BOLTON COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY SERVICES
JUMBO
July 2010
1990 - 2010 Bolton CVS celebrates 20 years of working together to develop a diverse strong and effective voluntary and community sector in Bolton. September 2009 - Bolton CVS gains the NAVCA Quality Award.
1990
2001 2001 - Investor in People Award
2005
2007
2007
January 2007 - Stronger Together: The
2007
Bolton Hub officially opens
Contents
Bolton CVS News
Bolton CVS News
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Notice Board
3
Group Development
4
Sustainable Groups Project (SGP)
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Bolton CVS Celebrates 20 years of service! On 1st July Bolton CVS celebrated 20 years of ‘Working together to develop a diverse, strong and effective voluntary and community sector in Bolton’. You will see some images from those years overleaf and thank you to all if you attended our Birthday event at the Town Hall.
We are proud of all our achievements to date and also of Funding News 6 - 9 the strength and diversity of Bolton CVS in 2010 as represented by our staff, our trustees and our volunteers. Successful Grants 10 - 11 However, we are also very mindful that Bolton, along with the rest of the country, is entering a period of great change. The BIG Bolton We will strive to do our best to work in creative partnership 12 Fund and to support voluntary and community groups through the challenging times ahead. Bolton
Community Network pages
Cuts to Funding
Breaks for Carers Grants
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Group Profile
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As we went to press national and local announcements were being made about cuts to funding and, at this stage, we are not clear what impact these cuts will have on the voluntary and community sector within Bolton or on our own organisation. We have already reduced staffing within Bolton CVS and were sad to say farewell recently to Gill Upham and Suresh Jariwala.
ICT Development
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But The Show Goes On …
4 page section
Health & Care Together
Despite these difficult times, staff within Bolton CVS are working very hard and very creatively to ensure that we provide high quality services for you. This issue of JUMBO 17 is packed with an incredible array of information and opportunities to get involved so please come and join in 18 - 19 when you can – we are all Stronger Together!
Volunteering Matters
Nomination for Award 20 - 21 We are delighted to report that the BIG Bolton Fund has
Training News Children & Young People
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Legal Update
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Who’s Who at Bolton CVS
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When you have finished reading Jumbo please pass it on or
been shortlisted under the Community section of the Bury and Bolton Business Awards and will report the result in the next edition of JUMBO.
Are you a Member of Bolton CVS? If your group isn’t already a member and you would like to join and make the most of the benefits on offer, please contact Jackie Gildert on Jackie@boltoncvs.org.uk or 01204 546020. Karen Minnitt Chief Executive 2
Notice Board The New Unity Centre (NUC)
BOFAA (Bolton French African Assistance) ESOL Class
The NUC aims to encourage and help the development of new and emerging groups. Support provided to groups hiring the NUC include: • • • •
Do you want to improve your English skills in writing and speaking? BOFAA is providing a free intensive course in ESOL (English for speakers of other languages).
Help with CRB checks Public Liability Insurance Opportunity to network with other groups Training and advice sessions
Date: Mondays Time: 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm Venue: The New Unity Centre Johnson Street, Bolton BL1 1NX
A small meeting room holding up to 12 people and a large meeting room are available for hire.
Free admission!
Kitchen facilities are also available.
Contact Archbishop G. Mboyo on 07904429688 / 01204 405182 or Princesse on 07950 469158
For more information please contact Lesley Dunn on 01204 332699 or email lesley.dunn@bolton.gov.uk.
Email: eveqmboyo@yahoo.fr
Community Fun Day for the whole family
Pride of Bolton 2010 There is a fantastic celebration of the pride of the Bolton family this summer and everyone is invited!
Date: Saturday 31st July Time: 10.00 am - 4.00 pm Venue: St James School, Highfield, Farnworth, BL4 9RU
The ‘Pride of Bolton’ celebration on Saturday 17th July will see music, dance, fashion and food from Bolton take centre stage in a spectacular all day event. The ‘Big TV’ on Victoria Square will entertain thousands of people visiting the town centre and promote the ‘Pride of Bolton 2010’.
The day will feature the Bolton Wanderers Community Team, local community and voluntary groups, crafts, games, children's activities, face painting and lots lots more.
Organisers are looking for community groups and individuals to show their talent and take pride in Bolton by taking part in this fantastic event. To get involved whether it’s on stage, supporting the event or getting your message on to the ‘Big’ screen then contact Reena Banks on 07530 040 939 or email reena.banks@googlemail.com.
Also introducing the first ever Bolton Strongest Man competition! Contact Mary Devenish from Bolton at Home on 01204 333722 for more information or to book a stand for your group.
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Group Development Publicising your group… Leaflets and Posters Why do we need Publicity? Publicity materials are a way of getting your name known— there is no point in having excellent services, if no-one knows about them. Publicity should send a positive message about the wonderful things you do – this will make people (including potential funders) want to get involved.
Posters — The principles of putting together a poster are generally the same whatever the subject matter. Eg imagine a poster for publicising a Summer Fun Day. Here are some things to think about that should be included on your poster:
Leaflets — These can be produced
• •
(fairly) cheaply and quickly. Obviously if you’ve got money to spend, you can go for something really snazzy and eye-catching, but if funds are low, then there is nothing wrong with a simple leaflet with black ink just make sure you include all the relevant information!
• • •
The temptation often is to put everything in about your group - don’t! Give details about your activities and services and put your organisation in a positive light, but don’t overwhelm the reader with too much information.
When? Date and times Where? Venue, nearest car park and public transport details Why? Just for fun? To raise money? Who? Is the event aimed at families? Children - what age group? What is your main selling point? Celebrity guest? Brilliant prizes?
What should the poster look like? Test yourself first - go to any notice board in a community centre and think about which poster catches your eye first. Why is that? Is it the colour of the paper? The pictures? The large print? If it works for you it will work for others.
Increase the shelf-life of your leaflets, by avoiding the use of dates. If your leaflets include prices eg room hire, bear in mind these things change quite often. Think about whether you’ll want to update your leaflets regularly, especially when you are about to have 10,000 copies printed!
Publicity should not be done in isolation … what would be the point of producing a leaflet, getting no response from it and then distributing the same leaflet next year? Monitor how you use your publicity and the effect it has—resources are precious so avoid wasting money on ineffective publicity materials. For more information on producing publicity materials, contact the Funding and Development Team on 01204 546010. 4
Sustainable Groups Project Refugee Communities and Representation Conference In partnership with Greater Manchester BME Network and Manchester Refugee Support Network (MRSN), the BASIS project at Refugee Action is organising a conference on the theme: ‘Refugee Communities & Representation’ on 21st July in central Manchester (venue to be confirmed) The event aims to increase the knowledge of representation and explore what representation means for refugee communities in Greater Manchester. The conference will be an important contribution to the ongoing discussion between the refugee community and statutory and voluntary sector support agencies. Come and find out about: • opportunities for local and regional refugee community representation • the relationship between representation and participation • examples of good practice from across the country For more information about the conference or to book a place contact Refugee Action on 0161 831 5460.
Bolton Refugee Forum The Refugee Forum started in July 2005. As a result of the influx of new and emerging communities into the Borough, the need to bring the groups together was identified by both Bolton Community Homes and Bolton Equalities Centre (BEC) formerly known as Bolton Racial Equality Council (BREC). It was realised that the best way to bring the groups together was by way of a Refugee Forum. The Forum offers Refugee and Asylum Seeker organisations the opportunity to network and share good practice to maintain and improve the level of services currently being offered to these groups in the Borough. It provides a collective voice and support through local support structures and aims to be an effective network that shares and harnesses good practice, both of forum members and other groups and partnerships. Specifically the Forum: • • •
Raises issues affecting refugee and asylum seeker communities in Bolton Provides mutual support Provides shared resources and training
The Forum meets quarterly and meetings takes place at community centres where the groups are based or the New Unity Centre. Information about a whole host of issues is provided to the members to disseminate to their own communities. New members are welcome For more information contact: Bolton Equalities Centre on 01204 331002 or email: zahidahussain@boltonequalities.org.uk. 5
Funding News Introduction to the Funding & Development Team If you need support with any aspect of funding from finding out about the right grants for your project to having one to one support in completing application forms for grants, from £1000 to really big grants in excess of £250,000, then the Funding & Development Team are here to help you. We don’t stop there … funding for your group and development of your group are intrinsically linked and the Team collectively has a wealth of knowledge around supporting the development of groups from the first steps of setting up, governance, roles and responsibilities and running effective meetings to planning projects, developing outcomes, safeguarding issues, preparing policies, getting ready to tender, applying for quality awards, running community buildings, dissolution … the list goes on. The Grants ’Team’ supported by volunteer grant assessors, the Cleaner Greener Project, the Sustainable Groups Project, and the One to One/Specialist Support Project are all part of the Funding & Development Team. In addition, the development and management of the website and database falls within the Team’s remit, as well as the production of Jumbo. Several members of the Team deliver training including Filling in the Forms, Completing Monitoring, Roles and Responsibilities, Safeguarding, and Developing Outcomes, and are constantly reviewing your needs and developing new courses to meet them—thus enabling groups to manage themselves effectively and increase their knowledge and skills around finding and applying for funding. You will read more about the Team’s work on other pages of Jumbo. The Team also co-ordinates two forums, the Cleaner Greener Forum in partnership with the Community Network, and the Funding Forum.
The Funding Forum—9th September, 10 am to 12 noon The Funding Forum aims to increase knowledge about grants available and changes made to funding streams and to encourage networking with other organisations. It also aims to strengthen relationships between groups and funders and regularly has speakers from funding organisations such as Comic Relief, The Sir James & Lady Scott Trust, Age Concern, and Big Bolton Fund updates. It also provides information about a wide range of grants. The Forum is held bi-monthly at the Bolton Hub. For more information please contact Helen Tomlinson on 01204 546017 or visit www.boltoncvs.org.uk/funding-forum.
Support Sessions For support around funding or group development, support sessions are held on Tuesdays from 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm. Book your session by phoning 01204 546010. There is a high demand for these sessions so book well in advance!
Appcheck If you have completed a grant application form and would like a member of the Funding & Development Team to have a look at it prior to its submission, then please email it to appcheck@boltoncvs.org.uk and we will feed back to you within a week.
Grant Finder Bolton CVS now has Grant Finder online—if you have a project in mind and want to do your own search for funding, then you can come to Bolton CVS and access this internet funding portal with support from a member of the Funding & Development Team. Please telephone 01204 546010 to book a 90 minute appointment. 6
Funding News Grants administered by Bolton CVS Small Grants Programme You can apply for up to £5000 in one financial year if you are a constituted voluntary or community group, registered charity or a registered community interest company. Grants will enable organisations to produce benefits for people in Bolton on one or more of the following themes: healthy lifestyles, learning and skill development, increased employability, safer communities, stronger communities, and cleaner and greener communities.
Creating Cleaner Greener Communities Grants are available up to £5000 for projects that physically improve the local environment. Projects must be based within the Neighbourhood Renewal areas of Bolton and must be visible to the public, and have support from and involve the local community. Voluntary or community groups, youth groups, not-for-profit organisations and schools may apply. Please make sure you read the guidelines carefully to ensure that your project is eligible. For both of the above grants, application packs are available as paper copies or can be downloaded from our website. Phone 01204 546010 or go to www.boltoncvs.org.uk. The deadlines are the last day of every month and there is a high demand for these grants. Before you send your application in please make sure that you do the following: ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒
Read the Guidance Notes before you complete the form—they are there to help you. Answer every question—the questions are being asked for a reason, if you aren’t sure what a question means, then please telephone us—don’t just leave it blank. Carry out a consultation to show there is a need for your project—the grant assessors need to see written evidence, just saying you have spoken to people is not enough! Attach all of the documents asked for—refer to the checklist at the back of the form. Send the application in by the deadline date—or it will not go to that month’s panel.
Behind the Scenes ... The May Panel for the Small Grants Programme saw an influx of over 50 applications. The Grants Team were inundated with application forms that had information missing. I was asked to help the team out and I was amazed by how much time and energy goes into getting applications ready for panel. Each application form is checked and reviewed. A well written, well structured application form with all the questions answered and documents attached brings a smile to the faces of the Grants Team. Application forms with questions unanswered or answered incorrectly, no written consultation evidence, no quotes, missing policies, etc, is the bane of the Grants Team. The Team want to help groups be successful and so spend hours contacting them for more information and helping them to answer the questions. The panels are on set dates and so all of the information has to be submitted before then—I couldn’t believe the number of groups that questioned the need for this information or sent information in after the date the information was asked for. All of the applications are assessed by trained Volunteer Grant Assessors who will ask questions about each one. So please help us to help you—follow the guidance and complete the forms fully and send in all the information requested, and bring more smiles to the faces of the Grants Team! If you need any help then phone the Team, they are there to help you. 7
Funding News Other Funding Sources Action Earth Last call for this small grant of £50—the final deadline is 7th July! Action Earth challenges local communities to find ways to protect and enhance the built and natural environment, to improve quality of life and safeguard the environment for the future. Projects must be visual, practical, have an immediate or lasting environmental benefit, involve volunteers and occur before 31st July. For more details go to www.actionearth.org.uk or phone 0121 328 7455.
Co-operative Charitable Foundation The Community Fund grant scheme helps local communities throughout the UK. The Cooperative Group want to help improve the lives of others. If your community, voluntary or self-help group needs a grant of between £100 and £2000, you can apply using the online form. Go to www.co-operative.coop/membership/local-communities/community-fund.
Live UnLtd Funding is available up to £2000 for 16-25 year olds to turn ideas into reality. Ideas must have a positive impact on the community and projects must engage other young people. The money can be used to buy equipment, produce promotional materials, rent a space to work. Applying is simple—either apply online or download the application form and post the paper version to their offices. For more information go to www.liveunltd.com.
UnLtd Sport Relief Awards The Awards are for 11-21 year olds who will go the extra mile and use their passion for sport and arts to bring respect and understanding to their communities by setting up projects and making a difference to others. Funded by Comic Relief, there are three levels: • TRY IT!—£1000 Award—Awards are available up to £1000 for projects that focus on providing opportunities for young people to meet new people, engage in activities they wouldn’t normally take part in and connect with other young people from different backgrounds and walks of life; encourage young people to think about social issues that are relevant to them; encourage young people to think about how they would like to address these issues; provide a learning experience. It must be a new project. Complete the online application form. Go to www.unltdsportrelief.com/tryit. • Shape It—£5000 Award—support and cash is available to further shape a project. Projects must show a good understanding of how the project will address issues in the local community such as bringing people together and overcoming problems, provide opportunities for young people to bring communities together, and provide a learning experience for the applicant. Go to www.unltdsportrelief.com/shapeit. • Do it—£10,000 Award—for projects that will run long term and make an impact. It can be used towards living costs. Projects must be exciting; use sport or recreational activities as a solution to a social problem; be run by motivated people who already have experience of running a project or working within their community; have the ability to become sustainable; be innovative, entrepreneurial and provide a learning opportunity for the individual. Do It Awards are made every three months with the first deadline on Monday, 12th July 2010. Go to www.unltdsportrelief.com/doit. For more details phone 0845 3670 770 or email sportreliefaward@unltd.org.uk or go to the website at www.unltdsportrelief.com. 8
Funding News Rowing Foundation The Foundation aims to aid and support young people (those under 18 or still in full time education) and the disabled of all ages through their participation in sports and games, particularly water sports in Britain. Grants are available between £500 to £2000. The Foundation wants to help organisations and clubs whose requirements may be too small, or be otherwise ineligible to apply to the National Lottery or other similar funds. For more information phone Mrs P M Churcher on 020 8878 3723, email p.churcher@sky.com or go to www.britishrowing.org/rowing-foundation.
Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards Scheme This Scheme provides donations of £1000 to £4000 to local projects supporting children and their education and welfare, elderly people, and adults and children with disabilities. The funding strand for elderly people and adults and children with disabilities is soon to open—applications must be made between 1st August and 30th September for a decision by the end of December. For more information phone the helpline on 0845 612 3575 or visit the website at www.tescoplc.com/tescocharitytrust.
Anchor Foundation The Foundation supports Christian charities concerned with social inclusion particularly through ministries of healing and the arts. They will consider applications for either capital or revenue funding. Grants between £500 and £10,000 are available and the next deadline is 31st July. For more information go to www.theanchorfoundation.org.uk.
Association of Greater Manchester Authority Grants Scheme (AGMA) AGMA contributes to the recognition of Greater Manchester throughout the UK as a creative county helping to create the conditions necessary to attract potential investment and an improved quality of life for all its residents. The Scheme covers the following areas of activity: culture; social and community cohesion; education and young people; economic development; and job creation. One-off grants are available up to £10,000. The next deadlines are 31st July and 31st October 2010. For more information phone 0161 234 3364 or email agma.grants@manchester.gov.uk or go to www.manchester.gov.uk.
Heart Research UK—Healthy Heart Grants These grants support innovative projects designed to promote heart health and to prevent or reduce the risks of heart disease in specified groups or communities across the UK. Projects supported in the past include teaching circus skills to teenagers, rugby players educating children about heart health. The scheme is for heart health projects only and not for general healthy lifestyle projects. Grants of up to £10,000 are available and open in July and August for the November grants round. For more information phone 0113 297 6206; email lifestyle@heartresearch.org.uk; or go to www.heartresearch.org.uk.
Football Foundation—Facilities Grant The grant supports organisations to build/develop and/or refurbish facilities to sustain and increase participation in football. It covers capital costs—improving grass pitch drainage, changing rooms and clubhouses and some revenue. The maximum level of funding is 90% of the total project cost, up to £1 million. Applications can be made at any time. For more information phone 0845 345 4555 ext 4276 or go to www.footballfoundation.org.uk. 9
Successful Grants Small Grants Programme The following grants were available to community and voluntary groups in Bolton. Grassroots Grants The purpose of the grant is to provide a resource that will enable people to make a real difference in their communities. Grants up to £5000 were available to groups with an income of less than £30,000. Bolton Vision Grants are funded by Bolton’s Local Strategic Partnership to enable community groups to narrow the gap on inequalities that exist in our town. Grants were available for up to £3000. Neighbourhood Grants of up to £500 are available for organisations based or working in Bolton’s most deprived areas to tackle issues that are important to the local community. Health for Bolton grants were available for up to £500 to help groups provide activities that improve physical health, mental health or both for people in Bolton.
Successful Small Grants Applications May 2010 Name of Group
Reason for Application
Amount Awarded
Access Music
To deliver a therapeutic music project for adults with learning and/or physical disabilities in Bolton.
£3,445.63
AJays Morris Dancers
Overnight stay costs for annual dance championship event for young people and adults representing Bolton.
£3,473.00
Bolton Deane & Derby Cricket Club
Improve access and update ground of cricket clubhouse in Great Lever.
£5,000.00
Bolton Equalities Centre
Application on behalf of the Refugee Forum for costs towards an information sharing event between service providers and refugee groups in Bolton during Refugee Week.
£500.00
Bolton Interfaith Council (BIC)
Costs towards holding a multicultural event in Bolton town centre as part of Refugee Week in partnership with multi-faith and BME groups.
£3,000.00
Bolton Mandhata Youth
To continue music and dance sessions for young people in Halliwell including costs towards a Diwali showcase event.
£4,000.00
Bury/Bolton ME/CFS Support Group
Therapist for yoga sessions for self help group for carers and people with ME/CFS in Bolton.
£1,250.00
Deane Scouts & Guides Supporters Association
Rent and insurance costs for young people's guide group in Rumworth.
Eldon Street Residents' Association
Costs towards trips for local families and older people living in the Tonge area. 10
£485.00 £1,287.00
Successful Grants … Continued Successful Small Grants Applications May 2010 The Ellen Hulmes Dance Troupe
Running costs of dance troupe for young people and adults in Rumworth including rent, equipment and publicity.
Ellesmere Thursday Tea Dance
Costs towards trip for dance club for retired, unemployed and disabled adults in Bolton.
£900.00
FC Sharples
Pitch hire for children's football club.
£700.00
Girlguiding Bolton Tonge Division
Costs of trips and camping activities for 120 girls and 30 leaders to celebrate Girlguiding UK's centenary.
£3,500.00
The Great Lever Voice Project
Costs of vocational training courses for young people in Great Lever and Farnworth to help them get into education/employment or further training.
£4,695.00
Leverhulme Residents Association
Costs of a film making project for young people living in Breightmet.
£2,090.00
Merehall Football Club
Kit, equipment and league fees for football club for young adults in Halliwell.
£1,813.00
Motiv8 2 Activ8
Cost towards day trip, swimming sessions and equipment for women and girls group based in Crompton.
£1,350.00
R Place
Costs towards healthy eating sessions for parents and children in Johnson Fold.
SHPRESA (Hope)
Cost towards organising a series of cultural events for young people in Halliwell celebrating Kosovan heritage.
£1,500.00
Streetwise Soccer CIC
To deliver a summer holiday programme involving football sessions and film making for young people in Farnworth.
£1,500.00
St William of York Social Group
Social group for older people in Great Lever applying to improve flowerbeds in church grounds.
£750.00
Sunnyside Tuesday Club
Running costs of group, equipment, resources and art workshops for children in Great Lever.
