Cath Witherington, CEO Introduction

Yesterday I attended a South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Community Engagement Event.  It was opened by our South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard who delivered a very personal and impassioned address.  The event was an opportunity to hear about the work of the Health Equity Advisory Panel and to add our insight on the 10 emerging aspirations for all residents in South Yorkshire.   It was reassuring to see that there is a high degree of consistency in messaging and alignment with the work we have done in Doncaster on the Fairness and Wellbeing Commission.   From my perspective, the biggest challenge will be to fundamentally change our approach.  The noble ambitions can only be delivered if we can shift entrenched and unhelpful cultures and ways of working within our commissioning and service delivery system. Please watch out for further opportunities to have your say and to become part of this movement for change to radically improve the health and wellbeing of everyone living in South Yorkshire in the coming decade. 

As some of you may have already heard, I’m leaving my role at Voluntary Action Doncaster today.  It’s been a bit of a whirlwind over the past month or so both in work and personally… so I am sorry that I have not been able to let you know about this sooner.  

I would like to take this opportunity to say a big THANK YOU to my colleagues in VAD and everyone I have worked with over the past 3 years in Doncaster and South Yorkshire.  It really has been great!  I feel privileged to have been an advocate and ambassador for our local voluntary, community and faith sector.   I would not have been able to do that without your support.  Of course there have been challenges.  However, overall I have learned a lot and had the pleasure of witnessing some truly inspirational work and achievements.  

Whilst I am moving on, VAD will of course continue to provide ongoing support to organisations in the Voluntary Community and Faith Sector in Doncaster.  Steve Sherratt, who has been with VAD for over two years, will be taking over as Interim Manager until a new CEO is appointed.

I’m not going far.  I will be taking up my new position with Voiceability next week.  This means that I am staying within the sector and can continue to be involved as a VAD member organisation.  I look forward to continuing to network and support colleagues in my new role.   For anyone who wants to keep in touch you can reach me through LinkedIn.

Reports and Information

Cost of Giving Crisis

The NCVO’s latest research reveals the alarming extent of the crisis facing our sector this winter.

With costs climbing, funding falling and demand increasing, this is not just a cost of living crisis. For charities, this is a Cost of Giving Crisis.

85% of charities we spoke to in a recent survey said this winter will be as tough – or even tougher (54%) – than it was last year. If our sector doesn’t get the support it urgently needs, 1 in 5 charities could be forced to close until things improve, leaving people and communities at risk.

NCVO is working hard to raise awareness of this crisis and ensure charities get the support they need. We also have a range of support for you this winter, including our online resources, guidance, helpdesk, webinars and training courses. 

Check out their website to find out more about their campaign and access practical support for small organisations.

Article from Zurich: Finding skill-based volunteers to support your charity

Janet Thorne, CEO of Reach Volunteering which specialises in helping charities and people who want to volunteer their expertise to find each other, told us: “This is a boom time for skills-based volunteering! In contrast to surveys that report a reduction in volunteering, we are seeing record highs. I think people really want to use their professional skills and expertise to do something good. People aren’t just dipping in, but volunteering to take on substantial and meaningful tasks”. Charities can involve volunteers in this way to make real progress, to innovate or experiment.  There are risks but if you design and describe the roles well, these can be avoided. The article gives a few tips for charities. Read more HERE

Call For Expressions Of Interest: Ukhsa Co-Production Project For People With Lived Experience And VCSE Organisations 

The Health Equity and Inclusion Health division at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are inviting expressions of interest from Voluntary and Community Sector (VCSE) organisations of any size who work with groups and communities identified as being at highest risk from infectious diseases and other external health hazards, to take part in a new project. 

The project seeks to work with those with lived experience, and the organisations who support them, to understand the current issues and co-create ways to facilitate better engagement, along with gathering qualitative insights around particular health topics. Learning from the project will then be used as a starting point to build upon and inform the way UKHSA works with people who experience health inequalities. 

The first phase of the project will focus on: vulnerable migrants; people experiencing or with recent experience of homelessness; people in contact with, or recent experience of, the criminal justice system; prisons and other places of detention; place-based inequality; and ethnicity and deprivation.   

If involved, VCSE organisations will support the lead supplier to recruit and meaningfully involve those with lived experience in consultation and co-creation sessions.    

