Newsletter and Update No. 63 – 16 September 2022

Cath Witherington, CEO Introduction

Voluntary Action Doncaster extends sincere condolences following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  Our thoughts are with the Royal Family during this period of profound grief and demonstrable stoic duty. 

Queen Elizabeth was of course the longest-reigning British monarch and the longest-serving female head of state in world history. She was an inspiration to so many.  Through her life achievements and her vital work with individuals, organisations and charities. 

As some of you may know, before I joined Voluntary Action Doncaster, most of my career (over 30 years) was as a Civil Servant.  Although my day job changed significantly over those years, and the buildings I worked in also changed, the one constant was passing the Queen’s portrait in reception every morning.  The familiar often gets taken for granted.  But for me the Queen’s portrait was a daily reminder that whatever I was doing that day – I was providing a service to people all over the country.  More recently, it has been a privilege to have played a small part in supporting two local voluntary organisations (BFriend and PFG) to achieve the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is now ever more poignant, falling in the Jubilee and final year of Her Majesty’s reign.  

But how uplifting is it to see that yet again (during very difficult circumstances) a spotlight is shining on volunteers.  Hundreds of volunteers are supporting those queuing to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state at Westminster Hall.  From all around the UK, these volunteers are helping those waiting by guiding crowds and offering medical support.  Providing that support around the clock.  It’s truly amazing!  Well done to everyone involved.

Reports and Information

Your Life Doncaster – Money Management and Debt Advice

Please see the link below regarding information on Money Management and Debt Advice on the Your Life Doncaster website.  

The website has a full page of resources and support in response to the cost of living crisis.  Groups can use this resource to signpost residents to and also to find relevant advice and information to give to residents or for residents to access themselves.

Money Management and Debt Advice – YourLifeDoncaster

South Yorkshire Cost of Living Fund

South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation (SYCF) officially launched the Cost of Living Fund in May, in response to the increased cost of living triggered by rising fuel, energy and food costs.

To kickstart the launch, Sheffield City Council worked with SYCF to give £20,000, specifically for Sheffield. This resulted in a vast number of community groups applying, showing the urgent need to help communities.  We saw people’s generosity – including many who donated their £150 Council Tax rebate – to the Fund, reaching nearly £5,000.

This gives a further opportunity to appeal to those who don’t feel that they need their £400 energy bill rebates or other payments (such as the previously announced Council Tax rebate), to donate to the Fund.

SYCF are looking at this Fund as a long term source of funding for community groups.

The Cost of Living Fund is South Yorkshire wide so that all community groups working in this space have the opportunity to apply for a grant award from these funds.

More information can be found on their website.

Children and Young People’s Health Equity Collaborative

NHS South Yorkshire is applying to be one of three ICSs to work alongside Sir Michael Marmot and Barnardo’s to collaborate and develop a children and young people’s health equity framework and tool kit, which on completion will be shared nationally.

The link to the opportunity and full application is here.

The CYP Alliance is leading on the application, and is keen to develop the application with strong involvement from VCSE organisations working with children and young people. To strengthen existing priorities, the Alliance programme would like to hear from groups about what they consider to be the main issues for children and young people  in the Places they work. This will support the following application form question:

What are the main issues for children and young people in your ICS, and what are your plans and priorities?   (Please feel free to respond from your knowledge of the local Place/area you deliver services)

VCSE organisations are requested to share their feedback by 7th October with Nicola Ennis, CYP Alliance Programme Lead nicola.ennis@nhs.net  This can be in any format e.g. bullet points, more detailed information.

Events

Understanding Your Current and Future Development Needs – How We Can Learn From Each Other – BOOK NOW PLACES ARE GOING FAST

Voluntary Action Doncaster is creating an exciting programme that will soon be available to individuals and groups across the voluntary, community and faith sector in our borough. But first, we need you to help us shape that programme to ensure we only give you the support, skills and knowledge that you actually need, and that is relevant to you or your organisation.

