Welcome
Welcome to the Growing Care Farming newsletter for October. It's been a busy old month, both for those of you on the farms but also within the team. The GreenHouse, our head office in Bristol, has reopened, with a rota of socially-distanced staff now back in the office. We've also welcomed two new members to the team.
Sophie Antonelli has worked for SF&G for a number of years, but has joined Growing Care Farming two days a week to take on the task of cataloguing and organising the vast amount of research and background information related to the benefits of care farming. As we all know, care farming is a fantastic activity, but we are often asked for evidence and much of this evidence is either inaccessible or not in a digestible format to help support our case to funders or commissioners. The work Sophie is doing will address this and we look forward to being able to point you to one, easy to access place, early next year when you are looking for supporting information.
We're also excited to welcome Hannah Beal to the team as our 'Digitial Content Coordinator'. This is a new role for us and is in recognition of the changing way that people are wanting to engage and access information. The pandemic has thrown this into even sharper relief and we are keen to represent our sector and support care farmers with good quality, relevant resources. We look forward to sharing these with you in the new year.
And finally, if you have 5 minutes to spare with a cup of tea, do click on this heart warming article which appeared in the Guardian last month about care farming at Future Roots, run by Julie Plumley, in Dorset. It's a fantastic representation of why we all want to see greater recognition and support for care farming.
In this October newsletter we will cover:
As you know we have several elements within our Growing Care Farming work and we thought you'd like to know a little bit more about what's been happening over the last month or so.
Quality Assurance via the Code of Practice
We have recently launched a new Code of Practice newsletter which will go out quarterly to everyone who has either already achieved the Code or is working towards it. The aim is to keep people informed of any updates, provide useful tips, provide reminders and to generally help us keep in touch. The first edition was sent out at the end of August 2020 and the second one will follow at the end of November 2020.The newsletter will also give a mention to those who have recently achieved the Code – Ashfield Gardens (Camphill Village Trust) were recently approved and they will be given a shout out in the November edition.
In addition, we have recently added an Introduction to the Code to our GCF webpages, which includes further resources and information about what the Code is, why it was developed, why its sucha good idea and how to apply. Furthermore, a new tutorial on how to complete your Code application has been recorded and will be made available online for those who have enrolled. If you’d like more info on the Code please contact [email protected].
Training
Our training and resource provision for GCF includes both online and face to face courses on care farming - our online courses cover aspects of care farm setup and development, and the face to face courses cover delivering services specific to the needs of particular service user groups. For details of all our training see here. As you can imagine, Covid-19 has put a bit of a spanner in the works in terms of the roll-out of the face to face training! However, our partners at Thrive and the GCF team have been busy behind the scenes developing an online equivalent that adopts a blended learning approach - so that we can continue to deliver this training. We are beta testing two of the four courses at the moment. The blended learning courses will launched in November and December, and will be promoted via the GCF Newsletter and the GCF social media channels - so watch this space!
Our online training courses will continue throughout the length of the GCF work and once social distancing measures are reduced, we will resume face to face client specific training and continue the blended learning option, allowing participants to choose which method of learning they would prefer.
Resources & Networking
There are all sorts of exciting things going on in terms of development of new resources. Over September and October we have been out on care farms working with a film production company to develop some promotional videos for care farming. We've had some fabulous days of filming and are really looking to sharing the results with you in the new year. We've also been enjoying the monthly online network meetings. If you haven't yet had chance, do try to join us for an hour to virtually meet others who are starting up or those who have been doing it longer. Or just connect to listen in and hear a bit more about what goes on on care farms. We are currently running them in the morning on the third Thursday of every month (details of the next one below) but from January we will start moving the day and time every 3 months to enable those who find that time and day difficult the opportunity to attend.
POSTPONED ** 13th October 2020, 2.00pm - 3.00pm - GCF Themed Webinar - Governance: How should I set up my care farming enterprise? ** POSTPONED
Due to illness, this webinar will be postponed until December. We will be in touch with those currently booked on about transferring to the new date.
14th October 2020, 1.30pm - 3.00pm - Yorkshire and Humber Care farming Network meeting
This online meeting, chaired by Robin Asquith from Camphill Village Trust, is part of a regular programme of bi-annual meetings of this independent network. These meetings are an opportunity to provide peer support and develop relationships across the care farming sector in the Yorkshire & Humber region.
Book here - Y&H Care Farming Network Meeting
15th October 2020, 10.30am - 11.30am - GCF Online care farming network meeting
This event is chance to see and meet other care farmers 'face to face' but remotely! The aim is to provide a forum for care farmers, prospective care farmers, the GCF team and others to support each other and to share learning and ideas.
This event is designed for care farmers, prospective care farmers, commissioners - anyone involved in care farming.
Book here - October Online Care Farming Network meeting
If you're interested in any GCF webinars but can't attend, please don't worry as all are recorded and uploaded to our website here and YouTube channel for you to access whenever you want.
Funding to Support the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Veterans
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Positive Pathways programme has reopened for applications for projects that support the mental health and wellbeing of veterans by getting them out and active. Armed-Forces-supporting charities or CIC’s can apply for grants of £35,000 for projects developed by and for veterans which have a clearly identified activity for veterans to take part in, and should come under one of four themes:
- sports
- arts and culture
- getting outside
- heritage.
Applications are particularly encouraged from under-represented organisations in the West Midlands, and activities should be feasible with any social distancing requirements in place. The programme is funded by HM Treasury. Applications for this round of funding close at noon on the 30th November 2020.
