Community Works are running a consultation about how they can support people in their governance roles. They would like to hear from trustees, directors, management committee members and governors.
They would like to gather people’s views about what their support needs are as leaders of their organisation and how they can help to meet these. The survey is available on-line here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/governancesupport or a version in word is available.
Skills Exchange is a network of professional firms, each of which has offered to provide their professional skills free of charge to voluntary and community organisations across Brighton and Hove who cannot afford to pay for these services. Support is offered for clearly defined, time-limited projects.
Members include architects, surveyors, accountants, solicitors, IT consultants and those who specialise in public relations, marketing, HR and design.
Each firm is affiliated to Skills Exchange. The Skills Exchange Board meets bi-monthly to respond to requests for help from voluntary and community organisations. If a match cannot be made immediately, effort is made to find a suitable match.
Legal advice, including Employment Law and Charity Law, Architectural advice; drawing of plans, gaining planning permission, surveying, building management, HR, Graphic Design, , Website development, PR and Marketing, and business planning.
Skills Exchange will consider your application if:
-You represent a not‐for‐profit organisation including charities, community groups and social enterprises, whose benefit is primarily within Brighton and Hove.
-You do not have the funds to pay for the services you are requesting.
-You can demonstrate the benefit to the organisation, staff, volunteers or service users.
-You are able to demonstrate that the organisation has the resources to follow advice through.
-You can nominate a contact/liaison person to ensure the project runs smoothly.
-You are happy to take part in feedback, case studies and other evaluation.
The Skills Exchange Board next meets on Tues 18th November.
To make an initial application please visit: http://bhcommunityworks.org.uk/members/advice-support/skills-exchange/apply/ or contact Lisa Mytton on [email protected] or 01273 234031 if you would like to chat through an idea.
Skills Exchange is a project of Brighton and Hove Community Works.
When: Tuesday 11th November, 5-7pm (drop in any time between 5.00pm and 7.00pm, as long as they know to expect you)
Where: Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton, BN1 1YD
What: The people in charge of a community group or voluntary organisation are called trustees, directors, board members, committee members, or governors. They are the ones responsible for directing the business of a group or organisation. They play a vital role, usually as volunteers, and make the decisions that really matter about a group or organisation’s finances, resources, activities and plans for the future.
If you are in this role, or you are considering stepping into a governance role in a community group, voluntary organisation or charity, then this governance surgery is for you! Community Works are bringing together all of the expertise, information and advice you could need, to answer those questions you might be afraid to ask or don’t know who to ask. The experts will be able to give you information and honest advice on a range of areas, including:
Community Works are also looking to develop a support network for trustees and would welcome your thoughts on whether this would be helpful to you, either at the Governance Surgery or by getting in touch with them directly on [email protected] or 01273 234023.
Many thanks to the Skills Exchange Network who are kindly supporting this surgery. To find out more go to: www.bhcommunityworks.org.uk/business/skills-exchange
The Governance Surgery is taking place as part of the Community Works Annual General Meeting and Sector Star Awards. To find out more visit: www.bhcommunityworks.org.uk/cw-surgery-agm-awards.
Cost: FREE to attend, but is only open to trustees or management committee members from organisations operating in Brighton and Hove
Book Now: cw-surgery-agm-awards.eventbrite.co.uk
For more info:
01273 234031
Big Lottery funding for the Money in Mind project will run out at the end of September 2014. The Money in Mind project has provided free support with money management to small groups in Brighton & Hove since October 2009.
Over 300 groups have been helped with training, advice and information, two free downloadable accounts systems, and free access to an examination of accounts service. An independent evaluation of the project in August 2014 found that:
From October 2014, the Resource Centre has put aside funds to continue this free support for small groups who are based in areas of social housing, black and minority ethnic community groups, and disabled people’s groups.
For other groups, the following services are currently available:
Community Works are interested in finding out how many groups would find free examination of accounts or money management advice services useful, to help them with future planning (but they are not offering it at the moment). It is worth contacting them to tell them you would like to use these services if they are able to offer them in future. Contact Lisa Mytton, [email protected] or on 01273 234031 to let her know that your organisation would find this service useful.
There are two events in September for Social Enterprises and those organisations who are thinking of adding an income stream through trading.
1. Friday the 12th September: 9.30 to 1.30 pm Wagner Hall. 9 Russell Place, Brighton, BN1 2RG.
At this free event there will be key speakers and workshops for social enterprises and plenty of support organisations on hand to offer advice on issues from funding to growing your social enterprise as well as how to get involved with the social enterprise strategy to make Brighton and Hove a beacon for social enterprise by 2020.
This event will also launch a dedicated website for Brighton social enterprise which has been built to provide resources and a directory to signpost social enterprises, funders, customers and supporters to each other.
2. Saturday 13th September 2014: Jubilee Square Brighton 11am until 5pm
Social Saturday in conjunction with Social Enterprise UK will take place to raise awareness of social enterprise and encourage consumers to unleash their spending power and buy from social enterprises, featuring social enterprise stalls, entertainment and refreshments from local social enterprises. Let us know if you would like a stall.
