Useful Information – September 2022
August 31, 2022
Events, charity news, surveys, feedback, reports, services and much more – in one handy place!
This page will be updated with new information as we receive it during September. Please check back regularly. (Last update: 22/09/22)
You can view August’s Useful Information here to catch up on new information added during August ’22.
If you’ve seen something you think we should be sharing, let us know! Email us: info@cumbriacvs.org.uk
Training and Events
Get Grants 10th Anniversary, October Events
Throughout October 2022, we are offering a programme of FREE online events, discounts, and giveaways. This includes 10 Introductory Fundraising Workshops, Mentoring Clinic, Meet the Funder, Meet the Expert, and our popular Virtual Fundraisers Networking event, plus 25% off across all Training Course bookings throughout September and October.
All of our Get Grants 10th Anniversary events are FREE and can be booked via Eventbrite.
#BeMoreDigital Fundraising Day 2022
15 November 2022
For charity professionals and fundraisers in particular, the cost-of-living crisis adds questions and concerns to what is already a challenging fundraising arena.
But we’re the charity sector. We’re resilient, responsive, and thrive in the face of adversity.
To help support the sector, Charity Digital are bringing back their #BeMoreDigital Fundraising Day for a 3rd year. The event is free for all charities to attend, will be held online, and will focus on new ideas and technologies to help overcome their digital fundraising challenges of 2022, and build the skills needed to maximise your fundraising potential.
Find out more and register here
Free Link Up Event and lunch in Whitehaven
Thursday 6 October 10.30am-1.30pm
We’re holding a get together for everyone taking part in the Let’s Get Digital programme and any third sector organisations based in Allerdale or Copeland who would like to find out more about the free training and support for Digital Champions that is available.
This informal gathering is an ideal opportunity for you to understand more about Let’s Get Digital, how a Digital Champion approach can work and how fellow organisations are tackling digital exclusion.
National Inclusion Week: 26 Sept – 2 October
National Inclusion Week (NIW) is a week dedicated to celebrating inclusion and taking action to create inclusive workplaces. This year’s theme is ‘Time to Act: The Power of Now’ progressing on last years theme #UnitedForInclusion which connected 60 million people to celebrate diversity and inclusion.
Atos ANTZ New Beginnings Programme 2022 – Supporting Communities
ANTZ is business led and community driven with over 400 organisations in its Network across 26 regions in the UK. Our purpose is to reduce costs to society and change people’s lives.
We are delighted that through the support of one of our partners we will be delivering a series of fully funded online workshops that will be accessible, free of charge, to organisations and people in the community.
The New Beginnings programme offers support to those who have been adversely affected by the pandemic, through unemployment, job insecurity or mental health problems and provides practical advice and support to help people get their lives back on track after the unexpected disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
We are connecting with Cumbria’s Volunteer Organisations to launch the programme in September 2022 that will provide workshops consisting of our:
- New Beginnings Employability Online Workshop – Tuesday 27-Sep-22 (between 11:00-13:00)
- New Beginnings Health and Wellbeing Online Workshop – Tuesday 08-Nov-22 (between 11:00-13:00)
Find out more about ANTZ here, which will tell you about our organisation and the work that we do across the UK.
Light up Carlisle as part of Eden Valley Hospice’s Lantern Walk
People are invited to join Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice on their new Lantern Walk through Carlisle this autumn and help raise vital funds while remembering someone special.
The Lantern Walk on Saturday, October 22 will coincide with Carlisle’s City of Lights, a sound and light experience organised by Discover Carlisle.
Supporters will form a legion of lanterns, each representing a loved one, and walk from Carlisle Racecourse to the cathedral, Tullie House and Carlisle Castle for the light show, circling back to the racecourse. The approximate six-mile route is suitable for all ages. A minimum donation/sponsorship of £50 per adult is suggested.
Sign up to the Lantern Walk here
Free Let’s Get Digital training
Do you need to help people with essential digital skills? Then this free offer is for you.
If you’re a third sector organisation or community group in West Cumbria and are helping your communities with essential digital skills, then register your interest in ‘Let’s Get Digital’.
Let’s Get Digital is a free training opportunity for your staff and volunteers that gives them the confidence and know-how to help people use the internet. The offer includes free e-learning and support from digital skills experts, Digital Unite and is funded by Capgemini as part of the Sellafield Social Impact Strategy, SiX.
People need essential digital skills for everyday life. It helps them to access vital services and information, find work, stay connected and feel less isolated. But they like to learn from people they know and trust. That’s where Digital Champions come in. Supporting your staff and volunteers to become confident Digital Champions means that more of your community can be helped with getting online.
To find out more please contact Kathy at kathy.valdes@digitalunite.com or register your interest here
Learning from our practice 2018–2022: Lloyds Bank Foundation event
Monday 3 October 2022, London SE1 9NH – Also available to join online
Lloyds Bank Foundation is delighted to invite you to join them at their hybrid learning event in the Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre, as they share lessons in funder practice learned over the course of their 2018–2022 strategy.
Their five-year strategy, Reaching Further, focused on strengthening small and local charities so they can help people overcome complex social issues. As this strategy comes to an end, they’re sharing eight key lessons the Foundation learned during this period.
This event is aimed at all those who fund and support charities.
Climate Reality Check Webinar
SmartCarbon, a partner of Going Green Together, will be providing a climate ‘reality check’ as an update on the Climate Science that sits behind the Going Green Together programme. This will be held as a free one-hour webinar. Sign up today for one of the following sessions:
Wednesday 21st September, 10-11am
We Move: Race Equality & Migrants Rights Summit – 2-4 September 2022
Organised by the Runnymede Trust, this in-person event in Leeds will bring together academics, corporations, policymakers, trade unionists, civil society, journalists, students and the general public to explore how we harness the opportunities for positive change, address the threats to, and maintain the recent momentum for, racial equality.
You can find out more about the summit here, and register your interest here.
NAVCA Thinking Space Conference, 17 November 2022
The NAVCA Annual Conference and AGM is designed to be a Thinking Space – a space for our members to network, hear from keynote speakers and attend workshop sessions. This year’s theme is ‘Tackling poverty locally’.
With the cost of living crisis impacting increasing numbers of people in the communities that our members work with, our conference aims to create a space where we can learn about this issue from different perspectives. From the ways in which poverty affects health, to the disproportionate impact of poverty on marginalised communities, we will explore different issues through facilitated workshop sessions and keynote speeches
Health Research – the what, the why and the how
Thurs 22 September, Preston.
Research can make a real difference to the lives of local communities- but where do you even start with getting involved?
With the new Integrated Care Systems (ICS) now in place, it is even more vital that the VCFSE sector is at the heart of health and social care research. Come along to this free session delivered by the CoREN (Community Research and Engagement Network) to find out more about the what, the why and the how of applied health research.
For further details and to register your interest click here (NB: Only open to groups in South Cumbria)
Host an event for Great Big Green Week!
Community groups can be awarded up to £300 to host community events during Great Big Green Week, 24 September – 2 October 2022.
This week is coordinated by The Climate Coalition as a way of raising awareness of climate change and getting more people involved in taking action. They have made resources available for events which are targeted at geographic areas or communities of interest which haven’t previously been supported to promote awareness on climate change.
Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS) can provide up to £300 of funding for venue hire, publicity materials, speaker expenses, film hire, other activities and equipment. Find out more here
Awareness-raising training session for people working with and for veterans and ex-forces personnel
Forces Link invite you to find out more about what it’s like to have served in the military, hearing real life experience from local former service personnel about their time in service and their transition to living in Cumbria.
There will be opportunity to hear from other organisations to find out how they support ex-military and their families.
We will take a look at what opportunities and support are available if someone should need it.
Monday 12th September, Flensburg Room, Civic Centre, Rickergate.
Get involved with the Tea for Tinnitus campaign
The idea behind Tea for Tinnitus is simple. Put the kettle on and hold a tea party for your friends, family and/or work colleagues. Offer tea and cakes in return for a donation, and help the British Tinnitus Association raise much needed funds.
All funds raised go directly towards the work they do in supporting people with tinnitus, including their helpline and email support, their free to attend information days, information leaflets and booklets and much more.
Community Research Partnerships Learning Programme: September workshops
The NCCPE, The Young Foundation and a consortium of partners have been commissioned by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to design a learning programme that would strengthen capabilities for individuals involved in community research partnerships. Find out more about this project.
The next phase of this work is a series of workshops in September, exploring a potential ‘menu of options’ for different learning programmes. The workshops will be a chance to learn more about the work to date, share your ideas and perspectives, contribute to the design of learning opportunities, and meet people working in similar fields.
Care Leaver Awareness Training
21st September and 8th November – 9.30am – Online
This course from Nepacs will be of interest to those working with young people in both a community and custodial setting. The course explores what it means to be a care leaver and the potential issues faced by care experienced people. The course also gives awareness on the rights and entitlements of legal care leavers aged 18 to 25 years.
Multi Agency Response to Flooding
A full day training and tabletop exercise event for Category 1 & 2 responders, elected members, voluntary agencies and community groups who respond at the tactical and operational levels in the acute phase of a flooding incident in Cumbria. No charge for attendance. A buffet lunch is courtesy of Cumbria Local Resilience Forum.
To increase knowledge of the Forecasting, Warning/Informing and Pre-Planning for flooding
To increase the awareness of the planned flood response arrangements for Cumbria (multi agency & community) and the specific issues rapid onset flooding raises
To enhance relationships between local responders at all levels in responding to flooding events in Cumbria.
Wednesday 12 October 2022 – Kendal
Friday 21 October 2022 – Carlisle
Wednesday 2 November 2022 – Workington
Eden Project Communities Camp applications are open
Community Camp is the Eden Project’s annual immersive learning experience for people who are interested in, or new to, community action. If you want to make a positive change in your community but don’t know where to get started, this is for you. There are four Community Camps coming up between now and March 2023, two of these are face to face camps at the Eden Project and two of them will take place online.
VCFSE News and Information
Overcoming banking challenges for small charities
Charity Digital explores how small charities can tackle challenges accessing banking services.
Timeline of the Queen’s involvement in the charity sector
As people across the UK and around the world mourn the passing of the Queen, Civil Society News looks back at her patronage of some charities and other significant events.
During her 70 years of service, Queen Elizabeth II was patron of more than 600 charities and organisations, a figure that fluctuated over the years and declined as she grew older.
From animals to children and young people, the Queen supported a wide range of good causes. While she chose to attach herself to some charities, she also automatically inherited many from her father King George VI when he died.
Charities must not be complacent in effort to maintain public trust, says regulator
The Charity Commission has said that charities and itself must not be complacent in their efforts to maintain recovering public trust after previous sector scandals.
Speaking at the Faith Charities Forum recently, the Commission’s charities engagement manager Colette Bennett said there is evidence that people’s trust in charities might be increasing but added that “there’s no room for complacency for charities or for the Commission”.
Faith-based charities told to avoid ‘white saviour’ relationships with beneficiaries
Faith-based organisations must work with beneficiaries rather than form a white saviour relationship, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) has said.
Speaking at the Faith Charities Forum earlier this month, CAFOD director Christine Allen said charity should be more about solidarity than pity and that voluntary organisations should avoid creating unequal power relations.
Tips for working in an emotionally challenging environment
Charity Digital looks at how charity leaders and charity workers can support themselves and their teams in emotionally challenging environments.
Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of your team
In times of grief and uncertainty it’s important to show support to your team and have the tools in place to address any additional health and wellbeing needs as they arise.
This online resource from NCVO will help you familiarise yourself with the early signs of mental health problems and help you to create a supportive working environment.
Tesco Community Grants
Tesco community grants fund thousands of local community projects across the UK, helping to fight holiday hunger, tackle mental health, support young people, host community events and much more.
The scheme is open to all registered charities and not-for-profit organisations – you can nominate a project or apply for a grant yourself.
Becoming locally-led is essential to anti-racist action, aid charities told
Becoming locally-led is an integral part of being an anti-racist organisation, aid charities were told at a conference this month.
Lena Bheeroo, engagement and equity manager at Bond, said it was important to “recognise the interconnectivity” between anti-racism, decolonisation, and shifting power; and being locally-led.
Inflation to shrink charity donations’ value by 8.5% this year, researchers warn
Economists have forecast that money donated to charities this year will depreciate by 8.5% by the end of 2022 due to inflation.
The £5.7bn donated to charities in the first six months of 2022 will be worth £500m less by the end of the year, according to projections based the Bank of England’s inflation forecasts, a reduction of 8.5%.
Top fundraising trends for 2023
Charity Digital looks at the fundraising trends that charities might see in 2023 and examines some of the potential fundraising challenges the charity sector might face.
The best Christmas fundraising ideas
As everyone in the charity sector knows, the festive period is peak time for fundraising. The season of giving means that donors are usually feeling more generous and inclined to donate.
And so, as it’s never too early to start planning for your Christmas campaigns, Charity Digital collated their top ten fundraising ideas for Christmas so you can hit the ground running.
How to ensure your tech protects you
We all know how cyber software can help prevent cyber threats. But have charities thought enough about how their hardware protects them online?
Read the full Charity Digital article here
Government urged to include charities in energy plan review
Charities have urged the government to consult the sector when it reviews its six-month scheme intended to support businesses, charities and public sector organisations with their energy costs this winter.
Prime minister Liz Truss recently unveiled plans to ensure typical households will pay £2,500 on their energy bills each year until 2024.
King Charles announces he will cut down on his charitable commitments
King Charles III has announced that he will be less involved in charitable activities as he takes up his duties as head of state following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
In his first public address as British monarch, King Charles III said that his life will now be different and that “it will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply”.
Charities pay tribute to the Queen
Charities have paid tribute to the Queen, who died at the age of 96 yesterday after 70 years on the throne.
Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-serving monarch in British history, and was patron to over 600 organisations, including Sue Ryder, RSPCA and the Royal British Legion.
Inflation means charities ‘cannot go on’ subsidising contracts, paper warns
High levels of inflation mean the ongoing practice of commissioners underpaying charities to provide contracted services must end, argues a paper published by NPC earlier this month.
NPC said commissioning for public contracts is in need of reform, and urged the government to do so in its procurement bill, currently going through Parliament.
Cost of living crisis joint statement
A number of national infrastructure organisations, including ACEVO and NCVO, have released a joint statement on the current cost of living crisis:
“People in this country are facing an economic crisis of a magnitude not experienced for decades. Many who have until now been able to make ends meet will be pushed into poverty, and those who are already struggling will be pushed into desperation. Just as in the pandemic, this crisis will affect all of us to some degree but it will hit hardest those who are already most disadvantaged.
Finding the solutions to the root causes of the crisis will take time, political will and energy.
Meanwhile there is an urgent and growing need for immediate financial support to be channelled to those who need it most. We are calling on government to urgently deliver meaningful financial support to those in greatest need, directly to households and through the benefits systems that already exist to provide that support.
We are also calling on government to provide targeted financial support for those charities and voluntary organisations that are on the frontline of supporting people through this crisis, and to ensure that charities, voluntary and community organisations are included in any plans to provide support to businesses.”
Charity Shop Gift Card
The Charity Shop Gift Card is #agiftcardforgood that both celebrates second-hand fashion and makes a real difference to people’s lives. They are a social enterprise, meaning a minimum of 65% of their profits will go towards funding free gift cards to people who need them.
Millions of people across the UK are living in poverty, having to make decisions between putting food on the table and heating their homes. For many of these families, items like clothing, homewares, furniture and white goods become a luxury rather than essentials, but The Charity Shop Gift Card can help with that.
Councils and other support agencies can purchase the charity cards as part of their welfare assistance offering, to help financially vulnerable individuals and families. But the good doesn’t stop there – when The Charity Shop Gift Card is spent in participating retailers, it supports the great causes they represent. It also protects the environment by keeping useable clothing and other items out of landfill, reducing carbon emissions and reducing production stress on the environment.
Find out more about The Charity Shop Gift Card here.
Why user-centricity is vital for charities
Charity Digital looks at what user-centricity really means in practice and how charities are applying it to their work.
If user-centricity is all about putting supporters and beneficiaries at the heart of an organisation’s work, surely charities do this better than other sectors. After all, most charities are in constant contact with the people in their community.
The People’s Projects – The National Lottery Community Fund
We’re giving community organisations the chance to apply for funding of up to £70,000.
After a national campaign the winners will be decided by public vote. The idea is to give Lottery players and the public a say in how National Lottery money is spent.
We’re looking for projects that:
- bring people together and build strong relationships in and across communities
- make communities stronger and more inclusive
- help people or communities develop the skills and capacity they need to achieve their ambitions
- involve the people you support in the design, development and delivery of your project
- support people to create meaningful change in their local community or help it thrive
- help people and communities connect by engaging with nature
- build connections across different cultures, different communities, or both.
Application deadline: 12 noon on Friday 7 October 2022, or when we have reached our limit for applications for this fund if that’s sooner.
Charity sector bodies respond to cabinet appointments
Charities and sector bodies have responded to Liz Truss’ first appointments to her cabinet since becoming prime minister earlier this month.
Michelle Donelan was appointed secretary of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) but her department has yet to confirm whether it will continue to hold the civil society brief.
Truss has also created a new role of minister for development in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FDCO), to which Vicky Ford has been appointed. Read the full article here
Make it ‘easier and acceptable’ to pay trustees, Charity Commission told
NPC has urged the Charity Commission to make it easier for voluntary organisations to pay trustees to increase diversity on boards.
The think tank’s request came in response to the charity regulator’s consultation on its annual return process, which ran from 9 June to 1 September, and received 460 responses. Read the full article here
How charities can engage younger generations
Charity Digital examines how charities can involve and engage Millennials and Gen Z, with reference to onboarding trustees, creating content, mastering social media, and so much more (with video).
AGE UK Carlisle and Eden – Carlisle Social Diary
A useful summary from AGE UK of health & wellbeing events happening in Carlisle and Eden, which involves deliver from a number of volunatry organisations.
BBC Children in Need to fund charities’ core costs amid cost-of-living crisis
BBC Children in Need will for the first time directly fund charities’ core costs over the next three years as part of its new strategy.
The grantmaker’s director of children and young people, Fozia Irfan, said the charity felt “an obligation” to fund charities’ organisational costs given the economic climate. Read the full article here
Charities respond to Liz Truss election
Charities have urged the incoming prime minister, Liz Truss, to work with the sector to support communities during the cost-of-living crisis.
Sector leaders also called for the previous administration’s levelling up programme to be continued and for action to tackle climate change. Read the full article here.
Adult social care provider partnerships in integrated care systems (ICSs)
The Care Provider Alliance has produced a guide designed to help adult social care providers understand ICSs and, at the same time, help ICSs to have a better understanding of the value of the full participation and engagement from adult social care providers.
Extra Care Register from Electricity North West Ltd (ENWL)
The Priority Services Register from ENWL is now called the Extra Care Register. For more information and to register yourself or a family member, use this link.
