B&NES News & Updates - 12 July 2010

Welcome to your local E-bulletin for Bath & North East Somerset where you will find information, news and events specifically of interest to those in the B&NES area. National and regional news is found in the weekly General E-bulletin covering all service areas in B&NES and Wiltshire.  Click here for the most recent issue.

Consultation on B&NES Compact Principles of VCS Representation and Commissioning. What are the key principles voluntary and community groups feel need to be considered for them to be able to make an effective contribution to commissioning local services?  Two draft documents have been produced in an attempt to address this issue. These principles documents have been produced on behalf of the local Compact Board. The local Compact sets out how the voluntary and community sector and the statutory sector would work together for the benefit of the people of Bath & North East Somerset. It is hoped these principles documents, by being clear and simple, could help in guiding future commissioning approaches by statutory organisations and the way that voluntary and community sector representation takes place. They will also form the basis for revising the local Compact codes of good practice on involvement and funding.
Your views are invited about these two draft principles documents:

	Principles of Voluntary Sector Representation draft 1
	Principles of Voluntary Sector Representation draft 2.

Are there any points you think are particularly important? Are there any issues that are missing?
Please email or send written comments on the principles documents by midday on Friday 1 October to: Ronnie Wright, Voluntary Sector Co-ordinator, The Care Forum, The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2QQ.  Tel 0117 958 9333, Fax 0117 965 0200
e-mail: ronniewright@thecareforum.org.uk  web: www.thecareforum.org 

Cranfield Trust are offering Free Management Consultancy.  Their national register of 600 volunteer consultants from the commercial sector give their time free to work with the voluntary sector. The budget and public spending cut forecasts mean that they are currently working with a wide range of organisations on issues such as:

	Developing common cost definitions to help collaboration and joint tendering
	Facilitating Board, senior team and merger discussions
	Reviewing business plans in the light of the changing climate
	Updating HR policies and reviewing organisation structures
	Mentoring Directors and Chief Executives

 If you are interested in having some management advice and support they would be pleased to hear from you. More details and case studies: www.cranfieldtrust.org

Local Organisation 'Send a Cow' Win Fundraising Award. The organisation won  ‘Best Use of Face to Face’ award at the Institute of Fundraising’s National Awards on Monday 5th July - read more about their campaign.

 'Re-commissioning of grant funded services in B&NES: information and support for carers service providers’ Thursday 15 July 10.30am – 12.30pm at St Luke’s Church Hall, Wellsway, Bath. The Second B&NES Voluntary Sector Carer Services Provider Forum led by Angela Smith, B&NES Council Group Manager Adult Care & Commissioning and Sarah Shatwell, Commissioning Manager for Social Care Transformation, Adult Health, Social Care & Housing Partnership. The focus of the provider forum is on voluntary and community sector service providers. This is a chance to understand how to engage with the new commissioning process for health and social care services which starts in September. There will be group work sessions in which providers will have time to discuss the new process and to talk with each other, and time to share providers’ news. The meeting is open to all who provide or commission services or who are interested in the provision of services to carers in B&NES.  To book email events@thecareforum.org.uk 

Bathampton Community Growers - Saturday 17th July. Volunteers are using permaculture methods to create an edible garden with fruit trees and vegetable crops. New helpers and beginners very welcome. Bathampton Community Growers, University of Bath Agricultural Research Station, Mill Lane, Bathampton Meadows. Tel/text: Chris 07792 444 628

Email: thelostplot@googlemail.com. No parking at the site

Training with Bristol Mind. Courses for July include: Mental Health Awareness, Mental Health First Aid, Suicide Prevention (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training ASIST), Telephone Response Skills  (developing skills in responding to callers who are in emotional distress),
Working with People with Support Needs, Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder. For more information and dates see: http://www.bristolmind.org.uk/training-research/training

 A Framework for Collaboration Thursday 22 July from 10am – 1pm at The Vassall Centre, Bristol.  Commissioned by West of England Consortium and developed by Social Enterprise Works, this resource booklet sits alongside Managing in Tough Times developed last year. Read more about this resource. To book a place at this event, please contact sam@socialenterpriseworks.org  or call Sam on 0117 9070080.

