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VCSA Member Feature:
All Sports Coaching Academy Founder Chosen as Coronation Champion
Jim Prescott, Founder and CEO of All Sports Coaching Academy, CIC, has just been nominated and chosen as a Coronation Champion. One of just 500 chosen throughout the country, Jim was nominated for his outstanding commitment to volunteering.
The Coronation Champion Awards were launched by the Royal Voluntary Service to celebrate extraordinary volunteers who go the extra mile to improve the lives of others. The awards recognise volunteers from all corners of the UK and a range of causes.
Jim Said:
“I understand that this is in recognition of my voluntary running of All Sports Coaching Academy, CIC, however I think it is also a tribute to everyone who has helped me with the journey since we set up in 2020 just days before the pandemic entered our lives. Honoured, humbled doesn't even start to describe the feeling.”
On the 3rd May Jim and his Wife Margaret attended the Kings Coronation Garden Party at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the award. The King and Queen, along with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were in attendance.
Jim said:
"It was a surreal day and a wonderful experience to celebrate the award. My Wife and I had a day to remember."
Allsports Coaches Coaching Academy (ACCA) is a relatively new member of the VCSA, having just joined this year, but the social enterprise has been going since 2020. The organisation was established with a powerful combination of aims at its heart. It seeks to provide excellent quality sports coach practitioners to deliver great coaching to children and young throughout Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. ACCA provide training / mentoring and support to military veterans and others via online and/ or face to face programmes leading to recognised qualifications.
Once qualified as Sports Coach Practitioners ACCA support individuals into workplace pathways with ongoing CPD and mentoring . Using the power of sport they focus on supporting schools, colleges and communities to deliver great coaching and mentoring support to children and young people delivering sports and support that improves the health, wellbeing and academic success of children and young people.
As bronze status members of the Armed Forces Covenant they also provide support to veterans themselves as well as their families. They are working in partnership with AFC Telford United and Telford & Wrekin Council to provide football for veterans every week at The Bucks Head. Plans are under way to extend this to other areas of Shropshire as well as other sports such as cricket.
The training and support programmes they offer to veterans is also available for others including emergency service workers and others looking for a career change as well as NEETs.
Support, mentoring and wellbeing are at the core of their service delivery, both to their coaches and the children and young people they work with.
Their training programmes are also available to teachers / parents and others who volunteer as well as the GOVOX mental health support systems and monitoring programmes widely used across the country in the business community, clubs and schools, colleges etc.
Jim Prescott added:
"We are aiming to support and improve the lives of as many children and young people as possible whilst improving and supporting the lives of everyone that we train as Sports Coach Practitioners."
If you share the ACCA's passion and want to create a social impact then why not drop Jim an email at jim.prescott@allsportscoaching.co.uk or you can visit their website or connect with them on social media.
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New APPG Report on the Cost of Living Crisis in Rural Areas
Government neglect of the rural economy has created a cost-of-living ‘rural premium’, according to a new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Rural Business and the Rural Powerhouse. Evidence from more than 25 industry bodies, charities, campaign groups, companies, academics, and businesses reveal rural communities spend 10-20% more on everyday items like fuel, despite wages being 7.5% lower than their urban counterparts.
Inadequate power infrastructure in rural communities leaves 76% of countryside houses off the energy grid, which until recently, left them at the mercy of uncapped fuel prices with little government support.
Energy bills are also threatening the social fabric of rural communities, with 14% of village halls facing closure due to heating costs alone in the next six months. Evidence found that village hubs have helped keep people warm during the cost-of-living crisis, and provided easy access to vulnerable people.
The report outlines a series of recommendations to slash the rural premium, including an economic blueprint to support countryside businesses, an ambitious housing plan to boost the supply of affordable housing, funding for warm community centres to prevent closures of village halls, and an extension of the Rural Fuel Duty Relief scheme.
Read the full report here.
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Save Our Shropshire Gains Platinum Carbon Literacy Accreditation
Save Our Shropshire, a charity which delivers education and training about how we should address the threats of climate change by changing our habits, has just earned "platinum" status from a national accreditor for carbon literacy.