Led by our friends at Northern College, we are looking to run 3 focus groups in September to give you a chance to tell us where your skills and knowledge gaps are, and to help us better understand both the detail and the scale of our sector’s development needs locally.  We will then use this information to help us shape and develop a programme of learning, coaching and mentoring.

Northern College is rated as ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED and specialises in short courses, and adult and community learning, so we are excited by this opportunity to work alongside them. All courses will be delivered locally in Doncaster, as long as numbers permit, and will be fully or partially funded, depending on individual circumstances.

We want to make sure we offer something for everyone, from an individual who may be thinking about volunteering for the first time, to an established organisation who may be looking to branch out into a new area, or maybe struggling with fundraising or a new kind of technology.  

So, to ensure we can try to meet everyone’s wishes we will run 3 sessions each with a different focus as follows:

For active or prospective volunteers – Monday 26 Sept from 12.30 – 14.30

Covering: 

• How and why to get involved – the benefits and rewards for those considering doing it for first time or returning to it
• Explore if skills training may sway someone who is maybe considering but not sure
• What would they like in advance of signing up to volunteer
• What would make them a better volunteer
• Concerns that could be addressed through training / what are they?
• Any previous experience of training as a volunteer (good or bad)

For Coordinators/Supervisors/Managers of Volunteers – Wed 28 Sept from 12.30 – 14.30

Covering:

• What would help them (in their role) do their job better or more efficiently
• What training do they consider would be beneficial to their volunteers?
• Anything that could help them around volunteer recruitment / induction
• Would a training offer to volunteers help with retention?

For anyone involved in the management or supervision of VCFS Organisations – Thursday 29 Sept 12.30 – 14.30 

Covering: 

• Where do training interests lie – personal development or development for the whole organisation, or both?
• Explore skills gaps as individuals. as managers, and their view on volunteer training
• Funding restrictions impacting training-  gauge if participants would benefit from funded and thoughts on non – funded – what are they willing to pay for and how much? Travel or local delivery. 

ALL SESSIONS WILL TAKE PLACE AT CHANGING LIVES, 2-5 PRINCES ST DONCASTER DN1 3NJ

If you would like to get involved, please complete this Google Form . Or you can call us on 01302 965459 to register your interest.   Sessions will involve a maximum of 8 people and places allocated on a first come first served basis. 

We really value your opinions so please do consider attending if you can.

Age Friendly Event

To celebrate the International Day For Older Persons, The Age UK Doncaster will host a one-off drop-in session at The Silverlink Centre in partnership with DMBC.

28th September 2022 10am-2pm

The Silverlink Centre, Bennetthorpe, DN2 6AA

The event will include:

• Signposting
• Activities TBC
• A range of stakeholders and partners
• Refreshments
• Talk from AUKDs Information and Advice team
• A wellbeing walk from 9.30am – all welcome

Thriving Communities Network Event

Do you work in health and care and want to understand more about and connect with voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations delivering social prescribing services? Are you a VCFSE organisation looking to understand how the social prescribing system works in our region and develop your social prescribing offer?

Join us to discover more about the social prescribing landscape and how it is developing from key NHS England regional social prescribing leads and Health and Care Partnership Managers.

There will be the opportunity to join local Integrated Care System (ICS) discussion groups to find out more about your local social prescribing network and explore the potential for greater cross-sector collaboration.

The webinar will take place online via Zoom on Wednesday, September 21st, 1.30pm – 3pm.

If you’re keen to develop your understanding of social prescribing, gain insight from system leads across our region and make connections, please register to join us.

This webinar is being hosted by VONNE who coordinates the North East and Yorkshire Thriving Communities Network, and VCFSE and Social Prescribing Network for VCFSE organisations, and health and care sector colleagues with an interest or working in social prescribing.

Community Climate Action in Doncaster

Do you want to do something practical and positive about the climate and nature emergencies in your local community?  Want to hear what others in Doncaster and South Yorkshire are doing already?  Come along on 8 October to find out more. 

