News

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

Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB – Have your say on the future of NHS services

Local NHS organisations are developing a plan to set out how we are going to meet the health needs of our residents over the next five years. We have created this survey because we want the plan to be informed by everyone who uses or delivers NHS services. It is important that we put resources and effort into areas where you tell us it is most needed.

We are asking about your experiences as a patient or carer across a range of services.

If you are an unpaid carer for a friend or family member who can’t fill in this survey alone, you are welcome to fill it in for them, with their permission. If you need help to fill in this survey, you can call Healthwatch on 0300 500 1895. Healthwatch staff will be able to complete and return the survey on your behalf.

Take the survey here. 

Author: Alliance Admin
Posted:
Categories: News

Canvey Island Youth Project (Yellow Door) – Youth Worker (Internship)

An exciting position has become available within a Yellow Door for a full time Youth Worker (Internship) The successful candidate will earn £20750.00 per annum.

Your role will be to promote the personal, educational, creative, and social developments of young people, helping them reach their full potential. Helping to create a safe and supportive environment where young people learn and grow.

As part of this role, you will be part of the Jack Petchey Internship Programme with 30 other interns from different youth organisations in London and Essex. This development programme will involve you attending a launch conference, four professional development workshops through the year and a celebration event at the end of the programme. You will receive an extra training bursary of £1,000 for  approved training.  You will also be matched with a mentor from another organisation to support you in your professional development.  The Jack Petchey Internship Programme training and events will take place in person in London and you will be expected to take full part in this programme alongside your role at Canvey Island Youth Project Yellow Door.

Role Requirements

  • Friendly, cheerful, positive and self-driven, able to work independently and as part of a

Team

  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to quickly establish positive relationships

with young people and motivate them to participate in activities and events

  • Good organisational and administration skills
  • Understanding and appreciation of the importance of monitoring and evaluation
  • Ability to prioritise effectively and enjoy multi-tasking in a busy environment
  • Able to understand safeguarding children and young people and how to maintain

appropriate professional boundaries

  • A working understanding of equality and diversity with the ability to challenge

discriminatory behaviour.

  • You will need to be able to start the internship 27th March 2022 at the latest

 

Role Responsibilities

  • Supporting Youth Groups, Outreach and detached work.
  • Developing, planning and delivering informal education programme and activities within the Youth Group settings. For example, delivering and reviewing lessons/activities, completing curriculum templates for sessions.
  • Welcoming young people to Group Sessions and activities, ensuring everything is running smoothly and supporting young people to engage with the activities and learning.
  • Helping to create a safe environment for the young people to learn.
  • Ensuring Safeguarding policies and procedures are followed and that the safeguarding of young people is paramount
  • Having conversations with young people, identifying issues affecting them and how their needs can be met and supporting young people to break down barriers to learning.
  • Mentoring, coaching and supporting individuals, encouraging young people to develop their self-awareness, independence and individuality
  • Identifying where targeted youth support is needed and facilitate referrals, connections and developing new programmes.
  • Helping ensure that all evidence of work with young people is properly documented, evaluated and reported
  • Keeping registers, writing evaluation reports and case studies
  • Staying informed on legislation, local and national issues, and best practice in youth work
  • Carry out all duties in accordance with company policies on Health and Safety, Child Protection and Data Protection, and with relevant legislation
  • Supporting team of volunteers and apprentice youth worker
  • Any other duties appropriate to the post

Location: Yellow Door Youth Hub and during outreach parts of Castle Point, no working from home, work takes place afternoons and evenings. Some weekend work will be required.

Canvey Island Youth Project (Yellow Door)

Canvey Island Youth Project (Yellow Door)  is a small independent charity providing a range of services for young people age 11 to 25.  Their focus is on young people’s health and well-being providing services such as an advice, information, counselling, outreach, small groups work, youth clubs and activities and drug and alcohol education.

Why should you apply?

Closing date for applications Friday 10th 2023 at 5 p.m.

Interview dates:  13th March 2022

Yellow Door are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment.

Please note, we are operating a “safer recruitment” policy and therefore we will take at least two references before employees start, and all employees will need to undergo an enhanced DBS check.

