Menphys – A new and exciting future

The Centre will become the new Menphys Hub providing the charity with both a long-term home, a base for developing and growing services, along with enhancing the support it provides to disabled children, young people, and their families.

In addition to running its own clubs and services, the new Menphys Hub will also incorporate The Hub Coffee Shop and a new Charity Shop. In supporting the local community, Menphys will also re-open and operate the South Wigston Community Library and IT Suite. This will create a number of volunteer and work experience opportunities for both local people and young people with disabilities.

During the summer, Menphys will be carrying out a number of key building works to ensure that the building is fully accessible and will install new specialist Sensory and Therapy Rooms for our various client groups. This work will include the building of a ‘Changing Places’ which is a specialist disabled toilet for people who require additional facilities and is funded by a grant from Leicestershire County Council.

As part of the Hub’s wider role in the community, Menphys will also be hosting the South Wigston Registrar and Adult Learning Service to compliment the range of services on offer and to help maintain The Bassett Centre as an important community resource for local people.

Menphys CEO, Ian Caldwell, said “Our move to the Bassett Centre is a great opportunity for Menphys to build on the success of its existing clubs and activities for disabled children, young people and their families in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, allowing us to extend our reach and capability, whilst also enabling us to develop and grow new services”. He added, “We are looking forward to welcoming both local residents and people from across the city and counties to enjoy the new facilities at The Hub.”

Pam Posnett MBE CC, Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, added “I am delighted to welcome Menphys to the Bassett Centre.  This is great news for South Wigston and the wider Leicestershire community. I very much look forward to the reopening of South Wigston library, and to the County Council working with Menphys and the community to support the hub.”

As a leading local charity, Menphys has enjoyed the support of the local community, businesses and corporate sponsors for many years. In order to continue its important work for disabled children and young people we need to grow the support of these communities.

ESF Community Grants Programme

Round 2: 15th November 2019 to 15th December 2019
Round 3: 15th June to 15th July 2020

Jointly funded by the SFA and the European Social Fund, the Community Grants programme gives small, voluntary and community sector organisations (with a turnover of less than £500,000) an opportunity to access funding to deliver projects that engage ‘hard to reach’ individuals and help them to progress into employment.

Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 are available for projects or initiatives in Leicester and Leicestershire that help people take steps towards reaching the labour market, and developing their future career potential, whilst reducing unemployment and inactivity.

Activities which are eligible for funding include:

  • initial help with basic skills
  • work experience, including voluntary work
  • training, advice and counselling
  • confidence building
  • job search assistance and other help necessary to secure employment
  • engagement activities

Priority will be given to applications that demonstrate an ability to target participants who are:

  • Over 50
  • With Learning Difficulties and Disabilities
  • From Ethnic Minority Backgrounds
  • Women
  • Unemployed for over 6 months
  • Furthest removed from the labour market with significant barriers to employment

The East Midlands programme is being administered by Futures, and more information can be seen on their website.

To find out more about the Grant programme and to receive support with your application, contact:
Ashley Wilkinson (Community Grants Coordinator – East Midlands)

Email: ashley.wilkinson@futuresforbusiness.com
Tel: 07483 120941

The Y – Funding for Heritage Projects involving Young People

The Y Heritage Project will offer grants of between £3,000 and £30,000 to eligible organisations in Leicester or Leicestershire who are able to help deliver local heritage projects, whilst hosting meaningful work opportunities for vulnerable young people, helping to develop and utilise the skills of these young people (who are residents at the Y’s homeless shelter).

As part of the funding programme, it will run a series of “Dragons Den” style pitches over the next three years, where shortlisted applicants will be able to present their proposals to a panel of young people from The Y.

The Y are very keen to engage with heritage projects across Leicestershire to promote this exciting opportunity.

For any group/organisation to be in with a good chance of being awarded funding, they need to be able to:

  • Develop / deliver a project which promotes local heritage or history. Examples could include restoring artefacts or producing historical exhibitions/displays
  • Engage young people in local heritage and history projects
  • Host a placement for a (vulnerable) young person to help run the project and learn/develop a range of new skills
  • Would be interested in applying for funding (up to £30,000) for such a project

Y Heritage will work to two commissioning and training cycles a year over a three-year period; one which takes place between September and December; and another which takes places between February and May.

Trustee Clinic

Are you passionate about making a difference and want to support  Leicester City and LeicesterShire Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise ( VCSE) organisations  who are looking for new trustees to share their enthusiasm to help set their strategic direction and future vision.

Or are you a Voluntary and Community Sector organisation looking to engage new trustees to enhance the direction of your group VAL can help you to advertise and promote your roles to find the right people and support with your governance documents.

If you are interested come along and talk to our friendly staff at our Trustee Clinic at the VAL offices 9 Newarke Street Leicester LE1 5SN between 2 – 6pm to find out more about becoming involved as a Trustee or Promoting your Trustee Roles.