LANCASHIRE COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY YOUTH SERVICES FORUM “The Way Ahead” A chance to discuss future developments affecting the Service - the development of Children’s Trusts, Regionalisation, etc. With input from Guest Speakers Venue to be confirmed on Wednesday 30th June 2004 7 pm for 7.30 pm start Telephone the LCVYS office on 01772 250001 for information Tea and coffee will be available. OPEN HOUSE LCVYS Open Evening Monday 21st June 7 pm to 9 pm. If you want to practice using the resources, utilize the funding desk using the Funderfinder software, look through the InKindDirect catalogue or get general support and advice. Telephone the LCVYS office and book your place on 01772 250001 Tea and coffee will be available. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm VOLUNTARY YOUTH NETWORK (VYNET) Voluntary Youth Network that serves voluntary youth groups in Blackburn with Darwen, has secured funding for training from the Borough’s Community Chest. VYNET is working in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Youth Service to create joint training opportunities covering a range of expertise. Individual groups wishing to do their own training can be funded separately, but there are certain conditions. Contact Bob Beardsworth, Chair of VYNET, to talk about your training needs and the support on offer on 01254 395650 NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE A national minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds will be introduced from 1st October 2004. The new rate will be £3.00 an hour. It applies for all 16 year olds who are no longer of compulsory school age and 17 year olds. In England and Wales a person is no longer of compulsory school age after the last Friday of June of the school year in which their 16th birthday occurs. The national minimum wage will be increased from 1st October 2004. The main rate (for those aged 22 and above) will be £4.85 an hour. The development rate (for 18 to 21 year olds and trainees) will be £4.10 an hour. For further information about any of these changes visit: www.dti.gov.uk/er/nmw or the Inland Revenue minimum wage helpline on 0845 6000678 FUNDERFINDER Funderfinder is a software programme that assists organisations to source trusts and grant giving organisations that may be able to support them. It is available at the LCVYS office to all member organisations during office hours. For information contact the office on 01772 250001 or email enquiries@lcvys.org.uk Also available - free access to the internet, colour laser printer, mono duplex printer, photocopier and fundraising resources including software, manuals, cd roms etc. EUROPEAN UNION The Government intends to change section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, the law for all UK employers on preventing the employment of illegal workers. These changes came into effect on 1st May 2004. For more information on the section 8 changes visit www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/default.asp?pageid=17 On 1st May 2004 a further ten countries joined the European Union and also become a part of the European Economic Area. The countries are: Cyprus Czech Republic Estonia Hungary Latvia Lithuania Malta Poland Slovakia Slovenia Just out of interest: Other countries which are part of the EEA are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Those members marked in bold are also members of the European Union. From 1st June 2002, nationals from Switzerland have also had the same free movement and employment rights as existing EEA nationals. FAMILIES ORGANISATION NETWORK Three regional events have been organised to offer information and support to staff from voluntary organisations who wish to apply for grants from the newly-launched Parenting Fund. Two regional road shows are planned for Leeds and Birmingham, for organisations in the North and the Midlands; while groups from London and the South are invited to attend a question and answer session in Westminster. All the events will take place in June, and all are free. The Parenting Fund was launched by the Rt Hon Margaret Hodge, Minister for Children, on Monday May 10. Worth at least £15 million over two years, it is a major investment in parenting support that will be distributed entirely through the voluntary sector. The details for the roadshows are as follows: THE NORTH: June 3 2004, from 2.00 pm - Venue: Radisson SAS Hotel, Cookridge Street, Leeds THE MIDLANDS: June 7 2004, from 2.00 pm - Venue: Britannia Hotel, New Street, Birmingham LONDON AND THE SOUTH (question and answer session): Date: June 17 2004, from 1.00 pm Venue: Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster To book: Email info@parentingfund.org, stating which event you wish to attend, and the name of your organisation. Although these events are free, and open to any voluntary or community organisation, booking is essential. Visit the Parenting Fund website for more information about the Fund: www.parentingfund.org CSV JOURNALIST NETWORK FREE MEDIA ADVICE FOR THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR Do you need help with raising your profile? Writing articles for newspapers, reporting on events or devising marketing