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The Cock Inn, Hanwood – after the work
Community Asset Grant Scheme: The Cock Inn at Hanwood
The Cock Inn at Hanwood has been transformed following a successful £11,000 grant application to support voluntary sector organisations and community groups with pandemic recovery.
The Community Asset Grant Scheme, administered through Shropshire Council, is Government-funded from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and aims to provide direct business grants and wider business support following a turbulent period during the pandemic.
The grant funding was open to organisations who could evidence the economic, social and environmental benefits each project would deliver, and the further health and wellbeing benefits it could provide for the community.
One successful applicant, former pub The Cock Inn at Hanwood, has been run as a Community Interest Company since 2017 after it was purchased on behalf of the community by the late Bill Longmore and his wife Ursula. This purchase saved the village pub at the heart of Hanwood.
The company is managed by 10 local members of the village and all profits are reinvested in the property which has experienced many years of under investment.
The grant award of £11,000 received from Shropshire Council was used to help transform the layout of the pub. The project involved removing the current bar and serving area, rebuilding and relocating it, all whilst repurposing many of the original materials.
In addition, electrical and plumbing provisions were upgraded, alongside new flooring and a total redecoration. The aims of the work were to refresh and modernise the venue and to design a space that suited its current trade. The works now provide new opportunities and functionalities of the venue, such as a café for commercial or hired use.
A café was always a long-term objective for the venue, but due to its former configuration, seemed like a pipedream. Whilst there is no set plan for the café project currently, The Cock Inn is now in a position where the property is in a much better state to support future projects. The facility is now a venue for the whole community to benefit from.
Grants totalling more than £140,000 were awarded to community groups across Shropshire to boost their recovery from the pandemic as part of the council’s government-funded ARG programme.
The design of the pilot grant scheme to benefit community assets is thanks in large part to a VCSA-led discussion with voluntary and community partners to make recommendations about the best ways to target the ARG funds.
Shropshire Warm Welcome: Setting Up a Warm Space This Winter?
Many community and VCS organisations in Shropshire are considering setting up a "warm hub" this winter in response to the cost of living crisis.
CILIP, the library and information association, has published a comprehensive set of guidelines that is well worth reading if your organisation is thinking about setting up a warm hub. The resource is titled: ‘A Warm Welcome. Setting up a warm space in your community’ and covers everything from how to calculate the cost of heating your space, to what to consider around site accessibility and offering activities and services.
If your organisation is offering a warm hub or is thinking about doing so, but needs more resources, please consider completing this questionnaire from Shropshire Council, which is creating an interactive map to signpost people to what hubs are open and available to people throughout the county.
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Shropshire Sexual Health Service
Number Change
The telephone number for sexual health services in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire has now changed to:
0808 178 0955
This number is linked to a new, improved telephone system, which aims to reduce patient waiting times.
For the coming weeks, the old number will divert through to the new system, but the service asks that you please update any records you have to their new number.
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Carers Support Team Releases Winter Wellness Guide
Shropshire Council's Carers Support Team have released a winter wellness guide for those who are carers in the county.
The cold weather runs a risk of affecting anyone, the team says, but some people are more vulnerable to the effects of winter, those to consider are:
- People aged 65 and over
- People on a low income (so cannot afford heating)
- People who have a long-term health condition
- People with a disability
- People who find it hard to keep warm, such as babies and young people, bed bound or those with addictions.
- People who have a mental health condition
The wellness guide is an excellent resource for carers of all ages and backgrounds, offering tips and resources on everything from getting Flu vaccines to help with the cost of living. Download the guide here, and visit the carers support team web page for more information.
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VCSA Survey: Impacts of the Cost of Living Crisis on Your Organisation
Is your organisation starting to see impacts from the cost of living crisis on your staff or your volunteers?
We want to hear from you!
The first wave in a series of four short surveys to voluntary and community sector organisations across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin is now open. These surveys will take place over the next few months, between October 2022 and February 2023.
