Three Leicestershire charities win the 2020 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

We wanted to highlight the three charities that received the Queen’s Award this year, and congratulate all three organisations for their amazing achievement. You can find out more about each of the organisations and how to find and support them below:

Hinckley Concordia Association

The Hinckley Concordia Association (HCA) is a registered charity which owns and administrates the Concordia Theatre. They are pleased to say that the volunteer ethos which made this dream come true is still in existence today, the theatre is completely run by volunteers.

The theatre, which is based on the three sections of a renovated hosiery factory, hosts a number of amateur performance societies who perform regularly at the theatre.

Website: www.concordiatheatre.co.uk/press-release/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/concordiatheatre/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/concordia_uk

Leicestershire Search and Rescue

Leicestershire Search & Rescue (LeicSAR) is a non-profit organisation, made up entirely of emergency volunteers, providing vital support and assistance to the emergency services, local authorities and the general public. Their volunteers share a common interest, which is providing a professional, reliable and vital service to the people of Leicestershire and surrounding areas, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Their primary role is to provide specialist resources to Leicestershire’s emergency services to assist in the search and rescue of vulnerable and missing people in the Leicestershire area. They also provide support to neighbouring teams in other counties.

Website: www.leicestershire-sar.org.uk/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LeicestershireSAR/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/LeicesterSAR

Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre

In 2007 Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre formed to restore the 1¼ miles of the Mountsorrel Railway. With £100,000 raised from the local community and help from local business their 120 volunteers have delivered so much more! Contributing over 140,000 hours of volunteer labour they restored the rail line, built Mountsorrel Station with car park and access, repaired two stone bridges and then went on to create the Mountsorrel And Rothley Community Heritage Centre and all the many areas of interest that the heritage centre site now contains.

They opened to the public on 25th April 2016. Their aim is to encourage visitors to find out and learn about our local heritage and ecology, as well as providing a pleasant area and environment to relax and enjoy themselves.

Website: www.heritage-centre.co.uk/news/queens-award-for-voluntary-service/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Mountsorrel-And-Rothley-Community-Heritage-Centre-43876650405/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mountsorrelrail

More about the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

You can find out more about the QAVS and nominate your choice for the 2021 Queen’s Award on their website. Nominations close on 25 September 2020.


COVID-19 Emergency Broadcast Service

This list of radio stations may be used in an emergency to broadcast essential messages in a timely manner.

If anyone requires any further information or if any authorities wish to broadcast using the Leicestershire and Rutland Emergency Broadcast Service scheme then please email covid19@leicester.fm

CITY:


Leicester Community Radio – 1449AM
The radio station improves social cohesion in Leicester in the over 35’s by providing a station that covers any Leicester resident over 35 irrespective of race, religion or any other demographic. Provides specific programming generated by the African and Caribbean community that raises awareness of Afro-Caribbean cultures within Leicester with all cultures and also improves cohesion within that specific demographic.
Primary Reception – Leicester City Centre


Takeover Radio -103.2FM
Takeover Radio provides a service for children and young people in Leicester, characterised by the involvement of the target community. It entertains with a mix of popular music from the 21st century, blended with speech and interactive educational programming
Primary Reception – Leicester City Northwest
Audible Area – Mowmacre Hill, New Parks, Braunstone Park, Spinney Hill.


Kohinoor FM – 97.3FM
The main types of music broadcast over the course of each week are: Bhangra, Dharmic, folk ballads, Punjabi R&B, classical, Dhaddi Var and Shain (poetry). The main types of speech output broadcast over the course of each week are: community events, discussion of topical issues, culture, sports, education, religion and public information. Programming is broadcast in Punjabi and English
Primary Reception – Leicester East.
Audible Area – Thurmaston, Glenfield, Oadby, Thurnby


Radio Seerah – 1575AM
The main types of music broadcast over the course of each week are Asian music from India and Pakistan, including Nasheeds and Naats.  The main types of speech output broadcast over the course of each week are national news, local and community news, interviews and discussions. Over the course of the week programming is in English, Urdu, Punjabi and other community languages also feature.
Primary Reception – Leicester City

COUNTY:


Fosse 107 – 107. 0FM and 107.9FM
They describe themselves as Local Radio Station for Hinckley, Nuneaton on 107.9, Loughborough on 107 and everywhere in-between.


103 The Eye – 103.0FM
They describe themselves as an award-winning community radio station serving Melton Mowbray and the towns and villages within the Vale of Belvoir. Their name comes from the River Eye which flows through Melton.
They broadcast hit music from the past six decades and today, plus specialist programmes, news and local community information, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


Harborough FM – 102.3FM
They describe themselves as proud to be local and in touch with what’s going on across Market Harborough, South Leicestershire and North Northamptonshire.
They broadcast from Market Harborough 24 hours a day, with live programmes from 7am until midnight daily. Their music ranges from the 1960s to the present day. During day-time hours they say you’ll hear this mix of music and then from 10pm specialist shows, playing everything from country to rock music.