If you would like to be involved, email healthequityinclusionhealth@ukhsa.gov.uk stating your organisation’s name and ‘EOI Community Engagement LSRS313’ in the subject line. Please also include the following information: 

• Your organisation’s name, type (e.g. charity, voluntary group) and location(s).  
• A brief overview of your work outlining the vulnerable groups you work with.  
• A name and contact details to receive further information. As this will be sent by the lead supplier when appointed, UKHSA will need express consent from you for them to share these details.  

The deadline for responses is 11:00 on Monday 13 November.  

Guinea pig film featuring Doncaster rescue gets national theatrical release

Showcase Cinemas has announced that it will be exclusively screening specialist guinea pig documentary, The Keeper of The Pigs, featuring our own Cavy Corner, from Thursday, November 9.  Doncaster Free Press covered the story.

****Calling all Stall Holders****

The ‘Safeguarding for You’ community event on December 12th, will invite people from Doncaster to come along and help shape the Making Safeguarding Personal Charter. We will be consulting with the communities to find out what language they want us to use, how we can engage communities better to help them to feel safer, and to support with reporting concerns etc. Please see attached the flyer for more information about the day.

There is a jam-packed day planned and would love to have plenty of partner stalls, for all to liaise and network with. It really is a great opportunity to be part of something in the community, for the community!

To book a stall-holding place, please email DSAB@doncaster.gov.uk, detailing which service and who will be holding the stall, including contact details, to ensure you receive all communications leading up to the event.

Buy A Stranger A Present At Christmas Appeal

Christmas Will Be Upon Us Before We Know It

Every Year PFG Doncaster Run An Appeal Called “Buy A Stranger A Present 🎁 “

I Would Like To Run It Under The Banner Of “Choose Kindness This Year” And I Would Like All To Ask All Partners And Businesses If They Could Get Behind The Appeal And Support Us This Year.

The Cost Of Living Crisis Has Impacted So Many People.

The Gifts Go To People In Care Homes, Hospital Wards, Children and Family’s, Adults, Older People, People Of All Faiths, Cultures, Single Parents and Anyone Else In Need.

You can bring any donations to The Wellness Centre, 45 Montrose Avenue, Intake, Doncaster, DN2 6PL

0r call 01302 618507

Let’s Continue To Build Lines Of Trust With Our Communities and Give Everyone A Great Christmas 🎄

Domestic Abuse Survey

City of Doncaster Council would really appreciate hearing from people who have experienced domestic abuse in Doncaster. This is to ensure every victim/survivor and their voice is central to everything we do. This survey feedback will help us reflect on the services available across Doncaster and help us with future planning. https://forms.office.com/e/bycjn1kGEx

If you would like information about the support available www.doncaster.gov.uk/domesticabuse

Winter Warmer Resource Kit

The latest research from the Eden Project has shown that 21.7 million people are shrinking their Christmas social plans this year due to the high cost of living. Whilst we’re a friendly nation, the crisis is affecting our ability to make connections – and at a time that we need it most.

This is why they’ve put together a menu of ideas and free resources to help you make winter warmer in your community.

The YouGov poll reports that spending time with others is top of our Christmas list, with 57% of people saying that socialising with others during the festive season is important to their wellbeing, outranking receiving presents and spending money on treating themselves.

So, if you fancy feeling more connected, why not say hello to neighbours with a Mince Hi, brighten darker days with advent windows or street light ups, or bring people together with a Big Lunch at Christmas?

Everything you need to make it happen. Plus, free winter warmer kits, complete with mince pies, to help 30 lucky communities get started!

Free Kits and Resources 

Household Families funding for Christmas

Well Doncaster hopes that you would like to be part of their Christmas Campaign – ‘’Don’t be alone at Christmas’’

They are offering groups/organisations across Doncaster a small pot of funding – £500 to put on a Christmas Dinner/ or Christmas lunches for any of our residents who may be facing Christmas alone, so that we can improve people’s mental health and wellbeing and reduce isolation. We would like the event/s to take place between w/c 11th December – 31st December 2023.

There will be no formal application form to complete as we want to make this as easy as possible for you, if we like your idea and choices and you meet our small criteria then we will be happy to support you.

