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Free Workshop - Involving Young People as Volunteers

February 20th - 26th is a National Student Volunteers Week. To help celebrate, Volunteer Centre Wiltshire is offering a free workshop to anyone interested in involving young people as volunteers.

The workshop will take place on Thursday 23rd February 2012 10.00 - 12.30 at the Nurstead Centre, Devizes. Please contact Vanessa Wells on 0845 0345250 or e-mail vanessa@growwiltshire.org.uk for more information and to book a place.

inSwindon BID set to continue

It has been announced today that inSwindon BID, the independent management company for Swindon Town Centre, will be continuing for a second term after businesses within the town centre voted to renew the Business Improvement District (BID) in a recent ballot.

Businesses within the BIDs geographical area were given the opportunity in which to cast their votes for or against the continuation of inSwindon BID for a further five years from April 2012... more

Training and Events Spring 2012

Wessex Community Action have IT courses on offer this Spring. More details are available here.

In addition there are more regional events taking place in March 2012, which are detailed below:

Workshop to Support Developing Effective Relationships with Vulnerable Parents to Improve Outcomes for Children and Young People - 14th March, Bristol

A free, one day event which will use learning gained from national, independent research undertaken by York Consulting and will address the following objectives :

To review the evidence based across the UK
To understand experiences of practitioners
To share challenges and solutions to working with vulnerable parents
To learn about a framework for covering facilitators and challenges to working with vulnerable parents
To review outcomes measures for assessing progress and distance travelled

The workshop will be interactive, participative sessions designed to stimulate reflection and action. It will contribute to continuous professional development and encourage the sharing of practice in the sector through opportunities to network.

Who should attend? :

VCS Practitioners working with vulnerable parents (e.g. in Children’s Centres, Childcare settings)
VCS Managers of services who supervise or line manage practitioners

Where and When?Bristol 14^th March All events will run from 9.30 – 3.30

Create Centre
Smeaton Road
Spike Island
Bristol
BS1 6XN

How to Apply? There will be a maximum of 20 participants at each event. To book your place, contact James McCarthy on 01923 361876 or email james.mccarthy@actionforchildren.org.uk

For more information about the Growing our Strengths Project, visit http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/our-services/our-approach/consultancy-services/growing-our-strengths

For more information on the relationships research, visit http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/media/1109148/effective_relationships_with_vulnerable_parents_to_improve_outcomes_for_children_and_young_people.pdf2)

Promote And Discover Event - 7th March 2012

A free, one day learning event in the Bournemouth / Poole area (venue TBA) on 7th March 9.30 - 3.30 approx. This event will give participants an opportunity to explore: What is early intervention and what makes it most effective? What are outcomes and why are they important? How can we evidence our effectiveness and measure our outcomes?

It will also provide opportunities for learning from local services about effective interventions with children and families, and to network and make links with other VCS organisations and partners. In addition, participants will be able to join an ongoing learning network, receive support in developing evidence, and attend further events during 2012.

New Season PAWS – April to September 2012

Celebrate with Paws is a participatory arts workshop scheme offered by Wiltshire Council with projects designed and run by professional artists, to local community groups. This unique season entitled, 'Celebrate with Paws' is designed to help Wiltshire communities celebrate the two major events coming this summer including the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The workshops on offer over April to September this year vary from putting your 2012 in motion with an animation project, making your own commemorative plate or mug or even creating a textile tea party. You can work as a group to make bunting, flags and banners for your celebratory events and there are activities to get your talent on the stage such as drama, dance and music. This year we also introduce creative writing for the stage and the option to celebrate British humour through literature. All these great projects are provided by professional, local artists. Have a look at all the project on offer on our menu.

Each paws project runs for a minimum of 8 hours spread over 2 to 4 visits. The workshops cost the groups £35, plus materials and Wiltshire Council pays the artist fees. Some of the groups who have benefited from this scheme include: youth groups; local arts groups; after school clubs; playgroups; holiday schemes; older people's clubs; disability groups; WI's; uniformed groups and community associations.

