DIABETES UK

St Helens & District Group

The next meeting of the St Helens & District Group of Diabetes UK will be on Wednesday 3rd Oct 2018 at 7.30pm in St Helens United Reformed Church, King St, WA10 2JZ. The church is next to Windle Pilkington Hall. Speakers will be Jane Jackson, who is a Diabetes Specialist Nurse, and Nicola Jackson who is a Diabetes Dietitian. They are both from the Diabetes Specialist Unit in St Helens Hospital, and will be talking on the subject of:-

Looking after your diabetes when you`re ill.

Anyone with an interest in diabetes is welcome to attend, admission is free and refreshments are available after the meeting. They also have a large selection of diabetes leaflets available. They would particularly like to welcome anyone who has been recently diagnosed with diabetes and has not been to a meeting before. They are a very friendly group and you may be assured of a warm welcome.

For further details contact C Bowmaker on 0151 480 0821.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to become an integral part of an innovative way of funding and delivering Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector services in St Helens.

We are looking for individuals who can commit to driving forward the work of an established consortium which has already enjoyed many successes, including the acquisition of the contract to deliver the Information and Advice Service in St Helens.

For an informal chat and more information please contact Catherine Cahalin on 01744 457112 or email ccahalin@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk for an application pack  

Rainhill soprano Lynn Jones will be taking to the stage as she headlines the concert ‘Precious Moments’ in aid of Willowbrook Hospice at St Thomas Church, Eccleston on Friday 28 September at 7.30pm.

Lynn will be performing a packed programme of songs from the shows and classical favourites and will be supported by the Aughton Male Voice Choir and singer and guitarist Alex Roberts, as well as rising star Louie Gray who recently starred in Her Benny at the Royal Court, Liverpool.

Cancer survivor Lyn says: “Over the past 8 years I’ve gone through several treatments for cancer, the most recent being in April this year when I had an operation at Aintree Hospital for a growth in my neck which was related to my original diagnosis in 2009 of ovarian cancer.   I’m currently attending the day therapy sessions at Willowbrook which are a complete inspiration to me! People who haven’t been to the hospice often think it’s going to be depressing but it’s anything but! The staff and all the volunteers are amazing and I’ve met some fantastic people there as well as enjoying the craft classes, massages and relaxation sessions.”

Lynn continues: “It’s the 8th year that I’ve organised a concert for Willowbrook and every year we’ve had a packed house. I love singing and it’s great that I can use my talents to help raise much needed funds for the hospice.”

Nicky Saunders, Head of Fundraising at the hospice said: “Lynn is a fantastic supporter of Willowbrook and over the years has helped to raise thousands of pounds to support our work. It’s thanks to people like Lynn that we can continue to care and support our patients and their families.”

Tickets for the concert are cost £6 and are available from Lynn on 07754 773089, Willowbrook-The Living Well on 01744 453798 or from St Thomas Church.

Cheshire Community Foundation have have opened a grant programme for the new High Sheriff.  The programme wishes to support local creative arts and cultural charities, voluntary organisations and community groups delivering activities in Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Halton and Warrington.

They have £20,000 to distribute and applicants can apply for up to £2,000 with the fund being primarily focused on micro and small charities (Micro charities being charities with under £10,000 annual income and a small charity having under £100,000 annual income) with the applicant organisation needing to have been running activities for a minimum of 12 months to apply. Applicants must be able to report back on the spend and use of any grant awarded using an online monitoring form by 31st March 2019  so time is limited.

The full programme criteria is attached below but applicants can also view this on their website here: http://cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk/apply-for-funding/

Willowbrook Hospice is holding a car boot sale on Saturday 22 September (9am-12pm) at The Living Well on Borough Road, St Helens WA10 3RN.

With a maximum of 50 pitches offering a wide range of pre-loved goods from clothes and books to soft furnishings and bric-a-brac – there’ll be something for everyone! The Living Well’s Sunflower café and charity shop will also be open.

So if you’re clearing out your attic or garage and fancy making a bit of spare cash, why not book a pitch at just £10?

For more information, or to book a pitch, please ring 01744 453798 or email events@willowbrookhospice.org.uk

Halton Heritage Partnership - Heritage Open Days Launch!

Wednesday 5th September, 12pm -2pm

The Town Square, Runcorn Shopping City, WA7 2EU

www.haltonheritage.co.uk

Halton’s Heritage Open Days is an annual, national event that sees groups, organisations and buildings open up their heritage treasures to the public. All events and activities which run from 5th September to the 16th September as part of the Heritage Open Days programme are FREE to attend, so what’s not to love? Click on the attachment below to view the brochure and it will tell you what heritage events are happening in Halton as part of this national celebration. From guided tours to pop-up museums, there are lots of heritage activities for people of all ages and interests to explore across the borough. Take a look and see what you can discover…

Sahir House is the HIV support, prevention, information & training service in Merseyside. They need your help with World AIDS Day campaigns and fundraising, buddy support, reception and front of house as well as general support for the charity. As a volunteer you can learn and try new things, make new friends and make a positive change for those living with HIV. You are welcome to go along to their New Volunteer Open Evening to find out more about Sahir House and all the opportunities to volunteer, on Thursday 27th September, 6pm start at Sahir House, 2nd floor, 151 Dale Street, Liverpool, L2 2AH

Tea and coffee available. If you can’t make the open evening you are still welcome to book in for an interview.

Link to map, it’s near the Birkenhead Tunnel entrance, nearest pub Ship & Mitre and they are in the Liverpool CVS building on the corner of Dale Street.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/''/sahir+house+address/@53.4099744,-2.9859449,17z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x487b213a89b62455:0xb26453abb9542478!2m2!1d-2.9837546!2d53.4099949

Informal interviews: Week of 1st October, call 0151 237 3989 for an appointment and ask for Cath Turner (appointments approx. 20 mins and day or early evening appointments available)

Induction training course: Friday 12th October (eve) and day time of Saturday 13th October and Sunday 14th October (100% attendance required)

Induction training will be held in the city centre location. Volunteer training, induction, support and travel expenses provided.

Sahir House continually aims to address its skills shortage and under representation and welcomes interest from all sections of the community.

For a Volunteer Info Pack & enquiries visit www.sahir.org.uk/volunteer or call 0151 237 3989 and ask for Cath Turner, Training and Development Manager.

Please confirm your attendance, feel free to take a friend and they look forward to hearing from you soon!

Local History Evenings on a Wednesday at MOMO's Coffee Shop at 8 Cotham Street, St Helens (Opposite Wilco), dates below.

6pm to 7.30pm.  All ages welcome (Kids particularly). Admission free

Presented by local historian Chris Coffey.

• 5th September - Another local X files evening with tales of local ghosts and creepy mysteries.
• 12th September - 1868.  the year the four townships became a Borough.
• 19th September - The lost railways of St Helens.  Shaw Street to Rainford.  Shaw Street to Warrington.  Shaw Street to Widnes and Ditton.  Central to Haydock and Lowton.  The freight line beneath Croppers Hill, etc
• 26th September - "Silent Clowns".  This is a rare opportunity to see silent films by Laurel and Hardy, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel solo, and other silent clowns.

Keep in touch with St Helens Local History by taking out a FREE subscription to the St Helens Heritage Network's monthly email newsletter, with its guide to local societies and events and features.  Contact Chrispcoffey@gmail.com 

Hours: 35 Hours per week

Pay: Scale SO1 29-31 (£26,470 – £28,221)

Fixed term: 6 months (Possible extension)

Established in 1999 Raise is an advice service that supports clients within their own home with welfare benefits, debt and financial capability advice at a specialist level.

This is an opportunity to be involved in the running of the RAISE Welfare Rights service to clients in the Greater Liverpool Region. In order to achieve this they need a highly motivated individual who is passionate about motivating and managing a team of advisors. You will be experienced managing and supporting staff as well as having knowledge of Social Security Law. You will have excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to relate and work with a large variety of different people.

Closing date: 14 September 2018 12 noon

Interviews will be held on: 20 September 2018

For more information and to apply, please click the link below:

https://www.benefitsadviceteam.co.uk/jobs/

Refugee Action provide support to Syrian and other vulnerable refugees who have been resettled by UNHCR in three Local Authorities within the Liverpool City Region (Liverpool, St Helens and Wirral), they are looking for volunteers to assist and support their work.

The arrivals aspect of the role is to provide assistance to an individual or household group of newly arrived resettled refugees for their first week in the UK.

The Advocate element of the role is to support refugees to carry out specific tasks as part of their on-going 12-month resettlement journey.

These tasks will be directed by the Resettlement Team. The role involves providing local orientation to refugees within Liverpool City Region and supporting them to use local services.  If you feel that you can help with this valuable support role contact Volunteer Centre St Helens on 01744 751759 or email volunteersthelens@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk for more information.

On Sunday 16th September 2018, between 1.00 and 4.00, The Fantastic Taylor Park Kite Festival is presented to you by The Friends of Taylor Park.

So come along to the Big Hill in Taylor Park on Sunday 16th September between 1.00 and 4.00, where the Northern Kite Group will be giving wonderful displays of stunning kites and kite flying.

Best of all though, you can make your own kite in the Kite Workshop and what’s more, they will fly majestically over one of St Helens’ most beautiful parks.

Don’t miss this chance to enjoy one of the best family events in St Helens, and it’s all free!

The park is located just off Prescot Road, the main route between St Helens Town Centre and Prescot. It is well served by buses and free, but limited, car parking is available at the Grosvenor Road and Holme Road entrances.

There is some on street parking, but The Friends urge visitors who park on the streets to be considerate of the needs of others and to avoid inconveniencing local residents and other street users.
 

Post code for sat. Nav. WA10 3HX

Our colleagues from Halton Borough Council’s External Funding Team have prepared some Funding Bulletins containing valuable information for voluntary organisations looking for grants to get projects off the ground. 

The Monthly funding bulletins offering information on funding opportunities in the following areas: 

Arts, Community & Voluntary, Environment & Heritage, European, Faith, Health, Schools, Sports and Youth.

To access the information, please click on the link below: 

https://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/business/FinanceandGrants/finance.aspx

Job reference: SPH11

Department: People's Services

Grade: SCP 22-25

Pay: From: £21,074 To: £23,111 per annum

Hours: 37 per week

Closing date:16/09/2018

St Helens Council’s TAZ Outreach Team is a high performing, well established team who deliver innovative and creative programmes to young people to enable them to make positive and informed decisions about their sexual health and relationships choices. The TAZ Outreach Worker will form a large part of a small team and provide interventions to help continue to reduce teenage conceptions, sexually transmitted infections and improve young people’s awareness of these.

You will have good knowledge of young people’s development, how their sexual health is an important factor in their overall wellbeing and lifestyle. In addition to this you must be able to discuss extremely sensitive issues without embarrassment or judgement and creatively communicate with young people in order to meet their sexual health and relationships needs. You will have knowledge of the law relating to consent and sexual activity. 

You will need to be able to work with young people in a variety of ways including on a 1 to 1 basis, in group settings, clinic settings. In addition to this you will need to deliver training to professionals, assemblies to large groups of students, attend events, deliver teaching sessions in local schools and colleges and capitalise on opportunities to raise young people’s awareness of how to access local services.  You will need to be able to work and communicate with different people from a wide range of services including schools, clinical staff, housing providers etc.  You will need to be able to travel around the St Helens areas and meet young people in a range of settings.

You must have a minimum 2 years post-qualification experience with young people and hold a Level 3 qualification relevant to working with children and young people in health and social care, youth and community work. The desire to help young people along with enthusiasm, creativity and a genuine commitment to improve people’s lives are important qualities for this role.

You may be required to work evenings and weekends. 

For an information discussion please contact Helen Jones - Young People's Team Manager on 01744 675605.

This Authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

This post is subject to Enhanced DBS Disclosure.

For more information and how to apply please click the link below:

https://secure.sthelens.net/website/cccvacancies.nsf/vacancies%20on%20website/4A14D8FA25A86A49802582F90058398B?OpenDocument

Do you want to shape the future of the NHS?

Please come to a conversation about the NHS Long-Term Plan, hear about what is planned, and have your voice heard!

12th September 1.30pm - 4.00pm Chamber Space, Elliot House, 151 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3WD

The NHS has just celebrated its 70th birthday. A lot has changed since it was created in 1948, and the NHS is having to cope with changes in society that were never expected, let alone planned for, when it was set up 70 years ago.

But the NHS is also a dynamic and innovative institution, that has continuously evolved over the last 70 years. Those who use it and work in it know that evolution needs to continue if the changing needs of patients are to be met.

Because we now know that the NHS will receive guaranteed budget increases for the next five years, it can think about how it will work towards improvements in services, which will mean delivering more for patients with that money than it would have otherwise been able to.

To achieve this, the NHS is now working on a plan for the next ten years, and it is vital that all those who work in or alongside the NHS can contribute ideas, experiences and insights.

This event, run by VSNW together with NCVO and NHS England will gather views of people from local charities. A senior-level colleague from NHS England will be present.

This event is looking at the England-wide 10-year plan for the NHS, local issues will not be discussed.

Click here to find out more and to book your place

Halton Carers have been announced as the first winers of the One Halton Just Do It Award for the work they have done at the Integrated Community Care Workshop – engaging people.

The award is awarded to Halton people and organisations who “Just Do It” and make a difference.

Everyone at Halton & St Helens VCA would like to offer their congratulations to Halton Carers on being the first to receive this award.

For more information about Halton Carers and the work they do, please click the link below to go to their website:

http://haltoncarers.co.uk/

Fancy a natter, a coffee, community networking and raising money for a great cause? Well Halton Borough Council and a generous café, based in one of its community centres can help!

Macy’s Café at Grangeway Community Centre, in Runcorn will be providing tea and coffee for small donation to Macmillan on Wednesday 26 September from 10am to 1pm (so don’t be ‘latte’), and there will be a selection of cakes donated by invited organisations, again available for a small donation.

Community Development and Project Officer Rachel Prime said: “We hope for this to be a network morning for the community groups of Runcorn but also an opportunity for the general public to attend and find out what groups and activities are available in their local area. “We have invited a selection of community groups and professional organisation to advertise and showcase what they do.”

Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board Member for Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Marie Wright, said: ” I would encourage anyone who is free to come along. You may be surprised at what is available on your doorstep.” “A coffee Morning is the perfect chance to catch up over a cuppa and a slice of something delicious for a great cause. One in two of us will face cancer, and the money you raise will help us make sure no one has to face it alone.”

https://hbcnewsroom.co.uk/dont-be-latte-for-our-charity-coffee-morning/

Facebook Event Page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/2689869001039408/ 

In Kind Direct (IKD) was founded in 1997 by HRH The Prince of Wales. IKD distributes new, usable consumer goods, donated by some of the UK’s best known manufacturers and retailers, to charities, not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises working in the UK and abroad.
They are a lifeline to thousands of charities helping vulnerable people across the UK, allowing them to spend more of their money on support, not supplies. Every year they help charities improve the lives of 2 million people. The charities that have been helped have stated that the goods improve the confidence and self-esteem of beneficiaries, help address poor physical and mental wellbeing and provide essential support to people struggling to afford basic supplies. Since being established they have distributed over £195 million worth of products to over 9,400 charities .

Which products are on offer?

Companies have a lot of products they no longer need which they donate to In Kind, from over-stocked toiletries to last season's fashions to branded cleaning products from an expired campaign to unbranded toys. They also offer sportswear, cooking equipment and personal hygiene products and have teamed up with a number of companies to offer large savings on photocopiers and office stationery.

How it works

• Join – register for free and join the network to access goods.
• Order – browse a huge range of high quality donated goods and place your order on the online system.
• Use and share - use the goods to run your services or give to people you support.

What does it cost?

With limited funding, most not-for-profit organisations are looking for new ways to save money. IKD is free to join, and you only pay a small charge for the goods. This is typically 20% of the retail value of the goods and contributes to In Kinds running costs and also includes delivery costs. Last year the average saving made by charities using IKD was £7,485.

Who can join?

Almost any charity, not-for-profit and social enterprise can register for free to receive goods from IKD. Small, medium or large - they accept organisations of all sizes. They are now taking registrations from non-fee-paying schools. Certain public sector organisations may also be eligible to join.
Donor companies provide their goods to be used only to run your organisation or to give to the people you support for free. The products cannot be sold or used as prizes. They are also not for personal use for staff, volunteers or family nor can they be passed to other organisations.

Want to find out more?

Please go to the website to find out more about how IKD may be able to help you - www.inkinddirect.org or contact their regional volunteer, Jane Smith, who can arrange to come to your charity to discuss IKD in more detail (email: jane@inkinddirect.org or tel 0300 302 3601).

They will also be attending our ‘Social Innovation – Doing Things Differently’ event and AGM at the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens on 24th September 2018 – come and find them in the marketplace and see what IKD can do for you.

If you've not yet signed up to attend our "Social Innovation - Doing Things Differently event, you can do so by clicking the link below:

https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/training

This year’s AGM and Annual Conference will be held together, in St Helens. This is a key event for us as it will be the Annual meeting where our chair Jean Mulford will stand down from her role after more than 25 years. 

The focus of the conference is Innovation and how we can work together locally to do things differently.

Join us for “Social innovation – Doing things differently in Halton & St Helens” on 24 September at the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens. The conference will start at 9.30am and conclude at 3pm and include our Annual General Meeting. We will hear from Jackie Le Fevre, Values Expert on the importance of values for innovation and thinking differently and Mark Swift, Wellbeing Enterprises CIC Ltd on social innovations and their potential to empower communities and transform public services.

Afternoon workshops will focus on “Social Pioneering – navigating something new.” The aim will be to prompt different thinking within the local sector, to promote the sharing of innovative services and approaches that help groups respond to the changing environment, survive, thrive and respond to local needs. The conference will potentially enable us to introduce a conversation with local groups about this, share information from local groups and across the country where other organisations have been able to innovate, either in the way they raise money and fund their activities, in the way they deliver services or in the way they work with others.

Finally, we have invited a range of local funders and support organisations for a marketplace and you will get a number of opportunities to get information and talk to them about your work and projects.

More information will be shared with delegates as you register. This is a great opportunity for you to get together with other colleagues from local organisations, talk to funders and hear from colleagues and experts in our workshops about how you think about your work differently.

When

24th September, 2018 9:30 AM   to 3:00 PM

Location

St Helens R.F.C.
The Totally Wicked Stadium
McManus Drive
St Helens, WA9 3AL

To book your place, please click the link below:

https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/civicrm/event/register?id=275&reset=1

Healthwatch St Helens helps to strengthen the collective voice of local residents across health & social care. It is rooted in communities and responsive to their needs. It also mean working collaboratively, operating as part of community networks, drawing on information, trust and local knowledge that already exists.

Healthwatch St Helens is looking for a dynamic person of the highest calibre to join the Board of Directors, who shares our passion for further developing Healthwatch St Helens as a trusted, challenging and publically accountable body for local people.

You will need to have ambition, drive and energy and will need to demonstrate that you have the skills, knowledge and experience to run a company, working with VCA and the Healthwatch St Helens support team to deliver a vibrant local Healthwatch, underpinned by robust corporate governance arrangements.

For more information and to express your interest please telephone us on: 0300 111 0007

Salary:  £21,933 - £25,741 Per Annum

Hours:  37.5 Hours Per Week

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Halton Integrated Recovery Service. This is a permanent position based in the Runcorn Office

The post holder will holistically be supporting adult service users to enter and move through integrated recovery oriented substance misuse services and increase opportunities for service users to achieve sustainable treatment outcomes within Halton. 

The Recovery Coordinator  will carry a case load of service users who require alcohol treatment and provide screening, comprehensive assessments, needle exchange, risk assessment and risk management,  recovery planning & review, support access to medically assisted recovery (through titration and prescribing regimes), provide outreach / in-reach services, deliver 1-1 key working sessions as well as semi structured groups to support service users through engagement, detoxification, stabilisation and rehabilitation.

CGL are committed to ensuring the safeguarding and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults, and all applicants will be required to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to best safeguarding practice.

All applications for this post will be subject to an enhanced DBS clearance.

Closing Date:  Tuesday, 28 August 2018 - 11:45am

Interviews due to take place week commnencing 04/09/2018.

For more information and how to apply please click the link below:

https://www.changegrowlive.org/vacancy/recovery-coordinator-halton-intergrated-recovery-service-cgl2405

St Helens Mind are set to hold their second Family Fun Day on Thursday 30th August between noon and 4 to raise vital funds for local people affected by mental ill health. 

Saints mascot ‘Boots’ will kick start the proceedings and will be available for photos with fans in the Phyllis Pope Studio at The Mansion House site and nearby gardens in Victoria Park. 

Local children’s entertainer Paul Storey will again be performing his magic and puppets show and there’s a special tombola especially for the kids as well as a grab a bag game. They can even delve into a lucky dip or throw a wet sponge at a member of Mind’s staff in the stocks or if they prefer more sedate activities there’ll be an arts and crafts stall to unleash their creative side. 

There’s a raffle for the adults with a range of special prizes as well as a tombola, grab a bottle game and a bric-a-brac and plants sale. Drinks and snacks will be available to buy at the nearby Victoria Bistro.

St Helens Mind volunteers will be maning an information stall with more details about the charity and the work they do locally, including the social groups they run and the befriending service they offer. 

Manager Gill Ellison says: “I hope this year’s event will be as successful as the first one. The volunteers who have made this happen have worked incredibly hard planning activities and games to ensure visitors have a great time, as well as continuing their usual volunteer roles as Befrienders and at our Social Groups.”

Barnardo's Mental Health Services West Region are looking to recruit a part time, 18 hours per week, Volunteer Co-ordinator for the St Helens BOSS Service.

The role is primarily to recruit and support volunteers for the BOSS Online Web-based Service but will also develop creative ways for volunteers to support children and young people with emotional difficulties living in St Helens. 

Location: St Helens BOSS and Merseyside Mental Health Services

Contract type: Permanent

Hours:18

Salary: £19,768.10 - £21,349.55

Closing Date: 28 August 2018

For more details and to apply, please click the link below to go to the Barnardos website:

https://jobs.barnardos.org.uk/jobs/vacancy/volunteer-co-ordinator-1510/1508/description/

Healthwatch Halton are holding an afternoon tea party at St Maries, Lugsdale Road, Widnes, WA8 6DB for Macmillan Cancer Support.  Every penny raised helps to make a difference to people affected by Cancer.

It is taking place on Thursday 20th September from 3pm to 5pm.  Put the date in your diary. Everyone is welcome.

St Helens Adult and Community Learning are organising an information event at the Town Hall on Thursday 13th September, 10-1pm.  Come along and find out about volunteering, updating skills and much more.  For more information call Adult and Community Learning on 01744 677315

The last whole systems obesity network meeting was held in the stadium April 2018, whereby the attached action plan was developed. Due to staff changes there has been disruption to the development of this programme of work.  There is now a new  core working group whereby Julia Rosser, FFPH,  Consultant in Public Health has taken over the lead for this work from Elspeth, who no longer works for Halton Borough Council and  Ian Baddiley has replaced David King as the health improvement lead. Lisa Taylor, Pam Worrall and Diane Lloyd remain members of the group.

They are keen to progress with the action plan that has been developed and move this work forward. Please find attached below the action plan for your information, please send any amendments to the actions to Diane.lloyd@halton.gov.uk. You will see that the action plan has been broken down into the following sections:

• Socioeconomic
• Built environment
• Transport
• Food Knowledge
• Physical activity

They need to identify forums that can take the actions forward for these areas, this might be through established groups, e.g. active Halton for physical activity, or we established specific task and finish groups.  Please send suggestions of groups that could progress the workplans, or nominations of officers to led actions.

They will be organising a whole systems network meeting in late September, whereby they will assess progress against the action plans.

As part of the evaluation, Leeds Beckett Univesity are looking to gain your views on how integrated into the whole systems approach that you feel. In the survey below, there are a number of questions on leadership, collaboration, and governance. There are also some open ended questions which allow you to give more general anonymous feedback about your participation.  Please can all members of the working group complete the survey.

Survey link: https://leedsbeckettsport.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1HP4zfDahwZgY0R

If you have any questions regarding the survey, please feel free to give James an email (j.d.nobles@leedsbeckett.ac.uk).  

Any comments or queries regarding the action plan/approach in Halton please do not hesitate to contact Julia Rosser on the contact details below.

Julia Rosser FFPH, UKPHR Reg. No. FR0660
Consultant in Public Health
Halton Borough Council, Runcorn Town Hall,
Heath Road, Runcorn, WA7 5TD

email: Julia.Rosser@halton.gov.uk

Tel: 0151 511 6772
 

Join the Age UK Mid Mersey Team who have a job vacancy for an Information and Advice Worker in Halton.  This is a part-time post (30 hours per week), salary £14,226 per annum based in the Runcorn office and is an exciting opportunity for a professional and highly motivated individual to join the Information and Advice Team in Halton to deliver front-line information and advice to clients.

Experience/skills/attributes:

• At least 2 years’ recent experience of Information and Advice work including welfare & benefits advice.
• Understanding of the issues affecting the lives of older people and their carers.
• Excellent inter-personal skills with the ability to relate to people from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds.
• Excellent communication, listening and verbal skills.
• Well-developed information-gathering and information management skills.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise workload.

Closing date 7th September 2018

How to apply 

Forward your CV. to hr@aukmm.org.uk or click on the link below to submit your CV

https://www.indeedjobs.com/age-uk-mid-mersey/jobs/5461ccefc6d3942d08e9

The Community Business Fund from independent trust, Power to Change, will open on Tuesday 11 September, offering grants between £50,000 and £300,000 to community businesses in England trading for the benefit of and accountable to their local communities. Organisations are encouraged to read the guidance for the fund before making an application.

A free webinar is being held on 13 September to give hopeful applicants an overview of the fund and its eligibility criteria. Register for the webinar here.

David Keane the Police & Crime Commissioner for Cheshire is asking victims of hate crime in Cheshire to speak out about what support they’ve received from the police. You can share your views by filling-out the short survey below. http://socsi.in/KfX06 

Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum has successfully secured funding from the Wellcome Trust/BEIS via the Inspiring Science Fund (ISF) to deliver transformational change, both in terms of physical infrastructure improvements and activities for existing and new audiences.
In order to deliver the project they have two exciting vacancies for dynamic, flexible and passionate people to join the fantastic team at Catalyst, in the roles of IS Project Manager and Community Engagement Officer.

Full job descriptions can be found attached below.

Please send a current CV and a letter of application to Meryl Jameson at meryl@catalyst.org.uk or by post to Catalyst Science Discovery Centre, Mersey Road, Widnes, Cheshire WA8 0DF by Monday 27th August 2018.

Interviews will be held during the first two weeks of September.

VCSE sector meeting with the Chair of the One Halton Partnership Board, David Colin-Thome, St Marie’s, Widnes, 20th June 2018

VCA arranged a session to give an opportunity to Halton’s VCSE sector to meet the Chair of the One Halton Partnership Board and understand more about the work on the integration of health and care services in the Borough.  David gave some of the background to the work that was now underway in Halton and it was noted that the One Halton concept had been underway in the Borough for a number of years, but the creation of the One Halton Board and the appointment of the independent Chair in 2017 had given greater impetus. Notes from the meeting are attached and if you want to find out more contact Sally Yeoman on syeoman@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk or phone 01928 592405.

At the St Helens Partnership Board meeting on the 13th September 2017 members agreed unanimously to adopt the Graded Care Profile 2 (GCP2) as the principle tool for the Partnership to use when measuring neglect across the partnership for St Helens.

The tool has a number of features:

• The GCP 2 tool is evidence based and uses assessment and observation to measure risk.
• The tool helps practitioners to recognise neglect.
• GCP 2 – is an improved model on GCP 1.

For further information, please see information sheet attached below

The Board agreed to finance and lead on the implementation of GCP 2 and therefore have purchased the license.

Further to Board ratification it was agreed that a pool of trainers would be nominated; they would receive Train the Trainer training with a view to delivering single agency training on using the GCP 2 tool. In addition, it was agreed that each trainer would deliver one multi-agency training session. On completion of the training all agency representatives requested the delivery model be changed to multi-agency delivery with single agency awareness sessions. In essence this means that each representative would deliver 2 x multi-agency training session in Year 1, the dates of which are yet to be fully determined.

The full letter from Ann Dunne Assistant Director of St Helens Safeguarding Boad can also be found below.

It is with regret that Nightstop Communities Northwest CIC (NCNW) has now had to apply a small charge for their previously free mental health services, this is due to them being a non commissioned service and due to the significant increase in demand as they solely rely on their Big Lottery grant funding.  Please be aware that the changes which were introduced from 1st August 2018 mean that NCNW can no longer accept self-referrals and a charge of £5 per person, per session has been introduced.  This charge is payable at reception upon arrival. For more information and referral forms etc see attached.

As you may know, Halton Haven Hospice provides palliative care, completely free of charge to the people of Halton, Frodsham and surrounding areas. They rely heavily on fundraising, donations and shops to bring in a steady reliable income stream to support the hospice. They are currently looking for a temporary storage solution at a minimal/free charge for a maximum of 4-6 months. The size ideally would be 2-3000 sq ft, easily accessible to them daily and be in the Halton/Frodsham area. Please contact Leanne Mullan – Retail Manager 07759 53 6262 or Leanne.mullan@haltonhaven.co.uk.

Could you help in the Willowbrook Hospice shops? Volunteering a few hours can help to support patients, families and carers, they need support in the Donations Warehouse, Sutton Road, St Helens; and the shops based in Fingerpost, St Helens Town Centre; Four Acre, Thatto Heath and Rainford – contact the Volunteer Office on 0151 430 8736 or e-mail help @willowbrookhospice.org.uk

Learn new skills for your CV, if you have time after retirement they can use your skills or if you want to give something back let them know. In return they give full training and support and greatly value the time that you will donate to Willowbrook.

Dog Control Consultation

In October 2014, the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 introduced new powers for local authorities to help tackle Anti-Social Behaviour. In addition, the Act made changes to existing legislation and councils were required to review existing Dog Control Orders and replace them with Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs). PSPOs can be used to regulate activities in particular public places that can have a detrimental effect on the local community. They can help by giving local councils and local police additional powers to tackle anti-social behaviour in specific locations.

There have been many changes and improvements to ‘green spaces’ since the original Dog Control Orders were introduced. There are now a number of new play areas and many examples where the landscape of an area has changed. Furthermore, in response to complaints and concerns raised by members of the public and continuing incidents of antisocial behaviour caused by irresponsible dog owners, the Council has taken the opportunity to review existing Orders and proposes to replace these Orders with a new PSPO, which will be in the form of a single Order that would include the current control measures and introduce a range of additional ones.  For any proposals that are approved and where a location becomes the subject of a PSPO, signs will be clearly displayed in sufficient numbers in the immediate area describing the restrictions and the consequences if restrictions are ignored. 

To participate in the consultation click on the link below, the consultation closes on the 28th September  

https://www3.halton.gov.uk/Pages/planning/dogcontrol.aspx      

The AGM of Halton Community Partnership Trust Ltd is to be held on Wednesday 26th September at 12noon at The Old Police Station, Mersey Road, Runcorn. Created in 1998, Halton Community Partnership Trust provides Halton residents, voluntary organisations, local charities and small businesses with affordable office space and function rooms. They currently have vacancies on the Board of Trustees, if anyone is interested in joining their Board you would be very welcome, for more information contact the office on 01928577404 or via email hcpt@btconnect.com.

For more information about HCP, please visit their website (link below):

http://www.haltoncpt.co.uk/

Volunteer Centre Halton are holding a Volunteer Recruitment Fair on Tuesday 9 October from 11-2pm at Riverside College, Kingsway Campus, Kingsway, Widnes WA8 7QQ. The event is open to both students and the general public.

