::MODA e-Bulletin::

Issue 93... -... 27 April 2007

MODA News - MODA Moved!!

MODA moved from its old address at 64 Broadway, Stratford E15 to a new address close by.

The new address is: MODA, 1 Mark Street, Stratford, E15 1GY. (further details coming soon)

It is a nice building with all facilities including training room and meeting rooms. On this occasion MODA will provide five days free training in community and organisational development to bame charities. We will inform you of the dates and programme soon. Watch this space!

N.B. Our email address is still: info@moda.org.uk

MODA News - Help us to improve it!

We have been producing MODA E-bulletin every week since April 2005. It has been regular, consistent, and totally open and inclusive. It goes now free, every week, to over 1700 organisations, institutions, and networks, bringing together every one, in all public, private and voluntary and community sectors.
It is time you spent little time to help us maintain and improve this service. Shall we keep it? Is it useful? Can we improve it in form and content? We need you to help us to decide. At first we had to do a lot of research to get appropriate information. Now we receive too much information contributed by organisations that it will make it difficult to include everything unless we make the bulletin too heavy. So we have to make choices and find ways to be as inclusive as we wish. How can we do it?

Please do not ignore this simple one-page questionnaire that takes only few minutes to complete and submit on-line. We need your feedback to keep us going!

Events - Modern Day Slavery of African Children in the UK

25 - 26 July 2007, London

AFRUCA (Africans Unite Against Child Abuse) is the premier charity promoting the rights and welfare of African children in the UK.
200 years after the enactment of the law abolishing the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the trafficking of African children to the UK continues unabated. Despite the increasing number of cases coming to the fore, there has been little effort not only to address the issue, but to bring together practitioners and front line workers in different African countries and in the UK to learn from each other's experiences of counter-trafficking work and deliberate on this disturbing trend.

This conference will fill this gap by attracting experts in the field of children's welfare and counter trafficking, faith organisations, community organisations, child safeguarding officers, law enforcement officers, immigration officers, policymakers as well as international agencies to explore ways forward for policy and practice to tackle the trafficking of children from different African countries to the country.

For further information and to register please visit www.afruca.org, email event organiser Elvina Quaison at elvina@Afruca.org or call 0207 704 2261.

Adult Learners' Week
Wednesday 23 May - 17.30 to 19.30 - BFI Southbank, London, SE1

In 2003 the BBC commissioned TV presenter and author Floella Benjamin and her director husband, Keith Taylor, to produce and direct Coming to England, an autobiographical account of Floella's journey from Trinidad to the UK in the early 1960s.
Following a screening of this wonderfully heart-warming film, we are delighted to welcome Floella to the stage to lead a discussion on the experiences of first-generation immigrants to the UK in the 50s and 60s. Floella will talk directly to the audience and answer their questions.

This event is part of Adult Learners' Week, an annual week-long national campaign, which aims to inspire people to pursue adult learning and offer opportunities for people to explore shared enthusiasms and work together as active citizens.

Tickets £5, concs £4 (BFI members pay £1 less). To book tickets call the Box Office on 020 7928 3232. Find out more here

15th May 2007
Vinopolis, London SE1

This is an unmissable event for all Third Sector Chief Executives. Do not miss out on this unique opportunity to attend The Third Sector Leadership Centre's conference, entitled Collaborate to Compete?! The conference will bring together leaders, providers and funders who are working in a variety of capacities within the third sector, and who share a common objective of promoting and facilitating leadership and workforce development.

Key speakers include Baroness Diana Warwick, Sir Digby Jones, Stuart Etherington, Stephen Bubb, Campbell Robb, Shaks Ghosh and Susan Digby (Lady Eatwell).

As a leader in the third sector you should attend this conference to:

Engage in the Big Debate on how to develop leaders in the third sector: who funds, who provides, who decides?

Contribute to and learn from insights into the skill sets required for the complex roles that third sector leaders play in creating a vibrant and sustainable third sector.

Hear from influential voices debating the role of third sector leaders in social and economic regeneration and how you can continue to develop the leadership capacity to not only meet, but rise above, the demands placed on the sector.

Prices are as follows & include refreshments, lunch and evening drinks reception:
Voluntary/Public Sector NCVO member £180; Voluntary/Public Sector non-member £234; NCVO corporate affiliate £270; Corporate/Other £351.

For more information and to download the flyer, agenda and booking form, visit the Third Sector Leadership Centre website or email to info@thirdsectorleadership.org.uk or book on line now here.

Mutual Gains is an innovative programme funded by the London Development Agency, which:

Supports BAME graduates into volunteering opportunities that will develop their employability.

Gives Not For Profit sector organisations access to a higher skilled volunteer force effective across a range of activities, from Fundraising to Information Technology.

Provides on-going support throughout the placement, including travel allowances, and financial assistance for volunteer training.

For further information contact: Harvinder Channa at hchanna@careerslondon.com or ring 0207 375 3010. Careers London, Unit 12 Links Yard, Spelman Street, London E1 5LX

Date: From May 2007 - March 2008, West London

For unemployed Asylum-seekers & Refugees REAP is pleased to announce a one year training programme, to help them start work as a community interpreter. This includes: Personal assessment and advice; Free training in interpreting – Basic, Intermediate and Advanced; Work experience and placements; ESOL support for future interpreters; Chance to shadow experienced interpreters; CRB checks; Child care; Travel expenses paid

For further information or to book an introduction session in April/May 2007, please contact REAP on 01895 441530.

Source: RWA Enewsletter

16th and 17th May 2007, London

This course aims to give front line agency staff an understanding of domestic violence, its impact upon clients and ways in which agencies can effectively identify and respond to client needs.

The course will cover the following areas: definitions and statistics; different forms of domestic violence and their impact on women; children’s experience of domestic violence (brief overview); reasons why clients may remain in or return to violent relationships; specific factors affecting particular client groups; process of help seeking model (how clients seek help); sources of help/how to make appropriate referrals; identifying domestic violence and effectively responding to disclosures; confidentiality and documentation; risk assessment/safety strategies.

No previous experience required. For more information, call 020 7034 0303/0304. To book a training course, e-mail administrator@wtrust.entadsl.com or fax 020 7034 0305.

Source: RWA Enewsletter

9th May 2007, Refugee Council, London

For practitioners working with age assessment issues, there are many challenges. One of the most important is the need to ensure that young people are protected. Statistics collected by the Refugee Council’s Children’s Panel have shown that 46% of age disputed young people they worked with in recent months were found to be children, and information collected at Oakington Detention Centre has shown that over 50% of age disputed young people placed in detention were children. This information highlights the need to ensure that the correct processes are in place and that practitioners are confident and well informed if they want to challenge assessments to ensure the wellbeing of refugee children.

This course aims to help participants understand the legal framework within which age assessments are conducted. It will also equip participants to challenge age assessments. Through case examples, delegates will discuss how cultural differences relate to the age assessment process seeing this in the context of the frameworks in which age assessments take place.

By completing this one-day course participants will have a practical understanding of: The experiences of age disputed refugee children and young people; How cultural background can affect the age assessment process; The legislative and policy framework of social services and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; Working examples and case scenarios involving age disputes; The importance of support mechanisms for young people during the age assessment process.

Costs: £160 standard rate (statutory/educational body/business); £99 reduced rate (NGO or voluntary organisations)

For further information and bookings contact the Refugee Council for more details: tel.020 7346 6737, email marketing@refugeecouncil.org.uk or click here

30th May & 6 June 2007

Supervision and support are key skills of anyone with responsibility for managing staff or volunteers within an advice service. Effective supervision contributes to to the development of individuals, quality service provision and organisational development. The course is aimed at managers, supervisors and caseworkers, or those wanting to move into management in organisations that provide advice to clients.

Advice UK Members price: £225; Voluntary sector price: £255 plus VAT; All others: £320 plus VAT Please contact the Training Team on 020 7407 6611 or by emailing traininglondon@adviceuk.org.uk or visit the website for a training brochure and booking form.

The Communicators Alliance will be launching in June. It will provide public and voluntary sector communications professionals with key information in a no-frills format - in a similar way to that provided for travel writers, editors and broadcasters and photojournalists through The International Travel Writers Alliance.
There is no constraining criteria or application process for membership of The Communicators Alliance and no fee for joining. This will ensure that every public and voluntary sector communications professional will be able to contribute to and gain benefit from the Alliance.

The Communicators Alliance, which is sponsored by WilliamJack Communications, will produce a monthly bulletin (from June), establish a web resource (from July) and rollout an events programme of networking and professional development from the Autumn. It will also develop an archive of best practice and valuable resource for assistance, information and advice.

At this stage all that we are asking is that you let us know the names, job title and email address of any of your colleagues that would like to be added to our membership database. If you know of anyone who would be interested in The Communicators Alliance please ask them to contact Charo Moreno at charo@williamjack.co.uk

The LVSC second tier directory is up and running. At the moment it lists 201 organisations ranging from CVSs and refugee forums, to organisations working in the children and young peoples sector. We are looking to add 200 more second tiers by the end of quarter.

To dowload the directory click here

Please review your entry and let them know if there any changes you want to make. If your organisation is not listed, please complete the registration form available online.

