VCSA Newsletter Week of 13th March 2023

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Newsletter for the Week of 13th March 2023


News


Sarah Kerr (right) with Shropshire High Sheriff Selina Graham (left)

Sarah Kerr (right) with Shropshire High Sheriff Selina Graham (left)

Shropshire Veterans Champion Wins High Sheriff’s Award

Sarah Kerr, Shropshire Council’s veterans hub co-ordinator, has been recognised with the High Sheriff’s Award for her commitment to developing support for the Armed Forces community in Shropshire.

Selina Graham, the High Sheriff of Shropshire, makes the personal award to recognise and celebrate the work of individuals and organisations within the county who have made outstanding contributions to the communities in which they live or work.

Sarah, who is part of the Armed Forces Covenant team, was nominated for recognition by Squadron Leader Kim Leach at RAF Shawbury, Sue Meir-Bruce from Combat Stress and Kelda Wood from Climbing Out.

Her nominations read:

“Sarah has gone above and beyond in her role arranging face-to-face outreaches around the county, supported by a number of volunteers who have a military connections.

She has been an excellent form of communication between services and charities for veteran, ensuring the veterans care is being looked at holistically and all agents are kept informed as well as co-ordinating all agencies. She works hard to ensure the Armed Forces Covenant is spread far and wide, arranges meetings and liaises between veterans and agencies to ensure the veteran receives the correct pathway that suits their needs.

Sarah goes above and beyond the call of duty and always with a smile on her face.”

After receiving the award Sarah said:

“I am absolutely overwhelmed to receive this award on behalf of myself and the volunteers that support the work I do, and I am very humbled by the comments. I am fortunate to do a job I love, working alongside some brilliant teams.”


smartphone and laptop

Shropshire Council and Partners Collaborate on Response to House of Lords Committee Inquiry on Digital Exclusion

Shropshire Council has submitted a detailed response to the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee Inquiry on Digital Exclusion and the Cost of Living.

Shropshire Council's response was informed by the work of the Shropshire Hardship and Poverty Group, (which includes many VCSA members, such as Shropshire Citizens Advice, the Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance, Age UK Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Landau, Community Resource, NILS, and Marches Energy Agency) as well as evidence gathered by the Rural Services Network (RSN).

The response included insights into questions such as "what is the economic and social impact" of digital exclusion in the UK? As well as "how has the rising cost of living affected digital exclusion?"

A full copy of Shropshire Council's response to the inquiry can be read here.


woodburning stove

Support with Energy Bills for Those Off-Grid

The Government has opened online application portals for its Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding and Alternative Fuel Payments for those who do not receive the energy discount automatically.

The Energy Bills Support Scheme is a £400 discount on energy bills that most households have received automatically as a discount on their bills though their electricity provider. The Alternative Fuel Payment is a £200 payment for households that do not use mains gas and instead use an alternative such as LPG or biomass. Most eligible households will also have received the Alternative Fuel Payment automatically via their electricity provider.

Some households will not have received these payments automatically because they do not have a direct relationship to an electricity provider. These households may include park home and care home residents as well as some private and social tenants.

If households do not have a direct relationship to an electricity provider, they will need to make an application through GOV.UK in order to receive their energy bills support payments.

You can search “apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically” in the GOV.UK search bar or through another online search engine. You will also be able to view eligibility criteria this way before completing an application.

Remember, you will not be contacted and asked to provide bank details or personal information before making your initial application for either of these payments.  Be scam aware and do not share this information with anybody you are not expecting contact from.

Click below to download Q&A fact sheets developed especially for partners by Shropshire Council to help understand and navigate these funds.

EBSS Alternative Fund Q&A

Alternative Fuel Payments Q&A


clock

Shropshire Council Customer Service Centre Opening Times Consultation

Shropshire Council is consulting on proposed changes to its Customer Service Centre (CSC) opening times. The Customer Service Centre handles telephone and other forms of contact from customers for around 50 different council services and is currently open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

On Thursday, 9th March, the VCSA Board heard from Chris Westwood, the Service Delivery and Improvement Manager at the council, about these proposed changes first hand. Chris shared a presentation about the proposals, which can be viewed here.

