Contents: Events (4); Training (5); Funding (2) ; Calls (2) ; Jobs (3)
Building Communities7 November 2007, Met Hotel, Leeds
28 November 2007, New Connaught Rooms, London
The past year has seen massive developments in the fields of refugee integration, community cohesion and equality and diversity. This creates new challenges for those working with refugees and asylum seekers to facilitate integration, at a time when Government efforts to speed case-resolutions are increasing pressure on the capacity of service providers to meet demands.
These two distinct Refugee Council conferences are set in the context
of the new Home Office model for processing asylum applications and
its proposals for national refugee integration services; the Commission
on Integration and Cohesion’s report, Our shared future; and the
launch of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights. The events
will call for the distinct needs and experiences of refugees to be reflected
in these developments and captured in policy making.
We will learn what is meant by community cohesion, and equality and
diversity, as these ideas relate to asylum seekers and refugees before
focusing on the particular disadvantages they face when they try to
integrate. Through the examples of education, housing provision, employment
and enterprise, we will hear about some of the key dynamics for successful
integration.
For further information and bookings click here, telephone 020.7346.6737 or email marketing@refugeecouncil.org.uk
LVSC AGM and Conference 2007
Wednesday, 14 November 2007, 10.00am to 4.00pm
UCU Conference Centre, 27 Britannia Street, London WC1
The focus of London Voluntary Service Council
this year is supporting London's voluntary and community sector. The
day will feature special guest speakers from the Office of the Third
Sector and London Development Agency. There will be practical workshops
led by LVSC experts, consultations and the announcement of our Success
Stories winners.
Who should attend? Staff and trustees of voluntary and community organisations
in London and those who work with them.
To download the programme and booking form click here. Fees: voluntary/community £50; statutory/public £75; LVSC members FREE.
Building the capacity and strengthening the voice of the BME voluntary
and community sector
Friday 9th November, Haberdashers Hall, 18 West Smithfield, London,
EC1A 9HQ
Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) frontline organisations have an essential role to play in delivering services which promote integration and social justice. Only by the continued investment into the BME voluntary and community sector will frontline organisations continue to contribute towards a cohesive society where inequality is challenged and outcomes are improved for BME communities across the UK.
Focusing on the Frontline conference will bring together policy makers
as well as representatives from the BME sector to talk about the relevance
of the BME third sector in tackling inequalities and will set out what
the government needs to do to ensure that the work of the sector stays
on the agenda both now and in the future.
The conference will also highlight the work of Capacitybuilders and
the role it plays in strengthening the sector. There will be workshops
delivered by the 6 national hubs where you gain practical advice, information
and resources in areas such as performance improvement, finance and
governance.
To find out more about the conference and for a booking form please download the event programme (click here) or contact Angela Spence at BTEG at angela@bteg.co.uk for further information about the conference or call 020 7843 6114.
An information and networking event for organisations supporting equalities
community groups
29 October 2007, 9.30am - 2.00pm, St. Bride’s Foundation, Blackfriars,
London EC4
Equalities and Human Rights Sub-group and Capacitybuilders are hosting this free event. In a time of change for agencies supporting equalities voluntary and community organisations (VCOs), this event will inform and consult on a number of significant new developments which will impact on your work. You will also have the unique opportunity to take part in workshops with, and learn from, organisations supporting different equalities VCOs. Speaker: Simon Hebditch, Capacitybuilders.
To find out more and to book a place please click here.
18th October and 1st November , London
This AdviceUK two-day course is aimed at front-line staff that are the first point of contact with the public, service users or clients in advice-giving settings. This includes receptionists, telephonists and volunteers who work with clients and customers. Often people in these positions are over-looked when it comes to training, yet it is vital they receive training as they are usually the first person a client will meet from your organisation. The course covers establishing contact with service users; key organisational principles such as equal opportunities, confidentiality and data protection; ensuring accessibility; awareness of providing initial advice and information; effective communications skills and active listening; customer care; and telephone skills.
For further information and to book
a place click
here.