Since July 2021 when they were formed the “didactic duo” of Allan and Richard have been delivering Carbon Literacy training to clerks and councillors across Shropshire’s Parish and Town Councils, to the Cabinet and Assistant Directors of the Shropshire Council, and most recently to a social housing group. They have also developed their own “Householders” course for people within the community (Climate Champions) who are concerned about the climate crisis, and how to engage their community in taking action.
The training is built on ‘toolkits’, developed by The Carbon Literacy Project. This organisation researches and provides the basic material which many other trainers can deliver. They also certify organisations with which they work on a scale of bronze:silver:gold:platinum. This is designed to recognise those organisations that have taken that education seriously and worked hard to develop and deliver their message across communities. That work is at the forefront of getting a collaborative coalition to take practical actions.
Save Our Shropshire are thrilled to learn that they have been awarded the highest accolade – Platinum Carbon Literate Organisation. There are only 10 other organisations in the UK that have achieved this level.
Save Our Shropshire are delighted to continue the challenge across the county, and would be delighted to hear from anyone who is interested in becoming Climate Champions and being part of a Platinum Carbon Literate Organisation. Visit their website to learn more and to get in touch.
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Shropshire's First Local Food Strategy and Food Policy Council
Bishop's Castle has become the first in Shropshire to adopt a bespoke local-level Community Food Resilience Strategy. This was adopted as a part of the town's Climate Action Plan, created by the Bishop's Castle Community Partnership.
The Bishop's Castle Community Food Resilience Strategy was developed as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chain instability from Brexit and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the cost of living crisis.
The aim of the strategy is not only to plan for and support the community through unforeseen shocks, but also to build up skills and community growing capacity for greater self-sufficiency, improved food access, affordability and health, as well as supporting local producers and food businesses.
Bishop's Castle Town Council, along with community members at the grassroots and with the support of the Shropshire Good Food Partnership, have developed a special task group to deliver on the aims of the strategy.
The first of its kind in Shropshire, it is an example of a Food Policy Council seeking to be proactive and address a range of local food issues.
Deputy Mayor for Bishop's Castle, Councillor Andy Stelman said:
"I believe that councils in rural areas have a duty to support local producers and retail outlets and to do everything possible to encourage people to eat healthily and sufficiently."
The Shropshire Good Food Partnership is dedicated to promoting good food for people, place and the planet. It hopes that more communities and councils across the county will be inspired by this example to start their own discussions and strategy work on food resilience.
Daphne Du Cros, co-ordinator of the Shropshire Good Food Partnership, said:
"Making Bishop’s Castle food secure and food resilient is an exercise in ‘radical optimism’ - imagining what is possible, rather than being marred by perceived obstacles. It is about Good Food for All which is a movement that everyone can get behind. In the words of Pam Warhurst, the founder of Incredible Edible, ‘if you eat, you’re in’.”
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Unlocking Potential in Telford & Wrekin
The Lloyds Bank Foundation has invested in long-term work to support the Unlocking Potential Alliance in Telford & Wrekin.
The latest report on the alliance and its work in the first quarter of 2023 can be downloaded here.
If you are interested in learning more about this work and getting involved, you can check out their new online community space, which makes it easy to connect with other VCS organisations involved in this work.
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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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Health Needs Assessment for Shrewsbury: Shropshire Councils Public Health Community Wellbeing Outreach Team is collecting the views and wishes of all Shropshire residents regarding their current and future health and wellbeing needs. They feel it’s very important to make sure community voice is heard when decisions are made about where funding is allocated across Shropshire. Right now, they are surveying Shrewsbury residents only. Please help spread the word about this research. Closing date TBD
Healthwatch Shropshire - Complaints About Health and Social Care: 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
Healthwatch Shropshire - Diabetes Service Changes: To address the rising prevalence of diabetes in our community STW Integrated Care System wants to transform diabetic care pathways with a vision of improving the lives and treatment outcomes for patients affected by diabetes or those at risk of developing it. In order to do this, they would like to hear from people with diabetes or those who have been identified as being at risk of developing diabetes (pre-diabetic) about their experiences of diabetic care and support. They will then share the responses with the NHS and Public Health to help inform the transformation programme and ensure the patient voice is at the centre of developments. Closing date TBD
Pay and Equalities Survey 2023: ACEVO, CAF, ACOSVO and Chief Officers 3rd Sector have teamed up to run a really important annual CEO Pay and Equalities Survey. By filling it out, you will play a part in creating a fuller picture of the sectors pay and reward for CEOs. It's a crucial survey that will help to provide a deeper understanding of the current diversity and equality at senior levels. Closing 10th May
Shrewsbury Public Spaces Protection Order: In accordance with the provisions of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 Shropshire Council is seeking your views and comments on an extension and possible amendment to the ‘Shrewsbury Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (No. 1) 2017’ (‘the Shrewsbury PSPO’). The proposal is to enable the Order to continue for a further three years. The current Order will expire on the 31st July unless extended by Shropshire Council. Prohibitions covered by the current order include: (a) urinating/defecating; (b) leaving personal belongings; (c) a wider enabling provision to require a person to stop drinking alcohol and/or hand over alcohol if causing anti-social behaviour; and (d) a wider enabling provision to require a person to leave an area and not to return for 48 hours if causing anti-social behaviour.
Proposed amendments are designed to extend the persons able to enforce the PSPO and a wider range of prohibitions to cover other forms of anti-social behaviour. Please find below a link to the details and attached document which also includes details of the current Order and associated data.
Shropshire Council would welcome any comments you wish to make particularly in response to the questions posed within the consultation covering the proposed extension period, impact of the existing PSPO, and need for amendments. Closing 14th May
Please respond in writing, including the nature of your interest (i.e. VCS group/ organisation, resident etc.) via post or email.
ICS Workforce Health and Wellbeing Survey: The ICS is conducting a survey of its workforce to determine what to offer for their health and wellbeing needs in the future. Please note, this survey is also for VCSE sector staff and volunteers working in health and care fields. Closing 31st May
The Shropshire Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan: (LCWIP or ‘Cycling and Walking Plan’ for short) is the council's long-term plan, aimed at dramatically improving the safety, comfort and attractiveness of walking and cycling in the county. The purpose of this plan is to set out a prioritised list of schemes for delivery over the next ten years that will improve walking and cycling infrastructure for Shropshire residents, workers and visitors alike. Closing 16th June
The Cycling and Walking plan covers the following towns (click below for the survey link):
Other ways to get involved:
- Two online webinars covering the proposals for each of the seven towns (6pm on 18 and 25 May details TBC)
- Workshops with schools to get the opinions of children and young people (w/c 19 June, details TBC)
Shropshire Electoral Boundary Review: The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has published draft recommendations for new divisions, division boundaries, and division names for Shropshire. If you represent a local organisation or community group in Shropshire, please pass this message on to your members or anyone you think who might be interested in the review. Closing 10th July
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Website with information on the review and proposals
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Link to feedback form to provide views on the proposals
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Poster for sharing with communities
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Talking Trustee-ing with Debra
Online on Tuesday 16 May 17.00 – 18.00
Come and hang out with other trustees and share how you’re feeling, get tips on how to govern best in these difficult times and basically just offload some of your stress!
Free online session with Directory of Social Change CEO Debra Allcock Tyler.
Book your free place here.
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Zero Carbon Shropshire AGM
17th May 5pm
University Centre Shrewsbury
Reserve your ticket via Eventbrite to attend the session in person.
You can also access the event live online on the night via MS Teams here.
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Carers Recipe Competition
Shropshire Council's Carers Team is running a recipe competition for carers.
Please download the details of their cooking competition to win a signed copy of Phil Vickery's cook book - Phil will be judging all entries.
Closing date is 28th May 2023. Entries should be emailed to
shropshire.carers@shropshire.gov.uk or you can phone 01743 341995.
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Mental Health Courses for VCS Organisations
Remember to check out the list of mental health training courses offered through the Shropshire in Partnership Mental Health Project.
Courses for VCS organisations include:
Suicide First Aid
Resilience and Stress Management
and Managing Stress and Burnout.
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Community Connector Network Meetings
South East 17th May 10am-12pm
For more details and to book a space please contact: lesley.jewell@community-resource.org.uk
South West: Ludlow 9th May 10am
South West: Bishops Castle 10th May 3pm
For more details and to book a space please contact: CDO@handstogetherludlow.org.uk
North 10th May 10am-12pm, Online
For more details and to book a space please contact: L.woolcock@qube-oca.org.uk
If you would like to join, email Marinke Fontein for a link.
