‘WEST NORFOLK SAYS NO!! TO DOMESTIC ABUSE’
Soroptimist International of King’s Lynn is working in partnership with West Norfolk Voluntary and Community Action to raise awareness of services available in our part of the County to help and support Victims of Domestic Abuse.

We are organising a Forum so organisational representatives and interested individuals can hear first-hand how Domestic Abuse affects the individual and those close to them, and how the statutory sector, voluntary agencies and specific charities provide services to this group of people.

The organisers hope the outcome of the morning, for all attending, will be a clearer understanding of how services are provided in West Norfolk, the areas of strength of these services and any aspects of weakness or possibly even complete gaps – where future action could be taken.

Please give serious considerations to attending this event, there will be no charge and your support will be greatly valued.

The event is taking place on Saturday 19^th June from 9.30am to 1.30pm at St. Edmunds Community Foundation School, Kilham’s Way, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 2HU.  To book a place please contact WNVCA on telephone 01553 760568

Lloyds TSB – Foundation for England and Wales
The Lloyds TSB Foundation’s Community Programme supports charities that help disadvantage people play a fuller role in the community through improving social & community involvement.

To be eligible:

• You must be a registered charity with at least two sets of independent accounts
• You must be an underfunded charity (12 months of reserves or less)
• If you work locally or in a region you must have an income of £1 million or less
• Your work must enable disadvantaged people to play a fuller role in the community in one (or more) of the following ways – through:
  • Improve social and community involvement
  • Improve life choices and chance
  • Helping people to be heard
• You will need to be clear on the specific changes and benefits that our work will provide for your users/beneficiaries to help them to play a fuller role in the community

The programme supports charities to continue their existing work through core funding; help improve the quality of services; and expand services.  We do not fund capital costs or equipment.

Our application process is simple and streamlined to save time and money for charities.  To view the full guidelines for charities applying for a grant from the Lloyds TSB Foundation Community Programme, and to find out if your charity might be eligible, please visit www.lloydstsbfoundations.org.uk or contact David White, Grant Manager, East, via telephone on 07912 798053.

The Olynnpics
This fun day is being held throughout the entire Lynnsport grounds on Sunday 18^th July 2010, from 10.00am to 6.00pm.  The Olynnpics is a two part event which consists of five neighbourhoods participating in athletics, football, table tennis, cycle track and fishing tournaments in the morning. The athletic teams are primary school children aged 9 -11years old, whose schools are situated within five neighbourhoods of King’s Lynn. There will be a grand multi cultural outdoor carnival in the afternoon, with live entertainment, local radio station links, live bands, food from around the world, activities for the young (and not so young) and much, much more.

The purpose of the project is to engage the people of West Norfolk, encouraging all to come together and enjoy an event on a grand scale. The event has been funded through several channels therefore allowing the public to enjoy the event for free

In addition, there will be the opportunity for organisations to have their own information stalls. If anyone would like further information regarding this please contact Nikki Sewell on 01553 760568 or alternatively email nikki@westnorfolkvca.org

Introducing the East of England Local Government Association
The East of England LGA is a new voluntary association set up by the 52 local authorities in the region following the abolition of the East of England Regional Assembly. It will concentrate its work in areas where, it can add value for member councils and it will speak up for the people and communities it represent, ensuring that local government has an effective voice in its dealings with GO-EAST, EEDA, Westminster, Whitehall and elsewhere. The Association’s website is www.eelga.gov.uk

Statutory Responsibilities - Regional Planning after 1st April
The Government has invited all English regions, except London, to prepare a new-style Regional Strategy under Part 5 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. The purpose of the Regional Strategy is to set out a long-term strategic, spatial and integrated framework for the region which promotes sustainable economic growth, tackles challenges posed by climate change and contributes to sustainable development. The Regional Strategy will set out a clear spatial vision for all parts of the region over a 15-20 year timeframe and will be part of the statutory development plan, to be taken into account in the preparation of local development frameworks and the determination of planning applications. It is intended that the Regional Strategy will guide the activities, plans and investment decisions of public sector agencies, local authorities and other regional partners.

Are you thinking of making an application to the Big Lottery Fund – especially the Reaching Communities programme
If so the Big Lottery Fund is running a training session in Cambridge on Tuesday 15^th June from 10.30am to 12.30pm. This session is open to anyone representing an organisation that expects to make an application to the Reaching Communities programme in the next six months. The training will look at:

• the programme eligibility rules
• the outcomes model
• planning
• evidencing need

If you would like further details please about the Reaching Communities programme please visit the website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_reaching_communities or contact Richard Weller on 01223 449020.

Grassroots Grants
Awards of up to £5,000 are available to voluntary and community groups. To qualify groups must:

• Have a formal constitution and bank account
• Have been active for more than a year
• Have an income of less than £30,000 a year
• Be largely volunteer led
• Be meeting local community needs

Applications need to be made to the Norfolk Community Foundation which has a wide range of other funds available.  Call Slava Puttock on 01603 623958 for more details.

WREN Funding update                           
WREN are no longer considering large-scale projects and are wishing to focus on smaller, more achievable results. WREN operate two funding streams:

* Small Grants Scheme - this is for projects no larger than £50,000, which is seeking funding of between £2,000-£15,000.  It is intended to provide funding - either match or 100% - to ensure prompt delivery of a project.

 * Main Grants Scheme - this is where proportional funding will apply. The maximum project size which can be considered is £250,000. The minimum contribution WREN will make in this scheme is £15,001 or no less than 20% of the total project cost, and the maximum contribution is £50,000 or 85% of the total project cost.  Example #1 - a new play area is costing £75,000, therefore the maximum contribution WREN will consider is £50,000, as 85% is £63,750 - above the maximum grant level.  Example #2 - an extension to a church hall will cost £130,000, therefore the minimum contribution WREN will consider is £26,000 (20%).

There are also changes to the funding which WREN will consider in 'new build' - no longer able to offer funding to the structure or fabric, but instead, they are willing to fund the internal finishings, fixtures and fittings.  They also no longer consider funding single or restricted sport facilities. 

Within West Norfolk, the areas they are still accepting applications from, remain within 10miles of the Blackborough End and Feltwell landfill sites. These provide a wide coverage, from Dersingham in the north, to Great Massingham, Castle Acre and Swaffham in the east, down to Thetford and back across to Downham Market. There is another landfill site at March which provides a 10-mile radius of coverage to Upwell. 

The full WREN funding policy is available for download from their website, www.wren.org.uk, along with all WREN documentation. 

Timescales for the current year are :-
 Application deadline - 30th June                Board Decision date - 14th October
 Application deadline - 25th August            Board Decision date - 16th December

For more details please contact Sarah Gosling, Grant Manager for Norfolk Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex, via telephone on 01953 714987 or email at sarah.gosling@wren.org.uk.