Meet Marianne Grant: The New Voluntary Sector Engagement and Partnership Lead

Marianne Grant has recently started in a new role aimed at bringing the voluntary and community sector more centrally into the work of the Integrated Care System in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin,

Marianne, whose background is rooted in working with both the voluntary and health sectors, is eager to begin this work of bringing the two sectors closer together in the county.

In an article about her and her new role for Collaborate, Marianne said:

"It is widely recognised that partnership working with the VCSE makes complete sense for our system and is the right thing to do. We now need to work hard to make this happen, with willingness and confidence to do things differently and to improve on what has gone before.

I see this as a new dawn for the VCSE in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and am incredibly excited to be leading the change. My work will centre on the development of what we call ‘enabling structures’ so that organisations and, in turn, sections of our populations have a greater voice at the decision table.

Over the next year I will be focusing on the development of a VCSE Alliance – more on that soon – as well as seeking out funding opportunities to continue the VCSE’s good work. My ambition is to ultimately enable the sector to move to the top of the pile for any feasible, collaboration opportunities in the future.

We want to flesh out where we see ourselves now as a sector, how we can capitalise on opportunities and harness the wealth of potential we have within our grasp."

Read the full Collaborate article on Marianne. To get in touch with Marianne, you can email her at: marianne.grant@stwvcse.org

New Healthwatch Shropshire on Accessing Information in Healthcare Published 

Since 2016, the Accessible Information Standard (AIS) has given disabled people and people with a sensory loss the legal right to get health and social care information they can understand and communications support if they need it. By law, all publicly funded health and social care providers must fully comply with the AIS. Last year local health and social care champions, Healthwatch Shropshire, found that implementation of the standard was patchy across the county.

To support Healthwatch England’s Your Care Your Way Campaign, Healthwatch Shropshire gathered experiences of people locally, raised awareness of the standard within the local community and shined a spotlight on the impact of communication needs not being met. They heard from a range of people with communication needs, their families and carers, receiving suggestions to improve communication and the way information can be provided:

• Consider print size on letters
• Displaying patients’ names on a screen when they are called up for an appointment
• The choice to have information provided via face-to-face appointment
• Slightly longer appointment times for those with communication needs
• Staff knowledge of who in the room to provide information to, and what level of detail is appropriate to give

Lynn Cawley, Chief Officer of Healthwatch Shropshire said:

“We all expect to be involved in decisions about our health, treatment and support. But medical and healthcare information can be complex, and if you don’t get clear and understandable information, you might not make decisions that are right for you.

Some people find getting clear and understandable information even harder because they have communication needs that require support. They might need a British Sign Language Interpreter or information in a format like Braille, easy read or large print.”

The report can be found on the Healthwatch Shropshire website, and an easy read version will be available soon.

Image from the Healthwatch Shropshire website.

"Running Hot, Burning Out" - New Data Released on the VCSE Sector's Recruitment and Retention Challenges

Results from the second wave of the VCSE Sector Barometer have been released this morning, and they reveal the extent of the charity sector’s recruitment and retention challenges.

The survey finds that over eight in ten (82%) charity employers have tried to recruit paid staff in the past year, and that over seven in ten (71%) say that recruitment has been difficult. More than half of charity employers (54%) reported that they currently have vacancies, with over eight in ten (83%) saying those vacancies are proving hard to fill.

Consequently, the sector’s existing workforce is shouldering much of the burden, with seven in ten (70%) employers with hard-to-fill vacancies saying that current staff were facing increased workloads as a result, and almost one quarter (24%) citing stress, burnout, and large workloads as a main cause of their retention issues.

Beneficiaries are also being impacted, with some charities having to pause or scale back their operations in the face of worker shortages, while others say they are struggling to maintain current quality standards and meet existing contractual or project objectives.

The above is excerpted from the Pro Bono Economics website. Read the full Second Wave Barometer Report, "Running Hot, Burning Out" here.