If you would like to book a table at the event please, contact Linda on: 01928 593112 or email: lgoodier@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk. Places are limited, so book your table asap.

Closing date for bookings is midday on Friday 24th August.

One Halton Health and Wellbeing Board invites you to a Prevention Workshop 1.00 – 4.00 pm, Monday, 3rd September 2018.  The event is being held in Box 17 at Halton Stadium.  There is free car parking available at the Stadium.

They will be exploring how the voluntary sector and your organisation can work together with the health sector to deliver the new One Halton Prevention Framework and the 6 Transformational Health Programmes for Halton including:

• Prevention in GP Hubs Programme,
• Halton Gets Active Programme,
• Social and Emotional Mental Health Programme for 16- 22 year olds,
• Healthy Streets Programme,
• Workplace Health Programme,
• Making Every Patient Contact Count with the Hospitals. 

Places must be pre-booked so If you wish to attend please contact Lynne Woods (Lynne.Woods3@halton.gov.uk) and provide your name, organisation, contact email and contract telephone number. 

The Next Volunteer Managers/Co-ordinators Forum will be on Tuesday 2 October 2018 - 11.30am-2pm, at St Marie's, Lugsdale Road, Widnes WA8 6DB

The Forum meets six monthly to share information, discuss issues, monitoring and anything else to do with volunteering.

The meetings are informal and enjoyable. We hope you will feel able to participate.

Should you feel it would be helpful or appropriate for your role as a Volunteer Manager/Co-ordinator, please come along on the above date.

Lunch is not provided, so please bring along your own. Tea and coffee will be provided.

If you would like to attend please confirm your attendance to Linda Goodier either by phone: 01928 593112 or email: lgoodier@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk If you would like any items adding to the agenda please let Linda know on: lgoodier@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk

Save the date - Third Sector Engagement Group

The next meeting of the joint Third Sector Engagement Group between St Helens and Halton CCG will be taking place on Thursday 13 September 2018, 09.30 to 12.30 at Halton & St Helens VCA, St Maries, Lugsdale Road, Widnes, WA8 6DB.

The agenda will include an update on engagement opportunities developments in health with a chance to focus on the work and support the community and third sector can offer in relation to:

• Mental Health Services – This discussion will be supported by Tracey Fletcher from North West Boroughs
• Engagement and developments for the new cancer hub
• Focus and support opportunities

Agenda and list of speakers to follow.

For more information, please contact Des Chow on the details below:

Des Chow
Engagement and Involvement Manager
NHS Halton CCG
Runcorn Town Hall, Heath Road, Runcorn WA7 5TD

Tel no: 01928 593578

Email: des.chow@haltonccg.nhs.uk

Victim Support is a national charity offering support to victims of crime and trauma. The Merseyside team are looking for volunteers to enhance the service they deliver across the region. Many people face the effects of crime alone and confused. Your support will help individuals and their families to feel stronger, understood and able to move forward with their lives. You will be supporting people who have been victims of crime, either over the phone, at the victim’s home or another mutually agreed location. You will receive full induction, one-to-one support for the role and excellent training to develop new skills to enable you to become a knowledgeable, confident supporter. Victim Support encourage volunteers working with victims to be available for at least two hours a week for ideally a minimum of one year.

If you want to achieve a rewarding sense of having made a positive difference to people’s lives please apply for the Victim Services volunteer programme by e-mailing info.merseyside@victimsupport.org.uk to request an application pack. If you have any further questions feel free to ring the team on 0151 353 4003

Carers Strategy Group meeting

Sue Wallace-Bonner chaired a multi-agency “Carers Strategy” meeting on 23rd July 2018.  As well as officers from the public sector, in attendance were representatives from numerous voluntary sector groups (including Halton Carers Centre, Age UK Mid Mersey, Citizens Advice Halton, British Red Cross, Alzheimers Society).  The primary purpose of this forum is to look at refreshing the current 2016-19 Carers Strategy and see what progress has been made against the current 4 priority outcomes:

• Supported to stay mentally and physically well (Outcome 1)
• Supported to have a life of their own alongside caring (Outcome 2)
• Recognised as expert partners, and will be supported in their caring role by integrated and personalised services (Outcome 3)
• Provided with accessible advice and information that will assist them in making informed choices regarding their caring roles (Outcome 4)

Key points from the meeting for the wider “voluntary and community sector” to note and start preparing for include:

• Need to develop more integrated working and link up services so that carers “don’t fall through the net”
• How we can better support the employment and financial wellbeing of carers
• How we can better support young carers (we discussed the challenged young carers aged 16-25 faced when transitioning from being a young carer to being an adult carer
• Getting a better understanding of how funding for support services for carers is allocated and what impact it has

In you need more information please contact:

Carl Harris - Halton Carers Centre (tel: 01928 580 182)

Hitesh Patel – Citizens Advice Halton & trustee of Halton & St Helens VCA (tel: 0151 257 2443)

Background Information: 

The Alfred Shaw Trust Fund is managed by the Community Foundation for Merseyside. The Trust was established in memory of Alfred Shaw and this fund has been created following the transfer of the Trust fund to the Community Foundation.

What is the focus of the fund:  The charitable objectives of the Trust are:

• To help and support disabled children and young people
• To increase the provision of diversionary activities and facilities to  help and support vulnerable children and young people
• To support projects and initiatives that support vulnerable people through the winter months. 
• To support the provision of amenities for the elderly helping to reduce social isolation
• To support education initiatives that will help to raise the aspirations of children and young people living in Runcorn with particular interest in music and the arts
• To support young people to undertake projects or activities, where assistance from public bodies is not usually available. Applications for funding assistance will be considered for the advancement of education and training of individuals under the age of 25yrs who are residents of Runcorn

How much is available: 

The maximum grant available is £1500 for groups and £250 for individuals. More may be awarded in exceptional circumstances.

Who can apply:  

Voluntary or community groups with a constitution or set of rules in the group’s name, which includes CICs and Social Enterprises and young people under the age of 25 residing in Runcorn. 

Which areas are covered: 

Runcorn (WA7 postcode) 

Any special criteria: The fund will not support core salaries or general running costs but will consider sessional worker costs and an element of full cost recovery as part of a specific project.
 

Examples of the sorts of projects that may be funded:

•          Equipment for youth club
•          Music workshops for young people
•          Training for volunteers
•          Equipment for luncheon club
•          Activities for older person’s group
•          Projects to reduce social isolation for vulnerable groups
•          Play items for group working with children with disabilities
•          Coaching qualification for young person 
•          Costs of attending a training session that will help a young person develop their career

The closing date is Friday 10 August 2018 

For more information and how to apply, please click the link below:

http://www.cfmerseyside.org.uk/funds/alfred-shaw-trust-fund

St Helens Council is pleased to confirm that a bid has been submitted for the borough to become a host venue at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

To be held in England in the October-November, organisers are aiming to draw in record crowds at the 2021 tournament, with the men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions staged in a single, celebratory event – making it the biggest Rugby League World Cup yet.

Earlier this year, St Helens Council and St Helens R.F.C were approached by the Rugby Football League (RFL) with a view for Saints’ 18,000 capacity Totally Wicked Stadium to bid to host group games at the men and women’s tournaments.

Initial discussions with tournament organisers also resulted in the possibility of the borough hosting a team throughout the duration of the World Cup, using Ruskin Drive Sports Village and Saints’ training base at Cowley Language College as training bases.

As part of the borough’s bid – which was officially announced during half-time of the Saints vs Warrington Wolves match, St Helens would relish the opportunity to host a nation like Tonga, a rising world rugby league powerhouse currently ranked the fourth best international rugby league side in the world.

Hosting the event in St Helens could have an economic benefit of between £2.4m-£4.5m and contribute to other strategic initiatives such as the St Helens town centre regeneration; raising the profile of St Helens; bring positive links to public health messages – and boost community engagement after 75 percent of local spectators felt that the World Cup enhanced community spirit when it was last in town in 2013.

Commenting on the prospect of such a prestigious event returning to the borough, St Helens Council Leader Derek Long said:

"Rugby League is in our DNA. That's why I made winning a host venue as a key priority in my first week as Council Leader.

“This is a great bid founded on a great partnership with Saints. We will now work hard to use this to build a great sporting legacy for our clubs and communities across the borough. "

Saints Chief Executive Mike Rush added: “To host a team and stage games here at The Totally Wicked Stadium would be a huge privilege for all connected with the club and town.

“A World Cup Tournament brings people together and embraces so many different cultures that to play a part as a venue and host town would be of great benefit from grass roots community rugby right through to the commercial benefits that such an event attracts.

“I am sure the whole of St Helens will get right behind our bid and we can all look forward to a fantastic Rugby League World Cup in 2021.”

Now’s the Time is the second programme from the Justice and Equality Fund managed by Rosa. The programme aims to amplify the voices of individuals and groups who are calling for an end to sexual harassment and abuse, in their workplaces and in their communities.

The Justice and Equality Fund aims to bring an end to the culture of harassment, abuse and impunity by resourcing an expert network of advice, support and advocacy organisations and projects.  Inspired by the phenomenal campaigners of #metoo, TIME’s UP, Ni Nunca Mas, the #lifeinleggings movements and others, a group of UK-based women from the entertainment industry have come together to challenge the culture that permits people in positions of power to sexually harass and abuse others.

They want to resource imaginative, collaborative and creative grassroots activism so are asking organisations to apply by answering the question: "What would you do towards ending sexual harassment (in work places and in communities)? "

Funding is available for:

• Prevention work
• Awareness raising activities
• Imaginative and creative grassroots activism
• Influencing work
• Work with groups and communities who might face additional barriers to getting their voices heard, or might be at higher risk of sexual harassment and abuse to amplify those voices
• Work that tries out new ideas
• Work that replicates tried and tested approaches in new settings
• Work that others can learn from

They are particularly keen to see cross-sector partnerships where the expertise of specialist voluntary sector organisations at the forefront of this work is shared with others to help drive broader change.

How to apply

It is important that you read the programme guidance and application guidance as both go into further detail about the criteria for applying along with the aims and deadlines for the programme.

They will be hosting a series of ‘How to Apply’ webinars which will introduce you to the Justice and Equality Fund and take you through the fund’s Now’s the Time (small grants) programme, offering guidance on making an application. Please register to attend by clicking on your preferred date:

• Monday 20th August: 2pm – 3pm
• Wednesday 12th September: 10.30am – 11.30am
• Thursday 13th September: 8.30pm – 9.30pm (late session)

You must then complete a short online application form and submit a three minute video answering the following questions :

• What does your organisation do?
• What does your organisation want to do, where and when?
• How will this contribute to ending sexual harassment?
• What difference will it make and why are you the best organisation to make it happen?
• How will you spend your grant?

When will you hear the outcome: Early December 2018.

You help decide: They are going to use a process called participatory grantmaking to decide who is awarded funding.  Your video will be shared with other applicants who will rank your application according to the clarity and credibility of your plans. You can therefore expect to hear from them during October-November 2018 asking you and your group to look at some of the other videos they have received and voting for the ideas you like the best.

Still unsure? They’d like to talk to you! Please email to request a chat and one of the team will get back to you.

Contact them: info@rosauk.org       Web: www.rosauk.org

Community groups which work to divert young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour are being invited to bid for grants for projects running during the autumn half-term, thanks to Merseyside’s Police Commissioner.

Jane Kennedy has announced that she is once again releasing a round of funding from the Police Property Act Fund (PPA), which allows money raised from the sale of unclaimed stolen goods or property recovered by the police to be used for good causes.

It is the ninth time the Commissioner has asked community organisations, charities and groups to apply for a vital cash boost of up to £5,000 grants for grassroots initiatives which are working to help young people to make the right choices. A total of £45,000 is available from the fund for one-off grants for organisations which are committed to improving community safety, reducing crime or supporting victims.

Jane has already awarded nearly £333,000 through the PPA to organisations that are making a difference in their communities. Since July 2015, the fund has been used to concentrate on youth engagement initiatives.

The Commissioner said: "I am pleased to once again open up the Police Property Act Fund for bids of up to £5,000 to organisations which are working to make their communities safer and better places to live by engaging with young people.

“Many communities across Merseyside traditionally see a rise in criminal and anti-social behaviour during the autumn half-term, particularly around Bonfire and Mischief Night. Historically, it is also a particularly busy time for the police and the fire service. Through these grants, I want to help alleviate these issues and prevent local young people from making mistakes they may regret in the future.

“Once a young person gets a criminal record it can blight their future prospects. If we can prevent them from making mistakes at a young age we can look forward to their positive contribution to their neighbourhoods.

“I want to see these grants used to support projects that complement the excellent diversionary work carried out by Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, ensuring that young people can enjoy the autumn festivities in a safe and enjoyable way which is properly supervised.”

Last year, more than 11,300 young people benefitted from 26 youth initiatives which kept them away from dangerous activities, thanks to funding raised by the police from the sale of stolen goods.

Jane added: “Local people know their communities best. They know what works when engaging with their young people and I am looking forward to reviewing their ideas and initiatives for ensuring everyone can have a safe and fun Halloween.”

The PPA fund is administered by the Community Foundation for Merseyside, (CFM) on behalf of the Commissioner. CFM holds funds from individuals and organisations as donors who wish to support deserving causes in Merseyside.”

All applications must be submitted online via the Community Foundation for Merseyside by 5pm on Monday 14th September. Please visit their website for further details and to apply for the funding:

http://www.cfmerseyside.org.uk/funds/police-property-act-fund

Posts: One Halton Healthy New Town Project Support Officer (band 7afc) &  One Halton Healthy New Town Team Administrator (band 4 afc)    

Hours: 37.5 (12 months fixed term) 

Base: Halton CCG Head Quarters (Runcorn Town Hall)

NHS Halton CCG have an established Place Based, Integrated, One Halton Healthy New Town Transformation Programme and are currently recruiting a fixed term (12 months) dedicated team to support this work.  They are looking for two individuals who are highly motivated, innovative and experienced in project/programme management, administration, governance, operations, analytics and transformation to work with us to deliver a challenging but exciting programme of change.

They are currently working with a wide range of stakeholders to identify the opportunities and focus of the transformation schemes for the next 2 - 5 years.  They are also working in partnership with a range of organisations across our local health economy to develop the Strategic Transformation Plan.

Both post holders will be required to work closely with key stakeholders to facilitate the changes required, building strong working relationships and using these to ensure ownership, understanding and delivery of the overall programme.

You may be new to Place based Care, but if you are self-motivated, organised, innovative then you should consider joining the team.  They are looking for two individuals who have exceptional organisational skills, with attention to detail and who has good communication skills and can challenge in a supportive way.

Are you looking for an exciting post in an innovative place based environment which offers challenge and opportunities for development?  If so, this could be the post for you.

Eligible staff who currently work within the following organisations are invited to apply for the available positions:

• NHS Halton CCG
• NHS Warrington CCG
• Halton Borough Council
• St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals Trust
• Warrington and Halton Hospitals FT
• Bridgewater Community FT
• North West Boroughs FT
• Halton GP Federations
• Halton Housing Trust
• Halton & St Helens VCA

Project Support Officer Band 7 Advert:  http://healthjobsuk.com/job/v1219327  Interviews are scheduled to take place on 30th and 31st August 2018

Project Administrator Band 4 Advert:  http://healthjobsuk.com/job/v1223087  Interviews are scheduled to take place on 3rd September 2018

Applications will close on 19th August 2018, however in the event of exceptionally high levels of response, they reserve the right to close the post before the date stated in order to prevent the number of applications received being unmanageable.  You are advised to submit your completed application form as soon as possible to have the best chance of being considered.

For informal discussions, please contact Carl Mackie on 01925 662 230 / Mob: 07961 683 745 / Email: carlmackie@nhs.net

On the 25th July, VCA’s Chief Officer attended the People’s board on behalf of members.

The key items of discussion were:

• Changes to the Governance of the Board refreshing what Boards report into the People’s board and how work plan is developed
• An update on the Suicide Prevention Partnership Action Plan – a report was provided by the DPH and an update on the work to tackle the rise in suicide in St Helens
• Merseyside Police gave an update on the work across Merseyside on tackling knife crime and the development of a strategy for reducing knife related incidents across the city region
• A presentation from Pause St Helens, a charity delivering a new service in the Borough, whose aim is to prevent the damaging consequences of thousands more children being taken into care
• An update on St Helens Cares and the progress towards implementing the integrated local care system.  In particular the update on a Lead Provider Model and the locality teams
• The Board received the Children’s Safeguarding Board’s Annual report.  There was also an update on the new Working Together arrangements. 

For more information on the People’s Board or any of the items of the agenda please get in touch with us by email syeoman@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk or phone 01744 457100

Helen Fitzgerald, Chief Officer at the Deafness Resource Centre is the 2nd VCSE sector representative for the People’s Board and can also be contacted if you want to know more about the work of the Board.

Event - World Suicide Prevention Day

Date - 8th September 2018

Time - 11-4pm

Location - Taylor Park, St Helens

World Suicide Prevention day (WSPD) is held each year on the 10th of September. It’s an annual awareness raising event organised by International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). St Helens Healthy Living Team will be hosting this years annual event, themed as a "Picnic in the Park" at Taylor Park alongside the St Helens 150 Years celebrations.

The event will be held on Saturday 8th September and will be open to the public from 11-4pm. All partners should arrive by 9am to set up in the marquee and services will be requested to stay around for the debrief at the end of the event, catch up with partners and return tally sheets.

The themed family "Picnic In the Park" will offer a variety of activities aimed at keeping our communities well. There will be opportunities for partners to run an activity usually offered by their service and spaces to have conversations around mental health and keeping yourself well. The aim of the day is to encourage people to think about their mental health alongside their physical health, encouraging them to take part in activities and hobbies which help them to feel good and cope especially in tough times.

Currently the following activity sessions have been confirmed:

• Community Food Team;
• Life Style Advisors;
• Mental Health Team;
• Health Living Team;
• Bus tours will be offered with booking essential;

More sessions will be added over the coming weeks, with final preparation briefings and flyers sent out nearer the date.

Suicide prevention is the responsibility of us all, your continued support is essential as we work towards the Zero Suicide agenda.

Please email  lynnsaunders@sthelens.gov.uk or Robertalcock@sthelens.gov.uk to confirm your support, attendance, if you want to offer an activity session or want a stall space.

Homeless Link offer flexible unsecured loan/grant packages from £25,000 to £150,000 together with dedicated advice and support to help homelessness sector organisations to increase their social impact. They focus on the potential that such blended finance can have on creating change. They are looking to increase the homelessness sector's knowledge and experience of social investment, develop new models for income generation and funding and improve their long-term sustainability.

For more information please see the link below for the pdf leaflet, visit www.homelesslink.org.uk/social-investment-fund or call their Investment Manager, Jaishree Mistry, for a chat on 07507 506378.

https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/sites/sthelenscvs.org.uk/files/webform/HL%20Social%20Investment%20Fund.pdf

The Troubled Families programme in St Helens has been re-branded and is now known as Families First St Helens. 

What is the Families First St Helens Programme about?

Family life can be a challenge for any parent; but when you’re faced with many problems at once, it can be hard to know where to turn. The Families First Programme is an exciting new programme, funded by government and local organisations, to work with St Helens families to:

• Improve school attendance and behaviour
• Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour
• Help adults and young people get into work or training
• Improve family life, making sure children are safe and well
• Prevent domestic violence
• Promote good health
• Reduce the harm caused by drugs and alcohol

Who is the Programme for?

It is for families where two or more of these things are happening:

• Adults are on out-of-work benefits and finding it hard to get work
• Children are not attending school regularly or have been excluded repeatedly
• Families are getting into trouble with the police because of their behaviour
• Children are vulnerable and need help
• Families are affected by domestic violence
• Parents or children have problems with mental health or drugs/alcohol

How does it work?

Families will get support to help everyone in the family overcome difficulties and make positive changes. They will work with you to solve problems and make sure you get the right help, from the right people, at the right time. The Programme can help support you in a number of ways, ranging from advice and guidance to intensive family support in your home. Other professionals you may already know will always be involved, working with you to achieve the goals you set for yourself and your family.
 

For more information and how to refer families / be referred to the programme, please see the attached documents below.

One Halton Health and Wellbeing Board invites you to a Prevention Workshop 1.00 – 4.00 pm, Monday, 3rd September 2018.  The event is being held in the Karalius Suite at Halton Stadium.  There is free car parking available at the Stadium.

They will be exploring how the voluntary sector and your organisation can work together with the health sector to deliver the new One Halton Prevention Framework and the 6 Transformational Health Programmes for Halton including:

• Prevention in GP Hubs Programme,
• Halton Gets Active Programme,
• Social and Emotional Mental Health Programme for 16- 22 year olds,
• Healthy Streets Programme,
• Workplace Health Programme,
• Making Every Patient Contact Count with the Hospitals. 

Places must be pre-booked so If you wish to attend please contact Lynne Woods (Lynne.Woods3@halton.gov.uk) and provide your name, organisation, contact email and contract telephone number.  Closing date for bookings is Friday 24th August.

Halton Disability Partnership (HDP) is a charity, founded in 2010, which provides information, advice and support for disabled people, and their families, in the Borough of Halton. HDP is a Disabled People User Led Organisation (DPULO).  A majority of their Trustees are disabled people.  

They currently have the following vacancy:

Job Title: Safeguarding Officer                                                                                                       

21.5 per week

£  20,411-£ 23,557 PER ANNUM PRO RATA

Job Purpose:

• To contribute to the development of an adult safeguarding resource within Halton Disability Partnership.
• To work with Direct Payment workers and CEO to ensure clients have real choice in their care combined with security/safety, so they can access full citizenship.
• To collect data for reports to Funders.
• To audit all current clients involved with Halton Disability Partnership to assess adult safety status.

Full job description is attached below.  For more information and an application form for the above vacancies please contact HDP on 01928 248937. 

Closing date is 14th September 2018 at 12 noon

Our colleagues from Halton Borough Council’s External Funding Team have prepared some Funding Bulletins containing valuable information for voluntary organisations looking for grants to get projects off the ground. 

The Monthly funding bulletins offering information on funding opportunities in the following areas:

Arts, Community & Voluntary, Environment & Heritage, European, Faith, Health, Schools, Sports and Youth.

To access the information, please click on the link below:

https://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/business/FinanceandGrants/finance.aspx

On Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 August, Willowbrook Hospice in Prescot will once again be opening its beautiful award winning gardens to the public as part of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS).

The Willowbrook gardens are one of only ten hospice gardens chosen to participate in the NGS.

The gardens, which are spead over 5 acres, include 3 Japanese gardens, water features, a kitchen garden and formal gardens.

Nichola Saunders, Head of Fundraising at Willowbrook said: “We’re really proud of our beautiful gardens which have been designed to provide patients and visitors with a picturesque and tranquil place to unwind and relax. Last year the gardens attracted over 500 visitors and we’re thrilled that we’re able to open them up to the public again. Our gardeners and all our garden volunteers work so hard to maintain and develop the gardens and it’s wonderful that we’re able to invite people who wouldn’t normally see them to come along and enjoy them.” 

The hospice gardens will be open 11am-4pm and entry is £3 for adults and free for children with profits going towards the NGS fund for nursing and caring charities.  

For more information about the National Garden Scheme at Willowbrook Hospice visit https://www.ngs.org.uk/find-a-garden/garden/34063/

Unfortunately we currently have an issue with our mailing service that means we can’t send any of our mailings out including the ebulletin which is due out today. Our technical guys are working on it and will hopefully have a fix soon, but regrettably we don’t know how long this will be. Apologise for any inconvenience this causes. However you’ll be pleased to know that our ebulletin is ready to go and you can have the first read of it here...

https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/civicrm/mailing/view?reset=1&id=2789

The NEW Pride of St Helens Business Awards in association with Invest in St Helens, is an evening of celebration and glamour for the leading organisations who invest in St Helens 2018. Halton And St Helens Voluntary And Community Action are proud to be the Sponsor Of The Community Impact Award!

The Pride of St Helens Business Awards honour, support and celebrate the impact businesses, social enterprises and educational facilities have on the local economy. Raising the profile of St Helens as a place to invest, live, learn, visit and work, these businesses ensure they raise aspirations, inspire pride and create jobs. From schools to social enterprises, private to voluntary sector, we welcome your FREE entry. By simply putting your hat in the ring you are gaining a valuable opportunity to showcase your achievements and highlight how you make a difference to our town! Make this your year!

Make your nomination now...

https://www.investinsthelens.com/business-awards/

Public Health England would like to invite you to the Fifth Annual North of England Inequalities Conference on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 November 2018 in Liverpool.

This year’s theme is 'what can devolution mean for the health and wellbeing of people and places across the North?’ The conference is an opportunity to bring together individuals from across the North to discuss, share and learn how we can all live long and prosper, closing the health gap between and within our communities. 

Speakers include Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor, Liverpool City Region, Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive, Public Health England and Professor Dame Margaret Whitehead, WH Duncan Chair of Public Health, University of Liverpool.

Registration and coffee will be from 12:00 to 12:55 on Thursday 1 November, and the afternoon will run from 13:00 to 16:30. On Friday 2 November, registration will be from 09:00 to 09:25 and the conference will run from 09:30 to 15:30. The conference will take place at Liverpool Football Club, Anfield Road, Liverpool L4 0TH. To see details about the programme and to book your place, please visit the conference website. 

 If you have any questions about the conference, please send an email to events@phe.gov.uk.

Background Information:

The fund aims to work with voluntary bodies and community groups in Merseyside to support community safety, crime prevention and security initiatives in their locality.

What is the focus of the fund: 

All applications must meet the following objectives of the fund: 
- To promote a safer and increased quality of life through the prevention of crime and the protection of people and property from criminal acts for the benefit of the public in and around Merseyside.
- To secure the advancement of education for the public benefit in all matters relating to community safety.
- To increase provision of diversionary activities and facilities that target young people to reduce crime and anti social behaviour.

How much is available: 

Grants will normally range from £500 to £2500 and may be less than the figure applied for. In exceptional circumstances, grants of higher value may be 
considered.

Which areas are covered: 

Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St. Helens and Wirral 

Any special criteria: 

Groups should have been constituted for at least 12 months before seeking funding. The panel is unlikely to fund salaries and staff costs. Priority will be given to projects that focus on the advancement of education and increasing the provision of diversionary activities and facilities for young people. In exceptional circumstances, consideration will be given to other types of funding. NB The panel is unlikely to fund CCTV systems, security measures or similar pieces of equipment. 

In addition to the completed application applicants should provide a letter of support for the project, ideally from a PCSO (Police Community Support Officer), traffic community support officer or similar referee. 

NB: The donor has discretion to also commission applications.

The next closing date is Friday 27 July 2018 but due to a limited budget the fund may close earlier when sufficient applications are received.

For more informaition and to make an application please click the link below:

http://www.cfmerseyside.org.uk/funds/high-sheriff-and-merseyside-police-charitable-fund

Liverpool City Council have a number of vacancies that have gone "live" this week.  They include Refugee Programme Support Officer, Analyst and Performance Team Leader, Community Development Team Leader, Grants Officer, Community Development Officer. More information about each role and how to apply can be found by clicking the links below:

LCC01815 Refugee Programme Support Officer:

http://lccjobs.liverpool.gov.uk/details.aspx?id=P1LFK026203F3VBQBV77VF6FT&nPostingID=5120&nPostingTargetID=21383&mask=lccext&lg=UK

LCC01816 Analyst and Performance Team Leader:

http://lccjobs.liverpool.gov.uk/details.aspx?id=P1LFK026203F3VBQBV77VF6FT&nPostingID=5123&nPostingTargetID=21405&mask=lccext&lg=UK

LCC01817 Community Development Team Leader:

http://lccjobs.liverpool.gov.uk/details.aspx?id=P1LFK026203F3VBQBV77VF6FT&nPostingID=5124&nPostingTargetID=21443&mask=lccext&lg=UK

LCC01818 Grants Officer:

http://lccjobs.liverpool.gov.uk/details.aspx?id=P1LFK026203F3VBQBV77VF6FT&nPostingID=5125&nPostingTargetID=21503&mask=lccext&lg=UK

LCC01819 Community Development Officer:

http://lccjobs.liverpool.gov.uk/details.aspx?id=P1LFK026203F3VBQBV77VF6FT&nPostingID=5126&nPostingTargetID=21523&mask=lccext&lg=UK

The Community Foundation for Merseyside is pleased to announce the launch of the second round of the Liverpool ONE Foundations Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Well-being funding programme.

The Liverpool ONE Foundation’s aspiration is to achieve a decrease in the number of children and young people up to 25 years of age suffering with mental health problems in Merseyside and they will be looking to support projects that decrease the number of children and young people suffering with mental health problems, raise awareness of mental health issues or remove the stigma currently associated with mental health problems.

What is the focus of the fund:

The primary focus of all projects should be on improving children and young people’s mental health and well-being and preventing the development of mental health problems.

Fund priorities:

Applications are encouraged for projects that concentrate on the prevention of mental health problems and the Foundation is keen to fund projects that help support families and young children to develop methods to equip them with the skills necessary to prevent mental health issues occurring. They also wish to support projects that can be scaled up based on proven results, or projects to pilot and test new approaches and ideas to build evidence to use to further develop and scale up future initiatives.

Examples of the sorts of projects that may be funded:

• Projects developing children’s resilience, e.g. teaching children and young people methods and techniques to equip them with the skills necessary to prevent mental health issues and focus on their mental wellbeing
• Family support such as projects aimed at parents to help prevent the development or escalation of mental health problems in children and young people
• Peer mentoring projects with a focus on mental health and wellbeing 
• Projects that look to achieve a positive mind-set change around mental health, e.g. awareness raising projects
• Applications from community and voluntary sector organisations for projects taking place within schools as long as they are additional to national curriculum

How much is available:

• Applications are welcome for grants of all sizes for project related costs up to £20,000 over a 12 month period. The Foundation encourages applications for smaller-sized grants as well as larger applications.

Which areas are covered: 

• Liverpool City Region (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Wirral)

Any special criteria: 

• The programme is targeted at local grassroots groups and is aimed at those with an income of under £500k (larger local charities may still be considered depending on the strength of the project against the fund criteria, but priority will be given to those with an income of under £500k)
• Community Foundation for Merseyside will continually assess the overall impact and success of your project and the overall impact the Foundation is achieving. Applicants will be expected to work with them to determine the impact and outcomes of their projects.
• As part of their wider strategy, the Liverpool ONE Foundation has developed a Community and Statutory forum consisting of experts working on the front line with children and young people. The forums purpose is to provide opportunities to share best practice, identify gaps or duplication in provision and set some key aspirations for mental health and mental wellbeing. Successful applicants may be invited to participate in the forum, which will take place approx. 4 times per year.
• Training opportunities will also be made available for applicants covering topics such as Mental Health 1st Aid and Resilience  

The closing date for applications is 14th September 2018. The total budget available is £100k and the panel will be held at the beginning of November 2018. It is recommend that you apply as soon as possible as if they are significantly oversubscribed they will have to close the fund early and don’t disappoint too many applicants, however they will publicise this via social media channels and on their website to let you know.

How to apply?

Please visit the Community Foundations for Lancashire and Merseyside’s website - www.cfmerseyside.org.uk and complete an online application form. Once you have submitted the online application you will need to send the documents listed below. If relevant documents are not submitted within 7 days your application will be withdrawn.  Please attach your documents to your online application or email them to applications@cflm.email

Documents which need to be included with your application:

1. A signed and dated copy of the group’s rules or constitution
2. A copy of the group’s latest annual accounts or income/expenditure document
3. A copy of a recent bank statement for your group
4. A signed and dated copy of the group’s current Safeguarding Policy. All applicants must ensure they hold relevant policies and procedures in place to undertake activities, such as DBS checks and/or a health and safety policy, depending on proposed activity.

