Fund for Wales Opening for Applications

 The Fund for Wales is open to applications from the 1^st of December. Deadline for submitting an application is the 31^st of January.

 Grants of £500 to £1,000 are available for small, volunteer-driven community groups whose projects aim to deliver one of the five following outcomes:

·         Improving people’s chances in life

·         Building stronger communities

·         Improving rural and urban environments

·         Encouraging healthier and more active people and communities

·         Preserving heritage and culture

 More information available on the Community Foundation in Wales website - http://www.cfiw.org.uk/eng/grants/33-fund-for-wales-

Quick Reminder - Deadline for Articles for Inform is tomorrow, 23 November 2018

Youth Led Grants 2018

Youth Led Grants Autumn 2018 round now open – limited time only!

VAMT has recently acquired additional money to distribute youth-led projects in Merthyr Tydfil.

What could your project do with £800?

Projects must be youth-led and create volunteering opportunities.
For this round of Youth Led Grant applications, priority will be given to projects that focus on early years (0-7), housing, social care, mental health or skills & employability.

The application window is short, as the project needs to delivered and money spent by 31 March 2019.

Closing date for applications – 12 noon on Friday 14 December 2018.

Application and guidance can be found at http://www.vamt.net/funding-eng.php

For more information please contact Laura Johnson on (01685) 353902 or laura.Johnson@vamt.net

FREE - Confidence Building Course TOMORROW 21 November 2018

Adult Learning Wales have a Confidence Building course taking place at the Voluntary Action Centre tomorrow between 9:30 and 3:00.  They are offering places free of charge to anyone who wishes to attend.  If you or someone you know are interested, then just come along at 9:30am.

Deadline for Inform, VAMT's hard-copy newsletter 23 November 2018

Don't forget, the deadline for December's edition of Inform, VAMT's hard-copy newsletter is this Friday, 23 November.  If you've anything you'd like to share with the wider third sector in Merthyr Tydfil, now is the time to do it!  Drop me an email at hilary.edwards@vamt.net

Job Vacancies with the Romani Cultural and Arts Company

Further details are available here

Community Engagement - Kier Construction

VAMT have been asked to host an event with Kier Construction, providing an opportunity to meet with their Community Engagement Co-ordinator. The event will take place between 10:00am-12:00pm at Cefn Coed Community Centre, Old Drill Hall Road, Cefn Coed y Cymmer, CF48 2NA on Wednesday 28 November 2018.
The brief for the event is below. If you’d like to attend please RSVP to training@vamt.net by 22 November 2018.
 
As part of Kier Constructions’ commitment to Corporate Responsibility and Social Value, we would like to work collaboratively with individuals and organisations from Merthyr Tydfil to create opportunities for the local area. Opportunities include:

- Direct sponsorship
- Employment, Training and Work Experience Opportunities
 - Educational engagement with schools and colleges
- Supporting local initiatives and projects
- Volunteering our site team time to local causes
- Supporting local enterprise and business
- Supporting and promoting local wellbeing initiatives
- Supporting regeneration projects
- Protecting the local environment

We promote a ground up approach and would like to meet with potential partners to consult and put together ideas in order to achieve sustainable local impact.

High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan Youth Community Awards

The High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan Youth Community Awards were set up in 2008 when finance was pledged by local firms, organisations and individuals in the County to support young people who were volunteering.   The idea behind the scheme was to encourage community spirit and financially reward individuals and groups who have shown commitment and given of their time and effort; taking part in initiatives which stand out as being over and above what could normally be expected.

The success of the Awards has led to additional sponsorship and again this year a first prize of £1,000 will be made, together with other financial rewards. 

You will note from the form that applications are invited from young people between the ages of 11 and 21, and also a group of young people again between 11 and 21, who have helped their local neighbourhood, an individual, family member or local organisation.  The closing date is 25 January 2019.

If you require any further information please email the High Sheriff Awards Panel email address highsheriffmidglamorganawards@gmail.com or telephone  on 0771 858 4764.  The application form is here

NEW - Funding Available for Social Dining Clubs

RVS and Asda Foundation have come together to provide small grants and support to establish Social Dining Clubs.

Full details of the initiative are attached:

·        Covering letter

·        Flyer about Social Dining Clubs

·        Application guidelines

 

·        Application form

For more information, please contact the organiser Laurence Quirk, Royal Voluntary Service directly at diningclubs@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk / 07500 993 038.

BBC Children in Need fund RCAC Gypsy Traveller arts project for another three years.

