Information and Advice for the Lancaster District’s Third Sector – 8 September 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.
Pots of Possibility ‘Your Pots’ Fund
We’re delighted to announce that the first round of the Pots of Possibility ‘Your Pots’ fund will open to applications on Monday 4 September.
Grants can be used to take forward new ideas or to scale up and expand regenerative projects and enterprises that will help our community and environment to flourish. The fund is offered as part of the FoodFutures Closing Loops project, co-led by LESS and LDCVS.
The Your Pots process will include a Participative Budgeting method, where local people will be invited to a decision day to hear from applicants and vote on which projects they recommend for funding.
Find out more, including information about drop-in advice sessions, in the Funding section.
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LDCVS Training – Keep Up To Date
Over the coming weeks, we will be bringing you a refreshed and enhanced training programme, covering a wide range of subjects and skills.
Our first courses are already up on our revamped training page at www.lancastercvs.org.uk/training, where you can find full course descriptions and booking links.
We’ll also be launching a monthly digest of our new and upcoming courses, providing an at-a-glance update of what’s on offer, alongside continuing to list opportunities here in the Bulletin.
See this week’s Events & Training section for more information about Mental Health First Aid, Suicide Prevention, and First Aid at Work courses.
Defibrillator Grant Funding
London Hearts, the leading heart charity dealing with the funding, procurement and supply of life-saving defibrillators throughout the entire of the UK are offering grant funding towards heart defibrillators. Recent publicised events have highlighted the fact that Cardiac Arrest does not discriminate and can happen to anyone, of any age, at any time!
The statistics are alarming – Cardiac Arrest kills over 60,000 people, of all ages, in the UK each year. If a heart defibrillator is used within 3-5 mins of a cardiac arrest, the chances of survival increases from 6% to a huge 74%. London Hearts are able to offer Grant Funding towards the cost of each Defibrillator they supply.
With every Defibrillator, they also provide free online CPR/Defibrillator awareness training.
If you have any queries please feel free to contact me either by telephone on 02070432493 or by email reply at: [email protected]
Further information on the Defibrillators supplied
If you have more enquiries please feel free to contact Cerys at London Hearts by telephone on 02070432493 or by email [email protected]
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Pots of Possibility ‘Your Pots’ grant fund open to applications from Monday 4 September
The Your Pots fund, offered as part of the Closing Loops project co-led by LESS and LDCVS, is offering grants of between £5000 and £10,000 to social enterprises, charities and other not-for-profit organisations.
The grants can be used to take forward new ideas or to scale up and expand regenerative projects and enterprises that will help our community and environment to flourish.
These include ideas in any of the following themes:
- Reusing, repurposing and repairing materials currently going to waste (e.g. textiles, electronics, packaging, surplus food, etc)
- Sharing resources (e.g. tools, materials, skills, etc) or repurposing unused space for community benefit
- Inspiring people to use and buy things more sustainably and to produce less waste
- Growing, cooking and eating food that’s local, seasonal and sustainably produced.
Applications will open from 9am on Monday 4 September. Find out more and download the fund guidance here.
Together with LESS, we are offering drop-in support sessions for anyone interested in applying. There’s no need to book, just turn up to either of the events below:
- Wednesday 13 September (10.00am – 12.00 noon) Morecambe Hobby Hub, Yorkshire Street West, Morecambe LA3 1QE
- Wednesday 20 September (2.00pm – 4.00pm) Lancaster Sustainability Hub, Unit 6 Marketgate, Lancaster LA1 1JF
Deadline for applications: 6 October 2023 at 11:59pm.
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Suicide Prevention Grant Fund 2023-2025
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has made available a £10 million fund to support suicide prevention activities delivered in England by non-profit organisations.
The objectives of this fund are to support non-profit organisations in configuring their suicide prevention services to better meet the demand seen in recent years and to support a range of diverse and innovative activity to prevent suicides at both a national and community level.
The fund closes to applications on 1 October, 11:59pm.
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Conrad Hilton Humanitarian Prize Opens for 2024 Nominations
The Conrad Hilton Humanitarian Prize for 2024 is now open for nominations. Valued at US$2.5 million (approximately £1.96 million), it stands as the world’s largest annual humanitarian award. The prize recognizes outstanding charitable or non-profit organisations globally that have made significant contributions to alleviating human suffering. Nominations should focus on the organization’s achievements rather than future goals, highlighting its impact on addressing important issues, demonstrating effective programmatic approaches, nurturing partnerships for greater influence, showcasing organisational capacity, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. The 2023 winner is yet to be announced, while the 2022 recipient was the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), which assists displaced individuals in more than 35 countries.
Nominations for 2024 will be accepted from 17 August 2023 to 27 September 2023.
