VCSA Newsletter Week of 5th September 2022

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Newsletter for the Week of 5th September 2022


News


vulnerability index map

New Cost of Living Vulnerability Index Shows Shropshire At High Risk

The Cost of Living Vulnerability Index is the total of multiple poverty-based vulnerability and work-based vulnerability indicator rankings for each local authority. 

This index has been created by the Centre for Progressive Policy to measure the cost of living crisis and can be found for each county on the LG Inform dashboard.

A higher score on the index will indicate an area's relative risk of more people being pulled into poverty, and the relative risk of those who were already hard up being pushed into destitution.

For Shropshire, the Cost of Living Vulnerability Index is 1,203, which falls into the highest quartile of risk.

Read more information and view the mapped index here.

These new data come at a time when many VCS organisations and public sector partners are working hard to combat the Cost of Living Crisis and its impact on the county.

Recently, Citizens Advice Shropshire and Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance launched the 'Access to Support in Shropshire' survey to try to help gauge how well support that's available is meeting the needs of residents and organisations.

The two charities would like to ask all other VCS organisations in Shropshire to help them to promote the survey so it can reach as many people in Shropshire as possible. Organisations can use these posters to help spread the word on social media, websites or in other ways with their service users.

Public sector and VCS partners, including the Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance, Citizens Advice Shropshire, Age UK Shropshire Telford and Wrekin, Marches Energy Agency, Shropshire Council and Community Resource have also come together to run two 2-hour briefing on the cost-of-living crisis aimed at front-line staff.

More information on these sessions can be found below under "Events and Training Opportunities."


Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

SaTH Releases Details of Hospitals Transformation Programme

A vital programme that will transform acute hospital services and improve health and care for communities across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales has taken a significant step forward.

The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England’s Joint Investment Committee has formally approved the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) submitted by Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care System (ICS) for the reconfiguration of acute hospital services, subject to a number of conditions that will be addressed as we develop the Outline Business Case during the next stage of the Hospitals Transformation Programme (HTP).

The announcement has been hailed as an ‘exciting step forward’, as it means that long awaited plans to redevelop services across the two acute hospital sites, the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in Shrewsbury, can continue to progress.

The Hospitals Transformation Programme:

Excellent Planned Care Services

HTP will create a dedicated site for planned care at the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford, which will bring direct benefits for patients including:

  • Fewer cancellations and delays for operations
  • Shorter waiting times for cancer care
  • Better patient experience

Streamlined and Effective Emergency Services

The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) site will specialise in emergency care, benefitting patients through immediate access to medical and surgical specialist teams based at the same location. Creating one dedicated Emergency Department for Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin will help to ensure that:

  • Patients are seen more quickly by the most appropriate specialist teams
  • Patients experience more rapid diagnosis and shorter hospital stays
  • Improved patient flow, with shorter patient waiting times, and faster ambulance handover times

24/7 Urgent Care Services

 Both the Telford and Shrewsbury sites will provide 24-hour urgent care services, providing improved access for the assessment and treatment of a wide range of illness and injuries.

Telford will benefit from a new urgent care service, an A&E Local model, staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of health, care and community professionals. This is a significant enhancement of urgent care services in Telford and means around two thirds of patients currently treated at Telford’s A&E department will continue to receive the care they need at their most local hospital.

Women and Children’s Services

Women and Children’s inpatient services will be based in Shrewsbury ensuring higher risk maternity cases and children admitted under the care of specialist paediatricians, have immediate access to on-site medical and surgical specialists and other experts at the emergency site. Both hospital sites will provide a range of assessment and maternity outpatient and scanning services, along with midwife-led birthing units for low risk births. This means that the majority of expectant mothers will continue to receive their antenatal and postnatal care at the site closest to home.

Wide range of services staying local

In addition to urgent care services, both sites will provide a wide range of common services including testing (diagnostics such as X-rays), outpatients appointments and day case chemotherapy.

Nicholas White, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care System, said:

“This is an exciting step forward for our overarching vision to improve health and wellbeing across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. Delivering HTP will play a significant part in enabling our health and care services to meet the needs of our population, now and in the future. This investment will enable us to raise standards, meaning if people do need to access hospital services, they receive the best care possible.”

To find out more visit the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICS website.

Image: Royal Shrewsbury Hospital by John Firth


Shoes shaping the number 94

Telford To Mark World Suicide Prevention Day and World Homeless Day

The ‘'Project Hope Telford'’ event on Saturday 10 September (11am-3pm) has been organised by the local suicide prevention action group, Telford & Wrekin Council’s public health and housing teams and partners and those with lived experience..