For further information please contact:

Tina Kennedy
Community Philanthropy Manager
Community Foundations for Lancashire & Merseyside
Third Floor, Stanley Building, 43 Hanover Street, Liverpool, L1 3DN

T: 0151 294 4756 Email: tina@cflm.email

The full guidlines can be found in the attached document below.

FTW, Asset and Dovewell Training have amalgamated and are wanting to promote what services and training is available to St Helens Residents who are wanting to undergo training, employment or utilise some of the fantastic support services that are out there. The event is going to be held on 1st August starting at 10am- 2pm at the Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens, on entry everyone will receive a raffle ticket and throughout the day various spot prizes will be given out through the donations of local businesses. The aim is for residents to have a chat to various partners to see what is on offer in their community.

If you would like to have a stall to represent your organisation, please contact Nikki McCarthy-Obey http://nikki@ftwtraining.com

Thatto Heath Crusaders Rugby Club  are looking for a small team of volunteers (about 3 or 4 people) to manage car parking duties on a Sunday morning, 0930-1200, throughout the junior rugby league season and on event days.  Volunteers would be asked to assist the safe parking of around 200 cars over a 3 hr period and manage safe access and egress.

Free refreshments, walkie talkie and hi viz jacket will be provided.

For more information about this opportunity and others at Thatto Heath Crusaders contact Volunteer Centre St Helens on 01744 751759 or email volunteersthelens@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk

Citizens Advice Halton is urging local people who are struggling paying the bills or who are in debt to get help from their accredited Money Advice Team. 

Often when a life changing event happens (you lose your job, you have a child, you experience a relationship breakdown) it is so easy to get into a downward spiral of debt. If you've missed even just one important payment like your rent, your council tax, your credit card, Citizens Advice Halton can help. Their advisers can help you review your household budgets and also what rights you have to get some breathing space to get your finances back on an even keel.

Please don't ignore the bills or borrow yet more money to pay off your debts or arrears... get advice. Citizens Advice Halton have a call-back service (tel: 0151 257 2449) so all you need to do is leave your name and number and a Money Adviser will call you back, usually that day. Alternatively people can Email: advice@citizensadvicehalton.org.uk

Benefit Mythbuster (https://benefitmythbuster.net) is a new online web tool designed to help address commonly held myths and misconceptions about universal credit.

People can choose from three options – ‘Starting a New Claim’, ‘Managing your Claim’, and ‘Solving Problems’ to find out more about their rights, including information on job search, the claimant commitment, in-work conditionality, sanctions, and more.

People can also get in touch to add a myth that needs busting. Or help to bust a myth!

Benefit Mythbuster is one of a range of web tools from the advice and technology charity Lasa, who also deliver rightsnet – the social welfare law information & advice site for advisers. Find out more at: https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/resources/webtools 

UC Crew visited Stuttgart for "Twin Towns in Action Day" during 29th June - 2nd July by performing across the city at dance schools, local festivals and the international twin town events to celebrate culture, partnership and unity between St Helens and Stuttgart.

UC Crew have been working with Stuttgart Council and local Break Dancers for over 10 years and are regular guests at each others Break Dancing events including the  international events 'Northern Hordes' and 'Break It' which featured annually in Church Square and at Sherdley Park as part of the St Helens festival.

Tom Glynn said "Our visit to Stuttgart has strengthened our links and talks are underway for regular partnership projects to happen with Stuttgart Break Dancers to celebrate town twinning and the St Helens 150th Anniversary"

UC Crew are an award winning youth organisation in St Helens specialising in encouraging the local community to become active citizens using Break Dancing, Graffiti and DJing as a platform to change the community.

Their aim is to use their knowledge and experience to help children, young people and adults to become more positively engaged with the local community, increase their confidence, become healthier, more employable, have fun and have life aspirations.

Their main activities are events, performances, lessons, Break Dancing youth club, organised projects, volunteering, educational visits and understanding different cultures.

UC Crew are available for performances, youth exchanges, competitions, talks, event management, project leadership, teaching regular classes and workshops.

For further information on workshops, shows and practices sessions email: hello@uccrew.co.uk or check out their facebook page for all their news https://www.facebook.com/uccrewsth/

Newton Boys and Girls Club (NBGC) are looking for dedicated people to join their volunteer team. NBGC is a youth provision based in Newton-Le-Willows town centre; they engage with children and young people aged 8-18 and through their sessions they encourage inclusion, development and communication. This opportunity will involve being a positive role model, being supportive and being a good listener. All they ask is that you are reliable, committed and have a willingness to learn as opportunities will come up for you to develop your own skills.

Contact Volunteer Centre St Helens for more details: Volunteersthelens@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk

Phone 01744 751759

Our colleagues from Halton Borough Council’s External Funding Team have prepared some Funding Bulletins containing valuable information for voluntary organisations looking for grants to get projects off the ground. 

The Monthly funding bulletins offering information on funding opportunities in the following areas:

Arts, Community & Voluntary, Environment & Heritage, European, Faith, Health, Schools, Sports and Youth.

To access the information, please click on the link below:

https://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/business/FinanceandGrants/finance.aspx

The Friends of Taylor Park, in partnership with the park rangers, are staging the Taylor Park Festival between 1.00pm and 5.00pm on Sunday 22nd July 2018 in Taylor Park, St Helens.

Entry to the festival is free and attractions will include fairground rides, children’s entertainer, barbeque and games & stalls to test your skills (as well as seeing how lucky you are).

Prices for the activities have been kept at last year’s discounted rate, most of the games will cost only 20p.

Come along to St Helens’ finest park for an afternoon of fun for all the family, it’s one not to be missed!

The park (post code WA10 3HX) is located just off Prescot Road, the main route between St Helens Town Centre and Prescot. It is well served by buses and public car parking (free but limited) is available in the park by the Grosvenor Road and the Holme Road entrances. There is some on-street parking but

The Friends of Taylor Park urge visitors who have to drive to be considerate and avoid causing inconvenience to residents in the area.

Suicide is preventable. We can all make a difference to someone. Free suicide prevention training from @Zer0Suicide, takes just 20 minutes and could save someone’s life: www.zerosuicidealliance.com support is available: www.sthelens.gov.uk/mentalhealthsupport #Talk2Me #itsokaytotalk #SaveALife

It is safe to talk about suicide. If you think a friend, colleague or family member may be struggling, start a conversation today. 

There’s a new catchy anthem for the summer! #Talk2Me written and performed by mental health worker Zorro Rundasumbwa, promoting free suicide prevention training that gives people confidence to help those in need, check it out below. 

St Helens & District Group of Diabetes UK are a friendly group offering information and support to people living with diabetes, and to anyone who wants to find out more about the condition.  Their meetings are free to attend and they have a good selection of information on diabetes available. Attached is the new programme of meetings for the group.  The programme will commence on Wed 5th September 2018 at 7.30pm in St Helens United Reformed Church, King Street, St Helens, WA10 2JZ.  All meetings will be held in this venue.

For further information, please contact Cherry Bowmaker on 0151 480 0821 or visit their website at www.st-helens-and-district.diabetesukgroup.org

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is asking local people for their help to draw up a new pattern of council wards for Halton Borough Council.

The consultation is the first part of an electoral review which will re-draw ward boundaries across the borough.

The Commission has also announced that Halton Borough Council should have 54 councillors in future: two fewer than the current arrangements.

In drawing up new boundaries, the Commission aims to deliver electoral equality for voters in council elections so that each councillor represents roughly the same number of voters. The review also aims to ensure that the new council wards reflect, as far as possible, the interests and identities of communities across Halton.

• Do you have suggestions about where your ward boundaries should be?
• Where do people in your area go to access local facilities, such as shops and leisure activities?
• Which areas do you identify as your local community?

Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: “We are asking local people and organisations to help us draw up new wards for Halton. As we develop the recommendations, we will take into account local community identities as well as ensuring electoral equality for voters.

“If you have a view about which communities or neighbourhoods should be part of the same council ward, then we want to hear from you. And if you think a road, river or railway makes for a strong boundary between communities in your part of Halton, then this consultation is for you.

“If you’re interested in the way the borough is run, just log on to our website to explore our interactive maps and have your say.

“Your views will make a difference.

“We will carefully consider all evidence that is provided during this phase of the review, whoever it is from and whether it applies to the whole of Halton or just a small part of the borough.

“Residents will then have a further chance to have their say after we publish our draft recommendations in November.

Your opinion matters

For more information and interactive maps, visit:
consultation.lgbce.org.uk and www.lgbce.org.uk.
Write to: Review Officer (Halton), LGBCE, 1st Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0TL
Email: reviews@lgbce.org.uk.
Twitter: @LGBCE

Local people have until 3 September 2018 to submit their views in this consultation. Further information on the review and interactive maps of the existing wards can be found at https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/ and www.lgbce.org.uk.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the 5.5 million people living in Britain’s former mining communities. Many of these communities still require support due to the huge impact the closure of the mines had upon them.

The Coalfields Community Investment Programme (England) is a £500,000 fund created to support activities that tackle some of the key challenges that still remain in coalfield communities. The fund is open to projects that deliver in the top 30% most deprived coalfield communities and that will make a positive difference in addressing the following themes:

Skills: Growing the skills of people in order to increase their opportunities

Employment: Developing pathways to increase the number of people in work

Health: Supporting activities that improve the health and wellbeing of all age groups

The offer will reopen on Monday 25th June 2018 and all the information on registering an enquiry relating to a project is on the following page:

http://www.coalfields-regen.org.uk/what-we-do/division-missing/coalfields-community-investment-programme-ccip-funding-support/

Please read all the information and the guidance notes carefully before deciding whether to complete the Eligibility Survey.

Enjoy a taste of Spain at Willowbrook-The Living Well’s Spanish Cheese & Wine Evening on 5 July.

The evening starts at 7pm and you’ll be treated to a range of delicious cheeses alongside some of Spain’s finest wines, with commentary provided by a local expert.

Tickets are just £10 and are available from the Living Well on Borough Road, St Helens - call in, give the team a ring on 01744 453798 or email: events@willowbrookhospice.org.uk

Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy in Runcorn is seeking to recruit governors with a knowledge of the local economic, skills and labour markets.

They are very keen to hear from people who have expertise in the following fields:

• Finance
• Human Resources
• IT Systems and IT Security
• Education – Pedagogy and Curriculum
• School Admissions

NB: This is not a call for Parent Governors – opportunities for Parent Governors will be shared with all parents when they become available – however, if a parent feels they can offer the above, please do get in touch as it may be possible to be co-opted to the Board of Trustees in another capacity.

Anybody interested in an informal conversation about these voluntary roles (reasonable expenses may be payable) should contact the School Principal, Mr Emlyn Wright, via email; recruitment@ob-ac.co.uk

What They Can Offer:

A chance to develop professionally as a trustee/governor of a school as part of the wider Ormiston Academies Trust Governor Support Package.

An opportunity to support and improve the life chances of children in the community.

To be part of a strong team that makes a difference to its local community.
 

What They Are Looking For:

Full attendance at three Full Governors’ Meetings per year (5.00 – 7.00pm).

A willingness to join one or more sub-committees (Finance and General Purpose, Curriculum and Standards, Policy, and Enrichment) each of which meet up to three afternoons per year.

To be available two or three time per year (2-3 hours each time) to visit the Academy during the school day to take part in their Governor Link Programme.

To support other events at the Academy and be a strong advocate for the Academy in the community.

To be available one day per year for their Annual Governors’ Away Day (usually towards the end of September).

Help make a difference to our City Region.

With effect from July 2018 there are 2 opportunities to join the LEP Board and expressions of interest are invited from individuals who can complement the skills and capabilities of the current Board members, can contribute to the work of the Board and through it the growth of the City Region.

They are seeking individuals who share their passion, commitment and belief in the City Region from all sections of the Liverpool City Region community (and beyond given proven links to Liverpool City Region) and representing the diverse culture, attributes and values.

They are seeking individuals with specific expertise, experience and knowledge at a senior operational and strategic level in the following 2 key areas:

• Education and Skills for Business (Provider)
• Enterprise and Business Growth (Small Business)

The individuals appointed will be expected to apply themselves to developing or challenging strategies designed to deliver growth in each of these areas.

LEP Chair and Board positions are not financially remunerated, but reward comes in being engaged in driving this important agenda forward for the benefit of current and future generations. It also comes with significant commitments including:

• Attend 6 meetings per year equating to 4 days including reading of papers.
• Attend 3 strategy development sessions of 1.5 days commitment per annum.
• If required, act as a Champion for one of the above sectors or themes which requires attendance at those sub-boards, a commitment of approximately 1.5 days per annum.
• Represent the LEP on appropriate external bodies or task and finish groups that may exist at city-region, region, national or international level. Where necessary, represent the LEP and City Region in meetings with Government or any of its departments and agencies.
• Be prepared to make statements to, or be interviewed by, the media to promote economic strategy or policy or respond to enquiries.

To read the full invitation for Expressions of Interest click here.

How to register your Interest

If you are interested in being considered to join the LEP Board and believe you have the passion, knowledge, experience and expertise to assist the City Region’s growth, and can meet the commitments set out above, then please write to info@liverpoollep.org with a subject of LEP Board EOI, outlining your suitability and interest in your appropriate role.

Less than 4 weeks to apply for the next round of the Cheshire Youth Commission! 

Cheshire Youth Commission are currently recruiting young people to join the Cheshire Youth Commission on Police and Crime – an exciting initiative partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner, David Keane.

Following 2 very successful years on this project, Cheshire Youth Commission will be developed and expanded over the coming year in order to allow young people across the communities in Cheshire to inform decisions about policing and crime prevention in the region. 

The Cheshire Youth Commission allows young people to support, challenge and inform the work of the Police & Crime Commissioner and Cheshire.  The Youth Commission will explore urgent issues affecting young people in Cheshire,  such as reducing offending and re-offending, improving the relationship with the police, and anti-social behaviour. 

The Youth Commission is aimed at young people aged 14-25 years who want to make a difference to their community.  They are looking for a diverse group of young people from different backgrounds and life experiences to take part, including those who have direct experience of the criminal justice system.

This is a brilliant opportunity for young people to gain new knowledge, skills and experiences, as well as a huge enhancement to their CV and uni applications. Members of the Youth Commission will play an important role in helping to run consultation events and gather the opinions of other young people about police and crime. 

All documents needed to apply for this opportunity are attached. They have tried to make this simple and accessible for everyone, please encourage any young person who you feel would benefit from this experience to apply, and support them to fill out the application if needed.

You can also download the application documents from the link below:

https://www.cheshire-pcc.gov.uk/what-im-doing/get-involved/cheshire-youth-commission/

Please note: Application deadline is 20th July 2018

If you have any questions about The Youth Commission, please feel free to contact Ali Roberts, Programme Coordinator by email on ali@leaders-unlocked.org or phone 07769251595 working days are Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 

On the 5th July at Liverpool Central Library, William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EW there will be a NHS 70 Symposium including a social prescribing network meeting where it will launch the draft concordat (see attached).

A celebration of the NHS at 70. The Social Prescribing Network want to write history by marking out a pathway for a sustainable NHS based on a commitment to health creation and a reduction in health inequalities. They want to start by transforming Women’s and Children’s Services to ensure a ‘best start’ for all.

Their vision is to develop the NHS in ways which encourage and support cross sector working and with this commitment provide fuel for innovation. They want to build active public engagement at both an individual and community level. In order to do this they need to transform the workforce and work with the public to articulate what a ‘more than medicine agenda actually means. They believe this can be best achieved through a commitment to social prescribing and an exploration of a Creative Health agenda.

With this in mind they have pulled a team of speakers together to help explore:

• What does best care look like when defined in a wellness not illness context?
• What can cultural partners (et al) bring to the table in terms of assets to build wellbeing?
• How can partnership working increase the perception of birth as a normal physiological process in which low clinical intervention rates are valued and parents are enabled?

The intended audience is: healthcare professionals and commissioners, cultural agents and agencies, local authorities and those with a belief in the value of a Creative Health agenda articulated in a social prescribing context from both the voluntary and private sector.

Click the link below to book a place 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-nhs-70-symposium-tickets-46578109379

Attached is a paper on ACEs in the hole from one of the academics contributing on the day.

Reeve Court Village, Elton Head Road, Rainhill, WA9 5ST have daily classes open to the public.  They have many qualified tutors teaching dance, ceramics, personal training, Art & much more…

They have classes to suit all at excellent prices

Want to run your own class/activity from Reeve Court?  They hire out their hall/activity rooms to teachers (at very competitive rates), then you can invite the public to attend your class generating your own income

If you want to find out more contact Josh Boardman, Village Activity Facilitator at the ExtraCare Charitable Trust on 0151 430 4000 or email josh.boardman@extracare.org.uk

Details of current activities below

Save the Date

Celebrate the NHS at 70 with Singing in the City.

It is all about wellbeing. Join in!

Sunday 8 July 11-4.30pm FREE
The Whitworth University of Manchester Oxford Road M15 6ER

The North West social prescribing network, the Whitworth-the University of Manchester and their partners and sponsors present:

• Fabulous, fun and infectious choir performances all day, every 15 minutes
• The NHS at 70: The Story of Our Lives Team
• The Museum of Homelessness
• Q and A with Paul McKenna –a very special Speech and Language Therapist
• Breathing Well with Natasha Garswood
• The Innovation Agency Ambassadors
• WEA pop up family bite-size workshops: fun, informal and interactive.

For more information about singing in the city click here 

For further information on the North West Social Prescribing Network visit VSNW
Or contact Jo Ward Tel: 07708 428096

A message from the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner:

Modern slavery is hidden in plain sight on our high streets. The National Crime Agency thinks there are tens of thousands of people being exploited in the UK, forced to work long hours, for little or no pay, and under threat of violence.

Some of those people are being exploited in hand car washes, which in recent years have sprung up across the country in their thousands. Many of those hand car washes are legitimate businesses, but some of them are not. Police raids in hand car washes in towns and cities up and down the country have unearthed victims living in horrendous conditions.

The SAFE CAR WASH APP

The Safe Car Wash app has been developed to allow the general public to engage with the problem, it is a new tool that will enable the largest community intelligence gathering exercise ever attempted in the United Kingdom.

Download the free app onto your smartphone and then when you are using a hand car wash, simply open the app and complete a short survey about the working conditions of the car wash.

https://www.theclewerinitiative.org/safecarwash/

Invitation 

Your local NHS, Health and Social Care together with Healthwatch St Helens & Halton and St Helens VCA would like to invite you to the launch of
“Community Talkfest”

A workshop to get involved and help shape a new approach to engaging with our local community about health and social care.

Following the Community Talkfest, NHS St Helens CCG will be holding their Annual General Meeting.

This will include a special afternoon tea to celebrate the NHS 70th Birthday!
Date: Friday 6th July
Time:11am - 3.30pm
Location: Mansion House, Victoria Park, Saint Helens. WA10 2UE

Free Parking on site

RSVP: Let us know if you are coming by emailing engagement@sthelensccg.nhs.uk, phone us on 01744 624 269 or register online here.  Poster attached.

We look forward to building a new future for our local health and social care with you.
 

Exciting opportunity to join the Halton OPEN Committee!

Halton OPEN is the voice for older people living in Halton.

They are seeking to appoint volunteers to join their friendly and dynamic Committee and are looking for people who have an opinion about how they can improve the lives of older people in our community .

You must be over 50 and be a resident of Halton.

For further information about what we do please visit their website at www.haltonopen.co.uk
or telephone them on 01928 242034 / 07711 048933

Please feel free to display the attached flyer

A sponsored walk has been organised in Warrington to raise awareness of spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

Shine, a national charity supporting people across the area has organised the walk at Walton Hall and Gardens on August 8 at 11am.

The event, named Sunshine Wheel and Walk, is open to everyone and event organiser and local Support and Development Worker, Angela Lansley, said she hopes the event will raise awareness of the conditions and funds for Shine.

She added: “We are really looking forward to the day and hope the event will bring people together to have fun whilst supporting Shine.”

The event will see participants walk or wheel around the picturesque Hall and Gardens.

There is no registration fee for the event but participants are asked to register in advance and if possible raise sponsorship money for Shine.

To register for the event or to find out more, email rachel.thomas@shinecharity.org.uk 

What are the ingredients for living a good life?

Join Positive You at The Brindley for a series of creative workshops where they will be making art for the exhibition entitled 'Recipe for a Good Life?'

Workshops are free to attend and inclusive to all ages and abilities at The Brindley, High Street, Runcorn, WA7 1BG

For more information contact Leah by email on positiveyouwithleah@gmail.com

Workshops

• Monday 9th July 12.30-3.30pm
• Wednesday 22nd Agust 12.30-3.30pm
• Wednesday 29th August 11am-2pm
• Friday 28th September 12.30-3.30pm
• Sunday 28th October 12.30-3.30pm
• Monday 19th November 12.30-3.30pm
• Wednesday 12th December 12.30-3.30pm
• Friday 25th January 12.30-3.30pm
• Monday 18th February 12.30-3.30pm 

Opening dates for Recipe for a Good Life?: 14th April - 17th May 2019

New welcome pack for charity trustees

The Charity Commission have designed a welcome pack for new charity trustees. This pack can also be used by existing trustees to refresh knowledge and skills.

A new welcome pack is available for charity trustees which focuses on the main duties of the role.

It provides essential information to help trustees to understand governance basics, financial filing requirements and how the Charity Commission can offer support. It also suggests practical steps that can be taken to carry out trustee duties effectively.

They tested the content of the welcome pack with many stakeholders from across the charity sector. The feedback told them the content would be useful for existing trustees, so they have made it publically available on their website to use as refresher training:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charity-trustee-welcome-pack

Community Wellbeing Project Lead – Children and Young People

Wellbeing Enterprises CIC are looking for a passionate and empathic individual with qualifications and/or experience in youth and/or community-led work to play a crucial role in the delivery of a Children in Need three year funded project that will support children and young people to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

Key responsibilities:

•Building young people’s emotional health & resilience.
• To support children and young people to co-design and delivery a range of creative and educational projects using asset based community approaches.
• To support children and young people to hold community resilience events to showcase their talents, skills and experience. Building young people’s life skills and promoting self-efficacy
• Deliver a rolling programme of psycheducation and social inclusion programmes designed to reduce symptoms of mental illness and promote wellbeing to young people across Halton.
• To train young people to co-deliver life skill courses to other young people.
•Developing young people’s transferable skills
• To recruit, induct, train and support young people as peer mentors to support the delivery of the project.
• To deliver a community navigation service which entails developing personalised wellbeing plans with children and young people and connecting them to a raft of community based support to help them get their needs met.

Supporting project delivery:

• To liaise with a broad array of stakeholders from the statutory, community and VCSE sector in Halton and to form partnerships that support the delivery of the project.
• To ensure the collation of all monitoring and evaluation data to demonstrate to funders the impact of health and wellbeing activities using a range of validated qualitative and quantitative methods.
• To assist with the monitoring and reporting of progress against key milestones and targets specified in plans.
• To assist with the monitoring of expenditure and to work within specified budgets to achieve key targets.

General Responsibilities:

• To act as a Wellbeing Champion and to use all available opportunities to promote health and wellbeing principles across a broad array of sectors.
• Display a commitment to equality of opportunity and to develop an in depth knowledge of the way in which broader determinants impact upon the health and wellbeing of local communities.
• To undertake all training related to Child Protection and Safeguarding and commit to abiding by all Wellbeing Enterprises CIC policies and procedures to protect the welfare of young people and volunteers.
• Uphold Wellbeing Enterprise’s CIC’s core values: People, Place, Productivity and Partnerships.

Closing date is Wednesday 11th July 2018 at 5PM

To download an application pack please go to: http://www.wellbeingenterprises.org.uk/community-wellbeing-project-lead-cyp/

The Association of Chairs (AoC) support Chairs of charities and non-profit organisations to lead your boards effectively and ensure delivery of your organisation’s mission. They have produced a programe to support chairs of small organisations. Their resources are designed specifically to support you in your skilled and demanding role. They provide practical guidance and governance support tailored to the needs of Chairs. 

About the Programme

The programme has been developed by the Association of Chairs.

Who is the programme for?

Chairs and Vice Chairs of charities and non-profit organisations in England with an annual income of under £1 million.

Why get involved?

You will:

• Meet, learn and exchange ideas with other Chairs who face similar challenges
• Be part of a unique programme tailored to meet the needs of Chairs of smaller organisations
• Know where to get support to be effective in your role
• Hear the views of other Chairs of smaller charities and sector experts on topics that concern you
• Access a wide range of FREE practical written resources to meet your needs

What will the programme include?

• Affordable and engaging workshops in locations all over England starting with: London, Birmingham, Leeds, Taunton, Brighton and Bournemouth
• Free, interactive and downloadable webinars covering and complementing our workshop content. Varying in length, you will easily be able to make time for these in your busy schedule, from the comfort of your own home
• Topics of interest to you such as being a 'hands-on' Chair, clarifying your legal responsibilities, recruiting trustees and many more
• Keep up to date with our e-bulletin helping you know what we are doing and when. Be the first to know about new resources and hear the views of other Chairs on important topics.  Join other Chairs and sign up below
• Online platforms to meet and learn with other Chairs.  Chairing can be lonely, so we will be finding other ways to help you meet and network with others

Cost

Thanks to a generous grant from the Big Lottery Fund our online and written resources are free and workshops will only cost £20. A travel bursary will be available to support organisations with an income of under £100k with the cost of travel.

Interested?

Be first to hear about upcoming news, events and resources for the Beacon Programme. Click on the link to sign up Beacon Programme

The St Helens Carers Centre is a local voluntary organisation, passionate about supporting family and unpaid carers in our area. They offer a free and confidential service.

A Carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health problem or who needs extra help as they grow older.

Caring will touch each and every one of us in our lifetime, whether we become a carer or need care ourselves.

Carers Week is an annual awareness campaign which takes place to celebrate and recognise the vital contribution made by the UK’s 6.5 million carers.

This year, Carers Week runs from 11 to 17 June 2018 and events will be taking place across the UK.

The St Helens Carers Centre invites local Carers to contact them and access their support.

Carers can contact them between 9.30am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, or until 8pm on Wednesdays (reduced hours will apply in Carers Week).

During Carers Week they will be celebrating all registered Carers, hosting special events for them. They will also be out and about in the community, looking to speak with new and hidden Carers. They will have an information stand in the Hardshaw Centre, St Helens on Friday 15 June from 10am to 3pm.

Swimming and mixed sporting activities for young people with Additional Needs at Beechwood Community Centre, Beechwood Avenue, Runcorn, WA7 3HB
Saturdays 4.30pm – 6.30pm

This is a Short Breaks programme supported by Halton Borough Council. Sport Works will run weekly swimming and sporting activities, the sessions will provide fun and safe activities which will also allow young people (4-18 year olds) with additional needs the opportunity to increase their health, coordination skills and water confidence. The sessions also seek to achieve broader objectives around improving personal confidence and levels of socialisation, if appropriate.
For more information about the work that Sports Work do please go to www.sportworksltd.co.uk/mcrandcheshire.

Session content.
Between 4.30pm and 5.30pm will be based indoors and the hour will consist of fun based sports and multi skills activities, modified appropriately to maximise inclusion.
Then between 5.30pm and 6.30pm, following a clothing change, will have exclusive access to the pool and the emphasis of this hour will be fun, play and water confidence. Staff will join the young people in the pool in addition to the supervision of the Centre’s Lifeguard.
At 6.30pm the session will end.

What do I need to bring?
Sports activities, your child(ren) will need trainers/sports shoes, but in terms of clothing this can be casual or activity clothes, whatever is their preference. 
Swimming, your child(ren) will need usual swimming attire, floats/armbands etc are optional

Do I need to stay?
Yes. In the short term we are asking all parents/carers to stay in the activity area or in the café near the pool area, whilst staff get to know your child(ren) and to ensure a smooth start. As soon as possible staff will advise when you are free to take advantage of other facilities at the centre, however will ask that you remain contactable and on site at all times. Sport Works staff are not permitted to take any young people to the toilet nor assist with any changing before or after swimming.

Costs and how to pay.
To allow flexibility for as many people as possible Spprts Work offer 2 options, advance payment and ‘pay on the door’.

Advance payment (8 sessions)
£32 (£4 per 2 hour session)
£24 swim only (£3 per 1 hour session)

Pay ‘on the door’
£5 per 2 hour session
Swim only - £4 per 1 hour session

Sport Works are happy to offer a taster session in advance of any upfront payment if it helps and to make sure you and your child are happy at the sessions.

Are non-disabled siblings welcome?
Subject to available places yes, where possible they like to encourage a family outing.

How do I attend?
Please fill in an Additional Needs Form and send it by email or post to jon@sportworksltd.co.uk , upon receipt your place will be confirmed. If you require this form please email Jon at Sport Works and he will email you one out.

If you have any questions about this programe please feel free to contact Jon Uttley at Sport Works at any time. jon@sportworksltd.co.uk or 07539 851326

Disability Awareness Day ("DAD") is the world's largest 'not for profit' voluntary-led disability exhibition, held annually in a huge tented village within the grounds of Walton Hall Gardens in Warrington.

Visitors to the show can expect to find around 250 exhibitors, equipment suppliers, transport, holidays, leisure, employment, support groups and services. PLUS a Sports Zone including Scuba diving, an Arts Marquee, Centre Arena and family entertainment. The show opens at 10am and finishes at 5pm, and entry is FREE with a FREE programme.

The Aims of DAD

Disability Awareness Day is a pan disability event which promotes a can do culture focussing on what disabled people can do throughout life and work. The show has three main aims:

• To highlight what statutory, private or voluntary services are available to enable disabled people to stay independent.
• To promote equipment and aids that could maintain or improve independence, not just what is offered by statutory service providers, we want everyone to see the best and/or latest designs
• To provide an opportunity to showcase what disabled people can do, in the field of Sport, Arts and Entertainment

As well as fulfilling all these aims every year the show also gives everyone who comes a really good day out filled with interest, fun and entertainment!

Disability Awareness Day 2018 will take place on Sunday 15th July at Walton Hall and Gardens.

Halton Play Council a Children's Charity is looking to recruit an experienced Finance/Administrative Assistant to support the Manager and Staff in the day to day operation at it's Runcorn Office. Part Time 23 hours per week £8.65 per hour - Fixed Term Contract

Responsible for:

• Invoicing, Payroll & Pensions (SAGE)
• Daily cashing up
• Maintenance of budgets and financial records
• General Office and administration duties

Application forms and more information can be obtained from Halton Play Council:

Telephone 01928 574087 or email haltonplaycouncil@gmail.com

Closing Date is Friday 22nd June 2018

Child Bereavement UK is establishing a Cheshire Bereavement Advisory Group to bring together representatives from Education, Health, Social Care, Voluntary Organisations and bereaved families so that they can develop and coordinate support services across the local area. Their experience across other regions has demonstrated the value of multi-agency collaboration for the benefit of bereaved children and families. Child Bereavement UK not only serves bereaved children and families but is also instrumental in developing and training the workforce. 

They have just held an inaugural meeting of the Bereavement Advisory Group at which they considered who they would extend a wider invitation to. 

You – or your representative – would be very welcome to join them at their next meeting as they endeavour to enhance the services across Cheshire and its surroundings.