Learn more about the fund and nominations
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Funding for Search and Rescue Organisations to Support Operational Volunteer Training
UK charitable search and rescue (SAR) organisations have the opportunity to secure funding for operational volunteer training in support of SAR operations. Charities Aid Foundation is providing grants starting at £1,000 for organisations nationwide, aiming to enhance the quality and safety of SAR services by improving volunteer training. The UKSAR Volunteer Training Fund offers support for high-priority training that strengthens the capabilities of SAR organisations and volunteers. This includes core skills training for new and existing volunteers, preventing skills deterioration due to pandemic-related disruptions, revalidation of core training, and well-being-focused training. Eligible costs cover operational training, essential courses, external trainers, administrative expenses, volunteers’ travel and accommodation, training equipment, and up to 50% of training costs. The training activities are scheduled between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2026.
The deadline for application is 14 November 2023.
Find out more about this fund and apply
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New £10m Community Energy Fund for England to Open in Early Autumn
New government funding will empower local communities across England to develop renewable energy projects that will benefit their local areas. The Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero’s new £10 million Community Energy Fund will give both urban and rural communities the opportunity to develop clean energy projects in their area. Setting up local energy projects is expected to provide local jobs and deliver energy security.
The funding is for projects that are proposed, designed and owned by local people, such as small-scale wind farms, rooftop solar partnerships, battery storage, rural heat networks, electric vehicle charging points, and fuel poverty alleviation schemes. As with the former Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF), the new Community Energy Fund will be delivered through Local Net Zero Hubs (partnerships between local authorities and local private sector businesses).
The government announcement can be read on the GOV.UK website.
The Community Energy Fund will open to applications in the early Autumn.
CAP Lancaster & Morecambe Debt Centre – Monday Drop-ins
Christians Against Poverty are holding a free drop-in debt clinic every Monday morning in Morecambe.
Anyone who needs help and advice with debt can visit the Sanctuary Cafe, 13 Queen Street, Morecambe between 9am and 11am each week.
Download the poster to find out more.
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Retrofitting Community Buildings – Action Plan
Retrofitting community buildings involves adding new features or systems to make it more efficient to run.
In collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Energy, Local Trust have produced an action plan to help community organisations:
- work out how to make their building more energy efficient
- reduce energy wastage (and costs)
- better understand how their building works
- work with tradespeople
Download the plan and read a short case-study here
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Community Responses to the Climate & Cost of Living Crises
How have communities been taking action against the crises caused by climate change and the increasing cost of living?
The Centre for Sustainable Energy have reported on initiatives from several Big Local funded areas, highlighting their ambitions and activities.
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Local Area Energy Plan Online Workshop
Lancaster City Council and Energy Systems Catapault want to help people and businesses find cost-effective ways to reach net zero and decarbonise their heating and electricity.
They are inviting people to an online introductory workshop to help identify the most cost-effective, least cost to consumer and best way of generating low or zero carbon energy at a local level. Findings will contribute to the development of a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP)
The workshop will focus on
- Developing an understanding of generation, infrastructure and demand within local area
- Understanding stakeholders’ priorities and identify relevant datasets to include
- Introducing the concept of the LAEP
- Introducing stakeholders to their roles within a LAEP
- Identifying initial stakeholder priorities – both technical and non-technical
View the LAEP storyboard to find out more, or get in touch by email at [email protected]
The workshop will be held on Thursday 14 September 2023 from 6pm – 7pm. Register here.
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Five years of Empowering Places Report
The Empowering Places program, a five-year initiative aimed at strengthening community anchors and developing sustainable clusters of local businesses, has concluded. This provided an opportunity to share the program’s insights and findings. Cooperatives UK, in collaboration with New Economics Foundation and CLES – Centre for Local Economic Strategies, led the program, offering funding and capacity-building support to catalyst organisations in six socioeconomically deprived areas. The final program report by Renaisi provides a comprehensive overview of Empowering Places, examining the diverse approaches taken by catalysts in utilising investment and delivering outcomes. The report delves into the program’s impact on both individuals and the localities involved, offering valuable insights and lessons for community development.
Read the evaluation report here
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NAVCA NEW: Social Prescribing Resources
NAVCA have announced the launch of two new social prescribing resources, developed by NAVCA with the National Academy of Social Prescribing (NASP) and Spirit of 2012. The Self-Assessment Development Guide for Social Prescribing Link Worker Host Organisations is a practical, day-to-day guide on how to develop and deliver a quality SPLW hosting service with useful practical advice for programmed in all stages of development from considering hosting link workers to maintaining an existing highly successful programme.
The Impactful Social Prescribing resource is a presentation template and accompanying guidance notes that aim to increase the impact of social prescribing through increased co-design/production of the social prescribing infrastructure, and by creating stronger connections between local VCSE infrastructure organisations (LIOs) and stakeholders involved in social prescribing at a national, regional, system and place level. This template is meant to set the stage for your conversations with the Integrated Care System around social prescribing and provides a clear framework and instructions for adaptation to suit your unique local situation.
Both of these resources can be found here
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Rural Community Business Awards 2023
The Plunkett’s Rural Community Business Awards returns for another year to recognise and celebrate the incredible achievements of community businesses across the UK and the dedicated individuals involved in them. These businesses are essential for their local communities, providing economic growth and social well-being. The awards acknowledge achievements in various categories and showcase the impactful work of rural community businesses in driving positive change and sustainability.
The deadline for entries is 5pm on Friday 8th September 2023.
King’s Award for Voluntary Service
This prestigious UK national honour, which has the equivalent status to the MBE, recognises the exceptional contribution made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others.
The closing date for nominations is 15 September so there is still time to get nominations in.
Find out more about the King’s Award on the DCMS website
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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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Lancaster Guardian Column
Read all about aspects of volunteering and other third sector items in the Lancaster District with our regular Lancaster Guardian article. This week’s article is titled – The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
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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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Volunteering Opportunity Help Guide
We have produced a guide to help you when adding an opportunity to our website – It is quite detailed and covers every possible question. You don’t need to follow it but please do look at it if you get stuck or if it isn’t clear which option to choose when going through the form to add new opportunities.
You can now also add more users to your account. Once registered, log in, hover on Account at the top of the dashboard and click ‘Users’, where you can add more users. This will be useful if you would like someone else to check applicant info and contact potential volunteers.
You can also now choose which category to add your opportunity under, to help people when searching for roles. If you can’t find an appropriate category just use the ‘default’ category and let us know what categories you would like to see added.
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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
Independent Custody Visitor (ICV) Role
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is currently seeking Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) for the Lancaster area. Independent Custody Visiting is a statutory requirement of Police & Crime Commissioners, providing independent oversight of the detention of people in police custody. The role of an ICV is to conduct visits to Custody on a weekly basis to check on the welfare of people detained in police custody. You can find out more about ICVs here.
Find out more about this opportunity
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West End Players Multiple Roles
Morecambe Poetry Festival Volunteers
Morecambe Poetry Festival is coming to town on 22nd, 23rd and 24th of September 2023 and it needs you! In return for two 4-hour shifts, you will be given a free weekend pass to the festival. This word fiesta will feature some of the most amazing and talented poets!
Find out more about this opportunity
The Bay International Film Festival Volunteers
The Bay International Film Festival is coming from the 6th to the 29th of October and it needs you! The International short film competition had more than 400 entries from over 45 countries!
Find out more about this volunteer opportunity
Cast and Crew for Alien the Musical
The West End Players CIC, who brought you fun and laughter with Aladdin Morecambe in February 2023 are now back with a new show and are looking for cast and crew for Alien The Musical on Thursday 22nd February (press night), Friday 23rd February and Saturday 24th February 2024 (performance).
Find out more about this opportunity
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Marketing Officer with Beyond Radio
As a not for profit, volunteer organisation, the role of Marketing Officer with Beyond Radio is an important one and we are particularly keen to hear from volunteers with experience that can help us with a variation of marketing tasks from merchandising to social media.
Find out more about this opportunity
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Coordinator with The City of Sanctuary’s Bike Project
The City of Sanctuary Bike Project require a volunteer to coordinate a multitude of tasks such as getting bike donations, handling bike issues and requests along with bike repair appointment setting.
Find out more about this opportunity
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Bay Volunteers Opportunities
Bay Volunteers are offering various roles including the new role for a community group buddy!
Do you have time during the week to support individual residents with things like shopping, Eggcup and prescription collections, telephone or in-person befriending, digital support, attending a community group with someone on a short-term basis, and more?
Bay Volunteers needs volunteers to take up either regular or one-off missions that you can pick and choose, carrying them out when and as often as it suits and fits in with you in a given week to support vulnerable members of our communities. Missions are made available to volunteers on a mobile app and website which is very easy to use, so you can choose which ones you can do.
Email: [email protected]
Visit their website here for more information
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Volunteer Van Driver- Morecambe
The Well Communities are looking for a volunteer/s who can help assisting their community members to access the gym, take members to the Saturday hub in Lancaster and do their food collection from FareShare in Preston on Friday mornings.
If you like variety and want to meet new people, this could be the role for you! Their community relies on their volunteers to keep them running successfully.
Duties include:
Weekly Friday collection of food from Fareshare, Preston – Helping load and unload items for delivery (including bulky items) in line with their health and safety guidelines. This enables them to run their weekly food club for the community. 2-3 times a week (1.5hrs) – Transporting residents to local Salt Aye Gym, returning to the hub. Saturday – Transporting residents to their hub in Lancaster and collection, returning to the hub in Morecambe.
An opportunity to be part of The Well Communities CIC and the knowledge that you are making a positive difference to people’s lives.
Requirements:
A clean driving license and able to drive a 15-seater minibus.
Contribute to maintaining safe systems of work and a safe environment.
For an informal discussion please contact: Richard Hancock on 07444 907135 or Jo O’Brien on 07581 027413
For an application form, please contact Sarah Lunan – [email protected]
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Lancaster Men’s Hub
Lancaster Men’s Hub support men of all ages in the Lancaster area with their physical and mental health through a wide variety of activities. They are looking for two volunteers to help in the kitchen during their Friday meals.