Read more - Armed Forces Covenant Positive Pathways Programme
Funding to Enable Disadvantaged Young People Reach their Potential
Registered charities (including Schools that are registered as charities for young people with disabilities) that work with disadvantaged children under the age of 25 can apply for funding of up to £10,000 through the Ironmongers Company's grants programme. Projects must meet all of the following criteria:
- For children and young people under the age of 25 who are disadvantaged.
- Consist of educational activities that develop learning, motivation and skills.
- Have clear aims and objectives to be met within a planned timescale.
- Are within the UK.
The Company is particularly interested in enabling primary age children to develop a strong foundation for the future. Projects could, for example: support special educational needs, address behavioural problems, promote citizenship, parenting or life skills. Preference will be given to projects piloting new approaches where the outcomes will be disseminated to a wider audience. The next deadline for applications is the 15th December 2020.
Read more - Ironmongers Company Grants
Wilko's Helping Hands Scheme
Every Wilko store has a budget to give a little helping hand to local groups and community projects. You could get wilko gift cards, products or volunteers to help with whatever you’re doing for your community - whether it’s a raffle prize to help with fundraising or tins of paint and extra helpers to do up a community building. There is a simple 3 step process;
- Download and complete the application form (giving as much notice as possible)
- Drop it into your local store
- Wait to hear if you have been successful - they make decisions monthly.
Read more - Wilko's Helping Hands Scheme
Masonic Charitable Foundation - Grants for Early Years
Charities in England and Wales can apply for funding for projects that help disadvantaged children and young people. The funding is being made available through the Masonic Charitable Foundations Early Years Opportunities Grant scheme. The Foundation operates two funding streams. Small grants of between £500 and £5,000 per year for up to 3 years and large grants of between £20,000 and £60,000 per year for up to 3 years.
The next funding round for small grants will open on the 1st of October 2020 and will close for applications on the 23rd of December 2020. The large grants programme is currently open for applications with a closing date of the 31st of October 2020.
Read more - MCF Early Years Opportunities
Funding for Projects that Address Severe Learning Disabilities
The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund is a registered charity which was established to provide both research and project funding in the area of severe learning difficulties, including autism for both children and adults. Grants are made to cover capital projects and core costs to include staff costs, general running and office costs at charitable organisations, schools and centres.
Projects funded include:
- Capital works for residential, nursing and respite care, and schools
- Employment schemes including woodwork, crafts, printing and horticulture
- Play schemes and play therapy schemes
- Day and social activities centres including building costs and running costs
- Support for families, including respite schemes
- Independent living schemes
- Support in the community schemes
- Snoezelen rooms.
Applications will only be considered from voluntary organisations which are registered charities or are associated with a registered charity. Schools and Parent Teacher Associations and Industrial & Provident Societies can also apply. Funding in the past has ranged in value from £250 to £150,000. The next deadline for applications seeking funding in excess of £10,000 is the 1st December 2020. Applications for £10,000 and below are considered under the Small Grants procedure and can be submitted at any time.
Read more - Baily Thomas Charitable Trust
Go Nice Places, Do Nice Things Grant
The Alpkit Foundation is prioritising its funds to support projects that demonstrate an immediate impact on those affected by the pandemic. The Go Nice Places, Do Good Things Grant generally supports direct action projects that work towards removing the barriers to getting outdoors. However, their grants of between £50 and £500 are now available for individuals, groups and schools that are responding to the crisis.
Examples of community responses they support include, being active in the local community to help elderly or vulnerable people, minimising the impact of self-isolation, supporting food banks or those who are homeless, and bringing adventure indoors. The Foundation’s trustees consider applications every two months.
Read more - Go Nice Places, Do Nice Things
New report into donor behaviour during Covid-19
Get actionable insights into donor behaviour during Covid-19 with the latest quarterly report from Enthuse, a fundraising, donations and events registration platform. The Donor Pulse Report: Autumn 2020 details rapid shifts in donor and supporter behaviour and provides insight to help plan your fundraising campaigns around these changes.
Download the report to find out how best to engage 18 to 24-year-olds, more of whom are choosing to support charities in 2020, how to tap into the growing support for local causes, and help your brand stand out in the digital world.
Read more - Enthuse Report - Autumn 2020
Could you benefit from Kickstart?
Kickstart is the 100% funding for employers to create job placements for 16 to 24-year-olds. The government has introduced the new Kickstart scheme in Great Britain for businesses, including charities and social enterprises. The Kickstart Scheme is a £2 billion fund which will create hundreds of thousands of high-quality 6-month work placements aimed at those aged 16 to 24 who are on Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long-term unemployment. Funding is available for 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions. There is also £1,500 per job placement available for setup costs, support and training.
You may have already looked into this and thought you weren't eligible to apply for Kickstart funding because you can't offer 30+ placements within your organisation, but think again. From what we have learned a variety of organisations including Chambers of Commerce and VCSE support organisations in the different regions are often collating applications from smaller organisations into one a larger application. Each region will vary, so why not look into who is doing this in your area?
Free supplies for charities and their beneficiaries
Giving World helps charities access brand new life essentials for free. A wide range of products is available including clothing for adults and children, toiletries, baby products, toys, bedding, kitchen equipment and household items, books, crafts and ambient foods. Goods are for the beneficiaries of organisations and cannot be sold or used for fundraising.
Charities can also register to request items for free, as well as viewing the items available, and delivery costs can be as low as £10.
Read more - Giving World
The Sylvia Waddilove Foundation Covid–19 Emergency Fund
The Foundation has set up an emergency fund to help small to medium sized organisations who are struggling to manage the financial impact of COVID-19 either because of increased demand for their services or loss of income. The fund is targeted at organisations in a critical position. Grants are for a maximum of £1,000. The organisation must operate in one of the following categories:
- Education (relating to non-domestic animals, such as organic farming, animal husbandry, veterinary science, animal welfare and surgery)
- Visual and performing arts
- Medical research
- The relief of disability or severe illness
- The accommodation of those in need.