You can be an existing group or a newly formed group, a warm space, a lunch club etc.

We would like partners, to be able to pass on details of your events to really engage the more isolated residents also. Residents can be of any ages, including children and families. 

The information we require for you to apply for this funding is below (closing date is 17th November 2023 at 12pm):

Name of Organisation

Venue lunch/es to be held

Dates and Times

How many people can you cater for with this budget?

How will you reach the isolated people of your community?

How will you book people onto the meal/event?

What is your offer?

We would like you to collect the following information:

Surname

Postcode

Single/Family/Elderly/Couple

Reason for attending

Contact Laura.ashton@doncaster.gov.uk for more information or to apply. 

South Yorkshire’s Transport Networks

This is an opportunity to have your say and to share your views about the region’s existing transport networks, as well as how they can be improved to better meet your needs as a business.

You might remember that the Chamber conducted a similar questionnaire around this time last year. Among other things, it asked about the quality of South Yorkshire’s roads, railways and public transportation services. The subsequent findings indicated that our members are frequently impacted by issues relating to transport infrastructure; most notably when it comes to things like costs and the loss of prospective opportunities.

To gauge if the situation has improved at all in the intervening months — or if sentiments have changed in any other meaningful ways — we are bringing back the Infrastructure Survey for 2023. Once again, it will ask important questions about whether businesses think our transport networks are actually fit for purpose, the associated challenges they might be experiencing here, and what they believe Government ought to be prioritising right now in this area. As always, we will then use these insights to lobby for meaningful change on your behalf and to create a better business environment here in Doncaster.

On that note, the Chamber is working closely with regional partners to make the case for one of our region’s most critical pieces of infrastructure, DSA, and the results of this survey will help to establish the business community’s additional transport challenges and priorities.

Furthermore, the questionnaire is also the latest iteration of the Quarterly Economic Survey. As such, it has all of the usual sections covering your recent experiences with workforce, recruitment, cash flow, and so on — which, again, is really useful information that will help us (and our umbrella body, the British Chambers of Commerce) represent you on a national stage

It should only take about 10 minutes to complete the Infrastructure Survey — and it is strictly anonymous — but every last response counts. The more businesses that complete it, the more authentic and significant its findings will be. With that said, I urge you to please spare just a little time form your busy day to make your voice hear

Events

Events in Doncaster Mind! 

Fancy a new Christmas outfit? Then come to the great Doncaster Mind cloth swap and take your pick! 

Happening on Thursday 23rd November from 5-7pm at Exchange Buildings, Second Floor, 35 Marketplace, Doncaster DN1 1NE. 

Donate a bag of clothes and get £5 to spend in the evening. 

There would be drinks and nibbles, festive music and tombola! Tell a friend to tell a friend! you can reserve your spot here.  

For more information, please get in touch at fundraising@doncastermind.org.uk. 

VCSE Alliance and ICS Working Together: Apprenticeships and Levy Transfer Information Session

Date: Tuesday 14 November

Time: 2pm – 3pm

This is an online event, please book your place here.

We would like to invite you to join us for an informative session about apprenticeships. This session provides an opportunity to:

• Find out more about what an apprenticeship involves, the range of apprenticeships available and the potential benefits for your organisation and your team
• Hear about the opportunity to fully cover the costs of apprenticeship training through the levy transfer scheme
• Hear from a VCSE organisation with experience in supporting apprenticeships
•  Learn about the support available to you to understand more about apprenticeships and to access the levy transfer scheme, including a new support offer that will be launching in South Yorkshire later this year

In this session we will be joined by Pam Case, Apprenticeship Programme Manager at the South Yorkshire ICS Workforce Hub, Mark Storey, Chief Executive Officer, SCCCC, and Keith Richardson, South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Hub Manager

Safeguarding Week 20th-24th 2023 Activities

There are a number of webinars available throughout Safeguarding Week which really supports the work you do as part of Safeguarding Children and Adults and whole family working. It would be great for partners across all areas, children’s and adult’s to attend any session, to gain a broader perspective and understanding of all areas of safeguarding. All of these are available to book via Buy Doncaster, please book now to avoid disappoint as there is limited space for attendance. In particular we have:

Monday 20 November 2023

Dangerous Dogs Awareness – Microsoft Teams delivery

To raise awareness of dangerous dogs and the impact on families and children.

