Issue 71 Winter 2016
Stronger Together
Interlink’s newsletter for community groups and voluntary organisations in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Introduction Interlink News
Welcome ..... to the Winter edition of Interlink’s Newsletter. If you would like to contribute to the next issue please send your articles by: 24 February 2017 to Cara Jordan-Evans at Interlink by e-mail: cjordan-evans@interlinkrct.org.uk
In this issue we have: Introduction
2
Stronger Rhondda
3
Community Focus Volunteering
4
RCT Together
5
RCT Together Case Study
6-8
Community Focus The Monday Club Funding and Resources
9
Stronger Together It has been a mad year with so much happening in Rhondda Cynon Taf. We have seen some amazing volunteers come together to start up new groups and established groups take on new projects. Ty Nant and Beddau Library Hub has become a vital part of the local community while Cynon Valley Museum have overcome a huge challenge to set up a new group and take over the running of the museum. These are truly inspirational stories that do not tell of the blood and tears needed to get these facilities open. RCT Together has seen so many great projects including the Muni, Maerdy Community Hub, Canolfan Pentre and the Old Courthouse Enterprise Hub. A special well done to Lee Gardens, Abercynon War Memorial and Butchers Pool groups for making summer facilities available for families in RCT – in communities where many families cannot afford day trips out of their community.
Create Your Space - We have exciting development with Ynysybwl and Welcome to Our Woods in Treherbert putting in applications to the Big Lottery’s Create Your Space fund, with creative ideas on projects that could transform how the community uses its outdoor spaces.
10 -11
Gwirvol Youth Grants
12
Funding
13
Mens Shed Case Study
14
Governance
15
Training
16
Our address: 6 Melin Corrwg, Cardiff Road Upper Boat, Pontypridd CF37 5BE Telephone number: 01443 846200 email: info@interlinkrct.org.uk Website:
‘It’s a close knit community, it’s a friendly place and the people are helpful. When my children were growing up here there was nothing for them to do, I would like to see better for my grandchildren.’ A future for our children
Volunteering - It has been great to celebrate volunteering with Stronger
www.interlinkrct.org.uk
Rhondda and Leanne Wood and with young people through Interlink’s Gwirvol grants.
Office opening times are:
The Micro Fund - Resources are tight, and we are pleased to see the
Monday - Thursday: 9.00am - 5.00pm Friday: 9.00am - 4.30pm
Cover image by Claire Thomas of Ynysybwl Regeneration Partnership Page 2
launch of the much anticipated Pen Y Cymoedd wind farm grant schemes; the Micro Fund – available now, and the Vision Fund, which begins in the Spring. ‘We have a community that is full of energy, in the community and in the wind.’ Energy: People and wind
Stronger Together Ken Moon, Coordinator Community Advice and Support. Ken supports groups in Taff Ely and Cynon with funding applications, policies and legal structures. Contact Ken on 01443 846200 or email: kmoon@interlinkrct.org.uk
Strengthening Our Communities Over the past year Interlink has supported a number of organisations undergoing asset transfers; bid for significant funding or even avert crises. At first glance there may be little that these organisations have in common. However the common factor which affects many is that they are lacking in many of the key skills and experiences they need to not just to get up and running but to carry on succeeding well into the future. In response to this, Interlink has been piloting a new approach over the past two years, providing a volunteer mentor to provide business support with major developments. These may be new groups starting out for the first time to take on a community asset or existing groups seeking funds and resources to expand their services. The work of mentor Paul Robinson was covered in the last edition of the Community Link. During the past six months, Mark White, formerly of Charity Bank and WCVA’s Community Investment Fund, gifted time to several community groups.
