Information and Advice for the Lancaster District’s Third Sector – 21 July 2022

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.

Third Sector Trends Survey
We are once again encouraging all third sector organisations to take part in this regular survey, so that we can build a picture of what is happening locally, what has changed since 2016 and 2019 and what you think is going to happen next.

It’s quick, interesting, and easy to do. You can respond on your phone, tablet, or computer.

If you’re ready to answer the survey, start here.

All answers are securely stored completely anonymously and confidentially, and we will provide a report focusing on results from the Lancaster district in the coming months.

The Henry Smith Charity
The Charity aims to use its resources to help people and communities at a time of need and to bring about positive change. It funds organisations that work with people to reduce social and economic disadvantage.

Improving Lives
Grants for small and medium sized organisations in the UK to support projects and the running costs of organisations.

£20k – £60k per year for up to 3 years, paying for running costs, salaries and projects.

Strengthening Communities
Running costs grants for small, grass roots, community based organisations working in the 10% most deprived areas of England.

£20k – £60k per year for up to 3 years, paying for running costs, salaries and projects.

Holiday Grants
Grants towards recreational trips and holidays for groups of children aged 13 and under who are disabled or disadvantaged.

£500 – £2,500

Christian Projects
Grants to support projects that explicitly promote the Christian faith, helping to grow faith communities and churches.

£10k+ per year for up to 3 years.

Find out more and apply.

Grand Plan
£1,000 grants to creative people of colour based in the UK who want to make a new cultural project happen. It can be anything from: poetry, paintings, fashion, zines, music, food, flowers, photographs to workshops or events.

Find out more and apply.

BA Better World Community Fund
£50,000 or up to 50% additional funding towards successful, pre-approved crowdfunding campaigns.

Find out more and apply

The Fore’s Autumn 2022 Funding Round
For this funding round, opening on 25 July, The Fore is offering unrestricted grants of up to £30,000 that can be spread over one to three years. Grant funding will unlock potential for small charities who are ready to take their next step forward and for whom our support will have transformational impact on an organisational level. The grants can be used for whatever grantees think will help transform their scale, sustainability, reach or efficiency.

Find out more and apply.

Community Businesses in Places of Worship
Places of worship can make great venues for community businesses; enterprises that trade for the benefit of the local community and are typically owned and run by local residents.

The Plunkett Foundation provides support, advice and grants of up to £5,000 for groups to explore the opportunities.

Find out more and apply.

Community Health Champions Fund – Next Deadline
The next deadline for the Community Health Champions Fund is approaching. Applications received by Friday 29 July will be considered at a panel meeting in mid-August.

The fund provides up to £10,000 for projects which support communities in talking about their health and wellbeing, creating education opportunities to promote healthy behaviours.

Find out more and apply.

Lancaster District Hardship Fund
Lancaster City Council has set up the Lancaster District Hardship Fund. The scheme is being run in partnership with North Lancashire Citizens Advice and the Lancaster District Food Justice Partnership.

The aim of the fund is to provide longer term support to residents who are struggling financially.

The types of short term support the fund can help with include:

  • Utility bills
  • Food
  • Debts
  • Housing costs
  • Household appliances
  • Other essential items

Applicants will go through an assessment with Citizens Advice who will submit requests to the fund and make recommendations to the Council.

Find out more and begin the application process.

Canteen Assistant at The Friendship Centre
Help out in the canteen at this friendly social club for over 55s. Volunteers are needed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Full training will be given.

Find out more on the LDCVS volunteering website.

Information Navigator at Citizens Advice North Lancashire
CANL need a team of enthusiastic volunteers to help their clients find the digital information or book them appointments.

Find out more on the LDCVS volunteering website.

Charities call on chancellor to tackle fuel costs crisis
Recently, alongside other charitable organisations, NAVCA called on the Chancellor to take action to tackle the fuel costs crisis, which has been impacting volunteers’ ability to travel. NAVCA know that volunteering helps communities thrive and has a positive impact on wellbeing, but that the cost of living crisis is discouraging people from volunteering due to increased transport costs.

Read the full story here.

North Lancashire’s Gleaning Network
FoodFutures has recently established a gleaning network where surplus produce is harvested by volunteers and redistributed for bellies, not bins. This work is part of the Closing Loops project and is being delivered by project partner Eggcup.

The network is still in the early stages of development but the partnership are looking for local trees, orchards, gardens and farms that may have excess, surplus or unsellable food, and volunteers to take part in gleaning efforts and events.

To take part, contact Jay by email at [email protected]

Charity Digital Skills Report 2022
For the last two years this annual report has tracked how charities’ use of digital was changing and the effect this was having on strategy, leadership, skills and operations. This year, research has focused on the role digital was playing for the sector on the ‘road to recovery’ phase of the pandemic.

The report includes a set of helpful insights into areas that are critical success factors for digital progress.

Find out more and read the report here.

Prince’s Trust Report: The Power of Potential
Young people want to work, but a lack of support for mental and physical health conditions is one of the key factors preventing them from finding and keeping employment.

A new report from the Prince’s Trust and HSBC analyses this issue and sets out recommendations for improved provision.

Find out more and read the report here.

DCMS Consultation – Dormant Assets Fund
The Government has launched a public consultation on what social and environmental causes should benefit from more than £700 million of dormant assets funding in England.

Find out more about the Dormant Assets Act 2022 and participate in the consultation survey here.

What will environmental crises mean for older people and disabled people?
Older people and disabled people are often hit hardest in a crisis. And environmental crises­—including climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution—are no different.

Find out more about these impacts, and possible responses, at this New Philanthropy Capital blog.

Lancashire LGBT Survey
Lancashire LGBT has recently launched a new survey for LGBT+ people aged 50+ in Lancashire. The aim of this survey is to help service providers improve services for this group. LGBT+ people aged 50+ are invited to complete the survey here.

Paper copies are available for those without access to the internet – contact Lancashire LGBT on 07788 295521.

The National Institute for Health Research SPARC
Local Authority SPARC Round 2
The Short Placement Award for Research Collaboration (LA SPARC) offers awards of up to £15,000 per individual and provides opportunities for both individuals working in Local Authority settings and NIHR Academy members to undertake placements and move between NIHR and LAs in either direction. The aim of the award is to provide opportunities for individuals to enhance their careers, as well as their skills, knowledge and expertise to work at the interface between practice and academia, co-creating research and helping to support meaningful research collaborations and partnerships between NIHR and LA’s.
 
 
Hosting a Placement
Local authority commissioned services interested in hosting an NIHR Academy member (masters, PhD or early-career post-doc researcher) for a short placement should complete this online form by Friday 19 August. The form asks for a short summary of your LA’s areas of interest/focus (e.g active travel, air pollution and health, safeguarding vulnerable adults and children with disabilities etc.) as well as a key contact(s) for interested applicants to get in touch. 

SEND Information Event
Families with a child or young person with special educational needs or a disability are invited to attend a family fun and information event at Morecambe Library on 11 August at 10am – 2pm.

Discover what’s on offer locally, understand available services, and find out about support groups. Refreshments provided.

No need to book, just turn up. Find out more here.

Summer Fun Days 2022
The Children & Family Wellbeing Service are offering fun days from 10am – 12.30pm at locations across Lancaster and Morecambe:

3 August – Morecambe Library – Make it!

10 August – Lune Park Neighbourhood Centre – Explore it!

17 August – Westgate Neighbourhood Centre – Experience it!

24 August – Lune Park Neighbourhood Centre – Build it!

31 August – Westgate School – Move it!

Free to attend, just turn up.

To find out more, visit Lancaster and Morecambe Family Zone on Facebook or call 01524 581280

SCART Club 2022
SCART Club (which stands for Science, Culture, Active, Reading and Technology) is Lancashire Library Service’s Summer Activity programme for children which runs throughout the summer school holidays.

This year, SCART Club is all about making an impact on the world and helping to save the planet.

Find out more and view a calendar of activities here.

Prince’s Trust Lancaster & Morecambe Team 59 Final Presentation
The aim of the presentation is for young people who have taken part in this 12 Week Personal Development Programme to show what they have achieved and to receive the certificates they have gained during the course.

11 August, 12.30pm, King’s Community Church Lancaster

Find out more and register here.

Young People’s Emotional Health
The Samaritans have published a new guide to emotional health for people working with young people aged 16-24.

The guide covers emotional health issues, how young people dealing with them can be helped, and how those working with young people can also look after themselves.

Download the guide here.

Lancaster & Morecambe Additional Needs What’s On Guide
LSCFT have compiled information focusing on summer holiday activities for young people with additional needs, including activities from Escape2Make, Salt Ayre Leisure Centre, Unique Kidz & Co, Bee Unique, Jump Rush Morecambe, and our local cinemas.

Download the guide here.

Lancaster Music Festival
Lancaster Music Festival is working with the King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum and Lancaster City Museums on a rewind to 1942 Hinge of Fate event and are programming the Sunday of the music festival in Market Square around this. The date of the event is Sunday October 16th.

There is an opportunity for 10 young people 13-18 to become involved in the programming and production of the afternoon.

They will research the music, dance and history of 1942,attend some planning and production workshops, attend a promotion, design and publicity workshop, help book the acts and help out on the day.

Find out more and register here.

Basic Drug and Alcohol Awareness
During this session attendees will learn a little more about the services that are available at We Are With You in Lancashire, discuss current themes and trends, look at some of the reasons why young people use substances, and consider risks and harm reduction messages.

Attendees will also gain acces to We Are With You’s Tier 1 resource booklet & drug use screening tool, which includes practical information and worksheets for working with young people.

Multiple dates, online, free

Find out more and register.

Trauma Informed Lancashire Basic Awareness Workshops
Lancashire Violence Reduction Network’s (LVRN) “Becoming a Trauma Informed Lancashire workshops” aim to cultivate collective, cross-sector learning to support the ongoing development of trauma informed services.

These workshops are for all practitioners both from statutory and 3rd sector organisations across the PAN Lancashire Multi agency footprint .

The Learning Outcomes of the presentation are:

  • To understand the transformation to becoming Trauma Informed Lancashire.
  • To begin to explore how Trauma affects our body, brain and behaviour.
  • To be able to recognise how trauma may present in people we work alongside.
  • To consider how a Trauma Informed Approach impacts on individuals and communities.
  • Begin to think about changes we can make to our working practices, services and organisations.

Multiple dates, AFC Fylde Sports and Education Centre (Wesham), free.

Find out more and register.

The Well Community Bay 5k Recovery Run
11am on 24 September from The Sailing Club, Marine Road, Morecambe. Registration open from 9.30am.

The first 100 runners to register will be given a free Bay 5K Recovery Run T-Shirt to wear for the run and there will be a Medal for the first 150 to complete the race.

Email [email protected] to find out more.

What next for climate justice in the UK?
Has COP26 been a step forward in global efforts to address climate change, or have follow-up actions failed to deliver progress?

Join the discussion with Social Value UK online on 29 September. Speakers include Professor Rebecca Willis, Professor in Energy and Climate Governance at Lancaster University.

Find out more and register.

Community Business Trade Up Programme – apply by 28 June
Projects or businesses that trade for community benefit (such as charities that fundraise by selling goods, CICs and other types of social enterprise) are encouraged to apply for this new programme which offers:

  • Training to help you build income, confidence, resilience and impact
  • Up to £5,000 in match trading
  • A community business peer mentor
  • Networking opportunities with other programme members.

Application deadline 28 June.

Find out more and apply.

COVIDNow Exhibition
Poetry, printmaking, crafting, film & sound booth installation project

Tell us your stories. How are you living now? What has changed?

The last two years plus have been very tough on us all.

We want to share your stories by making art with you.

This event is for all but particularly families and children.

27 & 28 July 2022, The Storey

Find out more and book workshops.

Lancaster University & FoodFutures Community Conversations
These community conversations will explore people’s food habits and how these may have changed over time. Whether you have never thought about where your food comes from, or you consider yourself to be an active food citizen, all are welcome!

The findings from these discussions will inform the dissertation project of a MSc student at Lancaster University and will also shape FoodFutures work.

Wednesday 20th July, 5.30pm – 7pm, register here.

Sunday 24th July, 2pm – 3:30pm, register here.

Locally sourced snacks and refreshments will be provided. There will also be a prize draw for a £30 local food hamper for those that attend each session

Partnership Quality Lead (North West England) at Macmillan Cancer Support
This role supports Macmillan Professionals across various settings and in a variety of ways. Supporting teams to improve through quality improvement activities, strengthening relationships to deliver more for people living with cancer and ensuring that professionals have access to the tools and resources are key elements of the role.

Salary: £40,000 – £45,000 per annum
Contract: Full or part time by negotiation, permanent
Location: North West England
Closing date: 31 July 2022

Find out more and apply.

Youth Support Worker x 2 at Lancashire County Council
The Participation Youth Support Worker’s role is to contribute to the delivery of youth work opportunities in a variety of settings, including youth clubs and in collaboration with schools and other agencies. Youth Workers will report to a Professional Range Youth Worker and will work closely with other youth work staff and volunteers to maximise opportunities for young people to access social and personal development as well as learning opportunities.

Salary: £23,168 – £26,437 per annum
Contract: Part time (Preston) or full time (Colne), permanent
Location: Preston (working across Lancashire) or Colne (Pendle)
Closing date: 24 July 2022

Find out more and apply (Preston)

Find out more and apply (Colne)

Community Fundraiser at Empowerment
The postholder will engage the public with non-traditional donation generating activities.

Salary: £12,402 per annum
Contract: 22.5 hours per week, permanent
Location: Blackpool
Closing date: 1 August 2022

Find out more and apply.

Accommodation Finding Housing Officer at Calico
The postholder will support clients to seek appropriate accommodation that meets decent homes standards within the Private Rented Sector.

Salary: £21.930 per annum
Contract: Full time, permanent
Location: Lancaster

Find out more and apply

Individual Giving Manager at AgeUK
The Individual Giving Manager will be responsible for managing relationships with people who donate to Age UK Lancashire, and a range of work to encourage more people to give their support.

Salary: £29,100 per annum
Contract: Full time, permanent
Location: Lancaster/Lytham Saint Annes/Ormskirk
Closing date: 9 August 2022

Find out more and apply.

Crisis Recovery Worker at Richmond Fellowship
Responsible for helping and inspiring the people who use the Fellowship’s services to maintain their tenancy and independence in the community, the postholder work with them to come up with a personal support plan that will see them achieve their goals and aspirations.

Salary: £20,054 per annum
Contract: Full time, permanent
Location: Lancaster
Closing date: 24 July 2022

Find out more and apply.

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 upskilling your workforce, contact [email protected]

Payroll, bookkeeping and independent examinations, contact [email protected]

Membership queries: [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]