Tuesday 6 December 17.30-19.30

VAL runs Volunteering Network and Learn Events at different locations and is bringing this session to Coalville to reconnect with local volunteer involving organisations and consider how we can work together to support positive volunteering in the area. This session will also be an opportunity for local groups to talk to us about other areas of support that are needed.

The session is taking place at the Marlene Reid Centre – book a free place

 

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Recent Training

Recruiting and Managing Volunteers Training Session

VAL Volunteering Team delivered Recruiting and Managing Volunteers training on 25 October which 15 Volunteer Involving Organisations from across Leicestershire booked onto.

Two attendees, from CLASP and John Storer House were new in post, here is their feedback:

Feedback from the session

Extremely helpful session

Yes, I have taken some best practise points from today’s session

Very Helpful, Good presentation. Liked the activity/sharing exercises, would be interested to hear about more events gained ideas on supervision.

Community groups and parish councils can apply for up to 20 trees and up to 30 metres of hedging and we hope as many of you as possible will be able to join us and plant trees within your parishes and other community buildings  to both fight climate change and support wildlife.

The scheme launches on 26 September and you will need to be able to collect your trees on the weekend of 26/27 November. Full details can be found at Sign up for our scheme | Free tree scheme | Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council

We recommend you order your trees as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as we expect demand to be high.

The scheme is also open to all residents who live in the Borough (who can have a maximum of 2 trees and 30m  of hedging) and we would be grateful if you could spread the news of this scheme to all your staff, residents and other interested parties.

The Leicester Business Festival CiC (LBF CiC) has overarching responsibility for delivering the Business Festival and is keen that its impact can reach into local communities as well as local business. The Community Impact programme has been established to achieve this and will be managed by Embark CSR in collaboration with Voluntary Action LeicesterShire and Leicester City Council.

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What’s it all about?

The CIP encourages voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to propose project ideas that will be of benefit to their local community or their service users.

Following the submission of an application form to Embark CSR, an evaluation panel will select four projects to form part of the programme for 2022/23. Bids will be for a value of up to £25,000, but unincorporated groups can’t go over 5k. The four winners will be announced at this year’s Leicester Giving Day Gala Evening on the 18th November. Once selected as part of the programme, the successful applicants will be supported to achieve the income target to deliver the project.

Embark CSR will work with the four projects and advocate on their behalf to local businesses, who will be invited to assist the projects financially. Embark will also help winners to submit funding applications to charitable Trusts and Foundations. The four projects will also go onto the City Mayor’s CrowdFund Leicester platform. The project that is able to raise the most income before the 2023 festival will win a prize of £2,000.

The programme is open to all voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in Leicester and Leicestershire.

The four successful community applicants will be invited to attend the Leicester Business Festival Gala Evening on the evening of the 18th November.

This is an innovative approach to project development and fundraising, and the proposed target outcome is not guaranteed. However, Embark CSR and LBF CiC believe they have the contacts and resources to support applicants to achieve the proposed financial target.

Who can apply?

The following types of organisation can apply to the CIP:

• Registered charities
• Unincorporated associations / community organisations
• Companies limited by guarantee that are not for profit
• Community Interest Companies

Individuals or ‘for profit’ businesses are not eligible.

What types of bids are we looking for?

LBF CiC is keen to ensure that all projects submitted can provide support and assistance to those most in need, or can create a positive solution to address an issue of local concern.

We do not want to be prescriptive about the types of projects that could be submitted, this will be down to individual applicants, but some examples of projects are:

• Help for children and young people in difficult circumstances
• Help for vulnerable adults facing social isolation
• Help for adults who might be facing some sort of crisis
• Help to clean up a grot spot that can benefit members of the local community
• An environmental regeneration project
• Help for organisations caring for animals
• Purchase of equipment or minor modifications to buildings to improve access or to create new activities

Applications should also be able to demonstrate which local community or community of interest they are aiming to serve.

However, all projects will be asked to demonstrate they will be capable of meeting their aims and objectives with a sum of no more than £25,000.