What can the funds be used for:
- Staff costs and other overheads (except where staff are not required and/or staff could have been furloughed) where income has been affected by COVID-19 or the lockdown;
- Increased demand for services linked directly to COVID-19 or the lockdown;
- Changes to working practices, such as the purchase of laptops or remote access technology, protective equipment to work safely with beneficiaries; and
- Deep cleaning of premises because of a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Read more - The Sylvia Waddilove Foundation
NFU Mutual Charitable Trust
NFU Mutual Charitable Trust makes one off donations and grants to charitable initiatives connected with agriculture, the countryside and the insurance industry. The trust is looking for initiatives with a significant impact on the rural community, and is particularly interested in initiatives in the areas of education of young people and relief of poverty, within rural areas. Minimum grant is £1,000; most are under £10,000. Deadline: 30 October.
Read more - NFU Mutual Charitable Trust
9th November 2020 - Autism a Hands On Approach Online Conference
The 'Autism - a Hands on Approach' conference has proved extremely popular and has become firmly established in the ‘Stockport’ autism calendar as an event where parents, carers, professionals and autistic individuals have a chance to meet up, listen and network. The contributions from speakers with lived experience are an illuminating and valued part of the day. They aim to provide a wide selection of information, generally having a very varied audience and are aware that everyone has their own particular interests and issues.
They have been fortunate over the years in attracting many world renowned speakers in the field of autism and this year is no exception. Tickets are £50 for professionals, or £20 for parents carers and those with autism.
Read more - Autism Online Conference
Health Education England - Free online courses
HEE have a huge range of online training available free for NHS professionals and those working or volunteering to improve the population's health.
Read more - HEE courses
Small Charities Coalition
Small Charities Coalition is a national membership organisation that helps trustees, staff and volunteers of small charities access the skills, tools and information they need to get going and do what they do best. They have various events coming up for people within the voluntary and community sector to attend:
Free Funding Workshops (Cumbria)
Cumbria CVS are working in partnership with the Imagination Lab and Lancaster University to host a series of funding workshops. There are three different levels available – all designed to help hone your fundraising skills: please choose the one(s) most appropriate to you/your organisation.
- Bid Writing Workshop(s): A 60 – 90 minutes overview presentation on writing a successful bid for funding followed by a Q&A session. It covers why bids can fail, decoding what funders really want, and how to organise your application for clarity and effectiveness. Tuesday 13 October 2pm - 3.30pm, Wednesday 25 November 2pm - 3.30pm.
- Bid Writing Surgery: This is a 3-hour session aiming to allow you to carve out space to write your bid while also giving you the opportunity for a brief one-to-one consultation with Professor Cruickshank regarding any questions you have about your funding bid. Tuesday 17 November, 1pm - 4pm.
- Bid Writing 101: This is a 4-hour intensive and interactive session with preparation work beforehand. Using a fictitious funder, The Bank of Imagination, you are asked to submit an EOI (Expression of Interest) before the session on which you will be given general feedback. On the day you will be taken through an in-depth presentation and Q&A covering why bids can fail, decoding what funders really want, and how to organise your application for clarity and effectiveness. There will be space for peer review and assistance plus the opportunity for a brief one-to-one consultation with Professor Cruickshank regarding any questions you have about your funding bid. Thursday 8 October, 1pm - 5pm.
To book a place contact [email protected] quoting 'Funding Workshops' in the title of the email.
More info - Cumbria CVS Website
Free Training in Youth Work, Health and Social Care (Oldham)
We have been made aware that training company The Training Prokers is running a number of courses which are free and accessible to people living in the Oldham area. Courses on offer include a number of adult care issues (dementia, dignity, safeguarding), adult and young peope's mental health awareness, plus youth work and education support qualifications.
Read more - The Training Brokers courses
Free Online workshops (Bradford)
Community Action Bradford & District are running a series of free online workshops over the next few months, these include:
The sessions will be held via Zoom and you will be emailed details nearer to the time. The sessions will be really beneficial in enabling you to continue delivering services or start delivering services as and when lockdown restrictions allow.
Women in Farming Network's Virtual Autumn Gathering (Yorkshire)
The Women In Farming Network is part of the Yorkshire Rural Support Network which is supported by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. The Network was created in 2013 following requests from women living and working on farms and related industries. It provides opportunities for women to learn from each other, build contacts and offer support to their fellow members. Earlier this year, the Network launched its own private Yorkshire Women In Farming group on Facebook which now helps more than 260 members to keep in touch, all in a friendly, inclusive spirit of support.
On the morning of Tuesday 13 October the Women In Farming Network will be hosting an Autumn Gathering for likeminded women (and men) who live and work in rural Yorkshire. This will be a free event lasting an hour and will feature a panel of inspiring women who work with or within the agricultural industry and rural communities. Each of their speakers has been asked to address the theme of ‘A Momentous Year’. Giving their own unique perspective will be NFU West Riding Chair Rachel Hallos, The Bishop of Ripon, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, Olivia Spilman of Spilman Farming and Consultant Psychologist Dr Caroline Knott.
Read more - Women in Farming
LCVS Community Impact Fund (Liverpool & Merseyside)
This fund helps voluntary sector organisations and registered charities do even more to build stronger communities across Liverpool and Merseyside. The fund has now reopened, with updated criteria designed to help organisations adapt and bring their communities back together safely, in line with Covid-19 guidelines. Eligible organisations can apply for grants of up to £3,000, for projects that meet one or more of our four main priority areas:
- Health
- Education
- Income stability
- Arts and culture.