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 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 May 2023 they have spaces available on the following courses:
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Course Title
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Course Date
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Venue
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Price per Person
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Adult Safeguarding - Promoting a Positive Safeguarding Culture
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10th May
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Online - Zoom
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£50
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Safeguarding Adults Awareness
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11th May
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Annscroft Office
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£50
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1 Day Emergency First Aid in Ludlow, Market Drayton or Telford
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18th May
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Spiro Clinic, Ludlow
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£88
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1 Day Emergency First Aid in Ludlow, Market Drayton or Telford
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19th May
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The Hub on the Hill, Telford
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£88
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1 Day Emergency First Aid in Ludlow, Market Drayton or Telford
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23rd May
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Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton
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£88
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1 Day Emergency First Aid
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24th May
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Annscroft Office
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£77
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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.
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Shropshire Charity Network
18th May 2023 online meeting
At their May event they will be talking about fraud and offering thoughts and advice on how to minimise your charity's risk.
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Dementia Support Information Day
Thursday 18th May, 10am - 3pm
Shrewsbury Town Football Club
This is an event for people affected by dementia across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. There will be a multitude of organisations in one location, so you can find everything you need to know about dementia in one place.
Find out more here.
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King’s Award for Voluntary Service Briefing Sessions
The King's Award for Voluntary Service celebrates the outstanding work of local volunteer groups across the UK. Groups do not have to be a registered charity and any voluntary
organisation with three or more volunteers can be nominated. The award is the equivalent to an MBE and the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, giving Royal recognition to the work they do.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire has been delighted to see so many voluntary groups in the county being awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service and would like to support even more organisations across Shropshire win this award which following the Accession of King Charles III, has now become The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
To help and encourage voluntary organisations understand the award and the nomination process the Shropshire Lieutenancy will be holding three briefing sessions:
Thursday 11th May 2023 at 4pm – 5pm
Shrewsbury Room, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND
Tuesday 16th May 2023 at 10.30am – 11.30am
The Baptist Church, Water Lane, Newport, TF10 7LD
Tuesday 13th June 2023 at 7pm - 8pm
Via Zoom
They recommend attendance in person at one of the workshops (Newport or Shrewsbury) as this provides an opportunity for members of the Shropshire KAVS panel to look in more detail at the individual volunteer group’s eligibility; the zoom session is added to assist employed trustees who are unable to attend during the working day.
What the recipients say:
Joe Lockley, Director of Bright Star Boxing Academy said,
“Winning this award is absolutely amazing for all of the staff and volunteers at Bright Star, it’s great to see the impact we’re having is recognised nationally. ”
For further information and/or to book a place please email: shelley.davies@shropshire.gov.uk
Information can also be found on the KAVS website.
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Menopause Meet Up
Book here for 22 May 23
The Shropshire Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care System Health and Wellbeing Team would like to invite you to join them at their next Menopause Meet up, bringing women together to share their experiences of the menopause. Each event is held virtually via Teams and is an informal peer support group where people are free to contribute to the conversation or simply listen while others talk about their experiences.
If you work in Health or Social Care, whether through the NHS, Local Authority, voluntary sector or in a care home, this is for you and they would love to see you there.
You are welcome whether you’ve joined the group before, or are new to all things menopause. The topic at the May group is The Beginners Guide to Menopause so will be particularly relevant to you if you are just starting to go through perimenopause or menopause.
Offering support and information throughout this session will be Kate Trifunovic, Specialist Occupational Health Nurse, and Dr Melanie Thompson, GP Partner and Clinical Lead for Health & Wellbeing for STW ICS. Menopause Meet ups are here across the ICS in order to help women open up and feel more confident speaking about their experiences. They also help to banish any unhelpful myths, raise awareness of this important topic, and positively impact on your wellbeing.