Multi-Language Videos Now Available to Help Fight Cancer in Shropshire

A series of multi-language videos have been created to raise awareness about the importance of cancer screening – and improve uptake in the area.

The videos have been produced in Mandarin, Punjabi, Ukranian, Bulgarian and Polish and are available to view and download on the newly created Cancer Champions website. They focus on breast, bowel and cervical cancer, as well as a general video to highlight signs and symptoms of cancer.

NHS Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin has partnered with Lingen Davies Cancer Fund and Oswestry-based Qube to deliver the Cancer Champions project - part of a national NHS England drive to address low engagement with health screening in the 20 percent most deprived communities.

Two Cancer Champion Coordinators were appointed in the county and have been working in the wider community to grow a network of volunteer recruits who will be Cancer Champions among their peers, simply raising awareness about the signs and symptoms of cancer, and encouraging people to take up cancer screening invitations.

The videos are available to download for VCSE organisations and GP practices to use in their own facilities, thereby further spreading awareness about the importance of cancer screening invitations – with reference to bowel, cervical and breast cancers.

The videos are available to view on the Cancer Champions website, a short form must be filled out to access them for downloading purposes. For any queries about the Cancer Champions work email hello@cancerchampions.co.uk

The Cancer Champions website also features more information and guidance for those keen to find out more about the project and training to become a Cancer Champion themselves.

MPFT Meets with Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin VCSE Groups to Discuss Procurement

On 16th March, the VCSA was happy to host MPFT procurement leaders for a virtual meet with voluntary and community sector organisations across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin.

The event was aimed at helping more VCSE organisations in the county to get registered on the MPFT procurement portal.  The portal is the primary way that the MPFT will release information and opportunities for funding around their mental health initiatives in the coming months.

Currently, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin organisations are still underrepresented on the portal, and the MPFT is eager to get more organisations from the county registered.

The video of the presentation is available here, and you can also download the PowerPoint presentation here.

Register today on the MPFT procurement portal by starting here.

Your Voice Matters:

VCSA State of the Sector Survey 2023

Take part in the biggest survey of charities, voluntary and community organisations in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin!

This annual survey by the VCSA provides an up-to-date picture of the local VCSE sector and build up a valuable evidence base of information.

By taking part in the survey, you will be helping to inform funders, partners and other key stakeholders of the current state and needs of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) in Shropshire.

Survey questions are categorised into four themes; information on organisations, partnership working, challenges/achievements over the past 12 months and looking ahead to the next 12 months. The survey can be completed in less than 20 minutes.

Complete the survey and ensure that your voice is heard! Thank you for helping to present a powerful and robust message for the sector in the county by completing the survey and encouraging other VCSE contacts to do so.

Take the survey now - and then share it!

Places Still Available for Free Domestic Abuse Training

FREE domestic abuse training available to organisations across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin on the following dates:

Tuesday 18th April: Rape & Sexual Violence (9.30am-12.00pm)

Wednesday 19th April: FGM & Harmful Practices (1.00pm-3.00pm)

If you would like to book yourself, or a colleague onto the training then please pop an email over to either training@staytelford.co.uk  or ninagee@staytelford.co.uk

Mental Health Forum Relaunch and Networking

Friday, April 21st 9:30-11:30am, Shirehall, Shrewsbury

Join us!

All VCS organisations who have mental health and wellbeing as their focus are welcome and encouraged to attend this meeting, even if you are not yet a member of the forum or the VCSA. Come and network and see what it’s all about!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the networking event in January. We hope to continue the conversation and relaunch the mental health forum.

Time: Arrive and chat from 9:15 . Event runs from 9:30-11:30am

Agenda will cover:

1. Introductions and updates

2. Background of MH Forum and review of ToR

3. Election of officers and meeting dates

4. Discussion and networking

Register here

'Putting Your People First' Interactive Sessions on Mental Health in the Workplace

Friday 28^th April 2023

09:00 – 12:00

Hadley Park House Hotel, Hadley Park East, Telford, TF1 6QJ         

The event includes refreshments and a light lunch, courtesy of Hadley Park 

Tickets:                 £20 per person attending

West Mercia Search and Rescue are supporting a Mental Health in the workplace initiative “Putting Your People First”; aimed at managers and individuals who are looking for techniques to help identify people within the workplace who may need extra support.