Applications will be assessed on the impact that the project will have on the lives of those who benefit. Closes 9am on 8th October.
Read more - LCVS Impact Fund
Funding Available for Firefighting Equipment and Training Courses (Humberside)
Humber Aid have been donated various pieces of new/still boxed firefighting equipment. These are available to local charities, non profit making organisations and community groups - free of charge. They are also pleased to announce that they have scheduled some dates for the following workplace safety courses;
- 20th Nov - Fire Extinguisher
- 4th Dec - Manual Handling
- 17th Dec - Fire Marshall
- 7th & 8th Jan - First Aid at Work
- 15th Jan - Emergency First Aid at Work.
Course places are free to local charities, non profit making organisations and community groups. Places are very limited due to COVID-19 measures.
Read more - Humber Aid Equipment and training courses
Digital Skills Apprentices offering services (Tyne & Wear & Northumberland)
Could you benefit from the skills of a digital apprentice? As part of the Skills Match initiative by the Community Foundation Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, charitable organisations can apply for support over 12 months from a digital apprentice. Local apprentices from Accenture will provide support in areas such as website design, customer relationship management systems development, and the effective use of digital communication platforms. Eligible organisations can apply by sending a short paragraph summarising the project idea for which they'd like support to Colette Harrison, Sector Support Officer at [email protected].
Northern Real Farming Conference - 28th September to 10th October 2020
The inaugural Northern Real Farming Conference will take place online between 28 September and 10 October 2020 and the programme is now live. Hear from over 60 farmers from the North of England and Scotland along with researchers and practitioners about how they are putting new models of farming into practice. The programme includes sessions on business models, nature friendly farming, upland farming, cooperative and community supported agriculture, horticulture, public good, procurement, ELMS, water management, agroforestry, policy and more, along with social spaces and physically-distanced walks. Tickets are between £15 and £25 depending on your circumstances and there are a small number of bursaries available.
Read more - Northern Real Farming programme
2020 Good Access Scheme (Yorkshire)
Local charity Open Country’s Good Access Scheme award recognises the best countryside ‘access for all’ projects across Yorkshire. Outdoor sites can be nominated by the members of public who use them or by the staff or volunteers who manage them.
The awards are judged annually by Open Country’s Advisory Group, made up of disabled members, alongside volunteers and Trustees of the charity.
Anyone who would like to make a nomination should email [email protected] by the end of October outlining the ways in which the outdoor site or project has enhanced their disabled access.
Social Prescribing Guide & Toolkit produced by Community First Yorkshire
CFY have launched their Social Prescribing Guide and Toolkit to help North Yorkshire's voluntary and community sector navigate the world of social prescribing and join up a community of care.
Read more - Social Prescribing Toolkit
Join Urban Green Connect - new advisory group (Newcastle)
Are you passionate about encouraging others to engage? Do you love seeing local people getting involved in local issues? Would you like to share your ideas? Urban Green Newcastle are setting up an advisory group - Urban Green Connect - which aims to bring a greater range of voices and experiences around the table, to support and advise them on how they can most effectively reach out to local communities, and make sure that parks and allotments are used and enjoyed by as many people as possible.
They are seeking 15 people to form the advisory group which will meet 4 times a year. They are particularly interested in hearing from people or groups who they currently don’t have regular contact with, or who feel that local green spaces offer little for them.
Read the full Terms of Reference here. The closing date for receipt of expressions of interest is 5pm on Friday 16 October 2020.
For further information email: [email protected]
Greater Manchester Moving Oldham Local Pilot Grants
Do you have an idea for a local project which will contribute to increasing physical activity? They are open to any ideas for all groups across Oldham, but priority will be given to activities which involve:
- People in Failsworth and Glodwick (as selected 'Local Pilot' areas)
- Children & Young People aged 5-18 in out of school settings
- People out of work/at risk of becoming workless
- People aged 40-60 with, or at risk of, long term conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disorders
Any group can apply if you have an activity which might contribute to the above aims. This includes unconstituted groups if they can identify other ways to be sure the funding you recieve will be spent on the aims above.
Grant amount: Micro grants are available for amounts up to £1,000 on a rolling programme. Larger grants up to £5,000 are available for decision through community-wide 'Participatory Budgeting' event, as well as up to £25,000 for ideas that have been developed alongside the community as part of the wider Local Pilot work. Contact [email protected] if your project requires more than £1,000.
Read more - Greater Manchester Moving
Community Environment Fund (Liverpool)
The Year of the Environment in 2019 was a success for the Liverpool City Region, with the Metro Mayor pledging £500,000 for community environment projects to continue the momentum. The importance of this fund has been emphasised during the COVID pandemic; many people appreciating natural spaces, starting projects to green where they live and renewing their sense of community.
As a result, the Community Environment Fund (the fund) has been set up to aid a green recovery by assisting organisations to expand their good work and to support communities to engage in a range of environmental activities. To build back greener, reshaping our economy and society in a way that is greener, fairer and more inclusive. The deadline is Monday 2nd November 2020.
PLEASE NOTE: Sefton CVS will be hosting online briefing sessions (via Zoom) for groups and organisations who are looking to apply to the LCR Environment Fund and details of these sessions will be announced shortly, so get set up on their mailing list if you aren't already.
Read more - Community Environment Fund
Youth Action Grants (Derbyshire)
Derbyshire County Council has extended its Youth Action Grants programme, making an extra £221,000 available. The grants are aimed at projects for children and young people aged 0 to 19 years and up to 25 years if they have a disability. Eligible organisations include voluntary and community groups, social enterprises and parish councils providing services in Derbyshire. Applications must support the wellbeing priorities in the DCC Council Plan. Applications should be made ASAP as the programme will run until the money has been allocated. DCC have committed to responding to all applications within 6 weeks.