Working with New Life Church, Mark has helped them to understand the significant risks which they have taken on in undertaking a major renovation of their church into a community hub. He reviewed their business plan and focussed on their potential for income generation to secure an interim loan from the Community Investment Fund. ‘Without Mark’s expertise we would not have got over the last few hurdles in protecting our CFAP funding and proving to the lender that we were worth backing. Throughout the process, Mark was continually explaining the risks and our church members trusted his opinions in the success of the project. The community of Tonyrefail and its local area will now benefit because of the superb professional support we have been given.’ Dawn Parkin, New Life Church
Valleys Equestrian worked closely with Mark, in developing their business plan. He has helped them develop a cash flow forecasting template to gain a better understanding of how to generate and manage potential income. Mark also helped the group to assess their risks and build resilience into their business planning. Interlink also secured support from another mentor, Professor Calvin Jones of Cardiff Business School, who provided the group with guidance on their tourism offer and likelihood of generating visitor income based on financial modeling.
See article on page 11 on what we are doing next or contact Ken Moon for more information. Page 3
Community Focus - Volunteering
Stronger Rhondda celebrating volunteers An evening to celebrate volunteers was choc-full of fun – as it was inspired by Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! Stronger Rhondda hosted the evening at Maes Yr Haf in Trealaw, where members of Spectacle Theatre dressed up as characters from the movie. Leader of Plaid Cymru Leanne Wood attended the event on 5 October to present awards to Cwm Clydach Country Park, Arts Factory Rhondda, Spectacle Theatre, toogoodtowaste, Actif Woods Treherbert and Rhondda Girls Rugby. If you are based in the Rhondda and want to be involved please contact Simon James on 01443 846200 or email: sjames@interlinkrct.org.uk
Sweet Success as groups support each other! Volunteers at a community shop in Ferndale discovered life is sweet when they were offered a helping hand from two local organisations. Residents who run Sweet Success, the community sweet shop and ice cream parlour in Ferndale needed 10 chairs for the shop. They mentioned this to Joanna Markham at Interlink RCT, who put out an appeal via social media.
Volunteers at Tylorstown Welfare Hall responded, saying they had 10 spare chairs. When they found out who the recipient would be, they were delighted - as the shop donates raffle prizes to the Hall. The only issue was how to transport the donated chairs from Tylorstown to Ferndale. Who could they call? Whose vans travel up and down the valley? Toogoodtowaste of course! Shaun England at the charity was only too happy to help and he contacted the groups the next morning to collect and deliver the chairs‌. Sweet! The Community Sweet Shop is on the High Street, Ferndale, contact Mary Inkpen on 01443 524405 Toogoodtowaste have two sites where you can purchase recycled furniture and goods - Ynyshir and Aberdare To find out more call 01443 680090 or email: enquiries@toogoodtowaste.co.uk Page 4
RCT Together
The RCT Together Journey In previous editions of 'The Community Link', we have focused on the transfer of public services to local communities and have included updates on Beddau and Tynant Community Library, the former Maerdy Library (Maerdy Community Hub) and The Muni, Pontypridd. These transfers marked the start of a new collaborative approach between the voluntary and public sectors in Rhondda Cynon Taf to safeguard public services and buildings. Early evidence of the RCT Together approach indicates that some services and facilities can have a sustainable future when the community, the council and its partners work together to explore and progress community ownership opportunities.
Since the launch of RCT Together, there have been 112 Expressions of Interest, 76 informal enquiries and 32 have successfully gone through the business plan stage, with 12 now being run under community ownership and more being considered. In line with the Councils ‘Accommodation Strategy’ of rationalising its operational properties, any surplus buildings are now being offered out for community use in the first instance via the RCT Together approach and are advertised via a ‘30 Day Window of opportunity’ which allows groups to express an interest in it’s future use. Groups will need to provide a costed Business Plan to evidence the need, viability and sustainability of their proposals before a decision is made on the potential leasehold transfer of any buildings. We do not under estimate the challenge that groups face in pulling together the evidence needed to satisfy a successful community asset transfer. Working collaboratively with all sectors is key to ensuring the long-term sustainability of community assets and services. In 2016 we have seen further successful transfers of Cynon Valley Museum, Lee Gardens Paddling Pool, Rhiwgarn Infants School, the former Pentre Day Care Centre (now operating as an inter-generational community hub under Canolfan Pentre).