campaigns? If so then CSV might just have the answer - the CSV Journalist Network – a scheme that offers voluntary help from retired, and also some working and recently qualified media professionals, to the voluntary sector. Launched at the beginning of 2002 in association with the BBC and ITN, the scheme has helped over 250 charities and community groups with many aspects of media relations and internal communications. There are around 200 volunteers across the country offering advice and practical hands-on help to a good cause. Projects so far have included: writing and editing a quarterly newsletter for a children’s hospice, running a media training workshop for a voluntary action group and writing a press release to publicise a fundraising event for a disability group. The scheme aims to help small charities in particular that may not have the funds to pay for someone to handle media relations. There is no charge for the service, though charities are expected to reimburse any expenses the volunteer incurs through his or her work. If you would like to be put in touch with a volunteer media professional then please contact Andrea Hodgson at CSV on 020 7643 1371, email journonetwork@csv.org.uk or visit www.csv.org.uk/journalistnetwork for a request form. PUBLICATIONS QUALITY WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE For youth workers, managers and policy makers Quality Work with Young People focuses on the personal and social development of young people. It enables youth workers to address government concerns about young people, in particular in relation to risk behaviours and social exclusion. It gives youth workers the tools to work effectively with all young people and to demonstrate that their work is accountable and cost effective. These results are not achieved by chance but only through well managed and skilled work with young people. The methods outlined in this book by John Huskins remain essential practice for policy makers, managers and workers in order to target, plan and effectively evaluate youth work practice. FOUNDATIONS: The Guide to Running a Youth Group Foundations is a vital resource for the thousands of locally run youth groups across the country. It provides information on the core elements of working with young people, elements that need to be in place to provide a safe, vibrant programme. The book contains 2 parts, the first looking at what is required to establish the foundation stones of a youth group and the second, focuses on delivering a programme. Topics include: legal matters, administration, building a programme, making the most of your premises, taking care of your staff and ways of involving young people in all these areas. Foundations will help those new to work and experienced youth teams to review their working practice. For more information concerning these publications visit www.ukyouth.org.uk or email: publications@ukyouth.org alternatively write to UK Youth, 2nd Floor, Kirkby House, 20-24 Kirkby Street, London, EC1N 8TS or Tel: 020 7242 4045 Fax: 0207242 4125 Email: info@ukyouth.org L.A.M.P (LANCASHIRE ACCESS TO MENTORING) PROJECT OVERVIEW Lancashire Education Business Partnership have secured funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the European Social Fund (ESF) to support capacity building of mentoring in the voluntary and community sector to deliver: Mentoring that widens access and participation in lifelong learning and improves retention/achievement of young people and adults of working age who are currently not participating in learning. We have funding available (up to a maximum of £240 per mentee) that we can pay to organisations who: -Draw their mentees from the 16+ age group. -The mentees are from the LSC priority groups, for example: -Lack basic skills at Level 2 (in or out of employment) -Young people not undergoing training or education -Young people who are or who may become disaffected -Single Parents -Unemployed -Disadvantaged groups -Disabled people. We can also support organisations with a structured training programme for their staff and volunteers. This comprises of: 1. Basic Mentoring Induction Training (Half day) 2. Open College Network Award at Level 2 (Reflective journal, started at Induction Training and completed during 12 week mentoring relationship). 3. Higher Education in Community Mentoring and NVQ Mini Award in 3. Advice & Guidance. Developed in partnership with CETAD at Lancaster University. Dual accredited award a Lancaster University Certificate (15 Higher Education Credits (CATS) and one unit of the Advice and Guidance NVQ Level 3). Lancaster University Certificate of Achievement: Managing Projects in the Voluntary Sector (Community Mentoring). Participants will be awarded 20 Certificate of Achievement credits (Level C) and 1 unit of an NVQ Level 3. Organisations who would like to apply for funding, or access training would need to complete a Service Level Agreement and complete the relevant LSC paperwork for staff, mentors and mentees. To access any of this funding, the beneficiaries must live or work in Lancashire. If you would like further details or would like to discuss the eligibility of your project contact Margaret Boardman on 01254 584086. YOUTH NOW Youth NoW is a new website designed to give young people in the north west of England a voice. If you are aged 13 to 25 and living in the region we want to give you the opportunity to have a say on issues affecting young people in your area. Youth NoW offers the opportunities for young people to raise issues relevant to their lives, take part in online polls and topics and encourage those with similar concerns to share and discuss their views and opinions. Log on to have your say www.youthnow.info. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Youth Development Training Consultant £22k to £27k pa Based in Ambleside Are you creative? Do you inspire young people? We are looking for someone with experience of working creatively with young people and with a high level of facilitation skills. You will be able to demonstrate your skills and knowledge in using development training to inspire young people to make positive choices. You will have responsibility for managing Brathay’s relationships with a number of youth organisations and projects. You will work within a supportive team, although most of your work will require a high level of independence. The successful candidate will ideally hold a Youth Work Qualification and have an enthusiastic and passionate approach to working with young people through a process of development through challenge. Brathay is the UK’s leading provider of people development; working with young people, professionals and organisations. Our powerful approach to learning uses real experience to help people recognise their talents and achieve beyond their expectations. All profits generated from our corporate work benefit Brathay Hall Trust – an educational charity committed to the personal and social development of young people, irrespective of their means and circumstances. Benefits include pension scheme, 30 days holiday and flexible pay scheme. As the post involves working with young people, recruitment will be subject to an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure. If you have the skills and experience to fulfil this role, please send your CV and covering letter by Tuesday 1st June 2004 to: Helen Ramsay, Brathay Hall Trust, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0HP Email helen.ramsay@brathay.org.uk UNDERSTANDING THE DISCRIMINATION AGENDA Developing young people’s skills to successfully challenge racism within their communities Thursday 3rd June 2004, 12.30 pm (for lunch) – 3.30 pm at Connexions Greater Manchester, Turing House, Archway 5, Manchester M15 5RL Young people aged 13-17 from across the North West are invited to take part in a series of workshops to be held in Manchester. Young people from Wigan, Rochdale, Burnley and Blackburn have been trained and supported to deliver workshops along the following themes: Asylum & Immigration Identity & Diversity – A European Perspective Employment – Understanding the myths Education – Valuing diversity This is an exciting opportunity to empower young people to gain the skills to engage with, and have an understanding of this topical political debate that has a direct impact on their lives and that of their communities. This project is a partnership between 1 North West, North West Regional Assembly (Youth Now) and PeaceMaker (Oldham) to address young people’s frustration and concerns over the discrimination agenda and its increased impact in the region. To book a place for young people to attend please contact Siddika Ahmed at 1 North West siddika@nwnetwork.org.uk - before 1st June. CO-OPERATIVE YOUNG FILM MAKERS FESTIVAL Budding film makers can apply to take part in the Co-Operative Young Film Makers Festival, competing for the chance to get their productions shown at the national film museum in Bradford on 8th and 9th October. The festival is open to entries from young people aged under 21 who have directed, written or starred in a film lasting no more than six minutes. The Closing date for applications is 28th June 2004. over 100 films were shown at last year’s event. For more information visit www.film-makers.co-op.co.uk THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION Sixteen and seventeen year olds should not get the vote but eighteen year olds should be able to stand in elections, The Electoral Commission said in April. The recommendations follow a year long review by the Commission and a campaign to lower the minimum voting age. The Commission’s decision not to support lowering the voting age followed widespread speculation that it would back the measure. SCOUTS SET DEADLINE The Scout Association has set a deadline of its centenary in January 2007 to become fully co-educational. The organisation has been partly mixed since 1976, but is keen to introduce the policy for its anniversary celebrations. MAKE SOME EXTRA CASH Does your organisation need a bit of cash? Are you experienced at leafleting? Lancashire County Council are looking for voluntary groups to deliver home composting leaflets to households across Lancashire. Groups must be able to deliver approx 1300 leaflets within a week in June (date to be decided). Groups will be paid for the work (price to be decided). If you are interested in this, or future leafleting