Chris explained that the Customer Service Centre handles some complex issues for Shropshire’s residents in relation to Adult Social Care, concerns for children, risk of homelessness or financial crisis affecting families. These types of contact from people will always need a skilled adviser and will not be affected by the proposed changes

However many other calls are for the more “generalist” side of Shropshire Council’s Customer Service Centre (CSC) and are for relatively simple requests that can be made another way, particularly using online requests.  It is the opening hours for these services that form the proposal for change. Existing calls data, such as when the service receives the highest and lowest volume of calls, has been used to identify proposed changes in opening times. Under proposals, the CSC would still be open six hours a day, five days a week for those who still want to contact the council this way but there are different options. The consultation seeks views on the options for proposed opening times. 

The consultation opens today, 13th March for 6 weeks and closes 23rd April 2023.

Please help encourage clients and service users to participate. Here are ways to give your feedback:

  • Online survey
  • If you can’t go online, copies of the consultation are available at the following Shropshire Council libraries;  Bayston Hill, Bridgnorth, Church Stretton, Gobowen, Library at the Lantern, Ludlow, Market Drayton, Much Wenlock, Oswestry, Pontesbury, Shrewsbury, Wem and Whitchurch 
  • At Shropshire Council’s Shropshire Local sites in Ludlow and Shrewsbury 
  • If you would like the survey in an alternative format, please email TellUs@shropshire.gov.uk to request a copy or call 0345 678 9077 and explain any support you need to allow you to respond.

Please also help spread the word about this consultation! Here are some social media assets for you to use:


children playing in spring

Bookings for the Spring/Easter HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) Programme 2023 Now Open

Following a successful two years, the Shropshire HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) programme is continuing in 2023, offering more opportunities for eligible children and young people to access free holiday activity during the three main school holidays.

Shroipshire Council are thrilled to announce that existing HAF clubs which have been running across the county during the last 6 months, will be happening again and the programme has been extended to include six new areas of the county (Claverley, Much Wenlock, Cleobury Mortimer, Bishop’s Castle, Morda and Whitchurch).

Bookings for the Spring/Easter HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) Programme 2023 are now open. From 3 to 14 April 2023, eligible children and young people are invited to take part in a range of fun activities, happening at 45 venues from across the county. 

The clubs offer a range of activities such as sports, arts, cooking, forest schools, den building and dance. There is something on offer for everyone. Free nutritious meals are provided at each session, as well as information on nutrition to benefit the whole family.

See the Spring/Easter promo film to get a taster of the activities on offer Spring 2023 Promo v2 - YouTube

There are free places available on the programme for children and young people aged 4 (reception class age) to 16, who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals and for those who have been referred onto HAF by a professional.

Places are also available for Ukrainian families, currently staying in Shropshire with host families. 

Some of the holiday programmes also include spaces for children and young people who are not in receipt of free school meals.

Click to download the following helpful information:

There is lots of information on the HAF webpages, including translated versions of the What’s On Guide, Information Leaflet and Promo Film - www.shropshire.gov.uk/HAF


vcsa logo

VCSA 2023 Membership Refresh

Renew your membership with us, or join for the first time!

A new digital membership form is now available online, and can be completed by visiting the VCSA website. Each organisation only needs to fill out the form once, and additional contact names can be added whenever you want. Please note, that if you are currently a member and want to continue your VCSA membership, you will need to complete this new form.

Any voluntary and community sector group or organisation working for the benefit of Shropshire can join free of charge. Your group or organisation can be as active as you choose. Check out our website for more on the benefits of joining.

You can also connect with us on social media! We are on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and would love to hear from you.


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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Have Your Say: Current VCSE Engagement Opportunities


VCSE Research Engagement Survey: Staffordshire and Shropshire Health and Care Economy Research Partnership (SSHERPa) are working to find out about how voluntary and community groups across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin are engaging with research opportunities. The overall aim of this project is to develop more diverse and inclusive relationships for health and care research and ensure that a wider range of people have the chance to be involved in research. They want to know if your organisation has ever been involved with research. They'd also like to know if you haven’t, what has stopped you and if you might like to be involved in the future. Closing date TBD

Healthwatch Shropshire: Healthwatch Shropshire wants to know about people’s experience of making complaints about their NHS or social care services, not only if people achieved the outcome they sought through the complaint but also their experience of making the complaint, did they feel supported, did they have the information they needed, how they were treated and if they felt listened to. Closing date TBD

Ofsted SEND Inspection for Telford & Wrekin: Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) want to know about the help and support that children and young people with SEND get in Telford & Wrekin. They are surveying children and young people, parents and carers, and professionals working with children or young people with SEND in education, health or care services. Closing 9am 14th March