A link to the full article is on their website here

Getting Started with Volunteers - Free on-line training resources

For further information click here

Trustees Week and Safeguarding Week - Twitter Chat

WCVA host a Safeguarding for Trustees Twitter Chat this evening 13 November

Join us on twitter @Wales_CVA from 7-8pm for an online chat about safeguarding for trustees in partnership with #trusteehour. This will be a great opportunity to ask questions and share tips for good practice.

Trustees Week 2018

What are you doing to celebrate Trustees’ Week in Wales? 
 Trustees’ Week 2018 takes place from the 12 - 16 November

 Trustees' Week is an annual event to showcase the great work that trustees do and highlight opportunities for people from all walks of life to get involved and make a difference.

Trustees' Week is also a great opportunity to thank trustees. They give their time voluntarily and make an enormous contribution to third sector organisations in Wales. 

Events will be taking place across Wales and you can find out more about what's happening on the WCVA website 
How to get involved

· Take the time to thank your trustees for their contribution
· Attend one of the local or national events that will be happening during the week
· Use the hashtag #trusteesweek to join the discussion on social media
· Take the opportunity to advertise any trustee vacancies you may have

Here are some interesting statistics about trustees from the Charity Commission:

· There are around 850,000 trustees in England and Wales

· 93% of trustees say the role is important or very important to them

· 70% of trustees volunteer for smaller charities

· The estimated value of trustee time is £3.5 billion a year

· 86,000 trustee roles are held by 16 to 34-year-olds

The majority (92%) of trustees are white, older and above average income and education, so there is a need to increase the diversity of trustees and recruit people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and skills. 

 Perhaps you could become a trustee? Watch this short video to find out more, Being a Trustee, and get in touch with us at VAMT to find out about opportunities.

Wales for Africa Grants Scheme

Cynllun Grant Cymru o Blaid Affrica gan Lywodraeth Cymru – Ail rownd ar agor nawr i geisiadau Mae WCVA wrth ei fodd o gyhoeddi bod ail rownd cynllun Grant Cymru o Blaid Affrica ar gyfer grantiau Bychain rhwng £500 a £5,000 ar agor nawr. Mae £53,865 ar gael i grantiau bychain yn y rownd hon.   Bydd cyfle hefyd i ymgeisio am un prosiect mawr Amlflwyddyn gwerth hyd at £50,000.   Dyddiad cau i ymgeisio Grantiau bychain – 23ain Tachwedd 2018 Grant Amlflwyddyn – 30ain Tachwedd 2018     Ewch ar ein gwefan www.wcva.org.uk/funding/wales-for-africa?seq.lang=cy-GB i gael rhagor o wybodaeth am y cynllun ac arweiniad ar sut i ymgeisio.   Os oes gennych unrhyw gwestiynau, cysylltwch â thîm grantiau WCVA drwy ebostio walesafricagrants@wcva.org.uk.   Dilynwch @wcvafunding ar Twitter i weld cyhoeddiadau cyffredinol am gyllid gan gynlluniau grant Cymru o Blaid Affrica a rhai o gynlluniau eraill WCVA.

Welsh Government’s Wales for Africa Grant Scheme –  Second round now open for applications WCVA is delighted to announce the second round of the Wales for Africa Grant scheme for Small grants between £500 - £5,000 is now open. There is £53,865 available for small grants in this round.   There will also be the opportunity to apply for one larger Multi-Year project valued up to £50,000   Deadline for applications Small grants – 23rd November 2018 Multi- Year grant – 30th November 2018   Please visit our website www.wcva.org.uk/WalesAfrica  for further information about the scheme and guidance on how to apply.   If you have any questions, please contact the WCVA grants team at walesafricagrants@wcva.org.uk .   Follow @wcvafunding on Twitter for general funding announcements from the Wales for Africa grant schemes and other WCVA schemes.

 

Trustees Week 2018 12-16 November

 

12-16 November 2018 marks Trustees' Week, an annual event to highlight the fantastic work that Trustees undertake in our communities.

 

Help us at VAMT find out how we can better support trustees in the County Borough.  Is there training that your committee would like/needs to undertake?  Do you need new or additional trustees?

 

Let us know - email training@vamt.net with suggestions.

#trusteesweek

 

Aldi Christmas Food Donations.

All Aldi UK stores will close from 6pm on Christmas Eve until Thursday 27th December 2018 to give our colleagues a well-earned break, so we will be donating unsold fresh food to good causes in the local community. Each of our UK stores will select one charity from their local area.