Take Wave 1 Now! (open through 26th October)
Each survey contains just a few questions, so it takes under 5 minutes to complete, but taken together, the four waves of the survey should give us a good picture of how the cost of living crisis is impacting the sector in our county.
This information will be used to help inform decision-makers in the council and the sector about the impacts of the crisis on organisations like yours.
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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.
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Shropshire Healthwatch - Getting a GP referral for tests or support: Healthwatch Shropshire wants to hear from people about their experiences with GP referrals. Please share the link below with your service beneficiaries who might be interested. Closing date TBD
Shropshire Council Warm Hubs Questionnaire: Is your organisation planning to run a "warm hub" this winter, or are you thinking about doing so? Shropshire Council would like to help you get the word out about your hub. Closing date TBD
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
Shropshire Carers Support Team Local Activities Survey: Shropshire Carers Support Team are gathering information on the very local activities and groups that are happening throughout all areas of Shropshire. To help them do this, they are asking communities across the county to let them know where they get their local information from that informs people of their local activities in their area. This could be local newsletters (for example from your local parish or town council), Facebook groups or other social platforms such as NextDoor. This information will be used to help those who access social care and their carers’, to connect with local activities in their area, which will help support them. Closing 31st 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
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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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Your Health Admin Course Available with Shropshire Libraries
Do your beneficiaries:
- Struggle to get hold of a GP and make appointments?
- Need to find trustworthy information about their condition?
- Want a better way to order prescriptions?
- Want to learn to use the NHS App?
Public libraries in Shropshire now offer Your Health Admin. This is a free, flexible, short course, completed with a friendly member of library staff. It’s open to anyone who wants to learn how to manage their health online.
Your Health Admin is available until December at these libraries. Contact the library to book a place.
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Babies, Children and Young People’s Social Prescribing:
Webinar 1 (NHS England)
10-12 am 10 November 2022
Whilst for many years there has been a wealth of social prescribing in the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector for babies, children and young people (BCYP) it has not necessarily been called ‘social prescribing’ and at times not been joined up strategically. However, this is changing and BCYP social prescribing is gaining more attention with an increasing need to develop learning, understanding, as well as a good evidence base.
Aim of the webinar
The aim of the webinar is to support partners in the Midlands to discuss and explore the opportunities and improved outcomes that social prescribing can bring to babies, children, young people and their families by sharing good practice and bringing this practice to life with examples. Attendees may use the webinar to learn from each other, ask questions and present their challenges around this topic for consideration for future webinars.
Who should attend?
- Local authority and NHS commissioners and providers for babies, children and young people’s services
- Local authority Children’s Services and Early Help Strategic leads
- Emerging ICS/Primary Care Network Leadership for CYP
- Voluntary and Community Sector Leadership/Maternity Voices /Health Watch
Download the full NHS England webinar flyer for more information
Register your place here
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NCVO: Launch of UK Civil Society Almanac 2022
18th October / 11am - Noon / Online
NCVO is launching the 2022 edition of the UK Civil Society Almanac, NCVO’s their hugely important annual data resource on the size, scope and financial circumstances of the voluntary sector.
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Diabetes UK Local Events in October
Diabetes UK are holding two local diabetes engagement events called 'Shaping the future of diabetes care'.
All patients are invited to attend, as well as interested VCS health professionals.
Telford event Tuesday 18 October 6-8pm at Mercure Hotel
Shrewsbury event Thursday 20 October 6-8pm at Shrewsbury Town Football Club
This is a great opportunity for you to find out what services are available for people with diabetes in Shropshire; to ask local health care professionals and commissioners questions on diabetes care, and to find out what the future holds.
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 Interested in attending? Email Marinke Fontein, SSYN Infrastructure Support Officer, for details.
Safeguarding Adults Week 21 – 27 November 2022, will focus on the theme ‘Responding to Contemporary Safeguarding Challenges’
Safeguarding Adults Week is a time for organisations to come together to raise awareness of important safeguarding issues.