It marks World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September and also recognises World Homeless Day which takes place a month later on 10 October.

A mix of music, street art, face painting, circus skills and creative activities aim to raise awareness of the fact that someone sleeping rough is nine times more likely to die by suicide than a member of the general public

94 men take their lives each week and figures from the Office for National Statistics in 2018 show that suicide is the second most common cause of death among people who are homeless in England and Wales.

Thirteen per cent of deaths in 2021 among homeless people were also due to suicide.

On the day, sleeping bags will be laid out on Southwater Square, Telford to spell the word ‘hope’ and there will also be a tree of hope for people to leave inspirational messages.

A series of water bottles have also been produced in conjunction with the Cameron Grant Memorial Trust which aim to support those that are homeless and suffering with mental ill health.

The bottles, which have local contact numbers for help and support on them, will be handed out to rough sleepers on the day.

Local campaigners who have experienced a loved one taking their own life are also helping to organise the event.

Support groups will have a presence on the day and provide information about the help which is available locally and nationally for people experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Follow the event on Twitter: #ProjectHopeTelford

Find out more about World Suicide Prevention day here and World Homeless Day here. Read the full story in the Telford Council newsroom.

Image: The 94 pairs of empty shoes laid out in Southwater Square in 2021 to highlight the number of men who take their own lives each week.


image of a person taking a survey

Current VCSE Engagement Opportunities

The VCSA newsletter will now contain a regular feature highlighting current open surveys and engagement opportunities that are relevant for VCSE organisations and their beneficiaries.

Flyers/materials for distribution will be made available for download as well as any relevant links. If you have engagement opportunities to share/list here please email Sarah Hampson, VCS Insight and Engagement Officer at Shropshire Council to have it included in an upcoming newsletter.

***

Access to Cost of Living Support Survey: Citizens Advice Shropshire and Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance put together this 10-min survey to understand access to cost of living support in the county. Individuals and organisations can take it. Closing date TBD

Third Sector Sexual Harassment in Fundraising Survey: Third Sector has launched an anonymous online survey that invites people working in the voluntary and not-for-profit sector to share their views on and experiences of sexual harassment in fundraising. Closing date TBD

Shaping the Future of Healthwatch Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin: Shropshire Council and Telford and Wrekin Council would like you to help them to shape how Healthwatch in your area will look from 2023 onwards. There are lots of changes happening in relation to health and social care services. For example, the new 'integrated care system' for the whole of Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin which aims to integrate care across different organisations and settings, joining up hospital and community-based services, physical and mental health, and health and social care. They  are interested in your views as to how Healthwatch best fits in to this new system. Closing 5th September

Telford and Wrekin Council Aging Well Survey: Share your views on the support you need to 'age well'. Telford and Wrekin Council, together with a wide range of our local partner organisations are launching a borough-wide “Ageing Well” consultation, asking residents over the age of 50 to share their views on the support they need to age well. Closing 16th September

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment for Shropshire: Shropshire residents and organisations are encouraged to provide feedback on experience of using pharmacy services, to help shape the future of pharmacy services in the county. Closing 30th September

DCMS Dormant Assets Scheme Consultation: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is providing an opportunity for the public, the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector and industry stakeholders to have their say on how to shape the direction of the Dormant Assets Scheme in England in the years ahead. Dormant assets are financial assets, such as bank accounts, that have been untouched for a long period. The Dormant Assets Scheme is led by the financial services industry and backed by the government with the aim of reuniting people with these financial assets. Where this is not possible, the Scheme unlocks this money for social and environmental initiatives across the UK. Closing 9th October 

Shropshire Healthy Weight Strategy Consultation: Shropshire Council and its partners are developing a Healthy Weight Strategy to help Shropshire residents achieve and maintain a healthy weight and this will be informed by the views of those who live and work in Shropshire. The consultation includes two short online surveys, one is aimed at members of the public and the other is intended for NHS, Council and staff from stakeholder organisations such as voluntary and community groups. Closing 31st October 

Open consultation Down Syndrome Act 2022 guidance:  This call for evidence will inform the development of the Down Syndrome Act statutory guidance. The Department of Health and Social Care are seeking your views on what should be included within the guidance. They will consider those views when producing draft guidance which we intend to publish for full public consultation. Closing 8th November

Healthwatch: 999 and ambulance services feedback. Healthwatch want to understand how the current strains on the ambulance service are impacting people’s health and lives. No closing date


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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Events and Training Opportunities


Cost of Living Briefing Sessions Available

 With 6 in 10 people now reporting being worried about their financial situation this session will be an opportunity for those working and volunteering across the Shropshire Council local authority area to: 

  • Gain an understanding of the cost-of-living crisis, the impact it is having and why it is such a pressing issue 
  • Increase knowledge of the key local support and resources available
  • Hear from professionals from Shropshire’s key organisations
  • Build confidence in approaching conversations about money
  • Ask questions through the Q&A session

This session is not about adding to existing workloads but recognising that the cost-of-living crisis is impacting all of us and the people we work to support. 

