Contents 1. LCVYS Annual General Meeting 2. Open House 3. LPSA Target 11A – Lancashire Accreditation Network 4. LCVYS Update 5. Youth Matters Green Paper 6. LOLLYTRAD Ltd 7. Meeting Rooms Available 8. The Electronic Lolly 9. Lolly Submissions 10. Resources 11. Brunshaw Action Group 12. More Consultations 13. Thought for the Day 14. Northwest Network 15. Youth Achievement Awards Training 16. Volunteers Wanted 17. The Russell Commission Report 18. Eco Scouts 19. Government Funding 20. ICE 21. Help with Writing Community Newsletters 22. Consultation Briefing 23. Vacancies for Y Act Young Advocates 24. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 25. LSC 26. The Four Acre Trust 27. Community Chests 28. Children’s Fund Local Network 29. Leslie Sell Charitable Trust 30. Community Care Awards 2005 31. UnLtd 32. London Law Trust 33. Road Safety Challenge Grants 34. Waterways Trust Small Grants Scheme 35. Lankelly Foundation 36. Guardian Charity Awards LANCASHIRE COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY YOUTH SERVICES ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING To be followed by a Lancashire County Youth Event, which will include the presentation of LCVYS Certificates of Achievement for young people Venue - County Hall on Wednesday 28th September 2005, 6.45 pm for 7.15 pm start You may reserve your free place by contacting the office on 01772 250001 OPEN HOUSE - LCVYS Open Evening Thursday 11 August 5 pm to 7 pm and Monday 12 September 7 pm to 9 pm LCVYS has been offering its members these open evenings in order to accommodate members who may be working during office hours. If you have been finding them helpful or would like to suggest other times and dates please let us know. The open evenings are specifically to give our members a chance to practise using the resources, utilise the funding desk, use the Funderfinder software, look through the InKindDirect catalogue or get general support and advice, contact the LCVYS office for more information. LPSA TARGET 11A - LANCASHIRE ACCREDITATION NETWORK Funding for the Voluntary Sector – April 2005 to March 2006 Funding for the support of Young People’s Accreditation The partnership formed to help meet the target is collectively known as the 'Lancashire Accreditation Network'. They oversee a pump-priming budget of £110,000 which has been made available to all partners to help develop accreditation opportunities across the statutory and voluntary sector. Individual groups and projects can access this funding to support the accreditation of their young people. An audit of accreditation activity carried out in September 2003 showed that over 2300 young people had gained a nationally recognised award in 2002/03 across Lancashire. The LPSA target is stretching that baseline by 35% to 3,214 young people. If the target is reached by March 2006, Lancashire Accreditation Network will stand to receive a £500,000 reward grant, £87,000 of which is earmarked for the voluntary sector. This will be for re-investment in accrediting young people's learning and achievement beyond 2006. To access this funding your group must be signed up with the Accreditation Network in their own right or be a member of an umbrella organisation, eg Lancashire Council for Voluntary Youth Services, Lancashire Association of Clubs for Young People, Lancashire Youth Association, the money is available to develop and/or record the accredited outcomes of young people aged 13 to 19 living in the Lancashire County Council area. The voluntary sector has a vital role to plan in meeting this target, if you are working with young people why not think about giving them something to show their achievements, for example: AQA Awards are very quick and easy to use The AQA Unit Award Scheme provides the opportunity to give young people and adults formal recognition of their success in short units of work. Youth Achievement Awards are a bigger commitment. There are four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold & Platinum. Young people can start at the appropriate level for them. Young people achieve awards by choosing and completing challenges. These challenges are drawn from 3 theme areas: Interests, Concerns and Your Future. UK Youth Momentum Programme - UK Youth's Momentum Programme aims to encourage young people 14-17, to develop positive attitudes towards the responsibilities inherent in the use of motor vehicles. They have been developed with assistance from a range of organisations with expertise within road safety, driver/rider education, traffic management and the motor vehicle industry. There are two programmes focusing on ownership and use of cars and motorbikes: First Gear and On Two Wheels. A smaller amount of funding is available now for the current financial year and can be applied for to cover the costs of you enhancing what you are already doing by accrediting young people’s achievements, for example: training for you to deliver awards and to support the cost of booklets for young people etc. Funding is available for: Leader training – necessary training for leaders to be able to deliver accredited out comes – e.g. BCU awards etc Young People’s accreditation – to support the delivery of work leading to accredited outcomes – e.g. the additional cost of a residential to offer accreditation, award booklets etc *Young People to access subsidised places on LCVYS training courses leading to an accredited outcome Data collection e.g. umbrella organisation licences, administration of data collection where numbers are large and the data is from different sources i.e. Girlguiding, Scouts, LACYP etc National Awards currently eligible under the LPSA target 11a include among others: Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, including sectional and access organisation certificates, Youth Challenge Awards, Youth Achievement Awards, including challenge certificates, AQA Unit Award Scheme, Millennium Volunteers 100 & 200 hour certificates, National Governing Body Awards, Open College Network, ASDAN endorsed Awards, British Sports Trust Awards, Prince’s Trust XL, BSM Ignition and Signal, UK Youth Momentum, NVQs & B-TEC