Know Your Neighbourhood Fund: Invitation for Intermediary Grant Makers
The government recently launched a Know Your Neighbourhood (KYN) Fund. Up to £14 million will be made available through the KYN Fund for activities enabling volunteering and tackling loneliness in targeted high deprivation local authority areas in England.
The objectives of the KYN Fund are, by March 2025:
- To build the evidence to identify scalable and sustainable place-based interventions that work in increasing regular volunteering and reducing chronic loneliness
- To increase the proportion of people in targeted high-deprivation local authorities who volunteer at least once a month
- To reduce the proportion of chronically lonely people in targeted high-deprivation local authorities who lack their desired level of social connections
- To enable targeted high-deprivation local authorities, and the local voluntary and community sector in these places, to implement sustainable systems and processes that encourage volunteering and tackling loneliness
Announcement and guidance here
Help for Households Campaign
In response to the cost of living crisis the Government has launched Help for Households campaign to draw together support packages that help ease the cost of living impact. It is encouraging people to access the resources to see what cost of living support people could be eligible for. There are 41 schemes available to support citizens, all of which can be found on the new Help for Households website.
Get funding from People’s Health Trust
Active Communities is our open funding programme for local groups with great ideas to make their communities an even better place to live.
We fund projects led by and for people most affected by health inequalities living in neighbourhoods experiencing the highest levels of disadvantage. This can be groups of people living very close to each other, or groups of people who have a shared identity or experience.
Charity leaders lobby MPs for ‘targeted financial support’
Sector leaders have written to cross-party MPs, urging the government to support frontline charities and voluntary organisations.
An open letter published earlier this month and signed by almost 50 sector bodies calls on the government to work with charities on combatting the cost of living crisis.
Co-production: how to boost impact
Co-production with others takes charities to a new level of engagement. Charities are known for their ability to deliver services and impact. To ‘super-charge’ things, co-operation with other stakeholders can spur momentum. Co-production, a form of charity co-operation, happens when people get together to achieve a common goal.
Read the full article from Charity Digital here
Why Diversity is Important in Volunteer Recruitment
Did you know that degree-educated individuals are three times more likely to volunteer than people with no formal education? And according to the NCVO, BAME people are less likely to volunteer formally than white individuals. Every volunteer brings something different, and the more you diversify, the more your charity gains. Part of widening your reach is evaluating how you present volunteer opportunities.
In this article, CharityJob explores how to be more inclusive.
The Death of Her Majesty The Queen
Some useful links and information to you following the sad news of the death of Her Majesty the Queen.
National mourning guidance
The National mourning guidance has now been published and includes information on the period of mourning, floral tributes and the State funeral. Read the official mourning guidance from gov.uk
Further mourning guidance for faith and belief groups and places of worship
Moment of reflection – Sunday 18 September
A one minute silence will be held across the UK at 8pm on evening of Sunday 18th September. People can mark the silence privately in their own homes, on the street with neighbours or at community events or vigils.
State Funeral – Monday 19 September
Information on the state funeral is expected to announced on Thursday. This day has been announced as a Bank Holiday in the UK.
National Information
The main sources of national information are:
• Gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/her-majesty-queen-elizabeth-ii
• Royal Family website: https://www.royal.uk/ (you can find an online book of condolences here – see the right hand side)
• There is also a lot of information on the BBC website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/
Cumbrian information
Information on what’s happening within Cumbria is available on the Cumbria County Council website: https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/thequeen/ and you can find a message from the Lord-Lieutenant here
Condolence books
You can find the locations of books of condolence (in community venues across the county) here
The national guidance suggests that people may wish to make a donation to charity as an alternative to flowers; The Queen was associated with very many charities over her lifetime, and if you wish, you can find information on those of which she was a Patron here
New advice documents on keeping warm and well at home
Charity National Energy Action (NEA) have updated their advice documents to help organisations tackle the current energy crisis. The document provides practical information to help people manage their energy bills:
– Information on the latest UK Government energy support package
– How and why to contact your energy supplier or network company
– Where to get support for energy discounts, payments and local crisis support funds
– Where to go to maximise incomes
– Where to get support for energy efficiency improvements
– Information about power cuts and the Priority Services Register
Youth Investment Fund open for applications
The Youth Investment Fund (YIF) is made up of £288m capital and up to £80m revenue grants and is funded by the UK Government. They are now inviting expressions of interest for phase 2.
Their aim is to deliver grants for up to 300 facilities that:
- represent positive value for money
- are environmentally sustainable
- enable positive activities for young people aged 11 to 18 (up to 25 for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) in eligible places across England, by 2024/25.
Phase 2 is being delivered by Social Investment Business, in partnership with the National Youth Agency (NYA), Key Fund, and Resonance.
Cost-of-living Grants Fund
In response to the cost-of-living crisis Independent Age are looking to provide 25 grants of £40,000 (£1million total) to charities and community organisations to get more money into the pockets of older people and help ensure they do not have to choose between buying food to eat and heating their home this winter. Projects must be in addition to or an extension of existing work – we cannot fund business-as-usual projects.
Phase 1 application form open until 16th September.
Child safety in digital communities
The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a short blog focused on child safety in digital communities, which highlights some of the risks associated with online platforms and summarises key findings from a survey earlier this year that explored children’s exposure to harmful content online.
Government seeks delivery partner for £14m loneliness fund
The Government is launching a new Know Your Neighbourhood (KYN) fund.
Up to £14 million will be made available through the KYN Fund for activities enabling volunteering and tackling loneliness in targeted high deprivation local authority areas in England. Our ambition is to develop our understanding of what works to improve wellbeing and pride in place in these communities through volunteering and community initiatives tackling loneliness.
Citizens will be able to participate in local projects which build their skills, wellbeing and social networks. Find out more about the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund.
Why are pronouns so important?
A useful blog from VONNE, to help you understand how important it is to be able to foster a safe space where you feel able to be yourself. Their EDI group have been considering the importance of pronouns to promote and normalise gender inclusivity in the workplace.
Sian Dickie has written a blog to highlight the pronoun basics.
NCVO calls for emergency funding as charities report 300% increase in energy bills
Charities are reporting a 300% increase in energy costs which has led some to sell property to stay afloat, the chief executive of NCVO has said.
The membership body is calling on charities to get in touch with information about the rising costs, so it can approach the government with the evidence and ask for more support. Read the full article here
The basics of writing a digital strategy
Charity Digital shows you how to create the perfect digital strategy by judging current capabilities, conducting user research, establishing goals, and writing and editing. Includes a video explainer.
Free Funding up to £25,000 for Energy Efficiency measures through Sustainable Warmth Cumbria
Help is available for eligible households in Cumbria to access a government grant to install energy efficient products into homes across Cumbria regardless of which local authority area you may live in.
This scheme has the backing of all 6 District and Borough Councils in Cumbria. These improvements will make homes warmer and more comfortable whilst helping to lower energy bills and carbon emissions. Sustainable Warmth Cumbria scheme encompasses the Green Home Grant Local Authority Delivery Programme Phase 3 (LAD3) and Home Upgrade Grants (HUG1).
More information in the attached flyer, and on the web here
How to recycle your old technology
Time to get new technology? In this article, Charity Digital shows you what you can do with your old technology, from donating it to recycling it with a retailer.
Energy price cap increase: ‘Alarmed’ charities urge government to ‘act now’
Charities have called for urgent government action after Ofgem announced that the typical household energy bill will increase to £3,549 a year from 1 October.
The cap set by the government energy regulator, which limits how much providers can charge customers in England, Scotland and Wales, is set to rise by 80% from it’s current level of £1,971 for the average household. Read the full article here
New Cost of Living Payment for disabled people
Around 6 million disabled people in the UK will receive their one-off £150 disability Cost of Living payment from 20 September 2022. Those being paid a qualifying disability benefit will be paid automatically, with the vast majority of those eligible expected to receive their one-off payment within a couple of weeks by the beginning of October.
The payment will help disabled people with the rising Cost of Living acknowledging the higher disability-related costs they often face, such as care and mobility needs. For those disabled people on low-incomes, this payment comes on top of other Cost of Living payments totalling £650, £400 for all households to help with energy bills, and an extra £150 for properties in Council Tax bands A-D in England.
Tips for Pensioners for Surviving the Cost of Living Crisis
Tips on how to survive the cost of living crisis, to help get you through the coming months. (NB: This article is on an equity release company’s website).
What to do in the event of a cyber attack
Your computer is acting strangely, files are disappearing before your eyes, and you realise your charity is experiencing a cyber attack. Here’s what to do – and what not to do.
Making tax digital for small charities
Small charities face a steep learning curve as the government looks to move taxation online. Find out more in this article from Charity Digital.
Join Good Things Foundation’s Online Centres Network
The Network is made up of thousands of grassroots organisations that are all working to deliver digital inclusion support in their local communities.
If you’re a community organisation that is or wants to support your community members to get online and access the benefits of digital – then joining the network will help you do exactly that. It is free to join and offers a range of free services, such as:
• Access to the National Databank
• Free training and resources
• Networking opportunities
• Access to an online learning platform, Learn My Way.
The National Databank is giving free mobile data to people who can’t afford their internet connection. By signing up to the network, you will be eligible to join and start giving out data vouchers.
The network is open to any organisation that is delivering or wants to deliver digital inclusion support.
Tracey Roose: Why charities must be more inclusive of older workers
It’s a fragile time for older people in the workplace. Many are choosing to leave it altogether, and employers are opting to recruit younger staff. But, as a forward-thinking charity in a county where workforce capacity is a major concern, we need to adapt to accommodate diversity in our workplace, because older people have so much to offer.
(Tracey Roose is chief executive of Age UK Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly). Read the full article here
Become Green Together
Become Green Together is now open for applications.
We’re inviting VCSE organisations in the North East and Cumbria to join a training of up to 110 organisations, to receive subsidised training, the support of environmental specialists, and join a peer support network in making their working practises greener.
Applications will run until 30th September.
Find out more about Become Green Together here
‘Life changing’ £368m funding pot opens for youth service applications
A £368m fund, launched by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), has opened for applications.
Youth services in the country’s most underserved areas are being encouraged to apply for a portion of the fund to improve the health, wellbeing, skills and opportunities of young people. Read the full article here
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
Every day, millions of people across the UK are making a difference by volunteering.
Each year, outstanding examples of this work are celebrated through the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS). Created in 2002 for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, QAVS awards have been shining a light on the fantastic work of voluntary groups for many years.
Equivalent to an MBE, QAVS are the highest awards given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.
Anyone nominating a group based in Cumbria is encouraged to contact Cumbria Lieutenancy by emailing: lieutenancy@cumbria.gov.uk as they may be able to provide advice and support to the nomination. More info from the Lord-Lieutenant here. Nominations for the 2023 awards close 15 September 2022.
You can find out more, and nominate a group, here
£12m announced for the next pot of funding from government-backed youth charity scheme
The government and National Lottery Community Fund are looking for funders to help deliver the next set of grants from the #iwill programme.
Third Sector News report that Nigel Huddleston MP, the minister for civil society and youth, said that £12m will be invested in the match-funding scheme, with partners invited to help fund and distribute grants to youth charities in England. NLCF have asked potential partners to contact them directly.
Low Carbon Barrow
Are you a small to medium sized business, charity or community group based in the borough of Barrow-in-Furness? Want to improve your energy efficiency or interested in renewable energy?
New Low Carbon Barrow grants could help you take action for the climate. Grants of up to £10k are available to help organisations across Barrow-in-Furness to reduce carbon emissions, and do their bit towards a Zero Carbon Cumbria.
A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project
The Project aims to construct, operate and maintain the dualling of all the remaining single lengths of carriageway of the A66 to create a continuous 70mph dual carriageway (with the exception of a short length of 50mph dualling between M6 Junction 40 and east of Kemplay Bank) across the North Pennines, between the M6 motorway and A1(M) junctions, including improvement of these two junctions.
National Highways has submitted its application, which was accepted for examination by the Inspectorate (on behalf of the Secretary of State) on 19 July 2022.
Any person may make representations on the Application to the Secretary of State (that is: giving notice of any interest in or objection to the Application). More information on how to do this, the Project itself, and how to find our more:
A66 NTP – Section 56 Notice A66 for Consultation bodies and PILs_ FINAL DRAFT
A66 NTP – Section 56 Notice Covering Letter – Consultation Bodies (EIA Scheme Only) EMAIL
Representations must be received by the Inspectorate no later than 11.59pm Sunday 4 September 2022
Building Better Opportunities: My Future – Invitation to Quote for Final Project Evaluation
The My Future: Barrow and South Lakeland project is led by Cumbria CVS and seeks to provide support and work with individuals who are facing multiple and complex barriers to employment and who are furthest removed from the labour market.
