Volunteer with Cwm Taf UHB

Do you have time to help others?

We at Cwm Taf Health Board Time4me Self-Management Service are looking for volunteers who are 18+ to join our friendly team that supports people to manage their health condition.

We provide Health & Well Being courses and sessions to encourage people to learn new skills and practice new techniques to better manage their health and wellbeing across Rhondda, Cynon Taf and Merthyr.

We have a variety of available opportunities:

v  Delivery of the courses/sessions

v  Service promotion and awareness raising

v  Administration duties including social media

No previous experience is required and full training and support will be given for the roles which can assist your future career opportunities.

If retired or unable to work then it may be something fulfilling you could be supportive of.

If you think this is something you would like to be a part of and have the time and commitment, please contact Debra, Jan or Gillian on: -0168535125/32 or email: CTT_time4me@wales.nhs.uk

Team Challenge/Employee Volunteering Opportunities for HSBC Staff

Staff at HSBC Merthyr Tydfil branch are currently seeking opportunities for their staff to undertake team challenges or other employee volunteering opportunities.  Staff could be available at any time, daytime, evenings or weekends and are keen to get involved in activities which could support our community locally.

If you've got any ideas of how they can help, please contact Hilary.edwards@vamt.net  or call 01685 353900, and we'll pass the suggestions on.

Century of Hope - the Womens Archive Wales 8 Februry at the Redhouse

Merthyr Residents are invited to Women’s Archive Wales’ final event in our Century of Hope project at the Redhouse Merthyr Tydfil on Friday evening February 8^th. As you will see from the invitation we will be commemorating the life and work of Dr Ursula Masson, a native of Merthyr and founder member of Women’s Archive Wales and also premiering the film of the history of WAW and the 2018 project to celebrate a century since some women were first granted the vote, during the evening. There will be refreshments and a chance to socialise too.

You can register  through Eventbrite – link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/century-of-hope-party-parti-canrif-gobaith-tickets-52270240697 

FREE Bevan Foundation Seminar 7 February Solutions to Holiday Hunger

A free event to be held at Soar on 7 February of interest to anyone interested in reducing poverty.  Further details here

Youth Community Awards - High Sheriff

The awards recognise young people who have made a difference in their community in the Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf areas.

They could be eligible for prizes of up to £1,000 for individuals and groups (three or more members).

For more information click here

The deadline has been extended to mid February.

Looking for a small grant?

Call For Applications - Merthyr Tydfil Community Trust

This fund is available to small voluntary and community groups for any charitable purpose (excluding religious activities). Grants awarded will not normally exceed £300. The application must be for an activity based in the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil.

Applications can only be considered from organisations whose income in the last financial year was less than £10,000.

Please return the completed application form by post or email as detailed at the end of the form. The deadline is Wednesday 27th February.

How can we best support the third sector and volunteers?

VAMT is part of Third Sector Support Wales (TSSW).

TSSW want to know your views of how they can help third sector and volunteers contribute fully to individual and community well-being, now and for the future. 

Had support? 

Come to a stakeholder focus group in the VAMT Offices in Merthyr Tydfil on January 22nd at 1.30pm – information on this and other ways you can engage are on http://ow.ly/S8FY30naede

Funding to help communities boost their local environment – Deadline 18th January 2019

Don’t miss out! The deadline for the second round of the Landfill Tax Communities scheme is the 18^th January 2019 (23:59).

Grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 will be available for projects that meet the scheme criteria. WCVA may also award a grant to one nationally significant project with a value of between £50,000 - £250,000. The application process can be viewed on WCVA’s website – https://www.wcva.org.uk/funding/landfill-disposals-tax-communities-scheme/application-process

From here you will find information on how to access the application forms on eTender Wales. Please note there is one form for the main grants and a separate one for the nationally significant grant.

The Scheme encourages activities that help native wildlife and restore, maintain and enhance natural habitats, create community green space, and encourage prevention, re-use and recycling of waste, including food waste and composting initiatives. It will also fund the creation of green infrastructure – such as allotments, hedges, green roofs, parks and gardens – improvements to community facilities and activities to bring neglected and run-down areas back into community use.

Applications are welcomed from all sectors. Check out the scheme guidance document on the website for more information about what the scheme will fund.

- https://www.wcva.org.uk/funding/landfill-disposals-tax-communities-scheme

Over 50 and enjoy crafting?