Kitchen Coordinator
This role will plan the weekly menu, buy food, and arrange a rota for cooking
Kitchen Assistant
This role will serve food and drinks, keep the cafe and kitchen area tidy, and conduct other kitchen duties.
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The Cornerstone
The Cornerstone is part of Lancaster Methodist Church and is a community of people working together to create a safe place in the city. They are currently looking for volunteers in the roles of Kitchen Assistant, Promotions & Social Media, and Administration Support/Fundraising.
Kitchen Assistant
Required between 10am and 3pm on Tuesdays for general kitchen duties.
Promotions & Social Media Lead
Design eye-catching leaflets and posters, and engage the community through social media.
Administration Support – Fundraising
Help with general office duties and complete funding applications.
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Home-Start Volunteers
Home-Start, who offer home-visiting support to local families are looking for more volunteers such as parents, carers or grandparents who feel they could spare 2 to3 hours a week to support a family. They provide training and also other training opportunities and are hoping to run their net course in September. If anyone is interested in this position, please contact Debra Dawkins, the Senior Coordinator of Home-Start to further discuss this role.
Tel: 01524 414871
Mob: 07939404194
Email: [email protected]
World Suicide Prevention Day #WSPD
Sunday 10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day. The day is hosted on this date each year by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and provides the opportunity for people, across the globe, to raise awareness of suicide and suicide prevention.
If you would like to find out how you can help people who might be struggling and learn the skills to be able to start a conversation about suicide, please take a look at the training by Zero Suicide Alliance. This training only takes 20 minutes and could help save a life.
Follow this link for the training
Lancaster CVS Suicide Prevention Training
Lancaster CVS are also running a suicide prevention training session. This half-day workshop provides learners with the confidence and tools to understand the impact of suicide and take someone who is experiencing thoughts of suicide from a place of danger and isolation to a place of safety and support, using a three-step ‘first aid’ approach.
Learn more and reserve your place
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Survey For Adults and Their Unpaid Carers
Lancashire County Council have released a survey for adults with care and support needs who have unpaid carers as part of their Lancashire County Council’s Adult Social Care improvement work. They would like people to help them better understand how they are performing and where to focus their efforts with the goal of working more effectively with those concerned.
Responses are anonymous and people can feel free to answer any question or skip it. The survey should take only about 10 minutes and must be completed by the 17th of September 2023. Feedback will be published on their website.
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Birchall Referral
Birchall are there to support people who have been affected by rape or sexual abuse by offering a wide range of services to help heal people and to help them move forward. These include adult counselling, play therapy for children and training and education programmes and more. Information on how to get referred or to refer someone else is provided on the poster which includes a QR code besides other alternative contact details.
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NIHR Improving Engagement Research Report
The NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) and BVSC have produced a report “Improving Engagement” which highlights the crucial role played by the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector in delivering social care services in the UK, currently worth £3.8 billion.
The findings highlight the importance of involving the sector in health and social care research. The report summarises outcomes from listening events organised by the NIHR Research Design Service and BVSC in 2022. It identifies barriers to engagement for VCFSE organisations, such as lack of time and confidence, as well as challenges faced by researchers, including capacity issues. Key recommendations for improving engagement include early involvement of VCFSE organizations in research, co-designing research outputs, better cost estimation, dedicated relationship-building time, and meaningful co-production based on equal partnership.
You can read the full recommendations and learning from the events in the Full Report and Summary Report.
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Free Event for World Menopause Day
On the 18th of October is World Menopause Day. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the menopause and the support options available for improving health and wellbeing. Lancashire Adult Learning are pleased to be hosting a free online event on the day:
The event will highlight some of the issues surrounding menopause and give you different tips and strategies to make it more manageable for you. The important people in your life can also come along, to help them better understand the changes you might be going through.
Managing the Menopause in Life & Work
Free online session
Wednesday 18th October
6pm – 8pm
Book your place and find out more
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Social Prescribing Research – University of Chester
The University of Chester is collecting views and experiences of social prescribing from VCFSE participants and providers. The project’s purpose is to unpick the processes and common features in successful social prescribing schemes, particularly from a Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise perspective.
VCFSE providers are asked to complete a survey focusing on these questions:
- What do successful social prescribing schemes look like to the VCFSE?
- How can resources, impact and VCFSE support be maximised?
- How can collaboration between PCNs and the VCFSE be encouraged to benefit all partners?
- What do hosting organisations need?
Find out more about the research, or go directly to the survey.
Phase two of the project will involve focus groups and interviews, however taking part in the survey phase does not mean you have to take part in further research.
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Student Meningitis Vaccine Reminder
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and leading meningitis charities are urging students to make sure they have been vaccinated against meningitis as the latest data shows that around 1 in 8 new students are unprotected from this disease.