Product Safety Research for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Communities: Closha Associates and Bolton Deaf Society have recently been awarded a small grant to undertake research into the accessibility of information on Product Safety for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities. Their research will help their funder to understand how they can design their services in a more inclusive way, which is particularly important as they release urgent safety warnings about products that could cause serious injuries. We are looking to run some focus groups with local Deaf Centres as part of this work and will also be producing some product safety messages in BSL. Closing 15th March

Shrewsbury Health and Wellbeing Hub Targeted Engagement: NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin wants to hear resident's views on a proposal to create a state-of-the-art hub to benefit the health and wellbeing of patients and the community in the South of Shrewsbury. This phase of community engagement is targeted to those who they have heard less from in previous engagement activity.  They are seeking the support of community organisations in Shropshire to help them connect with key groups within your networks and to share details of how seldom heard people can get involved in this important piece of work.  Especially: Young people (16-24); Elderly people and in particular those 80+; Males; People identifying as LGBT+; People from diverse ethnic minority groups; People with disabilities; Expectant and new parents. Closing 31st March

Rural Cost of Living Household Survey: The Rural Services Network has launched this survey in partnership with the Citizens Advice Rural Issues Group. Independent research commissioned by the RSN in summer last year shows rural areas are suffering more acutely from the cost of living crisis compared to urban areas. To lend more weight to the argument for more funding for rural areas the RSN is calling on as many rural residents as possible to complete a Rural Cost of Living Household Survey. The purpose of the survey is to understand more about rural household budgets at, what is, a very difficult time for many. Closing 31st March

National Youth Sector Census: The National Youth Sector Census is a survey of all youth sector provision across England. It aims to capture an accurate picture of youth services and out of school activities.  If you’re delivering support to young people, places where they can have fun, with the support of a youth worker and volunteers who advise, guide and create opportunities for young people then you should be included. Closing 31st March

Aging Well Strategy Telford & Wrekin: Telford & Wrekin Council are collecting views and comments on the draft Aging Well Strategy through a public consultation. They want people's feedback to make sure the needs and aspirations for people to live well for longer in Telford and Wrekin are met. Closing 6th April

Shropshire Disability Network: Shropshire Disability Network is seeking views on experiences with the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) as they understand there has been a recent surge with individuals suffering from bad experiences (including the loss of a PIP claim) in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. Closing 7th April

Prepayment Meter Experiences Survey: Ofgem and Citizens Advice are launching a national evidence-call to ask energy customers to share their experiences of moving to a prepayment meter (PPM). The eight-week partnership is a key part of Ofgem’s comprehensive market review of prepayment meters and remote switching, to ensure suppliers are meeting their legal obligations in protecting customers. It is calling for the experiences of customers who either have had PPMs installed to recover unpaid bills or those actively choose to use pay-as-you-go to manage their budgets. Closing 4th May


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Events and Training Opportunities


dbs logo

DBS 2023 Annual Conference 

Online, Wednesday 29 March


DBS: Making Recruitment and Employment Safer’ is their third national conference. It is virtual only and is taking place over one day on Wednesday 29 March from 9.00am – 16:30pm. 

As an organisation that puts safeguarding at the heart of everything it does, DBS understand how important safeguarding is in the workplace and community and the Conference will bring together experts in safeguarding to share their experiences and best practice. 

You will hear from the Safeguarding Minister, Sarah Dines, MP and the Chairman and Chief Executive of DBS.  You will also hear from other exciting keynote speakers as well as lots of interesting and varied workshops for delegates to choose from. 

More information and registration are available here.


picture of people talking

The Big Health and Wellbeing Conversation Public Events in March

The Big Health and Wellbeing Conversation aims to understand local views on what is affecting their health and wellbeing, what is working well and what things would make the biggest difference to improve experiences of local health and care services. The feedback gathered at these events will help NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin develop its future plans and shape our local NHS.

Local residents can give their feedback by attending one of the events taking place across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin during March and May 2023. 

Sign up for remaining March events:

Shrewsbury 30th March 2-4:30pm

Shrewsbury 30th March 5:30-8pm

Market Drayton 15th March 2-4:30pm


MEA logo

Free Webinar: Retrofit in Heritage Buildings

Herefordshire Green Network and Marches Energy Agency are running a free webinar on Monday 20th March at 1pm 

Historic buildings present a retrofit challenge. But they can be made both low impact and high performing while respecting heritage. Join these charities and Herefordshire based Arbor Architects to see how they work to improve energy efficiency in historic buildings by adopting a whole house approach to energy efficiency measures — without causing harm to the building fabric or the well-being of occupants.