In line with our funder requirements, we are seeking to procure a single and experienced supplier to undertake our final project evaluation.
Full details are here (scroll to bottom of page)
Vacancy at Gatesbield Housing Association in Windermere
The property is adapted for a person with disabilities to live independently with support. Are you aware of anyone requiring accommodation?
Find out more about Gatesbield Housing Association here
Contact Joanne Busuttil, Scheme Manager scheme.manager@gatesbield.org.uk
Charity Commission releases guidance on changes to charity law
The regulator has released guidance for charities on changes to expect as a result of the Charities Act 2022, which will amend the Charities Act 2011.
The changes will come into force this autumn and throughout 2023, and the Charity Commission will publish updated guidance when the changes take effect.
Thriving Communities exhibition opens with further plans announced
A new exhibition has opened in Tullie House Museum’s Community Gallery celebrating one year since the launch of the Thriving Communities Carlisle project. The exhibition celebrates the achievements of the project and the impact it’s had on the participants, venues and partners.
Thriving Communities Carlisle, a local partnership using social, arts, culture and nature-based activity to promote health and wellbeing is partnering with community venues to deliver these programmes. The project is supported by the national Thriving Communities Fund, which aims to improve and increase social prescribing community activities.
Carlisle City Council Grants and External Funding webpage
Don’t forget to visit and signpost residents, businesses and community organisations to Carlisle City Council’s Grants and External Funding webpage – www.carlisle.gov.uk/funding
The webpage is regularly updated with new funding opportunities and has plenty of resources and information available to help our communities access funding for projects that matter to them.
Cost of living: Managing debt and factsheet
The government’s MoneyHelper has free information and resources to help individuals manage their money in uncertain times and how to keep up with essential bills and payments. If individuals are worried about debt, they are advised to speak to a trained and experienced debt adviser about the situation who could help them decide what to do.
HM Treasury has published a summary of the range of support available to help.
The government has also announced that retail deals and discounts to help families over the summer holidays have been launched as part of the Help for Households Campaign. These deals have been signed with various businesses, including Asda, Morrisons, Amazon and Vodafone and are designed to reduce costs at the checkout, help provide entertainment and ensure access to necessary services for families during the summer holidays. The campaign website is here
Supporting Families Team
The DWP Supporting Families Team works in partnership with Cumbria County Council to provide support for local families. There is a large range of help available to help make the future brighter for families including: help with finances, support with budgeting and debt management advice, removing barriers to work such as upfront costs, support to start your own business, support if you have a disability and want to get into work using the Government’s Access to Work Scheme, apprenticeships and training and lots more.
Contact focus.family@cumbria.gov.uk for more information and support.
New and revamped parks to level up towns and cities
The Levelling Up Parks Fund will create new and improved parks in urban areas, helping communities to come together and enjoy the outdoors.
Free essential goods for your beneficiaries
Giving World have partnered with Food Aware to expand in the North where we can redirect business end-of-line, surplus and discontinued stock to the most deprived communities in the UK.
Together we now offer greater volumes of vital and life enhancing goods, such as clothing, non-perishable foods, toiletries, cleaning and household products, from our new distribution hub in Rotherham.
To access these goods when you need them, simply register your organisation here
Trustees must ensure charities have clear bullying and harassment policies, says regulator
Trustees have a central role to play in preventing bullying and harassment at charities, the regulator has said.
In guidance published recently, the Charity Commission said trustees must ensure their charities have clear policies and that they handle allegations of bullying and harassment in line with employment laws. Read the full article here
New fund to support disabled people to gain employment and independence
Community groups supporting disabled people are due to benefit thanks to a new grant making fund.
The creation of the Disability Fund for Cumbria, managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, will support practical interventions that promote the inclusion and integration of disabled people into employment and independent living.
The new fund was set up following the closure of Disability association Carlisle & Eden (DaCE), which had been supporting disabled people in Cumbria for more than 20 years. The charity transferred its residual funds to the Foundation to help other organisations providing services and support for disabled people.
Find out more about the fund here
Charity closures forecast as inflation exceeds 10% for first time in 40 years
Charity sector bodies have warned that some voluntary organisations are likely to close in the coming months as inflation increased to a 40-year high.
Organisations are being hit by higher costs, lower donations and increased demand, they warned, with pressures set to intensify further as inflation is expected to rise even higher.
Energy bills spike hitting charities with ‘old and inefficient’ property
Many charities with older buildings are being hit by soaring energy prices, with some reporting that their costs have risen by up to five times, sector bodies have warned.
NCVO said nine out of 10 charities were concerned about rising energy costs, while ACEVO said its members had reported that their costs had increased by 300-500%. Read the full article here
What’s the value of involving the VCSE sector within the ICS?
Siobhan Flynn, VONNE’s Partnership Programme’s Engagement Manager, provides an overview of the value in involving the VCSE within the ICS, focusing on three key points:
– Specialist knowledge and community reach.
– Bringing fresh perspectives.
– Ensuring a connected approach to care, health and wellbeing.
Join the Thriving Communities Network!
The regional Thriving Communities Network is open to anyone working for voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations with an interest in or involved in the delivery of social prescribing in the North East, North Cumbria and Yorkshire regions, as well as those working in the NHS and health and care system – such as social prescribing link workers and host organisations, PCN staff, Public Health and Local Authority health leads in the region.
We encourage anyone who wants to make better connections between VCSFE and health & care sector to join. As with all VONNE networks, it is free to join and participate in. Sign up here.
PHP Social Prescribing Fund
PHP is providing their Community Impact Program to promote grants to charities in the North-West focused on social prescribing and community wellbeing in the vicinity of their tenant occupied primary healthcare centres. PHP is setting aside certain funds to create, support or enhance the community services to which the social prescribing link workers of their practices would like to refer their patients to.
Fund Objectives:
- To fund social and charitable activities and services linked to the patients and communities of PHP Health Practice Centres
- To support the Practice Social Prescribing referral service and enable the ongoing provision of new and existing local services
- To create, support or enhance the community services to which the Social Prescribing Link Workers of PHP practices would like to refer their patients
- To improve the health and wellbeing of patients and communities within a ten mile radius of PHP buildings
- To advance the education, promotion and protection of good health within the communities served by PHP buildings
Supporting refugees in England – Church Urban Fund
Church Urban Fund has partnered with the Benefact Trust to launch our Refugee Support Small Grants Programme. Together, we are supporting Christian projects that help refugees arriving in England from Ukraine and Afghanistan. We offer small grants between £500 and £5,000.