Projects can start once the target income is raised.

If you require help or assistance with your application, please contact Chris Shaw or Stacey Wragg at Embark CSR initially via email info@embarkcsr.co.uk 

Criteria for Assessment

The following criteria will be used by the programme evaluation panel to assess the applications:

1.  Does the application meet a clearly identified community need?
2. Will there be a clear benefit arising from the project for members of a local community or a community of interest?
3. Are project outcomes clear? NB: an outcome is a change or series of changes brought about by a defined action.
4. Are the arrangements for delivery feasible and manageable?
5. Is the proposed timetable realistic?
6. Does the applicant propose an effective means of measuring project outcomes?
7. Is the budget well-articulated and does it represent value for money?
8. Is the project likely to attract support from the business community and other funding sources?

The Sentencing Academy. is a research and engagement charitable incorporated organisation dedicated to developing expert and public understanding of sentencing in England and Wales. It encourages the Government to implement effective sentencing practices and informs public debate about sentencing, acting as a bridge between those with expert knowledge of sentencing, the public, and policy makers.

Over the past year we have organised a number of events to broaden the understanding of sentencing with the general public and our key stakeholders. Our next event will be taking place on Thursday 20 October at De Montfort University, Leicester. Contemporary Issues In Sentencing is an event which provide information on specific issues relating to sentencing, which I believe that either your staff or your service users may find interesting, and would be more than welcome to attend

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/contemporary-issues-in-sentencing-tickets-404855893877

All third-sector organisations in our region have the chance to enter easyfundraising’s £1,000 giveaway, where one organisation will win £500 and five runners up £100! To enter, register with easyfundraising, or if you already are registered, raise three donations by between 1st and 31 October 2022. In these financially difficult times, alternative fundraising options like this are vital to keeping our services thriving and our members happy. 

easyfundraising partners with over 7,000 brands, so when someone shops online, your organisation receives a share of their purchase for free. It’s the brands way of giving back to local groups and communities and a way for your organisation to create a free, unrestricted funding stream. In these financially difficult times, alternative fundraising options like this are vital to keeping our services thriving and our members happy. Sign up and enter the competition here: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/val/

easyfundraising is committed to helping our sector flourish, especially as we go through challenging times. Their approach to fundraising is simple; they turn everyday online purchases into free, unrestricted funding we can use to support ourselves and the wider community.

They and over 7,000 brands want to give back to local groups and communities, so when someone shops at one of the brands, easyfundraising shares a percentage of what they’ve spent with your organisation for free. For example, if a volunteer did their food shop at Sainsbury’s, their first home delivery shop would generate £6 for your organisation. After that, every weekly shop would generate £2. So in a year, your organisation would receive £108 – for free.

There are huge benefits of joining easyfundraising;

• It provides a continuous, free, and unrestricted funding source for all third-sector organisations.
• An easy and inclusive way for people to give without it coming directly out of their pockets.
• It requires little time and effort to manage so you can carry on with what’s really important.

We don’t want our organisations to miss out. Be sure to enter the giveaway by 23:59 on 31 October 2022 and start making use of this fantastic fundraising option. Particularly as we head into the busiest shopping period of the year – it’s a great way to top up your funds.

https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/val/

Developed by Embark CSR, the inaugural Leicester Giving Day is an integral part of the Leicester Business Festival. The programme is sponsored by the University of Leicester and AKN Build Ltd and is supported by Cross Productions, Leicester City Council, Voluntary Action Leicestershire and Cymer Marketing.

There are three parts to Leicester Giving Day:

1.    Leicester Giving Day

2.    Community Impact Fund

3.    Leicester Social Responsibility Awards

Leicester Giving Day takes place on Friday 18th November, and aims to encourage companies to support local charities and community groups. There will also be four community hubs running in the city with activities and showcase events taking place.  In the evening there will be a Giving Day Gala, at which the winners of the Community Impact Programme and the Leicester Social Responsibility Awards will be announced.