There are some excellent success stories and case studies of how, by working in partnership with the Council, Interlink and other voluntary sector support agencies such as Social Firms Wales, Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Wales Co-op, local groups are now maintaining facilities. These buildings which may otherwise have had to close, are now being run on a sustainable basis and we must give great credit goes to all those involved. Working in partnership is key within the RCT Together process. We all want this approach to work. We recognise that interested parties will be different and will require varying levels of support and we are looking at best ways of recording and monitoring the success and sustainability of transfers to ensure appropriate support is given when it is needed.
‘At a time when many well-established community organisations are struggling financially, it is vital that new organisations coming forwards under the RCT Together process receive the intensive support they need to ensure that they not only hit the ground running, but don’t stumble and fall as they do so. By working collaboratively we can help ensure that as many of these organisations continue to deliver these services well into the future.’ Ken Moon, Development Officer at Interlink We have also received updates from four groups who have been through the RCT Together approach in 2016. See the results of their hard work on the next few pages and how they are benefitting local communities... Page 5
RCT Together Case Study Bright Futures – Courthouse Street
Rhiwgarn Infants School
Bright Futures is a social enterprise established with the objective of supporting the growth and development of charities, social enterprises and community organisations through the people who work in and with them.
Since February 2016, It’s art but it’s not, a partnership project between Trivallis, Valleys Kids and Artes Mundi, has been working with RCT Together and the community of Trebanog. Rhiwgarn Infants School was initially used as a temporary base to explore the development of The Dingle and subsequently to have the school on a year long agreement, to explore the potential of establishing it as a creative community hub.
Courthouse Enterprise Hub
The Old Courthouse is a Community Asset Transfer from RCT that acts as a hub for the interaction between community groups, social enterprises and the public and private sector. It allows for real co-production and creative collaboration. We already have a number of permanent tenants, including Artis Community, the Muni Veterans, Our Place and (as of next month) IndyCube, with Tydfil Training and Menter Iaith due to join us in the New Year.
Alongside those spaces, we also have co-working space (with WiFi and coffee on tap), a training room, a quiet and reflective space, the iCube (specialised facilitation space where you literally get to write on the walls!), and a large space suitable for wider participative events (the old court room itself!). Already, we have had a wide range of organisations using the space on a regular basis, including Merthyr MIND, RCT Council, Artworks Cymru and others – and we are hosting a Rock School in the New Year! We have also held meetings with a range of partner organisations, including RCT Council, Cwm Taf Health Board, the University of South Wales, and Coleg y Cymoedd, to build a stronger programme of activity-based learning and partnership-based delivery of outcome throughout everything that we do. Page 6
The Trebanog Project kicked off with the community in March 2016 with the reopening of the school for a week of free workshops and events. Hosted by lead artist Owen Griffiths, Valleys Kids and Artes Mundi, the school was open from 10am until 8pm every day.
This was followed by a two week summer school in August 2016 and has continued with weekly soup and craft sessions for adults and children throughout October and November. So far there have been 52 sessions, with over 140 people attending activities. People took on volunteer roles within the project including responsibility for cleaning, helping with cooking, clearing up and looking after children. One resident and parent said: ‘I live in a street and I don’t see anyone, so it’s made a difference because you come together and you end up talking to each other, and that makes a real different to how you feel. It got me out of the house as well and made a real difference to my daughter’ For more information please email: rcttogether@rctcbc.gov.uk or contact The RCT Together Team on 01443 7445517 or 01443 744533 for a friendly informal chat
RCT Together Case Study
Centre is a hub of activity for Pentre residents! A community centre in the Rhondda which is now run by local people is welcoming a full house for bingo, parenting classes and many other activities. Canolfan Pentre in Llewellyn Street, Pentre, is managed by a committee who have successfully gone through the RCT Together asset transfer process, with help from interlink RCT.
