News from CVA Blyth Valley – 05/11/10
Contents
CVA Blyth Valley Quiz Night - Teams required
CVA Blyth Valley Training
What’s on in Blyth, Cramlington and Seaton Valley
Cramlington Community Forum
Blyth Citizens Advice Bureau – various info
Buffalo Community Centre – in the running for £50k from the People’s Millions
Northumberland Primary Infrastructure Organisations
VODA - Community Learning Champions training course
Novas Scarman
Pentagon Partnership
Blyth Community Enterprise Centre
Northumberland Bus News
Funding Information
Community Foundation - Grassroots Grants
The Woodland Trust
Cash 4 Clubs
The Big Lottery Fund (BIG)
The Woodward Charitable Trust
Idlewild Trust
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CVA Blyth Valley Quiz Night - More Teams Required
Tuesday 7 December 2010, 6:45 for 7.00 pm start
The Comrades Club, Wright Street, Blyth
We are now taking applications for our 2010 Annual Quiz Night.
Our previous quizzes have been very successful and last year’s quiz was attended by 10 groups enjoying a fun-filled and enjoyable evening. Free buffet included.
Come along and beat the current reigning Champions Blyth Community Enterprise Centre.
If you are interested please arrange a team or two from your organisation and come along and test your knowledge. Booking forms were enclosed with our latest newsletter or can be obtained by visiting our website at www.cvabv.org.uk/events
Contact us on 01670 353623 /
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CVA Blyth Valley - Training
We are able to offer FREE training to community and voluntary groups in Blyth, Cramlington and Seaton Valley. For groups outside this area and statutory organisations the price is £30 per person. Places are limited to 3 places per group / organisation, although additional places may become available.
If anyone is interested in attending any of the following courses please contact us on:
01670 353623 or email .
Environmental Sustainability Training
A one day course for community groups and not for profit organisations looking to improve their environmental credentials and reduce costs. This interactive training event will provide information and tools to enable individuals and organisations on how to maximise the opportunities of effective environmental management. Topics covered will include: energy efficiency and Carbon Footprints; feed in tariffs; water efficiency; waste
management; developing an environmental policy, communication of environmental
issuesand more.
Venue: Briardale Community Centre, Briardale Road, Blyth, NE24 5AN
Day/Time: Wednesday 1 December 2010, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Facilitator: Mark Huggins - Groundwork North East
Cost: Free with refreshments and lunch included and the opportunity to take
away energy and water saving devices!
Basic Bookkeeping
This course will enable you to set up a simple, manual financial system suitable for
your organisation - OR - If you need re-assurance that your present system is
acceptable and as efficient as possible, then this is also the course for you. Topics
include: Maintaining records, Accounting system, Petty cash system,
Golden rules for handling money, Bank reconciliation
Venue: Buffalo Community Centre, Regent Street, Blyth, NE24 1LL
Day / Time: Thursday 13 January 2011, 10:00 am—3:00 pm (arrive 9:45 am)
Facilitator: Angie Martin—The Learning Team
Cost: Free, although if not cancelled within 14 days of course,
non attendees will incur a £15 admin charge
Food Safety Level 2
This course includes: Legislation, Food premises and equipment, Food safety hazards
refrigeration, chilling and cold holding, Temperature control, Cooking, hot holding and
reheating, Food handling, Principles of safe food storage, Cleaning.
Venue: Seaton Sluice, Small Meeting Room, 4 Albert Road, Seaton Sluice,
NE26 4QX
Day / Time: Tuesday 18 January 2011, 9:30 am—3:30 pm (arrive 9:15 am)
Facilitator: Trainer from Priory Training
Cost: Free, although if not cancelled within 14 days of course, non attendees will
incur a £15 admin charge
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What’s on in Blyth, Cramlington and Seaton Valley
To view events happening in Blyth, Cramlington and Seaton Valley please click here.
Any group / organization wishing to add an event to our page please email:
Cramlington Community Forum
The next meeting for Cramlington Community Forum will be held on:
Tuesday 23 November 2010 at 6:00 pm
Beaconhill Community Centre,
Langdale Drive, Cramlington, NE23 8EH
All Welcome
Anyone wishing to receive direct mailing for the Blyth and Cramlington Community Forum meetings, including minutes of the previous meetings, agenda etc should contact CVA Blyth Valley (Interim Hosts) on 01670 353623 / .