Cascade Training 'In a Nutshell' Half Day Workshops Sept - Nov:

Introduction to Board Governance, Risk Management for Board Members, Marketing Plans Made Simple, Get Into Social Networking. More information and booking details: http://www.cascadetrainingplus.co.uk/?Autumn_Programme

Implementing strategy: ideas and inspiration  - this practical guide, from Charities Evaluation Service, includes a  six point plan for taking a strategy from paper to practice. Full of effective activities and links to valuable resources to help you achieve your strategic objectives. Download the guide.

Participatory Photography workshops - FREE until September.  Participants create their own photographic work through supported workshops. Individuals or groups of people work with a facilitator, who will provide direction on how to use a camera, develop a bespoke photography project, produce imagery and help communicate their story or situation to a wider audience. Participatory Photography has been used many times to help marginalized communities and the socially excluded by allowing them to create their own photographic projects and portray their own stories. This gives participants the opportunity to present their world, as they perceive it and enables them to record and reflect their own strengths and concerns about the situation they find themselves. This type of photography focuses on the images generated by the participants and the content of the story they are conveying. It is not about technical learning or educational sessions about the aspect of photography. What is provided? up to three 3hr workshops, working with individuals on a one-to-one basis or with groups of up to 5 people. Workshops can be flexible and can be tailored to the needs and priorities of the supporting organisation and participants.
Travel expenses are charged for organisations outside Exeter. More information.

Knowing what to do in the following situations could save someone's life!

	Unresponsive or unconscious casualties
	Cardiac arrest
	Suspected heart attack
	Choking in adults & differences in infants and children
	Serious bleeding

FREE Life Support Training Thursday 2 September 10:00 - 12:00 at the Community Safety Centre Bath.  Learning emergency life support skills (ELS) can help you to keep someone alive until professional help arrives. The British Heart Foundation can help you to learn these skills through the Heartstart initiative. Further details can be found on the British Heart Foundation website.  This course is aimed at  workers, volunteers, service users, individuals in the wider community - open to all. Bookings for this course are being taken by DEVELOP at the Bath Office. Contact sue@developecs.org.uk or phone 01225 330090.  Avon & Somerset  Police are delivering this training in your community.

The B&NES Youth Services Web Site holds information on youth centres, projects and support for young people. If your organisation or setting has any projects or events that you would like included on the web site contact Paula Bromley: Paula_Bromley@banes.org.uk  or to view the web page visit: http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/communityandliving/youthsupport/YouthProjects.htm

A Free Anti Bullying Event is being held in Taunton on 27th September. Delegates will have the opportunity to work together to explore the following issues and practice related to anti-bullying work in their settings:

	What is bullying? - Rhiannon Prys-Owen (Anti-Bullying Alliance)
	Cyber bullying - Alan Earle (South West Grid for Learning)
	Equalities - Jono Madeley (Children's Service Plymouth City Council)
	Children and young people's participation: The key to successful anti-bullying work - Fiona Phur (Regional Youth Work Unit at Learning South West)
	Developing an anti-bullying policy - Teresa Bliss (Gloucestershire Children's Services)

For details or to book please email: vicky@southwest-rc.co.uk .

The Community And Social Enterprise Fund - £7m is available through this fund to support voluntary and community organisations in rural areas to become more self-financing and sustainable through the development of community and social enterprise activities. These could include:

	access to childcare
	rural community shops
	'multi use' rural community facilities
	community renewable energy projects
	other community projects providing basic services locally

The funding has already started to roll out successfully, and they are particularly interested in hearing from young people. Find out all you need to know by visiting www.swan-network.org.uk/uploads/documents/caseportalofinformation.pdf   

Chief Officers Network - next meeting Thursday 23 September 9.30-12.30 at Clydesdale Bank,3rd floor, Royal Mead.  Topics are consideration of £400 available funding for the network and Commissioning of services by BANES Council as well as the usual opportunity to network.

 If there is anyone else in your organisation who would like to receive this bulletin please contact Sue Evans sue@developecs.org.uk or

Tel: 01225 33 00 90.

DEVELOP Enhancing Community Support is a Company Limited By Guarantee registered in England and Wales 01986363.

Registered Office 3-4 New Road, Chippenham, SN15 1EJ. Registered Charity1096008.

DEVELOP Enhancing Community Support is a member of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA).