News

Easy options for group finances? Don’t bank on it…

Tuesday 30th November 2021

Recently we have been contacted by a number of local groups experiencing difficulties opening bank accounts. Many providers have stopped offering this facility as an unintended consequence of a tightening of banking legislation around money laundering.

This causes a problem as funders often insist on a bank account in the group’s name. This is currently a national issue but we are determined to help local groups in Cumbria resolve this problem. In the meantime, there are a couple of options open to local groups seeking a new account:

Cumbria’s first Anti-Racist Cumbria Summit

Monday 29th November 2021

Members of the BBO project team had the absolute pleasure last month to attend, and participate in, Cumbria’s first Anti-Racist Cumbria Summit held at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal and led by the bold, brave and visionary Anti-Racist Cumbria team.

Our very own Cumbria CVS North District Manager, Niall McNulty, opened the Summit in his role as Anti-Racism Cumbria Trustee, welcoming over 250 attendees and leaders from statutory, voluntary and corporate sectors including the inspiring Cumberland Building Society who are leading the way with their commitment to anti-racist practice in their organisation.

Online AGM and Conference explores Social Impact

Thursday 25th November 2021

With continuing Covid-19 concerns once again forcing our AGM & Conference online, our 2021 event saw more than 60 people in attendance from the comfort of their own homes.

Held on the 24th of November, the AGM kicked off with a welcome from Chair of Trustees, Mike Taylor, and was followed by an introduction from Mrs Claire Hensman, HMS Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria. Mrs Hensman referenced our newly launched Annual Review, and ran through our Mission, Vision and Values, confirming to the audience that we had more than met our aims during a hugely busy year, highlighting that “Cumbria has been held up as an exemplar of community cohesion and collaboration during Covid, and the CVS has played a major part in that reputation”.

Annual Review 2020-21 – Riding the rollercoaster!

Tuesday 23rd November 2021

We’re delighted to be publishing our 2020-21 Annual Review.

Covering the period from 01 April 2020 to 31 March 2021, it features reports on a huge range of activity in a year described by our CEO, David Allen, as having “highs and lows… but not only did we ride the rollercoaster – it felt like we stayed on it all year”.

Trustees: Leading the Way

Friday 5th November 2021

Autumn is well and truly amongst us – but there is something different about it this year… An understandably half-hearted Hallowe’en has come and gone – as have many of our hopes for a greater return to pre-pandemic normality before the winter comes. As the days grow noticeably shorter, I for one am battening down the hatches (mentally and physically) in preparation for a demanding season. I managed to attend a few face-to-face meetings – including a few large groups – as summer turned the corner, but the re-emergence of the spike in infection rates looks to have reduced our collective desire to meet in person.

Cumbria CVS Chief Exec to speak at Festival of North West Thinking

Thursday 28th October 2021

Our Chief Executive, David Allen, will be speaking at the VSNW Festival of North West Thinking on Tuesday 9th November. The festival, which runs from 10am-4pm at the Gujarat Hindu Society and Community Centre in Preston, Lancashire, includes a Workshop discussing Health Systems Changes: where are we up to with health system transformation?

The workshop will consider; As the NHS goes through one of its biggest (or most bureaucratic?) system changes in its many years, where are VCSE groups being included and where are they being excluded? Is there a danger of falling through a gap where health and social care come under one body – with each of the two current bodies thinking that the “other” is developing the succession planning for passing on to the new body? On the eve of a new system beginning 1st April 2022, subject to the passing of the Health Bill, what do we need to know and do?

Call for videos of volunteers

Friday 8th October 2021

Cumbria CVS is working with a wonderful digital volunteer called Jonny who will be helping to create a short volunteering video about volunteering in Cumbria and highlighting the amazing work so many different volunteers and community groups have done during Covid-19. The video will be used on social media and on the Cumbria CVS website. We will also share the video with other organisations and partners to share more widely so everyone in Cumbria can see the real impact volunteers have made to our local communities. The aim of the video is to raise the profile of volunteering in Cumbria during Covid-19, showcasing different volunteers and groups, the different types of volunteering opportunities volunteers supported and hopefully this will also encourage new people to volunteer.

Get into Volunteering with Citizens Advice in Cumbria

Monday 4th October 2021

Citizens Advice Virtual Volunteer Recruitment Session

Wednesday 20 October from 12noon-1pm

Are you interested in becoming a volunteer with your local Citizens Advice in Cumbria?

Citizens Advice need a range of volunteers with different skills and backgrounds. Volunteers need the ability to communicate well, work effectively as a team member but also independently and be able to exercise sound judgement. A full induction will be provided to all volunteers and new trustees.

The Building Better Opportunities Getting Cumbria to Work project celebrates its achievements and reveals future aims

Friday 1st October 2021

At the beginning of September 2021, The Building Better Opportunities Getting Cumbria to Work project hosted two Stakeholder events with local partners, both in Barrow and Kendal.

The purpose of the event was to explain the work of the Building Better Opportunities Getting Cumbria to Work (BBO GCtW) project, which supports people in the Barrow and South Lakes area aged 18 and above, who are either unemployed or economically inactive and are furthest removed from the labour market.

Exploring the relationship between Cumbria CVS and local councils

Thursday 23rd September 2021

Our CEO, David Allen, recently delivered a presentation exploring the relationship between Cumbria CVS and local councils, at Transforming Local Government Procurement 2021.

The online event took place on the 28th September 2021, and brought together senior leaders from across Central and Local Government, academia and the wider public sector to hear the latest policy updates across the sector and address the challenges it faces in these unprecedented times.

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