Awards, National First Aid Certificates, National Food Hygiene Certificate, John Muir Trust Awards, Boys’ Brigade President’s Badge, Boys’ Brigade Queen’s Badge, Boys’ Brigade Queen’s Leadership Award, Chief Scout’s Awards, Queen’s Scout Award, Queen’s Guide Award, Guides Leadership Award, Baden Powell Challenge Award, Keystone Awards. For more information please visit the website: www.lancsycs.org/accreditation For an application form please contact: Tracy Cowle, Training & Development Manager, LYA, 10 Fishergate Hill PRESTON PR1 8JB T: 01772 208597 F: 01772 251334 E: tracyc@lya.org.uk * for a young person aged 13 to 19 to attend a subsidised place or a LCVYS training course please contact Val on 01772 250001 or email val@lcvys.org.uk LCVYS UPDATE YOUTH MATTERS GREEN PAPER If you didn’t already know, the Government published the Youth Green Paper, Youth Matters on 18 July 2005. It addresses key issues relating to how they support and challenge teenagers. They are seeking to consult young people, parents and professionals. The consultation document is available on the Department for Education and Skills website www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/youth/ along with a consultation summary and response forms. You can respond online or download the response forms in both Word and PDF format. The Consultation closing date is Friday 4th November 2005. LOLLYTRAD LIMITED You will be aware that LCVYS, along with most other organisations in the sector, are reliant on the uncertain process of annual grant income. To help ensure that the services LCVYS provides to member organisations are more sustainable over the long term, the Executive Committee has authorised the establishment of a trading arm that can generate additional, commercial income. Following discussions with the Charity Commission and the LCVYS Auditors, “LOLLYTRAD Ltd” has been established. Its principle aims are to: Enable LCVYS enter into sub-contracts Provide LCVYS services on a commercial basis eg access to meeting rooms and resources Generate independent income that can be transferred to LCVYS in a tax efficient manner to support services to member organisations. How Can You Help? Please help us promote the company by letting us have details of any organisation you are aware of which may have a need for: City centre meeting rooms and resources at the LCVYS office Information Technology and/or presentation equipment Child / Vulnerable Adult Training The rates are very competitive, and any organisation using LCVYS services could legitimately claim to be ”supporting the work of the Voluntary Youth Sector in Lancashire.” Wherever you work there is now the potential for you to help us provide services to the sector. Further details are available from Pete Beesley on 01772 250001, 07970 904029 or pete@lcvys.org.uk or follow the Lollytrad link from www.lcvys.org.uk MEETING ROOMS AVAILABLE LCVYS have 2 meeting rooms available for use. Based in the centre of Preston on Guildhall Street, it is an ideal venue for groups, of up to 30 people (large room) or up to 8 (small room), wishing to meet in professional surroundings away from their normal venue. Drinks facilities are available. LCVYS also has a range of resources and office facilities available at a cost (free to LCVYS member organisations). The rooms are available during office hours, weekdays but may also be booked at weekends and evenings by prior appointment. Call 01772 250001 or email lcvys@lcvys.org.uk for rates and availability. THE ELECTRONIC LOLLY Free subscription is available to all for the electronic version of this newsletter which is published monthly. Send an email with the words “subscribe lolly” in the main body of the email to: majordomo@lcvys.org.uk and you will be added to our list and receive confirmation by return email. To receive the latest copy of the LOLLY by email at any time, send a blank email to: latestlolly@lcvys.org.uk within a few seconds the latest edition will be emailed back to you. LOLLY SUBMISSIONS Do you have an event in the future you wish to publicise? Has your group had an event you want to tell others about? Have you been successful in a funding application and want to tell other members what you have achieved/are hoping to achieve with the funding? Do you have any employment or volunteering opportunities? If you would like to submit an article for inclusion in the next edition of the LOLLY Newsletter, the deadline is Friday 9th September. It’s simple enough to submit an article. Email the item (with a picture if possible) to val@lcvys.org.uk. We are also happy to accept articles by fax 01772 250042 or post (contact details are on the front page). The LOLLY is circulated to over 1300 readers in either hard copy or by email. It’s also available on the LCVYS website: www.lcvys.org.uk Details of how to receive a copy of the electronic newsletter, free of charge are below. Alternatively to receive a hard copy at a cost of £15.00 per annum email val@lcvys.org.uk or call 01772 250001 RESOURCES LCVYS is able to support its members by loaning out resources that many organisations simply cannot afford to buy themselves. Through the Transforming Youth Work Development Fund in association with Lancashire County Council Youth & Community Service, Connexions Lancashire and the Local Network Fund we have been able to purchase additional equipment. Available to our member organisations, are: Combined TV and Video player, OHP, Laptops, Thermal Binder, Flip Chart Board, Laminator, Projectors, screens, VCR, Digital Camcorders, Digital Cameras, access to an interactive whiteboard, PA Systems. Within the office a scanner and CD/DVD writer, a colour laser printer, duplex black and white printer. Contact the office on 01772 250001 or visit the website www.lcvys.org and click on resources. BRUNSHAW ACTION GROUP Brunshaw Action Group, one of the winners of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, are looking for a volunteer web designer. They need some help with the set up and the running of their website. Can you help? If so, please contact Michael Bailey on 01282 715400. It has been a very busy time for Brunshaw Action Group and over the next five months they are going to be even busier. They need volunteers to help with organising events, projects and making costumes. If you can offer a few hours a week or would like information about any of their events give them a call on 01282 715400. You don’t have to live in Brunshaw to take part in any of the projects. MORE CONSULTATIONS The Home Office Active Communities Unit has launched a consultation on its strategic grants programme. The deadline for responses is 13 September 2005. www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs4/2005_06_21_ACU_Strategic_Grants_Criteria_ consultation_document_5.6.pdf A further consultation is open on strategic grants from the Volunteering and Charitable Giving Unit within the Active Communities Unit. Please email ellie@ncvys.org.uk for copies of this document. The consultation closes on 31 August 2005. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Knowledge itself is power - Sir Francis Bacon NORTHWEST NETWORK Visit the Northwest Network’s website for details of events happening between now and the end of the year. These include: Working in Eastern Europe Are you interested in developing project work in Eastern Europe? Do you need assistance in finding project partners from Eastern Europe? North West Network has recently been involved in the successful delivery of a project with the Polish and Ukrainian Third Sector. A major output of this work has been the development of a new web portal promoting partnership between the UK and the East European Third Sector. Visit www.english.ngo.pl to search for partners in your particular field and leave your organisational details for others to see the work you do. European Day of Languages: 26 September 2005 The Council of Europe has announced that this year's European Day of Languages will take place on 6/09/05. Originally created in 2001, the day aims to highlight the importance of lifelong language learning and raise awareness of the multiplicity of languages around Europe, encouraging Europeans to become multilingual. Events are planned to take place all over Europe to celebrate the day, including language festivals in Greece and Italy and a foreign language song competition in Poland. The UK input into the day is being co-ordinated by the Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research. Tel: 020 7379 5101 Email: info@cilt.org.uk For information on events taking place in Europe, visit the their portal website www.ecml.at/edl/default.asp Capacity Building Training Bishop Doye Agama has been awarded a Community Champion's grant for portable training equipment to provide more capacity development in the North West region. Doye has a number of courses available to community groups that include newsletter sub editing and production, as well as leadership training and project management among others. To contact Bishop Doye Agama or to book training for your group, e-mail: doye@hotmail.com Please note that since Monday 11 July 2005 North West Network has moved to: 2nd Floor, Albert House, 17 Bloom Street, Manchester, M1 3HZ Telephone and Fax numbers have not changed. YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS TRAINING Free training to support you to give young people for their participation in the work you are already doing Combined Youth Achievement and Youth Challenge Awards Introductory Training Day This extremely popular training is aimed at anyone who is considering offering these Awards to their young people. It should be emphasised that attendance at an introductory training day is a basic requirement for delivering this programme and helps to maintain the high standards that the awarding body demands and your young people deserve. If you have new or untrained staff / volunteers working with the Awards I recommend that you use this opportunity to obtain this essential Youth Achievement Awards training. The details are as follows: Thursday 20th October 2005 Friday 21st October 2005 Saturday 26th November 2005 Times: 9.45 am- 4 pm Location: Lancashire - TBC Cost: Free Lunch Provided: Yes Trainer: Jeanna Park, Regional Accredited Learning Development Officer, UK Youth If you are interested you should contact Cath Grime on 01772 530525 to reserve a place. For information about these Awards or other types of accreditation contact Tracy Cowle 01772 208597 VOLUNTEERS WANTED Are you 16 - 25? Would you like to gain more skills? Gain skills in communication, problem solving, taking responsibility, leadership, motivation, confidence and many others. You could change your life forever by joining an action packed 12 week Personal Development Programme with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service - The Prince’s Trust. Inspired by HRH The Prince of Wales, The Prince’s Trust Team programme enables 16 - 25 year olds to develop their confidence, motivation and skills through a 12-week course. The programme is available for both unemployed and employed young people and includes work experience, careers advice and job opportunities, new qualifications, challenging projects, an action-packed team building week away, the chance to make a difference to the community and much more. Two out of three unemployed participants find work or go on to further education or training after completing the programme. Of those employers whose staff go on the course, 90% report improvements in the skill and attitudes of staff on their return to work. Over 50,000 people have taken part since the programme was launched in 1990. This year nearly 1,500 will benefit in the North West. Whilst continuing to carry out its function of firefighting and rescue, Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service is striving to prevent and lessen the impact of fires upon the people of Lancashire. One of the ways through which this can be achieved is through education and developing a closer partnership with local communities. This brings the Service into contact with young people disadvantaged by unemployment, social deprivation, inequality and ‘fading hope’. The Prince's Trust Team Programme aims to develop young people by modifying behaviour and