Food Network Meeting 27 February 2020

The next meeting of the Merthyr Food Alliance will take place at the Voluntary Action Centre on 27 February at 2:00pm.  If you're interested in food provision and sufficiency locally, or work with people on whom this impacts, please come along.  We've a short workshop on Oxfam Cymru's Sustainable Livelihoods  Approach Toolkit currently being delivered to DWP staff across Wales, and a brief presentation from Pantri Box Porthcawl, an alternative approach to food pantries, plus an update on local initiatives.

If you'd like to attend please contact Hilary at VAMT

A Question of Aut

Event to be held on 30 January 2020.  Further details Here

Public Consultation on plans for reopening the Abernant to Merthyr Tydfil Tunnel

People living in Merthyr Tydfil and the Cynon Valley are being consulted on plans to improve transport links between the two valleys.

Residents’ opinions are being sought on bus services and more direct and safe Active Travel routes, such as reopening the Abernant to Merthyr Tunnel for walking and cycling.

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Councils are working together with the aim of making the journey easier for people who travel between Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil for reasons including work, education, shopping and entertainment.

The plan is for improved ‘Active Travel’ routes, providing more opportunities for walking and cycling between Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil. These are currently limited to the seven-mile stretch of main road linking the valleys, with some very steep sections and high volumes of traffic.

The Abernant to Merthyr Tunnel is a 1.4-mile long disused railway tunnel which was closed in 1962. The tunnel could be reopened for pedestrian and cycle use, providing a safe, traffic-free and direct walking and cycling route of around four miles between the two town centres, reducing the current journey by around three miles.

 https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ImprovingtransportbetweenAberdareandMerthyrTydfil/

 The consultation period runs until 18 February 202

 Paper versions are available from corporate.communications@merthyr.gov.uk

MSE Charity - grant scheme opens 3 Feb

Want an MSE Charity grant of up to £7,500? Non-profit organisations can benefit from a cash boost from the  charity's latest grant-giving round. It's themed on 'living with long-term challenges' - so it's for groups that may, for example, help teach financial skills to people with learning difficulties - and opens for applications on Mon 3 Feb. To find out if your organisation is  eligible, you can take an eligibility quiz and apply via the charity's website. The round closes once it accepts 40 applications or on Fri 28 Feb, whichever comes first

Free Training from Cruse Bereavement Care - Impact of Bereavement on Children and Young People

Cruse Bereavement Care is able to offer a 1 day 'Impact of Bereavement on Children and Young People' training course, which can be delivered in your organisation to up to 15 people by a Cruse trainer.   This is a whole days training suitable for those organisations working with Children and Young People.  This training can be delivered  free of charge prior to 31st March.  

 Training days are limited so if your organisation is interested please contact Alison Thomas,  Children and Young People's Service and Development Manager, Cruse Wales.

Alison.thomas@cruse.org.uk  Telephone:  07931179580

www.cruse.org.uk/Wales

Food Poverty Grant - Closes Today

Just a reminder that the deadline for applications to Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council's Food Poverty grant is today.

WCVA Webinar on new Wales Safeguarding Procedures

Webinar: Introduction to Wales Safeguarding Procedures

Find out about the new safeguarding procedures.
Delivered through the medium of English

28 January 2020, 14:00 - 15:00

Job Vacancies with Digital Communities Wales

2 job vacancies with DCW

https://wales.coop/careers/current-vacancies/

Actif Woods Event 21 January Cyfarthfa Park

More details here

Community Asset Transfers - The Good, the Bad and the Learning

Third Sector Support Wales (TSSW) is pleased to invite you to an exciting event as part of Wales’ inaugural Fire Starter Festival:

·         Are you a voluntary organisation thinking about taking on a community asset transfer of buildings or land, or at the beginning of the transfer process?

·         Are you a Local Authority officer working on Community Asset Transfers and looking to refine or improve your processes?

This free event is for you!

By looking at the good, the bad and the learning, we will explore how to make the Community Asset Transfer process as smooth as possible for voluntary organsiations and local authorities alike.

Hear from organisations who have gone through the process, funders supporting projects and buildings that have been transferred into voluntary sector ownership and the expert support bodies already making the process easier for organisations across Wales.

We will also be sharing opportunities for voluntary organsiations to access public sector contracts that could improve an asset’s sustainability.

To book online for free, use the following links to Eventbrite:

Ebbw Vale	Flintshire	Neath Port Talbot
10am-1pm (registration from 9.30am) Tuesday 4 February 2020 Llanhilleth Institute, Ebbw Vale   Book Now	1pm-4pm (registration from 12.30pm) Thursday 6 February 2020 Caffi Isa, Mold   Book Now	1pm-4pm (registration from 12.30pm) Wednesday 12 February 2020 NPTCVS Offices, Neath   Book Now

Third Sector Support Wales is a network of support organisations for the third sector in Wales. Our shared goal is to enable the third sector and volunteers across Wales to contribute fully to individual and community well-being, now and for the future.

The Fire Starter Festival has begun to create a movement around showcasing and encouraging creativity and innovation for social change and transformation, enabling people to be part of a national programme while still being able to focus on local change and issues. Fire Starter Wales is designed to bring the Fire Starter ethos to Wales, to celebrate the various creative and innovative ways in which we are all contributing to the creation of a Wales that we all want to live in, now and in the future. It’s also a way of addressing the longer term needs of the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

Active Inclusion Fund - new round live on MAP

The Eligibility Questionnaire for the new round of Active Inclusion Fund is now available and may be accessed through WCVA's new Multipurpose Application Portal (MAP) at https://map.wcva.cymru

Using the new MAP service will make it easier for all groups to apply to Active Inclusion, so we're encouraging anyone interested to look into it.

If you are already an  Approved Beneficiary, you will shortly be sent an email explaining how to log on to your existing details (so make sure to keep on eye on your junk folders, just in case). If you don't hear from the team, please contact them at activeinclusion@wcva.cymru