The Diana Award - seeking exceptional young people

Please note closing date for application - 17^th March 2017

The Diana Award is a charity legacy to Diana, Princess of Wales’ belief that young people have the power to change the world.

 2017 is a very special year as it marks the 20^th Anniversary of Princess Diana’s passing. We plan to celebrate Diana’s life and legacy throughout the year and as a part of the celebrations we have announced the ‘Inaugural Legacy Award’ which will look to highlight the achievements of 20 exceptional young people from across the world for their selfless commitment to transforming the lives of others.

 As the search begins for these outstanding young people who embody the late Princess’ qualities of compassion, kindness and service, The Diana Award calls out to communities and organisations across the world to nominate a young person who is deserving of such honour.

 The 20 recipients of the Legacy Award will travel to London, UK to receive the honour at a prestigious ceremony in May 2017 and will also be given access to a unique Development Programme, providing them with the opportunity to enhance their skills in four key areas; leadership, community development, social entrepreneurship and technology for good.

 These young people will be leaders, visionaries and role models able to inspire and mobilise new generations to serve their communities and make a positive change to the world as Princess Diana believed they could.

 We would be delighted if you would join us in finding these incredible young change makers by calling on your frontline staff to shine the spotlight on an unsung young heroes at www.diana-award.org.uk

 We would also welcome your support in helping us spread the word even further . To access our campaign pack please email daniel.gothard@diana-award.org.uk.

 

Quick ...book a place before they all go!

Possible Support from Business in the Community

BITC Cymru  is the Prince’s Responsible Business Network in Wales.  We are the business-led charity that works with companies of all sizes and sectors to together we are making a positive difference to our nation’s shared economic, social and environmental challenges.

Do you know community organisations or charities in the Merthyr Tydfil area who could benefit from the expertise and support of business volunteers?

Business in the Community Cymru works with businesses of all sizes and sectors and provides employee volunteering opportunities throughout the year for them to support communities with the greatest needs. 

Give & Gain Day is a celebration of the power and potential of employee volunteering and is sponsored in Wales this year by the Welsh Government and Wales & West Utilities Ltd.  It will take place 8-12 May 2017 and BITC will support employee volunteers to get out in their communities to support local projects with their skills, experience, passion and commitment.

We are keen to support the needs of the communities in Merthyr Tydfil and are looking for good team volunteering opportunities that we can promote to businesses.  If you know of community organisations who have a project or task that you think would benefit from a team of business volunteers, we want to hear from you.  This can be a practical project like enhancing a garden OR a skills-based project like running a workshop. We like to have different types of projects as well as projects in different geographic areas to promote to our businesses.  Please contact Jill Salter on 029 2078 0058 or jill.salter@bitc.org.uk

Last year Give & Gain Day in Wales saw over 1,000 employee volunteers from 62 businesses worked with over 55 community partners. The employees gave over 9,600 hours of their time to projects across Wales, making a positive impact to the lives of over 500,000 people.

BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY CYMRU

THE PRINCE’S RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS NETWORK

2^nd Floor, 33-35 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9HB

Llawr 2, 33 – 35 Heol Yr Eglwys Gadeiriol, Caerdydd CF11 9HB

T: +44 (0)29 2078 0050 | www.bitc.org.uk/wales l @BITCWales

Business in the Community is registered in England and Wales. Registered charity No 297716. Company limited by guarantee No 1619253

A Conversation with Dawn Bowden AM

"A Conversation with Dawn Bowden AM" is an opportunity for Third Sector organisations to ask questions and engage in an open dialogue with our local Assembly Member. The event will be held on Friday 3rd February at 10am in the Voluntary Action Centre, 89/90 Pontmorlais, Merthyr Tydfil.

To book a place please email Laura Johnson 

High Sheriff Awards Scheme 2017 - recognising young people

Mid Glamorgan High Sheriff Awards Scheme 2017
The Awards were founded in 2008 by Anne Morgan, the then High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan, who recognised that many young people in the County were unsung heroes taking part in numerous aspects of volunteering work and projects which were way beyond what could be expected of them.

Why was the Scheme set up?  Much had been heard about difficulties young people encountered in today's modern society. They suffer from pressures unheard of twenty five years ago; pressures which can lead to crime and ill health. This Award sought to seek out individual young people who rise above these pressures and contribute to their communities.  It promotes and encourages in a positive way the good work that is being undertaken by youngsters across the County of Mid Glamorgan.

Two main sponsors, Sony UK and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics came on board at the start and other sponsors soon joined.
In addition, right from the beginning, the South Wales Police have given their support and allow details of the scheme plus entry forms on their web site www.south-wales.police.uk  Search High Sheriff Awards.  Also, further information can be found on the High Sheriff Awards website which is www.highsheriffawards.wales

 The closing date is 27 January 2017 and entries are judged, by the High Sheriff Awards Panel which includes both Past and High Sheriffs in nomination of the County, in February and the Awards Ceremony is to be held  on the evening of 23 March 2017.

Several thousand pounds have been received by worthy recipients and each year a cheque for £1,000 together with a silver cup - held for a year, is presented to the entry judged to be the most outstanding.  Also other monetary prizes are awarded.

Asset transfer - wishing to maintain services/buildings??

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust would like to hear from groups who may be interested in running services, buildings or maintaining land on behalf of their community ensuring that valued services and facilities remain within our communities.

Please contact: Natalie Sargent (01443) 404455 or email natalie.sargent@coalfields-regen.org.uk

Help shape a new safeguarding service

NEW YEAR: NEW START

WCVA has funding for a pilot safeguarding support service for the sector until 31 March 2017.

We would very much welcome your help in shaping what this service might look like if it was to continue after March 2017.

We have designed a short survey to gather your views and would be very grateful if you could spend the time to complete.

Survey Link

 You can find safeguarding information and guidance on the WCVA Website.

 Please respond by Tuesday 17^th January

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BLWYDDYN NEWYDD: DECHRAU NEWYDD

Mae gan WCVA gyllid ar gyfer gwasanaeth cymorth diogelu i’r sector am gyfnod prawf hyd at 31 Mawrth 2017.

Byddem yn ddiolchgar iawn o’ch cymorth i siapio sut wasanaeth y gall hwn fod pe bai’n parhau ar ôl mis Mawrth 2017.

Rydym wedi llunio arolwg byr i gasglu’ch barn a byddem yn ddiolchgar iawn pe baech yn rhoi o’ch amser i’w ateb.
dolen yr arolwg.

 Mae gwybodaeth ac arweiniad ynglŷn â diogelu ar gael ar wefan WCVA

 Ateber erbyn dydd Mawrth 17^eg Ionawr os gwelwch yn dda

Free Data Protection and Confidentiality Training from WCVA 3-Set

Introduction to data protection and confidentiality

Data protection and confidentiality for EU funded projects.

24 January 2017 - Carmarthen
9 February 2017 - Cardiff
7 June 2017 - Colwyn Bay

The aim of this training is to provide knowledge and understanding of data protection and confidentiality requirements, to ensure that organisations who receive EU funding comply with the law, good practice and the obligations of their funding agreements.

The course will cover:

• The 8 Data Protection principles
• Collecting data from children
• Confidentiality
• Securing and reporting a breach of Data Protection
• Data quality
• Subject access requests
• The practicalities of Data Protection in the workplace

Learning objectives:

• Be familiar with the eight data protection principles set out in the Data Protection Act 1998
• Be able to identify what information is classed as 'personal data' and apply that to their work setting
• Understand how to perform their role in line with the Data Protection Act
• Understand the legal obligations of a data controller
• Know how and when to report a data breach, if necessary
• Understand the relationship between data protection and confidentiality

Target Group: Staff from third sector organisations who will be involved in managing EU Structural Funds projects, either as a direct sponsor or sub-contractor.

Cost: Free to organisations delivering, or with an interest in delivering, European funded activity under the 2014-2020 programmes.

If you would like to participate in this session please contact  training@wcva.org.uk

Invitation to take part in PQASSO Essentials pilot - for smaller third sector groups

Gwahoddiad i gymryd rhan ym mheilot Hanfodion PQASSO Ydy eich grŵp neu fudiad trydydd sector: ·         yn fach o ran nifer y staff cyflogedig, neu ·         heb staff cyflogedig o gwbl ac yn cael eu rhedeg gan wirfoddolwyr, neu ·         newydd gael eu sefydlu? Beth am ddefnyddio Hanfodion PQASSO i adolygu a gwella'r ffordd mae eich grŵp neu fudiad yn gweithio? Mae Hanfodion PQASSO yn adnodd hunanasesu newydd, syml a diffwdan. Bwriad Hanfodion PQASSO yw helpu grwpiau a mudiadau llai y trydydd sector: ·         nad ydynt wedi adolygu'r grŵp neu’r mudiad cyfan erioed o'r blaen a'u bod yn awyddus i wneud 'archwiliad cyflwr’ sylfaenol er mwyn gwybod pa feysydd y mae angen iddynt eu datblygu a’u cryfhau ·         sy’n awyddus i ddechrau cyflwyno gwelliannau parhaus o ansawdd a’u hymgorffori yn eu gwaith ·         sydd angen fframwaith i gefnogi datblygiad eu grŵp neu eu mudiad, ac  ·         sy’n awyddus i fod yn fwy effeithiol ac effeithlon wrth eu gwaith. I gael rhagor o wybodaeth am y cynllun peilot ewch i wefan WCVA

Invitation to take part in the PQASSO Essentials pilot Is your third sector group or organisation: ·         small in terms of the number of paid staff, or ·         run by volunteers and does not have paid staff, or ·         newly established? What about using PQASSO Essentials to review and improve the way your group or organisation works? PQASO Essentials is a new, simple and straightforward self-assessment tool intended to help smaller, third sector groups and organisations that: ·         may never have reviewed their whole group or organisation and that want to do a basic ’health check‘ to know which areas they need to develop and strengthen ·         want to start to introduce and embed quality and continuous improvement in their work ·         need a framework to support the development of their group or organisation, and  ·         want to be more effective and efficient in how they work. To get more information about the pilot please visit WCVA’s website

Please help VAMT and Interlink RCT shape a prospective new service

We are looking to strengthen the support available to support community and voluntary organisations in Cwm Taf by recruiting mentors and trustees from the private, public and third sectors.  There are huge challenges facing community and voluntary organisations in RCT and Merthyr county boroughs as a result of increased demand and reduced funding.  Interlink and VAMT have been repeatedly asked to develop mentoring support and to help recruit trustees.  We aim to apply to the Lottery under their Third Sector Skills grant programme to develop these services.  The  deadline for responses to this short survey is 20^th January.  We would like you to help shape this service and build on a number of consultation events we have held over the last four months.

Here is the link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ThirdSectorSkills

Please contact Simon James at Interlink on 01443 846221 if you would like to discuss this in more depth.