Have Your Say in Mental Health

Cwm Taf Mental Health Partnership Board would like to know about local services that support you or your family’s mental health and wellbeing.

The 'Have Your Say in Mental Health' survey will help them understand your requirements.  Complete the survey via this link.  If you have any queries, or would like hard copies of the survey then please contact Rachel Wyatt at Interlink on 01443 846200 / email rwyatt@interlinkrct.org.uk 

Make an early New Year's Resolution to attend Volunteer Management Training FREE for Merthyr Tydfil Groups

New dates are available for VAMT and Interlink's very popular Volunteer Management Training for 2015.

An Introduction to Volunteering and Preparing for Volunteers takes place on January 14 and 15 here at the Voluntary Action Centre.

Volunteer Recruitment, Selection and Induction takes place at Interlink's Offices in Upper Board, Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Getting the Best from your Volunteers is on 16 and 17 February at again at the Voluntary Action Centre in Merthyr Tydfil.

Each two day course costs £40 but thanks to Merthyr Tydfil's Social Care Workforce Development Partnership groups with Merthyr Tydfil beneficiaries are able to attend free of charge.

To book your place or to find out more please email training@vamt.net

Brief Intervention Training Courses for Smoking Cessation

January to March 2015: 

One day accredited Brief Intervention training courses.

Click here for information in English                          Click here for information in Welsh

Latest news from Llamau

To read Llamau's Christmas newsletter and more follow this link

Carers Newsletter

The latest edition of the Merthyr Tydfil Carers Newsletter is out.

Carers Newsletter Winter 2014

The Rest Grant Scheme

Have a look at this one-off grant scheme. Details can be found by following the link The Rest Grant Scheme. 

It’s a bit out of the ordinary, in that it offers unrestricted funding for which the most important criterion is an organisation’s ‘fit’ with the aims and objectives of the Rest.

WCVA are administering the Scheme. If you would like a chat please ring Tessa White (029 2043 1755), or Siân Baker Maurice (029 2043 1758). Alternatively, there is a dedicated email inbox therest@wcva.org.uk

The closing date for applications is being extended to Friday 9 January 2015.

If you would like help in making an application contact Ravi Vedi on 01685 353933 or by email ravi.vedi@vamt.net 

Grants to Young People - High Sheriff Awards

Applications are invited from young people in the County Boroughs of Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Bridgend. The Panel would be delighted to receive as many applications as possible for consideration, including from young people in the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough.

Nomination form part one click here »

Nomination form part two click here »

The closing date for applications is 23rd January 2015. Successful candidates will then be invited to attend a Presentation Evening in Bridgend on 5th March 2015.

Community Wellbeing Coach - Volunteering

We're pleased to announce that, following a successful joint bid between VAMT and Community Wellbeing Coaches CIC to DWP's Flexible Support Grant, Steve Morgan has been appointed as a Community Wellbeing Coach with a particular focus on supporting people into volunteering as a step closer to becoming economically active.

Steve will be able to receive referrals from 2 January 2015, so if you know someone who might be interested in volunteering but needs a bit of support and encouragement to take that first step, you can contact Steve via email at steve.morgan@vamt.net

NAW Surveys into Alcohol and Substance Misuse

The Health and Social Care Committee at the National Assembly for Wales  are currently looking into the issue of alcohol and substance misuse and are looking to collect evidence and source opinions from people all over Wales on this issue. Attached is further information on the surveys. In brief, we currently have two surveys to collect opinions: one for the public and another for service providers

Survey for the public:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GP-inquiry-into-alcohol-and-substance-misuse

 Survey for staff:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/inquiry-into-alcohol-and-substance-misuse

The surveys will close Friday 9 January 2015.

                     Eurochild Conference

UK CONFERENCE Investing in Children Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage Joint Action towards the Implementation of the European Commission Recommendation on Child Poverty & Wellbeing  Sharing Information Across the UK

click on link for further information   Eurochild

Puss in Boots comes to Theatre Soar

The attached production of Puss in Boots Pantomime (English Language production) is going on in The Soar Theatre in Pontmorlais and is now being offered for youth groups and school groups for £5 per child/young person with teachers/leaders free,

For Production dates and times, to book tickets and for more information please ring 01685 722176

 

Click for Poster

Click for Information

 

Changes to Charity Annual Returns and Online Register of Charities

Changes are being made to the Charity Annual Return form for financial years ending on or after 1 January 2015.

Three new questions will be added, which all charities must answer:

• How much income did you receive from contracts from central or local government to deliver services, and how much in grants from central or local government?
• Does your charity have a policy on paying its staff?
• Has your charity reviewed its financial controls during the reporting period?

The Commission will produce guidance to accompany the questions.