How is mental health in the workplace affecting your organisation or business?

According to the Mental Health Foundation: 

• Mental health issues in the workplace impact employee engagement, productivity and reputation.
• Currently 15% of people experience mental health problems in the workplace and 13% of all sickness absence days in the UK can be attributed to mental health conditions.
• Better mental health support in the workplace can save UK businesses up to £8million annually.

If you are interested in “Putting Your People First” and gaining a different perspective on mental health then join an event that will introduce you to some of the latest thinking and techniques, and reveal some tools and new ideas.

The environment will be fun and informative, whilst helping you understand more about how your mind impacts your daily life and how you can support others to make real change quickly.

Not just a talk – the session will be interactive.

Tickets and more information can be found on the Eventbrite site.  

They are looking for business sponsorship to help promote this amazing event. Let people know about your business or organisation, bring a stand and become an official sponsor for just £150, but donations are welcome as well as raffle prizes. If you would like to be an event sponsor then please get in touch by completing the online form.    

British Red Cross: Barriers and Enablers to Volunteering

24^th April 10-12pm ZOOM

The aim of the online workshop is to offer a creative, ideas and knowledge sharing space where the barriers and enablers to volunteering can be considered with people who have lived experience of poverty.

The workshop invites people with lived experience of poverty and living on a low income to join them for a conversation to discuss the barriers and enablers to volunteering whilst living on a low income. British Red Cross, as a charity are actively seeking to ensure that their volunteering is inclusive, welcoming and offers flexible opportunities to suit potential volunteers from diverse backgrounds. Part of ensuring that they can offer inclusive volunteering opportunities is asking for feedback.

The workshop will be a two hour online conversation that feeds into wider research being completed by the charity into barriers and enablers to volunteering. There is also an in-person workshop Event being held in Crewe, England on 28th April 2023 which people are invited to attend.

Thank you Vouchers will be offered - £35 Love2Shop - in recognition of people's participation in the event.

Please share this opportunity with your beneficiaries.

Registration link.

Free 'Good for the Planet, Good for the Pocket' Workshops 

Save Our Shropshire are presenting a series of workshops “Good for the Planet – Good for the Pocket” over the next few months. These workshops are free to attend, and are sponsored by the Telford Climate Change Fund.

If your organisation's clients might benefit from these free workshops, please help to spread the word about the upcoming events:

Jubilee House, Telford Thu Apr 20 7:00 PM 

Brookside Central, Telford, Wed Apr 26, 7:00 PM.

Reserve a place via Eventbrite, or just turn up on the day. 

First Aid 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 local adult social care providers and their staff. They offer quality and reasonably priced First Aid training at our 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). 

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

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.

Volunteer Opportunity: Shropshire Disability Network

Shropshire Disability Network is currently seeking for a Volunteer Secretary to assist the charity with its secretarial support.

They are asking for any applicants to send in their CV and a Covering Letter explaining why they believe they would be the ideal candidate for the role. All CV's and Covering Letters should be sent to volunteering@shropshire-disability.net.

Download the Job Description and Person Specification.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust Seeking Trustees

Shropshire Wildlife Trust are looking for new trustees to join them in autumn 2023.  In particular they would like to see more trustees aged 18-30, and more from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, to help ensure that they address the needs of the population as a whole.

You do not need years of management experience or specialist knowledge of conservation, just an enquiring mind and a genuine interest in our vision and goals.  They will arrange a comprehensive induction programme for new trustees, and training and mentoring as required.  Trustees are not paid but expenses are covered.

To apply, please email telling them why you want to be a SWT Trustee, how you fit the role requirements and what skills and experience you can bring.  Or if you prefer you can send them a two minute film about yourself, your interests and life experience, and why you think you might make a good trustee.