£950.00
£287.00
Total 11
£4,500.00
£46,975.63
The BIG Bolton Fund The BIG Bolton Fund supports The Big Lunch The BIG Bolton Fund are supporting The Big Lunch in 2010 because it is all about building resilient communities that can effect change. The Big Lunch aims to break down barriers in communities and improve communication within them: for neighbours to get to know each other and start to work together to try to make a difference locally. The Big Lunch actively promotes local charities, just as Bolton Community & Voluntary Services does, who manage The BIG Bolton Fund. We encourage and facilitate local giving and directly support grassroots projects. The Big Lunch is inviting 61 million people across the UK to have lunch with neighbours, in the middle of the street on Sunday 18th July as a simple act of community, to show how local people can change a neighbourhood for good, forever; to discover common ground across age, class, faith, race and the garden fence; and to remind everyone that charity begins at home. Marissa Hankinson, Fundraiser for The BIG Bolton Fund, says: “We share The Big Lunch’s ideal that the world can be better if we together unlock the potential within communities to resolve their own problems. This is the nation’s local street party.” The Big Lunch took place for the first time last year with over 8000 lunches in every kind of community all across the UK. Up to a million people took to the streets in the biggest set of street parties since the Golden Jubilee. Eight out of ten said they felt closer to their neighbours as a result. Supporting or organising a Big Lunch in your area is really easy and we encourage you to visit www.thebiglunch.com website and download the Ideas Booklet which takes you through the process step by step, giving you the tools, templates and resources to make it as simple as possible.
Stars come out for One Bolton! Some of the town’s most famous sons and daughters are celebrating what is great about the borough. They are just some of the people to have signed up to the One Bolton pledge. From Radio One DJ, Sara Cox, to boxing sensation and WBA World LightWelterweight Champion, Amir Khan, support for the campaign continues to grow. Other celebrities standing up to be counted include comedians, Dave Spikey and Stu Francis, Bolton-born chef, Paul Heathcote, and singing sensation, Laura White. The One Bolton pledge says: “We celebrate the diversity of Bolton and unite to create One Bolton, recognising differences, celebrating communities and commit to encouraging harmony”. The pledge is directly linked to The BIG Bolton Fund and encourages supporters to pledge money to the Fund, which in turn is used to support local community projects throughout Bolton. The Wanderers have already shown their support and have hosted a series of community-based events working in partnership with The BIG Bolton Fund. You can find out more about up-and-coming community-based events by visiting www.boltonlife.org.uk.
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The Bolton Hub Bolton BL1 1LS Tel: 01204 546040 Fax: 01204 546041 Email: diane@boltoncvs.org.uk Website: www.boltoncvs.org.uk/bolton-community-network
In Jumbo this month: • • • •
Democracy Day Community Engagement in Health update Neighbourhood Networks update Third Sector Forum update
Take part in Democracy Day Bolton NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action) has put together an event that brings together people in an area to learn how to have a greater influence in local decisions, policies and strategies. Called Democracy Days, the events have been designed to bring national know-how together with local expertise. They include briefings on how our parliamentary system works, how regional and local government structures make decisions and how individuals and organisations can have the greatest impact on them. Workshops are then used to identify local issues, share inside knowledge and top tips and to develop action plans and ideas to take away. We are delighted to be holding an event in Bolton. Please come along and make your voice heard on Tuesday 27th July 2010, 10 am – 4 pm at The Bolton Hub. See the flyer inside this edition of Jumbo for further details and booking instructions. For further information contact Diane Craddock on 01204 546040.
Community Engagement in Health Update Bolton Community Network staff have been working hard in some of the most deprived areas of Bolton to help improve the health and well being of the community. By working in partnership with NHS Bolton and the local neighbourhood management teams, we are helping to tackle area priorities that will help improve the quality of life for local people. To update Jumbo readers on our health projects, in the last 12 months we have delivered over 80 hours of Upsy Downsy and over 40 hours of our cancer awareness ‘Hands On’ project. We have delivered nine self care courses, which amounts to over 108 hours of community training on health related issues. We have handed out over 250 leaflets for the Expert Patients Program course and signed up in excess of 70 new families to the smoke free homes project. Our more recent projects ‘Open Wide’ and ‘Breathe Easy’, which were launched in November 2009, have already been delivered to more than 250 people. These projects are proving to be real eye openers. One attendee to the Open Wide workshop says ‘I really had no idea that shisha was dangerous, I’m going to tell all my friends and family’. If you have taken part in one of our workshops and it has made a difference to your life, please let us know. Bolton Community Network
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The work we do has an impact because we are passionate about change for the better. We want to see a thriving, happy, healthy Bolton, so let us share our work and knowledge with you. If you would like one of our Community Engagement Workers to come along to your group meeting please get in touch. The workshops are interactive, fun, educational and perhaps best of all FREE. So contact the team and book your workshop, the information we give you could save your life or the lives of one of your group. We look forward to hearing from you soon. If you’re not sure about contacting us, see what impact we have made to two people: At Westhoughton Methodist Lunch Club we met a lady called Jean Taylor. Jean is aged 78 and is from Thurstons Retirement Home. She played Upsy Downsy with our Community Engagement Workers and couldn’t praise the game highly enough. The “happy habit” she chose was to make an effort to contact people she had lost touch with. Jean told us “This game taught me not to settle for losing touch with people - to play my part in keeping up contact with friends and family. That was the happy habit I chose and I’ve stuck to it. It’s paid off and I’m very grateful”. Samim delivered an Open Wide workshop to the ESOL class at the Nightingale Centre in Great Lever. There was a young man there who was attending the session along with his Dad. Samim noticed he was pretty quiet, apart from asking a couple of questions. She obviously made a big impact on him as Samim bumped into his Dad later and he said “thank you so much because my son has not smoked shisha at all since the day of the workshop in February”. Samim has also signposted the young man on to the Volunteer Centre.
