NEW DATE - An Introduction to Safeguarding - 3 March 2015

Our Introduction to Safeguarding Course has proved so popular that we've now got a second session running on 3 March.  Its a full day course, running from 9:30am-4:00pm with a light lunch provided.  Cost is £20 per participant.

We've got 6 places remaining, so please book soon if you'd like to attend.  Email training@vamt.net

PQASSO for Wales event 25 February 2015 The Willows Centre, Troedyrhiw

Mae’n bleser gennyf anfon gwahoddiad atoch i’n digwyddiadau briffio i  gael gwybod mwy am PQASSO a chyfleoedd i gymryd rhan ym mhrosiect PQASSO i Gymru.   Byddwn yn cynnal yr un digwyddiad yn y bore (9:30am-12:00pm) ac eto yn y prynhawn (1:00pm-3:30pm) ym mhob lleoliad. Sylwch y bydd sesiwn y prynhawn ym mhob lleoliad yn cael ei chynnal yn Gymraeg.   Bydd lluniaeth ar gael ond sylwch na fydd cinio yn cael ei ddarparu.    Cliciwch yma am ragor o fanylion ac i lawrlwytho ffurlfen archebu.   Byddem yn ddiolchgar iawn os gallwch rhannu’r gwybodaeth hon gyda’ch rhwydweithiau neu cysylltiadau.   Gobeithiwn eich gweld yn un o’n digwyddiadau briffio.   Gyda diolch,   Heledd.

I am pleased to send you an invitation to our briefing events to find out more about PQASSO and opportunities to get involved in the PQASSO for Wales project.   We will hold the same event in the morning (9:30am-12:00pm) and again in the afternoon (1:00pm-3:30pm) at each venue. Please note that the afternoon event in each venue will be held in Welsh.   Refreshments will be available but please note that lunch will not be provided.    Click here for more information and to download the booking form.   I would be very grateful if you could share this information with your networks or contacts.   We hope to see you at one of our briefing events.   With thanks,   Heledd

Tenovus Cancer Care Volunteer Awards

Here at Tenovus Cancer Care we’re excited to announce that the Tenovus Cancer Care Volunteer Awards are now open for nominations!! This will be our fifth annual Volunteer Awards and it’s going to be even bigger and better than ever. There are so many people who give so much time, energy and passion to Tenovus Cancer Care, and this is our opportunity to thank them. Absolutely anyone can nominate a volunteer so it would be great if you can spread the word for us too.

Our nominations will be open from today, Monday 19^th January until Friday 27^th March 2015. And the Awards themselves will be taking place in July of this year in Cardiff. To find out more please follow this link to our website; http://www.tenovuscancercare.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/volunteer-awards-2015/.

News from Cwm Taf CHC

CWM TAF COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL

YOUR HEALTH – YOUR VOICE

CWM TAF COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL (CHC) is one of NHS Wales’ independent ‘watchdogs’. We cover the Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil areas. We are your local independent organisation representing your views in all aspects of NHS care and treatment.

All our members are volunteers who work to ensure that your needs and views are taken into consideration in the planning and delivery of your local NHS services.

CHC members monitor the quality of local health services and regularly inspect your local hospitals, GP surgeries and other health services which are provided to local people.

We seek your views and use that information to make recommendations to the local Health Board for improvements in the standard of health care.

Cwm Taf Health Board must consult with your CHC before any major changes to the provision of your local health services are carried out.

We offer FREE guidance and support if you wish to make a complaint about the NHS services you have used.

We are here if you need advice, help or information or if you want to suggest improvements to your local NHS services.

Contact us at:

Tel 01443 405830

Email: Enquiries.CwmTafCHC@waleschc.org.uk

Web: www.communityhealthcouncils.org.uk/cwmtaf

Funding Opportunity from the Community Foundation in Wales

Grants

Grants of £500 - £1,000 will be awarded to small, volunteer-driven community organisations whose applications aim to deliver the following outcomes:

• People have better chances in life – with better access to training and development to improve their life skills
• Stronger communities – with more active citizens working together to tackle their problems
• Improved rural and urban environment – which communities are better able to access and enjoy
• Healthier and more active people and communities

 Grants can support full or partial costs of, for example: projects costs, small capital items & equipment, core costs, activities and programmes (e.g. room hire, transport costs, volunteer expenses, insurance, tutor fees, community events).

 Who can apply

This Fund is open to: constituted community-based charities and organisations (eg associations, social enterprises and clubs):

• whose beneficiaries are all in Wales  
• with an income of less than £100,000 in the latest reported financial year
• which are volunteer-driven and have no more than one full-time equivalent member of staff

 

Form &  criteria: http://www.cfiw.org.uk/eng/grants/33-fund-for-wales-

50+ Add to your LIfe Event 27 Jan at the Willows, Troedyrhiw

50+ Add to Your Life Event: Tuesday 27th January 10am - 3pm at Willows Centre Troedyrhiw.

South Cluster C1st are providing an engagement event for all those 50+ in our area (Pentrebach - Bedlinog).

The whole event will be dedicated to those who are 50+ , making sure that there is something on for all to enjoy and benefit from. There will be loads of information stalls and service providers giving out freebies and information, physical activities such as gentle exercise, Zumba and some lovely pampering treats like massage, reflexology, nails, beauty, and not forgetting a lovely buffet midday for all to enjoy.