Please emailhr@shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk

For 2023 the closing date for expressions of interest is 24 April 2023.

Find more information, including a role description on the Shropshire Wildlife Trust website.

Job Opportunities: SYA

SYA is recruiting for multiple roles, including:

Community Fundraising and engagement manager

• Full time (Annualised hours)
• Salary up to £30K depending on experience
• Base: The New lodge, Upton Lane, Shrewsbury. Some home working is anticipated)
• The role will entail networking, community fund raising and developing a business and philanthropic donor base.
• Mentoring & support will be given to the successful candidate

Closing date 6/04/23 interviews morning of 13/04/23

For more details, Job descriptions and Person specifications please email Richard Parkes. 

For an application form click here.

Read about more opportunities and apply on the SYA website.

Job Opportunity: Hands Together Ludlow  

Hands together Ludlow are looking for a Food Projects Coordinator. 

 28hrs a week over 4 days                           £24,000pa pro rata

The role is responsible for all their food related activity including the community fridge, community lunch and healthy eating courses, as well as building our community partnerships and developing new activity. .

Find out more on the Hands Together Ludlow website.

Volunteer Opportunity: A Good Thing, CIC

Help A Good Thing to grow their brand-new online charity platform  in your local area! Come on board as a community champion: use your communications skills to drive more businesses and charities to sign up.

A Good Thing is a not-for-profit set up with one mission: to send less to landfill, and more to a good cause. They are rolling out fast across the UK, momentum is building, and they are growing a network of passionate local volunteer champions right across the country to drive their growth.

You’ll be using your connections (friends, family, colleagues, neighbours...), as well as your insights into the local area, to help them to build the numbers of businesses and charities signing up in your part of the UK. You might do this through making connections with businesses in your area, taking A Good Thing to the doorstep. Or you could approach businesses virtually, using your expert written communication skills to create communications that will engage and inspire them. You’ll definitely be using social media and your brilliant online networking skills to build links and relationships where you live.

Come on a journey towards reducing waste and boosting wonderful local charities at the same time.

Click here for more information and to apply for this volunteer opportunity.

Volunteer Opportunities: Royal British Legion

The RBL is the nation's biggest Armed Forces charity providing care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces, past and present, and their families. It is the national custodian of Remembrance and safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forces. It is well known for the annual Poppy Appeal, and its emblem the red poppy. Currently the RBL is looking to recruit for the following volunteer roles:

Broseley Poppy Appeal Organiser – Arranging the volunteers who take out the boxes of poppies and collecting tins across Broseley, either to static shop locations or House to House - ensuring their paperwork is up to date, ordering the stock required, arranging for the volunteers to collect and distribute the poppies, arranging for it to be returned, thanking volunteers, and informing them and the community on the funds raised.

Telford Central Poppy Appeal Organiser - Arranging the volunteers who take out the boxes of poppies and collecting tins across Telford Central - ensuring their paperwork is up to date, ordering the stock required, arranging for the volunteers to collect and distribute the poppies, arranging for it to be returned, thanking volunteers, and informing them and the community on the funds raised.

Bridgnorth Poppy Appeal volunteers – during Remembrance the RBL has a fundraising stall in Aldi Bridgnorth, the current volunteers who man this stall are looking for help filling in the rota.

To apply for any of these roles, please follow this link Volunteer with RBL | Charity Volunteering | Royal British Legion

Shropshire Council to Release Details of Calls for UK Shared Prosperity Funding This Week

Shropshire Council anticipates launching the first main call for UKSPF proposals for the main strands of UKSPF funding this week.

VCSE organisations in Shropshire are encouraged to apply for these funds and should start thinking about how their bids might fit within the investment priorities of Communities and Place; People and Skills; and Business Support.

Below, you will find a list of the interventions that have been prioritised for Shropshire within each strand of the funding.

You can click here to see a spreadsheet with the full descriptions of these priorities, as well as example projects, objects and indicative outputs and outcomes, which should help you start planning your bid.