New daytime craft sessions coming soon from Artis Community at Soar.  Further details in English and Welsh

Join Our Network: Community Sector Representation on the Partnership Council

After a break of more than two years in which there has been no community sector representation on the Third Sector Partnership Council, Building Communities Trust (BCT) are taking up the role of community sector representatives, in partnership with PLANED.

What is the Third Sector Partnership Council?

The Third Sector Partnership Council is a forum for discussions between representatives of third sector networks and the Welsh Government. It provides an opportunity for the sector to raise issues of interest or concern and allows for meetings with all Cabinet Secretaries twice a year.

There are representatives of 25 different Third Sector networks on the Partnership Council (the full list is here: https://www.wcva.org.uk/what-we-do/influencing/third-sector-partnership-council).

Their role is to represent the community sector – organisations working in specific geographical areas to benefit people living in those areas. Some of those organisations may also be social enterprises or working with particular groups (e.g. young people), but anyone who is working to benefit a particular place is welcome to join our network

How will this work?

To be able to represent the community sector effectively, we need to build a network of other organisations. Through this network, we’ll look at the interests and concerns of the community sector and get your views on proposals coming from Government.

To communicate with the network, we’ll set up a Partnership Council web page, issue quarterly e-bulletins and hold periodic consultation events across Wales.

Join Us!

If you’d like to join our network, click here https://form.jotformeu.com/81832430468357

We’ll spend the next few months building the network and will be holding workshops to bring network members together in February next year. These will be:

5 February 2019 in South West Wales
18 February 2019 in South East Wales
21 February 2019 in North Wales.

More details, including location and how to register will be available soon.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Chris Johnes or Emma Shepherd at BCT on 02921 202280

Who are Building Communities Trust?

BCT are probably the largest supporter of asset-based community development work in Wales, running the Invest Local programme http://www.bct.wales/invest-local/ in 13 mainly urban areas in Wales. 

Who are PLANED?

PLANED is a community-led partnership established as a social enterprise, a Development Trust, a charity, and a company limited by guarantee, with its Board members being representatives from communities and from the public and private sectors. We have over 30 years’ experience of implementing integrated rural development through supporting enterprise, sustainable agriculture and tourism, heritage and environmental activities, through community engagement and participation. www.planed.org.uk

Upcoming Accredited Training from Actif Woods

Further details available here

Localgiving targetting free support for constituted carers' groups

Localgiving are currently targeting carers groups in Wales. They are giving carers groups a free year of help with online fundraising, starting from creating an online donation page and then offering training in running online appeals and encouraging fundraisers. They are offering each group £200 of match funding to help them get started, meaning that the first £200 you raise through your Localgiving donation page will be doubled.

Localgiving's Wales Development Programme:
Localgiving helps small charities and community groups explore online fundraising. Are you interested in building sustainable income streams, developing your supporter base and raising unrestricted funding for core costs? Online fundraising is very easy and very cost effective. Localgiving is offering a year of free support to 100 groups in Wales. This help includes creating a donation page, running online appeals and encouraging individuals to fundraise for you. Localgiving is already helping over 250 groups across every county in Wales to raise awareness and funding for their causes, as well as unlocking lots of match funding.

If you would like to sign up to Localgiving just follow these simple steps and enter the promo code WALES100 at the payment section: join.localgiving.org/wales Alternatively you can watch a film clip that summaries what this opportunity looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-9ccQbaVSc&feature=youtu.be

Please contact Localgiving's Wales Development Manager, Lauren Swain, if you have any questions. She can be reached via lauren@localgiving.org or 07808889672

New! Making Spaces Project from Merthyr Valleys Homes and Cynon Taf Community Housing

Making Spaces Project!

Do you, a family member or a service user:

 • Avoid letting people in to your home due to the property condition?
• Struggle moving around your home due to the number of items within the property?
• Become attached to items and feel uncomfortable throwing anything away?
• Find you are unable to use parts of the home for their intended purposes?
• Fear you would be unable to safely leave the home quickly in an emergency?

Our Making Spaces Team can help! Merthyr Valleys Homes and Cynon Taf Community Housing are piloting a new service (until end of March 2019) to support residents across Merthyr Tydfil and the Cynon Valley to declutter their homes, create a safer place to live in, highlight recycling opportunities and maximise incomes.

If you (or anyone you know) need any help with any of the above, please contact the Making Spaces Team on 01685 727876 or email Community@mvhomes.org.uk

Job Vacancies from Groundwork Wales

Groundwork Wales has two new job vacancies, closing date Monday 7 January.  Further details are available  here  and here

Next Event from Friends of Cyfarthfa Park

Full details are available here