This 2-hour session aims to give staff and volunteers resources to help navigate what we know will unfortunately be a challenging period. 

Attendance is welcome from staff, councillors and volunteers across all public and voluntary sectors including health, care, community groups, employment, housing, education and faith groups.   

For any questions please contact: shropshirecostofliving@shropshire.gov.uk 

Two dates are available, both sessions will cover the same content. Please register using the links below. 

September 19th event, 2pm-4pm 

  

October 11th event, 2pm-4pm 

 


Upcoming library cost of living drop in sessions

gas safe charity

Free Carbon Monoxide Awareness Workshops

The risks of carbon monoxide poisoning increase as we move towards Autumn and Winter. The Gas Safe Charity continues to offer more of their popular and free carbon monoxide awareness workshops.

Aimed at front line staff and volunteers, they help people who work in the homes of vulnerable people to be more aware of the risks and to help prevent poisoning taking place. 

The interactive workshop lasts an hour.

To find out more and to book your place, visit the Eventbrite site.


NCVO logo

Free Training for Small NCVO Members

NCVO is partnering with Sage Foundation to offer their five most popular courses free to NCVO small charity members with an income under £50,000 this September and October.

Follow the links for individual course information and booking. Don’t delay as these places book up fast:

Charity trustee induction and refresher

Good practice in volunteer management

Safeguarding essentials

Financial intelligence for trustees

Outcomes and Impact Measurement

 


0-25 summit flyer

Event poster social value

ICS logo

NHS Shropshire Telford and Wrekin ICB:

Outpatient Services Public Engagement Session

 

When:             Friday 23 September 2022, 9.30am – 12pm

Where:            Via MS Teams link upon registration

Your local health and care organisations in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin are working together to improve outpatient services and are looking for local people to get involved.

Outpatients are when someone has an appointment in a hospital or clinic but does not need to stay overnight.

They are looking for the public, patients and carers to join us for a virtual event to tell us what they should consider in the design of future outpatient care.

This is an exciting opportunity for you to give your feedback and share your views to help inform the design of future outpatient care in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

Register on the Eventbrite site.


Shropshire charity network logo

Shropshire Charity Network Event

Online 29th September 9:30-10:30am

The speaker for this session will be Joanne Turley, Senior Consultant at ARK Consultancy, who will be presenting on Social Impact and how this can be measured effectively. The world of social enterprise and charity funding is filled with acronyms, and jargon. The terms social investment and social impact can be equally as confusing and difficult to understand. Joanne will be dispelling some myths and sharing her experience of how ARK have supported a wide range of organisations to develop bespoke social return on investment approaches to measure their social impact and outcomes.

This session will also include Dan Guy from S3 Tax. How would you feel about saving your charity some money? Dan is a VAT specialist who focuses on the third sector and will be sharing his tips on potential VAT reliefs for charities as well as potential cost saving opportunities.

Visit the Eventbrite site to register now!


Good Food Summit poster

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Job / Volunteer Opportunities


Shropshire Council logo header

Call for Volunteers to Champion Culture Across Shropshire

Shropshire Council is looking for up to 15 volunteer board members to establish and manage Shropshire’s new Cultural Compact. The compact will be independent of the council, and have a cross-sector partnership and broad membership, bringing together culture, business, education, health, social care and other sectors.

Its role will be to deliver the county’s cultural strategy, Vibrant Shropshire, to ensure that culture thrives in Shropshire and enhances the county’s health, wellbeing, resilience, economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.

The Cultural Compact has been made possible thanks to a £20,000 Arts Council England grant being awarded to Shropshire Council.

Volunteer board members will be responsible for:

  • delivering the county’s cultural strategy and strategic projects
  • raising funds to support the delivery of projects
  • recruitment of Compact members
  • communications and advocating on behalf of culture
  • working with the Department for Digital, Culture, Music and Sport and Arts Council England.