New Project coming soon … Blurred Vision Do you have blurred vision when it comes to alcohol and how much you drink? Many people enjoy drinking alcohol and see it as something they can share with their family and friends. However, many of us drink over the recommended units. A woman should not drink over 14 units per week and a man should not drink over 21 units per week. But do we all know how much a unit is? A large 250ml glass of white wine is equal to 3 units and a pint of lager is equal to 2.8 units. In partnership with Bolton NHS the Community Network is planning a new project to look at how alcohol affects people living in Bolton. The project aims to raise awareness of how much we are all actually drinking; reflect on why we drink alcohol and encourage people to drink more sensibly. In the next few months we will be working towards the production of a DVD representing a range of views on what people living and working in Bolton think about how alcohol affects their family and friends. We are also hoping that the DVD will include a short drama produced by young people. The DVD will be part of a larger awareness campaign, which may include mini workshops, photo exhibitions and a poster campaign, all of which will reflect the views of those living and working in Bolton. The DVD will be shown across Bolton at a series of special events. If you want your views to be represented on the DVD please feel free to contact Louise McDade at the Community Network on 01204 546040. For more information about our health work, or to book workshops, contact Sarah or Louise on 01204 546040. Bolton Community Network
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Neighbourhood Renewal Update One of the main aims of the Community Network is to enable communities to make a positive contribution to the renewal of their area. In every issue of Jumbo we give you a flavour of some of our work. Breightmet Our Community Engagement Workers, Chris and Jolene, have been working with a group called Top o’th Brow Together. It used to meet on a Monday and play bingo but the group was not getting any new interest. With support from us the group has changed to become a community drop-in. Chris and Jolene took members on visits to established drop-ins in Farnworth and Great Lever so they could gain knowledge and contacts. They then worked with members to advertise and decide on activities and change the venue. Thanks to the group’s hard work the first drop-in was a great success, with 11 residents in attendance. Attendees were provided with activities such as planting, candle making, and newspapers, as well as tea, coffee and toast. As the group is called Top o’th Brow Together it has used its initials to come up with a title for the drop-ins: Talk Over Brew and Toast. The group is funding the drop-ins itself. In addition, three members of the group have also booked on to Bolton CVS training (Basic Bookkeeping, Completing Monitoring, Filling in the Forms and Child Protection). Crompton Our Community Engagement Workers, Yasmin, Zahida and Rehana, have been working to support a local resident, Shahanaz Ali, as she has become more involved in her community. Zahida and Rehana first met Shahanaz when they were promoting the work of the Community Network. Shahanaz was interested in what was happening in her community but did not know how to become involved. Since then Shahanaz has attended the Crompton Network meetings; started volunteering; and taken part in a number of training courses. It was while she was taking part in the Community Network’s Self Care course that she gained confidence and met like-minded people who wanted to form a group. Shahanaz was referred to Bolton CVS’ Funding and Development Team who helped her to set up a group “Motiv8 2 Activ8”. Since then the group has successfully applied for a Crompton Neighbourhood Grant to provide fitness and social activities to women and girls in Bolton, for example netball and self-defence classes. The group has also had training in the Roles and Responsibilities of Management Committees. We will continue to provide support to Shahanaz and her group and congratulate her on all her work to contribute to her local community. Johnson Fold Johnson Fold Neighbourhood Network welcomed local residents and community groups working in and around the area. We offer many thanks to Great Estates Community Gardening Group for donating prizes for a ‘Bloomin Marvellous’ bingo session. Bolton Community Network
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This was followed by information sharing on activities in and around Johnson Fold. Great Estates received offers of compost bins for their project and members discussed the possibility of joint funding applications for transportation to enable residents to attend activities in the area. Moss Bank Bowling Club are eager to see local residents using the park facilities and the meeting gave them the chance to talk to other local groups. Johnson Fold Residents Association is supporting fundraising for the Residents Association and cerebral palsy with a local pub. Here are some comments on what people enjoyed about the meeting: Meeting new people with varying issues; meeting other people from Johnson Fold; meeting people and getting ideas; we all got together when we don't see each other from day to day; help with funding.
Neighbourhood Networks We would love you to come to our local meetings. They are an opportunity for local groups to meet up and discuss issues relevant to their areas; it’s a great way for groups to get to know each other and identify ways in which they could work in partnership. Halliwell Tuesday 13th July 2010 10.00 am – 12 noon Halliwell UCAN Centre
Rumworth & Hulton Lane Wednesday 14th July 2010 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm Willows Community Centre
Farnworth Tuesday 20th July 2010 10.00 am – 12 noon Trinity Church
Third Sector Forum update We are still seeking stories from groups about how they have made a difference to the community as part of the Listen Value Invest campaign (see the last Jumbo for more information) so please contact us to submit your story. The next Third Sector Forum is on 28th July, 12.30 pm at The Hub. It will focus on the development of Bolton Council’s commissioning strategy. This is a must for organisations seeking to be commissioned to run services. In addition, we are hoping to have a presentation about the new refreshed Compact, which is also a valuable document in relation to the commissioning process. As well as retaining all the key points of the original, the refreshed agreement takes into account recent developments in law, policy and practice. It is divided into three key areas covering 'involvement in policy development', 'allocating resources' and 'advancing equality'. The refreshed Compact replaces the 1998 Compact agreement and five codes of practice. It is accompanied by a publication entitled 'An Introduction to the Compact'. This contains general information about the Compact, explaining who it applies to, how to implement the Compact and resolve differences. Visit www.thecompact.org.uk for further information. We thank Shpresa for sharing their story at the last meeting - we hope to present a story from another community group at this coming meeting. Finally, a reminder that we can no longer provide lunch because of funding cuts, but don’t let that dampen your spirits! Please bring your own lunch at 12.30 pm and network with other members. For further information please contact Farzana Patel or Michael Carroll on 01204 546040.
Dates for Your Diary Cleaner Greener Forum Thursday 15th July 2010 12 noon – 2.30 pm Environmental Resource Centre, Bury Road
Asian Women’s Forum Thursday 22nd July 2010 10.00 am - 12.30 pm Friends Meeting House Silverwell Street
Third Sector Forum Wednesday 28th July 2010 12.30 pm – 3.00 pm The Bolton Hub, Bold Street
For further information please contact Farzana Patel on 01204 546040. Bolton Community Network
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Breaks for Carers Grants Bolton Adult Services Department continue to work with us to provide Breaks for Carers Grants for groups that organise social activities for carers. These enable carers to have a break from their responsibilities in a fun way. Here is what some of the groups who received grants in August 2009 have done: Asian Carers Forum (based at Asian Elders) paid for the travel costs for carers to access outings. Activities included shopping trips to Boundary Mill and Leicester, an outing to Scarborough and the Sealife centre, a day in Liverpool and a lunch in Manchester. One carer said "This short break did me the world of good. I really enjoyed meeting other carers. The meal was very tasty and it was nice not to do the dishes after but just sit and have a chat." Bolton Crossroads enabled 18 carers and their loved ones to enjoy a trip on a canal boat at Marple and a pub lunch. Three groups of carers went during August and September last year. This was a chance for people to relax away from their usual surroundings and to meet other carers and realise they are not alone. Forty seven carers and their cared for from Bury/ Bolton ME Support Group enjoyed a Sunday lunch outing to Smithills Coaching House just before Christmas. Comments from carers included “I don’t get out much. This is a great lift for Christmas” and “Had a wonderful time, lots of laughs in good company”. Carers Social Group has provided a monthly event at the Kings Head Pub in Rumworth enabling carers and cared for to meet in a social setting where they enjoy quizzes and music. The carers are well supported and have the chance to socialise with people who are in a similar situation to themselves, helping them make new friendships and provide support to each other.
