Information & Advice for the third sector across Lancaster District – 22 Oct 21

Mental Health Integrated Community Care Transformation – Wednesday 3rd November 2021
We are inviting voluntary sector colleagues to attend an online event where we will come together to speak with members of the Lancashire South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) Project Team and learn more about the Mental Health Integrated Community Care programme and the opportunities it presents.
LSCFT are working towards improving access to Mental Health services both for people and organisations via a number of transformation programmes. LSCFT have been successful in bidding for transformation funding from NHS England that will see them develop new models of integrated community mental health care across Lancashire and South Cumbria and as part of this bid, the voluntary community faith and social enterprise sector have been identified as key partners in this transformation.
Date: Wednesday 3rd November 2021
Time:10am – 11.30am
Location: Online
To attend and receive a link, email [email protected]

Are you a small VCSE organisation with funding needs? You can apply for The Eric Wright Charitable Trust Fund (EWCT)
All smaller local organisations working within the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector are encouraged to apply for financial help in providing activities that will make a positive difference to the lives and wellbeing of people of any age.
The grant is available to organisations with an annual income of less than £50,000 (you do not need to be a registered charity to apply). Organisations that have received awards from the fund are welcome to apply again. Application deadline is 5th November 2021.
Click here to start your application.
Email Sharon [email protected] or telephone 01524 555900 for more information about the grant.

Thomas Wall Trust – Funding for developing skills from disadvantaged groups
Thomas Wall Trust recognises that communication is underpinned by a set of key features and skills such as empathy, listening, emotional intelligence, confidence, and clarity, amongst others. The Trust offers grants up to £5,000 to specific projects or core activities that develop these critical life skills for people from disadvantaged groups. Application deadline is 22nd January 2021.
Click here to find out more or to start your application.

Urgent Response Fund (URF)
The URF is still open and available for charities and community groups in need of resources to effectively deliver projects/activities to support the basic health and wellbeing needs of vulnerable members of the community in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the lockdown and from March 2021 to the gradual easing of restrictions.
No minimum or maximum award amount. Applications are reviewed monthly.
Click here to find out how to start your URF application.

John Laing Charitable Trust
The John Laing Charitable Trust Fund is managed by the Community Foundation for Lancashire. The Trust would like to make grants under the sectors it operates which cover the following areas:
• Community regeneration which should include charities benefitting the aged
• Homelessness
• Disadvantaged young people (aged 4 – 18)
• Education
Priority will be given to projects that support older people and to small grassroots groups with low incomes. The panel prefers to fund sustainable projects that have a long-term benefit and that can make a difference in their community. The panel will also consider projects that are addressing the impact of the COVID pandemic, provided they meet the broad focus of the fund. The maximum grant available is £1000. Application deadline is 5th November 2021.
Click here to find out more and how to apply.
If you need more information, email [email protected] or call 0330 440 4900.

Lancaster District Street Aid – helping people stay off the streets
The Lancaster Street Aid initiative helps people who are, or have been, on the streets to apply for a grant to help them get off, and stay off, the streets.
Types of support that can be applied for via the scheme include access to housing, furniture and other home essentials, education/training courses, clothing for job interviews, transport to interview/place of work, and help with searching for a job.
Maximum application value of £750. Applications are reviewed as submitted. If you would like to apply, click here for more information.

The Triangle Trust Fund – Development Grants Scheme
Triangle Trust’s Development Grant scheme enables organisations supporting young carers or the rehabilitation of offenders and ex-offenders to undertake a progressive development to improve future resilience. This might be a short piece of work requiring investment over a few months or a more significant programme of work requiring dedicated support for up to 3 years. Application deadline is 26th October 2021.
 • Grants are available from £10,000 up to £80,000 for a duration of 6 months to 3 years.
 • A maximum of £30,000 per year or £2,500 per month for smaller developments can be requested.
Click here to apply for funding. For more information email [email protected] or call 01273 810263 (office hours are Monday, Wednesday Thursday 9:30 to 4:30).

Magic Little Grants from LocalGiving available for small charities
Localgiving, in partnership with Postcode Community Trust, provides grants of up to £500 to small, local charities and community groups (including charitable organisations that are schools or connected to schools) delivering projects that:
• Improving mental wellbeing
• Enabling community participation in the arts
• Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty
• Supporting marginalised groups and promoting equality
• Improving biodiversity and green spaces
• Enabling participation in physical activity
• Responding to the climate emergency and promoting sustainability
• Increasing community access to outdoor space
To be eligible, applicants must register with Localgiving as a member. Membership is free. Application deadline is 31st October 2021.
Click here to start your application.

A B Charitable Trust
AB Charitable Trust supports charities that defend human rights and promote respect for vulnerable individuals whatever their circumstances. The Trust is particularly interested in charities that work with marginalised and excluded people in society, with a focus on migrants and refugees criminal justice and penal reform human rights, particularly access to justice. Application deadlines are:
• 31st October 2021
• 30th January 2022
• 30th April 2022

Click here to find out how to apply. For more details, email [email protected]

Ford Britain Trust
Ford Britain Trust pays special attention to projects focusing on education, environment, children, the disabled, youth activities and projects that provide clear benefits to the local communities close to Ford UK locations. There are two types of grants to apply for:
  • Small grants for amounts up to £250 – application deadline is 31st October 2021.
  • Large grants for amounts over £250 and up to a maximum of £3,000 – application deadline is 31st January 2022.
Click here to start your application or to find out if you are eligible.

Connect Fund
The Connect Fund was established as the social investment infrastructure fund. Its objective is to improve the social investment (SI) market in England by supporting and strengthening the infrastructure, so it can better meet the needs of charities and social enterprises.
The Connect Fund currently has four programme areas – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Post Covid-19 Recovery; Peer Networks and Challenge Funds. The Fund does not provide grants and/or social investment to frontline charities or social enterprises for direct service delivery unless the proposal is directly linked to improving the social investment market in England. The average grant size varies across the different funding strands. The grant is available until March 2024.
Click here to apply or find out more. Download the application guidance note here.
For further information, email [email protected]

Step Change – Resilience and wellbeing support by Francis C Scott Charitable Trust
As a local funder with around ninety active grants, FCSCT has a lot of conversations with community organisations and charities who have been weathering the storm in all sorts of different ways. One of the concerns raised, is the human effects of the crisis on charities, their organisations, and their teams – at all levels. Some experience tension and challenges bringing teams back together after periods of furlough, for others there is anxiety about returning to an office environment or directly delivering programmes with groups of people. And for senior leaders and Trustees, the strain of navigating their organisations through 18 months of heightened levels of uncertainty and dynamic change. All these factors risk the health and sustainability of our vital community organisations.
FCSCT is therefore encouraging eligible organisations (those who fit the existing FCSCT eligibility criteria, which can be found here to apply for up to £4,000 as part of the existing Step Change programme, specifically to help address these needs. Organisations should determine their own solutions, which may include but are not limited to – team and/or board development events, coaching or mentoring for key staff, structured well-being programmes for staff and volunteers.
Click here to start your application.
For guidance and advice, please get in touch with the team at FCSCT by calling 01539 742608, or emailing Helen or Kevin on: [email protected] or [email protected]

Comic Relief Community Fund for England Invites 2021 Applications
This grant is for local community groups who are driving change by drawing on the expertise of people with lived experience of the issues being tackled. Not-for-profit organisations across England can apply for grants of up to £10,000 to be used for projects that fit with one of Comic Relief’s four strategic themes:
  • Children Survive and Thrive – ensuring every child has the best start in life.
  • Fighting for Gender Justice – tackling gender-based violence, inequality and exploitation.
  • A Safe Place to Be – supporting those who have been displaced to access secure housing and feel settled in their new homes.
  • Mental Health Matters – helping people experiencing poor mental health to access appropriate support and live free from stigma and discrimination.

Funding will be split as follows:
  • £1,000 for capacity building activities including those which strengthen operations, improve governance and help to better understand beneficiary needs.
  • £9,000 to deliver projects which align with the programme’s strategic themes

Application deadline is 29th November 2021 (funding may close earlier if enough applications are received).
Organisations must have an annual turnover of less than £250,000 to apply.
Click here to find out more or to start your application.

We can help you find new volunteers. Every week people from across Lancaster contact us to offer their help and if you want them to know about your roles, you can register with us by visiting our website here.
The Lancaster District Volunteer Centre provides support services for all not-for-profit organisations, helping them to recruit, train and retain quality volunteers.
The registration process is quick and easy. Our Volunteer Centre manager, Mark, will contact you to discuss your volunteer requirements, whether straightforward recruitment and promotion of roles, or training, or anything else related to volunteer engagement.
If you would like to ask questions or just a chat, you can contact Mark by email at [email protected] or telephone 01524 555900.

Community Learning Network – help us to help you by completing the survey
Our community Learning Network survey is still available for you and your community to complete. The 10 minutes survey will help us to find out more about the skills and interests you would like to discover. We would very much appreciate this survey being shared with your community residents, people that use your services and people looking to learn and develop their skills and confidence. You can complete the survey by clicking here.
Email [email protected] for paper copies of this survey.
The Lancaster District Community Learning Network is a network of community education providers and community development organisations that are passionate about developing the skills of people living and working in our communities. We aim to provide educational pathways by offering a wide range of courses that can lead to people gaining new skills that are valuable in all areas of life and work. We are working to provide community-led, community-based opportunities and your support in helping us to understand your community needs would be most welcomed. You can find out more about the Community Learning Network vision and goals by visiting our website here
We are in the process of arranging information briefings, personal invitations, presentations and we very much look forward to discussing this network with you soon. In the meantime, please do share across your networks and your communities.

Tax Relief Information from the Charity Excellence Framework – Are You Losing Out on Guaranteed Funding?
Each year charities fail to claim £600m in Gift Aid and you can claim up to 4 years retrospectively. This Charity Excellence resource gives you what you need to claim the different types, with links to everything you need.
If you haven’t yet registered with HMRC, this CEF resource shows you how to do that.
Gift Aid is just one of many tax reliefs you can claim and you can find resources by visiting here.

LGBTQ+ Mental Health Hour episode 4: Queer Black Mental Health
This webinar episode celebrates Black History Month. Lancashire LGBT’s Community Support Worker Beth Meadows will be joined by Tolu Ajayi from Rainbow Noir and Cheryl Martin from Black Gold Arts. The conversation will cover a range of issues relating to Black Queer mental health, and how creative approaches to it are navigated by our guest speakers through their artistic projects.
Date: 28th October 2021
Time: 5 pm – 6 pm.
Location: Online (Zoom)
Click here to register.

Mental Health Integrated Community Care Transformation (as shown in the CVS news section)
We are inviting voluntary sector colleagues to attend an online event where we will come together to speak with members of the LSCFT Project Team and learn more about the Mental Health Integrated Community Care programme and the opportunities it presents.
Date: Wednesday 3rd November 2021
Time: 10am – 11.30am
To attend and receive a link email, [email protected]

Lancaster University – COP26 Festival with Schools and Young People
The 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) will be held in Glasgow from 1–12 November 2021, bringing together heads of state, climate experts and campaigners to agree on coordinated action to tackle climate change.
To tie in with this major climate change conference, Lancaster University’s week-long COP26@ Lancaster University Festival will have events for the public, staff and students including seminars, workshops, guided walks and discussions.
The festival will demonstrate Lancaster’s commitment to accelerating action on climate change from local impact to global impact and highlight the depth and breadth of our research, knowledge and other activities from across the University and those we work with.
Date: 20 – 27th October 2021 (various events)
Click here to view the list of events and register your attendance.

VSNW’s Festival of North West Thinking
Following the success of the 2020 Festival of North West Thinking, the invitation for the 2021 VSNW’s Festival of North West Thinking (including VSNW’s AGM) is now open.
The festival will host a variety of events, workshops and keynote speakers. The event is also bringing together various leaders in the sector, those with lived experience, drawn from across the UK with a focus on the North West. Please register your attendance now to secure your place.
Date: 9th November 2021
Time: 10 am to 4 pm.
Click here to find out more and to register.

Is your organisation looking to support your employees with mental health training?
The mental health crisis is growing, and the need for training and awareness in the workplace has never been greater.
If you want to open this opportunity up to your employees, join this webinar organized by Learning Curve Group to discuss the mental health crisis, the steps employers can take to be more inclusive, and the free training available to businesses to support their staff.
Date: 11 November 2021
Time: 1 pm – 2 pm.
Click here to register.

