West Norfolk Voluntary and Community Action

WNVCA Membership
It is that time of year again when membership renewal to West Norfolk Voluntary & Community Action is due. As you know 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 by setting up your group, but continuing to assist you with the on going benefits of applying for charitable status, advice on policies, conduct CRB checks, assist you in recruiting volunteers and in the search for funding.

Enclosed with this mailing is the WNVCA Database/Membership Form. Please complete so we can keep our records on the database up to date. This will ensure you receive free information and regular updates about funding and fundraising, latest news regarding the voluntary sector as well as volunteering news. For full membership complete the back section of the form. The amount is shown for each income group. For a full list of services and further information please go to our website www.westnorfolkvca.org or contact us by email on info@westnorfolkvca.org

Childrens Trust Commissioning
We are now moving to the later stages of the first round of the commissioning process for Positive Activities and Parenting. We understand that the outcome of this tendering process left mixed feelings. Whilst we have not been involved in any part of this process we are now raising our concerns with Children’s Services along with our partners at Voluntary Norfolk. Our view is that there are a number of issues that need to be addressed before the re-commissioning of other service delivery areas within Children’s Services.

A meeting is being planned to discuss the process and try to ensure that in the future it is equitable and fair to all parties.

West Norfolk Voluntary and Community Action are keen to find out from local groups across our area if they been successful or not in the tendering process or been affected by the commissioning process undertaken by the Children’s Trust in any other way. We are, as ever, committed to supporting the sector but particularly during difficult times. Please contact Peter Morris via email at peter@westnorfolkvca.org or telephone 01553 760568.

Big Lottery Fund programme offers short-term funding
The Big Lottery Fund has announced a new funding programme that will allow voluntary organisations to apply for grants of up to £40,000 a year until 2015. The fund is a new strand of the BLF's Reaching Communities programme, which is worth £500m. It is designed to support charities that want shorter-term, smaller-scale grants than those available through the existing Reaching Communities scheme. Peter Wanless, Chief Executive of the BLF, announced the new scheme at the Funding the Future conference in London. He said the process of applying for the smaller grants would be simpler than that for other Reaching Communities grants.

Mr Wanless said the BLF would improve its decision-making process so that applicants could find out more quickly whether their organisations had a chance of receiving funds. He said the BLF would offer more informative feedback on unsuccessful applications. The new system is expected to be in place this spring. Mr Wanless said the BLF would also introduce a new funding stream for refurbishment projects, which would be available this autumn.

Latest News from Community Matters
Are you thinking of developing a community centre or village hall and want to know more? Then why not try CommunityBuilders administered by Community Matters in the East of England. Community Matters is the National Federation for Community Organisations, which has supported community associations and similar organisations since 1945. Their vision is for active and sustainable communities in which everyone is valued and can play their full part, and pursues this vision by supporting and developing the capacity of community organisations.

This funding is available for multi-purpose organisations that should host or deliver services in at least 3 of the following categories; social welfare, education, recreation (including culture and sport), environmental activity, economic or vocational services, voice and advocacy services or trading for social purpose. Examples might include managed workspace, childcare provision, a café, sport or dance, older people’ groups, evening classes, training and conference facilities.

CommunityBuilders is not for rescuing failing organisations, refurbishing local premises where there will be no change in ambition, single purpose organisations unless they can demonstrate a clear intention and specific plans to develop into a multi-purpose organisation or to start-up organisations or those that have been in existence for less than a year. For more information contact Peter Morris at peter@westnorfolkvca.org or on 01553 760568

Joint Consultation on NHS Continuing Care Policy for Adults
NHS Norfolk and NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney are consulting on the draft Joint NHS Continuing Healthcare Policy. A 12 week consultation period began on Monday, 8 February 2010 and will run until Monday, 3 May 2010.

NHS Continuing Healthcare is a package of care arranged and funded solely by the NHS to meet physical and/or mental health needs that have arisen because of disability, accident or illness. In the context of this consultation, NHS Continuing Healthcare refers to adults only - that is persons aged 18 years and over. It can be provided in any setting including, but not limited to, a care home, a hospice or a patient’s own home. Patients in need of this kind of care will be assessed for eligibility against national NHS Continuing Healthcare criteria. They currently have 564 patients eligible for fully funded NHS Continuing Healthcare and of those patients, 90 are receiving care at home.

NHS Norfolk would like to know what you think of the proposals and the options for change, which are detailed in the consultation document.

If you would like to get involved you can download a copy of the consultation document and the draft policy from both the NHS Norfolk website and the NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney website by using the following links http://www.norfolk.nhs.uk/involved/consultations/index.html or http://www.gywpct.nhs.uk

If you wish to have a paper copy of the consultation document, please telephone 01603 595842 for a copy to be sent in the post. Please take this opportunity to let them know your thoughts.

News on Funding
If you live within the North Norfolk area of outstanding beauty then the Norfolk Coast Sustainable Development Fund 2010-11 might be able to help you. The next closing date is 9^th April which is currently open to applications. The North Norfolk Coast Partnership website has more information, guidance notes and criteria at the following website http://www.norfolkcoastaonb.org.uk/pages/pspage.php?PageID=150

Half a million people invited to join new scheme
Around 580,000 people who are registered with a GP in the NHS Norfolk area are being invited to join a scheme which aims to provide safer, faster and more efficient healthcare.

