Welcome
Welcome to the May edition of the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) newsletter, with the latest funding news, events and opportunities for the sector.
News
 Review of Social Value Benefits Offer for Small Voluntary & Community Sector Organisations
Help shape the Social Value Benefit offer for small VCS organisations.
The council expects organisations who bid for large council contracts to also pledge social value resources to help improve the borough’s economic, social, and environmental well-being.
Some of these resources are set aside for local small Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations.
We are currently reviewing the resources on offer for our VCS organisations and need your help identifying the key areas where you feel the support is most needed. The link below will take you to a short questionnaire. We welcome the input from small VCS organisations with an annual turnover of less than £150,000 per annum, or from organisations that support smaller VCS organisations.
The link to the survey can be found here. https://forms.office.com/e/n1PyxZYLYs
If you would like further information on social value benefits and how to apply, please use the link below.
The National Lottery Community Fund Partnerships Grant
The Partnerships funding programme offers grants exceeding £20,000 to support projects that promote collaborative working between organisations. This programme can aid various types of partnerships, such as cross-sector partnerships, local place-based collaboration, and national organisations working together under a particular theme.
The Partnerships funding programme offers grants of over £20,000 to support collaborative projects that align with one of three priorities:
- strengthening community relationships
- improving public spaces
- enabling people to reach their potential through early intervention.
Please use the link below for further details.
Wooden Spoon Society Grant
Grants are available for schools, charities and community organisations to support projects that enhance the quality of life for disadvantaged children and young people.
The grants can be used for capital projects, such as sports and activity areas, sensory rooms, and hydrotherapy pools, as well as revenue grants to support outreach programmes. The minimum grant level is £5,000 for projects of a physical nature.
Third Sector Organisations and schools are eligible to apply. Several projects, including those for disability tag rugby, therapy suites, soft play rooms, interactive gardens, and technology rooms, have already been funded.
Please use the link below for further details.
Garfield Weston Foundation Core Costs Grants
Apply Now for Core Cost Grants at the Garfield Weston Foundation
The Garfield Weston Foundation is a charitable organisation that provides grants to various causes across the UK. The foundation donates over £90 million every year. Through its Operating/Core Costs grants programme, the foundation offers funding for general organisational expenses. This includes covering bills or rent and providing support towards salaries.
Eligibility:
- UK registered charity
- Organisations must have annual income of under £100,000.
- Charitable Incorporated Organisation
- Housing Association that appears on the government’s list of Registered Providers
- exempt or excepted organisation according to the Charity Commission guidelines
Applications can be submitted at any time, please use the link below for further information.
Free Online Training: Volunteers and the Law
Do you want to know more about the legal requirements and issues for organisations that involve volunteers?
This Zoom session covers the key areas of law that affect volunteers and Volunteer Involving Organisations, including health and safety, insurance, safeguarding, criminal record checks, and data protection. It also explores issues of employment law, expenses, and volunteer agreements. The session helps identify minimum legal requirements and good practices for your organisation.
Date: Thursday 23rd May 2024
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm on Zoom
Please use the link below to book your place.
FREE Employability Training ELBA Community Partners
Would your community organisation like to receive FREE employability skills training for your service users?
ELBA's ENABLE programme empowers individuals within the local community by equipping them with the essential communication skills needed to successfully enter and progress in the workforce.
The programme offers a diverse range of training modules and workshops delivered by experienced business volunteers from ELBA. These volunteers leverage their professional expertise to inspire and guide participants, focusing on areas such as crafting effective CVs, mastering interview techniques, and other valuable skills that directly translate to workplace success.
Please email enable@elba-1.org.uk for further details.
 Group Leader Training at Tower Bridge
Are you a group leader working with Tower Hamlets residents? Would you like to bring your participants to Tower Bridge for £1?
Since 2017, Tower Bridge has been offering Tower Hamlets residents an entry fee of just £1. To support organisations that want to take advantage of this offer for group visitors, Tower Bridge has introduced Group Leader training.
This training aims to empower and support group leaders by providing them with practical knowledge and enthusiasm to independently book and bring Tower Hamlets residents to visit Tower Bridge.
The next training session is taking place on 28th May at 10 am.
If you would like to take part or find out more, please contact David Laird at David.laird@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Charity Digital Academy: How to manage charity finances
This online course simplifies charity finance in just three hours. You'll learn about budgeting, reporting, governance, sustainability, and future-proofing. The two back-to-back sessions provide key insights into essential elements of charity finance.
Date: 4th June 2024
Time: 10:00 - 13:00
Please use the link below to book your place.
Events
Connection Coalition - fighting loneliness and social isolation
 Building Connections, Reducing Isolation: A Networking Event for VCS, NHS & Council
A Connection Coalition networking and learning event for VCS, NHS and Council staff with an interest in loneliness and social isolation in Tower Hamlets. Get to hear about what others are doing, learn about new resources supporting your work, make useful connections and network over a light lunch.
Please use the link below to reserve your place.
Useful links
For information on infrastructure support to VCS organisations in Tower Hamlets, please visit Tower Hamlets Council for Voluntary Service.
For information on volunteering opportunities in Tower Hamlets, please visit Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets.
They are offering VCS organisations high-quality training, workshops, courses and events to help organisations grow stronger and more resilient.
Thank you for reading
We hope you found this bulletin useful. Contact us for any feedback or if you would like anything to be considered for inclusion in future newsletters.
Please note, the next issue of this bulletin will be published on the 5th March 2024.
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