New students going to college or university are remaining unprotected against these serious illnesses which consist of 4 strains of meningococcal bacteria. Each of these can cause long term disability, serious health complications and can be life threatening.
The latest data shows that the vaccination rate has fallen to 79.6% which means that around 1 in 5 pupils will remain unprotected when the begin college or university if they don’t catch up.
Find out more about the risks, and how to get a vaccine.
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PDVS Freedom Program
Did you know the Preston Domestic Violence Services provide a free confidential freedom program? This support group is open to women who have or are, experiencing abuse and want to learn more about the different forms of abuse, coping strategies and warning signs. The program runs for 12 weeks and is delivered virtually via zoom. If you would like to access this program, call our helpline on 01772 201601 or email us at [email protected] to receive a referral form.
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Blood Cancer Awareness Month – Learn, Share, Support
September is Blood Cancer Awareness month. Every September, Blood Cancer Awareness Month raises awareness and understanding of blood cancers, the signs and symptoms and its impact, which will help to improve early diagnosis, encourage policymakers to prioritise the disease, as well as help everyone with blood cancer feel connected and heard. Find out about the initiative to spread awareness and knowledge about blood cancers.
Watch the following video on ‘Why Spot Leukaemia?’…
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The Bay Health Festivals 2023 Impact
The Bay Health Festivals have crunched the numbers and created this infographic highlighting the key achievements of last month’s Bay Health Festivals events.
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Join the Cycle September Challenge!
Ride a bike this September and you could win a £4,000 holiday, plus lots of other prizes. Join Love to Ride Lancashire’s Cycle September Challenge for a chance to win while pedalling your way to better health!
Tackling Fussy Eating Workshop
Fussy eating in children can cause a lot of stress at mealtimes and worries about whether a child is getting the right amount of nutrition. Join Claire Potter, a best-selling author of Getting the Little Blighters to Eat and Which Food Will You Choose? on a one-day workshop presenting practical, effective and research-based approaches that parents can apply at home.
The workshop will look at how fussy eating begins, practical techniques to use at mealtimes, techniques for introducing new foods, behavioural issues around food and how to encourage a child’s curiosity and adventurousness around food.
Date and Time: Saturday the 23rd of September
Location: Friend’s Meeting House, Lancaster
Price: £35 (subsidised by Food Futures)
Email [email protected] to book tickets and find out more
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Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Careers
The NHS’s Work Experience Programme is now open for applications. This application window closes at 4pm on Friday 29th September. There are non-clinical opportunities for 14 to 16 year olds, and work experience placements for 16+.
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Brook Safeguarding Conference 2023
Brook, the charity supporting people with their sexual health and wellbeing, are holding their first virtual safeguarding conference on 14 September.
The conference has four online events, three of which are available free of charge:
- Spotting the signs of CSE (£10)
- Safeguarding in a mental health crisis (free)
- Safeguarding in the age of AI (free)
- How RSHE safeguards our children (free)
Find out more about the conference and book session tickets here.
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National Youth Agency Work Training
The National Youth Agency (NYA) and its regional partners are offering over five hundred bursaries for youth work courses, providing opportunities to specialise in various aspects of youth work or advance into leadership roles.
This initiative, backed by a third year of funding from the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), aims to enhance the skills and capacity of the sector.
The bursaries are available for Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in youth work for 2022/3, with a new Level 4 Certificate in Professional Development (Youth Work) catering to existing youth workers seeking higher-level qualifications.
The training can be a combination of online and in-person sessions, and applicants should be involved in working with young people either as volunteers or in paid positions.
Register your interest and apply for their bursary here
The deadline for applications is 11th September at 9am.
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Escape2Make Craft Club
There’s a great opportunity for young people aged 11-18 who are either already keen crafters or those who are interested and wanting to learn a new variety of skills! Open to all skill levels and particularly beneficial for beginners the E2M Craft Club is a free of charge place for young people to go and escape from the various aspect of life that can be quite stressful such as school and social media, amongst other things. The club has a friendly, quiet and welcoming atmosphere and is really beneficial for those who are either struggling with their mental health, want to make new friends and socialise more or would just like something fun and productive to do to occupy their free time.
They will show young people techniques and guide them through activities that they can continue at home and the sessions will be split into half consisting of one half working in a group and the other working individually.
All equipment is provided and they encourage young people to also bring in projects that they have been working on at home. The club can also count towards young people’s Duke of Edinburgh Award under the SKILL section.
Session are run at Ethel & Em, 24 New Street, Lancaster, LA1 1EG every other Tuesday, 5:30pm-7:30pm.
Share the Harvest
Share the Harvest invites you to join in and help prevent fruit waste from local trees in a month-long festival of gleans, events and workshops happening all over Lancaster District.
