National Vegetarian Week grants

If your group is organising an activity for National Vegetarian Week (15th to 21st May), you can apply for a grant of up to £200 to help with the cost.

The deadline for applying for a grant is 30th April.

See the National Vegetarian Week website for more information.

Community Works Mentoring programme to relaunch March 2017

Community Works are now accepting applications for their mentoring programme for 2017-18.

The mentoring programme supports people working or volunteering in voluntary and community organisations by providing one-to-one support from experienced, volunteer mentors.

The dates for the programme have been set and begin this March with two drop-in information sessions for anyone who wants to find out more about the programme. Both sessions will be held at the Community Works offices in Brighton on:

  • Tuesday 14 March, any time between 2.00pm and 6.00pm
  • Friday 24 March, any time between 10.30am and 1:30pm

Community Works member organisations can book a place at one of these sessions to find out more about the programme and ask all the questions you need both as a potential mentor and mentee.

To book your place, or if you are unable to attend but are still interested in the programme, get in touch with Lisa or Peter on [email protected] or 01273 234023.

For more information visit:

http://www.bhcommunityworks.org.uk/members/services/mentoring/ for mentees

http://bhcommunityworks.org.uk/business/be-a-mentor/ for mentors

Good Food grants deadline

Less than two weeks left in which to apply for up to £850 to run good food-related activities in Brighton and Hove!

Good Food Grants is a funding programme run by Brighton & Hove Food Partnership that awards small grants for community projects that aim to improve the health, skills and confidence of local residents through healthy eating, increased cookery skills and food growing.
The deadline for applications is Friday 10th March 2016 at 2pm. Grants will be awarded by 25th April 2016.

This year they are funding:
• Community growing projects that want to run cooking, growing and healthy eating activities with vulnerable adults
• Cooking and/or shared meals for people experiencing poverty

More info on their website www.bhfood.org.uk/funding and to download the guidance notes and application form.

Or contact Helen Starr-Kendle, Havest Development Officer
on 07850 002596 to talk about your potential project.

Brighton & Hove Food Partnership
www.bhfood.org.uk
07850 002596

Walk or ride with the Mayor to raise money for the Resource Centre

walk my donate bannerNow the days are getting longer, why not plan an active challenge for the spring – and raise some money for the Resource Centre at the same time? The Mayor of Brighton & Hove is organising three fantastic events in April:

– a 12 mile family bike ride on April 23rd: sign up on Eventbrite and then raise money for the Resource Centre
– a 50 mile bike ride on April 23rd: sign up on Eventbrite and then raise money for the Resource Centre
– an 18 mile walk on April 30th: register at www.mayorswalk.eventbrite.co.uk and choose the Resource Centre as your charity

Legal Structures for Social Enterprises Workshop 27th February

The Platform have organised a workshop looking at legal structures for social enterprises:

Whether you are thinking about launching a trading arm, starting up a new organisation entirely or want to review your current structure, this interactive session gives you the chance to ask questions specific to your situation and leave feeling confident on what form is right for YOU!

Mon 27th Feb

Wagner Hall, Regency Road

1:30pm – 4:00pm   Cost £37.76

Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/legal-structures-the-scope-for-social-enterprise-tickets-31349892372

Sara Osterholzer
Social Enterprise Coordinator
The Platform
9 Russell Place Brighton BN1 2RG
01273 468200

What is a CIO?

Community Works are running a free session on Tuesday 7 March so you can learn more about the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) structure, including the differences between a CIO and a Community Interest Company (CIC). The session will be led by Tim Smith of GSFW Solicitors, who has extensive expertise in charitable structures and advises groups regularly on these issues.

There are limited places available, so for more information and to book your place please visit: http://bhcommunityworks.org.uk/how-to-charitable-incorporated-organisation/

Mixing desk now available for hire at the Resource Centre

mixing-deskWe now have a DJ mixing desk available for groups to hire.

It allows you to mix and control music from two CD decks, or from an external music source such as a laptop or phone.

When combined with one of our PAs and our disco lights, it means you can hold a great party for your group, even if your budget is very small.

Intro to Working in Childcare course

Intro to Working in Childcare –   City and Guilds Level 1

An introduction to understanding how children develop, perfect for anyone considering a career or volunteering in a childcare environment.

  • Tutor: Viv Oliver
  • Course Dates: Mondays 24th April to 10th July 2017
  • Times: 12.15-2.15pm
  • Cost: £63 Or FREE if you’re in receipt of a means tested benefit
  • Venue: Honeycroft

For information contact : Jayne Routley: [email protected]  or 01273 945869

This course will provide an opportunity to explore how children grow, develop, learn to communicate and explore various factors which affect their growth and development.  It will explore the role of play in a child’s development and the importance of planning for activities in childcare settings.

Additional volunteering opportunities are available to support learners at both Honeycroft and Conway Court Children’s Centre.

Community Works workshop on How to become a CIO

This short session is an opportunity to learn more about the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) structure, including the differences between a CIO and  a Community Interest Company (CIC).

The session will be lead by Tim Smith of GSFW Solicitors, who has extensive expertise in charitable structures and advises groups regularly on these issues.

The session will cover the following areas:

  •     what is a CIO and the requirements
  •     the main reasons for choosing a CIO structure
  •     reasons not to chose a CIO structure
  •     association ‘v’ foundation model
  •     how to go about setting up a CIO and demonstrating your charitable objectives effectively
  •     what the challenges of adopting a CIO structure are
  •     the process for converting to a CIO from another structure eg CIC
  •     the differences between a CIO and CIC
Details

Date: Tuesday 7 March 2017

Time: 6.00pm-8.00pm

Venue: BMECP, Fleet Street, Brighton BN1 4ZE

Cost: Free

Who should attend

The session is for those looking to formalise their group’s structure or change it, and wish to explore the option of a CIO. It will focus on CIOs but is also relevant to those who’d like to know more about the differences between a CIO or CIC structure.

Places will be prioritised for members of Community Works and will be allocated on a first-come-first served basis. Community Works will, in the first instance, allocate one place per organisation.

To book

http://www.bhcommunityworks.org.uk/how-to-charitable-incorporated-organisation/

Support for local organisations in developing use of Social Media Platforms

Second year undergraduate students on a social media module have been tasked with using three different social media platforms or apps (e.g. memes, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, etc.) in order to implement a social movement or community cause.

Five groups of three students per group will be attached to a local community or voluntary organisation to support them in improving their use of the three platforms that are most appropriate to the audience they wish to reach.

Students will have the opportunity to select the group they wish to work with, and, depending on the number of responses we receive you may or may not secure a group to work with you. Their assignment allows them ‘to work on a specific campaign or promote clearly defined aims of a larger project’.

They will work from university or home, (so not on your premises) between 23rd March and 18th May when they will submit their ideas to a student and staff panel for constructive criticism.

If you would like to pitch for a group to work on behalf of your organisation please:

1) Send a brief outline of what your organisation does and how you wish to use social media to [email protected] by 8th March.

2) Come along to the Moulescoomb campus on 23rd March between 10  and 1.00 to explain your brief to students and to meet the groups.