Meeting date: Monday 2nd July
Time: 11.00 – 12.30
Venue: Child Bereavement UK offices, Victoria Building, High Street, Runcorn WA7 1QS

For further information contact clare.bullen@childbereavementuk.org (Bereavement Service Team Lead, Cheshire)

Or call the Runcorn office - Tel: 01928 577164

http://www.childbereavementuk.org

Chain Lane Community Centre are offering this great opportunity to work in a friendly, fun, summer playscheme setting for children of primary school age 4/5 - 11 years. The Playscheme is entirely volunteer-run. It operates on 4 Wednesday afternoons in August and provides a range of activities for the children e.g. crafts, indoor and outdoor sports and games, baking, quiet table - puzzles, jigsaws, reading books etc. Volunteers will be involved in general supervision of and involvement with the children and activities and if you have a special interest, they would look to accommodate that. The sessions are 2 hours long for the children with staff arriving at least 1/2 hour before the session starts and staying 1/2 hour after closing for debriefing and tidying away. For those who require it for CV purposes, our volunteers receive a Certificate at the end of the scheme and a brief Testimonial, otherwise a 'thank you letter'.

This opportunity is ideal for anyone currently working with children or who is looking to work in school settings or childcare. Experience is an advantage but not required. Enjoyment of working with children is a must!

Volunteers receive a full induction to the Playscheme and are supported by the Playscheme Manager. An enhanced DBS check will be required. Expenses will be paid.

Chain Lane Community Centre is based in Blackbrook, St Helens.

If you are interested in this opportunity contact Volunteer Centre St Helens with your contact details and we will pass them to Chain Lane Community Centre.  Email: volunteersthelens@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk 

Do you:

• Care for someone with a mental health condition?
• Somtimes feel excluded by services?
• Want more support?
• Want to reduce the stigma of mental illness?

Halton Mental Health Carers Support Group

If you care for someone with depression, bi polar, anxiety, psychosis, panic attacks, schizophrenia, OCD etc.  Halton Carers Centre and North West Borough Healthcare are here to support you at a new group.  It offers peer support, activities and guest speakers ina friendly environment where you can meet others in similar situations.

The group meet at 1-3pm on the last Wednesday of the month at Mencap Acorn Centre, Laburnum Grove, Runcorn, WA7 5EX.  

• Wed 27 June
• Wed 25 Jul
• Wed 29 Aug
• Wed 26 Sep
• Wed 31 Oct
• Wed 28 Nov
• Wed 19 Dec 

For more information call 01928 580182

Your local Fibromyalgia Support Group serves Runcorn, Widnes, Warrington and St Helens  Their objective is to provide members with opportunities to help themselves and support each other. Meetings are informal, informative, relaxed, and friendly.

Tuesday is the day you can talk with someone who knows exactly how you feel:

• 1st Tuesday of each month Widnes at Kingsway library 1100hrs-1300hrs
• 3rd Tuesday of each month Warrington at the Life Time Centre 1100hrs-1300hrs
• 4th Tuesday of each month Runcorn at Halton Hospitals dining room 1200hrs-1400hrs

You can also find them here:

Facebook: Halton Fibromyalgia Support Groups' Forum Page
Email: emfibrogroup@outlook.com
 

Child Bereavement UK provides free support and information to bereaved children and young people up to the age of 25 and parents bereaved of a baby or child within Cheshire and the surrounding areas. For more information about the service, please see the attached leaflet.

Or use the contact details below

Phone Number: 01928 577164

Email: cheshiresupport@childbereavementuk.org

Our colleagues from Halton Borough Council’s External Funding Team have prepared some Funding Bulletins containing valuable information for voluntary organisations looking for grants to get projects off the ground. 

The Monthly funding bulletins offering information on funding opportunities in the following areas:

Arts, Community & Voluntary, Environment & Heritage, European, Faith, Health, Schools, Sports and Youth.

To access the information, please click on the link below:

https://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/business/FinanceandGrants/finance.aspx

Working in an Inter-agency and Multi Agency way requires training that supports people to work effectively with practitioners from a wide range of agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Halton Safeguarding Children Board provides a range of courses for staff working with children, young people and families, or with adults who may be parents or carers.

Halton Safeguarding Children Board’s Multi-Agency Training Strategy outlines the Board’s strategic vision and priorities around training.

CLICK HERE to view Training Offer...

Liverpool Pride are looking for volunteers to help with this years Liverpool Pride festival. They are especially looking for young people aged 18-25, but older groups are also more than welcome to volunteer too!

You don't have to be LGBT to volunteer, they are also looking for allies or people who want to gain some experience. There will be a number of roles with lots of experience for you to gain as well as having fun!

Please visit: https://liverpoolpride.co.uk/volunteer or contact: volunteer@liverpoolpride.co.uk for more information.

Invitation to a Heseltine Institute and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority seminar: Skills and the digital economy in the Liverpool City Region

As part of the programme of events for the International Business Festival, Heseltine Institute for Public Policy and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority would like to invite you to a seminar on skills and the digital economy on Thursday 14th June, 10.00am - 12.00pm in the Level 2 Lounge in the Exhibition Centre, Kings Dock.

The impact of technological changes have been identified as one of the ‘Grand Challenges’ in the Government’s national Industrial Strategy. Locally, there is a growing debate about the impact that future digital developments will have on the skills that will be needed in the Liverpool City Region (LCR) and the impact on the economy more broadly. The Centre for Cities 2018 Outlook recognises that while technological change will bring significant opportunities to increase prosperity and jobs in cities, it found that 1 in 5 existing jobs in British cities are likely to be displaced by 2030.

In the light of the growing importance of this debate locally, this seminar, run jointly by the Liverpool City Region's Combined Authority and the University of Liverpool’s Heseltine Institute, will discuss:

• The digital revolution in the LCR and why it is important;
• Which skills are needed in the digital economy and whether the LCR has those skills?;
• If there are digital skills gaps, what they are and how can they be filled?; and
• What developments in the digital economy will drive demand for different skills in the future?

Confirmed panellists:

• Cllr. Ian Maher, Combined Authority portfolio lead for Skills and Apprentices
• Paul Corcoran, Skills Commissioner and Co-Chair of the LEP’s Digital and Creative Board
• Lee Omar, CEO, Red Ninja and Co-Chair of the LEP’s Digital and Creative Board
• Professor Simeon Yates, Director of the Centre for Digital Humanities and Social Sciences and Dean of the School of the Arts, University of Liverpool
• Martin Simpson, Director of the Centre for the Digital Built Environment, University of Liverpool

Each panellist will make a five minute opening statement followed by discussion and Q&A session.

To find out more and to book your free place please click here

Sight Loss?

Vision Support may be able to help with

• Independent living
• IT Training (computer lessons)
• Low vision and daily living aids
• Home visiting
• Volunteering opportunities
• Welfare and benefits advice
• Social clubs and activities

To find out more contact Halton Independent Living Centre, Collier Street, Runcorn, WA7 1HB or phone 01928 582 946

The Vision Support Mobile Information Unit will be visiting on Tuesday 11th September at the Select Security Stadium, Lowerhouse Lane Widnes at 10am to 12pm and also at the Co-operative Food, Runcorn Old Town at 1pm to 3pm. they will also be at Widnes Market (by Morrisons) on Thursday 20th September, 10am to 3pm so you can call in to see what support they can offer. 

This is a part-time post (3 days per week initially) for a lay project team member for patient and public involvement in a large-scale research project which will develop and test an intervention aimed at urgent dental care service users. You will join a core project team of 5, including researchers and administrative staff. The project is funded by NIHR Programme for Applied Research. You will lead on championing patient and public involvement activities in the research project, and in particular will assist a researcher in leading a Community Advisory Group consisting of patients and dentists in the development of intervention materials aimed at addressing inequalities in urgent dental care uptake. More generally, you will provide input into the research activities and dissemination from the patient and public perspective.

This role would suit an organised and motivated person who is passionate about their local community and ideally has an interest in dental care. While previous experience of patient and public involvement in research is not essential as training will be provided, experience of leadership, for example in a voluntary capacity, is needed. The post is available on a part-time basis 21 hours per week for 2 years, with the possibility of an extension for a further 3 years, working 14 hours per week.

For more informaitn and how to apply, please click the link below:

https://recruit.liverpool.ac.uk/pls/corehrrecruit/erq_jobspec_version_4.display_form?p_company=1&p_internal_external=E&p_display_in_irish=N&p_process_type=&p_applicant_no=&p_form_profile_detail=&p_display_apply_ind=Y&p_refresh_search=Y&p_recruitment_id=009345

Closing date: 5 June 2018

Charities in England and Wales can bid for a share of a £1 million Home Office fund to help steer young people away from gangs and violent crime.

The fund has been set up to support community projects which reduce knife crime and have a positive impact on young people at risk of carrying a knife and committing crime. The first round of the fund was launched in October 2017 and they are now making available up to £1 million to be spent by end of March 2019.

The fund is open to voluntary and community sector groups and we are inviting bids for funding for projects of up to £30,000 although bids will be considered for greater funding for projects with collaboration between partners.

Bids will be assessed on the extent to which they demonstrate:

• delivery of outcomes to stop knife crime
• proven track record of delivering local interventions
• proven track record of ability to work with children and young people
• proven track record of ability to work in partnership with other organisations and services
• evidence of value for money

For more information and how to apply please click the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/knife-crime-community-fund

The deadline for submission of bids is 15 June 2018

One Halton would like to invite you to the launch of Halton’s All-Age Autism Strategy. The Strategy and accompanying Delivery Plan set out what they hope to achieve over the next three years and beyond to ensure that people with autism have the same opportunities as everyone else.

The Delivery Plan reflects priority areas for action as identified by young people and adults with autism who, along with their carers, families and key providers of services, have been closely involved in developing the Strategy and Delivery Plan through a series of events.

The launch event is taking place on Wednesday 13th June 2018 at Halton Suite, Select Security Stadium, Widnes and will be an opportunity to find out more about how the Strategy will be implemented and how you can play a part in improving the experiences of those living with autism in Halton.

There will also be information about the services that are available to support people with autism and their families in Halton.

The event is open to all – professionals, people with autism, parents/families/carers of someone with autism.

Please email natalie.johnson@halton.gov.uk to book your place by Friday 1st June

Date: Wednesday 13th June 2018
Time: 9:00am to 12:30pm
Venue: Halton Suite, Select Security Stadium, Widnes

Willowbrook Hospice has been recognised with a special award for their contribution to the local community at the St Helens Chamber Business Awards. 

Hosted by Peter Emmett with special guests Paul Wellens and Jon Wilkin, the glittering award ceremony was held at the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens with over 260 guests enjoying a three course meal before the winners of were announced.

The hospice fundraising team received the Special Award for their contribution to the local community, with particular recognition given to their work with local primary schools in the Enterprise 250 project.

Now in its second year, the project sees local primary schools bidding for a grant of up to £250 to work with the hospice in developing fundraising ideas to help generate additional income to re-invest in the care and support provided by Willowbrook. The initial investment for Enterprise 250 has been provided by a local businessman and hospice supporter.

On receiving the award Diane Swann, Senior Fundraiser at Willowbrook said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to receive this special award from St Helens Chamber. I’d like to thank all the primary schools which have taken part in the project over the past two years – all of whom have done a brilliant job in raising funds for Willowbrook.  We’d also like to add our special thanks to our business supporter who helped us to set up the project and to Natalie Armstrong from St Helens Chamber who has worked tirelessly to support the schools involved.”  

For more information on how to get involved in raising money for Willowbrook, please visit: www.willowbrook.org.uk

WASPI Women Against State Pension Inequality to campaign against the rise in state pension age.

Are you a Woman born in the 1950's and interested in joining Halton, Widnes Runcorn Supporters Group?.

WASPI will be having their next meeting Tuesday 5th June at 7:30pm.

The meeting will be held at;

United Services Club,
Prescot Road,
Widnes,
WA7 7PD.

You will be part of the national WASPI campaign asking for fair transitional arrangements for all women born in the 1950's affected by the 1995 pension act raising a woman's pension age from 60. 

The subsequent 2011 act accelerating this rise.

Please come along and add to the swarm, you will get a buzz.

DATA PROTECTION FEES 

Following legislative changes arising from the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), data controllers are, from today (25 May 2018), no longer required to register with ("notify") the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), provide detailed information about their data processing to the ICO, and pay an annual registration fee. Instead they must maintain their own internal data processing records and, unless they are exempt from doing so, must pay an annual data protection fee to the ICO. The level of the new fee is intended to ensure the ICO is adequately funded, and to reflect the relative risk to data processed by the organisation.

 For organisations which are not exempt from paying the new fee, the three fee tiers are:

• Tier 1, for "micro organisations" with a maximum turnover of £632,000 or no more than average 10 members of staff over the financial year; and small occupational pension fees and charities regardless of turnover or number of staff: fee £40, or £35 if paid by direct debit.
• Tier 2, for SMEs (small and medium organisations) with maximum turnover of £36 million or no more than average 250 members of staff: fee £60, or £55 by direct debit.
• Tier 3, for large organisations not meeting the tier 1 or 2 criteria: fee £2,900. This fee is much higher than the £500 most of these organisations have been paying, because the ICO considers these organisations are likely to hold and process the largest amount of data, and therefore represent a greater level of risk.

The fee for public authorities, as defined by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, is based only on number of staff – not turnover.

Exemption

Any organisation, regardless of size, is fully exempt from paying the fee if it is processing personal data only for one or more of the following activities. If personal data is being processed for any other purpose(s), the exemption does not apply.

• Staff administration.
• Advertising, marketing and public relations.
• Accounts and records.
• Not-for-profit purposes.
• Personal, family or household affairs.
• Maintaining a public register.
• Judicial functions.
• Processing personal information without a computer or other automated system.

Organisations have to comply with GDPR and other data protection legislation even if they are exempt from paying the fee.

Registration and payment

For organisations currently registered with the ICO, the new fee is payable from when their current ICO registration ends. Prior to the renewal date the ICO will make an initial decision about the organisation's tier, based on information it holds, and will notify the organisation. The organisation can, if it believes the decision is wrong, explain why it should be altered. Unless the ICO is likely to know, from information it holds, that the organisation is a charity and/or that meets the tier 1 or tier 2 criteria, it will be classed as tier 3 – so currently registered organisations should contact the ICO to ensure they are not incorrectly treated as tier 3 at any time, and should challenge immediately if the ICO says at the time of renewal that the organisation is (incorrectly) tier 3.

New organisations which are not exempt from the fee, or existing organisations which are not exempt and have not previously registered with the ICO and paid a fee, will need to register. This can be done via the ICO's website, and only includes the data controller's name, address and other trading names; number of staff; turnover for the financial year; and contact details for the person completing the registration process, the person responsible for regulatory issues and renewal of the registration fee if different, and the data protection officer if there is one. Details of types of personal data held and how it is used no longer need to be provided as part of the registration process.

The maximum penalty for not paying, or for not paying the correct fee, is £4,350 (150% of the tier 3 fee). This is a civil monetary penalty, rather than a criminal sanction as in the past.

Resources

• The data protection fee: A guide for controllers, ICO, 17pp: http://tinyurl.com/y993szos (the full URL is ridiculously long). This includes, for example, how to calculate members of staff, a series of questions to determine whether the organisation is exempt from registering to pay the fee, and a glossary defining terms in the legislation or the guide, such as charity, member of staff, turnover etc.
• Data Protection (Charges and Information) Regulations 2018: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/480/contents/made.

This information is reproduced from Sandy Adirondack’s FREE legal update emails for voluntary organisations. 

To sign up for the legal updates email list or change contact details, contact Sandy on legalupdate@sandy-a.co.uk.

This information in this email is for general information only. It is not a complete statement of the law and is in no way intended as a substitute for proper legal advice. It is intended only for charities and other voluntary/community organisations. For commercial bodies or public authorities, some aspects of law may apply differently, there may be additional legal requirements, or the law may not apply at all (for example, charity law does not apply to organisations which are not legally charities, except in a very few situations such as public collections). 

On Saturday 30th June, Heart of Glass will host very special people’s parade, celebrating the everyday heroes who make St Helens the special place it is! St Helens Day is part of a year long programme of events which celebrate the St Helens 150 Anniversary, and an opportunity for us to celebrate our town and all it's citizens - past, present and future.

Performance artists Eggs Collective will lead a colourful procession through the town centre, featuring local community groups, voluntary organisations, the Mayor, musical performances and vintage vehicles from the North West Museum of Road Transport.

Join Heart of Glass as they honour the noble neighbours, the lionhearted landladies and the gallant grandads of this borough: The Unsung Heroes of St Helens!

They are recruiting a very special team of volunteers who will help them make St Helens Day Parade possible in a variety of ways.

They are looking for people who can:

• help community groups get ready for the parade - getting in to costume, preparing props etc
• help steward the parade along it's path through the town centre
• walk in the parade with community groups
• help hand out flyers, banners, flags and brochures to the audience
• help close down the route and tidy up after the celebrations

They will be asking you to help a core team of staff who will be working alongside you to make this a really special day.

Travel and expenses will be covered - refreshments provided (and lunch where applicable).

The details:

Date: Saturday 30th June 2018

Location: St Helens Town Centre

Time: Between 10am - 3pm

If you are interested in this opportunity contact Volunteer Centre St Helens with your contact details and we will pass them to Heart of Glass.  Email: volunteersthelens@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk 

Mental Health Awareness Week 2018 may have now ended but local charity Citizens Advice Halton is still urging people who are worried and feeling stressed about their finances and paying their bills to get in touch for support and advice.

Last year they helped over 1,600 local people who were struggling to pay their bills and falling into debt. Over 50% of whom had Council Tax arrears or rent arrears, both classed as priority debts because you risk being imprisoned or losing your home through eviction.

Hitesh Patel, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Halton, said:
“53% of our service users told us they were disabled or suffered from a long term health condition. We all know that debt and money worries can take a massive toll on people’s health and wellbeing but the good news is that 3 in 5 people said that they felt better able to manage their mental health after getting advice. So our message is clear, don’t wait until your feel you’re drowning in debt, get advice now.”

Andy O’Neill, Specialist Advice Co-ordinator, added:
“We have a team of qualified Money Advice caseworkers who can offer a fast-track service to help local people get their finances and household budgets back on an even keel. 

“And thanks to funding from the European Social Fund and Big Lottery, we also have a team of Financial Capability workers and through our 'Better Off Finance' project we can support people to learn money saving tips like how to switch utility suppliers, which just on its own often saves households £300 a year. That project also offers employability support for people wanting to enter the job market and bespoke confidence building courses to improve people’s mental health and wellbeing.”

Anyone needing help from Citizens Advice Halton should either email: advice@citizensadvicehalton.org.uk or ring 0151 257 2449 and leave a message. The charity aims to respond to all debt enquiries within 24 working hours.

A deeply moving choral homage to a terrible local colliery disaster is set to feature at Haydock Library 140 years on, as part of the award-winning Cultural Hubs, arts-in-libraries programme.

The concert, led by the Haydock Male Voice Choir will commemorate the tragic disaster that occurred at the Wood Pit in Haydock on 7 June 1878, which took the lives of 204 men and boys, and left 93 widows and 282 orphans.

In the wake of the tragedy, the grieving community showed great strength under very difficult circumstances to come together in support of each other. A fund was set up by Lord Derby which raised about £25,000 – roughly £2 million in today’s money.

Alan Gaskell, of the Haydock Male Voice Choir said: “This concert is really important to us as our choir was formed by miners from Haydock in 1923 and many of the members worked in the pit before it was closed. The concert provides us with an opportunity to pay our respects in song to all the men, families and friends who were affected by the disaster.”

There are two performances on Saturday 2 June, Haydock Library at 5pm and 7pm. A special commemorative service will take place at Haydock Library on the 140th anniversary of the disaster on Thursday 7 June. 

Cultural Hubs, the nationally-renowned arts-in-libraries programme, is delivered by St Helens Council’s Library Service which is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

Due to the retirement of longstanding trustees, the PH Holt Foundation is looking to recruit three new trustees to its board and welcomes applications from individuals who share our values and commitment to making a positive difference in communities across Merseyside. We are particularly keen to strengthen our board’s expertise and skill base with professionals from the private, public and charity worlds with experience in one or more of the following areas:

·       Financial management and accountancy

·       Governance and risk management

·       Legal expertise in relation to the voluntary sector

·       Investment management

·       Marketing and digital communications

·       Experience and knowledge from working in the field of education, the arts or community programmes

The role of trustee is a voluntary position and reasonable expenses are reimbursed for board related work. Board meetings are held four times a year in Liverpool during business hours. Trustees also participate in one or more of the delegated sub-committees which meet as required on Grants, Investments, Finance and Risk Management. Occasional visits to Merseyside charities funded by the Foundation are also part of the role.

If you would like to apply, please send a brief covering letter outlining why you would like to be a PH Holt Foundation Board Member and the skills you would bring to the role [maximum two sides of A4] together with a current CV providing details of two referees who could be contacted following interview to: Ian Bakewell, Chair at: chair@phholtfoundation.org.uk

Deadline: 9am on Friday 15th June 2018.

Interviews will be held during weeks commencing 2nd and 9th July 2018 for a start date in September 2018

Our colleagues from Halton Borough Council’s External Funding Team have asked us to circulate the following information:

Please find below the details on the next series of Basic Bid-Writing Training and Monitoring & Evaluation Courses run by Halton Borough Council’s External Funding Team. If you wish to attend please complete and return the attached booking form or complete it online.

The training is free for groups in Halton. Groups from St Helens can attend but they will have to pay a nominal charge of £40.

Basic Bid Writing Training:

-        Tuesday 12th June 2018: 9am-1pm, Castlefields Community Centre

-        Thursday 6th September 2018: 9am-1pm, Upton Community Centre

-        Tuesday 4th December 2018: 9am-1pm, Castlefields Community Centre

Subjects covered in the course include: Essential requirements of a strong bid (‘Top-Tips’); Basic bid-writing skills to meet the funder’s essential requirements; Common reasons for bid failure.

Monitoring and Evaluation Training

-        Wednesday 25th July 2018: 9.30am-12.15pm, Murdishaw Community Centre

-        Tuesday 4th October 2018: 9am-1pm, Upton Community Centre

Subjects covered in the course include: To understand what Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) involves; To learn why it is necessary; To understand where and how Monitoring &Evaluation should be used in grant-funded projects; To learn best practice (‘top tips’) for producing good quality and effective data and reports.

We also have available to purchase a Bid Writing Reference Manual which is an excellent resource for bid writing. More details on the attached flyer.

If you require any more information, wish to purchase a Manual or book on a course please get in touch.

Please contact Jonathan Patten via (0151) 511 7214 or jonathan.patten@halton.gov.uk

St Helens Senior Voice AGM

St Helens Senior Voice AGM will be on Friday 15th June at 11am at The Hope Centre, Atherton Street, St Helens, WA10 2DT.  The Trustees have reluctantly decided to bring Senior Voice to an end and will provide more information at the AGM, they hope you will be able to join them.  Tea and coffee will be provided. 

In many respects GLOW is a youth club much like any other, offering a safe space for young people to socialise and take part in a range of positive activities. They also offer a range of support and information including work to help young people understand issues around sexuality, gender and identity. They meet every Tuesday 7pm - 9pm at CRMZ, Kingsway, Widnes and offer:

• A friendly, safe space and a chance for you to meet other young people.
• Access to information and advice.
• Youth worker and peer support.
• Interactive education and awareness raising sessions.
• Activities including arts and crafts, sports, film nights, music and more
• Trips out
• Access to events, activities and other LGBT groups from across the North West

If you have any concerns or worries about attending the group or would like to speak with one of the youth workers about attending for the first time or you simply want some more information, please contact them on 0151 257 2530 or HaltonAdmin@addaction.org.uk. You can also see their current plans and additional information on Facebook at GLOW Halton Youth LGBT.

On 21st May the Play Resource centre will have been open at 10 Mersey Road for 21 years and they are planning a special day to celebrate!!

They would like to invite businesses, groups and individuals to celebrate with them by remembering their own special event in the last 21 years.... A wedding? A new business? New house? A personal achievement? A birth? Or even in memory of a loved one.

They are inviting people to 'sponsor a year' and will display a timeline on their building with each year, the sponsors and their memory.

There will be a minimum donation of £5 per year chosen.... As always higher donations would be more than welcome. Please call 01928 574087 or email hpcoffice10@gmail.com to register or ask for further details.

They will also be holding a belated birthday celebration for their beloved volunteer Bill's 101st Birthday that day between 12pm and 3pm and  invite you to go along and join in the festivities!

If so, please get in touch with NYAS St Helens who are looking for male and female volunteers to become Independent Visitors for children and young people who are Looked After from St Helens. It is a long term committment of meeting a young person once a month to do an activity. Full training & support and reinbursement of expenses given.

To find out more, please contact Diane Watmough on 0151 649 8700 or email diane.watmough@nyas.net

GET YOUR COPY HERE......

You should start preparing now for changes that GDPR will require to your current policies and procedures. GDPR is not just a tick box exercise and it needs all staff and volunteers to embrace new procedures.

To help you prepare for GDPR, NCVO and the ICO has a range of services that can offer direct and through partners to support you on your journey – Click on to the link below and scroll down to access their FREE Webinar to help you on your way...

see all of NCVO's GDPR support on this page.

A FREE PDF Guide for Charites and Voluntary Organisations available from NCVO​

Information Commissioners Office (ICO) Advice Service for Small Organisations - CLICK HERE

Many organisations register with us to recieve our E-Bulliten every two weeks but very often we post news and opportunities on our social media sites as soon as we get to hear about them so why not get yourself and your organisation connected to us on both Facebook and Twitter to hear it first...

Just CLICK and CONNECT on:    TWITTER     and    FACEBOOK          

 Asset Training will be holding an open day at;

 Helena Central,
 4 Corporation Street,
 St Helens Merseyside
 WA9 1LD 

on the 25th May at 13:30pm.

Training Courses include, Werehouse and forklift training, Business Amin skills and also first steps to IT.

Please note for the warehousing they offer this is held 2 days a week for 4 weeks (In S Helens ).

Eligibility- You must be 19+ and be receiving JCA, UC or ESA WRAG.

For anymore information please contact Asset Training on 0151 706 0586 or 01704 566 956.

 Asset Training will be holding an open day at;

 Helena Central,
 4 Corporation Street,
 St Helens Merseyside
 WA9 1LD 

on the 25th May at 13:30pm.

Training Courses include, Werehouse and forklift training, Business Amin skills and also first steps to IT.

Please note for the warehousing they offer this is held 2 days a week for 4 weeks (In S Helens ).

Eligibility- You must be 19+ and be receiving JCA, UC or ESA WRAG.

For anymore information please contact Asset Training on 0151 706 0586 or 01704 566 956.

Healthwatch St Helens are holding a Making The Right Choices For Your Healthcare Needs which will take place on 5th June 2018 at  The Totally Wicked Stadium, McManus Drive, St Helens, WA9 3AL

This will be your chance to find out about all the healthcare services that you can use across St Helens and where you should go to get the best treatment for your needs.

There will be a marketplace where you can find out about other support services on offer in St Helens.

Your speakers for the afternoon will be talking about:

• Calling for an ambulance
• Visiting your GP 
• Going to the walk-in Centre 
• Using A&E 
• Waste medications 
• When you need to take antibiotics 
• Out of hours service (Rota) 
• Using your pharmacy 
• NHS 111

Saints RLFC Player, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook will be making a special appearance and you will have the opportunity to have your photograph taken with him. By booking a place you will be entered into a prize draw to win 2 tickets to a Saints RLFC game (match to be agreed).

Where and When 

Tuesday 5th June at the Totally Wicked Stadium, McManus Drive, Saint Helens, WA9 3AL

Start Time:

Arrival at 12.30pm for registration and lunch.

Finish Time:

4pm. 

How To Book:

To book your place email: info@healthwatchsthelens.co.uk or telephone 0300 111 0007.

Gift Aid is one way that registered charities can generate further income on the public donations they already recieve but can be difficult to navigate and understand. Experts from HMRC will be providing delegates with up to date information to help in making the most of levering extra funding through Gift Aid along with covering Corporation Tax and demistfyng VAT.

To book your place click HERE and register today..

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside has opened this funding opportunity for charities, community groups and social enterprises who deliver projects that stop problems before they occur, by reducing the opportunities for crime and by deterring people away from becoming involved in anti-social and criminal behaviour.

Grants of between £5,000 and £25,000 are available. The expectation is that most projects will be delivered over 12 months however, projects over a longer period may be considered. Consortia bids are encouraged and priority will be given to projects that tackle serious and organised crime. Projects must contribute to at least one of the following PCC Police and Crime Plan priorities:

• Prevent crime and Anti-Social Behaviour
• Tackling serious and organised crime
• Support victims, protect vulnerable people and maintain public safety
• Working in partnership to improve road safety

Closing date for applications: 11th June 2018 by 5pm

Decisions: July 2018

You can get further details and apply at the link below

http://www.cfmerseyside.org.uk/funds/crime-prevention-fund

Power to Change, is the independent trust supporting community businesses in England, they have a £5 million Community Business Fund and it’s reopening for applications on 24 April and closes on 22 May. Successful applicants will receive grants between £50,000 and £300,000 and they have a free webinar coming up to take people through the criteria, application process and what they've funded in other rounds.

For more information contact Collette Harvey by email on coletteh@powertochange.org.uk  or telephone number 0114 312 2260.

Our colleagues from Halton Borough Council’s External Funding Team have prepared some Funding Bulletins containing valuable information for voluntary organisations looking for grants to get projects off the ground.

The Monthly funding bulletins offering information on funding opportunities in the following areas:

Arts, Community & Voluntary, Environment & Heritage, European, Faith, Health, Schools, Sports and Youth.

To access the information, please click on the link below:

https://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/business/FinanceandGrants/finance.aspx

Please find attached the schedule of events, workshops and drop ins available hosted by the Deafness Resource Centre during Deaf Awareness Week (14th-18th May 2018) across both Halton & St Helens.

All Deafness Resource Centre events are free and open to everyone, please be aware that workshops such as the British Sign Language taster session and Songs in Sign must be reserved in advance.

They are also holding a poster competition and a raffle for more information on these and any of the events please contact Alison Wallace or Amie Johnson at the Deafness Resource Centre (contact details are at the bottom of this email).

Please note the first Halton deaf families group will take place Wednesday 23rd May 4pm-6pm in Hope Corner Church, Runcorn, further details will be released shortly.

Deafness Resource Centre Ltd
32-40 Dentons Green Lane
St Helens
Merseyside
WA10 2QB

Email: alison.wallace@deafnessresourcecentre.org

Website: www.deafnessresourcecentre.org

Telephone: 01744 23887

Skype (BSL): alison.jayne.wallace

One Halton VCSE sector event

Wednesday 20th June, 10am to 12 noon at Halton and St Helens VCA, St Maries, Lugsdale Road, Widnes, WA8 6DB

Halton and St Helens VCA are hosting a morning network meeting with a chance to hear from David Colin-Thome, Independent Chair of One Halton Programme Board on Halton’s progress towards integrating health and care services, the ambitions of the Board for a new way of working in Halton and the opportunities for VCSE sector groups to play a greater role in that work.

There will also be a chance to highlight your organisations work and influence VCA’s work as a member of the Programme board.

To book a place click on the link

Wednesday 30th May 10am to 12 noon at Halton & St Helens VCA, St Maries, Lugsdale Road, Widnes, WA8 6DB

Halton’s Prevention Model Event working together to improve health for our local population is taking place on Wednesday 30th May, 10am to 12 noon at Halton and St Helens VCA, St Maries, Lugsdale Road, Widnes, WA8 6DB.

As part of the One Halton approach, Eileen O’Meara, Halton’s Director of Public Health has been developing initial thoughts on a prevention framework and model for Halton.

VCA are hosting a network event to enable groups to hear directly from Eileen about the work so far and to have a chance to influence this and shape the model to ensure the VCSE sector is at the heart of it.

To book a place click on this link

St Helens Town Hall will play host to a Big Band Night charity evening on Saturday 2^nd June from 8pm, in aid of Willowbrook Hospice.