Lancaster’s Harvest Market – Friday 15 Sept, 10am-5pm
Community Apple Pressing with Claver Hill – Tuesdays 12th & 19th Sept
The Storey Gardens – 9-16th Sept
Apple Glean in Bowerham – 1st Sept
Home Juicing with the Claver Hill Community Press – Various dates
Apple Day at Fairfield Community Orchard – 23 Sept, 2-4.30pm
See their full events programme here
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Beyond Salaries – Exploring Employee Benefits in the Charity Sector
Charity Job are promoting an upcoming webinar that aims to provide valuable insights for charities regarding their employee benefits packages. The event will cover key topics such as benchmarking benefits and discovering how your charity’s benefits package compares to industry standards to ensure you remain competitive in attracting talent. The webinar also looks at influencing candidates, and how to gain knowledge about which specific benefits have the greatest impact on candidates during their job search. You will also learn strategies to attract more candidates to your organization by offering appealing and relevant benefits beyond just salary.
This webinar is based on a survey of over 1,400 candidates and will provide data-driven insights into what matters most to candidates beyond their basic pay. It’s a valuable resource for charities looking to enhance their employee offerings and attract top talent in the sector.
Date & time: Wednesday 13th September 2023, 10.30am – 11.10am.
Location: Online
For more details and to register for the event
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Childcare and Education Courses with Lancashire Adult Learning
Lancashire Adult Learning are pleased to launch a new Working with Children and Young People – Is it for me? course. LAL are offering a taster session aimed at people who have an interest in working with children but are unsure of which pathway to take to reach their goal. During the session, learners will explore different opportunities to work with children and the skills and qualities needed for those roles. Learners will also have the opportunity to find out about further accredited courses to develop their knowledge and skills to work with children.
Upon successful completion you will progress to the Get Into Working in Schools and Colleges or the Get Into Working in an Early Years Setting.
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Energy Saving Workshops
Struggling to save money with your energy bills? Lancaster City Council are running energy saving workshops to provide some support. There will be specialist guidance on energy efficient ways to reduce your bills and save money. The workshops are a great opporunity to be proactive before the colder months start creeping back in. There will also be opportunity to take away some handy (and FREE) energy saving gadgets. FREE parking and lunch available!
Carnforth Energy Saving Workshop e-poster
Morecambe Energy Saving Workshop e-poster
Reserve your place at lancaster.gov.uk/workshop or call 01524 582000
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Award in First Aid at Work (level 3)
This three-day course is a regulated and nationally recognised qualification, specifically designed for those who are appointed to act as a first aider in their workplace. It is also ideal for people who have a specific responsibility to provide first aid in voluntary and community activities.
Over the three days, students will develop the skills and knowledge needed to deal with a range of first aid situations, including: assessing an incident, heart attack, cardiac arrest and CPR, managing an unresponsive casualty, choking, head and spinal injuries, fractures, anaphylaxis and more.
The course fee is £120 for LDCVS members and £150 for non-members (plus ticket and payment processing fees charged by our suppliers).
3 days: 21 & 28 September, and 5 October, 9.45am – 4.45pm
The Commodore Club, 131 Heysham Road, Morecambe
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Suicide Prevention – Funded Workshop
LDCVS has secured an additional Suicide Prevention workshop, as the first date offered is now full.
This half-day workshop provides learners with the confidence and tools to understand the impact of suicide and take someone who is experiencing thoughts of suicide from a place of danger and isolation to a place of safety and support, using a three-step ‘first aid’ approach.
This approach enables the suicide ‘first aider’ to identify the signs that someone may be experiencing thoughts of suicide, recognize the needs of that person, ask about suicide clearly and directly and use safety planning to empower the individual to find appropriate help.
The workshop is City and Guilds registered, delivered by a trainer registered with the National Centre for Suicide Prevention.
This is a funded course, with just a registration fee (£5 LDCVS members / £10 non-members, plus ticket and payment processing fees) to cover venue and refreshments costs.
5 December 2023, 9:15am – 12:30pm, St Thomas Church
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Mental Health First Aid – Funded Course
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised two-day training course which teaches people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis.
MHFA England training will teach you the best way to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis. Learning takes place through a mix of group activities, presentations and discussions.
LDCVS is promoting this course which normally costs up to £300. In this case, it has been fully funded by Lancashire County Council Public Health and is free of charge. A £50 deposit (plus £2.65 covering ticketing and payment fees charged by our suppliers) is required at the time of booking to guard against non-attendance. £50 will be repaid on completion of both full days.
16 & 17 October, 9am – 5pm, The Cornerstone
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Free Healthy Eating Workshops with Headway Lancaster & Morecambe Bay
Headway are offering eight healthy eating workshops at their allotment on Dorrington Road, funded through the Community Health Champions Fund.
This is a great way to participate in creating a meal, learn about healthy food choices, and best of all to eat an appetising meal!
Workshops take place on 27 September, 4, 11 & 18 October, and on 8, 15, 22 & 29 November.
Download the poster to find out more, and book your slot by emailing Maria at [email protected]
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Free Core Skills Health Coaching Courses
This two-day face to face programme, offered free of charge through Active Lancashire, is designed to support practitioners from all health, care, community and voluntary sectors to learn how to use health coaching effectively in their current roles when speaking to patients/clients.
