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Welcome to the Waltham Forest Communities and Participation team newsletter.
International Women's Day flag raising
Mevy (on the right of the photo, wearing a dress) and colleagues holding the winning flag.
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This International Women's Day we were especially proud of the Communities team's very own Mevy, who had her design turned into a flag to celebrate the day.
Mevy said: "The design uses silhouette images of women to symbolise empowerment, diversity, inclusivity, and honouring all women.” Well done Mevy!
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This month we meet Helen and Richard. Here, Helen tells us why Community Voice is important for the Waltham Forest Voluntary and Community Sector.
“Richard and I are co-chairs of the Community Voice Advisory Board. The Board is a collection of community and voluntary organisations working with the council to look at how we can have better representation and support as a sector.
"We believe that, if we act together to address our issues and concerns, we can all achieve more for the communities we serve. A Community Voice body, genuinely owned by us, can enable us to do this - if we create it in the right way.
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"We have appointed Locality as independent facilitators for this project. They are running online and in-person workshops across the borough and we need you to get involved to make sure that everyone's views are included.
Helen is the Director of Stories & Supper and Vice Chair of Waltham Forest Migrant Action, two local charities working with migrants, including refugees and people seeking asylum.
Richard has been a Trustee at The Mill on Coppermill Lane, one of the borough's community centres, since 2019, and is currently Chair of Trustees there.
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Participate in Community Voice
Book yourself into one of the online workshops now:
Or, book for one of the in-person workshops:
Find out more by contacting the independent facilitator team directly on: WFVoice@Locality.org.uk.
If you have any questions about this month's newsletter support available to your organisation, please get in touch.
Waltham Forest VCS Community Participation Network meeting
Come to this regular meeting to network, share ideas and develop partnerships with colleagues and volunteers from other VCS organisations across the borough.
Our next meeting will be in person at the Town Hall from 2.30pm to 4.30pm on Tuesday 30 April.
Free training for Waltham Forest VCS
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Safeguarding Adults, Thursday 28 March.
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30 mins demo: Waltham Forest VCS Funding Portal, dates vary.
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Join the Waltham Forest VCS Funding Portal
We have invested in a new portal to give the Waltham Forest VCS direct access to all the latest local and national funding opportunities.
The Communities team are delivering a series of 30 minute online demonstrations of the portal. Dates vary. Book to attend.
Funding opportunities
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Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Community Ownership Fund. Grants to support VCS take ownership of local assets such as sporting and cultural venues, meeting spaces, community centres, pubs and shops that are at risk of closure. Deadline: unspecified.
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Groundwork - One Stop Community Partnership Programme. Support for local community projects that address social welfare and environmental issues. Deadline: Friday 26 April.
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Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts - Headley Trust. Funding for areas including: arts and heritage in the UK, health and social welfare. Deadline: unspecified.
Mission Waltham Forest
 Waltham Forest council set out their new commitment to Waltham Forest residents, called Mission Waltham Forest.
Mission Waltham Forest is a combination of six priorities that have been designed to create a fairer borough for the residents of Waltham Forest by 2030, focusing on the ever-growing demand and need for improved access to services around the borough.
The six missions are:
- Ensure every family and every child are given every opportunity.
- Build an economy that works for everyone.
- Make Waltham Forest a great place to live and age well.
- Tackle the housing crisis head on.
- Lead the way for a net-zero borough.
- Safe, green neighbourhoods where everyone can thrive
Get Online for Less
 Do the residents in your networks know they can Get Online for Less? Residents can get advice on:
- Social tariffs: cheaper broadband and phone packages for benefit claimants.
- How to get a better deal if you are out of contract.
- Understanding data usage and needs.
- Accessing public Wi-Fi safely.
Register to vote
 Do residents you interact with know they may not be able to vote in the upcoming elections?
In order to vote in person on Thursday 2 May, residents must make sure they are registered to vote by Tuesday 16 April. To apply for a postal vote the deadline is Wednesday 17 April. Or it’s Wednesday 24 April to apply for a proxy vote.
Another important deadline to be aware of is Wednesday 24 April. This is the deadline for residents to apply for the free Voter Authority Certificate if they do not have an accepted form of photo Voter ID.
Free age-positive image photo library
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The Centre for Ageing Better offer free-to-use photos demonstrating a more realistic depiction of ageing. The over 3,000 images help challenge stereotypes of older people and can be used for marketing purposes.
Access the image library.
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Town centre work in Chingford Mount, North Chingford and Highams Park
 Waltham Forest’s Regeneration team is keen to connect to VCS organisations in the north of the borough.
Ian Martin is the area's Town Centre Activation and Engagement Lead and his role focuses on social, cultural and business focused projects and initiatives. His work links in with the wider regeneration team who focus on infrastructure and development of the public realm.
If you would like to find out more, discuss what you’re doing, or share ideas about what you would like to do in your town centre in the north of the borough, email: Ian.Martin@walthamforest.gov.uk
William Morris Gallery Community Advisory Panel
 Would you like to join the William Morris Gallery Community Advisory Panel?
The panel meets four times a year to support the development of the gallery's programme, ensuring it remains accessible to all and better reflects the diverse interests of local communities. Deadline: Sunday 7 April. Find out more.
Recycled laptops for refugees and asylum seekers
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Screen Share exists to support, inform and advocate for digital inclusion for refugees and people seeking asylum across the UK. Eligible individuals can apply for a laptop (conditions apply). |
Migrant communities training
The ‘Stand Up! Speak Out’ training series will offer over 20 free online sessions delivered by a coalition of organisations working on migration. Topics include:
- Asylum support 101.
- Supporting migrant women.
- Housing in a hostile environment.
- What’s happening in asylum accommodation?
- Immigration status and domestic abuse.
View the full programme and register.
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