Cultural Compact candidates will be expected to demonstrate:

  • an understanding of how culture can be a catalyst for change and bring economic, environmental and social value to Shropshire
  • value collaborative working to achieve the county’s priorities
  • be a senior decision-maker and influencer in their own sector
  • volunteer time to attend quarterly meetings and deliver projects
  • be prepared to lead, participate in, or allocate resources to, projects
  • champion sustainability, equality, diversity and inclusion
  • use innovative tactics to raise funds for projects
  • be a strong networker, able to influence and advocate.

Potential candidates can find out more at an online briefing session on Thursday 15 September 2022 from 2pm to 2.30pm. Email CLT@Shropshire.gov.uk to book a place.

Applications, including a candidate’s CV and covering letter, can also be emailed to CLT@Shropshire.gov.uk. Closing date for entries is Monday 3 October 2022 at 12pm.


Shropshire Council logo header

Shropshire Carers Partnership Board Seeks Expert by Experience Co-chair  

Shropshire Carers Partnership Board, is seeking expressions of interest for the role of Expert by Experience Co-Chair.

As co-chair (with Cllr Simon Jones) of the Shropshire Carers Partnership Board, you will support work to make a difference to unpaid and family carers in Shropshire, including helping to achieve the values and priorities set out in the Shropshire All Age Carer Strategy. The Expert by Experience Co-Chair will have named contacts from the Shropshire Carers Partnership Board to discuss any queries and who will provide guidance and support as required.

Please download the application form and role description for further information. Closing date is 30th September.

If you have queries or need further information or support to complete the form, please email Jayne Smallman-Brooks or phone: 01743 258916.


SIP logo

Volunteer Engagement Officer, Maternity Cover

Oswestry based with Qube and a Northern Shropshire remit

Salary £23,484 pa (full time salary) + employer pension contribution

Hours: 37 hours per week

This role works very closely with the other members of the Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership Team (SIP).  This role, together with 3 others employed at Community Resource, delivers infrastructure support across Shropshire.

  • Job Purpose: To promote volunteering and encourage new volunteers to come forward for the benefit of Shropshire VCS organisations and communities. Provide advice, support, and guidance to local charitable groups/organisations, including support to volunteer managers on recruitment and retaining volunteers. Develop relations with community led based local groups to support future growth and sustainability
  • Key activities: To promote good practice in volunteer management in VCS organisations. To support and offer development advice to new and existing charitable groups/organisations through advice, guidance, and signposting. 

Download Job Description.

Please email Allison RichardsonTeam Leader for more information or if you would like to have an informal chat about the role.


NHS STW logo

NHS Seeking Community Representative For Anticipatory Care Working Group

NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin are looking for a Community Representative to sit on the Anticipatory Care Working Group.

Anticipatory Care is proactive healthcare and support, for people of all ages living with frailty, multiple long-term conditions and/or complex needs to help them stay independent and healthy for as long as possible at home, in the place they call home or in their local community. 

Your role will be to help make sure that the group considers the views and experiences of people using local services to influence the future of Anticipatory Care.

Currently the role is expected to take 5 hours per month which includes one virtual or in person meeting per fortnight. The role is expected to finish on 31st March 2023. The closing date for applications is 16th September 2022.

Find out more by visiting the NHS Shropshire Telford and Wrekin website.  You can also email Jayne Morris, Senior Engagement Officer, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin or telephone: 074848 80804.


Sessional Youth Worker - Bishop's Castle Youth Project

3 hours/week at £10/hour - potential increase in hours as the project develops Helping to deliver project outcomes including a Youth Drop-in facility for 12-16 year olds, a Junior youth club for 8-11 year olds and to set up a Youth Forum group to link with Bishop's Town Council. Including:

  • Help in the recruitment of young people and the preparation and planning of sessions. 
  • To form and sustain relationships with young people individually and in groups.
  • To deliver innovative approaches to youth work that enable and encourage young people‘s participation at all levels.

Full job description Application form to be sent to Richssyf@yahoo.com   Closing date: 9th September 2022


Sight Loss Shropshire Manager

Sight Loss Shropshire have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic manager to deliver high-quality business support to this long-established sight loss charity, now in its centenary year, to take the charity forwards in its development.

Location: Hybrid working can be agreed, subject to at least 15 hours per week worked at the office in Shrewsbury

Hours: Part-time, 30 hours per week (flexible working)

Salary: £25,000 – £28,750 pro rata (actual salary for 30 hours per week £20,000 – £23,000)

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: 28 days annual leave (including bank holiday) and pension

Closing Date: 11th September 2022; Interviews: 22nd September 2022

Download full job description and person specification. For full information and to apply, visit the Roots HR website.