Read more - Youth Action Grants
New Adult (25+) Mental Health Forum (Suffolk)
Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust would like to invite any representatives from VCSE organisations, whether large or grassroots, to come together at a newly created forum on 7th October from 11am - 1pm. The forum is a means of building relationships between the VCSE and NHS Trust and ensuring the best possible outcomes for service users and carers.
Read more - Flyer for forum
Funding to Support the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Veterans (West Midlands)
The Armed Forces Covenant Positive Pathways Programme, as listed in the 'General Funding Opportunities' section of this newsletter, is particularly encouraging applications from under-represented organisations in the West Midlands.
Read more - Armed Forces Covenant Positive Pathways Programme
Heavily subsidised training for Sandwell based organisations (Birmingham)
The Foundation for Social Improvement is an organisation whose mission it is to build and share knowledge, to elevate the voice of small charities with policy makers and the public, to build leadership in small charities and to support small charities to raise vital funds to meet the needs of their beneficiaries.Their next Birmingham event which is being held on 7th october 2020 (supported by the 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust) will be delivered online, offering 60 delegate training places over 1 day so that small charities, wherever they are, can access the skills they need to become self-sustaining. Training sessions cover a wide range of fundraising techniques and back office skills delivered by experienced and knowledgeable trainers.
Members of Sandwell Council of Voiluntary Organisations (SCVO) can access this training worth £300 at a heavily subsidised rate (£20). Membership of SCVO is free and it's simple to join.
Join SCVO - SCVO membership
Register for training - FSI Birmingham Training
Free Online Dementia Awareness Training (West Norfolk)
This FREE on-line training session is available for any VCSE orgs in West Norfolk (or those orgs who cover West Norfolk) and aims to raise awareness of issues relating to Dementia and how individuals within organisations can respond appropriately. The training will take place on Friday 23 October, 1pm.
Read more - Dementia Awareness Training
Health & Wellbeing Grants (Derbyshire)
South Derbyshire CVS manages a number of small grant funds for voluntary, community and not-for-profit organisations wanting to make a difference to local people and communities. You can apply for up to £2,000 in total. Guidelines and application forms can be found online.
Read more - South Derbyshire CVS Community Funding
Free Mental Health Training (Derbyshire)
The Mental Health Team in Public Health at DCC have been working with various training providers to develop a virtual offer. There are some new dates available and a range of FREE virtual courses including:
- Mental Health First Aid (Adult)
- Mental Health First Aid (Youth)
- Mental Health Awareness
- E-learning Psychological First Aid
For more information visit the following link.
Read more - Free mental health training
The Evelyn Trust – Health and Wellbeing (Cambridgeshire)
The Evelyn Trust’s Small Grants programme is open to health and wellbeing charities in Cambridgeshire. Applications for £4,000 to £10,000 of funding are considered every quarter with no deadlines. The Larger Grants programme offers grants of up to £250,000 to support medical research and health and wellbeing projects in the county. The deadline for larger grants is 30 November.
Project are particularly welcome which;
- Support young people within families with mental health, alcohol, violence or substance abuse issues
- Assist working age adults with long-term conditions and healthcare communities that support these issues
- Enable older people to receive help and support in the community.
Read more - Evelyn Trust
Alfred Haynes Charitable Trust grants (Birmingham)
The Alfred Haines Charitable Trust is a small local grant making charity. The Trust primarily allocates its funds to support local organisations helping people to improve their quality of life. The Trust prefers to make donations towards specific items and does not give to large appeals. The Trustees prefer to support specific projects and concentrate on helping smaller charities based in Birmingham and the immediate surrounding area. They meet quarterly to consider written applications for grants.
The majority of donations are made on a one-off basis. Sometimes the Trust will agree to fund a project annually for up to three years subject to receipt of satisfactory project reports. One off grants are normally in the range of £250 to £2,000. Please check their exclusions list before applying. Also grants are not normally made to individuals.
Read more - Alfred Haynes Charitable Trust
North Warwickshire FSB membership Subsidy
North Warwickshire Borough Council has just unveiled a new support Scheme for micro/small businesses (companie employing up to 10 people) as part of the Local Economic Recovery Plans. The Council has forged a new partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) enabling independent businesses and the self-employed to claim significant discount off direct business support. The Council is subsidising FSB membership for new members in the local authority area, opting to pay the first £50 of the usual fee and FSB is waiving the normally required joining fee. That means that you can join from as little as £97, down from a typical £177.
Once businesses take up the subsidised membership, they can access the full package of business support from the FSB which will help firms to manage their HR issues and get to grips with their legal obligations. The full membership package includes:
- 24/7 FSB Legal Protection hotline and online hub of legal documents, employment protection and HR guidance including information on the furlough scheme
- Tax Investigation Protection – members have automatic access to comprehensive and free tax advice and tax investigation insurance
- FSB Workplace pensions – a straightforward and cost-effective solution specifically designed to help small businesses ensure their workplace pension scheme is fully compliant
- Free Business Banking with the Co-operative Bank
- FSB Care – a hotline for business owners to seek advice on support on mental and physical health concerns
- £10k of built-in FSB Cyber Protection insurance to projected websites, databases and email systems
- Debt management and late payment tools to help SMEs to get paid on time and in full
- FSB Funding Platform which makes seeking out available and relevant business funding easy.
