NVSC - Newham Voluntary Sector Consortium
February 21, 2005
NVSC AGM
Thursday February 24th, Stratford Circus
10:15am Registration
11:00am Meeting Starts
12:30pm Lunch & Networking
Board Elections
Newham Directory Launch
Book Now: 020 8519 9500 or email admin@nvsc.org.uk
Capacity Builders Network Back In Business
Once a vibrant and cohesive group, the Capacity Builders Network is back in business, hoping to ensure accessing funding information is easier for everyone concerned and to prevent duplication.
Having undergone a recent restructuring the Capacity Builders Network (CBN) has been resurrected and is back in action.
Re-launched in November 2004 the CBN is made up of organisations that distribute small funds provide capacity support in Newham. It is envisaged that it will follow a similar format to what it did previously and be a vibrant partnership.
To date, the network has already agreed to provide more joint drop in surgeries, with discussions pending on providing in depth training programmes, more effective signposting and devising a fact sheet highlighting what each organisation in the Network does, to make it easier for smaller groups to access support. Discussions have also taken place regarding hosting a Funding Fair to include a whole range of funders later this year.
The group are still working towards a comprehensive constitution and terms of reference, however I’m sure all would agree the primary aim of the network is to ensure all the small funders and capacity builders in Newham are sharing information and forming a healthy partnership, which will assist organisations in Newham to get the best advice and assistance at all times.
The type of capacity building currently being provided by those involved is diverse, however the group can see there is room for improvement and have discussed implementing mechanisms to share information.
More recently the CBN amalgamated with the Small Funders Network to ensure a single much more focussed aim when dealing with funding in the borough. The group are under no illusion as to the amount of work this group will generate and realise that coming together will mean having an honest commitment if it is to work as it once did.
Community Chest Funding Spend On Target
For the period between June 2004 and Jan 2005, a total of 250 organisations were successful recipients of neighbourhood Renewal Fund.
The types of projects funded have been varied and include:
- Funding a small community allotment.
- Purchase of a hoover, ICT equipment, specially adapted software for disabled groups.
- Funding a prostrate awareness project.
- A cancer support group.
- To sending a delegation to attend the Berlin Black Media Congress conference as seen in issue 18 of the newsletter.
Whilst the application process has proved rewarding for many, others have felt overwhelmed by the whole application process. On the whole the unsuccessful applications fail for a number of reasons. Below is a list of the most common reasons why applications fail:
- Project proposals and the budget are not related, or the budget lacks clarity.
- Lack of clarity of the proposed project.
- Applicants not reading the Guidance notes, thus submitting inappropriate applications.
- Duplication of a project idea, that is to say the service is already provided by another local group.
- A lack of forward planning to sustain the project in the long term.
Currently we are on target to meet our 2004/2005 spending, with 2 more panels scheduled to take place. However, if all the money is allocated at the next Panel in February that will be it for this financial year, so if you are thinking of applying you need to get your skates on and get your application in fast!
Ali Ahmed & Deb Cozier
NRF Team
Building Bridges Around Child Abuse
In the wake of the tragic death of Victoria Climbié, the Metropolitan Police funded a 10 month Community Partnership Project, with its primary objective being to create channels of dialogue with African and Asian communities about child abuse and bringing up children within the context of their culture and faith.
The pilot initiative which has been working across the London Boroughs of Newham and Hackney has seen Community Partnership Officers facilitate debates on how culture and faith influence people's views and thoughts on what child abuse is. During the pilot the difficulties these communities face in reporting child abuse have been highlighted such; as there being a lack of knowledge, or there being a great mistrust of agencies that help to safeguard
children from abuse.
Conferences
Two conferences have been organised with the first taking place on 12th March at Stratford Town Hall, from 2pm to 6pm, for members of the Hindu, Muslim and Sikh communities and will consider the issues of safeguarding children. The second taking place on March 19th with a venue yet to be confirmed will be for the Evangelical Churches and congregations and pastors are from the African and or Asian communities. If you are interested in attending contact Corrine at NVSC who will be able to give you more information or go to the NVSC Diary.
Many Thanks
The Community Partnership Officers wish to take this opportunity to thank all the groups that kindly assisted them, as without the support and interest of Asian and African groups, the project would have failed. They are particularly grateful to the Black and Ethnic Minority Community Care Forum who assisted and supported access to various communities.
Neighbourhood Renewal Fund - Project Expose
Providing confidential support, counselling and advice for women who don't know what to do when they find out they are pregnant, Alternatives is just one example of the type of project that Community Chest and Community Learning Chest funding can assist with achieving its overall aims and objectives.
On an average month, Alternatives responds to some 200 requests for support in dealing with issues around unplanned pregnancies, providing support not only to the woman, but her partner as well.
Over the last 18 months Alternatives have had 5 successful Community Chest/Learning Chest applications that have funded:
- A Hoover (a snazzy little Dyson)
- A desk
- A training course facilitated by the Alternatives Schools Team.
- A presentation system complete with projector, microphones and a laptop that enables them to give professional high tech presentations.
Speaking with Julia Acott Project Director she said, "the presentation system means that we can turn up anywhere and do our presentations".
Their most recent application to the Community Learning Chest will help fund staff participation in a training workshop and conference dealing with birth traumas and families, entitled 'Birth and the 21st Century Family' and is being held in the USA.
Domestic Violence Training Tools
Barnsley Television, a not-for-profit organisation based in South Yorkshire have produced a free 40 page learning pack about domestic violence for training and education purposes.
Aimed at voluntary sector groups a series of videos/DVDs on domestic violence have been produced consisting of 6 interviews with professionals who deal with domestic violence and 2 interviews with women survivors of domestic violence. The films are professionally produced and provide an information resource for people who work in the field of domestic violence or for those who wish to be better informed about it.
Information about the videos and DVDs can be found at www.barnsleytv.co.uk. You should be able to find all the information you need there, including video clips that you can download, in addition to the learning pack. The learning pack contains facts and figures, research, discussion points and questions concerning domestic violence. Further information can be obtained from Don Chamberlain at Barnsley Television telephone number 01226 771231 or email info@barnsleytv.co.uk