Business Support Officer - Youth Focus West Midlands

Youth Focus West Midlands is small, registered charity.  It provides support to youth services based in the 14 local authority areas that make up the West Midlands region.   It offers support and guidance, information dissemination and collection, networking opportunities and training.   Due to a period of growth the organisation is now seeking a Business Support Officer (see job description and person spec). The post will be for 3 years in the 1st instance, but it is anticipated this will be extended. This role is self-employed at £11/hour, 10hrs/week, mostly home based with some travel to Birmingham / West Midlands.

  • To provide a range of comprehensive administrative/business support services for YFWM
  • To deliver an effective, efficient, and professional front line service.
  • To work with the CEO and the Board to share and promote good practice

Download full job description   To apply please send a CV and letter of application to ruth@yfwm.org.uk   Closing date: 16th September 2022


SSYF logo

SSYF Seeking Trustees

South Shropshire Youth Forum (SSYF) have quite a diverse group of trustees: Some old hands, some new trustees, some older people, some younger people, some retired, some working, some that used SSYF services when they were young and so on.

To accommodate everyone the trustees meet via Zoom in the evening and have an away day face to face once a year. There's still space for a few more trustees. Interested? Contact Rich Morley

There are various trustee roles - at the moment SSYF are particularly looking for someone willing to take on the Treasurer role. You don't necessarily have to have experience, training could be provided. Here's the role description. If you're not interested in being a Treasurer, do contact SSYF about the other roles!


Royal British Legion logo

Volunteers Needed: The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal

The Royal British Legion is here to help members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families. And we’re not going anywhere.

Volunteering with them helps make an enormous difference to the Armed Forces community. However much time you can give, there are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved as a volunteer and make a difference.

Have a bit more time to spare or looking to expand your skills? The Royal British Legion are recruiting for a Poppy Appeal Organiser for Oswestry, High Ercall and Telford Central. To find out more and apply please click on the adverts below:

Oswestry Poppy Appeal Organiser

High Ercall Poppy Appeal Organiser

Telford Poppy Appeal Organiser

You can also visit the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal volunteers website to learn more.


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 and Funding News


New Cost of Living Grants Fund for Older People

Short Application Window

The charity, Independent Age is providing a total of 25 grants of £40,000 each to charities and community organisations across the UK.

The funding is intended to ‘get more money into the pockets of older people and help ensure they do not have to choose between buying food to eat and heating their homes this winter’.

Applications will be accepted from registered or exempt UK charities, charitable incorporated organisations (CIO) or community interest companies (CIC) with an annual turnover of at least £100,000.

There is particular interest in local community based charities that are providing advice, practical help and support to older people in their neighbourhoods, where such work can be scaled up appropriately.

The funding is intended for projects such as the following:

  • Advice and information initiatives – such as helplines, drop-in sessions or community outreach work – that provide guidance to establish whether someone is entitled to relevant benefits.
  • Active support programmes that, through guidance to fill in forms and the like, help over 65s to claim benefits they are entitled to.
  • Budgeting advice and/or support to access better energy deals.
  • Debt advice, where an organisation is appropriately registered to give this.
  • Short-term help, such as access to grants to deal with one-off costs or emergencies or subsidised property maintenance, for older people already struggling financially.

To be eligible, projects must be in addition to or an extension of existing work, take place within the UK and be publicly accessible.

The funding can be used flexibly, for example to cover the costs of an additional role to deliver the work, or to produce resources to help expand the work being done.

Projects should be ready to start from November 2022 and completed by 31 December 2023.

There is a two-stage application process.

Phase 1 applications will be accepted from 1 September to 16 September 2022. Find out more and apply via the Independent Age website.


Small Grants Available to Support Refugees in England

Church Urban Fund, in partnership with Benefact Trust, is offering funding intended to aid refugees by:

  • Providing items to cover basic needs.
  • Helping with settlement into life in England.
  • Providing safe spaces and networks of support.

Grants of £500 to £5,000 are on offer to Christian churches and registered Christian charities operating in England.

The funds should be used for specific projects or activities such as:

  • Personal items such as clothing, mobile phones, bicycles, baby items.
  • Expenses for volunteers or facilities.
  • Integration and settling activities.
  • Language support.
  • Home items.