Recruitment: Why are charities struggling to fill roles, and what can be done?
Charities and sector bodies are warning that recruitment is becoming increasingly difficult, with many voluntary organisations struggling to fill roles or retain staff.
There are myriad reasons for these issues, and reverberations are being felt throughout the sector. Read the full article here
ACTion with Communities in Cumbria – August Newsletter
The August newsletter has more information about help for households as energy costs rise this winter. Our Spotlight is on Climate Change Action with offers of funding and support for communities and organisations wanting to make a difference, as well as links to our own ACT resources. The Blog this month takes a look at the growth of the unregulated holiday homes sector and the impact it has on our communities.
Find out more about ACT on their website
Nominations for the Queen’s Birthday 2023 Honours list now open
The call for nominations for the Queen’s Birthday 2023 Honours list is now open. Honours are a way to recognise the achievements of those who’ve gone above and beyond their role and made a significant impact on their community or organisation, or the country. This year they’re particularly welcoming nominations for individuals who:
- Have been involved in responding to events in Ukraine and the humanitarian effort
- Are tech entrepreneurs, creating thriving businesses powered by technology and innovation and delivering growth across the country
- Helped deliver the Platinum Jubilee
- Demonstrated the role arts and culture can play in levelling up and regeneration.
The deadline for submitting nominations is Monday 12th September. You can find out more and get a nomination form here
Healthy Start Scheme
All families in Cumbria with children under the age of two are being encouraged to collect free vitamin drops for their children and apply for help with the cost of food and milk as part of the Healthy Start Scheme.
Families can collect 8 weeks’ supply of children’s vitamin drops from any of the community venues across the county listed here Healthy Start Scheme booklet (PDF 552KB).
To find out more about the Healthy Start card and how to apply please visit: Healthy Start website.
If anyone is struggling with the rise in the cost of living, visit cumbria.gov.uk/costofliving to find out how to access a range of advice and support.
Carlisle Educational Charity
Local students are being given the opportunity to apply for an educational charity grant.
The Carlisle Educational Charity provides grants to help the further education of young people from the Carlisle district under the age of 25. All students currently undertaking, or about to undertake, a course in further or higher education, who live, or whose parental home is, within the boundaries of Carlisle City are eligible to apply for financial support. Students may apply each year of their course.
For further information, click here
NHS sets out long COVID action plan for thousands of people with persistent symptoms
Patients with long-lasting symptoms from COVID will have access to more convenient tests and checks closer to home, under new NHS measures announced. Specialist clinics, dedicated to long COVID, will now be able to send people for tests at local one stop shops and mobile clinics, rather than people going back to their GP practice for multiple different tests.
New NHS role to support victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence
Funding for a new role to support victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence within north Cumbria’s hospitals has been secured.
The Health Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advisor (IDSVA) will be able to give practical support and advice to victims in hospital who may not have accessed support before.
Charity staff paid 7% less per hour than wider economy, research finds
Charity workers are paid 7% less per hour than their counterparts in the wider economy, a report by Pro Bono Economics (PBE) has found.
The charity sector would have to increase pay by £1.47bn a year to close the gap with the wider economy, estimated the report, which warned that low pay threatens to weaken the sector, and shows its work is being undervalued. Read the full article here
How to practice inclusive leadership
Advice and tips from Charity Digital on how to show you’re an inclusive leader.
Bay Health and Care Partners (BHCP) Digital Services
Services across our partnership are being transformed and modernised through a range of digital solutions. Colleagues across our GPs, councils, ambulance service, care sector, Third Sector, hospitals, community and mental health services, are working together to provide flexible digital platforms to improve safety and efficiency for service users.
The BHCP Digital Strategy Board has developed a Digital Strategy for 2020-2023.
Find out more about how digital is transforming services in this update.
Living with and Beyond Cancer – Programme September to November
| Date | Event | Time | Location | Booking Required |
| 07/09/22 | Chair Based Exercise Workshop | 10:30 -12:30 | WeCan Hub | Yes Face to face and online |
| 14/09/22 | Cancer Café Club | 10:00– 11:30 | Tullie House | No |
| 21/09/22 | Health and Wellbeing Workshop | 10:30 -12:30 | WeCan Hub | Yes Face to face and online |
| 28/09/22 | Cancer Café Club | 10:00-11:30 | Tullie House | No |
| 05/10/22 | Chair Based Yoga Workshop | 15:00-17:00 | WeCan Hub | Yes Face to face and online |
| 12/10/22 | Cancer Café Club | 10:00-11:30 | Tullie House | No |
| 19/10/22 | Sound Bath Healing Workshop | 10:30-12:30 | WeCan Hub | Yes Face to face and online |
| 26/10/22 | Cancer Café Club | 10:00-11:30 | Tullie House | No |
| 02/11/22 | Menopause and Cancer Workshop | 16:00-18:00 | WeCan Hub | Yes Face to face and online |
| 09/11/22 | Cancer Café Club | 10:00-11:30 | Tullie House | No |
| 16/11/22 | Self Esteem Workshop | 15:00-17:00 | WeCan Hub | Yes Face to face and online |
The Workshops are provided by WeCan Hub and are delivered face to face and online from Unit 17 & 18, The Maltings, Bridge Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 5SR.
To book contact 01228 819101 or email admin@icanfitnesscumbria.co.uk
For further information contact Jane Macfarlane at Cumbria CVS – 01768 800350 janem@cumbriacvs.or.uk
Surveys, Feedback and Reports
Summit 22 : Survey is now live
A follow up survey to Summit 17, known as Summit 22, is now available for you to share with any children or young people aged 8-13 years old in any group, setting, school, church, faith based group or even within your own family. All we ask is that the children are aged between 8-13 years old and live , even if part of the time, in Cumbria. On behalf of the project I would like to thank our Cumbria County Council Local Committees who have kindly donated funds which have enabled us to follow up on this survey.
The questions within the Survey have stayed the same so that we can compare and contrast this years answers as much has happened since 2015 that has shaped not only our lives, but our children and young people’s lives living in Cumbria. We are asking any participants to tick if they took part in 2015 (noting that all responses were anonymous) as well as increasing the options for them to select how they identify with an option to chose not to disclose. All of the fields in the survey require a response.
