WNVCA Membership Reminder
If you have not already done so, just a reminder that you need to renew your membership to WNVCA.  Membership of WNVCA allows us to help your group in many different ways as we are an organisation established to support any voluntary and community group in West Norfolk. Not only helping you in the beginning with setting up your group, but continuing to assist you with applying for charitable status, advice on policies, conducting CRB checks, assist you in recruiting volunteers and in the search for funding.  If you need another membership renewal form please do not hesitate to contact us on 01553 760568 or email on info@westnorfolkvca.org.

NHS Norfolk Chief Executive Update
Following the announcement earlier this year that Julie Garbutt will be leaving the organisation to lead health and social care in Jersey, NHS Norfolk has advertised for "an exceptional individual" who will be in charge of one of the biggest and most complex Primary Care Trusts in the country. With a budget of £1.2 billion, it is responsible for commissioning (planning and buying) healthcare for 750,000 people in its area. A leading executive recruitment agency has been commissioned to find the right person.  

The Chair of NHS Norfolk, Sheila Childerhouse, commented: "Our new Chief Executive will have a very important and challenging job on their hands and I am very clear they must be of the very highest calibre”.

Mrs Childerhouse wants the appointment to be an opportunity for local people to have a say. Organisations and people outside NHS Norfolk will be invited to participate in a stakeholder day, which each shortlisted candidate will be asked to attend. The stakeholders will report back to the final interview panel.

Julie will be leaving NHS Norfolk in May and David Stonehouse, NHS Norfolk Deputy Chief Executive, will act as interim Chief Executive Officer until a successor is found.

Launch of new Kings Lynn & Gaywood Community Homepage
You are invited to attend the launch of the new Kings Lynn and Gaywood Community Homepage at Gaywood Library on Wednesday 19th May, starting 6pm.

This is an exciting development for Kings Lynn and Gaywood’s online information and the library has been chosen to become a pilot for this new revolution of website which pulls all relevant information into one place.

       The website will have live feeds from other local websites to showcase the latest news, blogs,
        forums and events across the borough and all local residents and workers will have the
        opportunity to upload information, photographs and supply live feeds from their own websites.

        Homepage really is a community based website and your input will make all the difference, so do
        come along to the launch to find out more about what the website could do for you and your
        organisation.  This event is your opportunity to shape what the website will look like, the language
        it will use and links and feeds which will be included.

If you can attend the event please contact Elena Parkin on 01553 768498 or email elena.parkin@norfolk.gov. 

Norfolk Compact Awareness Training
A process is in progress to refresh the Norfolk Compact and a major element is the requirement to improve Compact awareness, both in the public sector and the third sector. To address this need a series of awareness training workshops, to be held on a district basis, are scheduled from April through to July. The workshops are to be attended by representatives from both voluntary and community sector and public sector.

Content
The workshops will include the following:

• Practice issues;

• Development of the Compact in Norfolk;

• The new national Compact and its implications;

• Engaging with key themes;

• Case studies;

• Action planning – what delegates will take back to their respective organisations.

Structure
Each workshop is free of charge, starting from 9am to 1pm followed by lunch and networking.

Feedback
There has been very positive feedback from the first workshop on 11 March as follows:

“very motivating and stimulating”
“must be rolled out across the county”
“a well-paced course with thought-provoking exercises”
“it is good to have a course at which statutory and voluntary sector organisations are both involved together in training”

The workshop in West Norfolk takes place at the Professional Development Centre on 24^th May 2010. Places are still available for the workshops and anyone interested should contact Dennis Mawson, Norfolk Compact Officer via telephone on 01603 883828 or via email at dennis.mawson@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk. 

Sign up for a Fasterfuture!
Voluntary sector organisations across West Norfolk are still being urged to register their interest in a faster broadband service with the Fasterfuture campaign.  Fasterfuture is a campaign to bring super-fast broadband to King’s Lynn & West Norfolk. The way in which people are accessing services and information is changing rapidly.  We need to make sure that West Norfolk is not left behind. The Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk has been working with the West Norfolk Partnership to lobby providers so that King’s Lynn and West Norfolk will be at the front of the queue for this vital service.

Imagine….
….being able to communicate with your client base in a fast and more cost affective way
….speed up your online funding applications
…. download hefty funding guideline documents in seconds
….reducing your running costs and carbon footprint by printing less

Super-fast broadband would open up a world of opportunities of those living and working in West Norfolk. For example, working from home is fast becoming a popular option for many people; not only does it allow organisations to reduce office space but can save time, shrink costs and help reduce the impact on the environment.  Fast and reliable connections to the internet are essential to enabling home workers to have the same access to information and systems as their office-based colleagues.To register your interest in the Fasterfuture campaign or to find out more information you can visit www.fasterfuture.co.uk or contact Martin Slater, Partnership Delivery Officer on 01553 616279, martin.slater@west-norfolk.gov.uk