opportunities then please contact Andrew Coombe on 01772 533477 NEW GUIDELINES New guidelines have been published online to help voluntary organisations involved in recycling comply with recently introduced regulations. Recycling is a rapidly expanding sector, with the UK producing 400 million tones of waste a year. European Union directives introduced in January are forcing organisations to seek alternatives to the traditional landfill option. To help organisations understand the new directives and how it affects their work, the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environments Protection Agency and Northern Ireland’s Environment and Heritage Service have launched www.netregs.gov.uk Netregs offers access to information on relevant environmental legislation A BLACK PERSPECTIVE IN COMMUNITY AND YOUTH WORK Saturday, 27th November 2004 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Enabling black and white community workers to focus on practice, e.g. Social inclusion and work with Connexions Crime and disorder strategies, e.g. the impact of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO’s) Building sustainable participation and communities Aim Higher and Widening Participation initiatives to raise aspirations and educational achievements How do we take these forward with a black perspective? The conference will look at a black perspective and what it means for good practice Through discussion of relevant issues and practice in a positive learning environment. The aim of the conference is to provide opportunities for black and other community and youth workers to share experiences and understanding of the relevance of a black perspective to practice, to explore relevant issues and practice for community and youth work with practical strategies for change, to provide material for a conference report as a basis for future training and development. The conference is designed to address the needs and interests of black and white community and youth workers and activists who are currently involved in relevant work, e.g. youth work, community work, management of voluntary organisations, community development, community enterprise, Connexions, Youth Offending Teams, etc. The day conference will be held on Saturday the 27th November 2004 at MANDEC, Higher Cambridge Street, Manchester M15 6FH between 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Contact Sue Pollitt 0161 275 3292 or e-mail: sue.pollitt@man.ac.uk. Fax: 0161 275 3300. BRUNSHAW ACTION GROUP’S PARADE SUNDAY 15 AUGUST 2004 If you would like to find out more information about the Parade, please call 01282 715400 The aim of the parade is to have fun; celebrate Building Bridges with different communities in Burnley. Brunshaw Action Group is aiming for a high quality and creative Parade that builds on the carnival theme of a Single Colour in Different Shades. We would like to encourage you to be creative, imaginative and original. We want to create an incredible, spectacle Parade. We are also looking for bands as well as dancing groups to take part. The Brunshaw Action Group Team has contacts with a number of artists who may be able to support your organisation. If you have accessed funds to create your entry, we will be happy to put you in contact with a range of artists who can support you in costume making, circus skills, float making, giant puppet making etc. Most importantly, we hope that you enjoy your involvement in Brunshaw Action Group’s Parade. Deadline for Parade submission: 5.00pm Monday 31 May 2004 Confirmation of entry: by Monday 28 June 2004 Parade Briefing Meeting: TBC Each entry (MUST send a representative to the Briefing Meeting or their entry may be excluded from the Parade) The Parade is about having fun and celebrating, but to ensure that the experience is safe and enjoyable for everyone, all entrants must comply with the regulations and safety guidelines obtainable from Brunshaw Action Group. Attendance at the Parade briefing meeting is ESSENTIAL. At the briefing for the Parade you will be provided with time, directions, registration information and your entry number. Date and venue to be confirmed Application packs can be obtained from Brunshaw Action Group by email brunshawag@aol.com or telephone 01282 715400. BT CHILDLINE AWARDS ChildLine, the UK’s free, 24 hour helpline for children, is calling on young people aged 18 or under to nominate a special adult who’s made a big difference to them, or to other kids. These awards are a chance to for children throughout the UK to say thank you to unsung adult heroes who go that extra mile to make a difference in children’s lives. Nominate any special adult (as long as he or she isn’t a close relative, but you can nominate a foster parent) by entering online at www.childline.org.uk To nominate your special adult for the BT ChildLine Awards, and be in with a chance of joining them at the awards ceremony in London in December visit the website. You can print off an entry form but remember to attach a letter explaining why you think this person should win. Don’t be shy about singing their praises - the more we know about them, the better the chance they have of winning and get your entry in by 28th June 2004. The