Solihull SUSTAiN and the Volunteer Centre in partnership with Solihull College and Solihull MBC are looking to offer the ASDAN Community Volunteering Qualifications, the benefits of which were recently raised at SUSTAiN’s VCS Conference.

In order to take this forward, we really need to know from both volunteers as well as host organisations what you or your organisation would most benefit from.

Your help is very much appreciated to help shape this exciting new initiative.

Replies are required by Friday 1 June 2012.

Survey to be completed by organisations

Survey to be completed by volunteers

(Please forward this email link to your volunteers asking them to help with the survey - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/volunteerskillssurvey

Thank you for your support.

Comic Relief has announced that their UK grants programme is now open for applications.

Voluntary and community groups can apply for funding for projects in the areas of:

• Mental health
• Domestic and sexual abuse
• Refugee and asylum seeking women;
• Sport for Change
• Young People aged 11 – 25 that are sexually exploited
• Suffer from alcohol abuse
• Suffer from mental health problems
• Older People’s Programme ‘Managing Money Better’.

The closing date for applications for the Sports for Change and the Older People’s Programme ‘Managing Money Better’ is 12pm on the 8th June 2012 and 12pm on 29th June 2012 for the other programmes.

Visit Comic Relief website to apply

Due to popular request the two talks on Powerpoint slides given at the seminar on May 18th are now available for sports clubs to download.

Emma O’Dowd: CSW Sport Development Manager (Clubs and Volunteers)
Her talk can be downloaded here: Solihull Sports Council Presentation Emma O’ dowd

Russell Cartwright: Solihull Active, Places Directorate, Solihull Council
His talk can be downloaded here:Solihull Sports Council Conference 18 May 2011 – Solihull Active

They are both PDF files. If you require the talks in a different format please contact: Monty Thorp
montyt@solihull-sustain.org.uk

On May 18th, a Sports Seminar was held at the Solihull Arden Club for all sports clubs in Solihull. The guest speaker was Dave Moorcroft OBE, who gave an inspiring talk about managing your club effectively, and making sure your club could ‘Be the best that it could be.’

There were also talks by Emma O’Dowd from CSW Sport and Russell Cartwright from Solihull Active on funding and grant opportunities for clubs and local marketing opportunities for sports clubs in the Solihull area.

A large part of the seminar was to re-launch Solihull Sports Council as Sport Solihull, with a brand new logo designed by local Solihull College design student, Luke Sparrowhawk. He was presented with a Touchwood gift card for his winning logo:

A new Small Grants Scheme by Sport Solihull was also announced.

Feedback from the event was positive, and hopefully much useful information  was gained and many contacts were made by all.

Thanks go to Dave Moorcroft, Sport Solihull members, Solihull Active, CSW Sport and Solihull Arden Club for hosting the event.

For anyone wishing to give feedback on the event please email Monty Thorp at montyt@solihull-sustain.org.uk

Applications are now open for the new Small Grants Programme run by Sport Solihull. New changes include:

• An increased level of funding: now up to £1000.
• No individual applications. Applications must be made by the club.
• A club must produce a future development plan for their club: where the funding will go and how they see it helping the club in the long term.
• An interview process: successful clubs will meet with Sport Solihull Committee members to determine the best course of funding for them.
• Funding will have to be matched: clubs must raise funds themselves to match grants awarded.
• Funding will also be drip fed, and clubs will be monitored and progress reviewed against funding given.

The first deadline for applications is: 22^nd August 2011
Any applications received after this date will go to the next round of applications.

Applications should be sent to:

David Acton
Secretary Sport Solihull
Po Box 18
Council House
Solihull, B91 9QS

or email:

dacton@solihull.gov.uk

Application form can be found here: Sport Solihull application form
Notes on grant applications can be found here: Sport Solihull Guidance Notes

For queries please contact: montyt@solihull-sustain.org.uk

G:up is an alliance of West Midlands, children and young people’s, voluntary and community sector organisations and networks as well as public sector and national partners.

G:up’s vision is to develop the West Midlands as a region that respects and acts upon the needs, interests and aspirations of all children and young people, and the voluntary and community organisations that work with them.

For lots of tools and useful resources, visit the G:up website

The Solihull Volunteer Managers Forum is now known as Solihull Volunteering Forum (SVF) to encourage all those working with volunteers, not just managers, to come along and share best practise, resources and training. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

The new Equality Act came into force on Friday 1st October.  If you are not sure what that means for you or your organisation this factsheet may help you. 

Equalities Act 2010 Fact Sheet

If you need any support understanding the impact of the new legislation, contact Gulbag Singh on 0121 711 3148 or email on gulbags@solihull-sustain.org.uk.

Celebrations were held for our local sports personalities on Thursday 8th July at the Solihull Arts Complex. Awards were presented by the Deputy Mayor and the winners were: 

• Sportsman (Joint): Jonathan Eley; speed skater representing Great Britain at the 2010 Winter Olympics and bronze medalist at the European Championships in Dresden.
• Sportsman (Joint): Tom Iveson; speed skater representing Great Britain at the 2010 Winter Olympics and bronze medalist at the European Championships in Dresden.
• Sportwoman: Danielle Khan; 2009 speed skating European Champion and 3 times British Champion.
• Team Award: Mohawks Ice Racing Team; 2010 short-track British Champions.
• Coaching Achievement: Chantel Hunter; a role model for ladies and girls football, having delivered girls football in over 40 primary schools, set up community clubs and been a mentor on the Regional L2 Female Coach Programme.
• Services to Sport (Joint): Peter Jones; many years of dedication and the driving force for Solihull Canoe Club.
• Services to Sport (Joint): John Mee; over 40 years teaching young people to swim and active involvement in the running of Solihull Swimming Club
• Young Sports Volunteer: Gemma-Louise Deery; superb role model to younger swimmers and a volunteer for over six years at Solihull Swimming Club.

If you would like more details on the winners Sports Awards Citations 2010

Solihull Council and the Children & Young Peoples Trust has been asking parents what they want to see for their children in Solihull. The results of this and other consultations has helped shape the new Children & Young Peoples Plan. To find out what parents said, you can download the summary and full reports here. They are worth reading to help you shape your own services

Ask Parents Summary Report

Ask Parents Full Report