Dangerous Dogs Awareness | Buy Doncaster

Tuesday 21 November 2023

GCP2 – Face to Face at St Catherine’s house with a maximum capacity of 20 places

Training for frontline practitioners such as Early Help leads, pastoral leads, social workers, health visitors, school nurses etc who will assess/contribute to assessment where neglect is evident.

GCP2 Training | Buy Doncaster

Wednesday 22 November 2023

Introduction to Early Help and Thresholds for intervention  – Face to Face at Civic Office with maximum capacity of 20 places

Understand what early help is and when required. Threshold guidance and referring to social care. Learning from case reviews. Can be counted as a mandatory safeguarding update.

Introduction to Early Help and Thresholds for Intervention | Buy Doncaster

Wednesday 22 November 2023

Self Neglect Lunch and Learn – Microsoft Teams delivery

To provide an overview of Self Neglect, the warning signs and impact for a person/family and the process to follow within Doncaster, to arrange a SNARM Meting. Includes real life examples/case studies.

Self Neglect Lunch & Learn | Buy Doncaster

Thursday 23 November 2023

Reinforcement based treatment for substance misuse – Microsoft Teams delivery

Looking at parental substance use from a behavioural perspective, changing behaviour with positive reinforcement and preventing lapse by addressing environmental cues and triggers. This fits for both supporting adults and children, given that the MST-CAN team sit within Children’s Social Care, and support at Child Protection stage, it can support adult social care within their understanding longer term regarding parents/adults and substance misuse.

Reinforcement Based Treatment for Substance Misuse | Buy Doncaster

VCSE and ICS Working Together Event: One Year On Conference

Date: Friday 1 December 2023

Time: 9.15am arrivals, 9.45am start, 4.15pm close

Location: St Mary’s Church, Conference and Community Centre, Bramall Lane, Sheffield, S2 4QZ

Join us at this milestone event, as we celebrate the achievements of the South Yorkshire VCSE Alliance in its first year and look ahead to our next steps.

We will be joined by a range of speakers for an informative and collaborative day where we will:

Celebrate our achievements over the first year

Share our roadmap to take forward our shared enablers of partnership working, and offer opportunities on the day to further shape our community engagement and investment key enablers

Hold a big conversation to shape our focus on health inequalities and prevention

Host conversations on exciting system work to build opportunities for working together

Please book your place here.

Full programme details will be shared closer to the event.

Training Opportunities

NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP)

Are you a patient whose experience has led you to develop a healthcare innovation? Do you want to learn new skills to help scale this idea? 

This new programme could be for you!

We are delighted to announce the new NHS Patient Entrepreneur Programme. Based on the highly successful NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP), the new pilot programme is specifically for people who have experience health care services or of a long-term health condition and have used this experience to develop healthcare innovations.  We know that many patients and carers have developed innovations and inventions that can improve healthcare, but people often need support to move their innovation beyond design phase.  This free,12 month support programme gives successful applicants access to workshops and webinars, mentoring, business planning sessions, healthcare experts and taught modules, a network of mentors and more.

Applications for this programme are now open at  www.nhscep.com/pep and will close on 27th November 2023.  You can also find out more at our launch webinar at 5.30pm on the 14th November.

So, if you are a patient with lived experience of an illness or condition who has developed an innovation to improve patient care, this is your chance to scale your idea with the help of the NHS CEP Patient Entrepreneur Programme.  

“At the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP), we are committed to placing patients at the centre of our work. We believe that transforming healthcare is a collective effort, and we are excited to announce the launch of the Patient Entrepreneur Programme this November. This programme offers patients and carers who have developed healthcare innovations or projects the opportunity to join the CEP and scale their ideas for the benefit of all.”  

(Professor Tony Young, OBE, Clinical Director for Innovation at NHS England)

Doncaster Mind …

Has an upcoming training opportunity that is sure to take your skills and knowledge to the next level.   

Level 3 Award in Supervising First Aid for Mental Health – Accredited Course (2 days) 

Course overview: Level 3 Award in Supervising First Aid for Mental Health (FAA) 

Dates: Thursday 16th of November and Thursday 23rd of November 2023 

(attendance on both days is required to qualify) 

Time: 10:00-18:30 (both days)  

Location: Doncaster Mind | Exchange Buildings | Second Floor | 35 Marketplace | Doncaster | DN1 1NE 

Investment: promotional offer, please contact us for details on training@doncastermind.org.uk or call 07516 050820.