With support from Joanna Markham of Interlink RCT, Canolfan Pentre committee members were able to set up a CIO - Charitable Incorporated Organisation - to protect the group’s liabilities, as well as securing funding through Interlink’s Development Fund and RCT Together.
Interlink works across RCT to support, connect and empower citizens, communities and voluntary organisations to provide local activities and services and make a difference.
Formerly known as Pentre Day Centre, Canolfan Pentre is now a hub for learning, skills and employment activities, as well as for pre-school, mother and toddler groups and clubs for older residents.
Joanna Markham of Interlink RCT said: ‘I was pleased to have been able to provide guidance and support. The committee are now providing affordable entertainment at the centre for local families. They are also working to help reduce poverty, increase educational achievement and support community development.’
Canolfan Pentre committee members took the transfer process forward. Members have previously been active in raising funds and providing activities for the local community, with the support of Valleys Kids. Elizabeth Williams of the Canolfan Pentre committee said: ‘Community groups like ours are made up of volunteers who have never filled in a funding application, let alone tackled something as important as charitable status. I don't know how we would have got so far without Interlink’s help. This is all new to us and we are learning as we go along. We can't thank Joanna enough for all her support.’
If you would like to help out at Canolfan Pentre as a volunteer centre assistant, please contact Lynne Holley on 07444896747 or email lholley70@hotmail.com For more information on the work of Interlink RCT go to www.interlinkrct.org.uk Page 7
RCT Together Case Study
Lee Gardens Pool Committee In June 2015, Lee Gardens Pool Committee was formed to open Lee Gardens Pool, Penrhiwceiber, and from this time onwards we are having the most amazing time bringing back into use a resource which was originally developed and paid for by local miners. Our project has brought together the local community and is being supported by a wealth of organisations and community volunteers. The pool opened for three weeks in August 2016 with a lot of support from British Gas, Communities First, Cynon Tâf Community Housing Group, Dŵr Cymru, Meadow Prospect, Rhondda Cynon Tâf, The Coalfields Regeneration Trust, The Welsh Church Act and Tower Fund.
The pool before work began
Play It Again Sport Do you have unwanted sports kit? Cluttered cupboards need clearing? YES? Donate them for recycling in Rhondda. Wide range of sports items for sale! Drop-off point: TABS, Penrhiwgwynt Rd, Porth, CF39 9UB Items must be in a good, clean condition e.g. boots, balls, shirts, shorts, karate suits, marking cones, karate belts, body armour, shin pads, karate pads Further information from Mark Hutton mark.hutton@peopleandworkunit.org.uk 07929 504525 https://www.facebook.com/playitagainsport/ And is part of Stronger Rhondda Gryfach: http://strongerrhondda.wales/
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60 British Gas workers and community volunteers removed shrubs and painted railings
Ken Moon of Interlink, Lynne Williams and Debra Hanney of RCT Together have been invaluable providing training and guidance on the asset transfer and business plan. A special mention must go to Rino de Benidictis of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council for always being on the end of the phone and supporting us throughout. Thanks also go to Adrian Williams from Abercynon Sports Centre for training volunteers to be pool attendants and life guards and providing peace of mind by overseeing our actions. Managing the pool is a real team effort and we are excited to see how our project develops in the coming months and years.
CLAS Cymru and Community Asset Transfer In an era of Community Asset Transfer in Wales, many local authorities are looking for communities to manage, lease and own public land and buildings. CLAS Cymru is a Big Lottery Funded five year programme. CLAS employs specialist staff who give impartial advice on a one to one project basis, develop toolkit guidance and template documentation, support land negotiations and deliver training and peer to peer learning events. Much of the advice and support is transferable to other land based community projects. Please contact the Community Land Advisory Service Cymru by calling the Coordinator, Lucie Taylor, on 02920 960966 or email: lucie@communitylandadvice.org.uk
Community Focus The Monday Club
A Time to Remember… Members of a new community group in Beddau called the Monday Club helped create a fitting tribute to remember those lost in conflict. The Monday Club is based at Beddau and Tynant Community Library, which went through asset transfer in 2015. It secured funding from the Intermediate Care Fund for community activities for the over 50’s, helping develop the Monday Club. Funding from the RCT Together Community Action Fund allowed members of the Monday Club to run a project called A Time to Remember.