Sign up here!


carers week logo

Carers Week (5-11 June) - An Annual National Campaign

Carers week raises awareness about caring and support to unpaid carers. This year’s theme is ‘Recognising and supporting carers in the community’.

Will you hold an event for carers to attend?

What can you do to raise awareness of caring? Can you further share information on what you provide for carers?

It doesn’t have to be a huge event. You may decide to hold a coffee morning and invite carers along. If you’re an organisation who normally charges for what you offer/provide, you may be able to offer it for free to carers, or at a reduced cost for carers that week. Or you can do something huge! Don’t hold back.

The national organisation Carers Week UK has lots of information and resources for holding your event

The Shropshire Carers Support Team will be holding activities and events over a fortnight to give carers more opportunity to take part.

Please get in touch if you would like to do something jointly with the Carers Support Team or have something happening which they can promote for you directly to the carers they are in regular contact with. Email: shropshire.carers@shropshire.gov.uk or phone them on 01743 341995


job fair flyer

The free event is at Telford International Centre on Thursday, 16 March and more than 50 major local and national employers and education providers will be there. Register here.


south shropshire interfaith forum logo

Rabbi Jonathan Romain: 
Confessions of a Rabbi

Rabbis don't live in ivory towers, according to Jonathan Romain, whose experiences as a congregational minister include rollercoaster of crises, emotional traumas, moral dilemmas, attempts at seduction, multiple murders, Machiavellian families, funerals that go wrong, weddings that are hijacked.

Wednesday 17th May 7-00pm
Church Stretton United Reform Church
73 High Street, Church Stretton, SY6 6BW

Download the event flyer to help spread the word!

For questions or more information, email info@ssif.org.uk or phone 01588 674738


SPIC logo

First Aid and Safeguarding Adults Training

Shropshire Partners in Care is a not-for-profit organisation supporting over 250 independent adult social care providers across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. Established in 2003, they exist to represent, upskill and champion our local adult social care providers and their staff. They offer quality and reasonably priced First Aid training at their offices in Annscroft, Shrewsbury, primarily to their Members, but also to non-Members such as schools and community groups. All First Aid Training is nationally accredited by The First Aid Industry Body (FAIB). Safeguarding Adults Awareness training is aimed at all staff and volunteers working in social care, health, housing, charities and other areas of the independent sector.

In March 2023 they have spaces available on the following courses: -

Course Title

Dates

Venue

Cost per person

Emergency First Aid (1 Day)

13th March

Annscroft, Shrewsbury

£70

Safeguarding Adults Awareness

15th March

Annscroft, Shrewsbury

£45

Emergency First Aid (1 Day)

20th March

Annscroft, Shrewsbury

£70

1 Day Emergency First Aid in Ludlow, Market Drayton or Telford

21st March

Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton

£80

Emergency First Aid (1 Day)

23rd March

Annscroft, Shrewsbury

£70

Emergency First Aid (1 Day)

22nd March

Annscroft, Shrewsbury

£70

 

Should you be interested in booking a place on any of these courses, please contact Non-Member Bookings on 01743 860011 or email info@spic.co.uk.


partner logos SIP, shropshire council and qube

Mental Health Training for VCS Organisations

A full complement of mental health training to support VCS organisations is now being offered through the Shropshire in Partnership Mental Health Project based at Qube, Oswestry. 

The first course, Mental Health First Aid will be offered on Monday, 20th March 9am - 5pm Mayfair Community Centre, Church Stretton.

Interested organisations can sign up for the remaining courses via the Qube website or download the flyers below for information on individual upcoming workshops.

Managing Stress & Burnout

17th April

5th May

25th May

5th October

Resilience & Stress

22nd May

24th October

Suicide First Aid Lite

28th April

21st September

20th November


LGBT+ history festival flyer

Book your free ticket for the launch event on 24th March!


community resource logo

Upcoming Functional Fitness MOTs

Community Resource is continuing the programme of Functional Fitness MOT Falls Prevention events around the county.  These events are for 0ver-60s and include a one-to-one fitness test, film about reducing the risk of falling, demo of how to get up from the floor after a fall and talk on creating a Falls Plan.  There is also a short taster exercise class.  The most effective way to reduce the risk of falling is by doing regular strength and balance exercises.  Evidence has shown that these events are enjoyable and motivate participants to be more active.  Community Resource is grateful to Shropshire Council, NHS Together and SaTH for funding these events.

The next events will be in Ludlow (3 May). Little Wenlock and Lawley.  