Funding - Lankelly Chase Foundation - Refugees and Asylum Seekers

The Foundation has decided to amend its special programme which works with asylum seekers. From August 2006 we shall focus on those agencies which work within Detention Centres or whose prime aim is combating the destitution faced by asylum seekers who have been refused leave to remain in this country. We want to help alleviate immediate need as well as work more strategically in partnership with others. Grants are limited to work which has a recognisable charitable purpose. Revenue grants are usually between £5,000 - £15,000 per annum and may be available for 1-3 years. One-off capital grants are limited to £10,000.

Funding priorities include: Combating the destitution faced by asylum seekers who have been refused the leave to remain in the country. Eligible organisations can apply for revenue grants between £5000 and £15000 per annum for periods of up to three years as well as one off capital grants of up to £10000

Applications can be made at any time. Further information click here

Funding - East Foundation

The Main Grants Programme supports projects that are innovative, sustainable and capacity building within a number of geographical priority areas, offering grants of up to £150,000 over three years;

The Strategic Grants Programme will support one or two projects of a strategic or regional/national significance, allocating various amounts from a budget of £100,000

The Small Grants Programme provides a 'Community Chest' fund of up to £250 for tenants, residents and community groups. This will help bring people together and enable them to access local services. (There is also an 'Aspirations' Fund as part of this grant strand, for residents in the East Thames area). Up to £5,000 can be awarded to help young people, unemployed and homeless adults, or people with special needs seeking access to life-skills training, education or other development opportunities.

Funding - Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

The 2007 priorities for the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation's four programmes have now been set as Arts, Education, Social Change, and Anglo-Portuguese Cultural Relations.
The Foundation gives grants of up to £15,000 for proposals of a charitable kind, from registered charities or otherwise tax-exempt organisations. Proposals are considered at Trustee meetings, which are held three times a year, usually in the first week of March, July and November.

For further information please contact Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation on 020 7636 5313 or email: info@gulbenkian.org.uk

Funding - Help a London Child

Funding - Grants for Refugee Academics

Funding - London Council consultation on phase 3 funding

Vauxhall, London
Closing date for applications Friday 4th May 2007; Salary £34,755 Ref No: L/0019/G/R

Refugee communites have a history of establishing Refugee Community Organisations (RCOs). In 'Integration Matters', the national strategy for refuee integration, Refugee Community Organisations are definted as "organisations run by and for refugees. They provide advice and support, often informally, and act as bridges to mainstream services and other local groups". The number of RCOs, estimated through the development phase of the 'BASIS - RCO Infrastructure Building' project (hereafter referred to as the BASIS project) is 668 RCOs across all the English regions.

In response to these needs the BASIS project, funded via a five year grant from the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) and delievered over the same time period, will establish for the first time, a comprehensive England-wide service to stregthen the organisational devlopment capacity of the RCO sector.

A central source of leadership, you'll have one clear aim - to make the project a success. You'll creat and deliver plans, manage the overall budget, build the team and establish monitoring framworks. And at every stage, you'll ensure the highest standards are maintained. As such, you must be a natural leader with a background in the management and delivery of large-scale, complex projects.

For further details and a full application form click here. Further posts related to the BASIS project are available here.

Contract up to 12 months. Salary:£29,289 to £31,323
Location:Hackney. Closing Date:11 May 2007

Hackney Caribbean Elderly Organisation (HCEO) is a centre for Caribbean Elders. Having completed a comprehensive review and developed a three-year business plan, we are at a crucial development stage and this is a challenging post.

Working with our Management Committee, supported by our Administrative Worker, the Centre Manager will manage HCEO on a day-to-day basis, play a key role in implementing our business plan and work closely with Hackney Council and other statutory and voluntary sector partners. Responsibilities include staff and volunteer management, personnel, financial management, supporting the Management Committee, direct service provision, fundraising and health and safety, monitoring and evaluation.

For a copy of the information pack and application form please write to: Hackney Caribbean Elderly Organisation, 39 Leswin Road, London N16 7NX. or E-mail your request to: HackneyCaribbean@aol.com, Telephone: 0207 923 3536

Barking and Dagenham; Salary:£27,000; Ref:CEN/EO1
Contract initially to March 2009; Closing Date for applications: 4 May 2007

This is a new post in an exciting team, looking to strengthen the links between voluntary organisations and local communities voluntary organisations and local communities. We are looking for someone with exceptional communications and organisational skills, committed to improving the lives of local people. We want someone with experience of developing and delivering leadership training, and with knowledge of neighbourhood management and Safer and Stronger Communities initiatives.

For an application pack please contact Sarb Gill on 020 8227 5467 or email: sarb.gill@bdcvs.org.uk quoting reference.