More groups in pictures: Above left: Groups Together organised a meal at Egerton House for carers of people with learning disabilities. Above right: Carers from Bolton Aphasia Support Group enjoy a day at Bowes Museum, County Durham. Breaks for Carers grant applications are available from Bolton CVS now by phoning 01204 546010 or online at www.boltoncvs.org.uk/breaks-for-carers. For more information about other issues relating to carers please contact Bolton Carers Support on 01204 363056. 13
Group Profile Bolton Fibromyalgia Support Group Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that around two million people suffer from in the UK. It is a condition with widespread pain and hypersensitivity to pain. It mostly affects women, although it is often under diagnosed in men and can affect people of any age. Fibromyalgia means “Fibro” for fibrous tissues such as tendons and ligaments, “my” indicating muscles and “algia” meaning pain. Fibromyalgia is known as a syndrome as it is a collection of symptoms rather than a specific disease. The main symptoms are chronic pain and fatigue, disruptive sleep, hypersensitivity to pain, cognitive dysfunction, the most common being, what Fibro sufferers refer to, as “brain fog”, where sufferers cannot speak coherently, have memory loss, forgetting words and names being the most common. Other symptoms are headaches and migraine, irritable bowel, clumsiness and dizziness and sensitivity to light, pain and noise. While it is a difficult condition to understand, as many sufferers can feel really well one day and the next feel very ill and fatigued, it has a devastating effect on the sufferer who has to change their life to manage the condition. Many doctors, particularly in Great Britain, are not as familiar with the condition as some of our European neighbours. In Central Europe, America and Canada, Rheumatologists and Neurologists are researching the symptoms and the effects on their patients hoping to find a cure. We are very lucky in Bolton to have Dr Keatley Adams, a Rheumatologist, who has a special interest in Fibromyalgia. He runs the Rheumatology Clinic at Bolton Hospital and Lever Chambers. He also started a Management Programme for Fibro sufferers that our members have benefited from. This programme teaches how to manage the condition without relying on drugs. With the encouragement of Dr Adams, our group was started in 2004. The aim of the group is to enable people, with Fibro, to come together, where each person has the same condition and are able to support one another. We have over 70 members although some of these are still working and unable to attend meetings. We keep them informed of what the group is doing and how best to support them in their work by email or phone. Many members have come to us after losing their jobs because of their condition. We are now working together with a Councillor and with a local MP to help the condition become better known, particularly in the work place. After 20 plus years some of our members have been accused of not being able to do their job as the management are unaware of the devastating effect of the condition and how it affected the sufferer’s everyday life. Many have been left without a pension or any financial support. Because Fibromyalgia is not well understood, some of our members have been badly treated, ending embroiled in litigation. At our meetings we invite speakers who have knowledge of the condition and are able to help with nutrition, exercise, holistic treatments, benefit claims, and living without the aid of drugs. We also support those still in work; trying to help them cope with their condition while still holding down a job. There are two national organisations in England to help us, Fibromyalgia Association UK (FMAUK) and FibroAction. Our Support Group is affiliated to both. Both organisations have websites (given below). A newsletter from each organisation is available online every month. Two magazines are available for sufferers, FMAUK magazine and UK Fibromyalgia Family Magazine, both published monthly. www.fibromyalgia-associationuk.org / www.fibroaction.org 14
ICT Development What does accessibility mean? Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, service, or environment is accessible by as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access". In terms of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility is about making sure services and information can be used by a wide range of people. There are clear benefits in improving accessibility like equal opportunities, overcoming disadvantage and simply reaching a wider, more diverse range of people. Accessibility is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ problem. Different users have different needs and not every solution works for every person. Take time to understand each person’s needs and explore options. Many small changes can make a big difference and you may be able to make these changes with existing technology.
Who is affected by accessibility and inclusion issues? Potentially anyone and everyone. Do not assume that everyone will be able to use a standard keyboard, mouse or screen or read information in any font size or style. Not everyone can read English easily or read black print on a white background at 12 point font. Some people may also have less access to technology because of many different factors such as age or language barriers. Improving accessibility can begin with some simple changes to meet the needs of more people.
How can I make my ICT more accessible? When producing information and publicity in electronic formats, these materials should be capable of being ‘read aloud’, and/or it should be possible to easily zoom in or magnify the content. For example PDF documents are widely used on websites, and emailed to people and can be made larger or magnified by Adobe Acrobat Reader software on a computer. If you have a website, make sure that people can make the changes they need on their computers, like changing text and background colours and text size. When producing information in a paper format, there are some things to keep in mind to ensure it is as accessible as possible: Increasing text size: Many people struggle to read small fonts and producing your information in a larger size would make it more comfortable. A 14 point font is ideal, but try not to go below 12. Make text more readable: The windows default font is Times New Roman which is a serif font (one with extra lines on the letters) and is particularly difficult to read for many people. Fonts which do not have serifs, such as Calibri or Arial are much easier to read. Most word processors have a variety of fonts to choose from so you can choose what’s best for your users. Also, avoid word art which can add shadows or shape text and make it difficult to read. Consider producing your newsletters or information leaflets on coloured paper as this can also increase accessibility. Make alternate formats available: Let people know that if the information is inaccessible, they can contact you for a different format. Ask them what would make it easier for them to access and change it to best suit their needs. The Equality and Human Rights Commission website is a great example of what accessible information can look like: www.equalityhumanrights.com. 15
Training News Does your group have contact with children and young people? Then the KIDS e-learning programme may be a great learning resource for your group. Bolton CVS are offering groups the opportunity to take part in a free, flexible e-learning programme designed to help meet the challenge of workforce development. The package contains a set of modules that are designed for everyone who has contact with children and young people and covers a range of different requirements – from those who need a simple introduction to those working on a daily basis with children. For more information about the programme and to sign up to use it, please contact Helen Tomlinson or Heather Oliver on 01204 546010.
Information Session on NLDC Funding 2010-2011 Information regarding the next round of Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities (NLDC) funding for 2010-2011 will be available on Tuesday 6th July from 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm at The Friends Meeting House, 50 Silverwell Street, Bolton. All voluntary and community groups welcome. Funding is for non-accredited courses and is targeted across the neighbourhood renewal areas across Bolton for learners aged 19+. If you would like to know more and cannot attend the information session, then please ring Corriena Drinkwater or Christine Collins on 01204 907860 for an application pack.
A new way to search for training opportunities voluntaryskills.com is a project managed by the PNE Group. The user friendly website is suitable for all IT skill levels, and aims to make current training opportunities easily accessible to those working in community and voluntary organisations. The website includes a training database with hundreds of courses, from a wide variety of training providers, with 19 different subject areas to choose from. Also included on the website are case studies of people working in the sector, as well as news, events, vacancies, and lots of other free to download resources. The website is part of a wider initiative to promote professional career development for those working in the voluntary and community sectors, across the North of England. The project will ideally increase the numbers of people working ‘professionally’ within the voluntary and community sectors, for the benefit of the individuals themselves and the communities they serve. You can keep up to date with all the latest developments in their service, as well as preview training courses commencing over the next two months, by subscribing to their ebulletin – subscribe@voluntaryskills.com. Save valuable time when searching for training opportunities by visiting their website: www.voluntaryskills.com.
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Children and Young People Working together for children and young people Voluntary, community and faith organisations who work with children and young people across Bolton celebrated the launch of the Children and Young People’s Third Sector Strategic Forum at Mere Hall recently. Organisations who work on a not-forprofit basis form a crucial element in services provided for children and young people everywhere and representatives from across the whole third sector spectrum turned out for the event. There were speakers from Bolton Council of Mosques, VCS Engage, Bolton Council Children’s Services and Bolton and Bury Education Business Partnership, who are just some of the partners in the new Strategic Forum. The Forum is the result of some great work and determination for the sector to make a difference. Not-for-profit organisations can be small groups of volunteers or large national charities. The Strategic Forum gives everyone a chance to share information and access a wide support network. The Forum works closely with the Children’s Trust to ensure a joined-up approach to many vital services for children and young people in Bolton. It will help to raise standards among third sector workforces in an increasingly competitive market, and realise cost savings by streamlining the commissioning process. The Strategic Forum is the result of a lot of hard work and will bring many benefits for the young people of Bolton. It is hoped that more local organisations whatever their size can share good practice and access opportunities. If you would like to be involved just get in touch and find out about becoming a member. There are four levels of membership –from networking and information sharing to active participation and strategic representation. Those who wish to become a full member of the Strategic Forum, need to complete the forum application form. For more information please contact 01204 304230 or email forum@birtenshaw.org.uk. Information and updates about the Forum can also be found on the website www.boltoncyp3.org.uk.
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Health & Care Together Transforming Community Services – the decision on the future management of community health services in Bolton Under the national plans for Transforming Community Services, PCTs need to focus on their public health and commissioning role and transfer their provider services to one or more other organisations. Over the last few months NHS Bolton have undergone a rigorous process of evaluating all the possible options for their community services. There were four potential partners: Royal Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Ashton Leigh and Wigan Provider Services (due to become a Foundation Trust) were interested in integrating with all our provider services; Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and Bolton Council Adult Services were interested in some of our services. It was agreed that the decision should meet the Department of Health criteria of offering, quality, efficiency and sustainability; should support our own Triple Aim of delivering Best Care, Better Health and Value for Money; and should respond to the findings of our staff survey which showed that staff wanted to protect the culture of the current provider services as well as their NHS terms and conditions. Tim Evans said “It has been a hard decision for our Board to make, knowing that whichever way the decision went, we would be transferring services of which we are extremely proud and staff whom we value highly, to the management of another organisation. However, we have agreed that our preferred option is the transfer of all our provider services without exception to Royal Bolton Hospital Foundation Trust, subject to a series of conditions. In particular, we will be looking to the new combined provider to work with Bolton Council on the closer integration of specific health and social care services, and we will review the provision of the Directly Managed General Practices in twelve months. Over the coming few weeks we will work closely with Royal Bolton Hospital Foundation Trust to negotiate the exact details and develop an implementation plan so that staff transfer as smoothly as possible to their new employer on 1st April 2011”. It is important to note that this is a change of management arrangements not a change to services received by patients. Individual services will not move as a direct result of this decision, though we hope it will support the general shift of services from hospital to community settings, where this is safe and appropriate, which we know the people of Bolton support.
Wealth Checks for Carers – Bolton Carers Support have put together a very useful booklet that offers tips and practical steps to help Carers manage their money. The booklet also lists some organisations that can help make money go further. At Bolton Carers Support they know only too well how there are many ‘hidden costs of caring’: higher heating bills, spending savings on aids and equipment, or having to give up work in order to care for a family member. This booklet is available for carers, if you would like a copy please contact Bolton Carers Support on 01204 363056 or email boltoncarers@btconnect.com. Please also note Bolton Carers Support have moved offices to: Thicketford Centre, Thicketford Road, Tonge Moor, Bolton BL2 2LW. The new centre will also house Crossroads Care, Dementia Support Group, and Adult Services Carer Support Team. 18
Health & Care Together Equality Target Action Groups Focus on Age Following a planning session the group has recently set their work programme for the coming few months. The focus is going to be around the barriers young people face when accessing mental health services. Initially, the Equality Target Action Groups want to find out what services are available. At the last meeting, Marie Bisset from the Primary Care Trust’s Public Health Department came to speak to us about the Healthy Schools and Emotional and Wellbeing Programme. The programme uses a whole school approach. The overarching aims of the project are: To support children and young people in developing healthy behaviours To help reduce health inequalities To help promote social inclusion To help raise the achievement of children and young people The emotional health and wellbeing criteria offers support for vulnerable individuals, combating stigma and discrimination, building confidence and self esteem activities. It was started in 1999 and 99.5% of Bolton schools are participating. At our next meeting we have Jayne Wood from the Primary Care Trust’s Public Health Department coming to speak about her work with young people. If you would like to get involved in this exciting piece of work or the work of any of the Equality Target Action Groups contact Carol Hayden on 01204 546054 or email carolh@boltoncvs.org.uk.
Help to Trial Emergency SMS If you have a hearing loss or difficulty talking, you might not be able to make a voice call from a mobile phone to contact the emergency services directly. A pilot SMS service that allows you to send a text message to the 999 UK emergency services is currently being trialled. It is hoped that as many people as possible will register for this trial – but only people who cannot make voice calls. To register online go to www.emergencysms.org.uk or contact Carol Hayden for more information on 01204 546054 or email carolh@boltoncvs.org.uk.
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Volunteering Matters Contact Details: The Bolton Hub Bolton BL1 1LS Tel: 01204 546060 Fax: 01204 546061 Email: admin@boltonvolunteering.org.uk Website: www.boltoncvs.org.uk/volunteer-centre Helping Bolton to Help Itself Saturday 22nd May 2010 saw us out on the Town Hall Square promoting volunteering – showing how the people of Bolton help each other. The idea for the event was from Soroptimist International, Bolton, who came to us many months ago and said they had an idea. We were more than happy to partner with them and their efforts certainly paid dividends. They were particularly keen to give a platform to small groups and charities that normally don’t get the chance to showcase what they do. They even went so far as to organise the weather which provided a splendid backdrop for the street entertainers, circus workshops and dancers who drew the crowds and kept people, young and old entertained all day.
Create Games inspired volunteering opportunities If your organisation is inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and you want to share this inspiration with volunteers from your local area, then read on. By using this inspiration, you can create volunteering opportunities that harness the enthusiasm and excitement of volunteers in your local area. These are Games inspired volunteering opportunities. A Games inspired opportunity is one that will: Benefit your local community now and/or in the future; Be an opportunity that celebrates the 2012 Games; Have a demonstrable link with the 2012 Games; and Be a practical expression of the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, respect and the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality. Be creative The best way to create Games inspired volunteering opportunities is to consider how you can incorporate the inspiration of the 2012 Games into your work. Think about the Olympic and Paralympic values, and how they relate to the services that your organisation offers. 20
Volunteering Matters What new volunteer opportunities and projects can you create to tap into the expected increase in volunteering interest? Are there existing volunteering opportunities that could be adapted to encompass the Olympic and Paralympic values? How can the 2012 Games be factored into your wider volunteer recruitment methods? Contact the Volunteer Centre to express an interest. We will be arranging an information session.
Volunteering England welcomes new government Dr Justin Davis Smith, Chief Executive of Volunteering England, commented: "We are pleased to welcome the new Government into office. Volunteering England looks forward to working with the new administration, recognising that both the Conservative and LibDem parties in the general election demonstrated their commitment to encouraging and supporting volunteering across our society.
challenges, challenges which volunteering will continue to play a key role in tackling. The recession has seen more and more people turn to volunteering to develop new skills or to gain experience for a tough job market. Volunteering organisations have also been at the leading edge of involving people in shaping public services, which is likely to be an important theme for the new administration.