winners will be announced in December. Send your entry to BT ChildLine (Awards), Freepost NATN1111, London E1 6BR THE HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND The Heritage Lottery Fund’s Young Roots scheme, which helps children aged 13 and over to get involved in UK heritage, has become a rolling scheme with no application cut off dates. Organisations are invited to apply for grants of between £5,000 and £25,000. Visit www.hlf.org.uk or tel: 020 7591 6042 THE WARD BLENKINSOP TRUST Beneficial area: UK, with a special interest in Merseyside and surrounding counties. The trust currently supports charities in the Merseyside area and charities of a medical nature, especially those connected with cancer, but all requests for funds are considered. Grants were given to other organisations in north west England. Applications in writing to Charlotte Blenkinsop, Trustee, PO Box 28840, London, SW13 0WZ No grants to individuals. LLOYDS TSB FOUNDATIONS Applications to the Lloyds TSB Foundations are invited from groups with education, social or community projects. The foundation gives out around £25m each year and has previously funded a range of projects. For more information visit www.lloydstsbfoundations.org.uk GRANTS FOR THE ARTS An Arts Council leaflet which outlines the funding it can provide for individuals, organisations and national touring is available (also in languages other than English.) For details contact Neil Morrin, Assistant Communications Officer, Arts Council, North West, Manchester House, 22 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3AB Tel: 0161 827 9256 Email: neil.morrin@artscouncil.org.uk GRANADA ACTION Granada Action is part of Granada TV's social action programming which gives free airtime to up to 50 charitable and voluntary organisations in the North West each year. Every week one organisation will receive 5 broadcasts where they can advertise their services or ask for volunteers (but not ask for funds or fundraisers). If you think your organisation might qualify download the application pack from the website or (if you have difficulty doing this) call Denise Ambery on 0161 827 2246 for a pack. Once completed return the application to Denise with accompanying documents as listed in the pack. All applications are considered by their Advisory Group, which is made up of representatives from voluntary organisations in the north west region. The Group meets every 8 to 10 weeks. Denise Ambery, Granada Action, ITV Granada, Quay Street, Manchester, M60 9EA Website: www.itv.com under regions and Granada CHILDREN’S FUND LOCAL NETWORK LCVYS is delighted to announce that it has been awarded an Outreach and Support contract for the Children’s Fund Local Network. The Local Network Fund covers the Lancashire area and targets children and young people aged 0 – 19 years who are recognised as facing disadvantage. The next deadline for applications is Friday 16th July 2004 and the panel meets in the first week of September. Closing dates after that are as follows: Friday 15th October 2004 Friday 10th December 2004 Friday 11th February 2005 This fund is currently being directly administered by the Community Foundation for Merseyside. As a result, previously circulated dates for deadlines and panel meetings no longer apply. Applications are still being invited however and applicants will be kept informed of progress. 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 four 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 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. For help with any aspect of the application procedure please contact the LCVYS office on 01772 250001. AWARDS FOR ALL CUTS TURNAROUND TIME Awards for All England has dramatically streamlined its processes to enable applicants to hear a decision on their grant application within 8 weeks, instead of the previous turnaround time of 3 months. The main way that Awards for All has been able to do this is by delegating the decision making to its skilled and experienced regional staff teams, instead of holding committee meetings. All applications received are assessed by an Awards Officer against a set of standard criteria. They fall into three main areas; your group, your project and our regional focus. Following assessment, on a monthly basis, the Senior Awards Officer batches all assessments together and, with the team of Awards Officers, undertakes an overview check to ensure that the batch of applications have been assessed consistently in line with their policies. Any changes are agreed amongst the team. Following completion of the monthly overview process, the Senior Awards Officer applies a budget to the decisions. The budget is based on a twelfth of the annual budget with an allowance for an upturn or downturn in demand. At this stage the Senior Awards Officer confirms the assessment recommendations against the budget available and confirms decisions and informs applicants of the outcome. Previously, applications were batched on a two-monthly basis with the same overview and consistency checking process. After this, the batch of assessments went to a Joint Regional Committee for a decision. Full information of these changes are in a downloadable document