New GROW Training Programme!

If you haven't yet seen our training programme for Wiltshire please either click here to download the brochure, or click here to see the online version. Courses include; Business Planning, Managing Absence, Managing Money and Accounts, Managing Volunteers and many more. If you are interested in courses taking place in the South of Wiltshire GROW has in place an agreement with local charitable organisation Wessex Community Action to run courses across the Salisbury area, if you would like to see the programme for the South click here to download! Everyone is welcome to attend any course ion any area.

Payroll Service

Did you know that GROW provides a Payroll service to Voluntary and Community organisations in Wiltshire? Take a look at some further information and price list here!

Care and Support Tender

A meeting was held last week to consult with organisations about the service specification that the Council is developing currently to provide care and support services from April 2011.  The Service Intentions draft was presented to around 130 people including older people and representatives from a wide variety of organisations including those from the voluntary sector, Registered Social Landlords and domiciliary care providers.  This was the third meeting held  with providers to develop this specification.  Other opportunities for consultation have included the Care and Support Provider Reference Group, the Care and Support Customer Reference Group, the Involve Older People Group and the Supporting People provider forum. Questions arising from these events have been collated and will be circulated to all interested parties on an on going basis during this consultation period. Any organisation directly affected by this work will receive formal notification of this in the next few days. For further information please contact teresa.mcgiveron@wiltshire.gov.uk.

Wiltshire Money Forum - 8th September

Wiltshire Money Forum event to be held on Wednesday 8th September 2010 at Marsh Hall, Self Unlimited, Furlong Close, Rowde SN20 2TQ (previously known as CARE Rowde). Please find a copy of the agenda and booking form attached. You may wish to note the change in venue from previous Wiltshire Money events. If you would like to attend the event, please complete the booking form and return it by Monday 6th September to sarahfishburn@cabwiltshire.org.uk. This event is free of charge and open to anyone in Wiltshire interested in the financial inclusion agenda. We would be grateful if you would forward this invitation to anyone else you think would be interested in attending. The forum is an opportunity to share information with others – please feel free to bring displays, leaflets or other information about your service. Wiltshire Money is the lead body for financial inclusion activity within the county and provides a strategic framework for local organisations to coordinate their work, develop collaborative partnerships and share lessons learnt. Essentially it aims to help people make informed financial choices and be in control of their money. Our vision is to improve the quality of life of those in economic need through improved financial capability and better access to free money advice, financial products and services.

"What's All This About the Big Society?" Wiltshire Voluntary & Community Sector Assembly

Tuesday 28th September 2010 9.30am ~ 4pm, Milford Hall, Castle Street, Salisbury, SP1 3TE, Key Speaker, Angela Kail, Senior Research Analyst, New Philanthropy Capital. This will be the second VCS Assembly for 2010, and we as a Consortium continue building on the successes of previous events, as well as ensuring we bring you something new for the future. With Big Society on its way, as a voluntary and community sector many of us will already be thinking ahead and see the value of the work we do in this new Government vision. At the forthcoming Assembly there will be a chance to find out more about Big Society and provide opportunities to discuss and think about the things we need to be doing in preparation for the future in the VCS! Find out more..

2011 Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

The Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mr. John Bush, today called on the county to nominate outstanding local voluntary groups for next year's Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups. Nominations for the 2011 award should be received by September 30, therefore those who know of the great work or indeed have benefited from a voluntary group's hard work should nominate now. Successful groups will be announced on June 2 2011. Further information can be obtained and forms can be downloaded by visiting www.direct.gov.uk/thequeensawardforvoluntaryservice or by calling 020 7781 2397 to request a hard copy. Mr. John Bush said, "Voluntary groups in Wiltshire and Swindon continue to play a pivotal role in the community, and many individuals' lives. Recognising their influence is vital and I want Wiltshire to express their gratitude to these groups by nominating as many as possible for The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups and highest honour in the voluntary sector. "Wiltshire's volunteers carry out tremendous work across a number of areas such as youth projects, BME and rural community based initiatives and these are the types of groups for which we would like to encourage more nominations. We have a plethora of groups who could be nominated so please visit the website or call 020 7781 2397 to find out more and nominate." In June this year, the Swindon Down's Syndrome Group received the 2010 award and was among the hundreds of nominations by friends, family and members of the public made from across the UK. Around 850 groups from across the UK, including ten from Wiltshire, have now received The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service since it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002. Groups from different backgrounds providing extremely diverse activities have all felt the award's benefits, which include attracting more volunteers, increased awareness of the group to potential funders and of course helping to raise morale amongst existing volunteers. This year's winners from across the UK can be found by visiting the website.

Funding Information for Wiltshire  

The following funding information is provided by Charities Information Bureau – South & West (CIB). For further information, or to speak to a funding advisor, please call (01380) 729279 or email: enquiries@cibwilts.org.uk. To register for access to our FREE funding database, please visit: www.cibsouthandwest.org.uk

RURAL COMMUNITY BUILDINGS LOAN FUND (ACRE)  - Financial assistance is available for work on village halls which will bring benefit to the community they serve. The fund is managed by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) and enables building, renovation and refurbishment work that would otherwise not take place, to be carried out.

UnLTD - ENGAGE  - Awards to individuals to improve opportunities, quality of life and perception to a population living longer. In partnership with the Calouste-Gulbenkian Foundation, they are aiming to find 30 entrepreneurial people, age 50+ (although the competition is open to all ages). Closing date: 30th September 2010.

BIG LOTTERY FUND - COMMUNITY WILDLIFE FUND -  BIG have teamed up with the BBC Wildlife Fund’s Go Wild campaign to bring you the Community Wildlife programme.  Community Wildlife will fund projects that bring local people together to discover, enjoy or protect the wildlife in their local area.

COMMUNITY AMATEUR SPORTS CLUBS SCHEME (CASC) -  To support grassroots sports clubs, and by gaining Community Amateur Sports Clubs status your club could be taking advantage of a number of benefits to save money.

Support for Your Local Group!!! Wiltshire Voluntary Sector Forum Network - Book Your Place Now!!!

GROW is launching the first Wiltshire Voluntary Sector Forum Network.  It will begin Autumn 2010 and is designed to support your local Voluntary and Community Group to be clearly heard in Wiltshire.  Book now for the first meeting in Devizes!  Come and find out how the Network will operate and how your own group can be involved and benefit. To find out more and to book for the first meeting please click here. GROW is setting up, co-ordinating and supporting the Network.  The Council; South West Forum and the Compact Board Chair will all also be speaking about the way this can support your work! The Wiltshire Voluntary Sector Forum Network will deliver an EFFECTIVE way for you to be involved in issues that concern your local organisation / group. Year One: Set Up First Round Meetings. The Wiltshire Voluntary Sector Forum Network has been designed so that it will not duplicate, but will add value to the existing voice, consultation and representation structures for the voluntary and community sector in Wiltshire.  In line with this we will also be presenting a brief outline at the VCS Assembly 28th September 2010: Please click here to find out more. Grow would like to thank all of the venues booked for supporting the first round of Wiltshire Voluntary Sector Forum Network Meetings.

FREE Places Available on Welfare Benefits Course - Tuesday 7th September 2010

There are now places available on the Introduction to Welfare Benefits course on Tuesday 7th September 2010 in Salisbury. Please let me know ASAP if you would like to attend. The places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. I will confirm whether or not you have been successful in securing a place. Registration will be at 9.45am, ready for a prompt start at 10am. The day will end by 4pm. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please see the attached brochure for further details of the course. If you are interested, please complete the attached booking form and return it to: sarahfishburn@cabwiltshire.org.uk. Please note that this course is FREE to all successful applicants on 7th September 2010.