News

This is where we’ll post third sector news and important updates that are useful for your organisation.

Violence & Vulnerability Community Grant 2024-2025

The strategic goal of the V&V Partnership is to reduce serious violence, the harm it causes, and to safeguard those at risk (including to gangs and knife crime).  We recognise that local organisations and groups are at the forefront of some amazing work that provides protective factors that seeks to address these issues, the V&V Partnership are keen to support this work as much as it can.

The 2024-2025 V&V Community Grant round is for local ‘not-for-profit’ voluntary or community clubs or organisations based in, and therefore delivering in, Essex, Southend and Thurrock only.

Looking to fund projects that meet the stated aims and can run during April 2024 to 31st December 2025, commencing no later than 1st September 2024.

Groups can apply for up to *£25,000 to deliver support and interventions for children, young people, young adults (aged 0-24 inclusive) and families (families, must include children, young people or young adults aged 0-24).  Projects must demonstrate how they have a positive impact through protective factors on issues relating to serious violence.

*The grants funding this year has a potential total pot of  £350,000 that the V & V Parternship will look to distribute as evenly as possible across the twelve ECC borough/city/districts areas and Southend and Thurrock.  Please bear this in mind when completing your applications. 

Projects MUST evidence they are meeting specific needs as highlighted on an area by area basis by young people in our Listening Project 2022-23. It is essential that you read and reference the report as we are keen that the interventions are based on what local young people are telling us they need.  https://ecvys.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/vvu-youth-voices-report-2022-2023-final-pdf.pdf

Such as:

  • Having more trusted adults available for young people to talk to.
  • Creating safer spaces and youth provision where young people choose to hang out i.e parks, youth clubs, schools (This could be around staff time, new projects, open for longer, activities, lighting outside a community building, etc.)
  • Support for victims of youth violence and projects that have interventions around knife crime, and building resilience
  • Building links between voluntary youth provision and schools, eg providing more trusted adults, education specifically around consequences of violence and filming videos of violence for social media, how to stay safe and preventing conflict escalating
  • More ‘turn up and try’ sports or activities at youth clubs, parks and schools (out of normal school hours)- including self-defence and various other activities
  • PLEASE NOTE THAT; This is not an exhaustive list. Funding will also be considered for early intervention work that has used the listening report to identify what is needed locally for example some areas mention drugs as an issue that needs addressing but for others work around peer pressure would be more suitable.

We would especially like to see some applications for creative work around risk taking behaviours.

Please do read the listening report and try to evidence the need for your intervention within your application, referencing the report or local needs.

All applications must demonstrate how their project enables children and young people to:-

  • Make positive choices to keep them safe
  • Raise self-esteem and confidence
  • Build resilience
  • Improve emotional and physical health and mental wellbeing
  • Build connections with trusted adults

Applicants must also:-

  • Have a recognised constitution and be one of the following: not-for-profit voluntary or community club or organisation, a registered charity, a not-for-profit company or community interest company or other social enterprise, a company limited by guarantee, charitable incorporated organisation or registered society.
  • Be based in Essex, Southend or Thurrock with at least one year’s full published accounts.
  • Have support from the local CSP (Community Safety Partnership) for the work you are applying for funding for. (If you do not know who your local CSP is we can provide this information)

If you have any questions about this grant process or to discuss your application please contact Beks Korniej [email protected] or Jim Pearson [email protected]

Timeline of grant process:

Applications open:  17th July 2023

Applications close:  12 noon on 29th September 2023

Completed applications to be submitted online and due diligence and supporting documents to be emailed to: [email protected] AND [email protected] by 12.00 on 29th September 2023

Short-listing, due diligence checks and final panel decisions:  between October 2023 to February 2024

Applicants made aware of grant decisions: End of February 2024

Funds delivered: 90% of amount awarded at project start date on or after 1st April 2024.  The remaining 10% to be paid during the last 3 months of your funded delivery.

How to Apply:

Check whether your project qualifies and apply online using this link:

https://forms.gle/odydgCNkX6x8oVMg7

Please note that any due diligence and supporting documents will need to be emailed separately to Beks and Jim at the emails above

Author: Alliance Admin
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CARA Recruitment – Adult Practitioner / Integrated Support and Advocacy Manager / Young Person’s Practitioner

CARA is currently recruiting for a Young Person’s Practitioner to expand our team. If you know anyone who might be interested, please do let them know. Full details can be found on our website https://caraessex.org.uk/vacancies.php  or information is below, along with a summary of the other roles we are also recruiting:

Adult Practitioner

CARA is looking for an Adult Practitioner to join our team. The role will provide specialist counselling and support to adults who have experienced rape, sexual violence or sexual abuse. The role includes line-management of sessional or volunteer counsellors and activities to raise awareness of the impact of sexual violence amongst agencies and the wider community

For a full job description and person specification, please click here.

For an application form, please click here.

Closing Date: 9am, Monday 14th August 2023.

Interviews: Tuesday 22nd August 2023.

This post is restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.

Integrated Support and Advocacy Manager

CARA is looking for and Integrated Support and Advocacy Manager to lead and develop a new and innovative CARA service, now in its second year – the CARA Integrated Support service. The Integrated Support service is aimed primarily at victims and survivors who have a high level of immediate need or require crisis support. Alongside managing and supporting CARA’s specialist Advocacy service, the Integrated Support Service includes provision of:

  • One-to-one tailored emotional support and psychoeducation activities.
  • Support in accessing mental health or other external services, whilst developing relationships with other agencies.
  • A programme of regular groups.

For a full job description and person specification, please click here.

For an application form, please click here.

Closing Date: 10am, Monday 7th August 2023.

Interviews: Tuesday 15th August 2023.

This post is restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.

Young Person’s Practitioner

CARA is looking for a Young Person’s Practitioner to join our team. The role will provide specialist counselling and support to young people (12-19) who have experienced rape, sexual violence or sexual abuse. There is also the potential to work with children under 12 if qualified to do so. The role includes wider responsibilities as a member of CARA’s staff team including line-management of sessional or volunteer counsellors and activities to raise awareness of the impact of sexual violence amongst agencies and the wider community.

For a full job description and person specification, please click here

For an application form, please click here

Closing Date: 10am, Monday 31st July 2023.

Interviews: Monday 7th August or Wednesday 9th August 2023.

This post is restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.

Author: Alliance Admin
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Categories: News

2024 GSK IMPACT Awards and new GSK Health Inequalities programme – The Kings Fund

Applications are now open for the 2024 GSK IMPACT Awards and new GSK Health Inequalities programme, which will support small charities.

The GSK IMPACT Awards provide funding, training and development for charities doing excellent work to improve people’s health and wellbeing. The awards are funded by GSK and managed in partnership with The King’s Fund. They are open to registered charities that are at least three years old, working in a health-related field in the UK, with a total annual income of between £150,000 and £3 million.

Up to 15 awards will be made, ranging from £4,000 to £50,000. In addition, the training and development is valued at a further £9,500. Organisations will also receive help with press and publicity and be given a set of promotional materials. The GSK IMPACT Awards are judged by a prestigious panel of judges and provide national recognition for the winning charities.
   
View the guidelines and access the application.

Deadline for Stage 1 applications is 5.00pm on Friday 1 September 2023.

Author: Alliance Admin
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Hardship Grants – Charitable Foundation

Apply here.

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Thrive Together Fund

Type: Mixed Grant & Loan
Value: £25k – £150k (25% grant)
Location: England
Currently open? : Yes

What is the Thrive Together Fund?

The Thrive Together Fund (TTF) provides a funding package of loan (75%) and grant (25%) to eligible charities and social enterprises in England.  

The Fund is delivered by a partnership made up of Social Investment Business, Co-operative and Community FinanceFredericks FoundationGroundwork, Homeless Link and The Architectural Heritage Fund.

Join us for an introductory webinar about the Thrive Together Fund at 11am on Wednesday 19th July 2023.

Who is it for?

Small and medium sized charities and social enterprises based in and delivering impact in England, who are looking to grow or diversify their business models. 

Am I eligible?

  • Incorporated voluntary, community or social enterprise organisations*
  • Based in England and delivering social/ environmental impact in England
  • A minimum of two years’ operating activity  
  • A minimum turnover of £100k in the last financial year
  • A viable borrowing proposal. 

* Must be registered as a Charity, Community Interest Company or Community Benefit Society. If registered as any other legal entity, it must have a social object, asset lock and restriction on profit distribution (must distribute less than 50% of post-tax profits) written into its governing documents.

What could I receive?

Product Blend of loan (75%) and grant (25%)
Amount £25k – £150k (inclusive of 25% grant)
Repayment Term 1 – 6 years (inclusive of any capital repayment holiday)
Interest Rate 7.5% fixed per annum
Arrangement Fee 2% on loan value (added to loan balance)
Repayment
  • Capital repayment holiday of up to 12 months at the start of the loan (optional)
  • No early pre-payment fees
Security Unsecured
Purpose Any, including refinancing of existing debt

Click here to apply.

Author: Alliance Admin
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Categories: News

Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Infrastructure

Over the last 12-18 months, Essex County Council has been working with a broad range of partners to undertake a system wide engagement of the current Voluntary and Community Sector landscape. Essex County Council is proposing a change in how it invests in Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Infrastructure from April 2024, and the Strengthening Communities Team, who are leading this review, have published a Prior Information Notice, known as a PIN, that is the first step in the process and seeks to notify the market in good time of the procurement exercise and open up engagement with potential providers in advance.

We hope you can take a look at the PIN and, if it is something you have an interest in, please come and join the team at the online Market Engagement Event planned for 18th July 2023. Details of how to request attendance can be found in the PIN – https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017148-2023.

If you are a VCS organisation and have any queries, you can email Strengthening.Communities@essex.gov.uk, your question will be logged and answered during the Market Engagement Event.

If you are a Statutory Sector partner and would like more information or a discussion about this commission please email Strengthening.Communities@essex.gov.uk

Author: Alliance Admin
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Safer Essex – impacts of crime and anti-social behaviour in the county survey

Overview

This survey is aimed at helping the Community Safety Partnerships working across Southend, Essex and Thurrock to identify the impacts of crime and anti-social behaviour in the county.

You can complete the survey about any area in Essex, whether you live, work or study there. You can also complete this survey more than once to give us your views about a different area if you wish to do so.

The results will be used by the Community Safety Partnerships for each area, and Safer Essex, to inform their priorities for the next year.

How we use your data

This survey is for you to provide information to be used by the Community Safety Partnership project. Under the GDPR we have a legal duty to protect any information we collect from you. The information will only be used for the purposes of this project and will not be kept longer than is necessary to do so, up to a maximum of five years.

We share this information with our district council partners and Essex Police, but we will not share your personal details with any other agency unless we have concerns that you or another individual may be at risk of harm or if it is required by law. We do not collect personal information for commercial purposes.

Complete the survey here.

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Recruitment Open Day Announced to Showcase Charities Vacancies

Community360 have announced a Recruitment Open Day that will showcase the opportunities available at the charity.
Taking place on Saturday 15th July at the One Colchester Hub, Long Wyre Street, staff will be on hand to talk to perspective candidates about the organisation and what vacancies are available.
Tracy Rudling, CEO at Community360 said: “We are delighted to announce our Recruitment Open Day and able to share the range of exciting job opportunities and apprenticeships currently available. Potential applicants are invited to come along to chat to our staff and find out more about the vacancies on offer and to find out first-hand what it is like to work in the
community voluntary sector. This is a great way to learn more about Community360, the work that we do and what it’s like to be part of our growing team.” She added: “Come long, grab a tea or coffee, bring along your CV and discover if a career within Community360 is right for you.”
Community360 has a wide range of opportunities on offer from working with volunteers, families, the vulnerable, community development, finance, community transport and fundraising. The day runs from 10am to 3pm at the One Colchester Hub, Long Wyre Street, Colchester. Find out about Communit360 at www.community360.org.uk

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Citizens Advice Cost-of-Living Data Briefing

24 July 2023, 1.30-2.30pm

Register now for our next cost-of-living data briefing on 24 July.

This month they will be analysing the increasing impact of the crisis on mortgage holders and private renters. Alongside Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice and Tom McInnes, Chief Data Analyst, they’ll hear from Jackie Jeffrey, Chief Officer at Citizens Advice Shropshire about how this is affecting the people they see everyday.

The cost-of-living crisis is far from over and our data shows how people are being affected. Both Section 21 and Section 8 eviction notices are putting private renters at greater risk of homelessness. We’re seeing an alarming trend in the numbers of private renters needing help with a homelessness issue. We’ll be speaking more about this on 24 July.

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Side By Side Peer Support Service

Side by Side is a peer support service for families who care for, or support, an adult with a learning disability or autism. We achieve this by pairing them with another family with first-hand experience and empathy, who can provide informal support.

Our aims are:

To find and link families who would benefit from informal, over the phone support

To help families connect and build a rapport one to one

To bring families together with common shared experience

For more information;

email: [email protected]

Telephone: 07749 706639

click here to find out more.

Side by Side is a partnership project of
Families InFocus Essex, The Essex Carers Network and Pact for Autism

Author: Alliance Admin
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