VAL response to the Chancellor’s £750m funding announcement for the voluntary sector

Local community groups are helping in this crisis, but they are also hurting with funding drying up and support disappearing just when these groups are most needed.

The Chancellor’s announcement yesterday is a step in the right direction but I am concerned that it will not be enough and vital community support will be lost now and in the near future.

After 10 years of public spending cuts many local groups have had to survive on fundraising and trading – the two sources of income completely choked off by the Coronavirus lockdown. We are in an immediate battle for our health, and local communities need their local groups and charities to support them through this crisis. Many are providing that immediate help with no thought about what may lie ahead. Schemes to allow organisations to lay off staff are no good to community groups who have seen demand for their support rocket.

These groups need immediate access to cash to keep going, here at VAL we fear for the survival of many local groups. The Chancellor has offered £750 million nationally; a big figure, but we are yet to see if it will be big enough.

Kevan Liles
Chief Executive – VAL


Can our charity assist with COVID-19?

You should first consider the terms of your charity’s existing charitable objects. These are set out in your governing document. Objects that might already allow you to offer support include:

  • the relief of poverty
  • the relief of need hardship or distress
  • the relief of the elderly
  • the advancement of education or advancement in life of young people
  • the advancement of health

Trustees of charities with other objects may also be able to adapt and respond to COVID-19 either directly or indirectly.

For example, a charity with an object to advance religion may be able to offer support as part of its pastoral work.

An arts charity might help relieve isolation through its online work.

Your charity may also have a general object that allows you to act for any charitable purposes, or an object that allows you to support the general benefit of a local area.

In considering what you can do under your existing objects you will need to check whether your objects have restrictions, for example, to benefit a particular local area or class of beneficiaries.

If your existing objects do not allow you to help, you may be able to amend your governing document to change them. But consider carefully:

  • whether there are other charities that may be better placed to respond than yours. You can find contact details for relevant local charities on the public register https://www.gov.uk/find-charity-information
  • the wider and longer-term impacts if you use your charity’s money for purposes other than those for which it was raised. Your existing beneficiaries – whose needs may be less pressing but no less deserving – may also lose out

If you want to change your charitable objects, you should check to see whether your trustees have the powers to amend them, for example using an express power in your governing document. If not, you may need permission from the charity commission. For example if your organisation is a company or a CIO, a change to the objects is a ‘regulated amendment’ which would require our consent.

Any changes proposed should be reasonable, consistent with what your charity does, and not undermine your existing objects. They will prioritise requests required urgently because of COVID-19.


Tell us what support your charity needs during COVID-19

What kind of help, support or guidance do you most need from VAL?

We want to hear from charities and community groups about the kinds of support they might need from VAL, so we can continue to support you:

  • What are the implications of Coronavirus for your organisation?
  • Do you have or need volunteers?
  • Is your service operating?
  • Can we signpost to you?

Volunteer bank

VAL is working with Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council to build a bank of volunteers to support communities across Leicester and Leicestershire.

If you are already considering ways in which you might assist your community and you are looking for volunteers, you can register on our VAL Volunteering website and we will work to match volunteers with your organisation.


Business continuity advice for charities during COVID-19

In the event of emergencies a simple plan includes:

  • Emergency contact details for your team and members in case you need to close, think about who would need to know?
  • Processes to be able to work from home, how can you continue to operate?
  • How can you support your beneficiaries without offering face to face support?
  • Think about what difficulties arise if your team are off sick?
  • Have you spoken to your funders about expectations?
  • Have you checked your governance document to see what it says about being quorum and remote participation
  • Ensure that you provide hand washing facilities
  • Consider postponing and cancelling events, meetings If you are hosting a formal meeting such as AGM think of other ways to deliver this
  • Check cancellation policies for events
  • Check your insurance
  • Check sick pay
  • Keep following government guidance

If you need to contact us about the above please contact us online via:

  • Our online form
  • Email: helpline@valonline.org.uk
  • Our helpline: 0116 257 5050

Go back to main Covid-19 Update page


Supporting the voluntary sector during COVID-19

You can access this support online via the online form, email us at helpline@valonline.org.uk, or call the helpline on: 0116 257 5050.

During this period we would ask you to be patient when waiting for a reply. We will continue to issue regular updates on this website, via our newsletters and on social media.


Training

All training has been postponed for the next four weeks, we will keep this under regular review and currently looking at other avenues to provide priority training to the sector.


Volunteering

Our drop in service for volunteering has been suspended until further notice.

We will continue to update our VAL Volunteering website for volunteering opportunities, including those that may be a response to the current Coronavirus outbreak.


Work.Live.Leicestershire

All face to face services from the Work.Live.Leicestershire project have been suspended.

We will continue to support all participants including new referrals. If you would like to access our service you can do so by contacting will@valonline.org.uk and we will get back to you.


Economic Impact

Economic Impact training has been postponed, we will give further updates through the Economic Impact newsletter.

Otherwise, we will continue to deliver other this service. To access it please email impact@valonline.org.uk.


Go back to main Covid-19 Update page


Trustee’s Week 2019

As part of trustee week, VAL held a number of events/activities. One of these included VAL’s first trustee week network and learn event. 