Guests will be treated to a selection of ballads and up tempo toe tappers from the likes of Glenn Miller, Count Basie and Benny Goodman which will be performed by 18-piece band ‘Easystreet Big Band’ with accompaniment from vocalists Kim Birkett and Phil Heyes.

Diane Swann, Senior Fundraiser for Willowbrook Hospice said:

 “The Big Band Night promises to be a great evening out whilst at the same time helping to raise funds to maintain the care and support services Willowbrook Hospice provides to people across the communities of St Helens and Knowsley.”

Tickets are priced at £10 per person and available from Willowbrook – The Living Well, (Borough Road, St Helens, tel: 01744 453798), Willowbrook St Mary’s charity shop (Church Square Shopping Centre, St Helens) and Frank Mernaugh on 01744 345073.

Letter from Dr Andrew Davies, Interim Clinical Chief Officer, NHS Halton Clinical Commissioning Group explaining the new interim arrangements between Halton CCG and Warrington CCG.

Re: Interim Integrated Working Arrangements Update

Further to my recent communication with regards to the interim arrangements in respect of my role as Clinical Chief Officer for NHS Warrington CCG and this extending to cover the interim accountable role at NHS Halton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for an initial interim period of 12 months, I am writing to provide you with an update. NHS Halton CCG and NHS Warrington CCG have shared a Chief Finance Officer since April 2017 and more recently have agreed to share the role of Chief Nurse following the retirement of the Chief Nurse at NHS Warrington CCG. 

Given this and the fact that Halton and Warrington CCGs already have a long established working relationship and that we share the same main acute provider Trust, community and mental health providers and a number of clinical pathways it made sense to explore the potential for a single interim integrated Management Team function serving both individual CCGs.

Since March 1st 2018 both CCG senior management teams have been meeting together to discuss where we do things twice that could practically be done once, for example elements of contract management, data analysis and communication and PR. 

The outcome of these discussions and a review of the roles and portfolios of the two Senior Management Teams have concluded with a proposal and agreement in principle that we will start to work as a single interim integrated management team function. 

I would like to reassure you that this is about working collaboratively with the sharing of roles to support both individual CCGs to deliver on their strategic objectives.  We also believe that this provides a real opportunity to build upon the work both boroughs already do together and make best use of the expertise, knowledge and skills across both CCGs. 

This proposal has the support of each individual CCG Audit Committee, which is the Governance Committee that oversees and seeks assurance regarding the discharge of statutory duties. In terms of next steps, following formal approval from both individual Governing Bodies, the single interim integrated management team arrangements will take effect from 1st June 2018.

Whilst roles such as Corporate, IT, Estates and Finance will be shared we will be retaining two separate Chief Commissioner roles, that will focus solely on the individual boroughs in line with the population based needs.

We fully acknowledge that there are distinct differences between both Halton and Warrington and the developments in each borough around place based commissioning will remain to be a key focus of the individual Chief Commissioner roles.

It is not unusual for CCGs to share management and functional roles and a number of CCGs in the Cheshire and Merseyside area have shared single management functions since they were authorised and established.

The new interim integrated management team will be larger than both the former individual management teams and a lot of work has been done to understand the portfolios and ensure that each role has the capacity to manage across both individual CCGs.

We are confident that these interim joint working arrangements will have a positive impact and that the working relationships across both boroughs will benefit local people as we bring together our expertise, knowledge and skills.

Members of the management team from both CCGs are looking forward to working together more closely to address the challenges, and make best use of the opportunities as collective and individual health and social care systems.

Finally, as always if you have any questions please let me know and I am more than happy to answer them.

Yours sincerely

Dr Andrew Davies

Interim Clinical Chief Officer

NHS Halton Clinical Commissioning Group

Age UK Mid Mersey is now taking referrals in the borough of Halton for the Call in Time service, a telephone friendship service for the over-60s. The service is staffed by trained volunteers and offers lonely older people a weekly chat. 

Any person aged 60 years of age or over can be referred to the service if all the following criteria apply:

• they are living alone or are a full-time carer for someone els
• they feel lonely
• they lack a local social support network
• they have access to a landline and are comfortable having conversations on the phone

Please note that the service may not meet the needs of people: 

• diagnosed with major depression or anxiety, short term memory loss or dementia
• with hearing impairment

A leaflet about the service can found by clicking the link below:

https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/sites/sthelenscvs.org.uk/files/webform/Age%20UK%20Mid%20Mersey%20Call%20In%20Time%20Leaflet.pdf 

If you require printed copies of the leaflet or have any questions about the service please feel free to contact: Joseph Lavelle, Projects & Campaigns Officer, Age UK Mid Mersey, 44 Church Street, Runcorn, WA7 1LR. Tel: 01928575400. Email: josephlavelle@aukmm.org.uk

The Co-op Foundation is seeking projects addressing youth loneliness through social action.

Successful applicants will receive up to £70,000 over two years, for projects that:

• create high-quality youth social action opportunities, which can be sustainably embedded into local provision
• overcome barriers to young people talking about loneliness, and help them to develop effective forms of mutual peer support.

Applications are now open, and will close on the 22nd June.

All the application guidance and how to apply can be found by clicking the link below:

https://blog.coopfoundation.org.uk/index.php/2018/04/26/iwillapplications/

Building a Fairer Financial System in Liverpool City Region Summit - A Stakeholder Workshop facilitated by the Just Finance Foundation

AIMS 
To map financial exclusion, identify who is affected and consider priority groups; To define what inclusion for these groups entails, what improvements could be made – over 3, 5 and 10yrs; To consider the causes and how they could be addressed, what’s already being done; To identify key actors, partnerships and who’s missing, also assets and barriers and how these could be addressed to make progress over the first three years.

WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP FOR?

Financial service providers, from banks and the Post Office, to community finance organisations, the rent to own sector, pay day lenders, ATM providers; Money advice and support agencies; Other essential service providers whose clients are excluded or at risk of exclusion eg health, housing, family etc in the private, public or third sectors Community change agents – churches and faith groups, resident and community interest groups; Intermediaries who influence the conditions for financial services and their access eg local authorities, town planners, regulators, investors, politicians, financial inclusion teams/strategy officers in banks, policy makers and parliamentary groups.

Individuals and families affected by financial exclusion will be consulted in parallel

WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH THE FINDINGS?

Notes of participants’ contributions will be recorded, written up and distributed so interested parties can use them to inform their own planning;

JFF will use the insight to develop a three year programme of development, working with partners to act on systemic change.

DATE AND TIME

Mon 4 June 2018

09:00 – 16:55 BST

LOCATION

The Quaker Meeting House
22 School Lane
Liverpool
L1 3BT

For more information and to register your place, please click the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-a-fairer-financial-system-in-liverpool-city-region-summit-tickets-45194555131

St Helens Foodbank's stock of food is getting quite low.  They would be grateful for any donations - especially of the following items.  

• Milk
• Sugar
• Juice
• Coffee
• Tomatoes
• Tinned Vegetables
• Cereal
• Tinned Potatoes
• Fish
• Tinned Fruit
• Long Grain Rice
• Rice Pudding
• Instant Mash
• Biscuits
• Toiletries

Items can be dropped of at:

Hope Centre
Atherton St
St Helens
WA10 2DT

9.30am-4pm Monday to Thursday
9.30am-1pm Friday

Volunteers Week 2018 (1st - 7th June) is an opportunity to recognise the contribution made by volunteers across the UK and raise awareness of the value and impact their volunteering can have on people’s lives. The annual campaign, established in 1984, seeks to recognise the contribution millions of volunteers make to our communities every week. More than 15m people volunteer in the UK every month. They lend their time and talents to causes as varied as food banks, libraries and hospitals. Volunteers’ Week is the perfect opportunity to recognise volunteers who give their time, energy and enthusiasm to helping other. Volunteering is a way to give something back.  It is also an opportunity for volunteers to benefit from new experiences, make friends, gain skills and have fun.

As part of this volunteer celebration, Halton Volunteer Centre are holding a number of events/days out that any volunteer from either Halton, St Helens or the wider area is welcome to attend / join:

Quiz Night - Monday 4th June 7.30-10pm. Cost: FREE (Sandwiches provided, bring your own tipple) at St Marie's, Lugsdale Road, Widnes WA8 6DB. For teams of upto 6 people - at least one must be a volunteer. Need help raising a full team? We can help you partner with another organisation.

https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/volunteer-quiz-night

Widnes Promotion Event - Wednesday 6th June 10-1pm FREE, Widnes indoor market. Book your group a slot or come and chat with Volunteer Centre staff who will be promoting the latest volunteering opportunities from across Halton and beyond.

https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/widnes-promotion-event

Llandudno Trip - Thursday 7th June 9.15-5pm Cost £13, payable on booking, non-refundable. Pick ups at St Marie's & The Brindley, Runcorn. Sights, sea air or shops! The choice is yours on our day to trip to Llandudno. Limited availability

https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/llandudno-trip

Canal Boat Trip - Monday 11th June 10-4pm Cost £5, payable on booking, non-refundable. (optional pub lunch extra charge) Pick up at The Brindley. Sit back, relax and float along on a canal boat to Stockton Heath for a pub lunch.

https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/canal-boat-trip

Salsa Party- Friday 15th June 7.30-10.30pm Cost £7.50 payable on booking, non-refundable (hot supper included, bring your own tipple) at St Marie's. Payment can be made in cash or by cheque (made payable to Halton & St Helens VCA) at our office based in St Marie's, Lugsdale Road, Widnes WA8 6DB. 

https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/salsa-party

Wellbeing Enterpieses are  looking for an experienced and highly organised Administration Officer to ensure the smooth running of a community wellbeing service working in partnership with Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group and funded by Macmillan Cancer Support.

The successful candidate will provide administrative support to the project delivery team and will be responsible for developing and implementing efficient and effective administrative processes and procedures.

Key responsibilities:

• To receive and validate referrals from a wide range of sources and contact the patient to arrange a convenient appointment
• To provide comprehensive administrative support to the Macmillan Community Wellbeing Officers
• Book venues and prepare equipment and materials for wellbeing one to one appointments and group activities
• To assist in the production of a range of marketing and promotional materials
• To assist with the social media duties for the organisation including maintaining Twitter and Facebook
• Develop and implement robust administrative processes and procedures to ensure the efficient delivery and monitoring of the service
• Organise and coordinate meetings using online calendars and monitor uptake of group activities using online and telephone systems
• Take minutes and prepare agendas and papers for internal and external meetings
• Maintain paper and electronic records in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act
• General administration duties including: filing, photocopying, answering telephone calls, taking messages and data inputting
• To coordinate the work of any administrative apprenticeships or assistants in the organisation
• To carry out volunteer induction sessions and liaise with volunteers, patients, partners and the wider public

Closing date:

Thursday 3rd May (5.00pm)

For more information and how to apply:

http://www.wellbeingenterprises.org.uk/macmillan-community-wellbeing-administrator-vacancy/

My Turn is a 2-day programme open to women and men living in the Liverpool City Region who are currently not in paid employment. This positive programme will invite participants to build confidence and to explore what they really want for themselves and their future. My Turn offers a flexible approach where they can opt in to day one, day two or both days of the programme depending on their individual needs. 

Day one of the programme has a focus on personal development including:

• Focusing on The Positives
• Putting Yourself First
• Making The Change 

Day two will take a gentle approach to exploring next steps and will invite participants to think about:

• What Motivates You
• Setting Your Goals
• Your Next Step 

In addition to the two day programme, participants can progress their next steps with the ongoing support of a key worker. The key workers on this programme are experts in financial capability and can provide a tailored service depending on the individual needs. 

Day 1

Day 2:

Please note that there are wider dates across all areas and participants can attend any of these.

For bookings or queries please don't hesitate to contact the team via 0151 706 8111 or hello@thewo.org.uk

My Turn is free to attend, and funded by European Social Fund and Big Lottery Fund. 

Salary: Salary: £18,500 – £20,000 (6 month probationary period) 16 month fixed term contract

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Place of work: Liverpool City Region

Purpose of post:

Working in partnership with Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and funded by Macmillan Cancer Support this two year project aims to revolutionise the care provided to people living with a cancer diagnosis and their carers in the Liverpool area.

The project will connect patients with community based support that will complement the care provided by clinicians. The aim of the project is to help patients to identify and address any needs that may be impacting on health and wellbeing. Moreover, the project will help patients to rediscover and reconnect with their strengths and talents to help make friendships, learn new skills, build confidence and get the best out of life.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide one to one community based support to patients living with a diagnosis of cancer and their carers. Focusing specifically on the social dimensions of health and supporting patients to make positive lifestyle changes.
• Provide group based educational and hobby and interest activities and programmes that enable people to learn new skills, make friends, build resilience and have fun.
• To act as a ‘navigator’ and connect patients to a range of support services to address issues that may be impacting on patient and carer wellbeing.
• To work with patients and carers to ensure the service is meeting the needs of this group. Recognising patients and carers as ‘assets’ who have a vital role to play in designing and delivering the service.
• Collaborate with a wide range of partner organisations to deliver community based initiatives that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of the community.
• To monitor and record patient outcome data to determine the impact of the service. This will include telephone consultations with patients.
• To recruit, train and support a team of volunteers who will support the delivery of the service and help to kick start a social movement for health in Liverpool

Closing date: Thursday 3rd May (5.00pm)

For more information and how to apply:

http://www.wellbeingenterprises.org.uk/community-wellbeing-officer-vacancy-liverpool-region/

Ladies social badminton every Tuesday, 10am-12pm at Broadway Badminton Centre, Broadway, Grange Park, St Helens, WA10 3RY

Fun and friendly badminton sessions, no experience needed. Beginners very welcome! All equipment provided. Stay for an hour or stay for 2, it's up to you! £3/£6 respectively, including tea/coffee, contact Linda if you're interested at lindapilkington7@gmail.com or just turn up on the day.

The Fun Day will be held on Saturday 5th May 2018, 12pm-4pm, at Haresfinch Rugby and Community Club.

Attractions on the day include children's entertainer, bouncy castle, climbing wall, classic cars, pony rides, exotic animal demonstration, Irish dancers, brass band, hook-a-duck, tombola, lots of stalls - toys, books, sweets, plants, cakes, jewellery, and much more.

All funds raised will go towards helping the HoneyRose Foundation to grant more wishes to adults (and their families) aged 40+ suffering with cancer and other life threatening illnesses.

Widnes Promotion Event - Wednesday 6th June 10-1pm FREE, Widnes indoor market. Book your group a slot or come and chat with Volunteer Centre staff who will be promoting the latest volunteering opportunities from across Halton and beyond.

To book on or for more information contact Volunteer Centre Halton by phone: 01928 593112 or email: volunteerhalton@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk

Salsa Party- Friday 15th June 7.30-10.30pm Cost £7.50 payable on booking, non-refundable (hot supper included, bring your own tipple) at St Marie's. Join in the dancing or just enjoy the music. Demonstrations and help for beginners.

Payment can be made in cash or by cheque (made payable to Halton & St Helens VCA) at our office based in St Marie's, Lugsdale Road, Widnes WA8 6DB. For more information contact Volunteer Centre Halton tel: 01928 593112 email: volunteerhalton@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk

Canal Boat Trip - Monday 11th June 10-4pm Cost £5, payable on booking, non-refundable. (optional pub lunch extra charge) Pick up at The Brindley. Sit back, relax and float along on a canal boat to Stockton Heath for a pub lunch.

Payment can be made either in cash or by cheque (made payable to: Halton & St Helens VCA) at our office based in St Marie's, Lugsdale Road, Widnes WA8 6DB. For more information contact Volunteer Centre Halton on: 01928 593112 email: volunteerhalton@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk

Llandudno Trip - Thursday 7th June 9.15-5pm Cost £13, payable on booking, non-refundable. Pick ups at St Marie's & The Brindley, Runcorn. Sights, sea air or shops! The choice is yours on our day to trip to Llandudno. Limited availability

Payment can be made in cash or by cheque (made payable to Halton & St Helens VCA) at our office based in St Marie's, Lugsdale Road, Widnes WA8 6DB. For more informaiton contact Volunteer Centre Halton on: 01928 593112 email: volunteerhalton@haltonvsthelensvca.org.uk

Quiz Night - Monday 4th June 7.30-10pm. Cost: FREE (Sandwiches provided, bring your own tipple) at St Marie's, Lugsdale Road, Widnes WA8 6DB. For teams of upto 6 people - at least one must be a volunteer. Need help raising a full team? We can help you partner with another organisation.

To book your team or for more information contact Volunteer Centre Halton on: 01928 593112 email: volunteerhalton@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk

Wat Phra Singh UK Buddhist Temple and Meditation Centre in Runcorn will be celebrating the Thai New Year, or Songkran, on Sunday 29 April 2018 from 09:00 to 15:00, and everyone is welcome. The monks will be chanting in the marquee on the temple car park from 10:00 to 11:00 following which they will offer lunch to the monks.

In the afternoon there will be Thai and Laos cultural events on the stage in the marquee. They hope very much that you can join them on this auspicious occasion.

Venue:

Wat Phra Singh UK,
88 High Street,
Runcorn, WA7 1JH

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the 5.5 million people living in Britain’s former mining communities. Many of these communities still require support due to the huge impact the closure of the mines had upon them.

The Coalfields Community Investment Programme (England) is a £500,000 fund created to support activities that tackle some of the key challenges that still remain in coalfield communities. The fund is open to projects that deliver in the top 30% most deprived coalfield communities and that will make a positive difference in addressing the following themes:

Skills: Growing the skills of people in order to increase their opportunities

Employment: Developing pathways to increase the number of people in work

Health: Supporting activities that improve the health and wellbeing of all age groups

Their offer is now reopened and all the information on registering an enquiry relating to a project is on the following page:

http://www.coalfields-regen.org.uk/what-we-do/division-missing/coalfields-community-investment-programme-ccip-funding-support/

The award winning UC Crew has received recognition from the High Sherriff of Merseyside Police, Stephen Burrows for their commitment and dedication to reducing youth anti-social behaviour at the Merseyside Crimebeat awards, part of the National Crimebeat awards at Merseyside Police HQ in Liverpool.

UC Crew was the only St Helens project to make it to the Merseyside Crime Beat round, they did this through primary and secondary school engagement projects and hosting a free regular free Parkour and Break Dancing session at Sutton Leisure Centre for 11 - 24 year olds. The 'Off the street project' was funded by the Community Foundation for Merseyside.

For more information about projects, break dancing and parkour contact hello@uccrew.co.uk

Saturday 12th May 2018. 2pm till 4pm.

The St Marie's Heritage Group are delighted to invite you to attend the next of our Heritage Events at St Marie's on Lugsdale Road, Widnes.

“Millions Like Us” is a wonderful, funny and moving book about growing up in our community. It was written by the late Chris Delooze and first published in 1994. If like Chris, you grew up in the districts of West Bank, Marabone, Moss Bank, Lugsdale or Newtown there will be an awful lot of the book that you recognised from your own life. As John Walsh wrote in the book’s forward; “her memory is our history”.

At the event on Saturday 12th May, we’ll be reading passages from the book before discussing our own memories.  It should be a lovely afternoon with the chance to see old friends & familiar faces and as always, there will be hot drinks and biscuits to enjoy.

To book your free place at this event, please contact Matthew Roberts via (01928) 592 405 or mroberts@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk

Please note that places are limited so please book your place quickly if you’d like to attend.

Our colleagues from Halton Borough Council’s External Funding Team have prepared some Funding Bulletins containing valuable information for voluntary organisations looking for grants to get projects off the ground.

The Monthly funding bulletins offering information on funding opportunities in the following areas:

Arts, Community & Voluntary, Environment & Heritage, European, Faith, Health, Schools, Sports and Youth.

To access the information, please click on the link below:

https://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/business/FinanceandGrants/finance.aspx

Haydock Male Voice Choir will be having their next concert with the ladies choir The Chanterelles and also soloist Ellie Hull. 

The concert will be taking place on Saturday 28th April 2018 commencing at 7:30 pm.

It will be taking place at; 

St Helens United Reformed Church,
Ormskirk Street,
St Helens,
WA10 2TD.

Tickets are priced at £10 and can be obtained by ringing Ray Christian on 0161 288 9918 or Alan Gaskell on 01744 734176 and from any choir member. 

Registration is now open for Willowbrook Hospice’s 5^th annual sponsored cycle challenge on Sunday 15 July!

Starting and finishing at Rainford High School, Ride 45 is an amazing 45 mile cycle challenge through some of the most scenic countryside in Merseyside, Wigan and West Lancashire.

Whether you’re a keen cyclist, an amateur rider or just looking to get fit for summer, Ride 45 is the challenge for you!

Entry is £20 per person and cyclists must be over 14 (with those under 16 being accompanied by an adult over the age of 18).

For more information or to register please visit http://www.willowbrook.org.uk/event/ride45/

Citizens Advice Halton has a number of volunteering opportunities for local people. No prior experience is needed as they have a really good training and support program for each role.

Some of the roles available are:

• Giving advice
• Receptionist
• Information assistants
• Telephone assessors

Different people get different things out of volunteering. However, volunteering for Citizens Advice is very different to many other volunteer roles. There is a great sense of achievement and satisfaction when you help someone and there is a real need for understanding of the things that will affect nearly everyone at some point in their lives. Citizens Advice Halton ensure that there are opportunities to build skills and develop yourself. There is also an emphasis on empowerment, equality and anti-discriminatory practices.

Volunteering helps some people improve their job prospects, gain experiences or support their studies. It can also help people to get to know their community or give something back to the area they know.

If you are interested and want more information, you can contact them via their website, citizensadvicehalton.org.uk or by telephone on 0151 257 2449 to leave a message and they will get back to you.

Merseytravel is interested in the views of people from across the region. They will be holding a series of focus groups to help test new products and services and gather feedback on the services they provide. They would like to hear from you if you can spare two hours, up to five times between April and December 2018. Participants will receive vouchers for each session attended.

How To Get Involved:

Complete the online survey at: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/focusgroupslcr

email: Focus.Groups.LCR@wsp.com

telephone: 0151 5580882

Twitter: @FocusGroupLCR #HaveYourSayMerseyside

From 1st April 2018, Healthwatch services in Halton will be provided by a new contract holder, Engaging Communities Staffordshire CIC (ECS). For a bit of background information on ECS http://www.ecstaffs.co.uk/

The change of provider has led to a restructuring of the support team for Healthwatch Halton.

Sadly they are losing their admin officer, Julie Doyle, who has been a member of the team for almost five years.  Matthew Roberts who has very ably led the team for the past 18 months, will be returning to Halton & St Helens VCA in a full-time role.

From 1st April the Healthwatch Halton team will be:

Dave Wilson – Manager
dwilson@healthwatchhalton.co.uk

Irene Bramwell – Community Outreach Lead  
ibramwell@healthwatchhalton.co.uk

Jude Burrows – Engagement & Information Lead
jburrows@healthwatchhalton.co.uk
 

Contact details will remain exactly the same:

Healthwatch Halton, St Marie’s, Lugsdale Road, Widnes WA8 6DB
Tel: 0300 777 6543
General Email – enquiries@healthwatchhalton.co.uk

Everyone at Halton & St Helens VCA would like thank to our former colleagues with Healthwatch Halton for all their hard work with VCA and wish them continued success with the project. We look forward to working alongside them in the future.

Concern for the Community - The Co-op Foundation is working with UK Youth to find out how they can help local youth services do more to tackle loneliness. Their blog explains more, including a link to their youth worker survey. 

https://blog.coopfoundation.org.uk/index.php/2018/03/20/youth-workers-what-would-help-you-do-more-to-tackle-loneliness/

Anyone who works with young people, in either a paid or voluntary capacity, can contribute to the research. 

Sefton CVS are seeking to enhance how they deliver support to the voluntary, community and faith (VCF) sector across Sefton.  Moving to a locality based model of delivery they are looking to appoint three Area Leads to join them to deliver on this ambition. 

Leading a small staff team within a defined locality, post holders will enhance volunteering and access to funding for local groups and organisations supporting them to respond to the needs of local residents.  The roles also include taking responsibility for one of the following thematic areas: Equalities and Mental Wellbeing; Children, Young People and Families; and Older Citizens. 

If you are committed to making a difference for local people through the voluntary, community and faith sector and have the experience, drive and ambition then this could be a role for you. 

Job Title: Area Lead
Salary: £34,538 per annum
Location: To be assigned to one of the following areas: South, Central or North Sefton
Hours: 35 hours (Full Time)
Accountable to: Senior Management team (SMT) in the first instance
Responsible for: Locality Team frontline staff

Downloads:
Job Description & Person Specification (Word / PDF)
Application Form (Word / PDF)
Guidance Notes (Word / PDF)
Diversity Monitoring Form (Word / PDF)
Criminal Convictions Declaration (Word / PDF)

Closing Date: 10 am on Monday 16th April 2018.

Interviews: Thursday 19th April 2018.  

Please note: candidates must be available to attend interview. 

All completed applications and for any enquiries, please email recruitment@seftoncvs.org.uk.

Do you know of a local cause that could benefit from funding?  

The Co-op Local Community Fund supports causes that bring people together and make a difference. 

Have you applied before and been unsuccessful? They've now changed some of their criteria and can support a wider variety of causes, so please apply again, you might be eligible this time around.

Applications close Sunday 8th April 2018.  

Find out more and apply coop.co.uk/causes  

If you or someone you know struggles with sight loss, Vision Support may be able to help you with things like; 

• Independent living 
• IT Training (computer lessons) 
• Low vision and daily living aids
• Volunteering opportunities 
• Home Visiting 
• Social clubs and activites 
• Welfare and benefits Advice 

Their mobile information unit will be visiting Halton on the following date 

Wednesday 4th April

Select Security Stadium,
Lowerhouse Lane,
Widnes 

at 10.00am-12.00pm 

And also 

Co-operative Food,
Old town,
Runcorn 

at 1:00pm-3:00pm 

For anymore information you can contact Vision Support at- 

ILC,
Collier St,
Runcorn,
Cheshire, 
WA7 1HB.

Or call them on 01928 582946. 

Are you a Woman born in the 1950's who would like to join a group of women against state pension inequality to campaign against the rise in the state pension age. 

You will be part of the National WASPI campaign asking for fair transitional arrangements for all women affected by the 1995 pensions act raising womens pension age from 60, and the subsequent 2011 act accelerating this rise. 

WASPI are meeting on Wednesday 10th April 2018. at 7:30pm. 

They are meeting at: 

United Service Club,
Prescot Road,
Widnes,
WA8 7PD

Come along and add to the swarm, you will get a buzz.

Widnes & Runcorn Cancer Support Group
Tel: 0151 423 5730

VACANCY - Outreach and Engagement Worker

Widnes & Runcorn Cancer Support Group has a vacancy for an Outreach and Engagement Worker to be based at their Widnes Centre but working across Halton.

The vacancy is for 17.5 hours per week.

In the first instance this role is offered for one year.

The opportunity offers pro rata remuneration at NJC Grade 3 spine point 16, £17,419 (Pro rata yearly salary is £8,709.5)

The role offers the equivalent to four weeks paid annual leave plus a pro rata share of eight days bank holidays.

The closing date for receipt of applications has been extended to 5pm Thursday 12th April. ​

Interviews will be held week commencing 16th April 2018.

For more information (including details of how to apply for this role) please click on the attached PDF

Training Strategies Ltd, are based in Liverpool but work across the North West.

Training Strategies Ltd are in a very fortunate position to have 90% Government Funded training, this means you would only pay 10% of the total cost (non –levy payers).

As part of the service for levy payers they can support you to ensure that you are meeting the requirements set by the government in the Apprenticeship Levy.   Working with businesses to align their learning and development needs so that, where possible, these qualifications are funded by the Levy .

About Training Strategies Ltd:

• High quality “local” Independent Training Provider, currently working with over 200 satisfied employers, over 1,000 learners into employment as a result of our training programmes.
• Approved on the Government Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers. Matrix and Investor in People Accredited.
• Graded “Good by Ofsted”. March 2015
• Exceptional Success and Achievement Rates. Apprenticeship success rates of 82% compared to national average of 67.0%
• FE Choices, nationally published Learner feedback fantastic at 97.6% – placing us with the top 10% of providers nationally 

Courses offered

Care

• Adult’s Health & Social Care (level 2, 3)
• Children’s Health & Social Care (level 2, 3)
• Leadership in Health & Social Care (level 5)

Facilities

• Facilities Management (level 3)
• Facilities Services (level 2)

Business

• Team Leading (level 2)
• ILM Management (level 3, 4, 5)
• Business Admin (level 2, 3, 4)
• Sales (level 2, 3)
• Customer Service (level 2, 3)
• Contact Centre (level 2, 3)

General

• Learning and Development (level 3)
• Warehousing (level 2)
• Performing Manufacturing Operations (level 2)
• Cleaning and Support Services (level 2)
• Hospitality Services (level 2, 3)

All training is delivered at your premises and there is no limit to the number of staff you can place on a course.

The main benefit of the training is to ensure all employees have been trained in the same way, to the same high standard covering key competency areas.

For more information please contact

Sharon Blaney
Account Manager

Tel    0151 523 9655
Mob  07590 880 494

sharonblaney@trainingstrategies.co.uk

Training Strategies Ltd
22 Oriel Road, Bootle
Liverpool, L20 7AD

The St. Helens Group of Advanced Motorists has recently secured funding through the St Helens Council from the Merseyside Road Safety Partnership for the Group to discount the Advanced Driver Course by £89 from £149 for drivers in the age range 17 to 35 incl. they will only pay £60! The group can give this discount to 45 young drivers over the next three years. They also offer a generous discount for the over 60’s reducing the course fee to £99. Free driving assessments are available to drivers of all ages, if you feel that they can help with improving your driving skills please contact M: Kay at 07849 674939 (after 6pm only) or Email: contact@shgam.org.uk and view their website at www.shgam.org.uk. 2018 courses start in May and September.

The completion of Inpatient Unit refurbishment at Halton Haven Hospice is on hold whilst the Hospice seek out additional funding.

The majority of work on the refurbishment has been completed but a few setbacks have led to unexpected and unwanted additional expenditure, meaning the Hospice requires a further £9,000 to finish the project.

Since work began on at the Runcorn-based adult hospice, all twelve patient bedrooms have been decorated and fitted with new beds, furniture, televisions and music systems. Three of the rooms were also relocated to provide views of the Hospice gardens. The Inpatient Unit now also has improved shower and bathing facilities for all patients, a more secure drug room, and a calmer better-located Quiet Room, an area for patients’ families and visitors to have some time to themselves.

To date, over £80,000 has been raised for the refurbishment, thanks to the generosity of local people, companies and organisations, and a donation of £42,000 from the Morrisons Foundation.

However, costs increased dramatically when several issues became apparent during the refurbishment, due mainly to the age and fabrication of the building; the floor of the bathroom and surrounding areas had to be dug out and resurfaced to ensure it would remain strong enough for future use, some support rods for plastering work had to be replaced, and a hole in a different floor had to be fixed after it gave way during ongoing works.

This unexpected increase in costs means the Hospice now requires a further £9,000 just to complete the essential aspects of the refurbishment which have already begun. This includes providing furniture and soft furnishings for visitors in patient rooms.

Viv Culleton, Director of Care and Operational Services at Halton Haven Hospice, said “The issues with the building that we discovered during the works have hit us hard. Sadly, instead of spending people’s generous donations on beds, paint and other furniture, we’ve had to put the money towards ensuring the building is safe for our patients, visitors and staff.

“The local community have been so generous in getting us this far in the refurbishment and we didn’t want to be in a situation where we find ourselves asking for further support. But sadly we need to find another £9,000 to complete what has been started.”

