR
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Wednesday 25th May 2022 at 2pm – 3pm
Shrewsbury Room, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND
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Tuesday 14th June 2022 at 2pm – 3pm
Venue TBC
For further information and/or to book a place please email Shelly Davies, Clerk to the Lieutenancy.
Information can also be found on the QAVS website.
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Telford Autism Hub Team Assistant
(Children 0 – 16 years)
Telford and Wrekin CVS are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and motivated person to join their Children’s Autism Hub. If you are passionate about supporting children and young people with autism, and their parents / carers, then this exciting opportunity could be for you.
Salary: £9,170 per annum, 18 hours per week: Temporary contract until 31 March 2024
This role is to:
- Support children and young people with autism and their parents.
- Facilitate and develop links to statutory and voluntary agencies for the benefit of children, young people, their parents and our service.
- Support and deliver the day-to-day creative sessions for peer support for families.
- Staff and manage the referral line; acting as the initial point of contact which includes:
- Obtaining client details and brief outline of concerns.
- Forwarding of referral information and related messages to the team.
- Inputting of referral information onto the database.
- Production, including the printing of leaflets, posters, flyers, agendas, letters, questionnaires and forms.
Download now: the full job advert, job description, and application form. Closing date for applications is Friday, 13th May at 3pm.
For an informal discussion email Julie Collins (Children’s Service Manager) or phone on 01952
457439 or by email
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Lloyds Bank Foundation:
Development Associate
£36,414 - £40,000 per year
Contract, 18 months, Full-time
Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales are seeking a Development Associate. This role will support their work in 6 communities across England and Wales, alongside a wide range of partners from the public, private and voluntary sector to help them re-think how they design, deliver and resource services; and the role of small, local organisations in providing those services, such as charities, CICs and community organisations.
You will be able to demonstrate understanding and experience of direct delivery of services for people facing complex social issues, the systems that surround them and an appreciation of the challenges faced by their partners in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector; the public sector and the private sector. You will have skills in facilitation, negotiation, influencing, co-production and community involvement. They are also looking for someone who is committed to learning from the work and applying that learning to improve, and someone who can demonstrate thoughtful and inclusive team leadership.
This role will also work closely with colleagues across the Foundation as well as external partners.
Lloyds Bank Foundation are an independent charity funded by the Lloyds Banking Group. They partner with small and local charities helping people overcome complex social issues such as mental health, homelessness and domestic abuse.
For more information and to apply for the job, visit their website. Closing date for applications is Tuesday, 3rd May at 9am.
Lingen Davies: Cancer Champions
Lingen Davies are hiring for two positions:
A Shropshire Cancer Champions Project Officer (0.6 wte, 22.5 hours employed by Qube, Oswestry)
A Telford Cancer Champions Project Officer (0.6 wte, 22.5 hours employed by Lingen Davies Cancer Fund)
Consideration for a full time 37.5 hour post may be given to a successful candidate willing to undertake the role for both Shropshire and Telford.
The successful candidate will be responsible for building a body of enthusiastic, engaged and trained volunteer Cancer Champions who work within their own community and other settings, targeting population groups with the highest cancer burden.
To be successful, you will need exceptional organisational skills and have the initiative to manage your workload.
They welcome applications from people with lived experience and those from minority communities.
These roles are funded by the Shropshire and Telford CCG to deliver their CORE20 Plus Community Connectors NHS-funded project. This is a 12-month fixed-term contract in the first instance, with the possibility of extension depending on funding and outcomes.
Please see below for the full details of the post and application form:
JOB DESCRIPTION CCC Final
CCC PERSON SPEC Final
CCC Application Form Final
Closing date for applications: Monday 2nd May, 8pm
Interviews will be held Wednesday 11th May.
For an informal discussion about these roles please email Miranda Ashwell or telephone on 01743 492396.
Completed applications should be emailed to recruitment@lingendavies.co.uk Paper applications will not be accepted.
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Volunteer Opportunity:
Remap Shropshire
Do you like to work with your hands or do DIY? Remap Shropshire and Mid-Wales are looking for volunteers to help support the work of this entirely volunteer-led organisation.
Remap is a national charity which produces aids and equipment for people with disabilities/difficulties where there are no suitable alternatives. This service is provided free of charge and is delivered entirely by volunteers. Our volunteers are experienced engineers/craftsmen/DIYers with a wide variety of skills. Each piece of equipment is tailor-made to suit the specific needs of one individual and is for their personal use only.
We usually work with or referred by health professionals like Occupational Therapists to ensure that the equipment meets the needs of each person but self-referrals are welcome. The service is free but donations are always appreciated and go towards the cost of materials and travel.
Applications from prospective volunteers are always welcome. For more information, visit their website. You can also email Shropshire Chairman John Graham or phone him on 07807 113285.