Download the flyer for Ludlow

To find out more or to request a Functional Fitness MOT Falls Prevention event in your area, please contact Community Resource on 01743 360641 or enquiries@community-resource.org.uk.


Shropshire charity network logo

Shropshire Charity Network

March Virtual Meeting

Shropshire Charity Network are holding their next virtual session on Thursday 16th March from 9.30am – 10.30am on Zoom.

The speaker at this session will be George Collins. George will give a state of the nation for charity weekly lotteries and will uncover unlikely partnerships in digital supporter acquisition. Digital has fast become a mature channel but changes every 6 months in social appetite and platform algorithms are likely to leave us behind. George will share 5 actionable takeaways to overcome the digital landscape and will touch on recent campaign examples of blended digital/traditional channel approaches that have seen predictable performance.

George is Commercial Director at CFP Lottery & Raffles and CEO of Navigator.

Book your free place here


SIP team at Bishops Castle

Meet the SIP Voluntary and Community Support Team

Wem Village Hall: 30th March 9:30am - 12:30pm

The SIP Voluntary & Community Support Team offers free advice, guidance and support to local charitable groups and organisations.

Whether you are thinking of setting up a community group, a fairly new group or organisation, or have been established for many years, they can support you with advice and guidance, training, volunteer brokerage, and grant and funding support.

Come and meet the team and learn more about what they can offer your organisation! 

Download the SIP Team informational flyer.

PhotoHigh Sheriff of Shropshire Selina Graham meets with the SIP Voluntary and Community Support Team and some community organisations at their last event in Bishop's Castle.


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Job / Volunteer Opportunities


Connect for Life Looking for a Self-Employed Administrator/PA

Connect for Life are a volunteer led and run Oswestry based dementia support charity.

  • Up to 8 hours a week worked flexibly as needed
  • Hourly rate £15
  • Home based with ability to attend meetings as required

Contact Alison Humphreys: connectforlife@hotmail.com or call 07582 207972

support for life logo

TNL community fund logo

Part-Time Funding Officer: Telford and North Shropshire 

The National Lottery Community Fund are recruiting a permanent part-time Funding Officer working across Telford and North Shropshire. You’ll be part of a team of 5, led by a Funding Manager and working alongside 3 other Funding Officers (1 full-time and 2 part-time), as part of The Shires patch (Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford) within a larger Midlands team.

Hours: 18.5 hours per week

Salary: £25,282  pro rata
 
Closing Date: 22nd March

Interview Date: Week commencing 3rd April

Location: The Shires (Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Telford and Shropshire) with a Telford and North Shropshire focus

Click here for full job description and to apply.


Experts by experience needed

To express an interest in this opportunity, please click here.


Holly, Cancer Champion Coordinator for Shropshire, with Shrewsbury Town footballers Matthew Pennington and Elliott Bennett

Become a Cancer Champion

Make a difference in your community - become a cancer champion!

  • Help improve the health of others in your community
  • Raise awareness of cancer signs and symptoms
  • Encourage others to attend breast, bowel and cervical
    screening
  • Be actively engaged in your community
  • Happily chat to your family and friends and share relevant information
  • Share the concerns and challenges of your community

Want to learn more? Read the Cancer Champions newsletter for February or Download the flyer.

You can also find out more by emailing one of the Cancer Champion coordinators:

In Shropshire: Holly Corrigan

In Telford: Michelle Moore

In the photo: Holly, Cancer Champion Coordinator for Shropshire, has been busy promoting the Cancer Champions project with the help of Shrewsbury Town footballers Matthew Pennington and Elliott Bennett


Little stars baby bank logo

Job Opportunity: Project Co-ordinator

Little Stars have an exciting opportunity with a new role available and are looking for a high-calibre candidate to take up a part-time position for 12 months as a Project Coordinator to assist the CEO in expanding the charity’s services, in particular, to develop their school uniform provision.

If you would love to play a pivotal role in the development and delivery of a new project, helping Little Stars to grow their impact and support more families in Shropshire, this could be the role for you.

You can find further details about the role on the following link Project Co-ordinator. If you would like further information or to apply please send a covering letter and CV to Leanne@littlestarscharity.org

Closing date is the 17th March.


GFS logo

Volunteer with GFS Smethwick

GFS is looking for women from the local community who are passionate about helping girls reach their potential by offering new experiences and supporting them to make new friends. They are looking for women who would like to volunteer and would be happy to share their skills and interests with the girls through a range of activities including arts and crafts, skills for life, sports and community participation. 

GFS offers weekly group sessions that offer support, fun and friendship for girls and young women in the local community. 

