NVSC - Newham Voluntary Sector Consortium
April 19, 2005
Supporting Newham Against Domestic Violence
‘1 in 4 will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives’
A local agency for and run by the local community, Newham Action Against Domestic Violence (NAADV) was established in 1990 to combat the effects of domestic violence on adults and children, to prevent further poverty and raise awareness of the issue.
Based in the south of the borough, they provide a range of services to over 1,000 clients each year offering services which include direct advocacy, assistance with finding emergency accommodation, advice on housing, legal intervention, benefits and escorts to courts. They also provide on going support for the whole family, including counselling, therapeutic art and drama and resettlement support.
Counselling
Receiving £3,811 from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) last year, the money enabled them to co-ordinate and develop their counselling service and develop tools for evaluating and analysing data. Offering a professional service clients referred to the stand alone counselling project are seen within 10 to 14 days of their initial referral.
Training
As a voluntary organisation with no training budget, NRF funding has proved instrumental in enabling NAADV to develop specialised training courses. Trainee counsellors now receive additional support and supervision with four recent graduates continuing to volunteer.
Basic domestic violence awareness and good practice or in depth training, which includes legal remedies and child protection issues can be provided to front line staff from both the statutory and the voluntary sector.
Providing training to various agencies enables NAADV to generate much needed income, however they still provide free training to voluntary and community organisation who themselves have no training budgets.
Volunteers
Without its volunteers, NAADV could not provide 1/3 of the services it does, with many of its volunteers staying with the organisation for years. 24 volunteers currently work tirelessly undertaking casework, counselling and admin support. Six dedicated management committee members also work hard to ensure NAADV can continue to provide its services. Always looking for new management committee members, NAADV would love to hear from you if you are able to commit some of your time to ensuring the continuing success of the organisation.
For further information regarding training, volunteering or becoming a management committee member contact Jane Ishmael or Larraine Newboldon 020 7473 3047 who will be happy to give you all the information you need.
‘In 70% of cases where women had experienced domestic violence, children had also been physically abused’
Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
Nominations can now be made for the The Queens’ Award for outstanding achievement by groups of volunteers who regularly devote their time to helping others or to improve the quality of life for others in the community, recognising the vital role played by the thousands of ‘unsung heroes’.
The number of Awards made each year is determined by the number and quality of nominations received and made to groups rather than individuals. For details on how to nominate please go to: www.goldenjubileeaward.gov.uk/nominate.html or contact The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Office at: 19 Allington Street, London, SW1E 5EB or call: 0845 000 2002.
Age Concern Newham
CHANGE TO OPENING TIMES - From May 3rd Age Concern Newham will be open from 10am until 1pm and 1.30pm to 3.30pm Monday to Thursday and closed all day on Fridays, with their Information & Advice Service for the over 50’s providing a drop-in for information, leaflets and simple queries during these times.
All other advice - including welfare benefits and housing casework will be by appointment. Home visits are available for those who need them. The service is available in English and ten community languages. To make an appointment, telephone 020 8503 1511 or visit during their new opening hours.
Newham Council’s Early Years and Childcare Service
Are you a voluntary or Community organisation offering or planning to offer quality services for children and their families and need help with costs?
Newham Council’s Early Years and Childcare Service has a one-off grant funding available through the Early Years Small Grant. Small grants of up to £5,000 are available to support and develop good quality provision in flexible ways to meet the needs of young children and their families. Please contact Clare Maybury for further information and an application pack call 8430 4924 or email clare.maybury@newham.gov.uk for an electronic version. The closing date for applications is 12noon on May 13th.
NVSC’s Newham Directory
The NVSC AGM held in February saw the launch of the Newham Directory on CD-ROM, and all NVSC members who attended the AGM received their free copy.
The Newham Directory is a comprehensive guide to voluntary and community groups in Newham. Available to all groups registered on NVSC's Online database, you are eligible to receive your FREE copy NOW. If you prefer a hard copy these will be available late April. Once again though, only groups registered on NVSC's Online Database will be able to receive their copy FREE. To reserve your copy of the ring binder format of the Newham Directory or to be sent the CD-ROM version contact Andrea Chott or Saifur Valli. (Please note: groups can only receive one copy of the Newham Directory either in ring binder format or CD-ROM).
Business as Usual!!!
After some time of uncertainty and concern over the future of the centre we are pleased to announce Bonny Downs CA has now taken on the management of St Marks Church and Community Centre.
Now back to business as usual the Centre offers a variety of meeting rooms from a 15 place board room to a large 250 place conference venue. For more info ring 020 7540 0300/01 or email info@bonnydowns.org.
Voice of Africa Radio
Check out the Voice Of Africa Radio’s website @ WWW.VOICEOFAFRICARADIO.COM
It’s the website for the African Community in London and they are, currently waiting for an FM license to operate in London. Remember to tell others to back their bid.
Progress through Partnership
Bassac (British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres) and BTEG (Black Training and Enterprise Group) will be holding a free Partnership training workshop under the umbrella of the Progress through Partnership (PTP) project, on Wednesday April 20th, from 9.30am to 3.30pm, at the Newham Voluntary Sector Consortium Offices.
It will have a particular focus on multi-ethnic and diverse collaborations. Jointly managed by both organisations, the aim is to encourage and promote stronger links between white-led and BME voluntary and community organisations, particularly around the issues of equality, diversity and community cohesion.
These interactive training workshops will focus on how to better understand and work with each other in a multi-ethnic environment in order to provide a stronger, cohesive voice for the VCS. We will look closely at related issues such as networking, negotiation, consultation and evaluation techniques and will aim to help develop the knowledge and skills of participants and promote cross-cultural partnership working. If you are interested in attending call 020 7735 1075 or email ade@bassac.org.uk For more information about the project, why don’t you visit the website on www.bassac.org.uk/info_diversity.htm
Family Advice and Support Worker Needed
NEWHAM AUTISM GROUPS wish to appoint a FAMILY ADVICE AND SUPPORT WORKER (families with children aged 0-16).
Salary scale: SO1.29, £24,068 including OLW 36 hours per week working mainly from home and partly with local support groups Closing date for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 20th April 2005. Interviews are being held on Friday 6th May. This post is funded by BBC Children in Need. Application forms for all the above posts can be obtained by calling Renewal Programme's 24 hour Recruitment Line on 020-8472-2480 or by email on recruite@renewalprogramme.org.uk, or alternatively you can write to us at: 170 Harold Rd, Plaistow, London E13 0SE.
Clays Lane Ladies Club
Are hosting a 'Building Healthy Relationships' day.
Topics include: Dealing with unrealistic expectations and the way out of unhealthy
relationships along with a Question & Answer session. Date: May 7: Time: 11am - 3pm. Call 07985 282 251 for info.
Prostate Project Launch
The ASSOCIATION for PROSTATE AWARENESS have pleasure in
inviting you to join them for the launch of their project on Tuesday 26th April.
Being held at the Newham African Caribbean Resource Centre, 627-633 Barking Road, [junction of Pragel Street and New City Road], Plaistow, E13, the event starts at 6.30pm. For further information or to confirm your attendance contact Ron Reid on 020 8586 9438 or 07885 168 571.