Donations can be made at www.tinyurl.com/hhhrefurb or www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/haltonhavenhospice/inpatientunitrefurb, or contact the Hospice on 01928 712 728 or info@haltonhaven.co.uk.

​After four years of preparation and debate the GDPR was finally approved by the EU Parliament on 14 April 2016. Enforcement date: 25 May 2018 - at which time those organisations in non-compliance may face heavy fines. 

The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) replaces the Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC and was designed to harmonise data privacy laws across Europe, to protect and empower all EU citizens data privacy and to reshape the way organisations across the region approach data privacy. 

ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) have produced a guide to GDPR to help organisations prepare for the new regulations.  The Guide to the GDPR explains the provisions of the GDPR to help organisations comply with its requirements. It is for those who have day-to-day responsibility for data protection.

This is a living document and they are working to expand it in key areas. It includes links to relevant sections of the GDPR itself, to other ICO guidance and to guidance produced by the EU’s Article 29 Working Party. The Working Party includes representatives of the data protection authorities from each EU member state, and the ICO is the UK’s representative.

Alongside the Guide to the GDPR, they have produced a number of tools to help organisations to prepare for the GDPR, including "12 steps to take now" and "Getting ready for GDPR Checklist":

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/

The ICO are also issuing guidance for not-for-profit organisations, which aims to answer questions regularly raised by charities and voluntary organisations. You can access the information using the link below:

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/charity/

St Helens Bereavement Service have moved to the Deafness Resource Centre, 32-40 Dentons Green Lane, St Helens, WA10 2QB.  The have retained their phone number which is 01744 451793, you can contact them on Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 10am to 1pm or email sthelensberserv@gmail.com.

Our colleagues from Halton Borough Council’s External Funding Team have prepared some Funding Bulletins containing valuable information for voluntary organisations looking for grants to get projects off the ground.

The Monthly funding bulletins offering information on funding opportunities in the following areas:

Arts, Community & Voluntary, Environment & Heritage, European, Faith, Health, Schools, Sports and Youth.

To access the information, please click on the link below:

https://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/business/FinanceandGrants/finance.aspx

Carmel College are offering you the chance to come along to try some free workshops aimed at gardening. The workshops will consist of home composting, gardening in containers and gardening for enterprise. They see this as a great opportunity for the local community and entrepreneurs to expand their knowledge and skills around this subject. These workshops will be run by experts in this field with support and guidance being offered along the way.

When:

14th March - Home Composting 1:15-3:15                                                                                                                                           

19th March – Gardening in Containers 10:30-12:00                                                                                                                                      

28th March – Gardening for Enterprise 10:30-12:00 

Where:

Carmel College, Prescot Road, St Helens, WA10 3AG. The workshops will be located in the foundation learning centre in Carmel College.

Book your place on these workshops by emailing foundationlearning@carmel.ac.uk

On Wednesday 28th March at 7.30pm at the St Helens RFC Totally Wicked Stadium there will be a St Helens Memorial Service for anyone who has been affected by suicide.

If you would like to attend the memorial service simply turn up, or to secure your seat please visit www.listening-ear.co.uk or call 0330 0889255

Come and celebrate the first birthday of Parents in Mind Halton at a fun, informative, child friendly event on Monday 12th March, 10am to 1pm at Ditton Community Centre. 

FREE

• Buffet
• Kids craft
• Soft play
• Musical entertainment
• Beauty therapies
• Samples
• FREE entry

Find our more about their mental health peer support service designed to support pregnant ladies and new mums across Halton.  For more information call Catherine on 07702 900894 or email parentsinmind.halton@nct.org.uk

10th May 2018 - Beacon Building, College Street, St Helens:- We will use the time to explore topics such as: Why do applications fail? Policies and Procedures  - why do they matter? Telling funders about your organisation - the Do's and Don'ts. The workshop will be delivered by Annie Lawrenson and will include group work, discussion and case studies.

It is FREE for VCA Members and a charge of £60 for Non VCA Members... NOT SURE if your organisation are members? then contact Lynne Daffern on ldaffern@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk

Or to register for the workshop CLICK HERE

Saints Community Development Foundation got in touch with Halton & St Helens VCA in April 2017 asking for support in moving thier organisation forward and alongside registering them with the Charity Commission VCA have also worked with the Foundation in stregnthening their Board of Directors, governance and finances.

Steve Leonard said "The Saints Foundation cannot thank you enough for all your hard work getting us our Charity status" We believe that we can go on to achieve bigger and better outcomes within our community on the back of your hard work and cannot wait to work alongside Halton and St Helens VCA again. Club Captain James Roby said “Our Foundation does a lot of hard work within our community and quite rightly we as players are proud to support them whenever we can. So It is good to see other such organisations who are Community focussed like St Helens VCA helping out to make a bigger difference.

Steve Leonard Foundation Director said “ from day 1 the staff have been been brilliant, they made every step easy for us and nothing was too much trouble. Such a fantastic organisation in Halton and St Helens VCA and we very much like to thank them for all their hard work”

Babies born with HIV in Africa tend to be sent home wrapped in newspaper as they do not have any clothing, so the project involves following a pattern to make either a beanie style hat or a vest. 

If you can crochet these items they would also be very welcome, however there isn't a crocheting pattern.

If you would like to participate please contact Sarah Challands for a copy of the pattern, and please pass this on to as many people as you can, as the project needs all the help it can get!

Sarah.Challands@sthelensymca.org.uk

01744 455030

Facilitated by HMRC the workshop will be an opportuntiy to ask the experts in all things Gift Aid, Corporation Tax and VAT...Gift Aid is one way that registered charities can generate further income on the public donations they already recieve but can be difficult to navigate and understand. Experts from HMRC will be providing delegates with up to date information to help in making the most of levering extra funding through Gift Aid along with covering Corporation Tax and demistfyng VAT.

MORE INFORMATION and Booking

Sahir House are recruiting a Macmillan LGBT Cancer Programme Co-ordinator (full time £25,951-27,6680) for the Liverpool City Region (for one year initially)

After a successful pilot project run between Macmillan Cancer Support and the LGBT Foundation in Manchester, Macmillan are now funding this post based in central Liverpool. The post holder will work with lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people affected by cancer, their families, supporters, carers and clinicians. They will ensure the needs of LGBT are acknowledged and addressed in provision of services, information and support across the Liverpool City Region.

Applicants should send a short CV (up to two pages) and a covering letter demonstrating both: how they meet each of the criteria in the person specification (another two pages max) to Sahir House.

Sahir House is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We especially welcome applications from groups which reflect Sahir House service user groups – HIV positive people (and other disabled people), people from Black and Minority Ethnic groups, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people and refugee communities.

The post is offered on a fixed term basis of one year initially with the possibility of extension funding beyond this. Appointment is subject to a 6 month probationary period, satisfactory references and DBS check.

Closing date for applications: 12 noon on Thursday 15th March 2018

Full job description and person specification can be downloaded from their website here

Full time permanent position (Circa £34,000 plus competitive benefits package)

The role of Grant Manager requires an individual with at least 3 years’ experience of providing support for charities through business development as well as previous experience in undertaking grant assessment and grant management work, with established networks across the voluntary sector and with a good understanding of the environment that small and medium charities are operating in.

Applications for the position close on Thursday 8th March 2018.

For more information and how to apply please visit their website: Working for us | Lloyds Bank Foundation

Purpose of Post:

Wellbeing Enterprises are looking for an experienced and highly organised Administration Officer to ensure the smooth running of a community wellbeing service working in partnership with Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group and funded by Macmillan Cancer Support.

The successful candidate will provide administrative support to the project delivery team and will be responsible for developing and implementing efficient and effective administrative processes and procedures.

Key responsibilities:

• To receive and validate referrals from a wide range of sources and contact the patient to arrange a convenient appointment
• To provide comprehensive administrative support to the Macmillan Community Wellbeing Officers
• Book venues and prepare equipment and materials for wellbeing one to one appointments and group activities
• To assist in the production of a range of marketing and promotional materials
• To assist with the social media duties for the organisation including maintaining Twitter and Facebook
• Develop and implement robust administrative processes and procedures to ensure the efficient delivery and monitoring of the service
• Organise and coordinate meetings using online calendars and monitor uptake of group activities using online and telephone systems
• Take minutes and prepare agendas and papers for internal and external meetings
• Maintain paper and electronic records in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act
• General administration duties including: filing, photocopying, answering telephone calls, taking messages and data inputting
• To coordinate the work of any administrative apprenticeships or assistants in the organisation
• To carry out volunteer induction sessions and liaise with volunteers, patients, partners and the wider public
• Uphold Wellbeing Enterprises CIC’s core values: People Power, Positive Places and Productive Partnerships 

Closing date: Tuesday 20th March at 1pm

For more information or to apply please go to: http://www.wellbeingenterprises.org.uk/macmillan-community-wellbeing-administrator-vacancy/

The St Helens Group of Advanced Motorists has recently secured funding through St Helens Council from the Merseyside Road Safety Partnership, for the Group to discount the Advanced Driver Course for drivers in the age range 17 to 35 by £89 from £149, they only pay £60!  The group can give this discount to 45 young drivers over the next three years.

They also offer a generous discount for the over 60’s reducing the course fee to £99. Free driving assessments are available to drivers of all ages and if you feel that they can help with improving your driving skills. 

For more information please contact M: Kay on 07849 674939 (after 6pm only) or Email: contact@shgam.org.uk and view their website at https://www.iamroadsmart.com/groups/sthelensam.

2018 courses start in May and September.

The Merseyside Community Investment Fund aims to bring together businesses, organisations and individuals to address urgent social issues whilst making a modest financial commitment to collectively have a greater impact in the improvement of our communities.

The fund aims to support projects that may struggle to access funding from other sources.  As funding for this programme is unrestricted grants awarded from this fund can be used to respond to local issues of concern to the community or pro-actively tackle an urgent social need. The panel is also keen to fund projects that fit in with the social themes identified in the recent "Vital Signs" report, which can be viewed at http://www.cfmerseyside.org.uk/knowledge/vital-signs-2016

How much is available: up to £1000 (or more in exceptional circumstances). The total budget available is £15k so the fund will be closed when an oversubscription ration of 3:1 has been received.

Which areas are covered: Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Wirral and Halton

Any special criteria: Download full criteria here

NB: Priority will be given to the following:

• Projects that target disadvantage and or deprivation
• Projects that encourage the community to take a pro-active approach to make a difference in their communities
• Ongoing activities rather than one off events
• Groups with small reserves as long as they are viable
• Innovative projects that would not be normally considered for funding by corporate driven criteria

The closing date is 26 March 2018 – this may be earlier depending on the number of applications received (as mentioned above)

Click here to apply

Footsteps 2000 Ltd have a new website and email addresses. The website and email addresses have changed due to some IT problems they were having.  Everything is as it was with .uk added at the end.  Please will you update your information on Footsteps 2000 Ltd as follows:

Website:  www.footstepsforfamilies.org.uk

Email address:  info@footstepsforfamilies.org.uk

Email addresses for staff:  Tony Murphy – murphyt@footstepsforfamilies.org.uk Pauline Pointon – pointonp@footstepsforfamilies.org.uk

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has reopened the enquiry survey for the Coalfields Community Investment Programme providing funding up to £10,000. They also offer practical help to organisations/groups operating in the former coalfield areas in England.

The Coalfields Community Investment Programme – Funding Support is a £500,000 fund created to support activities that tackle some of the key challenges that still remain in coalfield communities. Funding of up to £10,000 is available for projects that deliver in the top 30% most deprived coalfield communities and that will make a positive difference in addressing the following themes:

Skills: Growing the skills of people in order to increase their opportunities

Employment: Developing pathways to increase the number of people in work

Health: Supporting projects that increase participation in activities/services that improve the health and wellbeing of people in former coalfield communities.

The offer is now reopened and all the information on registering an enquiry and applying for funding relating to a project is on the following page:

http://www.coalfields-regen.org.uk/what-we-do/division-missing/coalfields-community-investment-programme-ccip-funding-support/

Please read all the information and the guidance notes carefully before deciding whether to complete the Eligibility Survey.

The Coalfields Community Investment Programme – Practical Help is a range of free services and resources available to registered/incorporated organisations such as registered charities, companies limited by guarantee, community interest companies and charitable incorporated organisations operating in the top 30% most deprived coalfield communities.

For more information please see the link below:

http://www.coalfields-regen.org.uk/what-we-do/division-missing/coalfields-community-investment-programme-ccip-practical-support/

The deadline is looming for organisations who want a share of £115,000 to help make Merseyside a cleaner and greener place.

The funding has been made available for Merseyside and Halton community and voluntary groups, schools, faith groups and not-for-profit organisations, who can reduce household waste, encourage recycling and resource re-use and prevent carbon emissions. The projects will also have to demonstrate wider positive impacts on the environment, health and education.

Successful applicants can be awarded up to £25,000 for schemes which operate across all six districts in Merseyside and Halton, and £8,000 for projects which work solely at one local authority level.

The money is coming from the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority and Veolia Community Fund 2018/19.

The deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest is Wednesday 28th February 2018.

The impact of last year’s Fund saw 10 projects deliver 23 full time equivalent jobs (created or safeguarded), participation by 136 volunteers, 25,970 people directly engaged, 1345 tonnes of waste material diverted from landfill and £134,500 of equivalent landfill costs avoided.

Chairperson of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA), Councillor Graham Morgan, said: “We’ve made this money available for new and existing projects which can have an impact on their local community and make Merseyside and Halton a cleaner and greener place for us all to live and work.”

Previous Community Fund projects have included:

• creating a sensory learning garden from re-used materials in St Helens
• the development of a shop in Wirral to sell used clothes
• the repair and re-use of unused furniture for redistribution to the local community in Halton
• cookery skills clubs to help reduce food waste across Merseyside and Halton
• sewing classes in Knowsley
• timber waste re-use at a local community farm in Liverpool
• improving online retail skills for a charity shop in Sefton

This year bids must tackle one or more of the four priority household waste materials which have been identified by MRWA as key, namely Food, Plastics, Textiles and Furniture. An analysis of waste in Merseyside and Halton in 2016 highlighted that a greater amount of these materials could be re-used or recycled. Projects can also include other household waste materials, for example paper, card, metals.

Interested groups should complete and submit an Expression of Interest with MRWA. If applicants are shortlisted then they will be asked to fill in a more detailed Community Fund entry. Projects will have ten months to deliver their schemes and will be expected to get started by June.

Organisations interested in this year’s Community Fund can:

• Download the Expression of Interest Form and Guidance at www.merseysidewda.gov.uk/waste-strategy/community-fund/community-fund-201819/    
• Contact the Authority by Email: communityfund2018-19@merseysidewda.gov.uk  / Tel: 0151 255 1444

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST:  28th February 2018

With support from Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the FSI is delivering a heavily subsidised training event in Liverpool on 25th April offering small and local charities and community groups four courses on key fundraising topics. Training courses on offer include Developing Your Fundraising Strategy, Fundraising from Trusts & Foundations, GDPR Essentials, Budgets, Management Accounts and Cash Flow Forecasting. 

Places fill up fast, so book your place today to access this fantastic training opportunity: http://bit.ly/2BSTAy1 

Volunteer Coordinator

Catalyst Science Discovery Centre in West Bank, Widnes

Hours of Work: Fixed term contract for 6 months. P/T – 2 days equivalent per week (based on 8hr day)

Place of Work: Based in Catalyst Science Discovery Centre, Widnes

Remuneration: £150.00 per day (inc all expenses)

Responsible to: Friends of Catalyst

Purpose of post: They are looking for a passionate and empathetic individual with qualifications and/or experience in Volunteer Coordination to play a crucial role in the delivery of the project to bring more volunteers into Catalyst and support them with their training needs and to enhance their experience of volunteering.

Catalyst is the only Centre in the UK which explores the science and technology behind the chemical industry and its impact on our lives through a host of hands-on exhibits, activities and demonstrations - for further details, see http://www.catalyst.org.uk .

Catalyst is a Registered Charity and is funded by entrance fees, grants, sponsorship & donations. Friends of Catalyst is a registered charity and provides support via donations and expertise. They are funding this post through a grant from Big Lottery Awards for All.

For an Application Form, Job Description and Person Spec please email: funding@halton.gov.uk or call: 0151 511 7960

The closing date is Mon 5th March 2018 and interviews will be held on Thursday 15th March 2018

The post is funded by the National Lottery Big Lottery Fund.

St Helens CDP (Coaltion of Disabled People) are proud to be working in partnership with Merseyside Police and the Liverpool Commonwealth Association to Service cycles and make them ready for shipment over to the Caribbean. In 2017 several small Caribbean islands were left devastated in the wake of hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Due to the reduction in motorised transportation the urgent need for the population was to have delivered cycles. A shipment is due to leave in July of this year. The cargo will be loaded in the Merseyside area and shipped to the Port of Road Town which is located on Tortola, British Virgin Island. 

CDP members are proud to be involved in such a worthwhile project and are currently working on bikes donated by several police forces. 

If you feel that you could support this project in any way then please contact them on the details below:

Email: info@sthelenscdp.co.uk

Telephone: 01744 453343

Address: Nuttall House, Clifton Street, St Helens. WA10 1EX

MSP (Merseyside Sports Partnership) are supporting social enterprise Oomph! to offer out a sustainable proposal to encourage community organisations across the Liverpool City Region to improve physical activity levels of older adults aged 65+.

Oomph! is an award winning social enterprise on a mission to ensure that older and vulnerable adults across the UK live life to the full. They believe that physical activity should be a habit to be enjoyed by older adults living in the community, delivered in familiar venues by familiar people.

Oomph have received £914,000 from Sport England, as the largest recipient of their new ‘Active Ageing’ fund. Through this funding they will get 27,000 inactive older adults active for at least 30 minutes a week through partnering with organisations who are experts in older adults, providing accredited training and support to these organisations to maximise their resources to enable older people to enjoy fun, accessible and sustainable activity.

Here's an example of what an Oomph! session training looks like: 

Organisations in the Liverpool City Region can take up a heavily subsidised and sustainable package of support from Oomph in order to increase activity levels and outcomes for older adults. This opportunity is open to organisations who support groups of older adults in the Liverpool City Region (including Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and on the Wirral), and could include:

• Extra care schemes
• Retirement living operators
• Sheltered housing schemes
• Day Care Centres
• Community Centres
• Libraries
• Church groups

n.b.: Care homes are not eligible for this subsidised offer, but can access the Oomph programme separately.

Click here  to access further information about the proposal, and for any questions or to register your interest please contact d.woodworth@merseysidesport.com or call 077300 28773.

Sahir House has been offering HIV support, information and training across Merseyside since 1985. It offers a wide range of services to people living with or affected by HIV; HIV training; HIV information; prevention and testing; and opportunities to volunteer.

After a successful tenure securing existing, and sourcing new funding, their current CEO is moving to another role. The organisation has recently improved governance, recruited new trustees, gained ISO9001 registration and won the 2017 GSK IMPACT Award as one of the best small health charities in the UK.

Chief Executive Officer – full time c£45k per annum

They are recruiting a suitably experienced CEO to guide the charity through its next stage of development. In particular they are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Significant senior management experience in the voluntary sector (or closely related field)
• The ability to work with stakeholders including: service users, volunteers, politicians, clinicians, commissioners, staff and supporters
• Strategic awareness and the ability to lead change in the organisation and in the sector
• Good core senior management skills, including strategic management of finance, marketing and human resources

Applicants should send a short CV (up to two pages) and a covering letter demonstrating both: how they meet the criteria in the person specification and their vision for how they would take the charity forward (another two pages max). Call Sahir House at the number below if you would like a call back from their Chair for an informal chat about the role.

Sahir House is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. They especially welcome applications from groups which reflect Sahir House service user groups – HIV positive people (and other disabled people), people from Black and Minority Ethnic groups, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people and refugee communities.

The post is subject to a 6 month probationary period, satisfactory references and DBS check.

Closing date for applications: 12 noon Tuesday 6th March 2018

Shortlisting: Later that week

Interviews: Wednesday 14th March 2018

Ideal start date: April 2018 however we understand candidates may have longer notice periods and will accommodate this

Full job description and person specification can be downloaded from their website here

Date: Tuesday 20th February 2018 - 10.00am – 1.00pm
Venue: Karalius Suite, Select Security Stadium, Lowerhouse Lane, Widnes. WA8 7DZ

Are you looking for training, qualifications, work or work experience and live in Halton?

The Ways to Work team and Halton Employment Partnership are holding an event focussing on the opportunities available linked to the Mersey Gateway and Silver
Jubilee bridges, which include the following fields:

• Customer Service
• Contact Centre Operations
• Construction
• Highway Maintenance
• Volunteering

A range of opportunities are available for people living in Halton and the Liverpool City Region:

• Training to develop skills the employers are looking for
• Training leading to relevant qualifications
• Vacancies for jobs linked to both bridges
• Work experience opportunities for adults
• Volunteering opportunities

Places are limited so DON’T MISS OUT – please come along to the stadium and register to access these opportunities. (Bring ID and Right to Work in the UK evidence documents)

Enquiries: telephone 0151 511 7555 or email: w2wreferrals@halton.gov.uk

Cycling or walking can offer a free/low cost and practical solution, especially where shifts or location rule public transport out. St Helens Council's Sustainable Transport Team can help you get to a new job through cycling or walking support. 1-2-1 support and advice is available through the 6 Community Bike Hubs across the Borough, or to groups within a community setting.

If you’re a job-seeker they can show you how to look after your bike and ride safely and with confidence. Eligible applicants could also receive £100 Halfords voucher towards a new bike or walking equipment (numbers are limited and eligibility rules apply). Support is available to job seekers or those within the first 6 months of employment. You could also volunteer and learn new skills that could lead to employment.

For further information please contact the Cycling and Walking to Work Hubs Initiative via email sustainabletransport@sthelens.gov.uk,

This project is wholly funded from the Department for Transport Cycling and Walking to Work Fund.

Attached is the latest edition of the Liverpool City Region Apprenticeship Hub newsletter, outlining all Apprenticeships Hub activity in Halton since the project started in May 2017.  

This is a new format, due to the vast amount of activity delivered to date by the LCR Apprenticeship Hub, they felt it would be useful for stakeholders in each of the LCR Authorities to receive information specifically relating to their own area.  However, if you would also like to receive the editions from any of the other Local Authority areas, please contact debi.shackley@halton.gov.uk

Have you thought about making the most of your organisational capacity and increasing your fundability?

Becoming a member of St Helens Third Sector Consortium could help you!

St Helens Third Sector Consortium has been running for 2 years and in this short time has already been successful in several funding opportunities, including a large public sector contract, giving VCSE organisations the opportunity to work together to deliver services and access support from each other.

For more details and an up to date prospectus please contact Catherine Cahalin at ccahalin@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk or call 01744 457112 for a chat

Autism & Asperger Society are organizing an awareness walk at Taylor Park, St Helens to celebrate World Autism Day on the 8th April 2018.

The walk will be taking place on Sunday 8th April starting at 1:50pm.  

There will be many things to do such as a children's fairgroud, information, awareness and funding, starting at 12pm-5pm.  

For anymore information contact the  Autism & Asperger Society by email- contact@theautismark.org. 

Or call them on- 01744 362260.

For sponsor forms please see attachment 

Our colleagues from Halton Borough Council’s External Funding Team have prepared some Funding Bulletins containing valuable information for voluntary organisations looking for grants to get projects off the ground. 

The Monthly funding bulletins offering information on funding opportunities in the following areas:

Arts, Community & Voluntary, Environment & Heritage, European, Faith, Health, Schools, Sports and Youth.

https://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/business/FinanceandGrants/finance.aspx

Come along to Healthwatch St Helens Listening Event to find out about Community Nursing Services in St Helens and share your own experiences and views. 

They  want to know what works well and what could be improved. Professor Sarah O’Brien, Intrim Chief Accountable Officer for St Helens CCG will give a brief overview, and a representative from the Community Nursing service will be on hand to answer your questions. 

To book your place please contact Debbie on: 0300 111 0007 or email: deast@healthwatchsthelens.co.uk

Date: 20 Feb 2018 - 10:00 to 12:00 
Location: Beacon Building, College Street, St Helens. WA10 1TF

Registration is now open for this year’s Willowbrook Hospice Moonlight Colour Walk with a limited Early Bird offer of £10 per adult for those who sign up before midnight on 14 February.

The walk, which is on Saturday 9 June, is the charity’s most colourful fundraising event with people of all ages and abilities encouraged to join in the fun as they take on either a 6.5k or 10k route with the option of being showered by rainbow coloured powder paint.

Entry for children under 16 is £5 and will be £15 for adults who sign up after the 14 February. All walkers will receive a T shirt, a medal and a well-earned bacon butty (or alternative) at the end of walk.

Diane Swann, Senior Fundraiser at Willowbrook says: “Last year was the first time we offered walkers the option of getting ‘colour splashed’ and everyone seemed to really enjoy it! This year we’re hoping that even more people will come along to join in the fun. Although there’s no minimum sponsorship, every penny raised by our walkers will go towards the £4.5 million that it costs every year to maintain our care services to people across St Helens and Knowsley.”

To register, either go online at https://willowbrookhospice.charitycheckout.co.uk/MLW, ring Willowbrook’s Fundraising team  on 01744 453798 or pop into The Living Well on Borough Road, St Helens.

Disabled Childrens Services at Halton Borough Council in partnership with Everton in the Community have arranged activities for disabled children aged 12+ during the February Half Term.

These activities are being funded from short breaks for disabled children age 12+ who would not usually be able to access activities provided by universal services. Some indicators as to whether a child would meet the criteria to attend the activities are children who may not have a definite diagnosis, attend special school such as Cavendish, Chestnut Lodge, Ashley, have an EHC plan or receive 15 hour+ individual support in school because of learning needs.

To Book families will need to contact Steve or Mark on Tel: 0151- 530-5254 or email- mark.dolan@evertonfc.com or steve.johnson@evertonfc.com.

Places still available for more details about the activities please see attached flyer.

Are you a Woman born in the 1950's who would like to join a local group of women agaist state pension inequality. 

To complain and campaign agaist the rise in their state pension age. 

WASPI Halton, Widnes and Runcorn supporters group. 

You will be part of the National WASPI campaign asking for fair transitional arrangements for all women affected by the 1995 pensions act raising womens pension age from 60, and the subsequent 2011 act accelerating this rise. 

WASPI are meeting on Tuesday 6th February at 7:30pm. 

The meeting wil be at; 

United Service Club,
Prescot Road,
Widnes,
WA7 7PD

Come along and add to the swarm, you will get a buzz.

A service of reflection will be held at Saints’ Totally Wicked Stadium this March for people affected by suicide.

The event, which will run from 7:30pm - 9:00pm on Wednesday 28 March 2018, is being hosted by Listening Ear's AMPARO service, which provides support following suicide, and is supported by St Helens Council, Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBs), State of Mind (a charity that promotes positive mental health for sportsmen and women) and St Helens College.

Bringing people affected by suicide together from across Merseyside and Cheshire, the evening aims to provide a space for thought and reflection in supportive surroundings. In attendance will be Danny Sculthorpe and Ian Smith from the world of Rugby League who have both been personally affected by suicide.

Richard Brown, CEO of Listening Ear said: "We have been delivering our post suicide support service, AMPARO, in Cheshire & Merseyside for nearly three years. AMPARO aims to reduce stigma, support bereaved families, and bring local services together to provide cohesive care and support when a suicide has occurred within a community.”

Cllr Gill Neal, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing said: “I would just like to thank all those involved for organising this memorial service. It will give people a chance to remember their loved ones and come together with others who have also been affected by suicide. It’s also an opportunity to let people know that there is support available to help them through this tough time in their lives.”

Derek Hall and Anne Cunliffe, Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBs) said: “SOBs gives us a chance to talk and listen to others who, like ourselves have lost someone to suicide and understand the devastation for those left behind.”

Malcolm Rae, State of Mind Chair said: "State of Mind Sport are pleased to support this important event as we recognise that family members and friends can be supported and strengthened in their distress by remembering their loved ones in this way."

Suicide is an individual tragedy, life-altering for those bereaved and a traumatic event for the community and local services involved. It is also a major public health issue and a leading cause of years of life lost.

To continue this community support, AMPARO would like to invite all affected by suicide to attend the reflection at Saints’ stadium in March, with an opportunity to meet others who have had similar experiences.

The evening will seek to continue the work of AMPARO and other partners, ensuring all who have been affected by suicide are fully supported and are able to feel connected to their community.

If you would like to attend the memorial service, visit https://www.listening-ear.co.uk/Event/st-helens-memorial-service to book your place.

For further information:

Richard Brown CEO Listening Ear (Merseyside)

07850 476 360 Richard.brown@listening-ear.co.uk

amparo.service@listening-ear.co.uk

£5m fund launched to support local charities

The Garfield Weston Foundation has launched a new £5m fund to celebrate its 60th anniversary year, with a view to help local charities provide new or improve existing community facilities.

Up to £150,000 is available to projects that successfully apply. The Foundation is using this anniversary year to acknowledge the vulnerable position that many small and local charities are in, and by offering capital funding it hopes to invest in much needed facilities that will enable them to continue providing support.

Applications are open now until 30 June, find out more here.

The Homeless Halton Concert is coming to The Studio in Widnes.

The Voice UK's Mo Adeniran, Max Vickers & local artist Kerry Sheree will be performing.

Get your tickets for Monday 12th Feb, priced at only £4.

The event has been organised by NCS - National Citizen Service graduates to raise awareness for homeless people in Widnes and Runcorn.

Free DJ Workshop at Mossbank Library with DMC Finalist 'DJ Pnutz' on Monday 12th February 2018 from 2:00-4:00.

Children and young people can learn the essential DMC DJ skills of beat matching, scratching, mixing and turn table tricks.

DJ PNutz competed in Scratch DJing competitions across the world and performs regularly across the UK.

Check out his video below:

Please contact Mossbank Library to book your place:
01744 677988 

NHS Cheshire & Merseyside Partnership (STP) are planning the next 3 sector meeting.  It is planned that reps from regional planning in health will be present to support their understanding of the value of the third sector to the health outcomes detailed in the STP plans.

To help focus the event they will plan the agenda for a dragon’s den style event to demonstrate the value of the community and voluntary sector to health goals such as prevention, supporting and developing out of hospital care and mental health and wellbeing.

Can you please save the date in your diary - Wednesday 28 February 09.30 for 10.00 start until 13.00 at Halton & St Helens VCA, St Maries, Lugsdale Road, Widnes, WA8 6DB

If you would like to present it will be 20 minutes maximum with some time for questions, focusing on

• Your work
• How you deliver on out of hospital care – what difference this makes to use of statutory health services
• How you support health prevention and self-care
• How you support people with long term conditions in relation to their mental health and wellbeing

                   (You don’t all need to cover each point but some ideas to help)

Let them know if any of you have an individual story / case study demonstrating the range of support and benefit third sector groups bring to an individual as discussed in the last meeting.  If anyone has a volunteer or individual who can present the benefit the service brings that would complement it so well.

 This format for the meeting is building on the main discussion points in the last meeting held in October 2017, summary below:

• There is a need to know how the changes in the NHS across Merseyside and Cheshire / NHS Cheshire and Merseyside will work with and value the role the third sector can play in delivering on the STP goals.
• What is the plan for developing engagement (as opposed to consultation) with people who use the services and the community and voluntary sector.
• A dragons den style event with representatives from overseeing the NHS changes at a Cheshire and Merseyside level to present and discuss the value the third sector brings to STP objectives

If you want to present at this event please contact Des des.chow@haltonccg.nhs.uk Paul  Paul.Steele@sthelensccg.nhs.uk  or Ruth  Ruth.Austen-Vincent@mssociety.org.uk  for more information. 

Nick Mott (Deputy Head of Guidance & Practice) talks about the automatic disqualification rules coming into force on the 1 August 2018, and how you can prepare.

Almost anyone can run a charity, but restrictions mean some people are automatically prevented (disqualified) from being able to do this unless they have clearance from the Charity Commission.

Read the full article HERE...

Widnes and Runcorn Cancer Support Group support anyone who has been touched by cancer. One of the services offered is a confidential counselling service within a safe and comfortable environment where you can feel relaxed and able to discuss your concerns freely.

This service is for adults aged 18+.  Appointments are available Monday to Friday. If you would like to know more or make a referral please feel free to drop in to The Centre on Alforde Street, Widnes or give them a call on 0151 423 5730.

www.widnesandruncorncancersupport.org.uk 

Are you helping to support someone who has a Mental Health diagnosis, this can be someone with depression, anxiety, bipolar, OCD etc if so Halton Carers' centre have some great training which is available at their Runcorn Centre. There are 2 different courses which can be accessed the first is basic Mental Health Training which covers all mental health and is covered over 2 sessions, the 2nd course is specifically around Personality Disorders and again is 2 sessions.  You can choose which course is more suited to yourself or you can access both courses.  To book a place please contact the centre on 01928 580182, a refundable £5 deposit is needed to secure your place.

The dates for the MH training are:

• Basic Mental Health Training - Thursday, 1st & 8th March 2018 from 10:00 to 12:30pm
• Personality Disorder Training - Thursday 15th & 29th March 2018 from 10:00 to 12:30pm

All sessions are held at their Runcorn Office and you will receive a certificate at the end of the sessions..

They also have a Mental Health Carers Support Group which meets monthly in Runcorn, It offers peer support, activities and guest speakers in a friendly environment where carers can meet others in similar situations. The group meet the last wed of every month 1pm – 3pm in the Mencap Building, Laburnum Grove. The groups next dates are: 31st Jan, 28th Feb, 28th Mar,25th April.  For more information on the group please give them a call on 01928 580 182.

Community Action Wirral is recruiting for a Head of Service. This is a full time position based in The Lauries in Birkenhead with a salary of £30-35k dependent upon experience.  The post holder will deliver the newly acquired not for profit infrastructure contract for the Borough.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 31st January 2018 at 5pm.

All applications and queries relating to the role should be sent to Karen.livesey@communityactionwirral.org.uk

For more information, please see the attached job description and application form.

Apex Charitable Trust Ltd provides information, advice and guidance to offenders/ex-offenders, supporting them into employment, training, education and voluntary work by assisting them in breaking down the barriers they face when moving forward with a conviction. Based in St Helens with outreach across the Liverpool City Region, ACT 4 Women is a peer support project. Beneficiaries are unemployed women ex-offenders. They currently have a vacancy for a Information, Advice and Guidance Officer (17 ½ hrs per week) and for a Volunteer Coordinator / Assessor (28 hrs per week). 

Information, Advice and Guidance Officer – 17 ½ hrs per week
Based in St Helens – delivering outreach across Liverpool, works with unemployed women offenders / ex-offenders (ACT 4 Women project). This project addresses barriers to education, training and employment faced by women with a criminal record residing in Merseyside. 17.5 hrs p/week (between the hours of 9am-5pm, Monday–Friday) – salary £24,168 p/a (pro rata)

The IAG (information, advice & guidance) Officer will recruit women offenders to engage in the project, working with them on a 1-1 basis, supporting them in achieving their goals, offering advice and guidance to them in securing employment, training, education or voluntary work. Delivery is in Liverpool.

Time limited contract – fixed term to 31st December 2018.

Volunteer Coordinator / Assessor – 28 hrs per week
The Volunteer Coordinator will recruit, train and support volunteers in volunteering as peer mentors with Apex Trust to enable service delivery and expansion. As Assessor you will deliver accredited training through Open Awards to appropriate level, working alongside Internal Quality Assurance to ensure high standards of deliver set out by the awarding body.

28 hrs p/week (between the hours of 9am-5pm, Monday–Friday) – salary £24,168 p/a (pro rata)

The project is funded through a number of grants and donations from valued supporters.

Due to the attendance at ‘women only’ establishments, the posts advertised require female only applicants (These posts are restricted to women only as a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9 paragraph Equality Act 2010). As this role is across Merseyside delivering on an outreach basis, it is essential for a car owner applicant.

Appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced DBS check

Closing Date for both Vacancies: Friday 16th February 2018 - midday
Interview Date - to be confirmed

Application packs can be requested by request emailing sthelens@apextrust.com
 

Halton Peoples Health Forum has 2 events taking place on:

• Tuesday 27th February 2018, St Maries, Widnes, WA8 6DB from 1pm to 3.30pm
• Thursday 1st March 2018, Halton Lead LIbrary, Runcorn Shopping City, WA7 2PF from 1pm to 3.30pm

Topics to be discussed

• Cancer awareness
• GP/Care home alignment - feedback
• Access to primary care

This is a free event and you can meet local GP's and Health professionals 

Presenters

Dr David Lyons (GP Castlefields/Chair of Halton CCG) Widnes and Runcorn Cancer Support Centre Primary Care Commissioners

HIT- Health Improvement Team

Representatives from Macmillan and Delamere Centre to be confirmed

For more information:  Email communications@haltonccg.nhs.uk or telephone 01928 593479

Listening Ear, a Knowsley-based social enterprise delivering counselling and therapy services, has been approved as a learning provider for the Skills for Growth Service. Skills for Growth supports businesses in the Liverpool City Region to invest in improving the skills and productivity of their workforce. 

Listening Ear has been approved as a training provider with Skills for Growth and as a result can offer subsidised training to companies within the Liverpool City Region, which includes Liverpool, Knowsley, St.Helens, Sefton, Wirral and Halton.

The funding is subject to the company being eligible, but in theory an SME could receive 80% funding, which is a huge saving for smaller organisations.

Listening Ear can offer the following training for your employees:

• Bereavement
• Suicide and Self-harm awareness
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Mindfulness

Listening Ear’s training courses are flexible and bespoke to the employer and we can combine some of the modules above to create a bespoke package for your employees and their needs. For example, they have a 1 day course, which covers mindfulness, stress and
anxiety.

Training courses can be held at Listening Ear’s newly refurbished building in Whiston or at your business premises and each course will last 1 day, although employers can receive funding for more than 1 course per learner.

For more information about this funding and the training delivered by Listening Ear, please contact:
Amanda McTomney
Project Manager
amanda.mctomney@listening-ear.co.uk

Do you care for someone who is currently in hospital, or do you care for someone and are going into hospital yourself for a planned admission? Lucia Urquhart who is a hospital liaison support worker at Halton Carers’  Centre can assist you with any questions you may have around hospitals / admissions / discharge / care at home and liaise with hospital staff and social services on your behalf. It can be a very stressful and confusing time not knowing what happens following a hospital stay. Lucia can attend discharge meetings with you to make sure you are fully aware what is going to happen when a patient is discharged.             

Some people do not consider themselves as a carer instead they are just looking after someone close to them. A carer is someone who provides help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour who could not manage without their help.

Halton Carers' Centre offer information and advice, advocacy and support, emotional support, relaxation therapies, carer break funding, training courses, support groups, trips, newsletters and much more.

Contact details: Halton Carers’ Centre: 62 Church Street, Runcorn, WA7 1LD. Tel: 01928 580182. Peelhouse Family Centre, Peelhouse Lane, Widnes, WA8 6TJ. Tel: 0151 257 9673. Email help@haltoncarers.co.uk

Shopmobility St Helens which provides electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters and a range of transit wheelchairs for hire both short and long term, has now moved to the Independent Living Store based at St Mary's Arcade:

Independent Living Store
St Mary's Arcade
Church Square Shopping Centre
St Helens
WA10 1AR

Telephone 01744 613388 remains the same.

The Building a Stronger Britain Together (BSBT) programme is a Home Office funding opportunity, which supports civil society and community organisations who work to create more resilient communities, stand up to extremism in all its forms and offer vulnerable individuals a positive alternative, regardless of race, faith, sexuality, age and gender. The programme allows organisations that share these aims to bid for in-kind support and grant funding for specific programmes that deliver goals set out in the Counter Extremism Strategy. 

The call for grant funding is open from Monday 15th January 2018 at 3pm until Friday 16th February 2018 at 5pm.

You can still apply for funding if your previous application was unsuccessful.

If you applied for funding in rounds 1 and 2, you may apply for funding in round 3. You can also apply for funding if you have been or are in receipt of in-kind communications support.

For more information and to apply for the fund please click the link below which will take you to the Gov.uk site:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/building-a-stronger-britain-together

Liverpool City Council is holding an event with the BSBT Team on Monday 29 January 2018, 1-3pm, at the Quaker Meeting House, 22 School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BT. 

This is an opportunity to meet the team and find out more about the programme. If you are thinking of applying it would be useful to start to plan your application prior to the event so you have plenty of time to submit it before the deadline. 

For more information about the event, or to book a place, please contact, Joanne Matthews, Community Coordinator (Counter Extremism Strategy) at Joanne.matthews@liverpool.gov.uk or telephone 0151 233 7019.

St Helens is set to be the first area in the City Region to trial a digital approach to accessing travel information after Liverpool City Region Transport Committee members agreed to a six month pilot earlier this week.

Over the last five years the number of outlets receiving paper timetables and other information has reduced and increasingly more people are accessing travel information online. 

It means that during the pilot period, bus paper timetables, area map leaflets and general ticketing booklets will be removed from the St Helen’s Merseytravel Centre and 16 other outlets, such as health centres and libraries. If successful, the pilot could be rolled out across the Liverpool City Region, contributing to savings of up to £140k a year.

Starting 15th January 2018, the pilot includes plans for a number of roadshows, taking place across St Helens and run by digital champions. The aim of the roadshows will be to help customers who don’t traditionally use online tools, get used to ‘going digital’. Digital champions will show customers how to access ticket information, check and plan journeys using an online journey planner. During the Pilot the Merseytravel website ticketing pages will also be being updated and a new, improved Merseytravel ticket finder will also be developed to come online around February.

Those customers who are unable to use online tools or need additional support to plan their journeys, will be able to request personalised journey plans, including paper timetables, at St Helen’s Merseytravel centre, which will also display improved travel information.

Cllr Liam Robinson chair of The Combined Authority Transport Committee, which oversees the work of Merseytravel, said:

 “As digital journey planning tools become more popular with customers in the Liverpool City Region and with the financial challenges Merseytravel faces, it is important that information distribution channels are reviewed and cost efficiently strategies deployed. 

Removing paper leaflets from key distribution outlets will enable Merseytravel to understand the impact in a controlled manner and evaluate the success of the pilot based on customer feedback, before any decision is rolled out across the rest of Merseyside.

To find out more about Advice and Digital Training click on the link below

http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/travelling-around/key-destinations/Pages/Digital-Roadshows.aspx

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is embarking on its search for exceptional individuals with the passion to deliver on their vision and help to create a truly global and competitive City Region at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse. If you have the skills and ambition for this City Region and thrive on tough challenges and getting results, then they want to hear from you. They currently a vacancy for a Senior Officer (Data Analysis) and also for a Programme Support Officer.

Senior Officer (Data Analysis)​:

Reporting to the Programme Manager, you will provide policy and data analysis support for all aspects of the Households into Work Programme. You will support colleagues, helping to ensure the programme’s aims and objectives are met, that targets and outcomes are achieved and that quality standards are adhered to.

You will hold a minimum of a Level 3 qualification (3 A levels or equivalent) and be able to demonstrate a commitment to continuous personal development.

Salary: £27,852 to £33,562
 

Programme Support Officer​

Reporting to the Programme Manager, you will provide programme support for the innovative Households into Work Programme. You will monitor and report on programme delivery, helping to ensure performance standards are being met and that suitable process and systems which aid management and delivery of the programme are in place.

You will hold a minimum of a Level 2 qualification (5 good GCSEs or equivalent) and be able to demonstrate a commitment to continuous personal development.

Salary: £24,764 to £26,783

Closing date for both vacancies is 1st February 2018

For more information and how to apply please click the link below:

http://liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/vacancies

Cheshire Police is warning residents across the county not to fall foul of Courier Fraud following reports in Crewe, Nantwich and Chester.

Courier fraud is when the offender cold calls the victim posing as an official such as a police officer or a member of a banks fraud team.

They will instruct the victim to go to their bank and withdraw money. The offender will claim that they are investigating staff at the bank that they need the victim's help in some kind of undercover operation, for example they may claim that bank staff are handing out counterfeit bank notes and they need the victim to withdraw money so that it can be examined.

The offender will then send a courier to collect the money from the victim.

There are many variations of this scam, which may involve the victim handing over bank cards or high value items.

In one recent incident, a Crewe elderly couple were contacted by an offender posing as a Greater Manchester Police Officer. He told the victims that people had been accessing their bank account using blank cards and instructed them to withdraw money which was to be handed to a courier using a password system.

DC Liz Rankin said: "Over 5,000 pounds sterling and 2,000 euros was handed over to a man who called at their home. The victims described the offender as about 5'2"-5'3" with dark skin and straight black hair. He was of slim build and aged around 20-years-old."

If you have any information please contact DC Liz Rankin from Crewe CID on 101 quoting incident number 516 of 4 January 2018. Alternatively information can be given anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Here's some advice on how to avoid the scam:

• The police will never ask you to become part of an undercover investigation or for you to withdraw cash and hand it to them for safe-keeping.
   
• Be wary of any calls, texts or emails purporting to be from the police asking for your personal or financial details, or for you to transfer money
   
• If you are approached, or feel something is suspicious, hang up the phone and don't reply.
   
• Then report it to police on 101, Action Fraud and your bank on their advertised number.

Visit www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk for more advice on how to stay safe from scams

St Helens Council would be very grateful if you could complete their online survey and let them know your views on the proposed changes to the way they maintain our parks and the future of the Ranger Service as well as any ideas you have about how they can deliver services collaboratively in the future.

You can complete the survey here https://applications02.sthelens.gov.uk/ConsultationSuite/SurveyIntroduction.aspx?id=502

The deadline for submissions is 11th February.

Time to Change Information Event 

22nd February 10am to 12 noon at The Studio, Lacey Street, Widnes, WA8 7SG

The event is being run in partnership with Time to change. They are hoping to engage people from all backgrounds to join them in tackling mental health stigma. 

Want to help tackle mental health stigma in Halton?

For further information phone  0300 029 0029 or email HIT@halton.gov.uk

Please feel free to share the attached poster with your partners and beneficiaries.  Any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Kate Bazley, Mental Health and Wellbeing lead, Halton Health Improvement Team.

Want to improve your general wellbeing and learn how to manage your stress level more effectively? Why not try Yoga at Willowbrook-The Living Well, Borough Rd, St Helens?

Focusing on strength, flexibility and breathing, yoga is a safe and effective way to improve your physical health, especially strength, flexibility and balance as well as being beneficial for people with high blood pressure, heart disease, aches and pains – including lower back pain – depression and stress.

There are 3 sessions every week:

Tuesday 6-7pm with Steve Thomas. Fee £5 (with £1 from every participant being donated to Willowbrook Hospice)

Wednesday 9.30am-10.30am with Steve Thomas. Fee £6

Saturday 10.30-11.30am with Shirley Horrocks. Fee £5

For more information, contact Steve on 07802367 669 or Shirley on 07515 336 367.

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE POLICE COMMISSIONER FOR MERSEYSIDE

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner is asking local people if they would be willing to pay a little extra to help protect police officer numbers and recruit new armed officers after the government sidestepped its responsibility to invest in the police service.

After seven years of austerity, the Government announced in December that the police would, once again, receive no more new money from the Home Office to tackle crime in Merseyside.

Instead, Policing Minister Nick Hurd MP announced Police and Crime Commissioners would be expected to ask local taxpayers to pay up to  £1 a month extra towards their police service through their council tax.

Since 2010, Merseyside Police has had to make cuts of £103m, with an estimated £18m still to make by 2021/22.

If the Commissioner, Jane Kennedy, does not win the support of local people, Merseyside Police will be left facing a further shortfall of more than £3.17m – the equivalent of 64 police officer posts.

Jane said: “The sad truth is that this government has once again left police forces around the country facing a funding black hole. They have washed their hands of their responsibility and instead are shifting the burden of paying for the police on to the shoulders of local council taxpayers.

“By freezing the grant provided by central government at the 2017/18 rate - a reduction on the previous two years - the Policing Minister has imposed a real terms cut on the police budget as we contend with pay and inflationary pressures. His proposal is that I make up this shortfall by asking local taxpayers to pay more.

“This is a step which I am reluctant to take, however, if I don’t raise the policing element of local council tax then Merseyside Police will be penalised and our communities adversely affected.

“This money will be used to save police officer jobs and help us to recruit 20 new armed officers who are needed to help tackling the scourge of serious and organised crime on Merseyside and to protect our communities.

“The Government did not bother to ask people if they would be willing to contribute more for policing before they made this announcement – instead they arrogantly assumed that local residents could stump up the cash.

“I know finances are tight for a lot of people on Merseyside at the moment so I don’t ask for this tax rise lightly.”

The Commissioner is now holding a region-wide consultation asking people if they would be willing to contribute the extra funding expected by central government to make up for the shortfall and help her to limit the impact of the ongoing cuts.

The increase equates to approximately 15p a week or £8 a year for a Band A household - the lowest Council Tax category and the amount paid by the majority of tax payers on Merseyside.  This would increase the police element of tax payers’ bills from £110.65 to £118.65 a year.

Even with this increase, the Commissioner and Chief Constable will still be forced to make savings of £7m over the next 12 months.

Jane said: “Since 2015 the Government have assumed that Police and Crime Commissioners like myself will put up the council tax precept to minimise the impact of their cuts to funding. It is a move which comes from a government who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

““Any additional funding we can raise from the precept will not replace the 1,000 officers we have lost over the last seven years. However, it will mean that we will have 64 officers more by March 2019 than we would otherwise.

“In a climate of growing demands, rising crime and increasing calls for help from the public, I do not believe we can afford to lose any more officers.

“I am therefore forced to ask people on Merseyside if they would be willing to contribute that extra 15p a week to help protect vital frontline police services.”

People are invited to have their say through a short online survey at www.merseysidepcc.info by Sunday 4^th February. The Commissioner will also be holding a series of road shows throughout Merseyside to ask people for their views. 

Please find details of the community consultation events below:

The Child Outcomes Research Consortium (CORC), in partnership with the Anna Freud Learning Network, has developed its first ever online eLearning module: ‘Measuring mental wellbeing to improve the lives of children and young people’

This eLearning aims to increase the awareness, understanding and confidence of non-specialist and school staff who support the wellbeing and mental health of children or young people to access the benefits associated with measuring mental wellbeing. This free interactive short course aims to demystify and simplify the whole process of using outcomes and feedback measures to monitor mental wellbeing and is laid out in six easy to follow parts:

1. Understanding mental wellbeing
2. Introduction to outcome measures
3. The benefits of measuring mental wellbeing
4. Selecting and using measures
5. Best practice using measures
6. Using and interpreting data

Outcome measurement has become a focus of funders, commissioners and policy makers, as a tangible and reliable way in which to assess the welfare of children and young people in the care of wellbeing services and schools. The process can also have important benefits for the children and young people themselves as well as for associated professionals, projects, interventions and services.

This course features engaging activities and quizzes to illustrate how staff can choose and use measures to monitor wellbeing and how to analyse wellbeing information to drive improvement and demonstrate effectiveness.

To access the eLearning module please go to http://www.corc.uk.net/elearning/ for more information.

The third round of Rosa’s Woman to Woman fund is now open. With grants of up to £25,000, local grassroots women’s organisations across the UK will be supported using funds from the ‘Tampon Tax.’ In celebration of the centenary of the women’s vote, this round of the Woman to Woman fund will have a renewed focus on leadership and representation and they are particularly interested in funding work that increases women’s representation, skills building and civic engagement.

Grants are available for groups with an income of under £100,000 per year, to support a wide range of charitable work that benefits women: from building confidence and leadership skills, tackling harassment and violence, to training in financial literacy and increasing engagement in decision-making – and much more besides.

Rosa is also interested in increasing the impact and sustainability of women’s groups. Therefore, grants can pay for core costs such as financial management, business planning, staff salaries, office rent, leadership development and staff training; as well as project costs such as drop-in support services, mobilising volunteers and outreach. They especially want to support groups that work with disadvantaged communities or in disadvantaged areas.

As well as grants, Rosa will provide additional support that women’s groups tell them they need, including mentoring, training and networking opportunities.

Who can apply?

If you meet the following requirements you can apply for a grant:

• You are a women’s sector organisation
• You are a charitable organisation – your organisation need not be a registered charity, but your activities must be charitable and legal
• You are a local organisation, which is not part of a national enterprise
• You have an annual income less than £100k or you employ less than two full-time paid members of staff
• You have a written governing document, such as a constitution or set of rules
• You have a governing body with at least 3 unrelated members
• You have a UK-based bank or building society account in the name of your organisation, with at least two unrelated signatories

What size grants are available?

Grants of between £5,000 and up to and including £25,000 are available. Any grant awarded must be spent within 12 months of receipt.

How will organisations be shortlisted?

Applicants will be shortlisted according to the fund criteria, the clarity and credibility of their plans, and to ensure a diversity of applications including across geography, Rosa’s four pillars, new and innovative or tried and tested approaches.
When to apply 

Round 3 of the Woman to Woman fund opens for applications on Tuesday 12th December at midday. There are two stages to submitting an application to the Woman to Woman fund. To apply for a grant you will first need to complete the stage 1 application. The deadline for stage 1 applications is Thursday 25th January 2018 at 5pm and no applications will be accepted after this date.

To find out more and to submit an application, please click the link below:

http://www.rosauk.org/resources/blog/woman-to-woman/

NHS St Helens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are reaching out to local residents to talk about winter pressures on the NHS including misuse of antibiotics, knowing the right place to go to when you need care quickly and knowing how to best stay well over the winter period.

The NHS faces some of its biggest pressures in the winter time and they want to talk to you about how we can all best tackle issues with;

• ​Antibiotics - Bugs are becoming more resistant to antibiotics because of misuse. Did you know that St Helens has the highest number of prescriptions for antibiotics in the country?
   
• Emergency and Urgent Care - How do we make sure that everyone knows how to use urgent care in the right way?
   
• Pharmacy - Did you know you can use your pharmacy for advice on lots of health issues?
   
• Caring For Yourself - Most illnesses which are common in winter like cold and flu are best cared for by yourself at home, but do we all know how best to do this?

​Whilst the CCG's role at the NHS is to work on tackling these key issues, they want to talk to you to hear your ideas and questions about how we can all work together to help these pressures.

Join in the conversation at the Talkfest  debate event

What: they will be holding a live question time style debate to discuss the winter issues facing St Helens. There will be expert panellists from urgent care, pharmacy, GPs and the voluntary sector. 

When: 25th of January 2018

Time: 5.00-6.30 (5-5.30 registration, debate goes live at 5.30-6.30pm) 

Where: St Helens College, Water Street, St Helens, Merseyside, WA10 1PP

Attendees will also have the chance to sign up to be an Antibiotic Guardian to help support the fight against antibiotic resistance.

Registration for the event is through Eventbrite, or you can register on arrival on the day.

If you can't make the event, but would still like to pose a question to the panel, you can do this by emailing them on engagement@sthelensccg.nhs.uk, call on 01744 627 596, or post your question on social media via Facebook or Twitter.

Introduction

Youth social action has huge potential to create enjoyable opportunities and skills development for young people, benefitting local people and places.

The aim of this grant is to raise the level and quality of youth social action. The programme aim is to increase youth social action by 50% by 2020 taking the percentage of young people that volunteer from 40% to 60%. 

Social action involves activities such as campaigning, fundraising and volunteering, all of which enable participants to make a positive difference to their communities.

Social action develops the skills and knowledge of young people that employers look for.

The definition of young people is between 10 and 20, and up to 25 for disabled young people.

Big Lottery Fund and the Office for Civil Society have invested £2million this year to fund groups delivering local youth social action opportunities. Local fundraising is also a key part of the Youth Social Action programme.   

Areas Covered
All Merseyside boroughs including Halton. 

How much can groups bid for?
The Youth Social Action Fund will provide funding of between £1000 and £5000 for each project.

Criteria

Please note, a key focus of this fund is young people tackling a social issue which also involves/educates the wider community.  
Important - Before applying for funding, all applicants must read the full criteria before applying. 

Criteria attached 

Deadline: 
There is very limited funding for this next round, therefore the fund will close when they receive 6 COMPLETE & ELGIBLE applications on a first come , first serve basis.They are aiming to have decisions by the end of February 2018 and would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Click below to apply

Youth Social Action Fund Application

Do you have a spare room in your home? Would you like to become a host, accommodating a local young person?

SHAP are a specialist housing organisation, existing to enable young and vulnerable people to have their housing needs appropriately met. The organisation provides high quality accommodation with support for young and vulnerable people who are homeless, in housing need or experiencing disruption and difficulty in their life.

To expand on the work they are doing in St Helens and recognising that hostel or group living is not always the best option for some young people, they are working with St Helens Council to develop a Supported Lodging service and we would like to recruit suitable householders from the St Helens area. 

Supported Lodgings provide young people with safe, supportive places to live in the homes of local people. If you have a furnished spare room in your home and an interest in helping a young person become independent, they would like to hear from you.

You will need to: 
• live full time in the property but can have your own routine including perhaps attending work, holidays and weekends away
• provide a home-like environment and domestic routine which will support a young person engaging in education, training or work, including the provision of some meals 
• be able to establish an appropriate and consistent personal relationship with a young person, including nonintrusive practical help and advice

SHAP will:
• provide general skills development and training for you and the young person
• assess the needs of young people referred for living in Supported Lodgings, and match them to individual hosts/carers 
• regularly meet and work with you ,the host, in delivering a package of support to the young person 
• provide regular and out of hours support

For this you will receive a host’s payment in the form of rent for your room, a support fee and a housekeeping payment for any meals that you provide of up to £140 per week.

SHAP are committed to safeguarding the welfare and safety of young people and they will require references and DBS checks to be carried out. If you share the passion that SHAP have for helping young people and would like some more information please get in touch with Rhona O’Brien on 07471 035 386 or Andy Lee-McGurk at our head office on 01744 454056 

SHAP was started by a group of people who were concerned about the rising number of young homeless people in St Helen’s in the late 1970s. After some temporary solutions in a shared maisonette where young people were supported by volunteers, the first hostel, The 162 Project, opened its doors in early 1981. They have grown since then and much has changed but young people are still becoming homeless and still need shelter, food, warmth, support and respect. 

Did you know that by choosing Co-op branded products and services, members of the Co-op have helped raise an amazing £20 million for local causes across the country since September 2016?  That means they've been able to help fund thousands of local projects that benefit communities across the UK. The Local Community Fund is the Co-op’s way of giving back to local communities.

As a member, every time you purchase selected ‘own-brand’ products and services at the Co-op, 1% of what you spend goes into the Local Community Fund.  In addition, 5% will also go into your own Co-op Membership account, for you to spend on your next visit to the store. The money raised by all the members in your community, together with money from shopping bag sales, helps to fund local projects in the area where you live.  You can choose which local cause you want your own 1% to go to by visiting the Co-op website or using the Freephone number below.

On Saturday 25^th November 2017, Co-ops across the country celebrated their own local causes by presenting cheques to community leaders. 

At the Elton Head Road Store, Managers Mike and Karen, were delighted to welcome representatives from the local causes allowing them to thank members for their support. Assistant Scout Leader Andy and members of the 8^th Scouts Group braved the weather to be presented with a cheque for £1,225.69. The much needed funds will go towards the maintenance of the Scouts’ Meeting Room.

Jay, Treasurer of the St Helens Cancer Support Group joined them in the afternoon and was presented with a cheque for £1,436.90. These funds will be used to assist local people who are living with cancer by providing a support network as well as a counselling and therapy service.

To find out more about becoming a member of the Co-op, go online to coop.co.uk/membership or phone for more information on Freephone 0800 023 4708.

Elton Head Road Co-op Round 3 Local Causes  who will receive funding in 2018 are:

• The Lilac Centre – funding to provide complementary therapy and counselling services for cancer patients.

• The James Nicholas Foundation – funding to reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death through free ECG screening in the local area

• Sam’s Diamonds – funding to take their ladies on a respite weekend away where they can participate in workshops to help support them on their cancer journey.

These local charities will be supported by the 1% contributions from our members across the Elton Head Road area of Rainhill and St Helens.  It is really important to get the message out to family and friends that the more members who shop at the Co-op, for selected ‘own-brand’ products and services, the more money they will have to support these local causes. So it’s over to you.  You can support one of our Local Causes by simply becoming a member of the Co-op.  You can find out about Co-op membership in your local store or online at www.coop.co.uk/membership.

If you need any information about the Membership Pioneer and supporting members and staff at Elton Head Road Co-op store please contact Sandra on Sandra.roscoe@cooopmembers.co.uk

CLG (Change, Grow, Live) would like to invite you to their Information Afternoon and to learn about the fantastic recovery model called A.C.T (Acceptance Commitment Therapy).

CLG have had A.C.T Peer Recovery in their service at CGL St Helens for the past 6 months and it has been extremely successful. ACT are keen to expand this into other services in St Helens as it can be utilised in any form of wellbeing.

Charity Black Tie Event in aid of Age Uk Mid Mersey on Friday 18th May at 7.30pm till late at The Mansion House, Victoria Park, City Road, St Helens, WA10 2UE.

• Live Entertainment
• Raffle Prizes
• Auction
• Drinks Reception and a hot buffet

Tickets cost £20 and can be purchased by calling 01744 752644, email laurawalton@aukmm.org.uk or by visiting reception at The Mansion House

Are you a Woman born in the 1950's who would like to join a Halton group of women against state pension inequality, to complain and campaign against the rise in their state pension age. 

Then come along to WASPI Widnes and Runcorn supporters group. 

You will be part of a national WASPI campaign, asking for fair transitional arrangements for all woman affected by the 1995 pensions act raising womans pension age from 60. As well as the subsequent 2011 act accelerating this rise.

WASPI are having a meeting on Wednesday, January 10th at 7:30pm at:

Royal British Legion Club,
Halton Village,
Runcon,
WA7 2BE

Please go along and add to their swarm, you will get a buzz.

What are the Charity Awards?

The Charity Awards is a civil society media’s annual awards programme held to identify, recognise and reward those organisations doing exceptional work in all areas of charity activity. The awards provide a perfect opportunity for you to propel your charity’s work into the spotlight. Submitting an entry is free, and you can support your organisation’s efforts to influence policy-makers and funders and boost the morale of your staff and stakeholders. You may enter any type of project or campaign and it will be judged by a distinguished panel of sector leaders against entries from other organisations in your own sector. 

How are the awards judged?  

The independent judging panel will take a range of attributes into account when reviewing the entry forms - these are called the ‘Hallmarks of Excellence’. The project or initiative you are putting forward should be able to demonstrate achievement in most, if not all, of these Hallmarks. 

The entry form invites you to explain how your project demonstrates these attributes:

• Outcomes and effectiveness
• Value for money 
• Innovation 
• Sustainability 
• Replicability and scalability 
• Best practice. 

Categories  

Awards are given out in the categories below and an overall winner is chosen from the winners of each category. 

• Arts, culture and heritage 
• Campaigning and advocacy 
• Children and youth 
• Disability
• Education and training 
• Environment and conservation 
• Grant making and Funding 
• Healthcare and medical research 
• International Aid and Development 
• Social care, advice and support. 

How to enter the Charity Awards? 

1. Visit charityawards.co.uk to download your entry form 
2. Complete your form (guidance notes are available online to help you to complete the form).
3. Submit your form by Friday 23rd February (you can submit your entry by email or through the website). 