Disclosure & Barring Service free workshops and information sessions for all organisations within Yorkshire & The Humber.  

Below are the details and links to the sessions on offer during national safeguarding week: 

If you’d like to know more before reserving your place, please get in touch via: Rebecca.bool@dbs.gov.uk  

(!) Please note the sessions are aimed at recruiters and organisations and not members of the public.  Members of the public who need information or support from DBS should call DBS Customer Services on 03000 200 190 

The Rebel School. 

Has a new free on-demand course that helps people start businesses in a simple way and without getting into debt. It’s available for anyone who is starting a business and they will learn:

• How to start your own business
• The unexpected power of mini-experiments
• Audience: Who is your target customer?
• The starter guide to marketing
• Sales: pitching and closing
• Keep customers coming back
• The Rebel startup methodology

Sign Up For The Free Course Here

FREE fundraising training for not-for profit groups and social enterprises in Doncaster with Community Wealth Builders

Community Wealth Builders is working in partnership with SYFAB to deliver two free training courses to groups in Doncaster

The Community Wealth Builder Project (part of Well Doncaster) provides support for new and existing social businesses and not-for-profit groups across Doncaster. Support is tailored to meet the needs of the individual or organisation and includes: one to one advice, workshops/training and networking opportunities.

These courses are free but you must contact Well Doncaster in the first instance here 

Booking is via Eventbrite (details below)

Preparing for Awards for All – Thursday 16th Nov 10.00am-11.30am

An interactive webinar aimed at those thinking about applying for a National Lottery Awards for All Grant

A 90 minute session aimed at groups and organisations who are new to the National Lottery Awards for All grant and are thinking of applying.

This workshop will give you

• An overview of the grant
• What you should do in preparation of applying
• How to apply

This event will take place online, a link will be shared with you on the afternoon/evening prior to the event. To book click here

Making a Good Application (MAGA) Monday 27th Nov & Thurs 30th November 10.00am – 1.00pm (Two half -days) You must attend both sessions)

This interactive training session explores how to write a funding application that satisfies the funder’s criteria.

This online workshop will help you:

• Explain to others what makes your project(s) special.
• Explain the need to identify specific projects.
• Demonstrate a knowledge of the application process and criteria/guidance.
• How to structure and present a funding proposal.
• Demonstrate ways of evidencing need for a project.
• Identifying common mistakes in funding applications and how to avoid them.

This training is suitable for those new to writing funding applications or those with some experience who are looking to improve.

Attendance on both days (27th & 30th November) is required.

This event will take place via Zoom and the link will be shared on the morning prior to the workshop. To book click here

for more information contact Community Wealth Builders in Doncaster here

More information contact SYFAB 0114 261 5141 or email here

Funding Opportunities

NLCF Million Hours Fund – deadline 24th November at 12 noon

Are you located in any of these wards and work with young people?

• Adwick le Street & Carcroft
• Bentley
• Conisbrough
• Hexthorpe & Balby North
• Town (Doncaster)
• Wheatley Hills & Intake

If so, you could be eligible to apply for between £30,000-£100,000 to support activities.  But hurry, deadline is 24th November at 12 noon.  For more information, follow this link to their website.

Working in Health programme

There is a huge amount of knowledge and expertise amongst voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations (VCSE) within the diverse communities across South Yorkshire. Many are key partners in many health and care research projects, and in understanding the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve.

To help spread the knowledge, grants of £200 – £5,000 are available to

• Capture the knowledge and insights you hold as an organisation about how to engage with communities in health and care research, so that this can be shared with other organisations and research teams. We are particularly interested to hear about how to collaborate with communities that face disproportionately poor health outcomes in South Yorkshire (such as ethnic minority groups, people with learning disabilities and autism, and people facing socioeconomic disadvantage
• Share approaches you’ve taken to put the community in the lead in health and care research, which can offer lessons to other projects.
• Build on previous work you have done to engage underrepresented groups in health and care research and develop expertise in how to reach groups that you didn’t reach and how to overcome barriers they face.