The poppies were fired and painted at Garth Olwg and were unveiled as part of a moving memorial service in Beddau on 13 November, when local minister Norman Preston welcomed the ceramic poppies to take a place of honour within the Beddau Remembrance Garden.
The group approached Garth Olwg Adult Learning Centre to work with local people to create ceramic poppies to remember those lost in conflict. They not only said yes but were able to match the funding allowing the project to involve around 60 people in the making of the poppies, including the Mayor of RCT, alongside those who had lost loved ones. ‘This project has been wonderful for our community. We saw the coming together of several new and existing community organisations with members of the Monday Club, the University of the Third Age (U3A) and other groups and individuals. Such has been the interest since Remembrance Day that the Monday Club will be running a similar project in the New Year.’ Olwen Chislett, Project Lead and Monday Club Member
Helen Boldreo from Beddau and Tynant Community Library said: ‘The Monday Club have been brilliant in organising and running the project and the poppies are looking fantastic in the memorial garden. I know that the Monday Club will build on this success and hopefully secure further funding as there has been a lot of interest in the community for another poppy project.’
The group have also had additional funding from the RCT Older Persons Grant scheme to run activities this year.
For more information contact Olwen Chislett on 01443 205143 or email: lyndik@sky.com or Carol Bowen on 01443 202134 or email: carolbowen@hotmail.com and for updates visit: www.facebook.com/beddaulibrary Page 9
Funding and Resources Joanna Markham, Coordinator Community Advice and Support Most people want help with funding and fundraising, but often in order to do this people also need help with policies and to look at their legal structure. Joanna can support groups completing funding applications through her expertise of managing and assessing funding applications for funders. So if you are based in the Rhondda - please give me a call on 01443 846200 or email: jmarkham@interlinkrct.org.uk For Funding news visit www.interlinkrct.org.uk/funding or if you would like to access the free funding service visit www.idoxopen4community.co.uk/interlink
Jo says: ‘Attending the Wales Funders Network in November made me more aware than ever of the issues facing the sector in RCT. With the announcement that the Communities First Programme will be finishing, many groups will be facing the ultimate funding crisis. The funding from Welsh Government not only fundered core staff in our communities but also supported smaller groups in delivering their grassroot service.
However, it was not all doom and gloom. Funders were asking for more applications from Wales, especially RCT and had several conversations with funders eager to support groups in RCT. These included Waterloo Foundation under their carers’ strand and Children in Need Wales, specifically their small grants scheme. It is more important than ever that groups use the service of their local CVC in accessing up to date funding information by using the free funding search linking in to Twitter/ Facebook.’
Third Sector Skills Lottery Bid Using our work with the sector we have formed the basis of a bid to the Big Lottery’s Third Sector Skills programme which is aimed at strengthening the voluntary sector considering: • The Services - Access to a range of different types of support at different times in an organisation’s development. • Peer Mentors - Establishing networks through area based networks focussing on getting organisations to work together better and address shared issues. Peer mentors would be trained and paid for their time. • Key Areas for Advice and Support - Specific advice and support delivered through trained and supported peer support in the following areas: Finance; asset transfer, contracts, architects/surveys, building management, project management, strategic and business planning for sustainability. • Identifying Gaps through Quality Assurance Peer mentors would look holistically at an organisation; discuss which gaps exist and refer groups to peer support. This would include quality assurance for small organisations on ‘Good Governance’ through Interlink and VAMT. Page 10
• Accredited Learning and Timebanking Learning programme for peer mentors in relation to mentoring and coaching skills; and support developing skills in others areas, e.g. finance, strategic planning or project management. • Learning and Opportunities’ Networks: A place to discuss and address challenges and issues and respond to opportunities. Members would look to identify and use their strengths in order to support each other. To address what matters and fill gaps in provision through identifying locally available resources, attract funding where needed and apply for commissioned services. • Digital Information and Sharing Good Practice - We aim to provide more accessible up-to-date information, with volunteer peer mentors developing a specific ‘wiki’ pages based on the practice in the community. ‘Good Governance’ advice will be promoted through social media, with regular blogs on different governance topics aligned to relevant meetings and training.