Please contact Geoff Cox at geoffcox1@outlook.com for more information.

Training Opportunities

Introduction to Green Social Prescribing and Nature Connectedness

The health benefits from nature connection are well recognised. The South Yorkshire Integrated Care Partnership are partners in a national test and learn project to realise the benefits of increasing the use of green social prescribing within health and care provision.

This two hour, practical face-to-face training workshop is for anyone working with people and aims to raise awareness of what Green Social Prescribing is and its potential benefits for patients. You will gain a greater understanding of the principles of nature connectedness, how they are linked to wellbeing and how you can use elements of nature connection in your everyday practice.

• Experience a green social prescribing session as your patients would.
• Learn and practice using simple nature connection tools to support your wellbeing and gain confidence in sharing them with others.
• Meet your colleagues and network with people from the wider workforce.

Sessions will take place in September, October and November, see dates and locations in this poster.

Book here For more information please contact Jenny King j.king@wildsheffield.com 

Meet The Funder Webinar

easyfundraising provides voluntary organisations with an easy, accessible, and permanent fundraising solution.

Come along to this online session to find out how!

easyfundraising partners with 7,000 brands including John Lewis, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Trainline, Booking.com, eBay and Amazon, who will donate to your organisation when your volunteers, staff and supporters shop with them. It is a completely free service and is already used by 180,000 good causes around the UK.

Becky from easyfundraising will talk through how it works, how to get started as well as answering any questions you may have. It will be an informal lunchtime session – feel free to invite your colleagues too.

When: Wednesday 21 st September

Time: 12.30pm-1.15pm

Suitable for: Voluntary groups, community buildings, churches, grassroots sport clubs, schools, self-help groups, community groups, charities, CICs and social enterprises.

Registration in advance for this session here

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Funding Opportunities

Funding for Financial and Digital Empowerment Projects

Funding is available to UK charitable organisations for projects to improve people’s digital confidence, knowledge and skills to enable them to make more informed decisions about money and have access to financial services.

Applications will be accepted from charitable and social enterprise organisations.

The deadline for applications is 23rd September, 2022.

Click here for more information.

New £3m Fund to Support Racial Justice and Equity

Formed in 2020 in response to disproportionate harms experienced in the Black community, the Baobab Foundation has launched its Collective Fund for UK Black and Global Majority individuals and organisations.

The fund is open to both registered and unregistered organisations with a charitable purpose and individuals who are aged 18 or over.

Grants of £5,000 to £30,000 per year for up to five years are available for groups undertaking racial justice work as they see fit.

The deadline to register interest is 23.59 on 23rd September, 2022.

Click here for more information.

Grant to Promote Whole School Reading Cultures

Bookmark is delighted to announce that our grant to promote Whole School Reading Cultures has now launched!

We are offering a limited number of grants to PRIMARY SCHOOLS ONLY to help address the school’s specific literacy needs. 

We want to:

• Support primary schools to establish their whole school reading cultures
• Ensure children have access to high quality reading materials and environments in their schools
• Support children to develop positive reading habits and attitudes towards reading
• Support teachers to develop the skills and knowledge they need to create a buzz around reading and motivate children to read for pleasure

We have two types of grants available:

• Whole School Reading Culture project grant (up to £5,000)
• Whole School Reading Culture teacher CPD grant (up to £500)

Our full grant-making policy and application forms can be accessed via this link. 

Please do have a thorough read of the policy before making your applications to ensure you meet the criteria.

We will be accepting applications until 21 November 2022.

Please do let us know if you have any questions. Good luck and we can’t wait to read your applications!

Volunteering Opportunities

Please see what current volunteering opportunities are available on our website.  

Firework Night in Bentley Park

We are looking for volunteers to help with the firework night in Bentley Park on 6th November. Please contact Amelia – bostoncocafe@gmail.com 

Steward Volunteer (COVID-19 Vaccinations)

In this team-based role, you will be helping the NHS to protect your local communities. Steward Volunteers ensure the smooth running of vaccination sites and there are thousands of opportunities available within England.