Not interested in volunteering yourself, but know someone who might be, or who could benefit from their services? Download their printable leaflet.
Image: Rupert's standing table, courtesy of Remap. To learn more about how Remap helped Rupert, check out his story here.
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Volunteer Opportunity:
Just Credit Union "Trainee" Board Member
Do you want to develop your strategic management and planning skills? Just Credit Union is enhancing its Board by recruiting a ‘trainee’ member.
The role would suit an individual with an interest in financial inclusion who wants to gain Board level experience and develop their strategic management and planning skills. Just Credit Union is owned by its members and managed for their mutual benefit. The activities of the co-operative are overseen by a volunteer Board.
Just Credit Union promote financial inclusion and provide secure savings and ethical loans whilst improving the financial wellbeing of our members. What members save with them is what they lend so they also support the local economy.
The role will be fully supported and offer opportunities for training and development. The key requirements are a passion about what Just Credit Union do and sharing their ethos and values. No previous Board experience is necessary.
The Board meets on the third Wednesday each month at 5pm, and meetings usually last between 1 and 1.5 hours. Meetings are currently held remotely and will move to one meeting each quarter in Shrewsbury. They also hold an annual Board ‘strategic away day’.
For more information request their Board Recruitment Pack from Steve Barras, who is also happy to arrange an informal chat to discuss the role.
Volunteer Opportunity: Speciality Patient Experience Groups at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH)
Speciality Patient Experience Groups are being established to drive patient experience initiatives at a local level. The groups will work with services across the speciality to improve patient experience in the area, including:
– How the service responds and learns from feedback
– Identifying trends to inform work and help improve services
– Represent the patient voice, providing insight from a patient perspective
This is an opportunity for patients or carers who have accessed services within the Trust between 2021 and 2022 to get involved. As a result of their recent experience, they will be able to offer valuable insight and a unique perspective on service development and improvement.
Please note – successful applicants will need to go through volunteer checks and induction. Additionally, volunteers are asked to commit approximately three hours a month to support the work.
Closure date for applications is 30th June 2022 For more information and to submit an application, visit the SaTH website.
Do you have a job or volunteer opportunity you would like us to promote? Please send your information to VCSAssembly@shropshire.gov.uk and we will include it in our next newsletter!
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Grant Funding for Shropshire HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) 2022 Programme
Shropshire Council invite applications from local schools, voluntary and community organisations and childcare providers to apply for grant funding, to run exciting and high-quality programmes of activity, during the summer and winter school holidays 2022.
Applicants will need to commit to delivering a programme of activity during both the Summer and Winter school holidays. One Application Form is to be submitted, to cover both holiday periods and one grant will be awarded.
We want to commission a rich and diverse programme of activities delivered by organisations from the private, voluntary and public sector that respond to local need, draws in the wider community and is delivered in a variety of ways.
The programmes of activity will need to take place during Monday 25th July to Friday 2nd September 2022 (summer school holiday) AND Monday 19th to Friday 23rd December 2022 (first week of the Christmas school holiday) for children and young people aged 4 to 16 who are eligible for HAF.
Please ensure you have read the Guidance Notes and Criteria before filling in an Application Form. Guidance notes and link to online Application Form can be found here
If you have any questions about the Guidance Notes and Criteria or require assistance to complete an Application Form, please email the Shropshire HAF Co-Ordinator. If you have not applied for HAF funding previously, please contact the HAF Co-Ordinator before making an application, to discuss your HAF programme.
The deadline for applications is: 9am Tuesday 17th May.
More information about the Shropshire HAF programme, its purpose and its background can be found on the HAF website.
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Funding to Support Access to Justice for Migrants, Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Grants are available for legal work to benefit vulnerable young migrants in the UK.
The Strategic Legal Fund (SLF) aims to tackle injustices and inconsistencies in law and practice that disadvantage or discriminate against asylum seekers, refugees and migrants as a result of their migration status.
Grants of up to £30,000 are available, though groups are encouraged to apply for lesser amounts. The average grant awarded is around £12,000.
Applications are accepted from:
- Not-for-profit organisations that provide specialist level legal advice to people discriminated or disadvantaged by their migration status.
- Firms of solicitors that provide specialist level legal advice to people discriminated or disadvantaged by their migration status. Firms need to demonstrate that the funded work does not include any element of profit and there is a pro bono element included.
The funding is for strategic legal work which is defined here as work where the impact is likely to go beyond an individual case, and to result in changes to law, policy and practice that will benefit a wider group of people.
Applicants are encouraged to check the list of previous SLF grants to make sure their proposal does not duplicate any existing work.
The next deadline is 31 May 2022. Visit the Strategic Legal Fund website for more information and to apply.
Don't forget to check out our website for a list of ongoing funds and the latest roundup of funds with upcoming deadlines!
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To share your news with Shropshire Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly members and our partners email: VCSAssembly@shrophire.gov.uk
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