Health Coaching will give you the opportunity to build on the many skills you already possess and learn how a health coaching approach can very usefully support your work.
12 & 19 September (Morecambe)
13 & 21 September (Preston)
19 & 26 September (Kendal)
Find out more about the course content.
To apply for a place, fill out this form and return it to [email protected]
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Free Webinar Fundraising Support
Find out how to make fundraising Challenge events more successful by registering to take part in this free webinar! Expert speaker with over 45 years between them will share their insights on how they have achieved success with their own campaigns. Challenge events are not only good for income but also provide PR opportunities and introduce multiple new contacts onto your database. Join speakers Sarah Goddard, DSC Associate and founder at Fundraiser Sarah and Ian Tate, Independent Fundraising Consultant by registering here for the free webinar
Date: 13th of September 2023
Time: 10:30-12:00pm
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Cranfield Trust Essentials to Excellence Webinars
Charities, Understand Marketing and its Importance
If the fundamental purpose of marketing is to increase profit for a company, what is the fundamental purpose of marketing in a not-for-profit charity? Aimed at CEO’s, marketing managers, fundraisers, and trustees, this one-hour webinar will discuss the importance of marketing and what it is within a charity context. We will look at how, through developing a simple one page marketing plan, you can help grow a charity’s online community, raise awareness and increase donations.
The second of their marketing-focussed webinars will take place on Thursday, 28 September 2023 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm.
Charities – Why Bother with Process Improvement?
Cranfield Trust are also offering a new webinar on Process Improvement. 100% of your charity’s performance is a result of how well your people design, operate and continuously improve your processes. So if you know you need to make a step-change in performance, you will only be able to do that by changing your processes and this webinar can help.
Date & time: Thursday 12 October 2023 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Project Assistant Vacancy at The Olive Branch
The Olive Branch have an exciting opportunity for someone to join their small team as Project Assistant (Communications and Administration). You will be working alongside their Project Manager and Assistant Project Manager. If you are experienced at carrying out administrative tasks, can produce promotional materials and can use social media confidently and would also like to work in a busy, community-centred charity then The Olive Branch would really like to hear from you!
Salary: £9, 777 per annum
Contract: 17 hours per week split between Communications and Administrative duties
Location: Lancaster
Closing Date: 6pm on Tuesday the 19th of September
See full job description and apply here
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Let’s BeFriends Network Coordinator
Let’s BeFriends is a charity set up by the lived in experience members of the Lancaster District Homeless Advisory Group. They are looking for someone to take on the very varied role of a Network Coordinator. For this role you will be expected to network, build and maintain relationships with various organisations to aid the sustainability of recruitment. Other aspects of the role amongst many will include promoting volunteer opportunities, coordinate a recruitment plan to attract new volunteers and spread marketing materials to a wide range of audiences. Another aspect will be supporting new volunteers through an Induction Journey.
Salary: £12.98 per hour
Contract: Self-employed with initial 12-month contract
Location: Based in the community with ability for some home working
Closing Date: 11:59pm on Wednesday 27th of September 2023
Interview: Week commencing 2nd of October
Please email cv and covering letter to [email protected] or call Dusty Thomas for an informal chat on 07875025009
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Advocate – Guild Lodge
The Advocate role, based at Guild Lodge, is a part-time position within VoiceAbility, an independent charity specializing in advocacy and involvement services. Advocates are responsible for supporting individuals with various support needs, including those with communication issues, mental health challenges, and physical health concerns, to ensure their wishes, feelings, beliefs, and values are respected.
Salary: £22,500 – £29,000 per year, pro-rata
Contract: Permanent, Part Time – 28 hours per week
Location: Guild Lodge, Preston
Closing Date: 18 September 2023, 5pm
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Housing Support Worker at Acorn
The Housing Support Worker based in Lancaster will be responsible for supporting people to improve their independence and promoting positive change in their lives by encouraging and empowering a better quality of life, health and well-being.
They will provide support to people in recovery from substance misuse covering ten outcome areas that have been found to be essential in supporting people to maintain a life free from drugs and alcohol.
Salary: £23,176 with 5% salary increase from October 2023.
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Location: Lancaster
Closing date: 10 September 2023
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Nine vacancies at the Birchall Trust
Community Engagement Officer
Morecambe
Volunteer Coordinator
Flexible location
Adult Counsellor Community & HMP Prision
Roles in Cumbria and Lancashire
Adult Counsellor
Barrow-in-Furness or Kendal
CYP Therapist
East Lancashire
Wellbeing Practitioners
Roles in East Lancashire and Fylde Coast
All roles offered part-time, 22.5 hours per week
Use the links in the summary document to find out more and apply
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Chief Executive Officer at Multicultural Cumbria
Multicultural Cumbria requires a dynamic and seasoned leader who will spearhead the organisation’s goals and objectives.
Accountable to the board of trustees and the broader organisation, the CEO will oversee the day-to-day management and execution of MCC’s objectives. To succeed in this role, the CEO must possess previous management experience and a proven track record of building and nurturing successful community-based organisations.
Salary: £32,100 – £41,925 per annum
Contract: Full-time
Location: Carlisle, home-based, and at locations across Cumbria
Find out more and apply (link in pdf)
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Young Promoter – Gregson Arts & Community Centre
An exciting opportunity has opened up with the Gregson Arts and Community Centre for a Young Promoter to programme music events in Lancaster. This is aimed at a young person aged 17-25 who has a desire to learn the skills needed in this area of work and wants to break into the music/events industry. It will involve 6 months of training and professional development and, supported by a mentor from More Music and The Gregson, they will have the opportunity to programme a minimum of 6 gigs at the Gregson Centre. They will gain experience in all aspects of event management, including programming, marketing and promotion, budgeting, ticketing, health and safety, technical, legal and licensing. No previous experience is necessary. Just a genuine interest and love of music and the Lancaster music scene.
Salary: £1, 800 total fee.
Contract: Equivalent to £12 per hour for 150 hours.
Location: Lancaster
Closing date: Friday the 8th of September at 10am
View the job specification here
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Role of Governor – Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Do you want to represent patients, staff and your community? The Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust are seeking to recruit governors to the council of governors. Governors sit on a dedicated council and are considered the eyes and ears of the public, patients and staff. They are essential to help the Trust understand and respond to what patients and local residents expect from LSCft. People of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to stand for election to help ensure that their Council of Governors are representative of their diverse workforce and communities they serve.
Find out more about the role of govenor here
For more information on applying for the role
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Admin Support Worker – Preston Domestic Violence Services
Preston Domestic Violence Services (PDVS) are a specialist provider of domestic violence services to female & male victims of domestic violence/abuse. PDVS are currently seeking an Admin Support worker to provide support to the Manager and Business Support Officer. Responsibilities include answering calls, responding to emails, assisting with social media promotion, managing post, recording holiday requests, aiding in report generation and other duties.
Salary: £10.42 per hour (£8,669 per annum / £20,048 full time equivalent)
Contract: 16 hours per week
Location: Harbour House, Port Way, Preston, PR2 2DW
Closing Date: 13th September 2023, 9.30am
Find out more about this role and apply
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Vacancies at The Well
The not-for-profit community interest company The Well are looking to recruit for a range of positions. The team at The Well also specialise in providing support to people with mental health issues, offending behaviour, childhood trauma, learning difficulties, domestic abuse and homelessness. The following opportunities are for Morecambe & Carlisle.
X2 Hope Worker (Health, outreach, prevention and education)
You will support the wider HOPE team in the delivery of effective and immediate responses to minimise harm and reduce relapse whilst encouraging individuals to engage with a recovery plan covering all aspects of their life. The role includes robust case management in a fast-paced substance misuse service, delivery of psychosocial interventions, provide a live connection between local communities, asset based and wellbeing and treatment services.
Salary: £22,000 – £25,000
Contract: 37.5 hrs per week
Location: 1 covering Cumberland & 1 covering Westmorland & Furness
Closing Date: Friday 8th September, 5pm
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Business Development Officer – Lancashire LGBT
Lancashire LGBT are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic person to develop their LGBTQ+ inclusion Scheme for local organisations. You will be responsible for income generation through new memberships as well as building and maintaining relationships with members, providing guidance and advice on best practice in LGBTQ+ inclusion, and ensuring their member’s satisfaction and engagement with the organisation.
Salary: FTE £38,025 / £16,225 (p.a.)
Contract: 16 hours pw
Location: Preston, Lancashire
Closing Date: 24th September 2023, Midnight
Interview date: October 5th 2023
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Lancaster District Food Poverty Alliance Development Worker
The Lancaster District Food Justice Partnership (LDFJP) are looking for someone who is as passionate about social justice as they are to help bring their plan into reality. Your work will contribute directly to enacting real change within the district. You’ll work alongside the LDFJP’s Partnership as well as directly with group members – supporting, engaging and ultimately activating communities experiencing poverty. You’ll need to have excellent organisational skills and the ability to work with a range of people.
The Community Food Development Worker will oversee work addressing issues within the Lancaster District Food Justice Partnership (LDFJP) Action Plan. You will have a passion for engaging with communities around food insecurity and issues of poverty. You will have excellent organisational skills, the ability to work with a range of people, work well in a team and use your own initiative. Experience of planning and delivering community-based projects is essential for this post.
Salary: £22,500 (£27,500 per annum pro rata)
Contract: 28 hours per week (0.8 FTE), evening and weekend work may be required. Fixed term 12 months
Location: Hybrid
Closing Date: Sunday 10th September 2023
Interview date: w/c 18th September 2023
Find out more about this role and apply
Female Floating Support Recovery Coordinator (Burnley)
Based at Burnley Inspire to work across East Lancashire
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]