We are now welcoming applications from community groups for April to September 2012 so please visit the website for further information www.participatoryartswiltshire.co.uk. The deadline for applications is the 9 March 2012.

Challenging Children and Teenagers Event - 3 May 2012

Salisbury CPD in conjunction with the Wiltshire Children & Families Voluntary Sector Forum are running an event on Thursday 3rd May 2012. This event aims to empower parents, carers, teachers and child professionals to feel more empowered regarding diagnosis and enabled to make effective responses to the most challenging of troubled children/teenagers and so enabling them to thrive. More information is available here

Up and Running! Swindon Older People's Forum (SOPF)

Perhaps not running as such but certainly moving along at a fair pace, is the newly formed Swindon Older People’s Forum (SOPF). So what will the Forum aim to do and how will it make a difference? Older People’s Forums exist throughout the UK and all operate slightly differently but at the heart of their existence is the desire to be fiercely independent of outside influences whilst seeking to promote the welfare and interests of older people. When they are effective they help this age sector to have a louder voice on matters which impact on their everyday lives by capturing, and helping to resolve, their issues and concerns.

Swindon Older Peoples Forum has already made it clear that it will ensure that it does not overlap with, or antagonise, the activities of existing groups, clubs and organisations across the Borough. However from April 2012 the “One Swindon” vision will see major changes in the way that service providers will interact with, and engage, individuals and organisations. SOPF’s development over the next few months needs to reflect these changes and will therefore focus on:

continuing to raise awareness of its existence amongst the service providers
widening membership and participation across Swindon
exploring partnership opportunities with organisations who have like minded interests.

The new locality based approach to community involvement and engagement is a welcome development but it will be important to ensure that “town wide” issues are also adequately addressed. SOPF has an important role to play here. If you would like to join the Forum, or you would like to know more, contact either:

Dave Brown (Chair) Tel: 01793 612037 or e-mail: dave.abrown@btinternet.com

or Carol Brownlee (Secretary) Tel: 01793 692636 or e-mail: safetycollege@ntlworld.com

Can you help develop sport in Swindon?

Become a Sport Maker and make sport happen in 2012! Do you want to do something good for your community this year? Have you been inspired by the upcoming 2012 Olympics and want to get involved? Can you give 13 hours in 2012 to help our local sports clubs or to get your friends/colleagues doing some activity?

The Sport Makers programme is a national volunteering programme, funded by the National Lottery, which will recruit 40,000 new sports volunteers aged 16 years and over to organise, lead or support community sporting activities across the country.

Sport Makers are the people who directly make sport happen at the local level. Some Sport Makers will organise sport for themselves and their friends, colleagues and neighbours. Others won't be taking part themselves, but will be doing all those other things that make the sporting activity possible. This can include supporting qualified coaches, providing half time refreshments, helping to organise and run an event, help clubs with their admin/marketing/fundraising or even washing kit or helping to maintain grounds and facilities! Everyone who chooses to become a Sport Maker will be invited by their County Sports Partnership (CSP) to come to an inspiring workshop in Swindon. They will then be supported to find local opportunities that suit them to increase participation in sport. You will also receive some free Adidas kit.

These Sport Makers will organise and support hundreds of thousands of new hours of grassroots sport across the country. While doing so, they will bring the Olympic and Paralympic values to life in every community.

What you need to do:

Visit www.sportmakers.co.uk register your details
Follow the instructions to sign up for a workshop at the Delta Tennis Centre, Welton Road, Swindon, SN5 7XF (6.00 - 9.00 pm) on one of the following dates: 22/2/12; 23/8/12; 19/9/12; 12/12/12
Attend the workshop to find out more and to help match you to a volunteering opportunity
Do your 10 hours and log your activity.

This programme is delivered in partnership with Swindon Borough Council's Leisure Services and Volunteer Centre, Swindon. If this whets your appetite to help the sporting community in Swindon then Leisure Services and the Volunteer Centre can help you to continue to offer support after you have done your 10 hours, contact Gladys Barr on 07768 687986; gbarr@swindon.gov.uk For more information on Sport Makers contact Ben Maxfield on 07917 030947 or ben@wiltssport.org

Consultation on the proposed submission draft Wiltshire and Swindon Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations Development Plan Document

Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council have jointly published the proposed submission draft Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) along with accompanying evidence reports for a final round of formal consultation.

The proposed submission draft Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations DPD builds upon previous rounds of informal consultation in 2009 and 2010. The document presents a series of proposals for locating new sand and gravel quarries across the plan area of Wiltshire and Swindon to meet the councils’ local forecast provision requirements through the period up to 2026.

This final round of formal consultation provides the opportunity to comment only on the ‘soundness’ of the plan before it is submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination later this year.

The consultation will last six weeks – starting Monday 30^th January and ending at 5.00 pm on Monday 12^th March 2012.

How to respond

The Wiltshire and Swindon Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations DPD can be viewed and commented on via Wiltshire Council’s dedicated consultation web site http://consult.wiltshire.gov.uk/portal. A specific representation form, along with a simplified guidance note can also be downloaded from the council’s website and e-mailed back to the minerals and waste police team (mineralsandwastepolicy@wiltshire.gov.uk).

Alternatively, copies of the consultation documents can be viewed at the main offices of the two councils at:

County Hall, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN
Browfort Offices, Devizes, SN10 2AT
Bradley Road Offices, Trowbridge, BA14 0RD
Salisbury Offices, 27-29 Milford Street, SP1 2AP
Swindon Borough Council, Wat Tyler House, Beckhampton Street, SN1 2JH

In addition, the documents can be viewed at all main libraries across Wiltshire and Swindon.

Should you have any queries in relation to the consultation, please ring 01225 713429.

Wiltshire Children and Families Voluntary Sector Forum

Are you involved with a voluntary sector group that works with children and families in Wiltshire? If so why not join other local organisations who are members of the Wiltshire Children and Families Voluntary Sector Forum. The Forum works to bring together voluntary organisations that work in Wiltshire with children, young people or families. We work together and hold bi monthly meetings where we share information and champion the voluntary sector. We work as the local ‘voice’ for voluntary sector organisations working in Wiltshire. The Forum works with local authorities to ensure that they are aware of the needs and priorities of the sector and of children and families living in Wiltshire. The Forum also has representation on Local Authority Strategic Groups ensuring that the sector has influence and is involved in planning of children’s services in Wiltshire. The Forum also receives useful information from local authorities which can be passed on to the local groups.

In addition to the obvious benefits of being involved in the Forum, Wiltshire Children and Families Voluntary Sector Forum has recently launched a Training Grant which is available to members of the Forum working with Children and Families in Wiltshire. Grants of up to £500 are available to provide training or personal development opportunities for staff or volunteers working for charities or community organisations that benefit children and families in Wiltshire. ‘This grant will bring new training opportunities to the sector which in turn will support the great work being done by those working with Children and Families in Wiltshire’ said David Bonner-Smith Chair of the Forum.

For more information on the work of the Wiltshire Children and Families Voluntary Sector Forum or to become a member please contact: carolyn.beale@cfvsf.org or alternatively ring: 07775 334557

More information on the Training Grant can be found on www.cfvsf.org or by making contact with the above.

Barnardo's Robert Le Kyng (RLK) Children's Centre

Barnardo's RLK Children's Centre is located on Westcott Street, Swindon and offers a warm welcome, access to groups, information and support if you need it. It is open and accessible to all families with under 5's. Children enjoy learning as they play at fun filled groups and on outings; click here for more information. A programme of events from January to April 2012 is also available here. Barnardo's have asked us to share with you information on the various groups and events that are coming up over the next few months, these are listed below. More information is also available on the Barnardo's website at: www.barnardos.org.uk/rlkchildrenscentre

'What's for Tea?' September and October 2011 leaflet
'One to One' support leaflet
'Bumps to Walkers' group leaflet
'Dads group forest trip' leaflet
'Dads and Male carers' group leaflet
'Parenting with Confidence' workshop
'Young Parents' leaflet
'PEEP Group' leaflet
'Invitation for first time Mums and Dads' leaflet
'Services at RLK Children's Centre' leaflet
'Stay 'n' Play' leaflet