The Summary Care Records (SCR) scheme is being rolled out across the country – but NHS Norfolk was among the first to take part.

During a successful pilot last year more than 51,000 patients from 10 GP practices in Norfolk were invited to participate. Just over 41,000 SCR’s have been created so far with the remainder scheduled for creation shortly.

The remaining GP registered patients in the NHS Norfolk area should have received letters detailing how the SCR will work. Patients will also be invited to attend information drop-in sessions held at a range of venues across the county.

The secure electronic record will give doctors and nurses access to information about a patient’s allergies, medication and any bad reactions patients may have had to medication in the past, ensuring vital information is on hand especially in emergencies and within out of hours care.

This greatly increases effective access for medical professionals to patient information where often little or no patient information would be available to guide healthcare professionals.

David Stonehouse, NHS Norfolk’s Deputy Chief Executive, explained that the rollout of the SCR was a phased approach and that the roll-out across the county should be complete by the end of the year.

“Patients have the option not to be part of the scheme, in which case healthcare staff will continue to record details as before. But the benefits of participating in this scheme could be extensive and reflect our patient centric approach. Our strategic plan for the next five years, Bold & Ambitious, includes a pledge to provide the right care at the right time and in the right place to ensure that everyone has the same high standard of healthcare.”

Patients can access a copy of the letter, details of the drop-in sessions and further information about summary care records on the NHS website at http://www.norfolk-pct.nhs.uk/yourhealth/nhs_summary_care_record/index.html

Dame Suzi Leather criticises charities over accounts
Dame Suzi Leather, Chair of the Charity Commission says submitting information late is 'not acceptable'. The Charity Commission has criticised the one in five charities that failed to submit their annual accounts on time last year. The 2009 figures from the regulator show that 20 per cent of charities did not send in their annual accounts or returns within 10 months of the end of their financial year. Dame Suzi, said that the proportion of charities filing their returns on time had risen in recent years, but no organisation should miss its deadline. "It's not acceptable for charities to send their annual accounts and returns late – they are accountable not just to us but, most importantly, to their donors, to those whom they exist to help and to the wider public," she said. "Charities run the risk of damaging their own reputations and putting off potential donors if their financial affairs are not in order.” The Commission will place adverts in the regional press reminding trustees of their obligations. Charities with annual incomes of more than £10,000 in the most recent financial year must submit annual returns to the Commission, and those with annual incomes of more than £25,000 must also submit their accounts.

Promoting Men’s Health
A regional conference organised by COVER and the Men’s Health Forum will be held on 20^th April 2010 at Duxford Conference Centre from 10am to 3.30pm.

The biggest area of health inequality in the UK is gender related: men visit their GP 20% less frequently than women, men are almost twice as likely to develop and die from one of the ten commonest cancers that affect both men and women (excluding breast cancer), and three times as many men kill themselves. This conference is an opportunity for third sector health and social care organisation to consider ways to better engage men in their services, share best practice, and hear from leading thinkers on health inequalities. The speakers are key speakers from the Men’s Health Forum and the Strategic Health Authority.

The conference will be held at the AirSpace Conference Centre at the Imperial War Museum Duxford. There is car parking available and there is a regular bus service from Cambridge. Full access details will be on receipt of completed booking form. To book for this event please phone on 01799 532880, email janice.mossey@cover-east.org or download a booking form from the COVER website at www.cover-east.org.

ICT Helpdesk – 0800 028 0085
There is now first line phone assistance to VCS in the Eastern Region. If you get frustrated by ICT, not sure where to go for advice, or need to find a source of ICT support you can trust, the ICT Helpdesk is a number to remember.

Front Line Engagement through Regional Infrastructure (FERI) announced the launch of the Regional ICT Helpdesk, a free to call service for VCS Organisations in the Eastern Region that can provide you with :-

Initial ICT support and signposting to local trusted sources of the second line support
Impartial advice and guidance on ICT infrastructure issues and signposting to experts who can help you develop your ICT more strategically through a range of services including ICT Health Checks.
Advice and guidance around purchasing of ICT hardware and software and signposting to suppliers that caters for the specific needs of the VCS.

Breckland Funding Fair
Breckland Council are holding their Funding Fair on 18^th May from 10am to 3.30pm at the Ecotech Centre in Swaffham. This is a FREE event for all voluntary and community groups, town and parish councils in the Breckland area to share good practice and to talk to funders and other support services. Stands include BIG Lottery, Heritage Lottery, and Norfolk Community Foundation to name a few. Delegates must book a place as spaces are limited. Please contact Cat Lang on 01362 656861 to book your place.

Norfolk Compact workshops
A major element in the work to refresh the Norfolk Compact is the requirement to improve awareness, both in the public sector and the third sector. To address this need a series of awareness training workshops, organised on a district basis, are scheduled from March through to July 2010 and will be attended by representatives from both third sector and public sector organisations.

The workshop schedule is Monday 26 April in Great Yarmouth, Wednesday 28 April in Broadland, Monday 24 May in West Norfolk, Wednesday 26 May in South Norfolk, Wednesday 23 June in Breckland, Thursday 24 June in Norwich and Friday 9 July in North Norfolk. Further information and requests for a place on any of the workshops should be sent to Dennis Mawson, Norfolk Compact Officer, by telephone on 01603 883828 or by email to dennis.mawson@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk