Information and Advice for the Lancaster District’s Third Sector – 18 May 2023
We are working with the local voluntary and community sector and Lancashire and District-wide partners to support VCFSE organisations and people living in our communities. We encourage you to share this page with others.
An archive of previous editions can be found here.
Click headings below to expand each section.
Lancaster District CVS Volunteer Achievement Awards – Nomination Reminder
Just a reminder that the Lancaster CVS Volunteer Achievement Awards take place in just under 3 weeks. The online nomination form and related guidance for the 2023 Volunteer Achievement Awards are available here.
The deadline for nominations is midnight on Sunday 28 May, and the awards will take place at the Midland Hotel on Wednesday 7 June from 5pm. Bookings will open soon, and you will find a link in next week’s Bulletin.
More information, nomination form and guidance on the LDCVS website.
Here’s our Chief Officer and Volunteer Manager with a quicker reminder about nominations during their recent visit in preparation for the event…
Community Health Champions Fund
We’re pleased to announce the return of the Community Health Champions Fund. Organisations can apply for up to £10,000 to deliver projects which promote healthy behaviours, tackle public health issues, and reduce health inequalities across the district. One round will be held this year, with applications due by midnight on 9 July. Projects must begin no earlier than 1 August 2023, and can last for up to one year. Eligible costs include running events or workshops, training staff and volunteers, removing barriers to access, and making information more accessible – but these are just examples and other ideas which achieve the fund’s aims will also be considered.
Find out more and access full guidance notes
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Co-op Local Fund Reopens for 2023 Applications
Voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations across the UK and Isle of Man can now apply for grants from the Co-op Local Community Fund, which allows Co-op members to support the projects they care most about. Awarded grants are for projects around Co-op and funeral homes that include food accessibility and bringing people together, improved mental wellbeing, opporunities for young people to be heard and restoring nature and tackling climate change. In most areas, this is between £1,000 and £3,000 on average. Successful groups will receive a minimum of £1,000 to support their projects.
The deadline to apply is midnight on 11 June 2023.
Learn more about this funding opportunity
Watch the following video to see how funding has supported local causes like Men’s Shed in Shropshire…
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Cycling UK Reopens Big Bike Revival Grants Programme for 2023
Cycling UK is offering grants of up to £2,000 for voluntary and community cycle groups and other not-for-profit organisations across England to deliver projects and activities that achieve the objectives aimed at encouraging cycling who do not normally cycle and improving confidence and perception of cycling safety. Funding is for activities delivered between 15 May 2023 and 30 September 2023.
The deadline for applications is 31 July 2023.
Find out more about the Big Bike Revival Grants Programme
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Deadline Reminder for Sport England’s Small Grants
Funding to remove barriers to participation in physical activity and improve community sport provision is available with the Sports England Small Grants programme. Applications remain open for the programme, which offers grants of £300 to £15,000 to projects across England. The aim of the fund is to bring communities together and provide sport and physical activities for people who may be less physically active. Applications are accepted from voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, schools and local authority bodies.
The deadline to apply is 30 June 2023.
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Fund Launched for Events that Support the Integration of Hong Kong BN(O)’s Across Northwest England
North West Regional Strategic Migration Partnership (RSMP) is offering grants of up to £7,500 for voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector organisations to support the delivery of one-off or a series of events that to support the integration of Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders in communities across Northwest England, as well as educating other residents about Hong Kong culture.
The Summer/Mid-Autumn Events Grants Programme will support events aimed at integrating Hongkongers and educating local communities that take place in August, September, and October 2023 to coincide with the school summer holidays and the Mid-Autumn festival celebrated by many in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, falling on 27 September in 2023.
The deadline for applications is 24 May 2023.
Find out more about the Hong Kong British National Overseas Programme
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Healthy Heart Grants Now Open for England Applications
A funding opportunity is available for innovative projects that help to prevent, or reduce, the risk of heart disease in local communities in the UK. Working in partnership with the SUBWAY franchise, Heart Research UK is accepting applications to the next round of its programme for the promotion of heart health. With each region of the UK having its own funding window, the current round is open for groups in England. Two grants of £15,000 each will be awarded. Projects that are likely to have a big impact and have considered novel ways to encourage people to look after their hearts and promote positive lifestyle changes are also sought.
The deadline to apply is 8 June 2023.
Learn more about the Healthy Hearts Grants
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McCarthy Stone Foundation Offers Grants in Support of Dementia Action Week 2023
The McCarthy Stone Foundation is providing 30 grants of £1,000 each to support grassroot groups in the UK who provide services, such as memory cafes, to help those with dementia. The grant is offered as part of Dementia Action Week 2023, which is taking place from 15-23 May, to increase understanding and awareness, and to encourage people to ‘Act on Dementia’. Small, grassroot community organisations and clubs from across the UK may apply. To be eligible, applicants must be independent, with their own constitution and bank account. Priority will be given to groups with an annual income of less than £25,000.
The deadline for applications is 26 May 2023 with notification shortly thereafter.
Read more about this fund and apply
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National Express Foundation’s Community Grant Scheme Opens to Applications from across UK
In 2023, the National Express Foundation has expanded its community grants programme from the West Midlands to include the whole of the UK.The programme helps fund local community groups across the country who conduct meaningful community activity and has an overarching focus on providing support to young people.
This year’s funding focus is to help community groups that support young people (aged 15 to 24 years) continue to build back from the pandemic. There is a total budget of £100,000 with grants of £1,000, £2,500, or £5,000 for projects which begin in the third quarter of 2023.
There is a two-stage application process.
The deadline for first stage applications is 6 June 2023.
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Henry Smith Charity – Holiday Grants for Children
The Henry Smith Charity provide Holiday Grants for children to provide access to recreational trips or holidays for groups of children who experience disadvantage or who have disabilities. This grants programme is for those living in the UK with priority being given to the 20% most deprived areas. Grants of between £500-£2750 are available for schools, youth groups, not for profit organisations and charities.
Next round application deadline 19th May 2023
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National Lottery Grants for Heritage Upcoming Deadline
National Lottery Grants for Heritage provides funding to projects that connect people and communities to the national, regional and local heritage of the UK. Grants are available of varying amounts with the upcoming deadline below applying to the applications for grants of between £250,000 to £5million.
An expression of interest is required for these sizeable grants.
The deadline for application is 25 May 2023
Click here for more information
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King Baudouin Foundation Invites UK Applications to its Community Health Fund
Funding has become available for not-for-profit organisations in the UK for projects to support vulnerable young people (aged 15-24) facing mental health challenges. This year, the Brussels based King Baudouin Foundation is inviting UK applications to its UCB Community Health Fund, which aims to address health disparities amongst vulnerable young people. Non-profit and non-governmental organisations can apply for a grant of between €30,000 and €50,000 (approximately £26,286 to £43,800) out of a total fund of €2 million (around £1,752,000).
The deadline for applications is 30 June 2023.
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Power to Change Announces New Discovery Fund to Open for Applications on 1 June
The Discovery Fund is a new fund offered by Power to Change that are providing up funding for community businesses and community focussed organisations in England who are interested in exploring new tech-based solutions to meet some of their existing challenges. Running over nine months, the fund is looking to work collaboratively with 20 community organisations who are interested in making and using technology to meet some of their current challenges. Each organisation will be provided with funding to undertake their own discovery work and will be offered a place on a cohort-based Design Hop programme.
Opens for applications on 1 June and closes on 21 July 2023 (midday).
Discover more about this tech funding opportunity
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Funding to Support Young Rowers – The Rowing Foundation
The Rowing Foundation are handing out grants of between £500-£4000 to help organisations and clubs involved in on water elements of the sport of rowing who are individually affiliated to British Rowing. It aims to promote the participation of young people (those under 18 years in full time education) and rowing.
Applications for deadline are May 22nd 2023
Read more about this funding and apply
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Strategic Legal Fund Reopens for Applications
UK not-for-profit groups specialising in legal advice for immigration issues can now apply to the next round of grants from the Strategic Legal Fund (SLF). This funding aims to support refugees, asylum seekers and migrants who have been disadvantaged as a result of their immigration status. The SLF aims to tackle injustices and inconsistencies in law and practice that disadvantage or discriminate against asylum seekers, refugees and migrants as a result of their migration status. Grants of up to £30,000 are on offer though, owing to the limited funding pot, applications for less than this are encouraged.
The deadline to apply is 22 May 2023.
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New Round of Individuals and Families Funding from British Gas Energy Trust
A funding opportunity from British Gas Energy Trust has become available to support vulnerable energy consumers to pay off their energy debts. The Individuals and Families Fund is intended to tackle fuel poverty by clearing the energy debts of struggling households and respond to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Grants to cover arrears of up to £1,500 will be credited to the energy account of eligible households.
Applications are submitted on a rolling basis.
Find out more about the British Gas Energy Trust
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Energy Redress Scheme Opens for Main and Small Project Grants
Registered charities in Great Britain can now apply for Energy Saving Trust’s Main and Small Project Grants Funds, which aim to:
- Support energy consumers in vulnerable situations.
- Deliver benefits to the types of consumers that were negatively impacted by the specific issues that triggered redress payments.
Grants can be used for capital or revenue funding and can provide up to 100% of the project cost. Projects lasting up to two years can be funded.
The deadline to apply is 5pm on 25 May 2023.
Find out more about the Energy Redress Scheme
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Energy Saving Trust’s Carbon Emissions Reduction and Innovation Funds Now Open
Funding is now available to empower householders to reduce their carbon emissions and for the development of innovative products and services related to energy. The Carbon Emissions Reduction Fund and Innovation Fund make up part of Energy Saving Trust’s Energy Redress Scheme, and have the following aims:
- To support initiatives principally aimed at reducing the climate change impact associated with energy use, which relate to Ofgem’s regulated areas of energy generation, distribution, supply and use.
- To support projects that will develop innovative products or services to benefit households.
Each fund has a pot of £750,000 and offers grants of £20,000 to £200,000 for projects lasting up to two years.
The deadline to apply is 25 May 2023 at 5pm.
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Triangle Trust 1949 Fund No Longer Supporting Work with Young Carers
Adjustments have been made to the Triangle Trust 1949 Fund grant-making focus to better align with their new strategy. Following a significant review of resources and strategy, the Fund has concluded that it will focus solely on young people and the criminal justice system going forward.
Though there will not be any funding rounds for work with young carers for the foreseeable future, the funders state that:
“We will continue to share our impact and knowledge about the needs of young carers with other funders to raise their awareness of the issues being faced and we will be identifying some opportunities over the next 12 months to work with partners who are trying to achieve more systemic change for young carers at a policy level”.
The deadline to apply is 23.59 on 21 May 2023.
Read more about the Triangle Trust 1949 Fund
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Nationwide Building Society Now Accepting Applications
Nationwide are now accepting applications for funding to support work that that helps to address housing problems in the UK. The Community Grants programme 2023 is now open, providing two-year grants of £10,000 to £60,000 in total to organisations working in the UK housing sector. The funding is for local housing projects that will strengthen communities to support the most vulnerable. The grants can support a variety of costs associated with project development and delivery, capacity-building, small-scale capital costs and core costs (up to 20% of the amount requested).
The deadline to apply is 1pm on 26 May 2023.
Learn more about this funding opportunity
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New Large Grants for Veterans’ Supported Housing Services in the UK
Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has launched its latest grants programme, this time aimed at reducing rates of homelessness amongst the veteran community. Grants of up to £500,000 per year for two years (£1 million in total) are on offer, with the option of an additional Enhanced Award of up to £500,000 over two years for projects which will fulfil a significant unmet need. The funding is intended to support projects that improve the capacity of services in supported housing to be better able to help veterans with a range of needs and in turn minimise veteran homelessness.
The deadline to apply is 5pm on 22 May 2023.
Learn about the Armed Forces Covenant Fund
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Warburtons Families Matter Community Grants Programme
Warburtons provide a financial giving programme aimed at supporting projects, activities and organisations that focus on solving significant social issues. The Warburtons Community Grants provide small grants of up to £400 to boost charitable projects that improve health, place or skills for families and their community. The grants are decided on a quarterly basis, so applications need to be submitted prior to the corresponding date each quarter.
Learn all about the Warburtons Community Grants Programme
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Crowdfund Lancashire Summer 2023 Launch
Round 2 of Crowdfund Lancashire is set to reopen on Tuesday 16th May 2023 for applications to fund projects that will improve the culture or sport offer in the local community. Crowdfund Lancashire gives local communities a chance to create and support the projects which matter most to them. It will enable everyone to contribute towards their community – chipping in as little as £2 to help bring ideas to life. Projects could get up to £20,000 towards their target from the Lancashire Culture and Sport Fund. Spacehive Crowdfund Lancashire will be holding an online launch event to discover how you can support or start local sports and culture projects in the county.
Round 2 Closing Deadline is Tuesday 18th July
Read more about this latest news with Round 2
Reserve your e-ticket for their launch event
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Women’s Urgent Support Fund Now Open for Applications
Funding has been made available to address challenges faced by women most impacted by poverty and the cost-of-living crisis. Smallwood Trust, with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, has opened the first round of its £3 million funding programme aimed at emergency provision for women most impacted by the cost-of-living crisis in England. The first round sees a total of £1 million available, which will be awarded in grants of £15,000 to £60,000 over three years. It is expected that around 20 grants will be made.
The deadline to apply for round one is 5pm on 19 May 2023.
Find out more about the Smallwood Trust fund
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Rewilding Innovation Fund Reopens for 2023
Community groups, public, and private landowners in England, Scotland, and Wales can apply for funding to develop or scale-up rewilding projects on land or at sea. Rewilding Britain is offering grants of up to £15,000 to help remove barriers to rewilding projects across Britain, whether they are at the early planning stage or wish to scale up pre-existing projects. The Rewilding Innovation Fund will support rewilding projects on land and at sea, at a scale of more than 40 hectares, that adhere to Rewilding Britain’s rewilding principles. Applicants must first become a member of the Rewilding Network before submitting a full application. There are typically two funding rounds per year.
The next deadline for applications is 31 May 2023.
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Community Business Trade Up Programme 2023 Opens for Applications
A business development learning programme and match trading grant to support locally rooted community businesses in England to become stronger and more sustainable. The Community Business Trade Up Programme is provided by Power to Change and the Dulverton Trust in partnership with the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE). The programme is open to early stage businesses in England, ideally less than four years old, that are working towards these criteria:
- Locally rooted.
- Accountable to the local community.
- Trading for the benefit of the local community.
- Making a broad community impact.
Applications are now open with a deadline of 12 noon on 26 June 2023.
Read the Community Business Trade Up notes for applicants
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AHF Launches New Grants Programme for Historic Building Projects in England
New funding is available for charities and not-for-profit organisations in England to support early-stage feasibility work on historic building projects in England. The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is offering new funding for 2023-2024 which aims to help a range of not-for-profit organisations, including social enterprises, through the early stages of planning to restore and re-use historic buildings. Project Viability grants of up to £10,000 are available and are normally valid for one year.
There is a two-stage application process. Expressions of Interest may be submitted at any time, but applicants should bear in mind that the programme closes to full applications on 26 January 2024.
Read more about this funding opportunity
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Triangle Trust 1949 Fund Reopens for 2023 Applications
There is a renewed funding opportunity for organisations supporting young people caught up in the criminal justice system. Following a period of closure to undertake a strategic review, the Triangle Trust 1949 Fund is once again accepting applications. This year, there will be a focus on young offenders or those at risk of offending. For round one, proposals must be aimed solely at supporting young people (aged 11 to 25 years) with criminal convictions. Grants of up to £80,000 over two years are on offer, with a maximum of £40,000 that can be requested per year.
The deadline to apply is 23.59 on 21 May 2023.
Find out more about the Triangle Trust Funding
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Lancaster Community Fund 2023/4 – up to £1,000 for local projects
Lancaster City Council and Lancaster District CVS are inviting local charities and community groups needing help to deliver projects and activities which will benefit local people to apply for funding from the Lancaster Community Fund. Organisations can apply for grants of up to £1,000 and applications from new start up groups and small grassroots groups are particularly welcomed. The grant pot is made up of several charity funds donated to Lancaster City Council to support those living in disadvantaged areas of the community.
The fund has three main priorities:
* Projects that increase community involvement, build community wealth and resilience.
* Projects that contribute towards carbon reduction and a more sustainable district.
* Projects that contribute to individual and community wellbeing
Deadlines for 2023/4 are:
19 May 2023, 5pm
10 November 2023, 5pm
9 February 2024, 5pm
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Nationwide Building Society Community Grants – 2023 Dates Announced
Funding has become available for projects which address the housing problem across the UK. Housing-focused charities in the UK will soon be able to apply to the annual community grants programme from Nationwide Building Society, focusing on preventing people from losing their home, helping people into a home and supporting people to thrive within the home environment. This year, the awards have increased in size, meaning that grants of £10,000 to £60,000 are now available. Nationwide will fund between 50% to 100% of the total cost of a project.
Applications open on 25 April 2023 and close on 26 May 2023 (1pm).
Find out more about the Community Housing Support Grants here
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Community Benefit Fund with Lancaster University
The Community Benefits Fund is a project that was formed by Lancaster University following the installation of their wind turbine in 2012. The wind turbine produces 15% of the overall energy demand on campus each year and the savings are used to award local communities across the Lancaster District with grant funding for community-based and environmental projects. Each year, the fund allocates up to £20,000 to Lancaster District based not-for-profit organisations, charities, trusts, community groups or voluntary organisations to support sustainable projects, large and small.
Applications for the Ninth round of funding (2020-21) will be accepted from 1st April until 30th June 2022. Successful applicants to the fund will be advised in August 2022
Take Back the High Street Report by Power to Change
A new report ‘Take Back The High Street’ compiled by Power to change explores the reasons why high street vacancy rates have increased and set out the policy change needed for community-led regeneration of our high streets. report warns of rising persistent vacancy rates, discusses the challenges facing high streets and sets out clear policy recommendations for government to help create community-led high streets of the future.
The report presents data on the ‘High Street Warning Lights’ – the 100 English towns with the greatest increase in the persistent vacancy rate since 2015 – and the picture of property ownership in these places. It also provides a snapshot of expert opinion on the state of the high street as well as comparative analysis of international examples of initiatives to drive high street renewal, which inform our policy recommendations for the next government to create community-powered high streets.
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Value of Giving Report – Benefact Group
The specialist financial services group of businesses the Benefact Group have released an insightful report into the value of giving. The report looks into how volunteering and donating has impacted society and for the first time unveils a hidden value that charities contribute to the UK economy, as well as our collective wellbeing.
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The Hewitt Report – Integrated Care Systems Summary & Analysis
A review has been released by Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt on oversight, governance and accountability of Integrated Care Systems (ICs). The Hewitt review proposes greater autonomy to enable ICSs to better prevent ill health and improve NHS productivity and care, matched by renewed accountability. If fully implemented, the review’s recommendations offer a step change in enabling ICSs to deliver their four main statutory purposes.
2023 Lancaster District CVS Volunteer Achievement Awards
We are pleased to announce that this year will see the return of the Lancaster District CVS Volunteer Achievement Awards, and this time we will be back in person to host the awards after two years of of the pandemic, that limited us to virtual events. The Awards will take place at the Midland Hotel on 7 June from 5pm.
There are six categories, including Trustee of the Year; Fundraiser of the Year; Young Volunteer of the Year; Lifetime Achievement Award; Volunteer of the Year; and the Roger Sherlock Memorial Community Inspiration Award. We might even have one or two surprises for this year’s event. In addition to the awards categories themselves, we also have Certificates of Recognition that can be awarded to anyone that you feel should get one, for their volunteering efforts over the last couple of years or longer. The Awards are a chance to say thank you, and to recognise the achievements of the many people across our district who make such a positive difference to our communities. We will never get tired of saying that volunteers are vital to us all and hopefully you won’t get tired of reading it.
Do you know someone who volunteers that you think is deserving of some recognition for their efforts? You can nominate them for this year’s awards – find out more on our dedicated page.
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Volunteer Centre News Update
For the latest from the Volunteer Centre you can read our Volunteering News Update here
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Volunteer Opportunity Promotion and Recruitment
Have you registered on our website to promote your volunteer roles? By adding your opportunities to our website you will be making them available to the hundreds of people per month who check our site looking for something to do. You will also enable our team to easily and quickly signpost people to your roles, to give them the information that they need to decide whether they would like to apply.
Registering is quick and easy and you can do it here.
Once registered you will be able to add your roles. If you need any help, or have any questions, you can contact Mark by email at [email protected].
In addition to the website, the Volunteer Centre can promote your roles via our bulletins and newsletters; through attendance at in-person events such as volunteer fairs; in 121 meetings with potential volunteers; through visits to various support organisations; drop-in events at local Job Centres; by posting to our social media platforms; and through our bi-weekly column in the Lancaster Guardian.
If you would like to discuss any of this, including having space in our Lancaster Guardian column, please contact Mark.
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DBS Checks
We offer a DBS check service, working in partnership with Burnley, Pendle, and Rossendale CVS. If you need DBS certificates for your staff or volunteers, please visit our website here.
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Volunteering Opportunities
Volunteer Community Panel Member Lancashire
The Community Foundation are looking for a someone to join the decision making panel to fill an important role and part of the funding process. Panel members have the very difficult job of deciding who is successful and who has to be declined. As well as being difficult it is also very rewarding as panel members have an opportunity to make an impact and learn more about what is happening in their community. They have the responsibility to ensure that funding is spent as per the donor’s wishes. CFLM values the knowledge, skills, expertise and experience that panel members can bring to the discussion as it can really enhance the assessments and aid decision making.
If you are interested in the role, please send your CV (if available) and brief statement of no more than 500 words to detailing your voluntary and community sector experience and why you are interested in being a panel member. If shortlisted, Community Foundation for Merseyside will invite you for an informal interview to find out more about you. If you would like to apply, please send your expression of interest to [email protected]
If you have any queries please contact James at the above email address or by telephone on 0151 294 4750.
Find out more about this opportunity
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Skilled Volunteer Opportunities with Remap
Do you have engineering or craftsman skills that could be used to help others? Remap is a unique charity, working through a nationwide network of volunteers who use their ingenuity and skills to help adults and children with disabilities achieve greater independence and enjoyment of life’s opportunities. These volunteers design and manufacture special equipment where there is nothing commercially available. The commitment is flexible and work is shared between volunteers in accordance with availability. A few hours a month can help change someone’s life. They are seeking volunteers in the Fylde area particularly but anyone living in Lancashire or the South Lakes would be welcome.
For more information see our website www.remap.org.uk or contact Harry Davis, Chairman, Lancashire NW Panel 01253 731958 or email – [email protected]
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Bay Volunteers – Various Roles
Do you have time during the week to support individual residents with things like shopping, prescription collection, light touch telephone befriending, and more? Bay Volunteers needs volunteers to take up tasks at flexible times during the week supporting vulnerable members of our communities. Tasks are posted to a noticeboard accessible by volunteers and you can choose which ones you can do.
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Board of Director Roles at Wise Up Workshops CIC
Wise Up Workshops CIC are looking to select people who have professional expertise to join their Board of Directors and be jointly responsible for its governance and strategic direction. In order to strengthen the board’s areas of expertise, they are looking to select two people who already work in one or more of the following areas:
- As independent, practicing, self-employed artists/drama workshop leader
- Within finance – budget setting, budget management and accountancy
- In the education sector or within relevant disciplines
Take a look at the job description for the role
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Roles with n-compass
Penpal Volunteer
Provide a connection and emotional support to Carers.
Outgoing CHAT line Volunteer
Provide a listening ear and emotional support to Carers.
Sitting In Service Volunteer
To allow carers a much-needed break from their caring role in order to do something for themselves.
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Green Rose Energy Volunteer
Green Rose are advertising a variety of roles to choose from including social media support, helping at drop ins and events, delivering energy advice and holding the phone. There will be support around delivering energy champions training and briefings. The CIC provide a friendly and fun environment in which to meet new friends and learn new skills.
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The Bay Morecambe Hub Volunteer
The mental health & wellbeing project The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery have recently opened a Community Hub in the Arndale Shopping Centre in Morecambe and are looking to use the space for events, closed group sessions and drop-in wellbeing support and signposting. The team are looking for friendly, reliable and empathetic volunteers to support with the running of the Community Hub and activities. The Bay programme is designed to help people to recover from the effects of Covid-19 and the resulting social isolation by providing opportunities to connect with nature and participate in environmental activity around Morecambe Bay. The role will be flexible and there are plenty of ways to get involved.
Mental Health Awareness Week 2023
While anxiety is a perfectly normal reaction to certain situations there is a multitude of causes that can make it seem overbearing. These could be financial difficulties, relationships, a change in circumstances and even physical health amongst many other reasons. This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is focusing on the importance of dealing with anxiety, the causes and various ways that may help to cope and get it under control with proven techniques to tackle it. There’s even an opportunity to get involved and share experiences from a personal perspective which may go a long way towards helping others! Mental Health Awareness Week will be running between 15-21 May.
Click on this link to find out more
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Home Fire Safety Check
Receive your own personalised fire safety advise by filling in the questionnaire provided on the home fire safety check service page. Get safety advice specific to your individual needs via email or possibly a fire safety check at home should you be at a higher risk. Click on the link below to fill out the questionnaire and get the relevant and important advice provided by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.
Lancashire Fire Safety Questionnaire & Advice
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Mental Health Awareness Toolkit – Student & Staff Resources
The Mental Health Foundation have created a toolkit with helpful resources for Mental Health Awareness Week to help you share information about mental health and anxiety. The toolkit has information on managing stress and anxiety, mental wellbeing audio guides, managing teacher anxiety and more.
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Dementia & Companionship Café
Home Instead are hosting a dementia and companionship café for those with dementia, their families and carers or anyone feeling isolated. The café is a great opportunity for those attending to share experiences, enjoy a brew and get involved with some fun activities. The cafés will take place every second Wednesday from 9:30-11am from 24th May.
Find out more by viewing their event e-poster
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Community Groups in May – Safenet
The domestic abuse support service Safenet are running a series of personal development and parenting courses running in May. The sessions include Power2Change which is a 12-week personal development course for people who have experienced unhealthy relationships, including sessions on self-esteem, boundaries and managing our emotions. Other sessions include You & Me, Mum which is a 10-week parenting course that looks at the effects of unhealthy or abusive relationships on parenting and children.
Session dates, times & locations:
Power2Change Women – 10am- 11.30am every Monday from 15/05/23 at Stanleys Youth and Community Centre, Morecambe or 5.30pm -7pm every Monday from 15/05/2023 at Red Rose Recovery, 58 Penny Street, Lancaster
View the Power2Change Women e-flyer
Power2Change Men – 11am-12.30pm every Friday from 05/05/2023 at Red Rose Recovery, 58 Penny Street, Lancaster or 1.30pm-3pm every Monday from 15/05/2023 at Stanleys Youth and Community Centre, Morecambe
View the Power2Change Men e-flyer
You & Me, Mum – 9.30am-11am every Friday from 05/05/2023 at Red Rose Recovery, 58 Penny Street, Lancaster
View the You & Me, Mum e-flyer
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Snowballs & Eels – Report Commissioned by The National Lottery Community Fund
Snowballs & Eels is a rapid review of national funding for cross-sector partnership building in health and care in England from 2019 to 2022. This report looks at what funding from national sources has been made available to support the VCSE’s engagement in partnerships with health and care system partners recent years. The title reflects one of their key findings – that the funding landscape is complex, fragmented and opaque, and geographic differences which have emerged have led to a snowball effect of funding in some Integrated Care Systems, where others are still struggling to secure funding amongst a “morass of eels”. The report sets out a range of learning on the impact different approaches to funding can have, and the benefits and limitations to thinking about how resources are deployed.
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Drowning Prevention and Water Safety
As the weather begins to improve, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is joining other fire services across the UK and asking people to stay safe when spending time in and around water. The call comes as part of the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) ‘Be Water Aware’ campaign which ran from 24th – 30th April 2023. The campaign is warning people of the risk of accidentally drowning when in or around water. There were 277 deaths in the UK from accidental drowning in 2021 in inland and coastal locations. 40% of people who lost their lives had no intention of entering the water according to the WAID 2021 annual fatal incident report, with slips, trips and falls being the main cause of them entering the water.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service would like people to know some basic water safety information related to the #BeWaterAware campaign:
- Don’t assume you’re not at risk of drowning just because you don’t intend to go into the water.
- If someone falls into water call 999. Advise the casualty to try and float on their back and relax. Try and shout for help nearby and throw them something to either drag them to safety or to aid them to float.
- Ensure children are fully supervised near water.
- Do not enter the water if you have been drinking or taking drugs.
- If you are going running alone, try and tell someone where you are going.
- Never enter the water yourself to try and save someone.
Learn more at the Lancaster Fire & Rescue Website
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Mental Health Support Resources
The Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust have provided a support resource for those struggling with their mental health. The resources include a range of FREE self-help guides that cover various issues including anxiety, stress, self-harm and more. Also available is a selection of useful contacts both locally and nationally covering a wide range of mental health areas.
Mental Health Support links below:
Mental Health Support Services
Self-help Support Guides
Accessing Mental Health Support in the Bay
The Hero Next Door at The Dukes
The Dukes Theatre Lancaster are showing an exciting new play by multi-award-winning author Onjali Q. Rauf MBE and Face Front Inclusive Theatre. The production is a family fun performance that celebrates difference, friendship and working together to do the right thing. Characters include Musa, who happens to be a refugee; Hayley, an autistic girl who adores frogs; and a would-be bully by the name of Melody. This unlikely bunch come together to save an elderly neighbour from a con-woman posing as a carer, with thrilling and hilarious results.
The Hero Next Door uses film, animation, music and physical theatre to be accessible to all. As a leading inclusive theatre company, Face Front has been proud to assemble a diverse collective of cast and creatives, including disabled, non-disabled and culturally diverse actors.
There are two performances on the 16h June – 11am and 7.45pm.
A local teacher gave their thoughts on the show “The Hero next Door was excellent. The children were engaged throughout”.
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Therapeutic Parenting Sessions – Healing Children from Trauma
The Family Life Centre are running informal support evening for those interested in therapeutic parenting. The evening will include a short talk from a guest speaker and an opportunity to connect with others over drinks and cake.
The sessions will take place on:
Dates & times:
Monday 27th March 2023, 7.30pm-9pm
Monday 22nd May 2023, 7.30pm- 9pm
Location: The Centre @ St Thomas Church
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Break the Mould – Information Events (Online) Added Dates
Young people aged 16-25 from Lancaster and Cumbria are invited to come together to develop a new grant scheme that will give out £60,000 to community groups and organisations. This event is for young people, their families/carers and those that work directly with young people, to find out more about the project.
Break the Mould – Information Event (Online)
If you weren’t able to make it to our in-person event, we are offering online information events. These events are aimed at young people in Lancaster and Cumbria.
Event dates & times:
Thursday 18th May 2023, 4.30-5.30pm Join here
Tuesday 23 May, 4.00pm Join here
Thursday 25 May, 5.00pm Join here
Location: Your computer or device screen in a place of your choosing
For any enquiries contact Anthony Briggs at [email protected] or Catherine Westwell at [email protected]
View the programme e-poster here
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Uniform Project with the Morecambe Foodbank
Morecambe Bay Uniform Project are offering support for anyone in need of school uniform. Individuals are welcome to self-refer (or a professional can refer on their behalf), and they will do their best to supply as much as they can. If your children are changing schools in September or outgrowing their current uniform, get in touch with the project and they will supply a more suitably fitted uniform for parental peace of mind prior to the new term.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Jeni from Citizens Advice North Lancashire on 07942 391188 or at [email protected]
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Prince’s Trust Community Project
As the Princes Trust prepare for the next team to start in May 2023, they are looking for local organisations or groups who might be able to host the team for their community project. The Community Project takes place w/c 12th & 18th June 2023 and provides the team with the opportunity to take ownership of a non-technical project over 8 days. Previous community projects have included tidying up spaces by painting and gardening. The size of Princes Trust Team will be around 15. Please contact [email protected] for further information.
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Escape2Make New Clubs
Bicycle Club
Escape2Make are encouraging all those 11-18 year olds out there to get their wheels in motion and sign up to their new bicycle club for young people in the Lancaster district. The Bicycle Club is FREE and an opportunity to learn all the skills you need to fix and maintain a bike. If you do not have access to a bike, E2M are able to loan one for the session. The sessions will give the opportunity to work towards a bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award alongside their clubs. Sessions will take place fortnightly.
First session
Date & time: Monday 22nd May at 5-6pm
Location Halton Mill, Mill Lane, Halton.
Second session
From the second session onwards, the group will meet outside Sainsbury’s Lancaster at 4.30pm and do a group ride to Halton Mill, where you will do 1-hour of bicycle repair of another bicycle-related activity and then ride back to Sainsbury’s for 6.30pm
Sign up today on their What’s on page
Green Club
As part of their new collection of clubs Escape2Make are also running a new Green Club for 11-18 year olds, where the group will be taking part in nature walks, learning about foraging, cooking wild meals and snacks, making things out of natural materials and more. The group will also be going on semi-regular trips to Gathering Fields in Over-Wyresdale with transport provided.
Date & time: Wednesday 24th May 2023, 5-7pm
Location: Priory Hall (Meet outside Lancaster Castle, Castle Grove, Lancaster, LA1 1YN)
Craft Fair in Halton
Come along to the Craft Fair being held at The Centre @ Halton on Saturday 20th May 2pm to 5pm. For adults it’s just £1 entry and for children it’s free! There will also be a raffle and the Coffee Shop will also be open. There will be lots of local makers selling artisan wares and a fundraising event to support their ongoing work. Halton Gardening Group will also be holding their Plant Sale on the Field 2pm to 4pm which is free entry!
Find out more about this event
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Zine Making Session with Guests
Come and join The Good Things Collective for a Zine making session where you will get the opportunity to explore the diverse and acceptance of culture of zines and their unruly stories. Held in a no pressure environment, you can role up your sleeves and get creative drawing, writing doodling, collaging and more. The May session welcomes their first guest Ziner, the wonderful Jill Anderson from the MadZines research project, CCrAMHP and Asylum magazine.
Find out more and reserve your place
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The Future of Child Safeguarding Digital Conference
Westminster Insight are hosting a digital conference which will examine the future of child safeguarding which takes a cloer look into the increasing rate of neglect, domestic abuse, child sexual and child criminal exploitation and the systems in place in order to protect children and support families. The conference will bring together multi-agency safeguarding partners from across children’s social care, child protection, health, family hubs, police and schools. They will explore how to strengthen families to reduce risks of harm from both within and outside the home.
Date & time: Tuesday 4th July 2023, 9am-1.45pm
Location: Online
Find out more and book your place
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Visual Impairment Awareness Training with Galloways
Galloway’s, the leading local sight loss charity are running a set of training days for visual impairment awareness. The courses are aimed at any professionals, volunteers, carers, friends and family. Galloways are home to one of the largest communities of blind and partially sighted people across Lancashire and Sefton. Each year, thousands of people from the local community reach out to Galloway’s in search of face-to-face support, advice about remaining independent, information on their sight condition or to meet other visually impaired people.
A previous attendee found the sessions a positive experience – “Staff were excellent teachers, and listened very carefully to everybody’s questions. I came out of the session with a much better understanding of the issues affecting blind people, from a theoretical and practical point of view (the blindfolded exercises were illuminating to do!) and also with some good basic skills on how to start helping a blind person get around. I look forward to putting these skills into practice!”
The training dates are as follows:
Fri 2nd Jun – Galloway’s Morecambe – 10am – 12.30pm Book here
Mon 5th Jun – Zoom/MS Teams – 10am – 12pm Book here
Tue 6th June – The Pulse Skelmersdale – 9am – 11.30am Book here
Wed 7th June – Galloway’s Preston – 1pm – 3.30pm Book here
Fri 9th June – Brighter Living Centre – 1pm – 3.30pm Book here
If you have any questions, contact them on 01772 744148 or at [email protected]
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Growing Our Food Futures
In 2021 ‘Our Food Futures: A community food strategy for North Lancashire’ was published. This kickstarted a range of exciting community-led and collaborative projects and activities across the District, including the Lancaster District Food Justice Partnership; the food club network; THRIVE Magazine; Where The Wildings Are school project; The Plot’s FarmStart scheme and the Closing Loops projects, just to name a few… It’s now time to come together, build new connections, reflect and learn from what has been achieved so far and plan next steps. This event is being hosted by Jamie Murphy and Anna Clayton from FoodFutures, a day for connecting, dreaming and planning next steps for growing a “thriving local food system that is healthy, resilient and fair”. The event is open to everyone – from those who run community food projects and have never identified with FoodFutures; to those who have been involved with FoodFutures since the beginning. Or those who just want to find out what is going on. Lunch, drinks and refreshments will be provided.
Date & time: 14th June 2023, 10am-3pm
Location: The Platform, Morecambe
Booking is essential to help us adapt the event and reduce food waste.
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Lancashire Strategic Framework Consultation Events
As part of the development of Lancashire 2050, Lancashire’s new overarching strategy, the Lancashire Skills and Employment Board are refreshing the Lancashire Skills and Employment Strategic Framework which was published in February 2021. The Lancashire Skills & Employment Hub are undertaking a consultation with employers, providers, and partners to gain feedback on the priorities identified and to consider how we can all work collectively to the benefit of Lancashire residents and businesses. The Hub are inviting you to this consultation event for your valuable contribution. There are two event dates to choose from.
Dates & time: Friday 26th May, 10am-1pm / Thursday 8th June, 2-5pm
Location: Samlesbury Hotel, Preston New Rd, Preston, PR5 0UL
Find out more and reserve your place here
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North Lancashire Green Week 10-25 June
In June 2023, a range of organisations, groups, charities, businesses, individuals and change-makers in Lancaster, Morecambe and the Lune Valley region will be taking part in the largest nationwide event for climate and nature to highlight the need for urgent action in this area. The local North Lancashire Green Week highlights the need to come together to collaboratively address the climate and nature emergency and look at ways our local communities can work together to make a real and lasting difference. The local programme of events is coordinated by FoodFutures, North Lancashire’s sustainable food network. It will include Lancaster’s Midsummer Market, an open day and celebration at Claver Hill Community Food Growing Project, the opening of a new play park at Greaves Park and a whole range of informative, fun, and engaging events and activities… Read more
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Cap Money Course
Christians against poverty are holding a free course on money management with tips and guidance on learning to budget, save and spend. The course is for anyone from students to the retired. The course will contain a few pointers for setting your own household budget and making it balance, with unlimited access to a brilliant free online tool which does the adding up for you. Their team will share ideas of how to make your money go further, spend less and to save for future events, home improvements, trips, Christmas, birthdays, etc, and stay out of debt for a secure financial future.
Date and time: Mondays: 5th, 12th and 19th June, 9.30am – 11am.
Location: Lune Park Neighbourhood Centre, Rylands Park, Lancaster
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Lancashire Mental Health Partnership (LMHP) Meeting
Open to all Lancashire residents, LMHP aims to help people co-produce mental health services that better address the needs of local people. LMHP meets every two months and produces a regular zine to keep people informed about its work. The meetings move around Lancashire.
The 7th LMHP meeting will be held in the afternoon of Wednesday 24th of May 2023 at 2pm, until 3.30pm. This meeting will be held in the meeting room upstairs at Lancaster Library, if attending in-person is not possible then you can attend the meeting online via Zoom.
Please find the Zoom link below. Please see details of Lancaster Library and the upcoming meeting’s agenda. Further event details are below:
Topic: 7th (LMHP) Lancashire Mental Health Partnership Meeting
Time: May 24, 2023 02:00 PM London
Meeting ID: 851 9435 6445
Passcode: 970684
View the LMHP Draft Code of Conduct
View the LMHP Draft terms of Reference
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Charity Excellence & Charity Digital Webinars
Please find below a couple of really useful webinars by Charity Excellence and Charity Digital that may be of interest:
Artificial Intelligence and Funding Bids
This webinar looks at the likes of Chat GPT and how it could help you with your fundraising bids. This webinar is by Charity Excellence which is a free site for charities and contains a free grant search facility, a comprehensive self assessment framework for governance and management, a huge resources database AND an AI bid writing service – you need to register with an email and password.
Social Media for Awareness and Increasing Donations
Charity Digital has a really useful training webinar (1:18 mins) on how to use social media to raise awareness and increase donations. It covers many social media platforms including how charities can use TikTok – some great practical tips.
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Shrimpy Shack Immersive Experience Morecambe
The performance-based eatery Shrimpy Shack in Morecambe are inviting you to celebrate with them about all things Morecambe Bay. You’ll enjoy a unique and creative dining experience whilst immersed in an entertaining back drop of live theatre. Bookings are being taken for 20th May at 6pm.
View their event e-poster for more
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National Academy for Social Prescribing Celebration Event
The National Academy for Social Prescribing are set to hold an event in May celebrating how social prescribing in the Northwest changes lives and strengthens communities. The event will showcase and celebrate the excellent opportunities that exist in communities in the North West. There will be activity taster sessions and a chance to hear from voluntary organisations and keynote speakers.
Date & time: Tues 25th May 2023, 10.30am – 3.15pm
Location: Stretford Public Hall, Chester Road, Stretford
More info and reserve your e-ticket here
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Groundwork – Designing & Implementing Support for Creative Practitioners (virtual)
The Arts & Health Hub are delivering training for organisations commissioning and working with creative practitioners in the field of arts and health. This could include statutory and charitable organisations delivering community arts programmes (i.e social prescribing schemes) and arts organisations that commission artists. This training is not designed for individual artists. This six hour training course takes place over three 2-hour sessions and you are advised to attend all three sessions.
The sessions take place on:
8th June 2023 (2pm – 4pm)
15th June 2023 (2pm – 4pm)
22nd June 2023 (2pm – 4pm)
The course takes place over Zoom.
Learn more about this course here
Book your e-ticket for the virtual session here
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NFP Workshops – Affordable Training Courses for Charities
NFP are running a variety of workshops that cover a range of subject areas for charities, schools, healthcare and public sector organisations. The online sessions can be attended via Zoom and take place from 10am-12.30pm. The workshop timetable has included more dates in the coming months as follows:
Managing staff – 24 May/ 21 Jun
Bid Writing – 22 May/ 5,19 Jun
Major Donor Fundraising – 23 May
Corporate Fundraising – 6 Jun
Legacy Fundraising – 20 Jun
Recruiting & Managing Volunteers – 7 Jun
Fundraising Regulations & GDPR – 25 May
Introduction to Fundraising – 22 Jun
Managing Staff – 24 May/ 21 Jun
Charity Finance – 8 Jun
View the full workshop schedule and booking links
9:30am – 4.30pm on Friday 19 May.
The course is delivered free for volunteers, with a charge for other delegates. Find out more and book your place.
Global Link Part Time Caseworker
Support asylum seekers and in particular refugees by providing casework through resettlement programmes. For this role you will also be supported and supervised to undertake tasks such as providing ‘moving on’ advice such as setting up bank accounts and benefit applications, advice and support with housing, welfare benefits, public services, etc and help them access a range of services such as those provided by voluntary, community and faith groups and organisations. These are just a few tasks you will be required to do for this rewarding role helping and supporting people to settle into their new lives.
Salary: Pro rota £25, 434 (£13.77/hour) + employer’s pension contribution of 5%.
Actual salary for the 0.5 post is £12,534.25
Contract: 17.5 hours per week
Closing date for applications: Tuesday 30th May at 9:00am.
Start date: 3rd of July 2023
Applicants should send completed job applications to [email protected]
or post to Global Link, 29 Queen Street, Lancaster, LA1 1RX.
Find out more about this role and apply
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Programme Coordinator with LGBT
Lancashire LGBT are looking for a reliable Programme Coordinator primarily to recruit, retain and manage volunteers as well as be responsible for communications and project monitoring. The prospective candidate would be at an advantage with administrative skills and an understanding of the challenges and issues LGBTQ+ people experience.
Salary: 27,300
Contract: 37.5 hours per week
Location: Preston Office
Closing Date: Jun 4th 2023, Midnight
Interview date: June 22nd 2023
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Family Support Worker with School Home Support (SHS)
The School Home Support charity are looking for a Family Support Worker to join their team and to make a difference in children’s lives. As the Family Support Worker, you will work in close partnership with school staff to deliver a programme of casework to promote and improve educational outcomes for the children and the families they support. You will also focus your support to help improve attendance, punctuality and engagement in learning.
Salary: £19,158 – £21,625 per annum
Contract: Contract, full-time – 5 days per week term time only plus inset days – 35 hours per week
Location: Stanley Primary School and Westminster Primary Academy, Blackpool
Closing Date: 14th June 2023, 23:59
I’m interested in this role, show me more
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Lancaster Floating Support – Accomodation Finding Officer with Gateway
The Gateway homeless service team are looking to expand their offer working alongside their floating support team. This exciting new role is to support customers to source affordable, private rented accommodation, and provide casework support to set up and maintain their accommodation for the long term. Building up networks with private landlords to increase move on provisions and maximise outcomes for customers.
Salary: £22,800 per annum (negotiable dependent on experience)
Contract: 37 hrs per week. Fixed until 31st March 2024 – Opportunity for extension on a yearly basis.
Location: Lancaster & Morecambe
Closing Date: 25th May 2023
Interview date: Week commencing 5th June 2023
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Network Coordinator – Let’s BeFriends
In order to grow their team of befrienders, Let’s BeFriends are looking for a Network Coordinator to lead on planning and organising recruitment campaigns and implement initiatives to attract new volunteers. The post holder will be expected to network, build and maintain relationships with various organisations to aid the sustainability of recruitment.
Salary: 16 hours per week @ £12.98 per hour
Contract: Self-employed role with an initial 12-month contract/ Flexible hours
Location: Lancaster & Morecambe including some home working
Closing Date: Tues 30th May, 11.59pm
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Dementia Adviser with Alzheimer’s Society
The Alzheimer’s Society are looking to welcome an approachable, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable, community-based Dementia Adviser to join their supportive and compassionate team, focusing on supporting people affected by dementia. The role will have a focus on being a regular presence supporting outreach and group activities – Dementia Hubs, Dementia Café, Singing for the Brain – promoting engagement and wellbeing and being a trusted and friendly face to people looking for help.
Salary: £22,125 – £23,472 Pro rata, per annum
Contract: Permanent
Location: Community-based across Central Lancashire – Chorley, South Ribble, and Greater Preston with some homeworking elements.
Closing Date: 31 May 2023, 01:00
Learn more about this role and apply
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Events Coordinator – Barrie Wells Trust
The charitable organisation Barrie Wells Trust are looking to recruit an outstanding office-based Events Coordinator with excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational skills. The successful candidate will help to deliver Box4Kids targets and organise events.
Salary: £22,000 – £27,000 per year
Contract: Permanent, fulltime
Location: Lancaster
Closing Date: 21 May 2023, 23:30
If your organisation needs support whether it be working with volunteers, completing accounts and payroll, finding funding, solving governance issues, or just want a listening ear, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team:
Funding and governance support, contact [email protected]
Volunteering and DBS,
contact [email protected]
Payroll, bookkeeping and independent examinations, contact [email protected]
Health and social prescribing, contact [email protected]
Children and young people, contact [email protected]
Membership queries to: [email protected]
Partnerships, networks and strategic development, contact [email protected]
Alternatively, call us on 01524 555900
To promote your events, training, jobs, and sector news, email [email protected]