See you there
Juliet
Juliet Doman, Health and Wellbeing Manager, STW ICS - Juliet.doman@nhs.net
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How to Diversify your Board
25th May 12:00 Online - FREE
This free one-hour session, with award-winning trainer Sophia Moreau, will give you an introduction into how to diversify your charity board. It will be a whistle stop tour of all the things you need to do - with our free best practice guide available to you to help you every step of the way. This session will get you to think differently about how you approach your recruitment to try and attract diverse trustees.
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Free Motivational Interviewing Training
20th June 09:15 – 16:00 Online
Free opportunity for VCSE organisations to participate in this training offered through the ICS.
If you spend your life explaining what your service users should, could, must or need to do then this is the course for you. Motivational interviewing is a style of communication that uses a guiding/reflective style to engage with people, clarify their strengths and aspirations, and utilise their own motivations for change, and promote independence of decision making.
Download the course flyer for more information, including how to book!
You can also visit the Eventbrite site to learn more and book there.
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Looking for Local Health-Related Events and Information?
Looking for health-related events and meetings local to your area? The VCSA recommends subscribing to the Community Connectors newsletter for all of the latest local event information, including classes, clubs and social groups that are related to health and wellbeing. You can subscribe by emailing l.woolcock@qube-oca.org.uk
Download the Community Connectors Leaflet for more information on what they are and how you can get involved in social prescribing in Shropshire.
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Designs in Mind in Oswestry are looking for people to donate one morning or afternoon a week to help in their new ground-floor shop as a retail volunteer. Full training will be provided to all volunteers. Volunteers will be helping us to raise funds through selling items made in their studio by their members, whilst also promoting positive mental health on the high street.
For more information please call 01691 655140 or email Lauren@designsinmind.co.uk
Trustee Needed: The 4 All Foundation
The 4 All Foundation are looking for a Treasurer to lead on the financial governance, working with the Chair to deliver the charity objectives and strategy.
The Trustee Board meets quarterly, either online or face to face. The board works closely with the Senior Management Team. 4 All Foundation is a charitable organisation delivering local and accessible opportunities throughout our communities in Shropshire.
The Foundation's vision is to help our communities develop and achieve through foundation programmes. Through the power of their community programmes, the 4 All Foundation provides practical and educational opportunities that aims to motivate and inspire individuals within our communities.
The foundation is specifically seeking someone who can take on a Treasurer role, reviewing financial and budget information as provided by the Senior Management Team
This role is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. For further information, please email info@4allfoundation.co.uk
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Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance is recruiting!
Are you passionate about making a difference, making society fairer and working for an organisation that values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination?
Citizens Advice Shropshire are recruiting a coordinator for the Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance. This is a varied and exciting role with a mixture of community development and policy work, offering the post-holder opportunities for professional development.
They encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.
Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance Coordinator
Salary: £25,668 (pay award pending)
Contract: Full time 37 hours per week, 12 month fixed term.
Location: The successful applicant would be based in Shrewsbury office and must be able to work flexibly across the county when required.
Start: As soon as possible
Post may be subject to a DBS check.
SFPA is hosted by Citizens Advice Shropshire and further details and application form (no CVs) are available from their website.
Closing date: 5pm Wednesday 17th May 2023
Interviews: Wednesday 24th May 2023
(If interview date isn't convenient another may be arranged, depending on availability)
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Community Wellbeing Outreach Officers
Shropshire Council are recruiting two full time (37 hours per week) and one part time (18.5 hours per week) Community Wellbeing Outreach Officers to drive forward their ambition of supporting communities to be healthier and happier.
The post holders will play a key role in providing outreach support to local communities in Shropshire, building networks, and working with key stakeholders to ensure good access to local services and support. The post holders will need a range of skills to support individuals and communities, and to link into service planning.
For more information and to apply, visit the Shropshire Council Careers website. Closing date 10th May.
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Carer Support Practitioners
Family and unpaid carers make a large and positive contribution to the health and wellbeing of our communities and Shropshire Carers Support Team wants to ensure the proper recognition, support and appreciation of every carer in Shropshire.
If you have a vision for how the people and places within communities can work together to do things that make a difference to everyone’s life, then as a member of our Carer Support Team within Adult Social Care, Shropshire Council, you will contribute to creating a carer friendly community in Shropshire, delivering support and information to family and unpaid carers enabling them to achieve their own outcomes.