Designing our deep poverty and destitution
The current cost of living crisis adds to the urgency to not only mitigate the impact of poverty, but to fundamentally rethink how systems can prevent people falling into the deepest forms of hardship.
Together with Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), New Local has launched a Call for Learning & Ideas to explore local approaches to addressing these challenges.
They are keen to learn about current practice and approaches across the UK – this includes both work that has recently concluded and work that is still ongoing (including in early stages). This could be work happening in a neighbourhood, town, village or across a local authority or combined authority area.
They welcome contributions from those working to address and prevent deep poverty and destitution in local areas including: councils, NHS, other local public sector organisations, voluntary and community organisations, community groups, and other organisations both locally and nationally working on this issue.
WHO migrant research
WHO have recently started to prepare a new global research agenda about refugee and migrant health. In line with participatory health research principles, WHO wish to build and strengthen partnerships with civil society organization working with refugees and migrants and to involve them in the research prioritization process.
As a first step, WHO have developed a survey for civil society organisations working on refugee and migrant health issues about the research priorities for the research agenda in order to:
(I) get feedback on the relevance of the current set of research priorities
(II) invite participation to a follow-on virtual workshop to extend discussions about research priorities.
Survey respondents have the option to receive a report of the findings from the follow-up virtual workshops. This survey is not incentivized.
Any queries, please contact WHO Health and Migration Programme (PHM) healthmigration@who.int
Lancs and Cumbria Health Equity Report – “A Hopeful Future”
Published by the UCL Institute of Health Equity, ‘A Hopeful Future: Equity and the Social Determinants of Health in Lancashire and Cumbria’ contains some significant recommendations for the VCFSE sectors in Lancs and Cumbria.
You can view the report on our website.
Have your say on how dormant assets funding is spent in England
Government is consulting on the broad social and environmental purposes for up to £738 million of dormant assets funding in England. DCMS have already received over 1,300 responses, with representation from all nine English regions, and are keen to continue to extend their reach.
DCMS welcomes views from individuals and community groups, as well as anyone with an interest in how this money should be spent. Have your say before Sunday 9 October through the online consultation.
Have your say in the UK’s next human rights review
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has commissioned Just Fair to prepare an independent shadow report on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), on behalf of civil society in England and Wales, ahead of the United Nations’ Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (UN CESCR) next review of the UK.
The aim of the project is to empower and support civil society to hold the UK and Welsh governments to account for their obligations under ICESCR.
Just Fair are asking groups to submit written evidence to include in this report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Monday 26 September. For more details, what to include, and how your evidence will be used, please read the ‘Call for Evidence’ document.
‘Fragmented’ local commissioning culture for charities, report finds
A government report has found that local commissioners have a lack of understanding of the charity sector, which has created a ‘fragmented’ public procurement culture.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) commissioned economic consulting firm Perspective Economics to explore the role of voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in public service delivery. Read more here
A Question of Sport? Inquiry into the cultural value of sport to the North
The Northern Culture APPG is holding a major Inquiry into the role sporting activity plays in terms of shaping the region’s cultural identity, value and economy.
We are calling for written evidence from all those with a stake in rebalancing and levelling up the North’s cultural value through sport in the North’s cities, towns and communities. We want to receive evidence from all those organisations who are supporting, creating and investing in cultural opportunities to maximise the North’s growth potential.
Find out more here – deadline for submissions is 0900 on Monday 5 September.
Charities reporting difficulties filling roles, think tank analysis highlights
Charity sector expectation on employment growth is at the highest level it has been in four years, though organisations are struggling to fill roles, according to a survey.
Figures from the Bank of England’s decision maker panel survey were made available to Pro Bono Economics (PBE), and split not-for-profit organisations from private businesses. Out of around 2700 responses each quarter, approximately 200 charities participate.
Third Sector Trends in Cumbria 2022 survey
You’ll probably have seen about this study by now. 4,445 voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises have joined so far.
We really need you to take part so that we can build a picture of what is happening locally, what has changed since 2013, 2016 and 2019 and what you think is going to happen next. It’s quick, interesting, easy to do.
The survey is open until the end of October, and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Take part in the survey here
Today’s insights, tomorrows strategy
Explore the global not-for-profit investment survey findings in this downloadable report from Mercer.
The report gives details on the four considerations for not-for-profit investors, private markets, sustainability, outsourcing and macro concerns reflected in the sentiment of the sector.
Cumberland Council Plan open for feedback
The countdown to a new Cumberland Council is underway and they need your help to shape the future.
A draft Cumberland Council Plan is now open for your feedback and is available to view here
Please take time to have a look and pass on your comments. It’s important that you’re part of the conversation.
Please reply before 5pm on Monday 5 September.
Westmorland & Furness Plan open for feedback
Residents, businesses and organisations are being invited to have their say on the vision and priorities for the new Westmorland and Furness Council.
The Council Plan will outline what residents can expect to see as the new authority’s priorities and strategic aims. The plan will also capture the values and principles that will underpin how the council will work.
You can read more about the draft Council Plan on their website and provide feedback through an online survey
Please respond before 5pm on Monday 16 September.
Healthwatch Together Covid-19 Vaccination Survey
Healthwatch Together (HWT) want to hear your experiences of the vaccination programme. To support the NHS in understanding why some people chose to have the vaccine, and why others decided against having it, and whether this was due to personal choice or other factors. We also want to hear about any barriers which made the vaccination programme difficult or inaccessible for people.
To capture people’s experiences, thoughts and feelings of the Covid-19 vaccinations HWT has created a survey, that is open for anyone living or working in Lancashire and South Cumbria.
Priced Out – a new report by Changing Lives
A new report by Changing Lives, Priced Out: The impact of the rising cost of living on people with multiple unmet needs, has been published. You can access the report and executive summary here.
The report shines a light on the devastating impact of the rising cost of living on the people who access Changing Lives’ services, many of whom have existing vulnerabilities including lasting experiences of poverty, discrimination and trauma.
National Research Project into the challenges of Bereavement administration processes – Lived Experience
As part of this research, Revealing Reality want to hear your experiences in managing the affairs of someone who has recently passed. Revealing Reality is an independent research agency working with HMPO to help improve this process. You will receive £40 – £60 for taking part. Please get in touch by emailing bereavement@revealingreality.co.uk
Disclaimer
The information above is provided in good faith. Whilst every care is taken to ensure that it is correct, Cumbria CVS cannot accept liability for any omissions or inaccuracies and does not take responsibility for the quality for any services or products mentioned.