It’s easy to sign up and you can choose a shift that suits you . Once you have joined up, it’s simple to arrange shifts through GoodSAM, a dedicated smartphone app.

Register to be a Steward Volunteer

This is a non-clinical role at vaccination sites helping with the smooth arrival of people coming in for vaccinations. No experience or qualifications are required.

You will be part of a team at a vaccination site, assisting other volunteers and NHS teams to deliver the vaccination programme. A support team is on hand to provide you with a full briefing and any help or guidance you might need as an NHS Volunteer Responder.

This role will require volunteers to commit to at least 1 shift at a vaccination site each week when shifts are available. Shifts are up to 4 hours long.

You will be provided with a High Vis jacket and expenses will be covered.

Watch our film and meet Steward Volunteer Kelly to find out about her role as a Steward Volunteer and why it’s so important. You’ll also find out about the skills needed, what she’s learned through volunteering as a Steward Volunteer, why she volunteered and why you should sign up too.

A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) is not required for this role, although you will be asked to declare any unspent convictions as part of the application process.

More information can be found here.

SDA Church Foodbank Opens in Bentley

We are the new local foodbank service for the Bentley area, and we would like to inform you that we will be opening from Sunday 18th Sept 2022. Foodbank Contact Phone Number – 07858 106054

• Foodbank Sundays – 10am to 12.00pm weekly
• 3 days free supply of non-perishable food in a crisis situation in exchange
• for a food voucher.
• Vouchers can be obtained following an assessment of need from the
• Civic Offices, Citizens Advice and Social and other support workers.
• A maximum of 3 vouchers are allowed per client, with the possibility of
• extending support in exceptional circumstances.
• Voluntary donations welcome.
• Email – doncastersda.foodbank@gmail.com
• Website – https://doncaster.adventistchurch.org.uk/ 

Should anyone wish to volunteer; we would be looking for people who are comfortable talking with the public, just to ask a few simple questions to get a better understanding of individual needs.

Job Opportunities

Please see this week’s Advance Vacancy Bulletin  with a range of roles based within Doncaster.

****COME AND WORK WITH US****** 

Apprentice Business Support VOLUNTARY ACTION DONCASTER

We are looking for an enthusiastic and confident person to join our small team. You will be a pivotal member of the team, gaining skills and qualifications to develop key administration skills. This will be a home based role so it is important that applicants have good internet connections at home.

Working week: Monday to Friday Shifts to be confirmed

Total hours per week: 30

Expected duration: 18 Months

Possible start date: 14 Oct 2022

Apprenticeship level: Advanced Level 3 (A level)

Duties within the role will include the following:

• General business support services
• Keep electronic filing up to date and in good order 
• Dealing with email and general enquiries in a professional and courteous manner
• Supporting the Management Team as directed

Membership and Customer services

• Administer our Volunteer Hub – checking and approving registrations
• Monitor and report on activity and respond to enquiries
• Arrange webinars and training sessions for members
• Processing DBS applications
• Supporting the organisation of events

Project support

• Arrange meetings and workshops
• Take notes and minutes at meetings

Finance

• Support the administration of the micro grants scheme
• Any other general support

What training will the apprentice take and what qualification will the apprentice get at the end?

Doncaster College, day release

Business Administration Level 3

Functional Skills if needed

What is the expected career progression after this apprenticeship?

For the right person there is a full time role.

Desired skills and personal qualities:

Communication skills, IT skills, Attention to detail, Organisation skills, Customer care skills, Problem solving skills, Administrative skills, Analytical skills, Logical, Team working, Initiative

Qualifications:

GCSE or equivalent English and Maths (Grade C/4 and above) Essential

Things to consider:

The role is office based but may require occasional travel that will include client, supplier and sub-contractor meetings.

More information and how to apply can be found here.