A four-week orientation programme for asylum seekers
5th November to 28th November 2007, London
Sessions will be on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:30am -
1:30pm.
Who is it for? Asylum seekers with professional and higher level qualifications
and/or
experience and with intermediate English (ESOL level 1) or above.
How will this course help me? This course will help you to:
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Understand more about the life and culture of London and the UK
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Develop your communication skills in a focused way
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Learn about useful organisations and services
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Identify opportunities for volunteering
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Examine the rights and responsibilities of citizens in the UK
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Learn more about the National Health Service
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Get an overview of the English education system and qualifications
Interested? If you want to register for this programme please contact
RAGU on: 020.7133.2110 or by email at ragu@londonmet.ac.uk.
An assessment day will be held on Tuesday 23 October.
This course is free for asylum seekers. Travel expenses are paid and
funds for childcare are available.
6th, 7th and 14th November, London
This three-day course is for people who wish to become effective and dynamic trainers by developing skills, knowledge and confidence around planning and delivering training to small and large groups. As well as providing an opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge needed to be an effective trainer, a core element of the course is enabling the participants to work towards achieving the qualification unit 10 Enabling Learning through Presentations, part of the Learning and Development NVQ. The course focuses on learning styles, profiling learners, dealing with difficult situations, structuring a talk and designing learning outcomes. It also covers practice talks, tips and tactics, using exercises and activities, NVQ underpinning knowledge. On the third day trainees will run a mini training session and receive feedback from a qualified NVQ Assessor.
For further information and to book a place click here.
Cardboard Citizens and the Refugee Council is looking for talented and motivated young people to create DREAMS, a dance theatre project for young refugees, asylum seekers and migrants
Would you like to work with professional directors, dancers, and musicians? Are you aged between 15 and 25? Then come and take part in DREAMS and express yourself creatively in dance and theatre. Be part of DREAMS and:
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Take part in a week of dance and theatre training (5th to 9th Nov 11- 5.30pm)
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Perform in front of an audience (rehearsals from Monday 19th Nov for 4 weeks)
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Receive travel expenses and lunch
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Gain accreditation for your CV
Come and find out more at one of our workshops on: 15th, 18th, 22nd
or 25th October (2pm till 4pm) at Refugee Council, Day Centre, 240-250
Ferndale Road, Brixton, London, SW9 8BB
Or contact Sarah (020 7247 7747, Sarahlev@cardboardcitizens.org.uk)
or Andrew (020 7840 4482, Andrew.lawton@refugeecouncil.org.uk) to book
onto the training week.
9-11 November 2007 or 22-24 February 2008
Are you interested in understanding well-being and improving personal
and family health? This is an activity based course offering simple advice
on: Nutrition, Family health, Exercise, Stress, Reducing Addictive Behaviours,
Rest and Relaxation. Tuition and accommodation free for eligible students.
Childcare available.
This course is organised by Hillcroft, a registered charity specialises
in offering courses for women with few or no qualifications to help them
develop the confidence and skills to fulfil their potential and achieve
their learning goals.
For further information and contact: Email: enquiry@hillcroft.ac.uk, Tel: 0208 399 2688, Fax: 0208 390 9171, www.hillcroft.ac.uk
Funding - City Parochial Foundation - Open Programme
The City Parochial Foundation is one of the largest independent charitable
foundations in London. Each year they expect to make funds of approximately
£6 million available, of which more than £4 million will be
allocated to the Open Programme.
The foundation expects to make between 90 and 100 grants each year through
the Open Programme with an average grant awarded of £45,000. Grants
are awarded to organisations that work with those living in poverty as
well as particular groups such as women, black and minority ethnic communities,
asylum seekers and refugees and disabled people.
Proposals for the March Grants Committee must been submitted
by 25 October 2007.
For more information email info@cityparochial.org.uk
or go to www.cityparochial.org.uk/cpf/grants
Source: CLLS Forum
Funding - Westminster Primary Care Trust launches voluntary sector grants scheme
A grants scheme from Westminster PCT is offering grants of up to £15k
to support voluntary sector initiatives that will reduce health inequalities
by promoting health and wellbeing for Westminster residents.
