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Archive for March, 2011

Newham Food Bank

Feeding local people in crisis

The Newham Foodbank has been set up by local churches and networks in and around Newham. The venture is a joining together of volunteers and local people making a real difference in the lives of individuals and families in crisis. Working with local care professionals to identify those in need, the Newham food Bank is able to provide short-term relief and support as well as signposting people to organisations able to help solve the longer-term problem.

To order food packages or donate food items call 020 7474 3060 or 07956 187 731.

Download donations flyer.

View the Newham Food Bank website.

Space at St Luke’s for lease and license

St. Luke’s houses a community of tenants in beautiful offices in a well laid out historic listed building. There are well planted grounds for all to relax in.

There is full disabled access, free internet connectivity, heating, free local parking, well maintained and spacious grounds, a park across the road, the cheapest telephone line rental available and a café on site.

The building is open 24/7 to all tenants and the hall is available for hire should conference facilities be needed.

There are offices available at sizes from 168 to 1396 square feet (2 to 20 people). Rents are cheap and fair leases are available on a flexible and non punitive basis.

There is also a rent-a-desk scheme housing small charities and micro businesses who need to keep costs to a minimum. We believe it is the cheapest office space in London at less than £30 per week including VAT. The scheme involves a 24/7 access to a desk, filing cabinet and free internet.

St. Luke’s has a community hall which can take up to 110 people. It is a multi purpose space that is a good conference setting as well as an excellent venue for private functions. The Hall has a built in digital screen system for presentations, films and other entertainment. The hall is available for hire by the hour.

Should functions require space for more than 110 people or if more seating is needed the capacity can double by hiring the café’s seating area although this requires an additional arrangement with the café proprietor.

There are also spaces available for hire for smaller meetings in the Charity’s Board Room and in some of the offices that remain available for let.

Sector Guide on How to Use the Equality Act 2010

VolResource, 17th February 2011

The Equality and Diversity Forum’s ‘How to use the Equality Act 2010: A guide for voluntary and community organisations’ looks at how the new equality law can be used in advocacy, service delivery and campaigning work.

Click here to view the guide.

News from LawWorks on New CRB Checks Policy

Home Office announces limits on criminal record checks
Third Sector, 11th February 2011

Volunteers and staff will need criminal records checks only if they work “closely and regularly” with children and vulnerable adults, under plans for a wide-ranging reform of the vetting and barring system announced by the government today. Under the proposals, part of the new Protection of Freedoms Bill, about 4.5 million people who would have had to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority under the vetting and barring scheme initiated by the Labour government, would not have to have criminal records checks.
Read more.

Readable round-up of Vetting and Barring Scheme review
VolResource, 24th February 2011

Bates Wells and Braithwaite solicitors have managed to produce a more accessible version of the key recommendations from the government’s review of the Vetting and Barring Scheme.
Click here to view this version.

Free Legal Advice Clinic for Community Groups

LawWorks operates a free legal surgery in partnership with Community Matters and a member law firm.

Volunteer lawyers can advise on the following areas of law:

  • Employment law
  • Incorporation (as a company)
  • Contracts
  • Property
  • Intellectual Property (trade marks)
  • The clinics take place monthly on a Wednesday from 6.00pm-8.00pm at Community Matters, 12/20 Baron Street, London, N1 9LL.

    To book an appointment simply call 020 7837 7887. You will need to provide details of your query, copies of any documents which are relevant and then attend the clinic at the appointed time. Please note that correspondence in relation to this clinic should go through Community Matters not LawWorks.

    Click here for further information.