Activities must be complete by February 2024. Deadline is 9am on 27th November 2023. More information here

Funding for specialist small charities is now open

Lloyds Foundation is inviting applications for grants programme for small specialist charities supporting people facing complex issues. Through this programme we will support charities through a range of tailored development support offers alongside a three-year unrestricted grant of £75,000.

This programme is for charities with an annual income between £25,000 and £500,000 that operate in England and Wales. We’ll award funding to charities that provide specialist support for one of eight key themes: 

1. Addiction
2. Asylum Seekers and Refugees
3. Care Leavers
4. Domestic Abuse
5. Homelessness
6. Offending
7. Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
8. Trafficking and Modern Slavery

We receive more applications than we are able to fund in any one year. In total, we will make 84 grants under this programme in 2024. To check if you are eligible for this funding, please read the guidance on our website, including the guidance for the specific theme you will be applying under. You can start by taking a simple quiz to check your eligibility in just five minutes and then apply here.

Applications will remain open until 25 January 2024.

Climate Action Microgrant

The Climate Action Microgrant is now live and on the Your Life Doncaster website with information about Climate action Week (27th November 2023 – 4th December 2023).  Grants of up to £250 are available, and there is a pot of £10,000, so plenty of opportunities for groups to apply.  The grant is part funded (£3,000) by a contribution from a business, Synetiq.

More information is available on the  Your Life Doncaster website 

Completed applications are to be returned to Community.WealthBuilder@doncaster.gov.uk

The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation

The aim of the trustees is to help raise the quality of life in the UK, particularly for those who are young, disadvantaged or elderly.  These grants are distributed across the Foundations four funding categories of community, education, health and social welfare.

More information is available on their website No application deadlines

Allen Lane Foundation

Funds groups working with Asylum-seekers and refugees, Gypsies and Travellers, Migrant communities, Offenders and ex-offenders, Older people, People experiencing mental health problems, People experiencing violence or abuse.

More information is available on their website Ongoing deadlines

Grant applications now open for Weston Charity Awards 2024

Applications for the 2024 Weston Charity Awards are now open, offering valuable support to small charities in the North of England, the Midlands, and Wales.

Now in its 10th year, we will once again be partnering with Garfield Weston to offer a unique package of support worth over £22,000, including unrestricted grants of £6,500 for ambitious charities like yours. Winning applicants also gain free access to the Pilotlight 360 programme — a 10-month package of leadership coaching worth an estimated £16,000.

The awards are open to registered charities working with beneficiaries in the North of England, the Midlands, and Wales and which specialise in the fields of Community, Welfare, Youth, and Environment.

Charities with at least one paid full-time member of staff in a leadership position and an income of less than £5 million per year are eligible to apply.

Award winners receive leadership mentoring from four senior professionals across diverse private and public sectors. These “Pilotlighters” offer expert coaching on everything from operational efficiencies to sustainable long-term business strategies, and organisational growth. Winning charities also access:

• collaborative opportunities and events through Pilotlight’s network of UK charities
• two peer-to-peer support sessions with other award winners to share best practice
• a celebratory event for all award-winners on conclusion of the programme
• the enhanced profile associated with receiving this award grant for excellence.

The application deadline is 5pm Wednesday 10 January 2024.

Click here for further information about the awards grants and full entry criteria.

Big Give launches Arts for Impact campaign in partnership with New Philanthropy for Arts & Culture

Big Give is launching its inaugural Arts for Impact campaign in partnership with New Philanthropy for Arts & Culture (NPAC), a network of arts supporters who are passionate about increasing philanthropic support of the arts and culture sector. The Arts for Impact campaign is aimed at supporting arts and culture charities working to achieve societal impact across the UK. Applications from charities interested in participating are open now until Friday, December 15th 2023. 

The campaign will see the public’s generosity multiplied, as donations to the participating charities will be doubled by the Big Give’s Arts for Impact match fund, which has been supported by generous ‘champions’, typically philanthropists, foundations or companies. Charities can apply for three tiers of match funding – £2,500, £5,000, or £10,000. For a small number of charities (which have an annual income of above £1m as per last filed accounts), we will consider targets up to £20,000 (to be doubled by match funds).