The Community Impact Programme invites voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to propose project ideas that will be of benefit to their local community and their service users. Four winners will be supported to secure up to a maximum of £25,000 per annum to bring their ideas to fruition.

The Leicester Giving Day Social Responsibility Awards have been introduced as a means to highlight good practice and outstanding achievement in the field of social responsibility, with a focus on positive partnerships between the business and voluntary sectors.

To learn more about Leicester Giving Day and information about how to get involved, please visit www.leicestergiving.uk

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You can also learn more across our social platforms:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/leicester-giving-day/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leicestergivingday

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeicsGivingDay

Or for further information, please email info@embarkcsr.co.uk

Voluntary and charity hub, Voluntary Action LeicesterShire organised the glittering awards at Mercure Grand Hotel.

The headline sponsor for the event was Morningside Pharmaceuticals. The awards ceremony took place on the 16th of September, celebrating the inspiring individuals and organisations of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. It was for those that have gone and beyond in their support of others during and since the pandemic.

The public was invited to nominate their ‘real-life heroes’ earlier in the year. Hundreds of nominations were submitted for the people and organisations at the sharp end of community service and care in our county.

The sell-out event attracted over 220 guests and took place on 16 September. The awards were made possible by the generous support of local businesses. Sponsors included Morningside Pharmaceuticals alongside BHIB, Hastings Direct, East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, Mortgage Advice Bureau, Everything Global, Paragon Sales Solutions and Fraser Urquhart Media. Money raised allowed the event to run without charge to finalists and their guests.

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The winners of the VAL Awards 2022 were as follows:

• • City Charity of the Year: Sponsored by Gigabit Networks – Eyres Monsell Club for Young People

• • County Charity of the Year: Sponsored by Hastings Direct – Hope Against Cancer

• • Rutland Charity of the Year: Sponsored by Fraser Urguhart Media – Rutland Clothing Bank

• • Social Enterprise of the Year: Sponsored by Everything Branded – Action Trust – Action Homeless

• • Volunteer-Led Organisation of the Year: Sponsored by BHIB Insurance Brokers – We Care UK

• • Trustee of the Year: Sponsored by Paragon Sales Solutions – Ian Knight (Menphys)

• • Volunteer of the Year: Sponsored by Johnson Astills Solicitors – Praful Thakrar (Shreeji Dham Haveli)

• • Inspiring Leader of the Year: Sponsored by Mortgage Advice Bureau – Dr Iris Lightfoote (The Race Equality Centre)

• • Lifetime Achievement Award: Sponsored by Voluntary Action LeicesterShire – JOINT WINNER Kathryn Burgess (CALS Community Advice and Law Service) and Priya Thamotheram (Highfield Centre)

• • Charity of the Year: Sponsored by Morningside Pharmaceuticals – Eyres Monsell Club for Young People
    Information on the VAL Awards 2023 will be revealed in due course.

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Image: Overall Charity of the Year Winners, 2019: Woodhouse & Woodhouse Eaves Good Neighbourhood Scheme

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The 2022 VAL Awards – whose headline sponsor is Morningside Pharmaceuticals – are a chance for the public to celebrate the amazing people, groups and organisations that make up the voluntary and charity sector in Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland – and help shine a spotlight on their amazing and inspiring contributions, especially over the pandemic.

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Finalists for each category are as follows:

City Charity of the Year:

• Eyres Monsell Club for Young People
• Together Against Cancer
• After18

County Charity of the Year:

• Hope Against Cancer
• Charnwood 20:20 (TwentyTwenty)
• Melton and District Money Advice Centre

Rutland Charity of the Year:

• Rutland Clothing Bank
• SSAFA – the Armed Forces Charity
• Emmaus Leicestershire & Rutland

Social Enterprise of the Year

• Access Rating
• Leicester Mammas CIC
• Action Trust – Action Homeless

Volunteer-Led Organisation of the Year

• Koi Sports
• We Care UK
• The Zoomers

Trustee of the Year

• Ian Pritchard – Leicester Animal Aid
• Usha Mehta – Jain Samaj Europe
• Denis Kenyon – Hallaton Church Restoration Trust
• Ian Knight – Menphys
• Jean Voller – VISTA