If you would like to discuss this role further please get in touch (alison.barrett@shropshire.gov.uk Tel 01743 256282).
For more information and to apply, visit: Carer Support Practitioner – Shropshire Council. Closing date 22 May 2023.
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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 Fund Grants
Community Resource administers a number of grants schemes through the Shropshire Community Fund to support groups to improve their community and the lives of local people.
Check them out here!
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Parkinson’s UK Physical Activity Grants Opens for 2023 Applications
Now in its third year, the Parkinson’s UK Physical Activity Grants Programme offer grants of between £500 and £3,000 (an increase of £500 from last year) to develop new activities for people affected by Parkinson’s to participate in physical activity and sport or increased participation in these areas.
Projects must last for at least three months, and they should reach and engage with a wide range of people with Parkinson's especially those who may be from the following groups:
- Newly diagnosed.
- Young onset.
- People and groups seen as 'under represented’ - including socially isolated, not digitally connected or ethnic communities.
- People who are not engaged with Parkinson’s UK.
- People who are inactive, or active at low levels.
- People who are still working.
Examples of the types of projects and activities that can be supported include:
- Expanding activities/classes etc. to include people with Parkinson’s.
- Buying equipment that will facilitate or enhance activities.
- Essential maintenance or replacement of equipment that will lead to greater participation or increased impact.
- Facility hire.
- Coaching fees.
- Specific training.
- Developing community activities that demonstrate a pathway into sustained activity.
- Helping people to access Parkinson’s specific online support to become more active.
In 2023, the programme has been expanded to include applications from activity providers, national governing bodies, Parkinson’s groups and branches, and sports and healthcare professionals.
Applications will be accepted from 2 May until 30 November 2023 and will be considered on a monthly basis. For more information and to apply, visit the Parkinson's UK website.
Midcounties Cooperative Community Fund
The Midcounties Cooperative have a community fund that provides grants of up to £500 to community groups all over the UK, they are looking for applications and welcome any community group to apply as soon as possible. The fund is open until October
From community gardens to summer fayres, we know a little support can go a long way. That’s why the Your Coop Community Fund is offering grants of up to £500 to groups who apply with great project ideas that bring people together.
Applying is easy, and the great news is that funding is available all year round and you can apply from wherever you are in the UK. They are looking for groups who align with our cooperative values and through their projects empower their members/service users and wider community to achieve more.
You can apply for a grant once a year and if successful they’ll be engaging with you to make an online community of people with like-minded ideas. You can find out more information on their website: Community Funding | Your Co-op (midcounties.coop)
King Baudouin Foundation Invites UK Applications to its Community Health Fund
Based in Brussels, the independent King Baudouin Foundation aims to improve society by investing in projects in the fields of social injustice and poverty; health; heritage and culture; social engagement; Africa, Latin America and Asia; education and development of talents; Europe; and climate, the environment and biodiversity.
This year, the Foundation is inviting UK applications to its UCB Community Health Fund, which aims to address health disparities amongst vulnerable young people.
Non-profit and non-governmental organisations can apply for a grant of between €30,000 and €50,000 (approximately £26,286 to £43,800) out of a total fund of €2 million (around £1,752,000).
The funding is intended for new and existing projects that address the issues of mental health of young people in the 15 to 24 age range. Projects should specifically address the needs of the most vulnerable communities including young people displaced due to conflicts, racial and ethnic minorities, refugees and asylum seekers, those with disabilities and certain health conditions, and those who are socio-economically disadvantaged.
Applications are invited in the following areas of impact:
- Projects that promote, detect, protect and care for young people’s mental health.
- Projects that ensure availability of mental health and psychosocial support.
- Projects that work towards building and implementing efficient mental health services for young people.
The deadline for applications is 30 June 2023. For more information and to apply, visit the King Baudouin Foundation website.
Power to Change Announces New Discovery Fund to Open for Applications on 1 June
The Discovery Fund is a new fund offered by Power to Change. Running over nine months, the fund is looking to work collaboratively with 20 community organisations who are interested in making and using technology to meet some of their current challenges. Each organisation will be provided with funding to undertake their own discovery work and will be offered a place on a cohort-based Design Hop programme.
The fund will provide the following:
- £10,000 to explore a tech solution to an existing challenge.