Resource Booklet Training – Young People under 25 by ‘We are with you’
Do you work with young people under 25? ‘We are with you’ has created a resource workbook/screening tool to support professionals working with anyone under 25 in Lancashire.
All participants will receive a copy of the resources booklet before the training, any questions can then be added to the event. The booklet can be used by all professionals to support young people. Book your FREE place via the link below.
Date: 28th October 2021
Time: 10am – 12noon
Location: Online – Click here to register for the training
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

How to host a hybrid meeting by Charity Digital
Explore how charities can successfully hold meetings catering for both virtual and in-person attendees as the world of work goes hybrid. Find answers to questions such as, how often should people come into the office? How should the office timetable be managed? Is everyone feeling included?
Click here to find out more and access other online training events by Charity Digital.

Young Persons Worker needed in Lancashire – ‘We Are With You’
With You in Lancashire is We Are With You’s largest young person’s substance misuse service, delivering interventions to young people up to the age of 25. The organisation is looking for candidates who are passionate about supporting Children and Young People, as well as developing themselves professionally. Applicants will need to be resilient, outcome-focused and committed.
Salary: £24,145 – £26,092
Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week
Location: Preston, Lancaster or Burnley
Closing date: 7th November 2021
Interview date: 16th & 18th November 2021
Click here to download the application pack.
For more information email [email protected] – please quote the job reference number (REQ00863) in all correspondence.

Market Operations Brief – Call for Expressions of Interest
Creative West End is looking to commission services for operations of the Creative West End Winter Market to be held at More Music on Saturday 4th December in collaboration with the annual Lantern Festival.
If you think you have the skills, click here for more information and to download the brief pack.

Project Officer at Lancashire BME Network (LBN)
Lancashire BME Network is currently looking for a Project Officer to develop and deliver a variety of projects. The work aims to address inequalities and create access to opportunities for those whose ethnicity and culture can be a barrier to engagement and participation.
LBN is a registered charity that works primarily (but not exclusively) with Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities & individuals, empowering them to make positive changes through the delivery of a variety of interventions.
Salary: £22,911
Hours of work: 37 hours per week
Term: 12 months with the possibility of an extension subject to funding.
Location: Based in Blackburn with travel across Lancashire
Closing date: 1st November 2021 (5 pm)
Interview date: 9th November 2021
Click here to download the application form.
If you need more information call 01254 392974 or email [email protected]

Admin Worker at Preston Violence Services
Preston Violence Services is seeking an Admin Worker. The successful applicant will work from home, in the office which is located at Harbour House, Port Way and engage in some community work.
Salary: £9,880 per annum (£18,278 pro-rata)
Hours of work: 20 hours per week
Closing date: 7th November 2021 (6 pm)
Start Date: As soon as possible
Please note: This job is open to women only (exempt under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1).
To obtain an application pack please email [email protected] or telephone 01772 201601

Finance & Operations, Senior Manager at More Music
More Music is seeking a finance and operations senior manager to join the team to lead on finance, supporting the Executive Director. The successful applicant should have an understanding of complex funding and finance in the charitable arts sector including dealing with multiple revenue streams.
Salary: £26-£33,000 (pro-rata)
Hours of work: 21 hours per week
Closing Date: 29th October 2021
Interview date: from 8th November 2021
Visit here to start your application.
Completed applications should be sent by email to [email protected]
Call 01524 831997 to find out more about the role and More Music.

Deputy Night Shelter Coordinator at Christ Church, Lancaster
Christ Church, Lancaster is looking for a Deputy Night Shelter Co-ordinator. The successful candidate will work with existing coordinators and a team of over forty volunteers to ensure that the Winter Shelter runs safely and smoothly, offering a warm, supportive and encouraging welcome to guests. The team is seeking an experienced, mature person who can communicate clearly and effectively, and handle difficult situations well.

Role: Permanent, seasonal contract working 1st October-31st March each year, with 2 weeks’ break over Christmas.

Salary: £500 per month of the season
Hours of work: 50 hours per month
Closing Date: 16th November 2021
Interview date: 22nd November 2021
Start date: 1st January 2022

For more details, please contact Rev. Carol Backhouse, 01524 942105, [email protected] or Jan Norbury (Night Shelter Lead Co-ordinator) on 07547 717060, [email protected]

Mental health crisis lines – here for you and your loved ones
If you or a loved one is struggling to cope with mental health, you can contact the mental health crisis lines for help. The helpline is staffed by trained mental health professionals who are able to provide assessment and referrals to appropriate services – ring it if you need to access services or for advice about someone who needs treatment/support.
Click here to find your nearest line.