So tell your mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, aunty, uncle or anyone over 50 about this event that is being hosted just for them. There will be something for everyone.

We would be very grateful if people would share and help us spread the word throughout the community, many thanks.

Job Vacancy - Alzheimers Society South East Wales Locality

Volunteer Officer

Opening Date:           15^th January

Location:                    Cardiff or Merthyr Tydfil [flexible]

Salary:                        25 hrs per week

Contract type:           Permanent

Interview date:          4^th February 2015

 Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading support and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. There will be 850,000 people with dementia in the UK by 2015 with numbers set to rise to over 1 million by 2025.

 The South East Wales Locality covers: Cardiff, The Vale, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Merthyr Tydfil, as Volunteering Officer you will be responsible for promoting volunteering opportunities across the whole of the locality and supporting existing services to develop volunteer inclusion and champion best practice. 

We are looking for an individual who has experience of volunteering, working with volunteers and has a full understanding of the benefits volunteering inclusion brings to organisations, members of the public, communities and service users.

You will have an understanding of the needs of people with dementia and their carers and be able to evidence your ability to manage, motivate and lead a team of volunteers.

This is an exciting opportunity to ensure that we reach more people with dementia and continue to develop innovative approaches to our service delivery.

 Alzheimer’s Society is committed to equal opportunities.

To find out more about the role, download a job description from the link below. You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it’s like to be an employee at the Society.

If you wish to apply, please download and read the job description below and download an application form and job application guidelines and complete our online Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.

 Please send your completed application form to melanie.andrews@alzheimers.org.uk by 5PM on 30^th January 2015.

 For Job description click the following link:  https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/recruit_details.php?id=8827

For further information please contact melanie.andrews@alzheimers.org.uk or telephone 029 20434067

Find out about the new Social Services and Well Being Act

There will be a significant role for the third sector as a consequence of the emphasis on prevention in the new Social Services and Well Being Act. To find out more come along to our event at 9.30am on Friday 16th January.

It will transform the way social services are delivered, promoting people’s independence to give them a stronger voice and more control. It will also encourage a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention.

The Act will:

• Strengthen powers for the safeguarding of children and adults, so that vulnerable people at risk can be protected more effectively;
• Ensure people are assessed on what they need, rather than just on what services are available locally;
• Introduce portable assessments, which means if people move from one part of Wales to another they will not need to worry about whether they will receive services in their new area;
• Facilitate an increased take up of  direct payments to meet people’s care and support needs, meaning people will have more control over how these needs are met;
• Introduce a National Outcomes Framework to set out very clearly what children and adults can expect from social services, to measure achievements and see where improvements are needed;
• Introduce equivalent rights for carers so that people who care for someone such as an elderly or disabled relative or friend would get similar rights to the people they care for; and
• Establish a National Adoption Service to improve the outcomes of children in need of a permanent family.

Programme

To book a place or for further information

Training for 2015 from VAMT

Our very popular Volunteer Management training courses, delivered jointly by VAMT and Interlink are very nearly full, but we've still got spaces available for:

An Introduction to Safeguarding on 11 February (full day)

Governing your Organisation on 4 March (full day)
Basic Accounting on 10 March (full day) and
Chairing Meetings on 24 March (half day)
All courses cost £20 per day/£10 per half day.

For further information visit the website, or email training@vamt.net

FREE Training from Communities 2.0 - Using Low and No Cost Technology

Communities 2.0

How Low and No cost Tech Tools can help organisations do more with less
Organisations and community groups are so busy and have such limited resources, that knowing how technology tools can help save you time and money is something we all need.

Communities 2.0 are running a FREE event to show you some low and no cost tools that can help your group to manage everyday tasks.  We will be looking at tools for;

•     Communicating and Sharing Information

•     Organising and Running Events

•     Developing your Online Presence

•     Holding Online meetings

•     Consulting with your members

The workshop will be a full day with refreshments and limited to 1 place per organisation. 

Bookings can be made at https://lowcosttechmerthyr.eventbrite.co.uk

Sut all offer technegol isel a ddim cost helpu sefydliadau i wneud mwy gyda llai
Mae gan Sefydliadau a Chymdeithasau gymaint o bethau i'w wneud, yn aml meant yn teimlo nad oes amser i edrych ar dechnoleg er mwyn eu helpu i arbed amser ac arian sy’n rhywbeth yr ydym i gyd angen.

Mae "Cymunedau 2.0" yn rhedeg cwrs AM DDIM i ddangos rhai o'r teclynau rhad fedr helpu wneud ein tasgiau dyddiol yn llawer haws.  Byddwn yn edrych ar offer i;

● Gyfathrebu a rhannu gwybodaeth.

● Trefnu a rhedeg gweithgareddau.

● Datblygu eich presenoldeb ar-lein.

● Gynnal cyfarfodydd ar-lein.

● Ymgynghori gyda'ch aelodau.

Bydd y gweithdy am ddiwrnod cyfan yn cynnwys cinio canol dydd a chyfyngir y gweithdy i un cynrychiolydd o bob sefydliad.
Bookings can be made at https://lowcosttechmerthyr.eventbrite.co.uk