"In Volunteering England we are briefing the range of Government departments we work with about the value of volunteering at the present time, especially in supporting people through difficult economic conditions and in building strong and responsible communities. It’s clear to everyone that the new Government faces many important
"Small voluntary groups and organisations are facing an increasingly challenging environment. It will be crucial that Government recognises the significance of local infrastructure bodies such as Volunteer Centres in supporting community activity across the country.�
Volunteering Forum Meeting Our next Forum meeting is on Monday 26th July 2010 12.30 pm - 3.00 pm at The Bolton Hub. At this Forum we will be looking at helping people with disabilities to volunteer; the barriers they face, and solutions to help. To book your place please contact Shahenaz on 01204 546 060.
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Legal Update The Equality Act received royal assent on 8th April 2010. Most of the provisions are expected to come into force in October 2010, although the coalition government may hold back on some of them. While the Bill was being debated, the Conservatives said that if elected they would not bring gender pay reporting into force, but this was not expected to come into force before 2013 anyway. The Act as passed will replace all of the existing equality legislation and cover the protected characteristics of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race (which includes colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation as well as pregnancy and maternity. The Act is intended to simplify the law, sort out the disparities between the different discrimination "strands", extend some existing protections, and introduce new protections. The Act is at www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2010/plain/ukpga_20100015_en. Explanatory notes are at www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2010/en/plain/ukpgaen_20100015_en. The explanatory notes provide examples of how the legislation applies. You can also visit http://www.sandy-a.co.uk/employment.htm#equality-act where the provisions are summarised with key differences from the current legislation.
Employers with under 250 employees can contact a new Health at Work Adviceline for expert advice and support on employee physical and mental health issues. The service is run by the NHS and also involves the Department for Work and Pensions, Department of Health, Health and Safety Executive, Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government. It is available from 9.00 am - 5.00 pm, with an online callback form for use at other times. Contact details are: Health for Work Adviceline Telephone: 0800 077 8844 www.health4work.nhs.uk.
The cloud of volcanic ash that has drifted across Europe has meant that parts of Europe have recently been no fly zones, but the impact of this stretches much further than just the airline industry. Employees may have found themselves stranded abroad and unable to return to work. With foot and mouth disease a few years ago, floods, rail strikes and last winter’s snow, all organisations should by now have policies in place for when staff cannot get to work for reasons outside their control. But for a review of good practice, the law on whether you need to pay employees who cannot get to work for reasons outside their control, ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) has a new ‘volcanic ash’ briefing for employers and individuals available online at www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx? articleid=2913.
All Legal Update information is available as hard copy or Large Print versions by contacting Heather on 01204 546010 or heathero@boltoncvs.org.uk. 22
Who’s Who at Bolton CVS Central Management & Company Support
Bolton Community Network
Relief Admin Support Workers: Caroline Arkwright, Sam Armstrong, Denise Benyon, Anne Burt, Brenda Grinstead, Chris Hayden, Pam Livesey, Anne Newton, Wendy Houghton, Kirsty Upham
Community Network and Partnerships Manager: Carol Latham Community Engagement Co-ordinator (Neighbourhood Renewal): Michael Carroll Community Engagement Co-ordinator (Health): Sarah Lever Systems and Information Development Worker: Diane Craddock Community Engagement Development Worker: Louise McDade Neighbourhoods Participation Development Worker: Victoria Urmston Community Engagement Workers: Zahida Abbas, Monica Ballani, Hema Chevli, Jolene Dodd, Yasmin Ghanchi, Shafiqa Ibrahim, Rehana Makkan, Tracey McCue, Razia Mohamed, Christopher Oliver, Samim Vali
Training
Bolton Volunteer Centre
Training Co-ordinator: Joan Manville Training Admin Support Worker: Safia Shahid (Maternity Leave)
Co-ordinator: Peter Sloan Co-ordinator: Heather Potter (Maternity Leave) Volunteering Support Worker: Hava Yakub Administrative Support Worker: Shahenazbanu Patel
Chief Executive: Karen Minnitt Operations Director: Stephen Baker Company Administrator: Jackie Gildert
Finance & Administration Finance Manager: Jane Rushmore Finance Assistant: Dawn Brindle Finance Assistant: Julie Fletcher Admin Support Worker: Lynette Rushmore
Funding & Development Funding & Development Manager: Saskia Ritchie Development Co-ordinator: Helen Tomlinson Development Worker: Kairen Smith Data Management Worker: Heather Oliver Grants Co-ordinator: Mark Grundy Grants Support Worker: Pat Stubbs (On Leave) Grants Support Worker: Sharon Bolus Grants Admin Support Worker: Sumaiya Kazi
Health & Care Together Co-ordinator: Thaira Qureshi Health Development Worker: Carol Hayden Administrative Support Worker: Farzana Patel
The Bolton Hub Co-ordinator: Brian Stubbs Hub Receptionist Volunteers: Symone Akhtar, Bianca Atherton, Natasha Aurakzai, Lorna Black, Heather Collings, Denise Harrison, Barry Hewitt, Tracy Hopgood, Shamila Hussain, Razia Ikhlaq, Chris Judd, Shamaela Khan, Judith Leach, Tracey MacLellan, Deepak Madhavji, Maria Nunes, Shupikai Nyakurwa, Kiron Payne, Lesley Pitman, Lynn Pooley, Joanne Rimmer, Kelly Whittle, Andrea Wilson Hub Caretakers/Cleaners: Bharat Patel, Sarla Patel, Harry Hubert
You can email any of the staff using their first name: Sumaiya@boltoncvs.org.uk
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Bolton CVS, The Bolton Community Network, Health and Care Together, and Bolton Volunteer Centre are all based at
The Bolton Hub, Bold Street, Bolton, BL1 1LS Our FREEPOST address is FREEPOST RRRZ-SXZB-LTAY Bolton CVS, Bolton BL1 1LS.
Your contribution is needed... Over 1800 copies of JUMBO are produced and distributed throughout the Borough in January, March, May, July, September and November. We are keen to include your articles, information, experiences, diary dates, training events, inserts.
Bolton CVS Tel: 01204 546010 Fax:01204 546011 www.boltoncvs.org.uk
Bolton Community Network Tel: 01204 546040 Fax:01204 546041 www.boltoncvs.org.uk/bolton-community-network
Ways in which you can contribute to this newsletter: • • • •
•
•
Send your contribution to the Editor at Bolton CVS (address above) or by email to: heathero@boltoncvs.org.uk. If posting, please save the text in Microsoft Word, please also include a paper copy. We reserve the right to edit articles or not to publish. The views expressed in JUMBO do not represent the policy or views of Bolton CVS, the Board of Trustees, staff or volunteers of Bolton CVS. Contact Heather if you need support or assistance in writing your article or even in starting or developing your own group newsletter. We may also place articles on the CVS website.
Bolton Volunteer Centre Tel: 01204 546060 Fax:01204 546041 www.boltoncvs.org.uk/volunteer-centre
Health and Care Together Tel: 01204 546050 Fax:01204 546051 www.boltoncvs.org.uk/health-andcare-together
The Bolton Hub Tel: 01204 546000 Fax:01204 546001 www.boltoncvs.org.uk/the-bolton-hub
COPY DEADLINE FOR THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE Monday 26th July 2010 DEADLINE FOR INSERTS Thursday 12th August 2010 Bolton CVS is registered in England as a Company Limited by Guarantee No. 2615057 Registered Charity No. 1003123
Funded and supported by Bolton Council