Mental Health Resources at Work
Mental Health at Work has created a toolkit for small organisations. The toolkit empowers employees to look after themselves and gives leaders the tools to support them too:
This toolkit contains:
• a handbook filled with advice and tips for small business owners and the self-employed
• a free and confidential mobile app for employees
• two practical tools to help you to start implementing change straight away.
Click here to access the toolkit.

A public health model for mentally healthier integrated care systems
Better together: A public health model for mentally healthier integrated care systems outlines how integrated care systems can adopt a public health model to use their budgets, powers and influence to support better mental health outcomes for all. Involving all NHS bodies and local authorities in 42 areas covering the whole of England, integrated care systems have an increasingly important role to play in organising health and care and addressing the wider factors that influence people’s health.
Click here to read more and to find out how to join the conversation.

New Mid-Week Hangout for young people at More Music
If you know of a young person who is struggling with social isolation or anxiety, accessing mental health support or on a waiting list for services, they could benefit from the range of sessions More Music offer. Having a safe and supported space for socializing, creativity and self-expression are of the utmost importance for young people’s personal, social and emotional development.
Weekly activities: Music, chatting, learning about the music industry & more.
Day of the week: Wednesdays from 4 to 7 pm
Location: 13-17 Devonshire Road, Morecambe, Lancashire. LA£ 1QT.
Click here to view the list of all activities.
Email [email protected] or [email protected] to sign up.

Digital tool for Universal Credit Users
The process for claiming universal credit can be lengthy and complicated. That’s why Catalyst collaborated with several charities to work out how they could provide remote support for online Universal Credit claims. If you’re an organisation that works with those trying to claim Universal Credit, do have a look. Visit here to access the toolkit.

Supporting people with learning difficulties with digital passports – UHMBT to support Do you have learning difficulties?
University Hospital of Morecambe Bay (UHMBT) has launched digital passports to support patients who have learning difficulties. A hospital passport provides important information about patients care and communications needs, including personal details, the type of medication they are taking, and any pre-existing health conditions.
Find out how to register here.

COVID-19 communications toolkit
Please click here for the latest version of the COVID- 19 communications toolkit for you, your communities and your networks.
This week’s key messages are:
  • A new £500 million fund has been launched to help vulnerable families.
  • Children aged 12 to 15 are being offered one jab of the vaccine.
  • The vaccine booster programme has started for those people at greatest risk

7 steps your charity can take to protect the planet
If you’re a CEO, trustee or senior leader, are you committed to ensuring that your charity and staff are empowered, encouraged and inspired to make changes that will help our planet?
Click here to discover 7 simple steps you can take to play your part in fighting climate change.

New guideline to help reduce health inequalities in people experiencing homelessness
NICE and the Centre for Homelessness Impact (CHI) have jointly published a new guideline to increase the access people experiencing homelessness have to health and social care services.
Click here to find out more.

Join NAVCA’s ‘Are They Safe?’ Campaign
The campaign aims to remove the stigma of reporting safeguarding concerns and encourage people witnessing potential abuse and neglect to speak up, and help those in abusive or neglectful situations receive the support they need.
Click here to download the campaign pack and to find out more.

Lancashire and South Cumbria Health Equity Commission (HEC) – complete the survey here
The Lancashire and South Cumbria Health Equity Commission (HEC) recently concluded the launch of the new HEC. Attendance and participation at the event were the biggest seen as a system-wide event across Lancashire and South Cumbria. Visit here to watch the full recording.
The focus is understanding what system partners want the Health Equity Commission to do and where the future focus should lie to make a step-change in health equalities for people in the region.
Interested individuals and organisations can join the special workshops on Housing and one on Children & Young People in October. Email [email protected] to participate.
You can also contribute your ideas, views and concerns about health equity in your area by clicking here to complete the questionnaire.

Our organisational development team provide support on fundraising, governance, policies & procedures, safeguarding, DBS checks, monitoring and evaluation, media & marketing and setting up new community groups. If your organisation needs support whether it be listening ear, all aspects of volunteering support, payroll, independent examinations of accounts or funding guidance and support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team:
Free one-to-one development support, contact [email protected]
Volunteering and Upskilling your workforce, contact [email protected]
Payroll, bookkeeping and independent examinations, contact [email protected]
Or call 01524 555900 or email [email protected]