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Blyth Citizens Advice Bureau
Debt relief orders and benefit overpayments: DWP granted stay of judgment
The Court of Appeal has granted a stay of the judgment made in the High Court on 26 July, which prevented the DWP and local authorities from making deductions from benefit to recover overpayments or social fund loan debts included in a debt relief order (DRO).
This means the DWP will continue to recover benefit overpayments and social fund loan debts by deductions from benefit, where the debt has been included in a DRO. Local authorities may decide to do the same for housing benefit and council tax overpayments.
For the time being, the DWP will not give refunds of benefits already deducted.
English language requirement for partners coming to the UK
In June, we told you about the Home Office plans to introduce a new English language requirement for non-EEA migrants applying to come to the UK, or stay in the UK, as the spouse or partner of someone already settled in the UK. The Home Office has now announced that this change will come into force on 29 November.
There is further information on the UK Border Agency (UKBA) website at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk.
Online bankruptcy applications being phased out
From 3 September, the Insolvency Service closed its online bankruptcy application service. Any outstanding online applications must be completed no later than 5pm on 26 November. The system will be switched off on 30 November and there will be no further access to data held on it.
Permission to work for failed asylum seekers
From 9 September, following a case in the Supreme Court, a failed asylum seeker who has made further submissions asserting a fresh asylum claim can apply for permission to work if:
· their further claim has been outstanding for 12 months or more; and
· the delay is not their fault.
An asylum seeker who applies for permission to work under this change will only be able to take up a job included on the list of shortage occupations published by the UK Border Agency (UKBA). The list is available from the UKBA website at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk. They will not be allowed to be self-employed or set up a business.
A failed asylum seeker who wishes to apply for permission to work under the new rules should seek the help of specialist immigration advice.
Further information about the case is available on the UK Border Agency website at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
Blyth CAB, Eric Tolhurst Centre, 3-13 Quay Road
Blyth, NE24 2AS, Tel 01670 367779
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Buffalo Community Centre
The Buffalo Community Centre are in the final of the Big Lottery’s People’s Millions.
Please watch Tyne Tees Television on Wednesday 24 November at 6:00 pm,
take note of the number given and submit your vote to help the
Buffalo win nearly £50k.
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Northumberland Primary Infrastructure Organisations
As well as keeping all our members / readers up-to-date with events happening in Blyth, Cramlington and Seaton Valley, members can also link onto news produced by Community Action Northumberland and Wansbeck CVS.
To view Community Action Northumberland’s News, Autumn Issue - October 2010 click here.
News to follow from Wansbeck CVS.
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VODA’s Community Learning Champions training course
Community Learning Champions (CLCs) are people who become active in their community by promoting the value of learning to others. Community Learning Champions can take on a variety of roles, including:
§ Promoting and publicising learning, training and volunteering opportunities to adults
§ Meeting with potential learners to give support, advice and guidance about educational opportunities
§ Motivating and supporting adults to access learning either for self-development, stimulation or to update their skills
§ Identifying community learning need
The accredited CLC training programme is being delivered by the Adult Learning Alliance on the following dates:
November 11th, 18th, 25th
December 2nd, 9th,16th
(All session Norham Community Wing, 12.30pm to 3.30pm)
For further information and to view the flyer please click here.
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Novas Scarman
Novas Scarman are running an award winning 2-day learning package aimed at expanding people’s tolerance and understanding of other religions, faiths and beliefs. Developed with Grundtvig support it has previously been run throughout the UK, Italy, France, and Spain and this will be its first delivery in the north east.
Please find attached a flyer promoting this learning opportunity.
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Pentagon Partnership
Better Together: Collaboration Taster Sessions for the Children, Young People and Families VCS
o Are you a voluntary sector organisation that works with Children, Young people or Families in the North East?
o Do you need to save money, network with other organisations and access bigger and better funding opportunities?
o Are you interested in learning more about working collaboratively with other similar organisations, either in your geographic area or field of work?
o Are you interested in accessing further support to help you work collaboratively and tender for contracts?