Funding and Resources
Create Your Space
Two applications made for over £1,000,000 each Two applications have been made to the Create Your Space Big Lottery Programme - which provides funding over a Seven year period. Both Ynysybwl and the Upper Rhondda projects were successful in getting through Stage One and receiving funding to put in the Stage Two bids. The Ynysybwl Regeneration Partnership bid ‘Our Valley, Our Vision, Our Future’ involves the community together re-imagining their community as a green, sustainable and highly networked valley with an emphasis on community-owned assets, community hubs and local businesses and activities can help connect and bring massive benefits to the community and will encourage more visitors and tourists to support the local economy.
The Upper Rhondda ‘Welcome To Our Woods A Natural Future’ looks at building and connecting the community assets - both the people and the place to develop tackle health and wellbeing, jobs and poverty. This partnership bid aims for the community to take control over their outdoor spaces through developing a ‘cooperative community’ that will work with partners to design and implement a Community Landscape Plan for the Upper Rhondda.
‘It would be nice to see the landscape how it was before the coal industry.’ ‘The Valleys people are friendlier than other people in Wales.’
We hope these fantastic ideas developed by the community will both be successful. We are all keeping our toes and fingers crossed for everyone involved.
Rural Action Cwm Taf – Your Views Matter The Rural Development Programme for Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil (Rural Action Cwm Taf) is well underway and we would be interested to hear from you if you live or work in any of the following RCT wards: Maerdy; Rhigos; Ynysybwl The programme is to promote social inclusion, reduce poverty and improve economic development chances and we would welcome hearing from you. We will include your views in our Local Development Strategy which we use to direct the progress of the programme until it ends in 2021. If you would like to be part of the Local Action Group that manages the programme we would be interested in hearing from you. Please email Ruralaction@merthyr.gov.uk or phone 01685 727089 for further information.
Rural Action Cwm Taf LEADER Fund
If you are part of an organisation that has new ideas for projects in the Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil rural wards which will involve and benefit the local rural community, you might want to consider looking into the Rural Action LEADER Fund. The Rural Action Cwm Taf Programme has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. If you would like to know more, please contact Joanne Davies, Action Programme Coordinator by email: joanne.davies@merthyr.gov.uk or call 01685 727089 Page 11
Gwirvol Youth Grants
Groups celebrate Gwirvol youth grants success! Three more youth-led groups in Rhondda Cynon Taf are celebrating after being awarded GwirVol ‘Vol Factor’ grants. Spectacle Theatre RCT, Active Valleys and RCT Young Carers Group have all received support from the scheme for projects involving 16-25 year-old volunteers in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Spectacle Theatre’s ‘My Practice Smile’ will involve young people creating a peer to peer training tool kit, focusing on mental health, bullying and self-harm. This includes the creation of a DVD, digital resource pack and App, as well as face-to-face delivery of the training.
Aaron Northmore of Active Valleys said: ‘This grant provides our social enterprise a great opportunity to support young volunteers from the University of South Wales to develop their employability skills though new roles, including project management and activity leader. Volunteers will also gain invaluable networking opportunities throughout their engagement. The money we have received from Interlink will allow us to provide sporting opportunities for a number of primary schools from RCT, enhancing their opportunities to become ‘Hooked on Sport for Life’ as well as university students.’
Carys Parry of Spectacle Theatre said: ‘The young people are absolutely thrilled, and are chomping at the bit to getting going. This project is the beginning of something quite special: Young people, empowering other young people to make changes for themselves.’