Communities and Place priorities:

E1: Funding for improvements to town centres and high streets, including better accessibility for disabled people, including capital spend and running costs.

E4:Enhanced support for existing cultural, historic and heritage institutions that make up the local cultural heritage offer.

E6:Support for local arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities

E11: Investment in capacity building and infrastructure support for local civil society and community groups.

People and Skills priorities:

E33: Supporting economically inactive people to overcome barriers to work by providing cohesive, locally tailored support including access to basic skills.

E36: Intervention to increase levels of digital inclusion, with a focus on essential digital skills, communicating the benefits of getting (safely) online, and in community support to provide users with the confidence and trust to stay online.

E37: Tailored support to help people in employment, who are not supported by mainstream provision
to address barriers to accessing education and training courses.

E38: Support for local areas to fund local skills needs. This includes technical and vocational qualifications and courses up to level 2.

Business Support priorities: 

E16: E16: Investment in open markets and improvements to town centre retail and service sector infrastructure, with wrap around support for small businesses.

E17: Funding for the development and promotion (both trade and consumer) of the visitor economy, such as local attractions, trails, tours and tourism products more generally.

E20:Research and development grants supporting the development of innovative products and services.

E23:Strengthening local entrepreneurial ecosystems, and supporting businesses at all stages of their
development to start, sustain, grow and innovate, including through local networks.

E26:  Support for growing the local social economy, including community businesses, cooperatives and social enterprises.

E29: Supporting decarbonisation and improving the natural environment whilst growing the local economy. Taking a whole systems approach to invest in infrastructure to deliver effective decarbonisation across energy, buildings and transport and beyond, in line with our legally binding climate target. Maximising existing or emerging local strengths in low carbon technologies, goods and services to take advantage of the growing global opportunity.

E30:Business support measures to drive employment growth, particularly in areas of higher unemployment.

More information about this funding will be posted through this newsletter mailing list and our our social media as soon as it becomes available.

Shropshire Council would like to take the opportunity to undertake Soft Market Testing in relation to innovative, efficient and cost-effective approaches to the provision of Information Advice and Support Services (IASS) for Children and Young People (CYP) with Special Educational Needs or Disability (SEND)

Please note that the purpose of this process is for the council to discuss with the market and affirm their current understanding of what the market has to offer to assist the Council to deliver the service from 1^st September 2023.

This process is intended as soft market testing only and is an exercise designed to test commercial market capabilities of meeting a set of requirements which would include enough interested suppliers to maintain competitive pressures.

The full soft market testing information pack can be downloaded here, which includes the questionnaire for completion. You can also find the full information about this soft market testing on the Shropshire Council website.

Completed questionnaires (see Appendix 1 of the downloadable form) should be returned to Yvonne Oliver – Children & Young People Commissioning Lead: Yvonne.m.oliver@shropshire.gov.uk by 5.00pm on Tuesday 11^th  April 2023.

If Suppliers have any questions about this soft market test, such questions should be submitted to the Council through an email to The Children & Young People Commissioning Lead at Yvonne.m.oliver@shropshire.gov.uk

Update: Digital Skills Programme Funding Information

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 residents living within the local authority’s area:

1. To enable digitally-excluded people to access a programme of free one-to-one digital support in a community setting.
2. To provide Digital Drop-Ins where people 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 in greatest need.

Providers in receipt of funding are expected to be members of the Good Things Foundation. Membership is free and more information can be found here

Eligibility for the Digital Skills Programme 2023 to 2026 has broadened. To be eligible to receive support, participants must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Be aged 65 and over
• Live alone Provide unpaid care for a friend or family member or receive formal or informal care
• Have a disability or health condition
• Be in receipt of Pension Credit or other means-tested benefit

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

This is the final call for organisations who are interested in learning more about this opportunity to get in touch. 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 updates about how to apply for this funding, please send Andrea your email address.

Pictured: Digital Volunteer Allan Read with learner Helen Whiteley from Ludlow.