Telford and Wrekin Safeguarding Partnership, Shropshire Safeguarding Partnership and Shropshire Partners in Care are delivering a week of events to support organisations and individuals to explore different elements of adult safeguarding including exploitation, predatory marriage, the abuse of older people, self-neglect and creating Safer organisational cultures.
The events are available to the workforce and interested individuals in Shropshire, Telford, and Wrekin.
Download the full timetable of events here.
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Volunteer with the NSPCC
Be a ‘Speak out. Stay safe.’ volunteer
NSPCC ‘Speak out. Stay safe.’ volunteers are returning to primary schools. They are looking for new volunteers to join them and help us protect a generation of children from abuse and neglect. As a ‘Speak out. Stay safe’ volunteer, you will visit primary schools to deliver ‘Speak out. Stay safe’ workshops that teach children about the different typed of abuse and how they can speak out to stay safe.
Their ‘Speak out. Stay safe’ workshops are age-appropriate and memorable and need energetic and enthusiastic people to deliver them. You’ll work alongside other ‘Speak out. Stay safe’ volunteers to make sure at the end of each session, children feel empowered and know who to speak out to if they are worried.
If you are interested in volunteering as a ‘Speak out. Stay safe’ volunteer and want to find out more about the role, the next step is to attend a Volunteer Information Meeting which is a fantastic opportunity to:
- Meet with staff as well as volunteers to ask any questions you may have
- Learn more about the application process and your volunteer journey
Their meetings are designed to help you decide whether you want to apply -there’s no obligation that you will apply if you attend one. At the meeting you’ll also receive information on other ways you can become a supporter of the NSPCC.
Download the role profile
If you have any questions or experience any issues, please email the Volunteer Recruitment Team.
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Save Our Shropshire Seeking Community Engagement Volunteer and Multiple Trustees
Save Our Shropshire (SOS) is a dynamic charity delivering training to Parish and Town councils to help them tackle the climate emergency.
The training – approved by the Carbon Literacy Project – is directed at clerks and councillors of Parish and Town councillors to support their work in putting together a practical plan of how to both make their own property “carbon-neutral” and get involved in engaging their communities in changing their lifestyles.
SOS focus on the fact that the Shropshire community (and everywhere) will only tackle climate change by changing behaviour in its daily life. People need to change the way that they travel, eat, buy, and power their homes. Behaviour change is very difficult with humans!
SOS would like people to help them follow through with their training for councillors and clerks in order to support them in their work of developing their plans and their community engagement.
They want to hear from people who have the following skills:
- Experience in developing relationships with “clients/partners”
- Skills in managing projects and making them happen
- Mentoring and consulting with “clients” to become a dependable resource
- An excellent understanding of how local government works.
- Use of systems like “Customer Relationship Management”
They want enthusiasm to achieve net zero by 2030, and a commitment to bringing about the required behaviour change.
Visit Save Our Shropshire website for details on the open community engagement and trustee opportunities.
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Shropshire Remap Looking for Volunteers: Especially in Shrewsbury and Telford
Remap is a 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.
Remap volunteers are experienced engineers, crafts people or competent DIYers with access to a wide variety of skills and expertise. Remap Shropshire is one of 70+ local groups spread across the UK.
Each piece of equipment is tailor-made to suit the specific needs of one individual and is for their personal use only.
Remap usually work with health professionals like occupational therapists to make sure that the equipment they provide meets the needs of each person. It is best for those they are helping to involve their occupational therapist, or other health professional, from an early stage, but they do take self-referrals for simpler items.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, or would like more information, please email John or phone 07807 113285.
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Energize STW Looking for New CEO
Circa £50-55k p.a. (dependent on suitability) with attractive benefits package
Full Time, Permanent contract. Based in Shrewsbury (hybrid working) with local travel
Energize needs someone who:
- Shares their genuine passion, values and commitment to the role physical activity can play in helping people transform their lives.
- Thrives in partnership working and really excels in bringing people with common purpose together to collaborate and help build a movement.