Under the scheme, Westminster PCT is inviting expressions of interest
from voluntary organisations able to undertake initiatives that deliver
one or more of the following outcomes:
- Delivery of information or service to a number of Westminster residents which raises their awareness of the benefits of physical activity or healthy eating or other activity which contributes to their wellbeing and gives them experience of achieving an improvement in health or wellbeing
- Increase in self-management or self-direction of people with a long term condition (including diabetes or CHD) by increasing their capacity and knowledge
Expressions of interest must be submitted by 26 October 2007, and projects must be completed by 31 March 2008. To download full details click here.
The Mayor of London together with the Secretary of State for Children,
Schools and Families announced their intention in September 2007 to
work together to deliver a £60 million ‘London Youth Offer’.
The £60 million funding package will run over two years from 08/09
through to the end of 09/10. £20 million will come from the Mayor’s
London Development Agency and £40 million from the Department
for Children, Schools and Families.
The Government’s contribution is part of the substantial investment
in places to go and things to do for teenagers previously announced
in the 10 Year Youth strategy, ‘Aiming high for young people’
in July 2007 to extend provision of Positive Activities for Young People
and the Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds. A key element of
the funding will encourage young Londoners to get involved in decisions
about the availability of things to do and places to go across London.
For further information and to download the consultation pack click
here.
The deadline for submission of comments is Wednesday 24th October 2007
ICAR is conducting research for Media Trust to discover the training
needs and capacity of BME, refugee, migrant, faith and isolated rural
groups in the area of media and communications.
Media Trust will use the information to construct courses better suited to your needs. You can contribute to this research by completing a short (5-minute) questionnaire (click here).
Thank you foryour help!
Based at Islington Voluntary Action Council ; 35 hours per week, flexitime
Salary: £28,539 to £30,030 including Inner London Weighting
(pay award pending)
Deadline for applications: 29 October 2007 Interviews: 12 November 2007
We are looking for someone with good voluntary sector experience and excellent communication and networking skills to support the Central London CVS Coordinator, and to be responsible for information and communication within the Central London CVS Network. The successful candidate will have excellent information and administration skills in order to produce information for members of the network and for the central London CVS website (www.clcvs.net). Benefits of the post include a 5% pension and 30 days holiday.
To download an application pack click here or email: clcvs@ivac.org.uk. For further information or a hard copy application pack, contact Gerry O’Connor on Tel: 020 7354 6375 or Lisa Charalambous on Tel: 020 7354 6371.
£28,968 pa for 35 hour week + 25 days annual leave + public holidays
Closing date for completed applications: Friday 19th October 2007
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a legally qualified caseworker experienced to LSC self supervising standard, in either Community Care or Welfare Benefits, to join Disability Law Service legal team. Based at DLS accessible office in E1, the work involves an interesting mix of casework in both categories, outreach, training and other awareness raising activities.
Download an application form and find further information on www.dls.org.uk or phone 020 7791 9800, minicom 020 7791 9801 or email recruitment@dls.org.uk to request a pack.
Salary £27,054. Fixed Term until 2012. Ref No: L/0060/R; Location:
Vauxhall, London
Closing date for applications Sunday 14th October 2007
Funded by the Big Lottery Fund, and delivered in partnership with Refugee Action, the BASIS project will run for the next four and a half years. The aim is to enhance Refugee Community Organisations' (RCOs) financial sustainability, their organisational capacity and their ability to deliver services to clients.
This key role will see you working closely with RCOs across your region,
and building links with funders. With each RCO you'll assess their needs,
agree a development plan and coordinate the delivery of the support
they need, including providing consultancy-style advice. As an integral
part of the BASIS team, you'll work closely and flexibly with counterparts
from other regions across England.
You'll have a background in providing advice on organisational development
issues in the voluntary sector, and will have delivered training before.
A natural self-starter and solid relationship builder, you'll bring
an understanding of areas such a fundraising, project development, organisational
governance and financial management; and an understanding of the needs
and workings of RCOs.
For further information and to download an application pack click here.