If you are looking for a challenge, please send your CV and cover letter outlining how you meet the role requirements and how you can demonstrate that you have the skills and experience to do the work? to alex@canveyislandyouthproject.org.uk If you would like any more information about the work please call Alex on 01268 683431.

If you would like so support with your application, i.e., how to write a good CV, tips on what makes a good cover letter please contact kerry@canveyislandyouthproject.org.uk .

Author: Alliance Admin
Posted:
Categories: News

‘Community Connect’ North East Essex – Friday 10 March 2023 at Firstsite, Colchester – event programme

Exciting event ‘Community Connect’ North East Essex takes place this coming Friday 10 March 2023 at Firstsite in Colchester from 9:30am to 2:30pm. The event programme is attached and will be available on the ICS website as an electronic flipbook at Community Connect NEE – Suffolk & North East Essex Integrated Care System (sneeics.org.uk)

This is the second of our Alliance based partnership events and an opportunity for colleagues to learn about the amazing work going on to improve the health and wellbeing of people in North East Essex. We are aiming for the event will be attended by people both from the local community and also from across the ICS with opportunities to be involved through a wide variety of exhibits and a Showcase presentation of the work of the North East Essex Alliance.

Everyone is welcome. Attendance is free of charge so please do share this invitation with the people that you know are important in making integrated care a reality across Suffolk and North East Essex. Further information is available on the ICS website Community Connect NEE – Suffolk & North East Essex Integrated Care System (sneeics.org.uk) including the link to register quickly and easily as a delegate and add your name to the list of attendees. Please register using the BIG RED BUTTON on the webpage to let us know you that you will be attending.

We want to make ‘Community Connect’ North East Essex at Firstsite in Colchester THE place to be this Friday 10th March 2023. Should you have any query about arrangements for the day our event manager is Michelle Grant-Richardson at michelle.grant-richardson@nhs.net who is managing the event space and logistics.

Author: Alliance Admin
Posted:
Categories: News

Promotion of survey to shape the next five years of local NHS services – West Essex

NHS services in Hertfordshire and west Essex (Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford) have together launched a survey which will shape how health services are developed over the next five years. If you can spare 10-15 minutes, take part in the survey before it closes on 15 March. Please also share it with your friends or family, networks and groups.

The plan will set out how NHS resources (money and staff) will be used to meet the health needs of local people, as well as delivering national NHS improvement targets on important issues like how quickly illnesses are diagnosed, and how long people have to wait to be treated.

Please complete and share the survey to help shape local NHS plans and priorities: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/XBTPW3/. As a thank you for completing it, you can enter your name into a prize draw and be in with the chance of winning one of 10 £30 shopping vouchers.

It would be great if you also could please share this survey with others to help as many people as possible to have their say. If you need any support with template text e.g. for newsletters, please email the communications and engagement team at the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board.

There’s more information about the plan and how to have your say on this website: https://hertsandwestessexics.org.uk/homepage/21/have-your-say-on-the-future-of-nhs-services.

Author: Alliance Admin
Posted:
Categories: News

We are seeking research proposals for a new project – could you help?

Cranfield Trust is exploring the development of a management learning programme to develop charity leaders of the future.

Cranfield Trust to explore development of new management training programme for charity sector and invites research proposals

Cranfield Trust is exploring the development of a management learning programme for leaders and managers of small to medium size voluntary organisations to develop charity leaders of the future.

The national charity and leading provider of pro bono management consultancy, mentoring and online learning to social welfare charities, is inviting proposals from organisations to undertake the feasibility project from April 2023.  The research project will explore available management training for small to medium sized charity leaders and managers, their interest in taking up existing training opportunities, and the potential for the development of a management training programme for the sector.

Amanda Tincknell CBE, CEO of Cranfield Trust, is leading the project.  Amanda said:

“There is a great deal of training available in the voluntary sector, and more widely, but through our extensive work with charities we have seen that there is little training geared to people developing their careers in the voluntary sector, to help them develop management skills early in their careers, or to help Chief Executives and senior leaders in smaller charities refresh their skills or fill skills gaps. Most voluntary sector staff do not take a great deal of general management training, and prefer training that is specifically developed for the voluntary sector market.

