Solihull SUSTAiN

The National Citizen Service

Dave — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:41:29 +0000

The Coalition Government’s initiative to get young people to undertake voluntary and community work has finally been revealed to mixed response. It does seem though that early fears have been heeded and an appropriately cautious and measured approach is being taken.

That complete nonsense of an idea, compulsory volunteering, that many feared, is nowhere to be seen and the whole shebang, which is distinctly separate to the existing government funded youth programme ‘V’, is starting with a pilot involving just 10,000 youngsters who have completed their GCSE’s. Starting with a small number will allow us all to see how it pans out before getting carried away, which must be appropriate in the current economic climate.

There remain significant concerns in many camps. Some of the potential pitfalls are obvious:

A pilot programme like this could easily ‘hoover up’ easy to reach, compliant young people and miss the real target hard line cases that need turning around.
Because the pilot will involve working up to 8 weeks during the 2011 summer holidays, recruitment might be a challenge. If all their mates are doing what they do in the summer holidays…
Making a real success of a programme like this will probably be more expensive than anyone imagines, each participant will need a substantial investment of time and mentoring for it to work.

However, any progress involves risk and no-one will ever know if an idea has legs unless it is given a run out.

We do not yet know what level of funding will be made available or where it will come from (although the Prime Minister has indicated that he will ‘find the funds to make it happen regardless’).

At this stage all we know about the 2011 programme comes from the following, published by the Cabinet Office:

All young people participating in NCS (National Citizen Service) pilot programmes will have a common experience, wherever they live, whatever their background and whichever organisation delivers the programme. We will be asking that bids include five distinct phases of activity:

Phase 1: An introductory phase in which expectations will be set and relationships built between participants and staff.

Phase 2: A set of tasks, completed in a residential setting away from home, which are personally challenging (typically in the form of an outdoor challenge experience), and focused on personal and social development (one week).

Phase 3: A set of structured tasks involving visiting and helping the local community and developing skills, again the aim is that this would be completed in a residential setting away from home (one week).

Phase 4: Participants to design a social action task in consultation with the local community (one week).

Phase 5 onwards:

A period of 30 hours of social action on a part-time basis.
A fair/event to encourage participants to get involved in ongoing social action or volunteering activities in their area (with a view to creating an NCS alumni scheme).
A large celebration and graduation event for participants and their guests.
An alumni programme, including training sessions and reunion events, to build on the enthusiasm and relationships generated by NCS.
We hope to be able to offer outstanding NCS graduates the opportunity to take part in a programme of social action projects in developing countries.

A tendering exercise is going to be launched next week, but we do not know whether this be for national organisations to pitch for the opportunity to run it for the Government or whether there will be an opportunity for local areas to get involved at this stage.

It would be helpful for us at SUSTAiN to know, though, anticipating local dialogue at some stage, whether or not local organisations would be keen to participate if there is an opportunity to do so. Please contact Tina Burgess with your views via tinab@solihull-sustain.org.uk.

Stronger Communities Strategic Plan

Jayne — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:09:33 +0000

The Stronger Communities Strategic Group has recently agreed a Draft Plan for consultation and would welcome your comments. Please feedback to Nick Tromans - ntromans@solihull.gov.uk – by 24th September 2010.

Download:

Stronger Communities strategic plan

Big Society update

Jayne — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:15:33 +0000

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister launched the Big Society Bank and four ‘vanguard’ areas where Big Society is to be piloted. Here are links to some of the key developments in the programme:

Big Society website/network
The Coalition Government’s Big Society programme (published May 2010)
The Cabinet Office’s structural reform plan (draft June 2010) – outlines the timeframe for creating Big Society
Communities and Local Government plan (draft July 2010) – which contains more specific detail about Big Society
Launch of Big ...
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NHS Reforms

Jayne — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:35:13 +0000

Radical reforms to the NHS are planned by the new government which will have implications and present opportunities for Third Sector organisations providing health care services. To find out more on the proposed changes, go to www.dh.gov.uk/liberatingtheNHS.

Alternatively, find the relevant documents at Solihull LINk at www.solihulllink.co.uk. You can also express your views and discuss the changes at www.communityvoicesonline.org/discussions. Just click on Public Health Information and the discussion topic HealthWatch.

The consultations close on 11th October 2010.

Equality Act 2010 update

Jayne — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:29:39 +0000

Changes to current legislation will be in force from October. It’s important we all understand what the changes are and put in place any required amendments to policies and working practices. Do you, your staff, and volunteers understand what the changes will really mean?

Changes which are important to note are:

There will now be nine Equality Strands in total along with a public duty on socio-economics.
Discrimination also has new additions which are association, perception and arising from disability.
Who has responsibility for the above has also been clearly defined down to charity shops, clubs and internet-based services.

This means that it is even more important for third sector organisations to be more inclusive and to recognise that difference should not be excluded.

SUSTAiN will be offering support and guidance throughout the coming months but in the meantime, if you want more details about the legislation or specific support with changing your Equality practices please contact Gulbag Singh on 0121 711 3148 or email gulbags@solihull-sustain.org.uk.

Targeted Mental Health in Schools Grant

Jayne — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:20:43 +0000

Solihull is part of a national programme called Targeted Mental Health in Schools (TaMHS). The aim of the TaHMS programme is to enhance the emotional well-being of children and young people by focusing on targeted support to those who have been identified as needing additional emotional health services. This may include children/young people who are, for example, coping with bereavement or family breakdown, bullying or anxiety at transitions.

The TaMHS grant supports the delivery of a Targeted Mental Health Intervention to Children and Young People aged 05 to 13 in specified schools within Solihull. Organisations and independent workers are invited to apply for a grant of between £5,000 and £20,000.

The deadline for grant applications is 27th August 2010

Download:

Treasurer

Martin Clarke — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:17:44 +0000

Treasurer needed to help at a residential aftercare service providing supporting housing to men who are committed and motivated towards making enduring lifestyle changes. Please contact csr@solihull-sustain.org.uk

The Archer Trust (UK)

susanc — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:16:36 +0000

The Archer Trust is a Christian charitable grant making trust which supports small UK charities helping people with physical or mental disabilities or people facing disadvantage. Preference is given to organisations working in areas of high unemployment and deprivation. Grants range from £250 – £3000. Applications can be made any time and the trustees meet twice a year, normally in March and September to consider applications. For more information visit The Archer Trust ...

Nexus 7 foot profiling care bed

Martin Clarke — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:16:04 +0000

7 foot extended profiling care bed available free if you can collect. Manufactured by Nexus of Droitwich the bed is about 4 years old with a virtually new matress never slept on. Electric powered profiling, metal frame and beech wood covering. Please email csr@solihull-sustain.org.uk

Hilden Charitable Fund

susanc — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:14:09 +0000

The Hilden Charitable fund’s next deadline for submitting applications is 10th September 2010. It wants to support projects that address

Homelessness
Asylum seekers and refugees
Community based initiatives for disadvantaged young people
Penal affairs

Preference is given to supporting small community organisations with an income of less than £200,000 per year. For more information visit the Hilden Charitable Fund website.