- Can demonstrate a proven track record of effective organisational leadership including governance, strategy development, financial and risk management acumen, empowering people and operational planning.
- Is personally engaging with a drive and credible style which influences, motivates and inspires others along with a desire to innovate and learn.
Full advert and job description are available on the Energize website.
To apply for the role please send an up-to-date CV and supporting statement (of no more than 2 pages) outlining your skills, suitability and experience to Ali Shipway at Shipway Consulting Limited. For a more informal discussion about the role please contact the Chair of the Board, Ray Sheldon, in first instance by phone on 07767 370692.
Closing date for applications is 23rd October 2022.
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Advice Services Manager (Partnerships)
Location: Shrewsbury
Hours per week: 37 hours
Salary: Starting salary £31,913 rising to £33,782 depending on experience + Pension Contribution Holidays: 28 days + Bank Holidays
Contract type: Permanent
In this role, you will be responsible to the Chief Executive Officer and to work with the Senior Management Team to:
- develop and ensure effective access to high quality advice services across the county and national funded programmes through a range of delivery methods.
- To oversee the management of current identified contracts and lead on Health & Safety and Information Assurance.
Further details and application form (no CVs) are available from the CAB Shropshire website.
Closing Date: 5pm Monday 17th October 2022. Interviews held in Shrewsbury office on Thursday 27th October 2022
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YSS Seeking Volunteers
YSS is a charity operating across Shropshire and Telford for over 30 years now. Their aim has been to support people in the local community to overcome obstacles, feel safe and be part of their local community. Volunteers have always been an important part of their operation, as they recognise the difference volunteers can make in supporting people alongside local practitioners.
YSS Volunteers can do a variety of tasks depending on their preferences and availability. The only certainty is that by volunteering, they can make a real difference in a person’s life while gaining valuable experience and knowledge.
For people who enjoy learning more about the criminal justice system and supporting young people navigate through it, you could act as an Appropriate Adult for YSS. All you have to do is support the young person while in custody and make sure all procedures are followed.
On the other hand, for people who enjoy supporting individuals on a one to one basis, they have volunteer mentors opportunities. Their volunteer mentors work with service users in their local area who could come from any of the services.
If you are interested in finding out more of what they do, their services and their volunteering opportunities contact YSS, talk to them and get to know them! Know someone who might be interested? You can also download their volunteer flyer here.
The YSS Volunteer Coordinator for Shropshire and Telford is always happy to have a chat! Simply email Pam Fenkli or call at 07815 961188
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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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Community Matters Fund - Fuel Poverty Plus
Localgiving has teamed up with National Grid Electricity Distribution to tackle fuel poverty this winter and they are distributing grants of up to £10,000 to non-profits and local authorities who are working on this theme. There is £2.5million worth of grants available until 31st of October and the application process is very simple.
Eligibility
-Must be in a National Grid Electricity Distribution area - check here
-Must have a bank account in organisation's name with 2 signatories
-Must have a governing document/constitution
-Can apply for up to £10,000 or 50% of most recent annual income.
For further information and to apply, click here where you will also find the guidance document, application questions and Frequently Asked Questions.
Shropshire Community Resource: Grow and Thrive Grant Fund
VCS groups and organisations provide a wide range of community support to people in communities and they want to ensure that these groups can continue to develop, grow and remain active for as long as they are needed. The aim of the Grow and Thrive Grant is to give a modest amount of funding to help this process. They also want to encourage groups to look at new ways of working so they they can be more efficient, more effective, engage more with local people and offer local people more opportunities to volunteer.
Funding available:
Grants between £500 and £5,000 maximum
Eligibility:
For funded schemes in Shropshire that predominantly serve Shropshire residents and are:
- Working with individuals or groups of people to reduce loneliness, isolation and prevent the deterioration of health and wellbeing OR
- Working with groups or children/adults at risk in their community who have additional support needs AND
- Are, or will be, offering opportunities that will boost public participation, help stimulate the local economy and provide social value including opportunities to volunteer.