Interlink RCT’s youth-led grant scheme titled ‘The Vol Factor’ offers grant support to projects involving 16-25 year-old volunteers in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Grant funding comes via the Welsh Assembly Government’s GwirVol scheme. Active Valleys’ ‘Student Volunteer Programme’ will encourage students to deliver internal sports competitions and an RCT primary school tag rugby festival. RCT Young Carers Group‘s ’Cultural Activities’ project will look at different cultures and how other children’s lives are affected through music and dance. In November, Hirwaun YMCA, the Urdd, RCT People First and the Aberdare Valley Football League, also made successful bids, receiving GwirVol grants. Page 12
All seven projects aim to engage more young people aged 14-25 in volunteering by delivering youth-led projects between now and the end of March 2017. The projects will be celebrated in a Youth Volunteering Celebration evening next year. For more information contact Thomas Crockett, Volunteering Development Officer at Interlink on 01443 846200 or email: tcrockett@interlinkrct.org.uk
Funding All systems go for Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund! Things are really getting going now with the £1.8 million a year Pen y Cymoedd Wind Farm Community Fund, set up for the benefit of host communities in the upper reaches of the Neath, Afan, Rhondda and Cynon valleys. The new, independent Community Interest Company (CIC) set up to manage it is gearing up for business in earnest! It’s no ordinary fund. Over several years through local conversations, residents and communities themselves have defined the priorities they want the funding to support (see the Prospectus on our website - www.penycymoeddcic.cymru - going live on 5 December - and the Fund will be around for the next twenty years. This means that community benefit activities can be supported now, and we can all also plan and deliver for the long-term.
There are two Community Fund streams:
The MICRO FUND offers one-off grants from £300 £5,000 to support important aspects of community life and to support enterprise development. This could include, for example: buying small items of equipment; minor capital works; activities, events and projects; start-ups; training courses and pilot projects. Applications for the first-ever round of the Micro Fund will be open from the 5 December 2016, with a closing date of 5pm on 13 February 2017. We’ll let applicants know by the 31 March 2016. The VISION FUND will offer larger grants and loans for activities that help to deliver one or more of the priorities set out in the Prospectus. Proposals will need to show how long-term benefits will be delivered. Invitations for the first round of the Vision Fund begin in Spring 2017.
A small team of two is now in place to oversee dayto-day management of the Fund - Barbara Anglezarke - Executive Director, and Kate Pritchard - Programme Administrator. We’ll be around for some time, so no need to panic. If your activity idea needs a bit more work before you apply, it’s better to take your time and make sure that everything is in place so that you’re good to go if you’re successful. There will be at least two Micro Fund rounds each year.
If you’d like to learn more about the Fund or are planning to submit either a Micro or a Vision Fund application, we’ll be out and about in your area in the next two months – come and say hello! Drop us a line, give us a call or check our website for dates and venues and we’ll book you in. All of us involved in the Community Interest Company are very grateful for the ongoing support of Vattenfall, and for all their hard work to bring the Fund to this point.
Packs and guidance are available on our website and by contacting our Aberdare office 01685 878785 enquiries@penycymoeddcic. cymru Page 13
Mens Shed Case Study
Shed Happens Well we’ve all seen the T-Shirt and now its happening in Treorchy! So says Dave Harris- Co-ordinator of Mens Shed Treorchy. ‘A Man's shed has for generations been a place to escape, now Mens Shed Treorchy will provide opportunities to chat, practice old skills and learn new ones'.
While they struggle to talk face to face, men do talk shoulder to shoulder when engaged in some form of activity or shared task. How many of us who have worked in the social care sector, can share this experience, clients will make disclosures while you're driving them somewhere.