The subsidy is available now so If you are interested in finding out more about this offer please email: [email protected]
Free mental health training (Bristol)
Thrive Bristol offers free mental health training, funded by Bristol, North Somserset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (BNSSG CCG) and Bristol Public Health, with a range of online courses for people in VCSE organisations, covering topics like building resilience, suicide awareness and bereavement. The courses are running throughout September to December, but many are booked up so move fast if you want to secure your place.
Your group or organisation can also book free private training by emailing [email protected].
Read more - Thrive training
Free Mental Health Awareness Training (Reading)
This online Mental Health Awareness course is open to anyone currently volunteering with a local group, involved in informal volunteering and/or community action in Reading or anyone considering taking on such a role. The course is offered free of charge.
The two half-day course will run over Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 October, 1-30-3:30pm, via Zoom, and aims to raise awareness of mental health. It covers:
- What mental health is and how to challenge stigma.
- Basic knowledge of some common mental health issues.
- An introduction to looking after your own mental health and maintaining wellbeing.
- Confidence to support someone in distress or who may be experiencing a mental health issue.
Designed by MHFA England and delivered, via Zoom, by an experienced local instructor, those completing this course will receive a manual and workbook as well as a certificate of attendance.
Book here - Reading Voluntary Action training
Free radio advertising with Greatest Hits Surrey and East Hampshire
To mark the re-brand of Eagle Radio as Greatest Hits Surrey and East Hampshire, Bauer Media is launching a package of local initiatives to benefit local workers, charities and businesses in the area as they deal with the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. These initiatives include:
- Free advertising airtime for charities, hospices and other not-for-profit community organisations to support them in communicating messages and campaigns as they rebuild their fundraising base post-lockdown.
- A ‘Getting Back to Work’ campaign that will promote local job opportunities both on-air and online. Local employers will be encouraged to submit vacancies for inclusion, allowing them to reach a wide audience of local job-seekers free of charge. Job vacancy bulletins will be broadcast four times a day to local audiences and will be promoted on the relevant Greatest Hits Radio website.
Applications for both initiatives are open now. Employers looking to participate in the ‘Getting Back to Work’ campaign should email [email protected] for more information. Charities and non-profit partners regarding free advertising airtime should email [email protected].
Low Cost training on using the Outcome Star (Reading)
The Outcomes Star offers an holistic approach to supporting and measuring change in people’s lives. It is visual and user-friendly, enabling people using the tool to have strong ownership of the change process. Change is measured on a 10-point scale against a range of criteria. There are clear descriptors for each point that support conversations between organisations and service users. The Outcomes Star can help to evaluate outcomes and demonstrate the impact of services.
By the end of this course, you will have:
- explored the features of the Outcomes Star including how it measures and supports change.
- carried out practical exercises using the Outcomes Stars so that you are prepared and confident in using the tool.
The course tutor is Nerin Swanton from Brighter Futures for Children. Nerin is a licensed trainer through Triangle. Triangle copyright the Outcome Star and any users are required to have been through the training. Read more on the Triangle website.
The course is held over two sessions, both of which must be completed:
- 21 October 2020 from 9.30 to 11.30am
- 4 November from 9.30 to 11.30am
The cost is £10 for both sessions.
Read More - Introduction to the Outcome Star
Introduction to Measuring Social Impact (Reading)
Understanding our social impact is important for organisations and practitioners. It allows us to evidence value to funders and other stakeholders and, more importantly, to adapt and improve projects so that they have the best outcomes possible for all participants. Building on work undertaken as part of Reading, Place of Culture, they are offering an introduction to understanding your social impact. It will include a mix of presented information and practical activities to help you think about what difference your projects and organisations make. This will be delivered by Reading Place of Culture's evaluation partner - MB Associates, with practical examples from programme commissions explaining how they put the learning into action.
You don't need to do any preparation but it is helpful to have a project in mind as you join the training so that you can use this for the practical workshops.This workshop is relevant for the voluntary, community, public and cultural sectors.
The workshop will take place on Zoom, a link will be sent to registered participants closer to the time of the event.
Read more - Measuring Social Impact
Good thinking - Digital mental wellbeing (London)
This free service provided for Londoners is thanks to London’s NHS, London’s borough councils and Public Health England. Over 120 online resources are signposted to through Good Thinking, including wellbeing information sources; guides to improving mental health; courses on and offline; mobile apps and other therapy approaches suitable for London’s modern, highly-mobile population.
Read more - Good Thinking London
Free Setting up as a CIC Briefing (Bristol)
VOSCUR, the VCSE support organisation for Bristol, is hosting a free training course on 10th November 2020. Becoming a Community Interest Company (CIC) is an exciting step forward for groups or organisations that want to be a business and have social impact. However, you will need to think about some key issues first, to make sure you're doing the right thing for you and your social enterprise. The course is for anyone considering a CIC model for their social enterprise, or for an existing business or charity that wants to convert to a CIC.
This briefing covers why and how to set up as a CIC, and how to run well once you are set up.
What will you learn?
- When a CIC is the best choice for your social enterprise.
- How to choose the right CIC structure for you.
- How to register as a CIC.
- The roles and responsibilities of the Board and Directors.
Read more - Setting up a CIC briefing
Become a BTSE Associate Member (Bromley)
If you are already involved in delivering health and social care services, why not join Bromley Third Sector Enterprise’s network of members and be a part of the Bromley Well community of providers. You will also have the opportunity to apply for funding reserved exclusively for associate members. It’s completely free and you won’t be expected to do anything over and above your existing provision – unless of course you decide to!