under News on their website. Application details and forms are also available on the website. Tel: 0845 600 20 40 Website: www.awardsforall.org.uk < http://www.awardsforall.org.uk> THE BALANCE FOUNDATION The Balance Foundation is a new charitable initiative that has been established to release unclaimed assets from within the UK financial system and to make grants to the charitable sector. The Balance Foundation itself will play two distinct roles within this initiative. It will: Work with current holders of unclaimed assets, advisors, authorities and industry bodies in order to secure the release of the unclaimed assets; and act as an independent charitable foundation through which the income from unclaimed assets will be paid to charities. The Balance Charitable Foundation is a private sector initiative independent of Government, financial institutions and the Voluntary Sector. It will be working with financial institutions to participate in this initiative. The application process has not yet been agreed, but details will be posted on their website as soon as they have been confirmed. The Balance Charitable Foundation for Unclaimed Assets, 5 Chancery Lane, Clifford's Inn, London. EC4A 1BU Tel: 020 7410 7039, Fax: 020 7410 0332 Email: info@balancefoundation.org.uk < mailto:info@balancefoundation.org.uk> Website: www.balancefoundation.org.uk < http://www.balancefoundation.org.uk> THE WEAVERS’ COMPANY BENEVOLENT FUND This benevolent fund was set up in 1973 with funds provided by the Worshipful Company of Weavers, the oldest of the City of London Livery Companies. The company has selected three particular areas of need which it wishes to support and grants are mainly restricted to projects working within these categories. These are: young people who for any reason are at risk from criminal involvement, young offenders, the rehabilitation of prisoners and ex-prisoners. The following advice is given to applicants: it only supports specific projects, it does not provide long-term funding to any one organisation, and it would wish to be assured that all other possible sources of finance had been explored and that efforts were being made to obtain long-term funding from statutory and voluntary sources, it prefers to support small or new, community-based organisations rather than long-established, large or national organisations, and to support projects where the company’s grant would form a substantial part of the funds required, it is particularly interested in innovative projects that are trying to get off the ground, that would be evaluated and that could act as a catalyst for other similar projects elsewhere, it is willing to consider applications for equipment and capital projects, as well as salaries and running costs, subject to the overall policy not to provide long-term funding. Grants ordinarily range from £5,000 to £15,000, but the trust states that it welcomes applications for smaller amounts from small or new organisations. Exclusions No grants to individuals, or to non-registered charities – unless they are intending to apply for charitable status. Grants are not normally made in response to general appeals from large, well-established charities whose work does not fall within one of the company’s chosen areas of interest. It does not often support central or umbrella bodies, but prefers assisting projects directly working in its chosen fields. It is not the company’s policy to provide for running costs or deficit funding for established projects, nor to provide grants to replace start-up funding provided by other statutory or charitable funds. Applications Detailed Guidelines for Applicants are available from the trust and applicants are urged to obtain these before making any appeal. Applicants should write in the first instance to the correspondent, John Snowdon, with details of their requirements and include a set of their most recent accounts. If an application is accepted for further consideration, an application form will be issued. Before an application goes to the trustees an assessment visit is always made. The company uses its own members, who live throughout the country, to do this. The trustees meet three times a year in February, June and October. Applications may be submitted at any time and will be put to the next appropriate committee. ‘Applicants should take into account the time it takes to process an application, raise queries and organise an assessment visit.’ Successful applicants are required to provide regular reports on progress. The Worshipful Company of Weavers’, Saddlers’ House, Gutter Lane, London, EC2V 6BR Tel 020 7606 1155 Fax 020 7606 1119 email charity@weaversco.co.uk GOVERNMENT FUNDING Voluntary and community groups can now apply online for a range of Government grants. The newly revamped website also has application advice and guidance. The website is being developed with a bulletin board and directory of users to be added shortly. The biggest development is that you are now able to apply online from the website for the government grants that you identify from using the search facility on the website for suitable funding. Visit www.governmentfunding.org.uk 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.