It just seem right to have a Mens Shed on an allotment. And that is where we are, on the Caemawr allotment just by the Boys and Girls club in Treorchy. The decks have been cleared - well the allotment has with the help of our friends in Keep Wales Tidy and the Tidy Town Team. The shed will land before Christmas so watch this space! In the meantime, you can put the world to rights or simply meet new people at our meeting place at:
Canolfan Pentre or Treorchy Library on Friday mornings The idea for Men’s Sheds came from Australia 11 years ago and was developed by the health board to tackle growing concerns of social isolation amongst their male population. At Men's Shed Treorchy, we thought we were the latest, setting up this summer, but we know of at least two new groups that are finding their feet. 'Whatever the activity, it feels better to be part of a group, rather than being alone in the house' While various groups and charities do exist to support men, it has been proved that they less likely to access and accept support. The Men's Sheds movement is based on the understanding that men are more likely to help themselves and attend something they have set up or have some control over. Page 14
We know we have hit on a familiar theme. This is supported by the Samaritans report on 'Men and Suicide - Why it's a social issue' and these themes certainly hit home with local research in the RCT area, see Age UK Isolation and Loneliness of the Over 50's (2010). ‘The Big Bite in Pontpridd in August was a revelation to us. At our first ever stall, we knew we hit on a core of familiar issues.’ Because of the number of men who approached us, then it was the wives, then it was the Housing Association who wanted to promote Men's Shed to their residents and the charities who have kindly volunteered their services offering sessions for our meetings. 'Even in setting up a group, its been great to know my experience still counts'
So what happens next in Treorchy?
The opening of our Shed of course, with thanks to the Big Lottery Awards for All and friends in the Rhondda, so watch out for announcements and invitations.
Governance Major overhaul for Charity Governance Code A consultation has opened on a significant new version of the charity sector governance code. Those with an interest in charity governance are being asked to feed back their views on the code. The consultation runs until Friday 3 February 2017.
Proposed new features include recommendations that:
• Boards will use the code as a tool for continuous improvement, rather than simply as an aide to meet minimum standards • Boards promote a culture of prudence with resources but also understand that being over cautious and risk averse is itself a risk • Boards take account of wider voluntary sector in making sure that their charity operates responsibility and ethically • Boards regularly review the external environment and assess whether the charity is still relevant
The code also proposes higher standards in a number of areas, including:
• Increased expectation in relation to aspects of board composition, dynamics and behaviours with explicit good practice recommendations about board size, frequency of board performance reviews, and trustees' terms of office • A new emphasis on the chair’s role in promoting good governance • Emphasis on board diversity, supporting its leadership and decision-making with a recommendation that larger charities publish an annual statement of the steps they have taken to address the board’s diversity • A presumption that charities should be open in their work, including a public register of trustees’ interests, unless there is good reason not to • Recommending that charities use their annual report to say how they apply the code and an explanation of any aspects which they do differently.
The Charity Governance Code is overseen by a working group comprising Acevo, ICSA, NCVO, SCC and WCVA. The group has an independent chair, Rosie Chapman, an experienced governance consultant, who fulfils the role on a voluntary basis. The Charity Commission are an observer to the group.
The code’s name will change from Good Governance: a Code for the Voluntary and
Community Sector, to the Charity Governance Code. Rosie Chapman said: ‘Everything the code does is about putting in place the processes and behaviours that mean charities will be better able to deliver their purposes. This version of the code starts from the principle that trustees understand their role and are interested in helping their organisations develop further. We want the code to act as a tool for continuous improvement for charities of all sizes, including those who are already operating to high standards in governance.
Ruth Marks, Chief Executive of Wales Council for Voluntary Action, said: ‘WCVA is pleased to support this new, bilingual, draft Charity Governance Code and we would encourage all our members to take part in the consultation process. Trustees are vital to the good health and smooth running of charities, and we need to encourage more people – and a more diverse range of people – to take up these sometimes challenging and demanding responsibilities. One of WCVA’s key priorities for the future is to ensure that charities and volunteers are valued and are trusted by the public. Having the right people at board level can help ensure this.’
The draft code and consultation questions are available at www.governancecode.org The steering group are grateful for the financial support of the Clothworkers’ Company Page 15
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