Read more - BTSE membership
London Resilience Fund
The London Resilience Fund is the Mayor Sadiq Khan’s £1m innovation programme to support London’s businesses and community groups in their recovery from the coronavirus crisis, and to ensure they’re better prepared for future emergencies. The Fund is open to a broad range of public, private and third-sector organisations in London that are looking for solutions to the challenges they are experiencing and who are set to benefit from the innovations.
The fund will support the designing and testing of innovation with grants that enable:
- the creation of tools to help London’s economy
- emerge from the current crisis, and fare better during future stresses and shocks
- London’s community of small businesses and community organisations to adapt, diversify and deliver services in new ways, while boosting their levels of preparedness, awareness, skills and capacity
- positive social change that addresses London’s major stresses – from inequality and food insecurity to poor health and wellbeing
The first round of applications will open in September 2020. Grants of up to £50,000 will be available to support designing and testing these innovations.
Read more - London Resilience Fund
Need help with your charity? (Bexley Borough only)
Bexley Voluntary Service Council has been funded by the City of London Corporation’s charity, City Bridge Trust, to support Bexley charities with FREE consultancy style work for the next two years.
If your charity needs:
- Increased funding
- Improved evidence of the difference you are making
- Support with re-focusing your work post lockdown, or
- Someone to help you seek practical suggestions of solutions
…then Karen Jefferys, BVSC Impact Officer, is eager to help. She has put together this leaflet for those who would like to find out more.
Read more - Impact In Action
Wessex Water Recovery Fund
Wiltshire Community Foundation is delighted to be working in partnership with Quartet, Somerset and Dorset Community Foundations to deliver the Wessex Water Recovery Fund across the South West region. For this year only as a response to the challenges faced by local communities Wessex Water Foundation are providing grants that will support local projects strengthening our communities following the coronavirus outbreak.
This fund will seek to support a wide range of local projects across our area. Priority will be given to those that are working to:
- support people in financially difficult circumstances
- help build stronger communities
- support the green recovery with new initiatives
- restoring and protecting nature and wildlife for community health and wellbeing
They particularly welcome applications from BAME groups. Grant are up to £2,500. Only the following organisations are eligible to apply;
- Voluntary and community groups with charitable aims
- Registered Charities
- Not-for-profit and Community Interest Companies - providing they are limited by shares, there are at least 3 unrelated directors the majority of which recieve no payment from the company
- Town and Parish Councils
- Schools
All organisations must be based and working in Wiltshire's Wessex Water area. Applicants outside of this area should apply to their relevant Community Foundation. Opening for applicaitons on 5 October 2020. Closing date for applications is 4th December, 2020, with the decisions made in January 2021.
Read more - Wessex Water Recovery Fund
Green Minds Launches (Plymouth)
Green Minds is a Plymouth-based programme giving a voice to nature by investing in rewilding projects; evidencing nature-based solutions; and nurturing green businesses to support the economy. There will be a programme of free launch activities in October. To find out more about Green Minds follow the link below.
Read more - Green Minds
Free business skills training to family farms.
Family farm businesses can now register for the Prince’s Trust Farm Resilience Programme which offers free business skills training to family farms in order to maximise profitability and resilience.
Read more - Farm Resilience Programme
Seeking young people's veiws on barriers to farming
The NFU is seeking the views of young adults aged 17 to 26 on careers in agriculture with the aim to identify any difficulties they face when considering a career in farming, in order to provide relevant advice and support.
Read more - NFU Young People & Agriculture survey
Free Guidance on setting up a charity
The Small Charities Coalition exist to support people ewho want to make a difference to society. They have produced a simple guide for anyone wanting to set up a charity and can also support on the journey.
More info - Simple Guide for setting up a charity
Free Graphic Design software for non-profits
Canva is a really easy-to-use graphic design platform which enables you to create social media images, short videos, infographics, reports, flyers, brochures and other marketing materials. Like most things there is a free version which has restricted access and watermarks on images - and then there is the "Pro" version which has loads of extra useful features which you would normally you have to pay for. However, Canva now offer the Pro version free of charge for charities.
Apply here - Canva Pro for non-profits
RHS Big Soup Share - 5th to 11th October
Each year, community groups, businesses and organisations across the UK open up their gates to take part in the Big Soup Share. Home-grown produce is whizzed up into delicious soup to be shared with friends, family, colleagues and neighbours. Although this year people may not be able to join together in same way, the UK has seen a surge in community growing and we should celebrate the kindness that has been shown over the past few months.
The Royal Horticultural Society would like to invite you to join the Big Soup Share week (Monday 5 October - Sunday 11 October 2020). They have created a selection of fun tools and resources to help you host a Big Soup Share and connect with your neighbourhood, be that physically or digitally. You may want to open a socially distant soup station or hold virtual meet and greet for those who are still shielding. Growing as a group may have been limited this year but you don’t have to have an allotment full of vegetables to join in, a trip to the local green grocers or donations from your guests work just as well. You can plan your soup to suit your group. Whether you use the event to raise money, make new connections or support those in need, the important thing is to stay safe and have fun!
They have also got a line-up of great guests tackling the big issues around food, over on their social media channels. They’ll be sharing fool proof recipes for delicious soups, stews and sides ready for the Big Soup Share week.
Read more - RHS Big Soup Share
Two recent reports on Social Prescribing - New insights from the VCSE sector
September saw the publication of two interesting reports on social prescribing. The first was a report from National Voices which highlights that NHS providers must ensure funding goes to voluntary sector organisations engaged in social prescribing activity if demand for services is to be met. Commissioned by NHS England, the research by National Voices, a coalition of health and social care charities, heard from more than 300 people in relation to the NHS rollout of social prescribing between December 2019 and June 2020. The report, 'Rolling Out Social Prescribing: Understanding the experience of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector', found numerous examples of more effective health and care support for people, and strong support from primary care networks.
