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Dear Network Members,
Welcome to our monthly newsletter - providing information on the support we offer to the voluntary and community sector and updates on initiatives happening in our place.
As always you can still get in touch with the team about any support needs, or to let us know about any activities you are hosting, by emailing through to connectingcommunities@walthamforest.gov.uk.
Kind regards,
The Community Participation Team
 You should have seen in our last newsletter that our final Community Participation Network of the year will be taking place on Tuesday 14 December at the Waltham Forest Town Hall from 2.30pm-4.30pm.
The event will provide an opportunity to meet with other voluntary and community sector organisations in Waltham Forest, brainstorm ideas for joint working and enjoy a mince pie or two together!
In order to ensure safety, spaces for this event wil be limited. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Have you seen our Online Community Noticeboard?
The noticeboard is used to promote local voluntary and community sector activities happening locally, and it provides up to date information about available funding opportunities and training opportunities.
The noticeboard is a live document that is updated each week, so you can bookmark the URL and keep checking in for new information throughout each month.
 We're always looking for new activities to add to the noticeboard, so please do remember to email through any new activities or events you are hosting to connectingcommunities@walthamforest.gov.uk.
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We are delighted to let you know that our Community in Fellowship Square Fund opens today for applications.
Fellowship Square is a place for community and since its opening, we have seen our residents bring great joy and energy into the space. Going forward, we want to further support community groups to enjoy all that Fellowship Square offers and would like to encourage your communities to host activities and events in the square.
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The fund will provide up to £2,500 for any community organisation to host your activity or event in the spaces available at Fellowship Square, in three rounds throughout 2022.
More information can be found in the Community in Fellowship Square fund guidance document, and the first round of applications will close on Sunday 16 January 2022.
We will also be hosting 2 sessions to support with writing applications for this fund. Spaces on these sessions are limited, so sign up whilst you can.
Wednesday 8 December - 10 - 11am - Sign up here
Thursday 16 December - 10 - 11am - Sign up here
The festive period is upon us, and we know that many of our charities this is a very busy time as you support others.
The Communities and Participation team are gathering information regarding what voluntary and community sector services are on offer to support residents throughout the winter period.
If your organisation is offering additional support for residents this winter, please let us know.
We will also be circulating this list of services back out to the Community Participation database later on in the month, to enable you to signpost residents to services if needed.
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The Volunteering team at Waltham Forest Council is currently working on a new volunteering strategy which will be launched alongside a new volunteer management service in early 2022.
This work will continue providing support to community organisations by increasing opportunities for you to find volunteers, but also offer a training package to support community organisations with managing volunteers.
We'll be able to let you know more about this offer early next year!
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In the meantime, we know that lots of community organisations need more volunteers over the festive period.
We are pleased to launch an online page featuring upcoming festive volunteering opportunities within our volunteering groups.
We'd love it if you could promote these opportunities out through your networks to encourage people to get involved.
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If you are looking for volunteers over the next few weeks and would like to add your volunteering opportunity onto the noticeboard, please click here.
BeeZee Bodies run award winning services to help families in Waltham Forest to make healthy changes to their lifestyle - but they know that one size doesn't fit all.
Making changes towards a healthier lifestyle has to be based with real people in mind, that are reflective of our communities and taking into consideration differences between cultural groups.
The team would like to speak to you as community representatives to hear your thoughts on what would work best, and would would specifically like to make connections with community groups who have reach to our Black community and South Asian community in Waltham Forest due to the increased health inequalities experienced by these residents.
This is a great opportunity to have your say on local family healthcare services and impact how they should be best run moving forward.
Do you know any young people aged between 14 and 19 who are passionate about Waltham Forest and having their say about their future?
The Young Advisors programme is a fantastic way for young people to get involved in Council priorities and workstreams, gain fantastic experience and get paid for their time.
It would be appreciated if you could spread the word about this opportunity through your networks. The deadline for applications is Wednesday 15 December.
The Adult Learning Service's new Digital Skills and Employment project offers bespoke support for residents to learn new skills, focussing specifically on digital skills and how these can support residents getting into employment.
 The project is focusing specifically on residents who are unemployed, and the team would like to hear from any community organisations who are working with women or residents from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic heritage and would like to work in partnership to establish new routes into employment.
 Our last training session of the year will take place on Wednesday 8 December 1 - 3pm.
This session is suitable for all community organisations in Waltham Forest, whether you would like to find out more about becoming a charity or are even interested in setting up as a not for profit business.
Please share this opportunity with others in your organisation who you think would be interested in attending.
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Building upon the legacy of Borough of Culture in 2019, Waltham Forest Council want to continue celebrating the dynamism and diversity of our local area.
Artists, community groups and other collectives that bring residents together are welcomed to apply for up to £15,000 to host cultural activities and events, showcasing the spirit of creativity that characterises our borough.
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Our twitter page is nearly at 1000 followers!
We would love it if you could follow and spread the word to others too - each day we share information about activities going on in the community, as well as funding opportunities and training and workshops to help your organisations develop.
Click the image below to follow - we'd love to reach 1000 before the end of the year!
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