Watch this video on what it's like to volunteer with GFS!

Click here for more information and to register to volunteer!


shropshire disability network logo

Volunteers Needed:

Shropshire Disability Network

Volunteering for SDN can help you in many ways by building Confidence that has often been lost through having the added difficulties in life of having a disability. Some Volunteers tell them they find it enjoyable and fulfilling but also have become part of a new family. Or they have made new friends or they did not realise SDN needed help or had a particular skill.

Volunteers come and go for a number of reasons so gaps need to be filled, so that they can continue our work plus they need to continue to meet the vision of SDN.

They know they have members with many skills and they have no doubt if you could just offer one or two hours a week or half or a day a month they can find you a rewarding opportunity to work with them and help your fellow members.

Opportunities Available:

  • Newsletter Editor
  • Secretary
  • Fundraising Lead
  • Fundraisers
  • Bloggers
  • Photographers

Please note: SDN can reimburse their volunteers with any out-of-pocket expenses which relates to their volunteering work only (i.e. travel). Additionally, they give training to all their volunteers.

Interested? Email volunteering@shropshire-disability.net, and a member of the team will contact you.


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 SC logo banner

Digital Skills Programme Funding Information Out Soon

Shropshire Council will shortly be releasing details of 3 years’ funding for the Digital Skills Programme 2023 to 2026. The funding intends to provide 3 aspects of digital support for older people.

  1. To enable digitally-excluded people aged 65+ to access a programme of free one-to-one digital support in a community setting.
  2. To provide Digital Drop-Ins across the local authority area where people aged 50+ can access free one-off digital support. Only providers offering one-to-one digital support can provide a Digital Drop-In.
  3. To make available a limited number of Free Equipment Grants for people aged 65+ that fulfil certain criteria.

Providers in receipt of funding are expected to be members of the Good Things Foundation.

Group and/or one-to-one support can be delivered by trained Digital Volunteers or suitably experienced paid members of staff. This is an outcomes-based model of delivering support and regular reporting/monitoring/data sharing is an essential element.

Shropshire Council will shortly issue guidance for the delivery of the Digital Skills Programme and the opportunity to express interest in the next 3 years of funding.

If your organisation would like to discuss this opportunity further, contact Andrea Miller at Shropshire Council andrea.miller@shropshire.gov.uk

To be included in the e-list to receive funding updates, please send Andrea your email address.

More information will also be posted in this newsletter when available.


Large Grants for Structural Repairs of Churches and Chapels

National churches Trust has launched its new Large Grants programme (formerly known as Cornerstone Grants) to support structural repairs and maintenance issues costing more than £100,000 or the installation of kitchen and accessible toilets costing over £30,000.

Grants may range from £10,000 to £50,000, though those above £40,000 are extremely limited and reserved for projects which demonstrate a very strong case for investment.

The grants awarded through this fund will never exceed 50% of the total project cost.

UK places of worship of any Christian denomination and age can apply, and applications will be considered from both listed and unlisted places of Christian worship.

Applications from the Trust’s priority areas are encouraged: North-East England, Northern Ireland and Wales, though this is not to the exclusion of churches in other areas.

The main focus of the fund is urgent structural repairs.

First stage applications are accepted until 30 March 2023. Visit the National Churches Trust website to learn more and apply.


Deadline Approaching for King’s Coronation and 

Eurovision 2023 Funding

Groups have two weeks left to apply to the National Lottery Awards for All programme if they are seeking funding to celebrate the Coronation (5 to 8 May 2023) or Eurovision (9 to 13 May 2023) in England.

To be eligible for funding, projects must adhere to the Fund’s usual guidance and:

  • Involve people and communities from the start.
  • Build on people's strengths.
  • Be connected in their community.

Applications are accepted from voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, schools, and statutory bodies such as local authorities and town councils.

The programme offers grants of £300 to £10,000 for up to one year.

Grants can be used to cover a variety of costs including equipment, staff costs, transport, running costs and volunteer expenses.

The deadline for Coronation or Eurovision funding is 24 March 2023 (midnight). Information and applications can be found on the National Lottery Community Fund website.


community resource logo

Twemlows Fund

Is your group/organisation is within 15 miles of Prees in North Shropshire, and running projects focussed on environmental improvements or community participation?

You can apply for a grant up to £1,000 to support your work. The fund is being managed by Community Resource, and applications are being accepted for the next six months.

Find out more and apply by visiting the Community Resource website or phone 01743 360641.


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@shropshire.gov.uk