The primary focus is on Ukrainian refugees, though work supporting Afghan refugees will also be considered.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until 9 December 2022. For more information and to apply, visit the Church Urban Fund website.


British Science Week 2023 Funding for Community Groups

British Science Week (BSW) is an annual programme of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) events and activities that takes place across the UK in March each year.

The British Science Association offers grants to UK community groups that work directly with audiences who are traditionally under-represented and currently not engaged in science activity, including:

  • People from ethnic minorities.
  • People with low socio-economic status (SES), including people disadvantaged in terms of education and income.
  • People with a physical or mental condition or impairment.
  • People living in a remote and rural location, defined as settlements of less than 10,000 people.
  • Girls and women.

Applications from special educational needs, additional support needs, hospital and supplementary schools, as well as English as a Second Language groups are welcome.

Two levels of grants are available:

  • £500 grants to run one or more events during British Science Week.
  • £1,000 grants to run one or more events during British Science Week, as well as follow-up activities that will lead to continued engagement after British Science Week.

Examples of eligible events and activities include, but are not limited to:

  • Sports science sessions with football and rugby clubs.
  • Community-created science exhibitions in places of worship, community gardens, libraries and pubs.
  • Community-led research projects and experiments with youth clubs and groups with special educational needs.
  • Scientifically-informed theatre productions and art activities.
  • Activity packs and pre-recorded videos.

Digital and hybrid physical/digital activities can be supported.

The fund will open on 21 September 2022 and close on 7 November 2022. For more information and to apply, visit the British Science Week Grants website.


Prince’s Countryside Fund Opens for Autumn 2022 Round

The Prince’s Countryside Fund is currently accepting applications from constituted, not-for-profit organisations with an income of less than £500,000 for projects that will create a long-term difference in rural communities across the UK.

Grants of up to £25,000 over two years are available for projects that can be completed by January 2025.

The funding is designed to support community-led projects that are pursuing innovative and strategic solutions to the challenges facing their rural area and which will improve the viability and resilience of their community.

Successful projects will achieve one or more of the following:

  • Support people to resolve existing and emerging community issues, circumstances, and priorities in their locality.
  • Build rural community resilience.
  • Develop innovative and replicable projects.
  • Enable leadership and community planning.
  • Improve the economic or social resilience of a rural community.
  • Reduce isolation for people living in rural areas through improving service provision.
  • Create a self-sufficient rural community fit for the future.

There is particular interest in 'fledgling' ideas and projects.

There are a number of funding restrictions, including purchase of food, working capital, youth clubs or projects where there may be other more appropriate funders, such as those dealing with domestic violence, dementia or elderly care, and migration.

Groups are encouraged to submit their application before the deadline as the link to the application form will be taken down at midday on the closing date.

The deadline for applications is midday on 11 October 2022. For more information and to apply visit the Prince's Countryside Fund website.


Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust Opens for Final 2022 Funding Round

Registered and exempt charities in the UK can now apply to the fourth round of funding from the Trust, which has focused its grants on the arts throughout 2022.

This round is dedicated to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) artists and groups.

Eligible activities could support:

  • BAME performers.
  • Outreach projects within BAME communities.
  • Initiatives to increase participation with BAME communities.

Grants of £5,000 are on offer, though groups must have a minimum income and operating expenditure of £1 million to apply. There is no maximum threshold. Charities can apply for one grant per calendar year.

The deadline to apply is 30 September 2022. Visit the Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust website for more information and to apply.


Next Application Window for Community Gardens Award

National Garden Scheme will soon be welcoming applications for the 2023 Community Gardens Award in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

During this round, grants of £500 to £5,000 will be available to established community groups with their own bank account.

The funding is for the creation of a garden or a similar project (such as an allotment) with horticultural focus for the benefit of the local community.

Grants could cover expenses such as:

  • Site preparation (including hire of small mechanical tools such as rotavators).
  • Hand tools.
  • Plants.
  • Trees.
  • Shrubs.
  • Containers.
  • Seating

The project should bring people together and encourage sharing of gardening skills and knowledge.

Applications will open on 17 October 2022 and close on 31 January 2023. Find out more and apply on the National Garden Scheme website.


Don't forget to check out the VCSA's latest funding roundup, which is now available to view on our website, or you can click here to download a copy now.

Don't forget to check out our list of grants with rolling deadlines as well!

Don't see something on this list that should be here? Please contact us and let us know.

 

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To share your news with Shropshire Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly members and our partners email: VCSAssembly@shrophire.gov.uk