- An additional £2,000 to fund open working and engaging with the Community Tech community of practice.
- A free place on a Digital Design Hop: a structured design course to help move efficiently from challenge to solution.
- A network of experts and like-minded peers in a facilitated community of practice.
Funding is flexible and can be used to fund any eligible costs that meet the objectives of the fund, including:
- Research - reading, interviews, mapping, workshops etc as a way to ask questions, discover knowledge, refine ideas, scope out potential.
- Identifying and building partnerships to develop community tech.
- Spending time consulting with different experts.
- Undertaking learning journeys.
- Prototyping, testing and experimenting.
- Undertaking a Design Hop.
The open working funding can be used to:
- Spend time consulting with different experts.
- Pay for staff time to attend an open working course.
- Pay for staff time to write weeknotes or blogs.
- Pay for time and travel to engage with the Community Tech programme’s Community of Practice.
- Be involved in the Discovery Fund evaluation activity.
There is particular interest in projects led by communities experiencing ethnic or racial inequity, discrimination or inequality, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people, and people who are seeking asylum or who are refugees.
Incorporated community businesses and organisations in England can apply.
The Discovery Fund opens for applications on 1 June and closes on 21 July 2023 (midday). For more information and to apply, visit the Power to Change website.
Strategic Legal Fund Reopens for Applications
UK not-for-profit groups specialising in legal advice for immigration issues can now apply to the next round of grants from the Strategic Legal Fund (SLF).
The SLF aims to tackle injustices and inconsistencies in law and practice that disadvantage or discriminate against asylum seekers, refugees and migrants as a result of their migration status.
Grants of up to £30,000 are on offer though, owing to the limited funding pot, applications for less than this are encouraged.
The average grant awarded is for around £12,000, often for six months or less.
Funding will cover 'any reasonable revenue costs' that are incurred to undertake proposed pre-litigation research or to prepare third party intervention. This includes temporary staffing, freeing up or extending existing staff hours, volunteer expenses, travel and subcontracting with other voluntary and community organisations.
Applicants are asked to check the list of previous SLF grants to make sure their proposal does not duplicate any existing work.
The deadline to apply is 22 May 2023. For more information and to apply, visit the SLF website.
Resilience and Sustainability Grants
Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin have been awarded funding to support non-profit clubs, groups and organisations delivering physical activities to improve resilience and sustainability.
For more information, email: communityhelp@energizestw.org.uk
You can also visit the Energize website to find out more about their other funding opportunities.
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Call for UK Shared Prosperity Funding Now Open
A new window for applications for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund opened this week. It will be for activity that delivers between July 2023 and March 2025.
This will focuses on 2 priorities: Supporting local businesses, and Community and Place
Under the Supporting Local Business priority, the council is seeking applications for projects from intermediary organisations to deliver support to businesses, for example through business support initiatives or grant programmes, i.e. one to many. It is not a call that will support individual grant requests from businesses for their own benefit.
Under the Community and Place priority, the council is once again seeking applications from intermediary organisations to deliver support, services, amenities or facilities to local communities. This could include community and place initiatives or grant programmes i.e. one to many.
Projects under this priority must deliver a positive impact on their community and the call will support applications that can clearly demonstrate this.
All projects under both calls must start within six months of 1st July 2023 and all outputs and outcomes must be delivered by 31st March 2025.
The minimum bid thresholds are £100,000 and £60,000 for activity relating to Supporting Local Business and Community & Place respectively.
Organisations have until Friday 12 May 2023 at 5pm to apply.
All prospective applicants are encouraged to refer to further details on how to apply, particularly the eligibility criteria. All the necessary documentation is available on the Invest in Shropshire website.
Cllr Dean Carroll, portfolio holder for Growth, Regeneration and Housing said:
“We are extremely excited to be able to offer Shropshire’s UKSPF funds through this open call for proposals and we are looking forward to being able support a range of projects and programmes that will have a true positive impact to all communities within the county”.
Further opportunities for applying for UKSPF funds will be announced in due course, including details on how the People and Skills elements of the funds will be delivered.
If you have any queries or wish to speak with a member of the team in more detail, please email ukspf@shropshire.gov.uk
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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
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