Pop along to one of two collaboration taster sessions that will help you look at:
o Understanding collaborative working
o Benefits and pitfalls of working with partners in a consortium
o Models and themes for potential consortia
After the events, groups of interested organisations are offered further support to develop collaborative working practices and establish consortia to meet your needs.
Events take place as follows:
Thursday 18th November 11.00am – 3.00pm at the
Quadrus Centre, on the A19 at Boldon, South Tyneside
Monday 22nd November 11.00am – 3.00pm
at the Pioneering Care Centre, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham
For more information or to book a place, visit www.pentagonpartnership.org.uk , email or phone Jon on 0191 200 8516.
VODA, Pentagon Partnership and bassac have been commissioned to host these regional events by Children England, the leading membership organisation for the children, young people and families voluntary sector.
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Blyth Community Enterprise Centre
A warm welcome awaits you at the Enterprise Centre on Blyth’s recently re-developed Quayside. The Enterprise Centre is an ideal location for a business conference, training event or team meeting.
There are two rooms available, The Kick Start Room and the Seaton Delaval Suite. The Seaton Delaval suite can be divided into 2 smaller rooms both capable of holding around 12 people for the smaller more intimate meeting. The Kick Start room is conveniently located on the ground floor overlooking the river Blyth and can hold up to 50 people theatre style or around 24 in a board room set up. This venue is also available for evening meetings.
For more information about CEC’s modern offices for rent, please visit the following website:
www.blythcec.co.uk
Blyth Community Enterprise Centre
Quayside, Blyth, NE24 3AG
01670 542840 /
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Northumberland Bus News
To view the latest edition of the south east Northumberland Bus News for October and November 2010 please click here. The newsletter provides details of forthcoming changes to local bus services.
Full timetables for all of the services concerned are available through the following link:
http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=3972
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National Family Learning Network
Campaign for Learning
The NEW National Family Learning Network website is now available. Please visit www.familylearningnetwork.com Working with families? Join the National Family Learning Network for regular updates on funding, resources and news.
Free training event in the North East - click here to view.
Campaign for Learning, c/o The Learning Space
Mill Farm Barns, Packington Estate
Birmingham Road, Meriden
Warwickshire, CV7 7HE
Telephone: 01675 443 270 / Fax: 01675 442 699 / Mobile: 07798901913
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Health Parks – Healthy Minds
Please view attached flyer regarding training planned for potential volunteer Buddies. This particular opportunity is very specific to support clients with severe and enduring mental health difficulties to volunteer with Groundwork North East.
For further information please contact:
Natalie Harrison
Supported Volunteering Development Officer
E:
T: 01670 858 688
F: 01670 784 160
W: www.wansbeckcvs.org.uk
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FUNDING INFORMATION
Community Foundation - Grassroots Grants
Calling all not for profit, voluntary or community groups within Tyne & Wear or
Northumberland - do you answer yes to the following?
· Have you been in existence for a year or more?
· Do you have an average income over three years of less than £30,000 per year?
· Are you working for the benefit of your local community?
· Are volunteers vital to your group’s activities?
· Do you have a written set of rules or constitution?
· Does your group have a bank account in its own right?
If the answer to all of the above is yes, then your group may be eligible for a Grassroots Grant. You could apply for a grant of between £250 and £5,000 to support your project. Eligible activities include the purchase of equipment such as computers or kitchen facilities, costs for a local community event, small-scale training and staffing costs, local community activities and rent costs.
If you are interested in applying for a Grassroots Grant please contact:
The Community Foundation
(serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland)
Tel: 0191 222 0945
Or visit their website: www.communityfoundation.org.uk
Alternatively please contact one of our Capacity Building Officers at CVA Blyth Valley on 01670 353623.
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The Woodland Trust
Tree Planting Packs Available to Community Groups, Schools and Youth
Groups
The Woodland Trust has announced that Community and Youth Groups as well as Schools can now register to receive free tree planting packs. The tree planting packs are designed to help plant more trees, hedges and copses in their local shared spaces - by a church, community centre or playground for example, or on patches of land that are currently unused.
Community Groups, Schools and Youth Groups can apply either for either planting as a small wooded area or 'copse' or planting a hedgerow. These packs will be delivered
free to schools and youth groups in March 2011.