Volunteer of the Year

• Michael Condon – Headway Leicester
• Praful Thakrar – Shreeji Dham Haveli
• Sam Killip – Enrych
• Raj Gill-Harrison – Carers Health & Wellbeing Forum
• Jill Magee – Leics & Rutland Youth Sailing Association

Inspiring Leader of the Year

• Moneer Noori & Narges Farahi – Bright Path Futures
• Rev Alison Adams – Diocese of Leicester
• Yasin El-Ashrafi – HQ Recording
• Dr Iris Lightfoote – The Race Equality Centre

Kevin Allen-Khimani, Executive Manager – Public Sector Contracts and Projects at VAL, commented:

“It was fantastic to see the calibre and number of nominations for the 2022 VAL Awards. The past two years has seen unprecedented pressure and stresses on our charity and voluntary sector here in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, so it will be wonderful to come together again and celebrate their achievements and hard work.

“The only problem we can foresee is that the Judges are going to have a really tough job deciding on the winners in each category!”

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The ticketed event is planned for September 16th will take place in the Grand Hall at Leicester’s The Mercure Grand Hotel.

The awards are made possible by the generous support of local businesses which include headline sponsor, Morningside Pharmaceuticals, alongside BHIB, Hastings Direct, East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, Mortgage Advice Bureau, Everything Global, Paragon Sales Solutions and Fraser Urquhart Media. Monies raised allow the event to run without charge to nominees.

 

Issues for the wider sector:

Every charity needs an effective trustee body which has control over the administration of the charity and acts as a whole, especially because all trustees are equal in responsibility. Trustees must ensure that their charity has adequate financial and administrative controls in place, and that the funds of their charity are applied for the benefit of the public for which it has been set up.

Charities are accountable to their donors, beneficiaries and the public and it is therefore important that the financial activities of charities are properly recorded, and their financial governance is transparent.

Conflicts of interest are more likely when there are only a small number of trustees on the board, when trustees are closely related, or when the charity has dealings with organisations in which the trustees have interests. It is vital that trustees avoid becoming involved in situations in which their personal interests may be seen to conflict with their duties as trustees. The trustees should put in place policies and procedures to identify and manage such conflict.

Trustees are required to keep accounting records for their charity. Every charity’s accounting records must be sufficient to show and explain its transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy its financial position. Therefore, in order to show that they are complying with their legal duties, trustees must keep records and an adequate audit trail to show that the charity’s money has been properly spent on furthering the charity’s purposes for the benefit of the public.

Trustees of charities with an income of over £25,000 are under a legal duty as charity trustees to submit annual returns, annual reports and accounting documents to the commission as the regulator of charities. Even if the charity’s annual income is not greater than £25,000 trustees are under a legal duty to prepare annual accounts and reports and should be able to provide these on request. All charities with an income over £10,000 must submit an annual return. Failure to submit accounts and accompanying documents to the commission is a criminal offence. The commission also regards it as mismanagement and misconduct in the administration of the charity.

Read more here

This country’s health and care system belongs to us all, and it must serve us all. However, sadly, 51% of the population faces obstacles when it comes to getting the care they need.

Although women in the UK on average live longer than men, women spend a significantly greater proportion of their lives in ill health and disability when compared with men. Not enough focus is placed on women-specific issues like miscarriage or menopause, and women are under-represented when it comes to important clinical trials.

This has meant that not enough is known about conditions that only affect women, or about how conditions that affect both men and women impact them in different ways.  We also know that there are disparities in women’s health across the country. Smoking in pregnancy is one example of this.

While progress has been made in reducing rates of smoking in pregnancy to 9.6% of deliveries, the headline figure masks significant geographical differences, with prevalence ranging from 1.8% in Kensington to 21.4% in Blackpool. Read more here