changing attitudes. This is achieved through working directly with young people, developing them for further education, progression into the workplace or creating opportunities for those already in employment. This process creates ‘friends’ of the fire service who become socially aware, and respect the dominant social beliefs and values, and can assist with the Fire Service’s aim of reducing the incidence of arson and accidental ignition. This, in turn, reduces casualties and death by fire thus corresponding with the Service’s primary objective of making Lancashire a safer community. On the 1st April 2001 Lancashire Combined Fire Authority entered into a partnership agreement with The Prince's Trust and became a “Delivery Partner” for the Team Programme in Lancashire. The Programme is delivered by Team Leaders and Support workers who are Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service staff. Teams are based in the following locations: Blackburn, Preston, Burnley, Blackpool, Pendle, Fleetwood and Morecambe As stated previously the teams take part in a wide range of challenging activities ranging from a residential week in The Lake District, to a ‘Final Team Challenge’ towards the end of the 12 week programme. This challenge usually involves the team planning and organising a week of activities for a disadvantaged group from the local community. The teams choose their own projects and raise the funds to carry them out. The culmination of the programme is when the team gives a presentation to a large invited audience and tell of their background and experiences during the programme. The skills developed on the programme are the very ones employers are looking for – which means people who have completed the programme are more likely to be successful in their search for a job. The employers of our employed participants report improvements in the skills and attitudes of their returning employees. For further information on the Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service – The Prince's Trust contact: - Station Officer George Martin, Delivery Partner Manager or Bob Gildert, Programme Co-ordinator Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service – The Prince's Trust Headquarters, Garstang Road, Fulwood, Preston, Lancs, PR2 3LH Tel: 01772 866898 Mobile: 07900 268701 (George Martin) 07900 268702 (Bob Gildert) Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service - The Prince’s Trust Latest Programme Start Dates: Location Team Start Date Week Commencing End Date Week Commencing Preston 30 22nd August 2005 7th November 2005 Blackburn 53 29th August 2005 14th November 2005 Pendle 22 5th September 2005 21st November 2005 Fleetwood 4 12th September 2005 28th November 2005 Blackpool 34 19th September 2005 5th December 2005 Morecambe 3 26th September 2005 12th December 2005 Burnley 10 26th September 2005 12th December 2005 THE RUSSELL COMMISSION REPORT The Russell Commission was established in 2004 to carry out research with the aim of developing a National Youth Volunteering Strategy. The report was published in March this year and a power point show presenting the recommendations of the report is available on the Toucan Group website www.toucan-europe.co.uk ECO SCOUTS Scouts in West Lancashire are all set to ‘go green’ with the launch of their own ‘Eco-dome’ project based at Waddecar Scout Activity Centre in the Forest of Bowland. The ground breaking project will centre around a new 40ft Polytunnel, dubbed “Granddad’s Greenhouse”, where Scouts will grow their own fruits and vegetables. The idea behind the project is to give young people the opportunity to explore and learn more about where their food comes from and to promote the use of fresh produce as a healthier alternative to processed food. Principal Officer for West Lancs Scouts, Pete Sturgess, wants to attract volunteers willing to work alongside the Scouts to offer help and advice, and pass on their horticultural skills and experience. Anyone interested in supporting this project personally, or as a supplier of horticultural equipment should call Pete on 01995 61336 or visit www.waddecar.org.uk to read more about the project. GOVERNMENT FUNDING The National Audit Office has published a report on the government's funding of the voluntary and community sector, suggesting there is as yet no consensus among government departments on how full cost recovery should be calculated and what should be paid for. www.nao.org.uk/pn/05-06/050675.htm FOLLOWING THE DISASTER IN LONDON East Anglian Ambulance Service has launched a national "In case of Emergency ( ICE )" campaign with the support of Falklands war hero Simon Weston. The idea is that you store the word " ICE " in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency". In an emergency situation ambulance and hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them. It's so simple that everyone can do it. Please do. Please will you also email this to everybody in your address book, it won't take too many 'forwards' before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest. For more than one contact name ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc. HELP WITH WRITING COMMUNITY NEWSLETTERS News to Use is a news service from the community news agency - designed to help anyone producing a newsletter, newspaper or website or radio for their community. A year's subscription, comprising ten monthly editions (excluding July and December) starts from as little as £30 for a single subscription. You will have access to news stories, feature articles, puzzles and entertainment and illustration. Each comes with notes and tips to help you get the best from your subscription. www.news-to-use.co.uk CONSULTATION BRIEFING NCVYS’s briefing on the consultation on the rationalisation of grants from the DfES to voluntary and community organisations is available to download from www.ncvys.org.uk/docs/policy/policy_briefings.htm VACANCIES FOR Y ACT YOUNG ADVOCATES Do you want to inspire people to make a difference and get paid to do so? Changemakers is currently recruiting 9 Young Advocates, aged 16-25, to form a national team of active, inspired