Community Works Social Enterprise Network would welcome you all along to both events and to get involved in the network.
For more info contact Toby Buckle who is the Community Works Social Enterprise Rep and member of the steering group for the network.
Email him on [email protected] or call on 07970 809594
Do you have an IT problem you need help to solve? American Express have tech experts that can help.
American Express® Campus 21 Development Programme in association with Community Works.
Working in the community American Express is pleased to offer an opportunity for up to ten registered charities to participate in its development programme offering technology expertise to local charities.
The financial services company is looking for registered charities that have a specific, IT related project which its technological experts can help support on a one-off basis.
For an opportunity to receive this support registered charities must qualify as follows:
If your organisation meets the above criteria, please submit the following to Lisa Mytton at Community Works on [email protected]:
Deadline for showing interest is Friday 2nd May. Applications will be shortlisted based on the above criteria and American Express will be in contact to further assess suitability.
For further information about how Campus 21 works, please contact the following staff from American Express who will be able to help:
Conor Scott [email protected]
Emma Idle [email protected]
Are you involved in a community group and would like some help to increase your skills and confidence?
Would you like someone independent to be a sounding board for your ideas?
Would you like help over a 6 month period?
Community Works is launching a new Mentoring Programme which will run from May to October this year. The types of things you could ask for help with might include:
The purpose is to support individuals to improve day to day practice, develop leadership skills or tackle challenging project management issues through one-to-one mentoring.
They aim to match around 12 individuals (mentees) to experienced mentors who will meet regularly over a 6 month period to tackle an identified support need. They have already signed up 12 highly experienced mentors who are waiting to meet you!
If you are interested you must:
To apply, please return the following to Community Works by Tuesday 29th April:
For more information or an informal chat:
Organisations who took part last year:
“A fantastic experience, with benefits which will make a huge impact and be long lasting. The initial goals agreed between myself and mentor were met effectively, with unexpected and additional impact on other areas of my own work, the delivery of the project, and the management of the organisation” previous mentee.
Skills Exchange is a network of professional firms, each of which has offered to provide their professional skills free of charge to voluntary and community organisations across Brighton and Hove who cannot afford to pay for these services. Support is offered for clearly defined, time-limited projects.
Members include architects, surveyors, accountants, solicitors, IT consultants and those who specialise in public relations, marketing, HR and design.
Each firm is affiliated to Skills Exchange. The Skills Exchange Board meets bi-monthly to respond to requests for help from voluntary and community organisations. If a match cannot be made immediately, effort is made to find a suitable match. The process is supported by Community Works and the next deadline is Monday 12th May.
Legal advice, including but not restricted to Employment Law, Landlord/Tenant issues and Charity Law, Architectural advice; drawing of plans, gaining planning permission, surveying, building management, HR, Graphic Design, for example design of a logo, Website development, PR and Marketing, Strategy development and business planning, Organisational change, Financial management, Event Planning, Change management.
Skills Exchange will consider your application if:
The Skills Exchange Board next meets on Tues 20th May.
To make an initial application visit: http://www.skillsxchange.org.uk/apply/
Contact Lisa Mytton on [email protected], 01273 234031 if you would like to chat through an idea.
Skills Exchange is a project of Brighton and Hove Community Works.
As part of Small Charities Week 2014, small charities across the UK will be able to access free advice from a range of specialists on 17th June 2014.
Advice will be available over Skype or on the phone from anywhere in the UK, as well as face to face in central London.
For more information, and to sign up, go to smallcharityweek.com/big-advice-day/
Media Trust is running a free video production workshop in Brighton at a centrally located venue on May 8th from 10am-4.30pm for charitable and community groups.
There are only 10 places on the course, and as these are not allocated on a first come first served basis they are asking people to complete an application form to enable them to target those groups they feel will get the most from this opportunity and from the subsequent mentoring available to them following the workshop.
All successful/unsuccessful applicants will be notified the next working day.
The Workshop
This introductory workshop is designed to help charities and community groups understand how they can turn their stories into short films, and will cover planning, recording and editing. A hands-on learning environment will give practical guidance on using low-cost equipment and techniques that will make videos look professional, even on a low budget.
The workshop is part of Do #SomethingBrilliant, a two year campaign funded by Big Lottery that sets out to celebrate the inspiring stories from communities across the UK.
Who is it for
The Do #SomethingBrilliant video production workshop is for charities and community groups interested in creating their own video content for the web and broadcast platforms like Community Channel. Workshop graduates will be mentored through an assignment to create a short film about the great work they are doing in their community, a film that will inspire others to do something brilliant.
It is suitable for groups who perhaps have a bit of experience using video, maybe made a couple of videos, and would like to develop their skills. Or for those who recognise the value of using video and are just starting to take their first steps and would like to learn more about the equipment, storytelling techniques, shooting and editing.
Please note, Do #SomethingBrilliant offers training and access to equipment only in the workshop context. If you don’t have a camera to complete your project after the workshop, we have three video cameras available for hire from the Resource Centre.
Each organisation will need to apply and should be prepared to nominate two people to attend the workshop.
Contact Adam Perry [email protected] or call 07850 926 997 for an application form, or if you have any queries.
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