Interested parties should contact Christmas@aldi.co.uk with the following information:
Organisation name
Charity number
Organisation focus (e.g. soup kitchen, food bank)
Contact details
If possible, the postcode of the 3 nearest Aldi stores

The closing date for applications is Sunday 18^th November 2018. Successful applicants will require volunteers and transport to collect the food at 5.30pm on Christmas Eve. Only charities who apply via this email address will be eligible.

 

A note from the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner

We are keen to enhance our partnerships with the third sector; this briefing note is designed to raise awareness of the priorities of the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner to improve understanding and instigate opportunities for collaboration.

It is recognised that there are many priorities within the South Wales Police and Crime Reduction Plan which are also likely to be priorities of third sector organisations who hold a wealth of skills and experience. Therefore, there is opportunity for us to work closer together to make sure we are aligned in our working, support our shared priorities and collaborate on funding opportunities.

Who is the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner:

Alun Michael became the first Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales on the 22nd November 2012, and was re-elected for a second term on the 5th May 2016. In November 2016 Emma Wools was appointed as Deputy Commissioner on secondment from the National Offender Management Service in Wales (NOMS)

South Wales Police and Crime Reduction Plan 2018-21

Partnership working runs through the core of our Plan. We want to support, advise and enable those partner organisations delivering on shared priorities and outcomes. South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner currently give £332,000 to local authorities for youth offending services across South Wales and £565,300 to all seven local authorities for community safety funding which is used to deliver local priorities

Early intervention and prompt, positive action to help prevent problems before they escalate is at the heart of a five year plan for policing South Wales. The plan based on close co-operation with partners in local government, the health service and the voluntary sector, as well as Welsh Government, sets out six priorities for keeping our communities safe. It also reinforces the South Wales Police vision to make South Wales Police the best at understanding and responding to its communities’ needs.

Our priorities

The Police and Crime Commissioner holds the legal responsibility to set the policing priorities for South Wales through the Police and Crime Plan. In South Wales, they are as follows:

• We will reduce and prevent crime and anti-social behavior to keep people safe and confident in their homes and communities
• We will work to protect the more vulnerable in our communities, understanding causes and taking prompt positive action as issues arise
• We will make our contribution to the strategic policing requirement and successfully police major events
• We will engage with, involve and inform our communities, working with partners in local government, health, fire and welsh government to build resilience
• We will work to make the local criminal justice system that most effective and efficient it can be to meet the needs of victims and reduce reoffending
• We will spend your money wisely and support our people to provide the best possible policing in your community

Our outcomes

• We will reduce the level of crime, disorder and anti social behaviour
• We will enable our communities to be safe, confident and resilient
• We will better meet the needs of vulnerable people, increasing their confidence to report and reducing repeat offences
• We will improve how effectively our resources are used
• We will ensure that South Wales Police is more representative of the communities it serves
• We will strengthen our partnership work, applying the principles of co-operation to our work locally and through the criminal justice system

Our ability to deliver these outcomes relies on effective partnership work and a clear alignment of priorities. In a climate of shrinking resources, it is important we build relationships and partnerships to avoid duplication and silo working. We want to build a clear understanding of the organisations working in South Wales on these priorities, so if you are not already working with us, please let us know of your organization so we may support each other.

It is important that if we attend the same forums and/or work on similar agendas that we do not work separately but come together to pool resources and expertise. This is reflected in the opening statement of the plan ‘achieving more together towards a Safer South Wales.’

Please consider the above priorities, and if your organization is working towards similar or related objectives then do get in touch with our Policy and Partnerships Manager, Claire Cunliffe, to discuss how we can provide mutual support.

Contact details:
Email: Claire.cunliffe@south-wales.pnn.police.uk
Mobile: 07966874996

More detailed information on our work can be found on our website: http://commissioner.south-wales.police.uk/en/home/ and you can keep up to date with our work on our Twitter page @commssionersw 

Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme - Round 2 open

What is it?
The Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme is a new Welsh Government funding programme managed by WCVA. The scheme will support local community and environmental projects in areas affected by the disposal of waste to landfill. Most areas of the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough are eligible.
How much funding is available? Grants of between £5,000 and £49,999 will be available for projects that meet scheme criteria. The fund size is £1.4 million per annum.

Who and what will it fund?The Autumn 2018 grant round is open from 31 October 2018.
Closing date 18 January 2019 for projects beginning in April 2019.
Please click here for further information