and inspirational Young Leaders. We are seeking one person from each Government Office region in England to: • advocate the youth led approach to community action by talking to individuals and interested organisations • model the youth led approach by facilitating a group of young people to realise their beliefs and initiate, organise and manage a project to improve their community as they define it • influence Changemakers and their host organisation’s policies and practice internally to model the youth participation being recommended to others. We value diversity and welcome applicants from minority and under-represented groups. Young Advocates will be trained in the young person led approach and facilitation skills by Changemakers at a national event in September 2005, supported by an Adult Mentor and hosted by an organisation. They will receive £50 a day for 20 days work with all expenses paid. Closing date for applications is 9 August. Interviews will be held the week of 15 August for the job to run from September 2005 - June 2006. For an application pack call Anna on 0845 226 0583 or email yspeak@changemakers.org.uk PLEDGEBANK PledgeBank is a new initiative which aims to get people to achieve things for society/ their community through an 'I will if you will' mentality. Once you have thought of something to do, you create a pledge which says you will do it, but only if 5 other people pledge to do it too. Examples of successful pledges so far include 20 people pledging to write to their MP to ask for free wireless internet in the British Library. Pledges are easy to create and the service is free. `We all know what it is like to feel powerless, that our own actions can't really change the things that we want to change. PledgeBank is about beating that feeling...` says Tom Steinberg of PledgeBank. To join in a pledge, create your own or find out more, go to: www.pledgebank.com Taking the bull by the horns Val (who is nervous around needles) at the LCVYS office has pledged to give blood at least 3 times this year (the first was Wednesday 27th July) along with at least 15 other people. If you are aged between 17 and 60 (up to 70 if you are a regular donor) and feel the urge to give blood, for details of when and where you can give blood or for more information then visit their website www.blood.co.uk or telephone 0845 7711 711 at any time. THE QUEEN’S AWARD FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE To celebrate her Golden Jubilee, The Queen announced a new, annual Award to recognise and reward excellence in voluntary activities carried out by groups in the community. The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service (formerly The Queen's Golden Jubilee Award) is given for outstanding achievement by groups of volunteers who: regularly devote their time to helping others in the community, improve the quality of life and opportunity for others, provide an outstanding service Nominations are now being accepted for the 2006 Awards, the deadline is 30 September 2005. This award recognises the vital role played by the hundreds of thousands of ’unsung heroes’ of the voluntary and community world and emphasises the importance of continuing recognition of their work. Nomination forms are available at www.queensawardvoluntary.org.uk or contact The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Office, Volunteering England, Regent’s Wharf, 8 All Saints Street London, N1 9RL Tel: 0845 000 2002 or Email: queensaward@volunteeringengland.org ACCOUNTANCY APPRENTICESHIP ADDS UP FOR CINGEE Cingee Ip, from St. Annes, has calculated that the best way for her to achieve her dream job as a chartered accountant is through an Apprenticeship. Cingee, 18, achieved 10 GCSEs, grades A-C, at Lytham St. Annes High, but wanted to start work rather than follow the traditional college and university route. When she started at Whittles Accountants, St. Annes, her boss suggested an Apprenticeship and Cingee has never looked back. Cingee says, “Without this Apprenticeship I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing. This is the best way into the job that I want to do. It means I can do my studying at home and can interact with other people who are doing the same as me. I can work whilst getting weekly tuition from people with lots of knowledge and expertise. If I didn’t get that I don’t think the people in the workplace would have the same amount of time to teach me. I have no regrets about doing an Apprenticeship.” Rose Andrews from Cingee’s employers, Whittles Accountants, adds, “Cingee settled in very quickly and is a valued member of our team of nine staff. It is good for our business to take on an Apprentice rather than someone who has followed the traditional route of A Levels and university. For a small business such as ours it is a more cost effective way of developing well trained staff.” Steve Palmer, executive director of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in Lancashire, says, “Apprenticeships are often overlooked, but they can open doors that would otherwise remain closed. In the past year 6,500 young people in Lancashire benefited from a wide range of Apprenticeships from engineering to accountancy, and many employers are also reaping the rewards of a young workforce, trained to the specific needs of the business.” For more information on Apprenticeships visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk If you are in contact with any young people who are leaving school this summer, why not suggest they enquire about Apprenticeships that are available in Lancashire - they could get on the job training, study for a nationally recognised qualification and earn money - all at the same time. Young people should contact their local Connexions Centre or ring the national help line on 08000 150 600 SOPHIE WORKS TOWARDS HER DREAM Sophie is well on the way to achieving her dream of becoming a physiotherapist, thanks to £30 per week Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). Steve Palmer of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in Lancashire is encouraging other young people to take advantage of the