“Much of the specialist voluntary sector training is geared to leadership and strategy, not management, so middle managers or emerging managers do not have many specialist voluntary sector learning opportunities.  Some of the training available is also relatively high cost for smaller charities meaning it is not affordable, even more so in the current cost of living crisis which has hit charities as hard as the rest of the country.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Masonic Charitable Foundation for generously supporting Cranfield Trust with a grant to undertake this research, which will allow us to explore the feasibility of establishing a relevant, flexible and cost-effective management learning programme with an academic partner for leaders and managers of small to medium size voluntary organisations to help develop charity leaders of the future.”

Cranfield Trust is looking for a contractor to deliver the research project, to start from mid-April, with the aim of reporting to the Trust’s management team in early September and to the Trustee Board in October 2023.

The deadline for submission proposals is by end of day on Monday 20 March 2023.  Interviews will take place in the week of 27 March 2023. Proposals and questions should be submitted to: amanda.tincknell@cranfieldtrust.org

Download the full invitation to submit a proposal here.

 

Author: Alliance Admin
Posted:
Categories: News

Investing in Spaces and Places Grant Launch – Asda Foundation

We know small grass roots organisations play a vital role in their community, making positive change and improving people’s lives every day, but the challenge for many is having the appropriate safe and inclusive space to bring people together and deliver their fantastic work.

Asda Foundation will be investing over £500,000 for this grant in 2023 to support bigger, long-lasting community projects within local communities where local people can be together and thrive.

Grants will be between £10,000-£25,000 and the application window opens on 6th February with funding announced in June 2023.

The grant criteria will focus on investing in community spaces and places and projects must fall into at least one of the following categories:

1. Building Repairs

2. Building Development

3. Outdoor Development

Read the full Group Guidance here. If you have an eligible project in mind, speak to your local Community Champion at your nearest Asda Superstore for more information.

Article information here. 

Author: Alliance Admin
Posted:
Categories: News

National Highways – Community Fund

The Lower Thames Crossing Community Fund has been opened to support local charities and community groups near the proposed Lower Thames Crossing.

Through this funding, organisations can apply for grants of up to £10,000 to deliver schemes that:

  • Encourage physical activity and increase public use of local green spaces
  • Improve the health and wellbeing of local communities
  • Improving signage and/or way-markings to increase accessibility for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders
  • Help communities to connect with their heritage
  • Support local communities to secure permanent employment in the wider Lower Thames Crossing potential supply chain
  • Increase the use of technology to help local communities better understand the Lower Thames Crossing proposals and inspire future careers in construction.

Applications close on 1st March. Apply here. 

Author: Alliance Admin
Posted:
Categories: News

Business Development Manager – Action for Family Carers

Up to £40k
Up to 35 hours per week

Responsibilities will include:
•            Developing networks of stakeholders
•            Proactively seeking new income streams from private and public sectors
•            Securing grants and contracts
•            Growing income from fundraising and donations
•            Demonstrable financial outcomes

You will need to be:
•            Passionate about supporting adult and young carers
•            Driven by results and impact
•            Able to support and motivate staff and volunteers
•            Highly organized and proactive
•            Able to work flexibly and independently across Essex

Call James Clarke CEO for an informal discussion of the role and future plans for the charity.
Go to our website for full details: https://affc.org.uk/about-action-family-carers/work-us

Author: Alliance Admin
Posted:
Categories: News

The Maternity Pledge

The Maternity Pledge provide support for the transition into motherhood, otherwise known as matrescence.

They do this through our workplace pledge and unique Matrescence Packs.

The Maternity Pledge aims to change this.

Our workplace pledge and complementary handbook encourage employers to support pregnant employees and new mothers, and our Matrescence Packs provide unique information and tools to help employees have a positive birth and navigate their own matrescence. Our Matrescence Club for new mothers supports them during their maternity leave with good mood content, wellbeing advice and coaching tips to help them transition back into the workplace. Put together, the commitment of the pledge and tools that accompany it help your business to value its employees and have a productive and positive workplace.

You may be managing your first maternity leave as an employer or already have maternity practices in place. Wherever you are in your journey, by joining The Maternity Pledge you can proudly display and demonstrate your support and commitment to making your workplace one that values pregnant employees and new mothers.