How to apply:
Application form - Apply here
Further information - Download here
Deadline:
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. The grants scheme will be closed once all available funds have been allocated.
Shropshire Community Resource: Spark Up Grant Fund
The Covid 19 pandemic has shown that when one or two individuals recognise there is a need for a service or additional support in their community, a solution can be found but to make that happen some initial seed funding is required. Funded by Shropshire Council through the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF), Community Resource is making available small grants to help start up new initiatives, or new community support groups which can/ or will be delivering practical help and support to help people in their community.
Funding available:
Grants between £50 and £300 maximum
Eligibility:
For funded schemes in Shropshire that predominantly serve Shropshire residents and from applicants that demonstrate:
- They are/will be working with individuals or groups of people who require some additional support or have an additional needs
- They are, or will be, providing practical help or support to people in their community e.g adult/children at risk, the elderly, children and young people, young families
How to apply:
Application form - Apply here
Further information - Download here
Deadline:
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. The grants scheme will be closed once all available funds have been allocated.
Grants for Securing a Fairer Future Now Available
The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, one of the largest grant-making institutions in the UK, has reopened its Fairer Future funding stream with revised priorities.
Under the 2022 Strategy, there is a focus on work that contributes to a socially just and anti-racist society, where people have their rights protected, as well as the opportunity to speak and be heard, and the freedom to express their creativity.
There are five updated priority areas:
- Arts and Creativity Making Change.
- Children and Young People’s Rights.
- Racial Justice.
- Gender Justice.
- Migrant Justice.
Charities and organisations that are undertaking work that is legally charitable in the UK can apply, providing they are properly constituted and their annual turnover is at least £100,000.
The minimum grant offered is £30,000, with grants offered across a fairly wide spectrum of sizes. As such, organisations are encouraged to apply for the amount that they need.
Most grants are for three years or longer and can cover project/core costs. Unrestricted grants can also be offered to registered charities.
There will be a series of webinars in the coming weeks for addressing each of the programme’s priorities.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Visit the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation website for more information and to apply.
Deadline approaching for Electrical Safety Fund
In response to the cost-of-living crisis and the likelihood of electricity safety being compromised by financial issues, Electrical Safety First is offering grants of up £5,000 for fire and rescue services, community safety groups, trading standards authorities, and other not-for-profit organisations across the UK to deliver projects addressing electrical safety.
Through the Electrical Safety Fund, a total of £100,000 is available to support activities that tackle risks associated with electrical products, increasing the public’s awareness of electrical safety, and promoting changes in behaviour to keep people safe, such as:
- Product testing and product replacement events (eg amnesty events to replace unsafe electric blankets, portable heaters etc).
- Educational and raising awareness activities.
- Home safety activities/visits.
Grants of up to £10,000 may also be considered for joint or large-scale applications.
The deadline for applications is 23 October 2022 (midnight). For more information and to apply visit the Electrical Safety Fund webpage.
LGBT+ Consortium Seeking Applications from Small Groups
With less than a month until the deadline, the LGBT+ Futures: Equity Fund has opened a ‘Really Small Grants Programme’ to attract smaller grassroots applicants.
The programme, which features a simplified application process with fewer questions, will accept requests of up to £1,000.
Constituted not-for-profit groups can apply, as long as their primary purpose is to support one of the following target groups within the LGBT+ community:
- Trans and Non-Binary people.
- LGBT+ people from Black, Asian and Minoritised Ethnicities and LGBT+ people of colour.
- LBT+ women.
- Older LGBT+ people.
- Disabled LGBT+ people
Funding is intended to be as flexible as possible. Grants can cover both project and core funding, providing organisations can demonstrate they are making a meaningful impact in their targeted communities.
All grants must be fully spent by August 2023. The deadline to apply is 30 October 2022. To find out more about the "Really Small Grants" programme and to apply, visit the LGBT+ Futures: Equity Fund 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
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