payments. Sophie Mulcahy, 17 is studying for 4 A levels in Lancashire, and receiving the £30 weekly to help towards costs. The money means that she no longer needs to work long hours at a restaurant every evening to support her studies, but can concentrate on getting good results. Since September, over 8,000 Lancashire school leavers like Sophie have benefited from EMA. To ensure that no one misses out on the same opportunity to continue in education without worrying about how they can afford it, every year 11 student will receive an EMA application form by the end of April. Sophie commented, “EMA has made my life easier and I know I am going to be able to do myself justice when it comes to sitting my exams because I can spend more time on studying rather than working. If I am going to become a physiotherapist I need to get good grades to get into university, so it is really important that I focus my attention on studying and EMA has helped me to do just that.” She added, “I got £100 bonus for good attendance and meeting coursework deadlines and that has paid for a few driving lessons – something that I probably wouldn’t have had they money to do if it wasn’t for EMA. It’s really taken the pressure off, I think it’s brilliant.” Any student who has just completed year 11 and who has not received an EMA application form from school, or for general enquiries, contact the EMA helpline on 080 81016219 or visit www.direct.gov.uk/ema The LSC exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. We are responsible for planning and funding high-quality vocational education and training for everyone. We have a single goal: to improve the skills of England’s young people and adults to world-class standards. Our vision is that by 2010, young people and adults in England have the knowledge and skills matching the best in the world and are part of a truly competitive workforce. Established in 2001, we work nationally, regionally and locally from a network of offices across the country. THE FOUR ACRE TRUST The Four Acre Trust makes grants under specific categories to registered charities working in the UK and overseas. These categories include: -Respite Care and Holidays: Subsidised holidays, Adventure Centres, Refuges, Respite for carers. -Vocational Guidance: Training for work, Work schemes, Foyer schemes, Adventure Centres. -Relief of Health Disability: Cataract operations, Prosthesis and wheel chairs, Rehabilitation back into society. Applications should be made using the Trust’s Application Form. Please read carefully the Trust’s grant policy before completing the application form – don’t apply unless you fully meet the funding criteria. Do phone for advice if you’re unsure 01453 844129. The Trust provides grants up to £120,000 but the majority are between £2,000 and £5,000. Grants can be for core costs or specific purposes, but applications must clearly show what the need is and how it is to be met. A condition of our grants is a full report on the outcome. The Trust receives more applications than it has funds to support. Therefore, Trustees must narrow the field within our stated criteria. The Trust prefers to support local, district or smaller national organisations that have low reserves and broadly spend all their income on charitable works. Trustees meet in March, June, October and January. Applications need to be received by the middle of the preceding month to be considered at the next meeting. Please contact The Four Acre Trust, PO Box 48, Wotton under Edge, GL12 7WZ Tel: 01453 844129 Email: info@fouracretrust.org.uk Website: www.fouracretrust.org.uk COMMUNITY CHESTS This English regional scheme ends 31 March 2006. The Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chests scheme funds projects that will improve the quality of life in the 88 most deprived areas of England. The total fund value is £25 million which is the annual funding available each year, which is split between the nine English regions. The Community Chests scheme provides small grants of between £50 and £5,000 to small voluntary and community sector groups who do not have access to other funding - especially those from the most deprived neighbourhoods and hard-to-reach communities such as: black and minority ethnic groups, young, older or disabled people, faith communities, travellers, refugees, lone parents, lesbian, gay and bisexual groups, with the goal of increasing and enhancing community activities in deprived areas. Only organisations within the 88 Neighbourhood Renewal Areas are eligible for funding. Applications must be for learning opportunities, which contribute to the regeneration of the local area, respond to local needs and priorities (those in the local neighbourhood renewal strategy), have the support of local people; give value for money. Grants are administered by specially chosen voluntary sector 'lead organisations' in each of the 88 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund areas, supported by community networks and local residents. Government Offices for the Regions can provide information on how to apply to lead organisations in your area. Alternatively, follow the link below to the NRU site for a list of the 88 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund areas and contact details for the lead organisation in each area. To find the bodies in your region visit www.governmentfunding.org.uk or contact the regional Government Office website at www.go-ne.gov.uk CHILDREN’S FUND LOCAL NETWORK Do you need between £250 and £7,000? Are you a small community group in the Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen or Blackpool areas? Can you organise projects or activities that directly benefit disadvantaged children or young people? If the answer to these questions is yes, then the Children’s Fund Local Network may be able to help. For an application pack telephone 0845 113 0161 The Local Network Fund covers the Lancashire area including Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen and targets children and young people aged 0 – 19 years who are recognised as facing disadvantage. The next deadline for application is: Friday 30 September 2005 