We welcome applications from charities across the UK. We would particularly encourage applications from charities operating within the following counties/unitary authorities (as we have secured some funding to support charities operating in these areas): Essex, Greater London, Stoke on Trent (including Newcastle Under Lyme), Tyne and Wear, West Midlands, West Sussex, West Yorkshire.

The campaign will run between 19th – 26th March 2024. For full details on the eligibility criteria for this campaign, please visit the Arts for Impact page via this link: https://biggive.org/artsforimpact/.  We greatly encourage charities to apply by December 15th to take advantage of this great doubling donation opportunity.

Volunteering Opportunities

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

Doncaster Safeguarding Adults Board…

Want to recruit 2 Lay members.  The ambitious Board recognises they must never be complacent, so we seek challenge and new ideas to ensure we keep people in Doncaster safe. We are looking forward to our 2 Lay members providing challenge, and links into our local communities, to ensure that the voices of those with lived experience is threaded through every aspect of the Board’s work.

Please find attached the Lay Member Job Description and Application Form.   Please note that the closing date for applications is 23rd November 2023 with interviews taking place on 5th December 2023.

Job Opportunities

CMA Bentley is looking for a part time Debt Adviser

CMA Bentley brings hope to the residents of Doncaster by giving expert money advice and helping people get their finances back on track. The service we offer is free, face to face and unconditional. We’re looking to recruit a part time debt advisor to join the team. 

You will need to be someone with excellent people skills, be able to adapt to an individual’s needs and be comfortable with numbers. The requirements for this role can be found in the person specification. We’re open to either an experienced advisor, or for the right candidate we would be willing to train from scratch. 

CMA Bentley is part of St Peters Bentley, a local parish church. We have a strong Christian ethos running through our organisation, but you don’t need to be a Christian to join the team. 

The details:
Hours: 21 per week (3 days). Initially Tuesday – Thursday 8.30am – 4.30pm (with an hour for lunch), when you’ve finished your training this will change by agreement.

Salary: £23,742 FTE ( £14,246 pro rata) plus non contributory pension scheme.

Holidays: 5 weeks plus bank holidays as standard. 

Closing date: Tuesday 14th November at 4pm.

Details of how to apply can be found at: https://stpetersbentley.org/join-the-team/ 

NAVCA is hiring! Integrated Care Lead and Administration Assistant roles 

NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action) is hiring an Integrated Care Lead (full time) and an Administration Assistant (part time).

Administration Assistant: We are looking for someone who is proactive, highly organised, with good communication skills, who can work flexibly to carry out a variety of tasks to support the smooth running of NAVCA. This is a varied position, working alongside NAVCA colleagues and providing support to the Resources Team and wider organisation as required.

Integrated Care Lead: We are seeking a proactive, strategically focused individual with a track record in building cross sector partnerships to lead and further develop our work to support the VCSE sector’s role in local integrated care systems and wider health activity.

Please see the NAVCA jobs page for more information: https://navca.org.uk/jobs

Doncaster Mind – ​​Central Connector vacancy

Join the Mind team as the central Mental Health Community Connector.

We’re looking for someone who can make change happen, within their community to ensure that everyone gets the mental health support they deserve. 

Do you live in the Central Doncaster locality? This may be in any of the following areas: City Centre (Town), Hyde Park, Belle Vue, Wheatley Hills, Wheatley, Balby, Hexthorpe, Cantley and Bessacarr. Do you know the people and places well? then join us at one of our recruitment events – we’d love to meet you! If you are interested, please contact Project Coordinator Zain Fayed on 07412 558191 or email zain@doncastermind.org.uk to secure your place.  

Sessional Counsellors needed! 

Here at Doncaster Mind, we have a great opportunity for you to enhance and extend your experience by working with clients accessing our Fast Track counselling service. People from across Doncaster come to us for counselling services, and we have both free and paid routes. Our free service is delivered by counselling students on placement, and we are looking for qualified counsellors to help us to deliver our pay-for Fast Track service.  

Interested and want to know more about the role? Please contact Sarah on sarah.jones@doncastermind.org.uk or call 07397884463.

City of Doncaster Council is hiring and wants to hear from you!

There are currently over 60+ vacancies across our site this month, in a range of different roles throughout the borough, so there really is something for everyone.

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 22 November 2023.