Project Coordinator (Inclusion and Fairness Forum)

Position: 12 Months Fixed-Term Contract 

Salary: £21,000 – £23,000 per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (9am – 5 pm Monday – Friday) 

Holidays: 28 days per year (including Bank Holidays) 

Place of Work:       Doncaster – Home and Community based

We have an exciting opportunity for someone with a real passion for equity and fairness.   This role will provide support to the Inclusion and Fairness Forum to deliver a range of activities across the diversity, equality and inclusion agendas.  We are looking for someone who can help us embed best practice into everything we do as a partnership.  You will be pivotal in supporting ongoing cultural change and creating an inclusive environment within the City and particularly within Inclusion and Fairness Forum member organisations.

The Inclusion and Fairness Forum has recently conducted a review and has identified a number of recommendations to take forward over the coming year.   This role will support the implementation of those recommendations and coordinate the delivery of a forward work plan. 

You will also work with our communities in partnership, increasing outreach and engagement and strengthening community centred approaches. This is a critical link to helping us ensure that we understand the lived experience within communities and proactively seek ways to improve access and the quality of the services we provide.  

We are looking for someone who has the ability, determination and skills to build relationships with people in communities and work with leaders to support and challenge them to deliver real change.  

For further information please contact info@voluntaryactiondoncaster.org.uk You can find the full job description and apply on Indeed

Project Manager (Regenerative Neighbourhoods)

• Are you passionate about working with communities? 
• Are you committed to improving wellbeing for people and their communities?
• Can you work with, and across, a range of different organisations?
• Could you help the community of Edlington make the most of its opportunities and tackle long standing challenges?

Salary details Grade 9 £33,513 to £37,588 per annum

Contract type Full time 37 hours per week. Temporary for 12 months (with a possibility of extension dependent on further funding). Secondment opportunity for internal and external applicants.

Hybrid working: Doncaster Council Civic Office / Exceed Learning Partnership in Edlington / Homeworking

Closing Date Sunday 2nd October 2022 at midnight.

This is your opportunity to help us deliver targeted action on our challenging neighbourhoods – through our ‘Regenerative Neighbourhoods’ approach. This is being rolled out in the community of Edlington, supported by Exceed Learning Partnership, which includes Edlington Victoria Academy and Hilltop Academy. 

Edlington has many features of a successful place. This includes proximity to green spaces, affordable housing and good primary school performance. However, there are high levels of deprivation and child poverty, high persistent absence rates of secondary school age children, and a range of significant issues, affecting the ‘Royal Estate’ in particular.

The community and local organisations are committed to working together to address these challenges.

We are looking for a project manager to:

• Develop positive relationships with organisations, groups and individuals
• Build on engagement and developmental activities
• Work closely with Exceed Learning Partnership
• Co-ordinate and integrate existing plans, strategies and approaches
• Support interventions and activities in the community
• Identify learning so that it can be applied quickly, in Edlington and other challenging neighbourhoods

You should be:

• Well organised and have excellent communication skills
• Flexible and proactive in your approach
• Be able to manage a range of projects
• Experienced in working with a wide range of organisations and communities
• Able to collaborate and find innovative solutions to problems you come across

We welcome secondments from employees of Doncaster Council and our partner organisations. This is dependent on the agreement of your current employer.

You will have access to a variety of attractive employee benefits including competitive leave entitlement, local government pension scheme and access to a range of staff discounts and flexible benefits schemes. Visit Working for Doncaster Council to find out more.

Shortlisting is expected to take place week commencing 3rd October 2022 and it is anticipated that interviews will be held week commencing 17th October 2022.

Apply to Project Manager – Regenerative Neighbourhoods

For further details or an informal discussion please contact:

Sarah Abbotts, Senior Policy, Insight and Change Manager

Phone: 01302 737854

Email:  sarah.abbotts@doncaster.gov.uk 

Philanthropy Co-Ordinator

Hours a week: 37.5

Salary: £25,000 FTE; plus 4% employer’s pension contribution, Westfield Health membership after 1 year’s employment.