This fund is currently being directly administered by the Community Foundation for Merseyside, with outreach and support provided by LCVYS. Funding is available to help improve children’s lives in Lancashire, through the Children’s Fund Local Network. The Children’s Fund Local Network has been set up by the Department of Education to help tackle child poverty. The 4 main themes are: Aspirations and experiences; Economic disadvantage; Isolation and access; Children’s voices The priorities of the Fund are: First time applications, Disadvantaged wards, Minority ethnic groups For help with any aspect of the application procedure please call the LCVYS office on 01772 250001 LESLIE SELL CHARITABLE TRUST This independent Trust Fund distributes over 150 grants to Scout and Guide Groups each year. The trust makes small grants (usually up to £1500) to groups to help with the costs of purchasing Scout equipment and repairing HQs. It also gives assistance to individual Scouts for overseas camps. Applicants are advised to show evidence of their own fundraising when submitting bids. Applications should be made directly in writing to: Mr J Byrnes, The Leslie Sell Charitable Trust, Ground Floor Offices, 52 London Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire. AL1 1NG Tel: 01727 843603 Fax: 01727 843663 COMMUNITY CARE AWARDS 2005 These Awards highlight excellence and recognise the contribution of individuals and teams to improving services across 10 areas of practice. A chance for a team, or individual, to win £15,000 to further their work and also have their achievements recognised. There is a rich variety of excellent and innovative work happening up and down Britain which is really making a difference to the lives of service users. The categories are: carers; drugs and alcohol; improving outcomes for looked after children; learning difficulties; mental health; older children and teenagers; older people; safeguarding children; supporting children and families. Closing date is Wednesday 28 September 2005. For information and to apply call 020 8652 4861/4699 Email: comcare.awards@rbi.co.uk Website: www.communitycare.co.uk/ccareawards/home.htm UnLtd - The Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs Investing in Individuals, Changing Communities In 2002 UnLtd were awarded the Millennium Commission’s £100 million Legacy Endowment Fund to set up and run the UnLtd Millennium Awards Scheme. This is a permanent source of grants for individuals and small informal groups throughout the UK. UnLtd support people who want to develop their own skills and talents and who want to make a positive change in their communities. These people are called Social Entrepreneurs because of their interest in their community or society (social) and ability to make things happen (entrepreneur). UnLtd was formed through a unique partnership between 7 leading non profit organisations that work with social entrepreneurs across the UK. The partners are, Ashoka (UK) Trust, Changemakers, Comic Relief, Community Action Network, School for Social Enterprise, Social Enterprise Network Scotland (SENSCOT) and The Scarman Trust. UnLtd Millennium Awards are cash awards plus support, to help award winners turn their ideas into reality. UnLtd will provide advice, training, mentoring and other support services for all award winners, to give their projects the best chance of success. They also aim to measure the effect of their work and that of others through a research institute. The Awards Scheme has 2 levels: Level 1 Awards for £500 to £5,000 to help make new ideas into real projects. Most awards at Level 1 are likely to be around £2,000. Level 2 Awards from £5,000 to £15,000 to support projects that are already developed or pay part of the living expenses of award winners. Most awards at Level 2 are likely to be around £10,000. For more information, an informal chat about eligibility or an application pack, please call Nickala Torkington, Awards Administrator for the North of England Tel: 01274 728525. alternatively visit their website located at www.unltd.org.uk LONDON LAW TRUST The Trust’s policy is to focus on charities which support and develop children and young people in the three main areas. Preventing and curing illness and disability Alleviating illness and disability Encouraging and developing the qualities of leadership and service to the community Within these categories the trustees tend to favour smaller research projects and new ventures. Applications in writing to the correspondent. The trustees employ a grant adviser whose job it is to evaluate applications. Grant applicants are requested to supply detailed information in support of their applications. The grant advisor makes on site visits to almost all applicants. The trustees meet twice a year to consider the grant adviser’s reports. Most grants are awarded in the autumn. G D Ogilvie, Secretary, Messrs Alexanders, 203 Temple Chambers, Temple Avenue, London, EC4Y 0DB ROAD SAFETY GRANT CHALLENGE GRANTS Road Safety Small Grants Section 40 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, gives the Department for Transport the power to have a Challenge Fund to assist with the cost of projects promoting road safety proposed by organisations other than local authorities. It should be noted that grants cannot be payable to individuals, including Sole Traders. Grants made from the fund may finance the reasonable costs of staff and overheads, which are directly and transparently associated with the delivery of that project only. These costs being additional to regular running costs. The Government has decided to allocate around £200,000 per annum to such a Challenge Fund: individual grants are expected to be for sums up to £20,000. Criteria: Grant funding is for "not for profit" projects and it follows, that grant is also not payable for the start up costs of commercial projects. Nor is it to support research projects, with an uncertain outcome, except in exceptional circumstances. It is available for projects which support Britain's road safety strategy and casualty reduction targets for 2010, as set out in "Tomorrow's Roads - Safer for