The form is designed to help you describe how your initiative or project has improved the delivery of your charity’s mission. 

Key Dates 

• • Entries close 23rd February
• • Judging April 
• • Shortlist announced 9th May 
• • Gala presentation 7th June 

Merseyside’s Deputy Police Commissioner is inviting anyone looking for a new challenge for 2018 to consider becoming an independent custody visitor.

Cllr Emily Spurrell is looking to recruit more volunteers to be part of an important scheme which sees members of the community check on the welfare of people detained in police custody.

The Independent Custody Visiting programme was established following the investigation into the Brixton riots in 1981 and is now the responsibility of Police and Crime Commissioners to operate in their respective areas across the country.

The scheme sees volunteers undertake random, unannounced visits of police cells to check on the conditions and make sure those being held are being cared for appropriately.

There is currently a committed team of 23 volunteers who dedicate their time to the scheme, but the Deputy Commissioner is now looking to get up to 10 more people involved.

The volunteers visit the region’s custody suites in pairs, at varied times of the night and day, throughout the year. Once on site, they check on the welfare of those detained and the conditions within the suite and produce a report for the Police Commissioner, Jane Kennedy, and her Deputy. They can then raise any issues directly with Merseyside Police.

Emily said: “Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) carry out an important public duty which provides reassurance to the public, the police and to me that we are detaining men and women here on Merseyside properly and caring for them appropriately.

“Detainees are potentially vulnerable and visits by our ICV volunteers are a key protection for them and a vital part of our criminal justice system, ensuring their legal entitlements and rights are respected.

“This is an interesting and rewarding role where volunteers can make a real difference within their community and get an insight into how our police system operates. By volunteering for this scheme, people can play their part in promoting the highest standards of policing. This is a fantastic opportunity for people who are looking for a new challenge for the New Year.”

The ICV scheme in Merseyside has been in operation since April 1984, when 20 members of the public were trained as visitors.

Last year, Merseyside’s ICV volunteers made a total of 265 impromptu trips to custody suites in the region, offering to see more than 2,300 detainees.

ICVs must have good observational and thinking skills, strong ethical principles and be able to maintain confidentiality. They should also be comfortable challenging authority if required. Ideally the volunteers will also come from a range of backgrounds, ages and experience.

Volunteers must be over 18 years old and live or work in the Merseyside area. Full training will be given. It is expected that volunteers make one visit a month.

If you are interested in applying, please find a full recruitment pack and all the documents on the PCC’s website at www.merseysidepcc.info

The deadline for applications is Friday, 2nd February 2018.

You can also find out more about the ICV scheme here. 

The fine people of Mind Halton are conducting a survey with the aim to hear from as many men as possible living in Halton about their perception, attitudes and understanding of Mental Health.

They have put together a short survey using Survey Monkey, the questions are not intrusive and it are completely anonymous.

You can access the survey by clicking on this link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/JK2SPLB

Their aim is to get a better insight into men’s perception and understanding of mental health so as to inform service delivery and support men appropriately.

For more information on Mind Halton, please visit www.mindhalton.org.uk

A warm invitation from the Management Committee to join them for their Annual General Meeting at Chain Lane Community Centre, 6.00 pm on Tuesday 30th January.

You can find out what has been happening over the last year at the Centre, how it's run, the community of users and the Centre's future.

They are keen to recruit more Trustees too!

For further information or to let them know if you're attending the AGM, please contact Pam on 07586 842 161 or email ccchainlane@gmail.com

Christmas can be stressful

Although Christmas is meant to be a happy and joyful time, this isn't how everyone feels at this time of the year. Christmas can be a stressful time for many people.  Some people find that the Christmas spirit can be spoilt by:

• Money worries
• Feelings of being alone
• Family arguments
• Separation and divorce
• Bereavement
• Becoming a step-family
• Health worries

Some people find Christmas time difficult because of marital break-up, or being separated from their family and children. The emphasis on family, friends and shared good times during the 'festive season' can make people feel sad.

The attached a leaflet from CAHMS, "Family Christmas Survival Guide 2017", could help to give you some ideas to ease the stress and contact details of various organisations that could provide some support.

Runcorn Food Bank:

Runcorn District Foodbank
Holy Spirit Church
Fernhurst
Halton Brook
Runcorn
WA7 2NJ

Email: info@runcorndistrict.foodbank.org.uk           

Phone: 07922 072906

The Christmas opening hours for Runcorn District Food Bank are: 

23rd December- 10am til 12pm
26th December-2pm til 4pm 

To get help, more infomation and how to get foodbank vouchers click here 

To donate food or money click here 

Widnes Foodbank:

CHRISTMAS OPENING TIMES

Centres Open    Office Open    Warehouse Open

Thursday, 21st December    St Mary’s Church, 11am – 1pm    

Friday, 22nd December    St Paul's 1pm-3pm 
Crossing point 10am-1pm     

Saturday, 24th December    CLOSED    

Sunday, 25th December    CLOSED    

Monday, 26th December    CLOSED    

Tuesday, 27th December    CLOSED    

Wednesday, 27th December    Crossing pointy 11am – 2pm       

Thursday, 28th December    St Mary’s Church, 11am – 1pm        

Friday, 29th December    Crossing Point 10am – 1pm

St Paul’s Church, 1pm – 3pm     

Saturday, 31st December    CLOSED        

Sunday, 1st January    CLOSED    

Monday, 2nd January    CLOSED    

Tuesday, 3rd January    CLOSED    

To access help and find out how to get vouchers please click here

email address: http://info@widnes.foodbank.org.uk

Phone: 0151 422 0031

St Helens Foodbank

Atherton St , 
St Helens ,
Merseyside, 
WA10 2DT

Email: info@sthelens.foodbank.org.uk
Phone:01744 26414

Friday 22nd December 2017                          Atherton Street, St Helens                                 11am-2:30pm
                                                                        
 Saturday 23rd December 2017                     Hall Street, St Helens                                         11am – 2.00pm

 Sunday 24th December 2017                                    Closed                               

Monday 25th December 2017                                    Closed

Tuesday 26th December 2017                                   Closed

Wednesday 27th December 2017            St John the Baptist Church, Earlestown                  11.30am – 1.30pm                

Thursday 28th December 2017                        Atherton Street, St Helens                               11am-2pm      

Friday 30^th December 2016                              Atherton Street, St Helens                               11am-2:30pm

Saturday 31^st December 2017                                    Closed

Monday 1st  January 2017                                           Closed                                                 

Tuesday 2nd January 2017                                Atherton Street, St Helens                              11am-2:30pm                                                               

ALL DISTRIBUTION CENTRES OPEN AS NORMAL FROM TUESDAY 2ND JANUARY 2017

PLEASE NOTE: FROM TUESDAY 26TH DECEMBER TO FRIDAY 29TH DECEMBER EMERGENCY FOOD PARCELS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM HOPE HOUSE, 103 CHURCH STREET, ST. HELENS.  OPENING HOURS ARE 10 AM – 2 PM.

To get help, more infomation and how to get foodbank vouchers click here 

To donate food or money click here 

Our colleagues from Halton Borough Council’s External Funding Team have prepared some Funding Bulletins containing valuable information for voluntary organisations looking for grants to get projects off the ground. 

The Monthly funding bulletins offering information on funding opportunities in the following areas:

Arts, Community & Voluntary, Environment & Heritage, European, Faith, Health, Schools, Sports and Youth.

https://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/business/FinanceandGrants/finance.aspx

Let Willowbrook Hospice collect your real Christmas tree from your door...and they will take it to be recycled into garden mulch.

Why Your donations Are Needed:

All the support during the Christmas Tree collection is provided free of charge and any donation goes directly to fund the vital work of Willowbrook Hospice.

If you can donate £5 (or more if you wish) you will be helping to provide the specialist care to somebody’s loved ones now and in the future. Thank you for helping them to care.

How To book A Collection:

Ring them on 01744 453798 or register online at https://charityxmastreecollection.com/who-we-support/willowbrook-hospice/

Volunteers needed - Week commencing Monday 8th January 2018 between 10am and 4pm.

If you are interested in volunteering to help collect Christmas trees please call Ian Turnbull on 0151 430 8736 or send an email to: iant@willowbrookhospice.org.uk

This e-bulletin aims to provide a synthesis of national and regional developments in mental health; highlight newly available data and policies, support collaboration and share best practice.  

 In This Issue You’ll Find:

• Community Mental Health Survey 2017
• Mental Health Act 1983: Implementing Changes to Police Powers
• Establishment of New Mental Health Policy Research Unit
• Youth Mental Health Mixtape
• National Mental Health Intelligence Network Profiling Tools
• National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Signals
• NICE Consultations and Shared Learning
• Mental Health Reports, Resources and Research
• Mental Health Statistics

The purpose of this event is to provide a forum to disseminate the current challenges and opportunities for Halton’s faith sector specifically in terms of external funding, to share best-practice from the experience of successful local projects and seasoned bid-writing practitioners, and to learn from all parties actively involved in the sector about future strategy and direction for taking the sector forward and maximising its collective external funding potential.                

For more information and to book your place CLICK HERE NOW

The Next Volunteer Managers/Co-ordinators Forum will be onTuesday 23 January 2018 - 11.30am-2pm, at St Marie's, Lugsdale Road, Widnes WA8 6DB

Thr Forum meets six monthly to share information, discuss issues, monitoring and anything else to do with volunteering.

The meetings are informal and enjoyable. We hope you will feel able to participate.

Should you feel it would be helpful or appropriate for your role as a Volunteer Manager/Co-ordinator, please come along on the above date.

Lunch is not provided, so please bring along your own. Tea and coffee will be provided.

If you would like to attend please confirm your attendance to Linda Goodier either by phone: 01928 593112 or email: lgoodier@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk If you would like any items adding to the agenda please let Linda know on: lgoodier@haltonsthelensvca.org.uk

We look forward to seeing you at the forum.

Regards Linda & Alison

Volunteer Centre Halton Development Officers

A local Runcorn man with his friends and family are taking on a day-long physical challenge to raise funds for his local Hospice.

Nick Vaughan, aged 56 and from Windmill Hill in Runcorn, along with his friends, will be on static bikes, rowing machines, skipping ropes and a treadmill for six hours on Sunday 17th December in Tesco in Widnes. During this time, one of the group – Bob Lewy, a former soldier who recently completed a 54 mile running challenge in memory of a former colleague who died aged 54 – will be completing a full 26.2 mile marathon on the treadmill. They aim to raise £4,000 for Halton Haven Hospice from the challenge which will take place between 11am and 5pm.

Nick and his friends raised £4,400 from doing a similar challenge in Tesco in October, which led to Nick being shortlisted for volunteer of the year at Trinity Mirror‘s Your Champion awards last month.

Nick’s wife Roslyn was cared for at Halton Haven before she passed away in September 2014. Nick has now raised over £20,000 for the Hospice, from two skipathons, two bikeathons and personal donations.

In addition to all his fundraising efforts, after Roslyn passed away, Nick trained to become a bereavement listener within the Family Support department at Halton Haven, on hand to listen to people who have lost loved ones at the Hospice. Of his listening volunteering, Nick said “I became a bereavement listener for men at the Family Support unit after Roslyn passed away. I felt I had something to offer dealing with bereavement as I have sadly been widowed twice now. It is something that I am passionate about; if I can possibly help someone then I’ll try my best to help and support”

As well as the cycling, rowing and skipping at Tesco on the 17th, there is scheduled to be an appearance from The Voice contestant Charlotte Olivia Shepherd, an army bugler, carol singers, acoustic bands and singers to keep shoppers (and Nick!) entertained.

Nick said, “The Hospice is close to my heart as sadly my wife passed away there. She asked me to raise funds and I’m a man of my word! This is the fifth time we’ve done a fundraising challenge like this and we would love the help of the Halton public to ensure we raise plenty of money for the Hospice! I would like to thank Tesco for their support in this and previous fundraising efforts.”

Chris Andrews, Community Fundraising Manager at Halton Haven Hospice, said “We’re blown away by what Nick has done for the Hospice. He raised over £4,000 two months ago and now he’s back at it! Without Nick and others like him, the Hospice wouldn't exist, so we are incredibly grateful for his hard work and support.

“I urge anyone who is going to be near Tesco on 17th December to pop in between 11am and 5pm to give Nick a bit of encouragement and show your support. It will mean a great deal to Nick and to the Hospice.”

To sponsor Nick, please visit www.justgiving.com/n-vaughan.

• Two thirds of Liverpool’s small charities expect to provide services to more locals in need next year.
• But local charities are forced to do more with less – three in five Liverpool charity leaders surveyed by the Weston Charity Awards say charity income is unlikely to rise in 2018.
• CEO of Apex Charitable Trust, who won a Weston Charity Award in 2016, calls on supporters and staff of the area’s local charities to take advantage of the year-long package of free strategy coaching delivered by Pilotlight and funding provided by the Garfield Weston Foundation.

New research by the Weston Charity Awards among leaders of small and medium sized charities highlights that Liverpool charities expect to do more with less next year. Around three in five (61%) Liverpool charities surveyed feel their income will stagnate or decline over the next year. Yet it is remarkable that in spite of financial pressures two thirds (67%) of these charities said they expect to help more local people in 2018.

The research¹ is being released in December to mark the start of the application period for the Weston Charity Awards. The Awards offer twenty small to medium sized charities a one year programme of intensive leadership and strategy coaching from a hand-picked team of business leaders along with funding.

When it comes to planning ahead, two thirds (65%) of Liverpool charity leaders admitted they had spent only a few days over the past year on forward planning. The vast majority (83%) say that the pressure of tackling day to day operational matters is preventing them from taking a long-term view and 78% don’t have the budget to bring in specialist expertise in this area.

Philippa Charles, Director of the Garfield Weston Foundation which established the Weston Charity Awards said:

“Small charities are the lifeblood of the Liverpool area, helping people of all ages overcome a range of issues.  Charities tell us they urgently require leadership and strategy support to ensure they are able to keep doing what they do well. That’s why we are asking people in Liverpool to tell charities that mean a lot to them about the Weston Charity Awards. We’re offering charities a helping hand so they can continue to help your community in the years to come.”

Each of the twenty winning charities will benefit from a year of intensive leadership coaching through the Pilotlight Programme along with £6500 in funding.  Charities with income under £5million that provide frontline services in the fields of Community, Welfare and Youth are eligible to apply.

The Awards were first established in the North East of England in 2014 and then extended to the North West the following year. Among the 2016 winners was the Apex Trust which provides opportunities for unemployed people with a criminal record living in Merseyside. Apex Trust’s CEO Kim Hughes said:

“Through the Weston Charity Awards, we have made huge strides in changing our way of thinking. I urge supporters and staff of charities across Liverpool and Merseyside to consider how the Weston Charity Awards could help them face the future with confidence.”

Gillian Murray, Chief Executive of Pilotlight which manages the coaching and mentoring component of the Weston Charity Awards said:

“We’ve worked with some fantastic charities in Liverpool and Merseyside - including the Apex Trust - and we expect to identify more ambitious local charities to help next year. The benefits of focussing on leadership development and organisational strategy are overwhelming. Charities report that within two years of completing the Pilotlight Programme they are, on average, reaching 53% more people and achieving 28% income growth.”

Applications for the Weston Charity Awards open on 1st December 2017. Charities can find out more about the Awards on the Weston Charity Awards website. https://westoncharityawards.org/

Charity In The North West – Generous Givers And Government Cuts

• According to online directory Charitychoice.co.uk, there are 15,768 charities operating in the North West.
• Two out of three (64%) of people in the North West donated to charity in the last three months. This is above the national average of 61%. Insights into Charity Fundraising 2017, Institute of Fundraising                                                                     
• Highlighting the importance of well-run charities in the region, over a third (38%) of North West respondents would be encouraged to give more if they knew more how their money would be spent, and just under a third (30%) if they knew more about the charity’s effectiveness. Insights into Charity Fundraising 2017, Institute of Fundraising                                                    
• The typical monthly amount donated by people in the North West to charity in 2016, was £18. CAF Charitable Giving Report 2017
• Third sector organisations based in the North West, alongside those in London and the North East, saw the largest proportional falls in income from government in 2011/12 and 2012/13 – the North West experiencing a 7.2% drop in funding. UK Civil Society Almanac 2015

Our colleagues from Halton Borough Council’s External Funding Team have prepared some Funding Bulletins containing valuable information for voluntary organisations looking for grants to get projects off the ground. 

The Monthly funding bulletins offering information on funding opportunities in the following areas:

Arts, Community & Voluntary, Environment & Heritage, European, Faith, Health, Schools, Sports and Youth.

https://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/business/FinanceandGrants/finance.aspx

The Salvation Army and the Hope Centre invite you to celebrate with them on Monday 18th December 11.00 am - 12.00 noon at St Helens Parish Church. 

To book your place and mince pie, please contact Sarah McDonagh, Funding Officer, The Hope Centre 01744 26414 sarahmcd@hopecentre.org.uk by Friday 15th December.

Sahir House are holding its yearly World AIDS Day activities and are collecting at various locations, they are keen to to get some extra helpers with this task.

Raising money for the charity is a life saver for many of Sahir House service users, as all funds raised are unrestricted and they can direct them straight to what is needed and where they are short on funds to help. It often helps service users with bus tickets to get in and receive the vital support service they need such as counselling and benefits advice. All support is greatly appreciated.

It is on Friday 1st December, city centre train stations for 2 hour collection shifts with a Sahir house representative so no one is on their own. They can supply an event ID badge and certificate of thanks.

Shifts are from 8am – 10am, 12 – 2pm and 4pm – 6pm, one or as many is welcome

If you are intested in volunteering, please contact Cathy Turner or Serena Cavanagh at Sahir House:

Sahir House, 151 Dale Street, Liverpool, L2 2AH

Telephone: 0151 237 3989

email: Cath@sahir.uk.com

http://www.sahir.org.uk/

Whats on at The Studio during December 

• Fri 1st  Dec 7.30pm Stand Up at The Studio
• Sat 2nd Dec 7pm Los Pacaminos ft Paul Young
• Tues 5th Dec 6pm Cronton College Music Night
• Wed 6th Dec 7.30pm A-VOID Mooncup Theatre FREE
• Sat 9th Dec 11-2pm  Christmas Bazaar Free stalls and live music & Father Christmas
• Sun 10th Dec 10 am Record Fair and Rock n Bowl Cafe
• Fri 15th Dec 7.30pm Authentic Acoustic with Alex Darley, Greg Oldfield, Clive Little, You Can 2 & James Swift

They look forward to seeing everyone at the events.

The Studio now have a monthly Radio Show 'Loose at The Studio' with guests, live music, cultural chat, reviews and previews of what's happening at The Studio.  Next Show on Halton Community Radio 92.3fm Sat 16 Dec 6-8pm.

There is also an exhibition of artwork from Hunter Tyghe (two time winner of our under 18s Open Art and Artspace awards) running in the gallery until the end of January 2018.

And finally they are collecting Festive Food and gifts for Halton Families in Need and are helping to distribute them with Trinity Kings Cross. Donations can be dropped off on Sat 9th & Sun 10th Dec 10am - 3pm

To find out more contact Louise Nulty, The Studio Project Manager on 0151 420 8997 / 07930388844 or email nultylouise@gmail.com or visit the website www.thestudiowidnes.org.uk

This winter, don’t forget to claim your £140 off your electricity bill through the Government’s Warm Home Discount Scheme. This is in addition to the Winter Fuel Allowance you may receive.

Each energy supplier taking part in the scheme has its own criteria for who qualifies. Examples of who may qualify include:

• If you are a pensioner in receipt of Pension Credit Savings Credit; or
• You receive Employment and Support Allowance; Disability benefit or
• Your household’s gross annual income is less than £16,190.

Funds are limited, so the discount is offered on a first-come-first-served basis. You therefore need to get your application in as soon as possible.

To find out if you qualify for the discount and to apply please contact your electricity supplier IMMEDIATELY

Don’t miss out on this opportunity. Don’t delay – apply today!

The local NHS is encouraging people in St Helens to get prepared for winter.  

The Stay Well this Winter campaign aims to get people, especially those with long-term conditions and those over 65, prepared for winter in a bid to ward off common winter illnesses. 

Cold weather can be very harmful, especially for people age 65 or older: it weakens the immune system, increases blood pressure, thickens the blood and lowers body temperature, increasing risks of high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, and chest infections. For those with COPD; bronchitis, emphysema; diabetes or heart and kidney, cold weather, and winter illnesses such as flu, can make health problems like these far worse. 

There are a number of things which can help people prepare against the cold weather:

At the first sign of a cough or a cold get help from your pharmacist before it gets more serious and make sure you speak to your pharmacist about medicines you should have in stock to help get you and your family through the winter season

• If you do need help out of hours when your GP surgery or pharmacy is closed, call NHS 111 or visit www.nhs.uk who will be able to provide advice or arrange for you to see the on call out of hours doctor
• It is important to keep warm in winter – both inside and outdoors as it can help to prevent colds, flu and more serious health problems, such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression. Heat your home to at least 18°C (65°F), if you can, you might prefer your living room to be slightly warmer.

Professor Sarah O’Brien, Interim Clinical Accountable Officer said: "We are asking everyone to get ready for winter and visit their local pharmacist at the first sign of illness. Pharmacies can offer a wide range of services to help you get better quicker when common illnesses such as coughs and colds or stomach bugs strike.

"Also, remember the needs of friends, relatives and neighbours who could be at risk. Many people who are particularly vulnerable to the cold, older people, those with underlying health conditions, pregnant women and those with young children, are not aware that by not keeping warm they may be putting themselves in danger."

Top advice to keep warm and well this winter:

• Keep warm and healthy by keeping rooms heated to at least 18C
• Don't put off getting the flu vaccination. If you're eligible get it now. It's free because you need it
• Look out for friends, relatives and neighbours who may be vulnerable to the cold
• Stay tuned to the weather forecast and plan ahead with supplies
• If you meet the criteria register for priority service with your energy and water suppliers
• Have regular hot meals and drinks throughout the day and keep active to help you stay warm
• Get financial support to make your home more energy efficient, improve your heating or help with bills
• Have your heating and cooking appliances checked regularly
• Wear a few layers of thin clothing rather than one thick layer, and when you need to go outside wear shoes with slip resistant, good grip soles

Widnes Rotary Club are looking for Volunteers to help with The Christmas Float which tours the streets of Widnes and this year runs from 4 December to 21 December they are particularly looking for volunteers, either individuals or a group of volunteers from an organisation, for the following dates:

• Friday, 8th December - Upton Rocks West/Norlands Lane  -  5.45 until approx 8.30 pm.
• Thursday, 21st December - Stewards Avenue / Milton Road  -   approx 7.15 pm - 8.30 pm  -  note this is a shorter route as the first half of the route is covered.

If you are unable to help on these dates then there may be other opportunities to help on other evenings (see attached).

To find out more contact Linda Ord on widnesrotaryclub1937@gmail.com 

Healthwatch Halton are holding an event to let local people know about fun activities they can join in their community. You could join a dance class, art club or get involved in your local community centre. The first event at Widnes market, in November, was a great success with 15 organisations meeting with the public to share information about their great work and how to get involved. The second event will take place on Tuesday 5th December at Runcorn Shopping Centre, 10am-3pm. Getting out and about whilst trying something new is a great way to meet people, stay active and improve your wellbeing. Please drop along and chat with a variety of brilliant, local organisations.

New Youth Work Projects In Runcorn Run by ‘Four Estates Ltd’ for Children and Young People who have parents who have been in the military or are currently serving or who are particularly vulnerable online. Approximate age range 10-18.

Social action projects, film clubs, open mic nights, film making, dance, drama, art and music sessions.

The Service aims to allow these young people to:

• Make New Friends           
• Get Their Voice Heard
• Learn New Skills
• Be Themselves 
• Run Their Own Projects 

To be held in the Community Centres in Halton Brook and Palace Fields in Runcorn on Mondays and Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons.

If you would like to know any more about this please contact Rob on:

office@fourestates.co.uk or 01928 568 536.

Funded By Children in Need

The Sanctuary in Widnes has extended its hours and now runs from 10:30-2:30 serving cakes and hot soup and crusty bread all free. Credit savvy course continues and concludes 29th November 12-2. Beautician offering Indian head massage, hands and nails etc will be present 13th Dec. Usual crafts available, games and 1-1 chats if wanted with MIND support worker and Laura. All welcome every Wednesday at St Ambrose Church, Halton View Road, Widnes .  Open to all ages and can cater for children.

For more information, please contact:

Rev. Laura Leatherbarrow
Acting Team Rector
07780448274
revlauraleatherbarrow@gmail.com

Pilotlight and the Garfield Weston Foundation are excited to announce that applications for the Weston Charity Awards will be open from Friday 1st December 2017 to Friday 12th January 2018. 

Established to celebrate and support ambitious charities working in the fields of Youth, Welfare and Community, they are looking for charities who would like mentoring and coaching support to get their organisation to the next stage in its development. This year the Awards are expanding to support 20 charities across the North East, the North West, Yorkshire, the Midlands and, for the first time, Wales.

Winners will receive £6,500 unrestricted grant funding alongside business mentoring support from award-winning charity Pilotlight. 

For more information or to apply visit the Weston Charity Awards website: https:/westoncharityawards.org/

Although Christmas is a time for celebration, for many people it can be a time for reflection and to think about the family and friends who are no longer with them.

Willowbrook Hospice’s Light Up A Life appeal gives people an opportunity to commemorate the lives of their loved ones by making a donation in their honour.

Everyone who makes a donation to the appeal receives a personalised Light Up a Life card and a token for a Light Up A Life badge which can be redeemed at the hospice, The Living Well building on Borough Road, St Helens or at any of the Willowbrook charity shops. The names of their loved ones will also be recorded in the Book of Honour which can be viewed at the Lights of Love ceremonies in December and at the hospice and The Living Well building from Monday 18 December until Friday 5 January.

Light Up A Life organiser, Diane Humphreys said: “Christmas is a chance to spend time with loved ones. Sometimes our loved ones are many miles away, or perhaps no longer with us, but one of the most important things we can do for them is to remember. At Willowbrook Hospice we help people honour the memory of their loved ones through our Light Up A Life appeal. Every dedication and donation helps Willowbrook Hospice raise the £4.5 million needed to ensure that we can continue to keep caring for local people and their families.”

The Light Up A Life church services include carols, readings and the lighting of the Light Up A Life tree and are: 11 December at Prescot Parish Church, 12 December at Church of the Holy Spirit in Dovecot and 13 December at St Mary’s Lowe House in St Helens – all services start at 7pm.

To remember your loved one this Christmas you can donate online at: https://willowbrookhospice.charitycheckout.co.uk/LUAL, call into the Fundraising office at Willowbrook-The Living Well, Borough Road, St Helens. WA10 3RN or ring 01744 453798.

Kick start your Christmas by coming along to the Willowbrook Hospice Christmas Market on 2 December!  For those looking to indulge in a bit of festive retail therapy there will be 30 stalls on site offering everything from unique and handmade gifts and crafts to hot and cold food and drinks.  Or if you want to get the kids in the festive mood there’ll be a fabulous Winter Wonderland and Santa’s grotto as well as donkey rides and children’s fair rides. There’s literally something for everyone!

The event  will run from 11am-3pm at The Living Well building on Borough Road, St Helens. Entry is free with the exception of the Santa’s Grotto which is £5 per child.

Do you want to make a difference to your community in Halton? Do you like stories, meeting new people and sharing your thoughts and ideas? The Reader would really like to meet you!

The Reader will be hosting free, Volunteer Christmas Coffee Mornings:

Fri 24th November 2017 11 am – 1pm The Box, Shopping City

Tue 28 November 2017 11 am - 1pm  Norton Priory

Drop in to find out more about volunteering opportunities with The Reader over a hot drink and a mince pie. 

For more information contact volunteer@thereader.org.uk 

Innovative Operations Director for careers/employment support services for adults and young people

Liverpool/Manchester Base £70k pa

Established since 2001, Career Connect are a North West charity with an innovative track record in delivering high quality independent advice, guidance and support that enhances access to learning and employment for adults and young people. In recent years, they have increased their presence across Merseyside, Manchester and the North West delivering services in a diverse range of settings including Schools, Colleges, Jobcentres, Business, Prisons etc

Innovation has been at the heart of their success, they have lead the way in winning social investment for contracts that deliver change. With the early retirement of their current Director they now seek an innovative and determined leader to head up a range of multi site/agency services delivery teams.

As a member of the Executive and Board teams, you will play a key role in:

• Developing client and market presence
• Driving excellence in delivery
• Continuously improving performance management framework and associated systems
• Building capacity in teams of professionals to grow and achieve

Specific knowledge of the careers sector is not essential and they seek candidates who are:

• Experienced in leading targeted services delivery such as careers guidance, employment/skills, social services, housing support etc
• Experienced in successfully managing and overseeing a diverse range of contract types, including PBR
• Innovative, able to shape our strategy and identify novel services approaches
• Bright and inquisitive, highly data/IT literate
• Customer and business development oriented and experienced in focused networking

In return they offer a competitive salary and benefits package, the opportunity to grow your skills and make a difference for the people they serve.

To request a candidate pack please contact the recruitment adviser at bmcpaul@brophy-mcpaul.com, or contact Bryan McPaul on 01244 675 132 to arrange an informal discussion.

Closing Date for applications: Nov 30 2017.

Interviews are planned for Dec 7/8 2017.

Salary: Salary: £18,500 – £20,000 (6 month probationary period) 16 month fixed term contract

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Place of work: Liverpool City Region

Closing date is Tuesday 12th December 5.00pm and interviews to take place Monday 18th December

Purpose of post:

Working in partnership with Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and funded by Macmillan Cancer Support this two year project aims to revolutionise the care provided to people living with a cancer diagnosis and their carers in the Liverpool area.

The project will connect patients with community based support that will complement the care provided by clinicians. The aim of the project is to help patients to identify and address any needs that may be impacting on health and wellbeing. Moreover, the project will help patients to rediscover and reconnect with their strengths and talents to help make friendships, learn new skills, build confidence and get the best out of life.

Wellbeing Enterprises are looking for four passionate Community Wellbeing Officers to join the organisation and help to bring about this extraordinary opportunity working with the Liverpool community. If you are a positive, energised and entrepreneurially minded person then they want you to apply today. If you are passionate about helping people to get the best out of life and if you can help someone to stay strong during difficult times then this is right job for you.

For more information and how to apply please click the link below:

http://www.wellbeingenterprises.org.uk/macmillan-community-wellbeing-officer/

Amparo will be holding a memorial and reflection service for all those who have been affected by suicide on Tuesday 21st November 2017 at 7-8pm. It will be held at the Lady Chapel in Chester Cathedral, St Werburgh St, Chester CH1 2DY.  

All will be welcome to come and remember their loved ones in a safe and supportive environment, staff from Amparo and other services will be available for people to talk to on the night. Light refreshments will be available afterwards.

St Helens Public Health will provide a 16 seater minibus to the memorial and reflective service in Chester Cathedral for family, friends and staff affected by suicide.

If you would like to attend please contact nattaliekennedy@sthelens.gov.uk or lynnsaunders@sthelens.gov.uk to book your place.

Crownway Community Centre in Earlestown is looking for a responsible, committed and skilled person to join the staff team in the New Year. They will require a part-time Evening Caretaker / General Assistant from February 2018 onwards to support in the smooth running of the community centre.

The main responsibility of the role will be to maintain a secure on-site presence, working flexibly Monday to Friday between the evening hours of 5.00pm – 9.30pm, with occasional Saturdays. The suitable candidate will possess good DIY skills, have knowledge of Health and Safety guidelines, good customer service skills as basic café duties will be required, and a willingness to learn new things.