At the event, trustees got to learn about the governance code.

Good governance in charities is fundamental to a charity’s success. It enables and supports a charity’s compliance with the law and relevant regulations. It also promotes a culture where everything works towards fulfilling the charity’s vision. The code is a practical tool to help charities and their trustees develop high standards of governance.

At the event, trustees got chance to network about how they are using the code or could apply it in their own organisation.

David Lindley Trustee of Leicestershire & Rutland Organisation For The Relief Of Suffering Limited known as LOROS and their governance lead tells us about their use of the code:

“The trustees [of LOROS ] remain committed to supporting staff and volunteers and to playing their part to ensure that LOROS continues to deliver the best possible service and support to its patients and their families/carers. To this end, a group of LOROS trustees are currently carrying out a self-assessment and scoring exercise using the Charity Governance Code principles and outcomes as well as recommended good practice. The results will form the basis for assessing current board performance and hopefully help identify those areas within the governance framework where there is a scope for further developing and strengthening the governance of this amazing local charity.”

If you would like to find out more how you can start to use the governance code within your charity, or if you are using the code and would like some additional advice please contact our helpline (If using our online form, please use the “support for your voluntary organization” drop down box.)

The governance code steering group have launched a consultation on the governance code.

The new consultation, which will run until 28 February 2020, will focus on several areas, including how to improve awareness and take-up of the code, diversity, safeguarding and how the code is being used.

Also at the trustee week network and learn event, we had a presentation by BHIB insurance brokers about how trustee indemnity insurance fits into the types of insurance cover relevant to charities. As well as launch of their new trustee indemnity insurance flyer. If you would like to review your insurance cover, please get in touch with them by phone on (0116) 2819 141 or by email enquiries@bhibaffinities.co.uk

 


Stars of the local voluntary sector celebrated at inaugural Voluntary Awards for Leicester and Leicestershire

Winners for Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves Good Neighbour Scheme pose with their award

The awards took place at Leicester’s Morningside Arena and were sponsored by Morningside Pharmaceuticals Ltd, which manufactures and suppliers quality Generic and Branded medicines to the UK and International markets.

The ceremony was hosted by BBC Radio Leicester presenter Rupal Rajani and Voluntary Action LeicesterShire’s Kevin Allen-Khimani. Kevin is VAL’s Executive Manager for Public Sector Contracts and Projects, and he came up with the idea of the VALLs as a way to recognise the important role played by thousands of voluntary organisations across the city and county, and the vital services they provide within their communities.

Kevin commented:

“We were thrilled with the number of entries we had for the VALLs, especially as it’s only our first year, and the calibre of our finalists was outstanding. So much so, that we didn’t envy the judges having to choose just one winner in each category!”

“We wanted the awards to give the unsung heroes in our sector the recognition they deserve and have thoroughly enjoyed celebrating with all our finalists and winners this evening.”

Award winners

VAL received 432 nominations for 11 award categories – the winners and finalists are all listed below:

City Charity of the Year (Sponsored by Action Coach)
  • The Bridge Homelessness to Hope (winner)
  • Hope Against Cancer
  • FreeVA
City Small Charity of the Year (Sponsored by Next)
  • Sound Café Leicester (winner)
  • Leicester City of Sanctuary
  • Team Troupers Dance Academy
County Charity of the Year (Sponsored by Freeths Solicitors)
  • Bodie Hodges Foundation (winner)
  • Norton Housing & Support
  • Menphys
County Small Charity of the Year (Sponsored by BHIB Insurance Brokers)
  • The Well (winner)
  • The Heera Foundation
  • Quorn Mills Park Bowling Club
Trustee of the Year
  • Linda Jones (winner)
  • Eileen Richardson
  • Christine Ringrose

Volunteer-Led Organisation of the Year (Sponsored by Zinthiya Trust)
  • Woodhouse & Woodhouse Eaves Good Neighbour Scheme (winner)
  • Baby Basics
  • Help the Homeless
Volunteer of the Year (Sponsored by Dluxe Magazine)
  • Emma Hallam (winner)
  • Adrian Key (special recommendation)
  • Capt. Matthew Taylor
  • Azar Richardson
  • Prue Padmore
Social Enterprise of the Year (Sponsored by East Midlands Chamber)
  • Dear Albert (winner)
  • Soulful Group
  • Iconic
Voluntary Sector Ally of the Year (Sponsored by Business 2 Business)
  • Caterpillar UK Limited (winner)
  • Barrie Stephen
  • Nicola Bassindale
Overall Charity of the Year
  • Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves Good Neighbourhood Scheme (winner)
Lifetime Achievement Award (Sponsored by Voluntary Action LeicesterShire)
    • Rick Moore (winner)


Find out more

You can read more about the VALLs in the Leicester Mercury, or by following us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

If you’re a charity who would like support with anything from recruiting volunteers to funding a new project, or if you are a local business who would like to know more about how you can support our voluntary sector, contact us via helpline@valonline.org.uk or on 0116 257 5050.


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.