Everyone", which the Department published on 1 March 2000 (implementation progress can be viewed on the Department's website). The targets are to reduce deaths and serious injuries overall by 40% and by 50% for children; to reduce slight injuries by 10%; and also to tackle the significantly higher incidence in disadvantaged communities. Applications for grants will therefore need to promote casualty reduction and reflect the priorities of the Road Safety Strategy. These include: Novice driver safety; Child safety, especially that of child pedestrians; Drivers’ attitude to speed; Improving safety of vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists & horse riders); Fleet driver safety; Driver Impairment; and Tackling the higher incidence of injuries among disadvantaged communities. The Department will also consider projects which tackle other problem areas. Grant funding is usually for innovative one off projects with a national rather than a local impact, or have lessons that can be used nationally (e.g. the preparation and production of a resource to be used by road safety professionals and volunteers), or to pump prime projects that are intended to become self financing at some time in the future. However, there is scope for projects exceptionally to receive regular support, such as annual events. Grants are not normally payable for equipment, infrastructure improvements (any building works/provision of facilities) charged items or the local implementation of national schemes. Applications will be considered on their merits. Successful applicants will be those whose projects: complement the national road safety objectives as defined above; complement but do not duplicate Departmental work or the work of other bodies on road safety; are sufficiently robust and clear about objectives, in particular whether the outcome of the project is clearly defined, and can be implemented easily; are properly costed, including the printing and distribution costs for disseminating any outputs; provide outputs that can be applied widely; and include arrangements for proper monitoring. Grant applications should be submitted on the prescribed application form which can be obtained from John Doyle, Department for Transport, Zone 2/13, Great Minster House, London SW1P 4DR Tel. 0207 944 2026, Email John.Doyle@dft.gsi.gov.uk. Applications for grants under £5,000 can be submitted at any time. Grants for £5,000 upwards will be considered in April and October each year for applications received by 1 April and 1 October respectively. Applications which cannot be considered due to lack of funds will be able to be resubmitted for the following year. Website: www.dft.gov.uk/roadsafety/grants WATERWAYS TRUST SMALL GRANTS SCHEME The Waterways Trust general fundraising supports their grant-making activities. Their grants are distributed through the Small Grants Scheme. It is likely that grants awarded through the Scheme will not usually exceed £1,000. Those eligible are organisations, community groups or schools. They do not normally give to individuals. Awards will not be made retrospectively. The priorities for 2005 – 2006 are: Waterway wildlife conservation; Restoration of historic waterway craft; Enhancement of the non-tidal River Thames, Teddington to Cricklade The project must be waterway related (canal or river) and meet at least one of the following objectives. Preference will be given to projects that address more than one objective: Provide lasting environmental enhancement; Encourage public enjoyment and awareness of the waterways; Actively involve and benefit the community; Improve educational opportunity and interpretation of the waterway; Benefit young people. They are particularly keen to support projects where the award is being used to attract further funding i.e. from local sponsors, or where volunteer effort or gifts in kind are making a contribution to the scheme. They would not normally expect to be the sole funder for a project. Applications should be received by 30 November 2005 - decisions will be made in January 2006, subject to availability of funding. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application. Full details are on their website. The Waterways Trust, The Boat Museum, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port CH65 4FW Tel: 0151 373 4387 Website: www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk/grants/ LANKELLY FOUNDATION This Foundation wants to concentrate on smaller charities, many of which will have a local or regional remit. For the next four years the Foundation’s programmes are arts; breaking the cycle; developing communities; heritage; free and quiet minds and offenders and society. There is also a limited programme to support organisations working with refugees and asylum seekers. The Foundation welcomes telephone enquiries, and general enquiries can be made by email. Applications must be made by post, and are accepted as received, but allow up to 6 months for processing. Contact The Director, The Lankelly Foundation, 2 The Court, High Street, Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 OEY Tel: 01235 820044 Email: barbara.garlick@btconnect.com Website: www.lankelly-foundation.org.uk GUARDIAN CHARITY AWARDS DEADLINE 9 SEPTEMBER 2005 The annual Guardian Charity Awards seek to recognise and encourage charities making an outstanding and valuable contribution to social welfare in the community. The awards are £6000 from NatWest and The Royal Bank of Scotland, and a brand new PC from smartchange, for each of the five winners. For eligibility details please go to: http://society.guardian.co.uk/voluntarysectorawards DISCLAIMER While LCVYS and its Members use their best efforts in collecting and preparing the information published herein, LCVYS hereby disclaims any liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence or other causes. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, LCVYS does not in any way vouch for the information supplied by Members about their organisations, or for the quality of their youth work. LCVYS reserves the right to edit. Please notify us about any perceived errors or omissions.