Read more - National Voices report
The second report came from TCV. The report entitled 'Enabling the Potential of Social Prescribing' is a summary of the issues affecting longer-term Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector funding for social prescribing including views from before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more - TCV report
Gift Aid Awareness Day - 8th October 2020
Gift Aid is an important tax relief worth £1.3 billion to the charity sector. But it could be worth even more – £560 million more! We need to shrink that gap. The Charity Finance Group campaign asks UK-based charities, small, medium and large, to spread the #TickTheBox message far and wide on 8 October. The benefit of hundreds of charities promoting Gift Aid at one time is that the message is amplified and more likely to have an impact on the public.
The 2020 campaign pack includes logos, posters, infographics and a banner. More resources will be added including fact sheets, articles and links.
Read more - Charity Finance Group - Tick the Box
World Mental Health Day - 10th October 2020
This World Mental Health Day why not talk about the work you are doing and the positive impact that it's having on people's mental health, especially in this difficult time? Use your social media to promote case studies and highlight the mental health benefits of care farming. Don't forget to tag us using the handle @GrowCareFarming so that we can share your posts!
Read more - Mental Health Foundation
Co-produced videos on Adult ADHD
Patients from the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Adult ADHD Clinic have played the leading role in producing two videos to raise awareness and improve knowledge of adult ADHD within the Trust and other partners. This was a co-produced project, with the aim to improve awareness, recognition and understanding about adult ADHD across the Trust.
The approach was chosen by the service users, many of whom felt they were misdiagnosed and/or unnecessarily medicated for other mental health conditions before their ADHD was recognised or considered suitable for a referral to the ADHD clinic. The project was supported by the BEH Adult ADHD Clinic and the Enablement Partnership. To view the videos and improve your knowledge of adult ADHD, please use the links below. Please also share these videos with your networks and email the BEH ADHD team at [email protected] with any comments or feedback that you have.
Video 1 - Sometimes it’s hard to see ADHD
Video 2 - James... Interrupted
Sense - Sensory Walks 2020
SENSE is a UK charity to support people living with complex disabilities, including people who are deafblind. They have a project called 'sensory walks', which are an opportunity for people to get outside and be active whilst connecting with nature. Sensory walks aim to make going out for a walk more enjoyable through using their senses to connect with their surroundings and make the experience meaningful.
If you wish to get in contact with Sense about this project please contact; Chloe Brown, Sport and Physical Activity Coordinator (East). Mobile Number: 07980 660 939. Email: [email protected].
12 Best Twitter Hacks for Charities
Still struggling with those 280 characters? Lost amongst all the Twitterati? Look no further. While the Twittersphere can be daunting, the social media platform is useful for building engagement. Charity Digital has compiled a list of the 12 best hacks for charities.
Read more - Top 12 Twitter hacks
NCVO webinars - Watch again
NCVO has a large back catalogue of webinars to watch again online on a number of useful topics including;
- How to manage operational change in a time of uncertainty
- Decision-making in a crisis: collaboration and merger
- Volunteering in a pandemic: Lessons from volunteering organisations
- Easing of lockdown: practical considerations for managing and supporting staff
- Building organisational resilience: Things for small charities to consider
- Making decisions in tough times
- Board leadership: Supporting your charity though the next phase of coronavirus
- How to manage operational change in a time of uncertainty.
Read more - NCVO online
NESTA toolkit for helping people reach their goals
NESTA is an innovation foundation which has put together this useful tooklit. Now more than ever, there is a need to help people live well in their homes and communities. The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of diversifying sources of help beyond the hospital, and of drawing on support from friends, neighbours, local organisations and charities to ensure people can live healthy lives. It means thinking more flexibly about what ‘help’ means, and how the right help can make a huge difference.
NESTA have produced this guide which outlines eight characteristics of Good Help, which aims to support practitioners, system leaders (such as service managers, charity directors or commissioners) and any person working in a direct ‘helping’ organisation to:
- Understand the behaviour change evidence that underpins Good Help
- Develop new ideas or adapt offers of Good Help, which can be tested out in their own organisations or local communities.
Read More - Re-imagining help Toolkit
New Female Focused Farming Forum Launches
Home on the Farm is a new online network developed to support females in farming and farming families throughout the UK. The forum is the brainchild of Milly Fyfe – industry ambassador, farmer’s wife and mother, together with the Farming Forum, Farm Safety Foundation and The Farming Community Network (FCN).
Having shared her own experiences of loneliness and isolation in the Farm Safety Foundation’s 2020 Mind Your Head campaign earlier this year, Milly has been working with the Farm Safety Foundation, FCN and The Farming Forum, a thriving online community with over 45,000 active members in the agricultural industry, to create a new online community for females in farming where they can have conversations about issues that matter to them, concerns for their family and the future and share advice and experiences.
Read more - Home on The Farm
Online Harvest Festival - 9th October
JLS band member and farmer JB Gill has joined forces with Jordans Cereals and Eco-Schools to create Harvest Festival LIVE, the UK’s first ever virtual Harvest Festival, on 9 October 2020. For the first time on record, schools won’t be able to gather large groups of pupils in school halls and other community venues to celebrate harvest, due to COVID-19 restrictions. In response to this, Jordans is organising the first ever virtual assembly for children and families involving pop stars, farmers, The Wildlife Trusts and Eco Schools to create a fun-filled online alternative.
Read more - Online Harvest Festival
Stay safe everyone and keep in touch with us. We love to hear from you!
You can send general enquiries to [email protected] or you can contact Debbie and Rachel on [email protected]
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