And just a small note on the language you’ll find on the website and in the Matrescence Packs. The Maternity Pledge has made the decision to use ‘mother’ and ‘motherhood’ as inclusive terms. In 2019 UK law determined “Being a mother, is the status given to the person who undergoes the physical and biological process of being pregnant, carrying and giving birth to a child.” At The Maternity Pledge we extend that language to include those who adopt or go through surrogacy as well.

The Pledge.

  • Fulfil the legal requirement for pregnancy in the workplace and maternity leave and give my employee the support they need to do their job so they feel safe and secure in their work environment

  • Create a maternity leave and return to work plan with my employee so they know what to expect before they go on maternity leave and understand that they can make changes to the plan during their maternity leave

  • Communicate effectively with all my employees about how maternity leave works, how it will affect them and their role in the business

  • Help my employee maintain an emotional connection with the workplace so they do not feel anxious about being on maternity leave and their subsequent return to work

  • Support their return to work with as much flexibility and care for their wellbeing as possible

Join the pledge today. 

Author: Alliance Admin
Posted:
Categories: News

‘Here to help’: Commission launches new push on trustee guides as sector faces challenging year

The Charity Commission is launching the next stage of its campaign to raise awareness of core trustee duties and guidance available as the sector faces challenges ahead.

Today (2nd February 2023), the Charity Commission is launching the next stage of its campaign to raise awareness of core trustee duties and the guidance available to charities.

The Commission has developed a collection of short and engaging guidance on issues ranging from safeguarding people to managing conflicts of interest. Dubbed the ‘5-Minute Guides’, the collection serves as a basic toolkit for trustees who are managing the many demands of running a charity.

The latest phase of the campaign, running from 2nd February to 16th March, aims to raise awareness of, and boost use of, the 5-minute guides. The regulator hopes this will increase knowledge and understanding of essential trustee duties. This comes as charities face additional challenges due to cost-of-living pressures.

The Commission’s latest research shows that around 98% of trustees feel ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ confident in managing or governing their charity but, when questioned on basic role requirements, on average, trustees answered just 7 out of 10 questions correctly – demonstrating a knowledge gap that could lead to unintentional governance failings.

The core suite of 5-minute guides cover the following subject areas:

  • Delivering purpose – advice on how to use your charity’s governing document, how to deliver on your charity’s purposes and the law.
  • Managing finances – advice on how to ensure your charity’s money is safe, properly used and accounted for.
  • Conflicts of interest – advice on how to identify and deal with conflicts of interest in your charity.
  • Making decisions – advice on how to make valid trustee decisions that are in your charity’s best interests.
  • Reporting information –advice on how and what you need to report to the Commission.
  • Safeguarding people – advice on your responsibilities to keep everyone who comes into contact with your charity safe from harm.
  • Political activity & campaigning – advice for charities that want to support, or oppose, a change in government policy or the law.

Paul Latham, Director of Communications and Policy at the Charity Commission, said:

We know that this will be a tough year for charities. When approaching difficult decisions, we want trustees to feel certain of the rules in these uncertain times. Our 5-minute guides act as a core syllabus – offering trustees engaging, informative content covering the basics all trustees should know. With advice readily available, we encourage trustees to refresh their knowledge and fill any gaps so that they can best serve their charities – and those who rely on them.

The Commission’s guidance is not yet the first port of call for many trustees. Commission research shows that they often first seek advice from a fellow trustee or colleague (70%) or look online (59%). However, an overwhelming majority of trustees who use the regulator’s guidance find it helpful (94%) and most (89%) trustees who have used the 5-minute guides would recommend them to others.

The previous campaign phase in 2022 saw the percentage of surveyed trustees aware of the 5 Minute Guides rise from 23% to 40%. Furthermore, of the trustees who have read one or more of the 5-minute guides, 39% reported to have taken or intend to take an action as a result of reading them.

The full collection of 5-minute guides can be found at: Advice and guidance for Charity Trustees – Getting the most out of being a charity trustee

Notes to editors:

Press office

Email pressenquiries@charitycommission.gov.uk

Out of hours press office contact number: 07976 942355

  1. The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its purpose is to ensure charity can thrive and inspire trust so that people can improve lives and strengthen society.
  2. The Charity Commission data comes from ‘Charity trustee research 2022’ which can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-into-public-trust-in-charities-and-trustees-experience-of-their-role/charity-trustee-research-2022

Author: Alliance Admin
Posted:
Categories: News