Deadline for applications: Friday 30th September 2022 at 9am

Interview date: Wednesday 19th October 2022 at SYCF’s office

South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation (SYCF) are looking for a passionate, positive and experienced individual to join our Philanthropy Team.

The Philanthropy Team is responsible for not only maintaining our existing donor base through building long term relationships based on outstanding donor care but also on expanding and deepening this donor base.  Reporting to the Head of Philanthropy, the job holder will be responsible for developing, and then executing, actions to enhance philanthropic giving across South Yorkshire in line with the needs of our valued donors and the communities SYCF supports.

If you have experience of working in a people related environment or similar; want to work in a community foundation; have gained some experience of raising income and managing income generation strategies; have excellent communication, networking and analytical skills, and are passionate about improving the lives of communities in South Yorkshire, then we would like to hear from you.

You will be working with a great staff and Trustee team, in an accessible workplace with free parking near to excellent facilities, with access to good public transport links.

SYCF is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, which ensures everyone can make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment.

More information and how to apply can be found on their website.

Home from Hospital (Doncaster) Team Member

Salary: Grade 2 to 3 (£18,748 to £20,096 FTE)

Hours: Part time (21 hours) pro rata

Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care has over 50 years’ experience in providing services that respond to the needs of vulnerable people in a practical and neighbourly way, complementing the care given by other service providers. SCCCC works in partnership with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group. We have recently started to work in the Doncaster area. Please note we are not a religious organisation.

We are looking for a caring, compassionate, and self-motivated individual to join our expanding team, where you will make a real difference to the lives of people within our community in Doncaster. Playing a pivotal role in providing excellent support to older and vulnerable people who need it, you will have a flexible approach and be able to adapt to changing circumstances.

People who may benefit from this service are:

• Older and vulnerable people who may be frail, socially isolated, have no relatives, living alone or with older carers and other vulnerable adults.
• Older and vulnerable people who may be at risk of re-admission.
• Individuals or health/social care professionals who have concerns about home situations and their ability to live independently.

How the Service Works:

Professionals from teams in health/social care or the patients themselves contact the office to arrange assistance and practical support for people/themselves leaving hospital. The service runs 7 days a week including bank holidays.

A full clean driving licence and daily access to your own vehicle is required for this post.

To find out more about the post, please ring Karen Redfern on 0114 2505293 or email karen@scccc.co.uk  

For an application pack, please email: sophie.lay@scccc.co.uk 

We will also accept video applications.

The closing date for applications is Friday 7 th October 2022

Sovereign Healthcare Seeks Community Programme Co-ordinator  

The Bradford-based, not-for-profit company, Sovereign Health Care is one of the UK’s leading cash plan providers, supporting people when they need to access health care. The organisation, which aims to gift the equivalent of between 5% and 10% of annual turnover to health and wellbeing good causes – particularly those that impact Leeds, Bradford and the wider Yorkshire region – is recruiting a new, part time Community Programme Co-ordinator (CPC) who will work closely with the Sovereign Executive and Board. 

Key responsibilities include liaising with Board members/Senior Managers on a regular basis, evaluating the funding requests received, advising which requests meet their criteria and current priorities, and then recommending awards within agreed parameters. The CPC will also work closely with the chosen recipients to agree optimal PR opportunities, that add value to the specific recipients’ goals and activities and, at the same time, help to strengthen the Sovereign Health Care brand, along with its culture and values. 

2023 will see Sovereign Health Care celebrate its 150th anniversary and whilst the role is two days per week, there may be the need to increase this for a short period of time in 2023 to plan for the 150th anniversary.

For further information visit: Community Programme Co-ordinator job with Sovereign Health Care | 465358 (thirdsector.co.uk) and to apply send your CV and a covering note to careers@sovereignhealthcare.co.uk. The deadline has been extended to Friday 23rd September.

Contribute to our Next Newsletter!

If you have an article, job opportunity or funding opportunity you would like to see included in the next edition of this newsletter, please send it to us at info@voluntaryactiondoncaster.org.uk by 1pm on Wednesday 28th September 2022.