News & Developments

 From April 2014, people eligible for NHS continuing healthcare will have the right to ask their clinical commissioning group (CCG) for a personal health budget and from October 2014, they will have the right to have one. However most people don't know what a personal health budget is, let alone that they will soon be entitled to have one. 

NHS England has launched this programme for the voluntary and community sector. The aim is that this will not just increase demand for personal health budgets but will ensure that personal health budgets are delivered well, as people will be better informed about how their budget should work for them and what service they should expect from the NHS.

This programme involves the organisations receiving a small grant so they have capacity to undertake work in this area; taking part in a development programme to learning and share with others; and being part of a national network of organisations.

To find out more about the grant programme and how organisations can apply on the In Control website www.in-control.org.uk/news/in-control-news/nhse-launches-grant-programme-for-personal-health-budgets.aspx

The competition is open now until 13 May.  Entry forms are available from www.peoplesmillions.org.uk or 0845 0 10 11 12

People will get the chance to vote for those projects they want to see funded in the region, when they are screened on the ITV regional news between 25 and 27 November.  In each region, 4 projects will win an award following the public vote run by ITV television, with a fifth award going to the runner up that receives the most votes. 

Projects can include:

• Projects to make the local environment cleaner, safer or greener
• Improving the local natural environment
• Improving the design, appearance or accessibility of local amenities
• Providing opportunities or facilities for enjoying the local environment or local amenities

Suicide is a problem for society as a whole. To increase awareness - and to help remove the stigma which can be a barrier for those in need of help - this FREE half-day training seminar should be of interest to anyone who wishes to:

• Examine their own attitudes
• Find out (and challenge) the myths that surround suicide
• Discover the likely suicide risk factors and warning signs 
• Find out how you might help someone at risk of suicide and self harm 
• Take advantage of a great networking opportunity

Demand for this training is high and places for these events are limited so advance booking is essential.  If you wish to attend, please complete the online booking form by clicking the link below

satseminar21mar14.eventbrite.co.uk – Fri 21 Mar at Alison House hotel, Cromford

satseminar25mar14.eventbrite.co.uk – Tue 25 Mar 14 at Erewash voluntary Action, Long Eaton

The number of places will be limited to three per organisation in order to ensure that as many organizations as possible are able to attend..  

As the demand for this training is high, there will be a charge of £30 per delegate for failure to attend.  There will be no charge if an email stating reason for non attendance is received 3 working days prior to the seminar or if you are able to send a colleague in your place.

Initially they are looking for a small team of people to set up and run the allotment. Ideally a mix of gardeners and none gardeners to enable skill exchange.

• Share of produce.
• Willing to occasionally help with visiting groups.
• Toilet facilities & meeting room available.
• Membership £2 week

If you think you may be able to commit some time to this project contact Beardwood Farm. Furness Vale. SK23 7QF; Tel. 01663 749038; Mob. 07793982648; Email beardwoodnlp@gmail.com

NHS Change Day is a frontline led movement; the largest of its kind, with a shared purpose of improving health and care. The  mission is to inspire and mobilise people everywhere, staff, patients and the public to do something better together to improve care for people.

The first NHS Change Day, which took place last March, was unprecedented. Anyone can get involved to pledge something that will make a difference, no matter how big or small. A pledge could be part of your everyday routine or something extraordinary. It's simple, just think of something personal to you and make a pledge or join an existing one below.

Every voice counts and every pledge matters. You can make a pledge until the 31st March.   

To make a pledge changeday.nhs.uk/pledge

To view the Pledge wall changeday.nhs.uk/wall

The Church Urban Fund is especially interested in funding projects that tackle the underlying causes of poverty. Applications to fund short term activities such as one off events or initiatives that only meet people's immediate needs are considered low priority.

Applicants should work in partnership with one other organisations. This partnering organisation does not need to be Christian. Applications can be submitted at any time.

Read more at: www.cuf.org.uk/act/cuf-funding

If you were there last year you'll know what a fantastic day was had in 2013. The whole of the town was filled with stalls, music and entertainment. So by popular demand, Buxton Town Team are doing it all over again, but it looks like this time it will be bigger and even better.

Whether you are a trader, club, charity, or entertainer, you won't want to miss the busiest day in the Buxton year.

The rates are very affordable at just £5 to £10 for charities and not-for-profit societies, £10 for sole traders, and a minimum of £20 for businesses with employees. Entertainers can take part for free.

If you have any queries,or want to know how you can book a slot contact Buxton Town Team  at townteam@buxtontownteam.org or telephone 01298 71041.  There are booking forms available and the closing date is Monday April 7th.

Oxfam is currently supporting the Fawcett Society to deliver a 'Women and Welfare inquiry', to be launched later in the year. This will focus on the impact on women of the increasing conditions of claiming benefits, to include both the Claimant Commitment and the increased sanctions regime. 

Fawcett are recruiting five high profile people to make up the inquiry panel, which will take evidence in various forms and then produce a report, to be disseminated widely and act as focus for advocacy and lobbying work. The panel will have hearings, which will take place in June, and then it will debate the issues and publish a report, to be launched in September 2015. 

As part of this process, in March to early April five focus groups will be set up with different groups of 8-12 women, who are claiming job seeking benefits and have had experience of the Claimant Commitment and/or increased sanctions introduced in October 2013, in different parts of the UK.

There will also be some capacity for follow up interviews with individual women who would prefer to speak about their experiences on a one-to-one basis, and possibly also scope for Oxfam's communications worker to produce a DVD, to enable any women that wanted to, to speak directly to the panel members. 

We'd like to hear from women of differing ethnicities and ages.  

There is a small budget to cover the women's local travel expenses, child care, refreshments. 

Please let me know whether this is something you'd be able to support us on, and/or get back to me with any questions. 

Carol Evans – Trustee High Peak CVS – Carol.evens@phonecoop.coop 

The purpose of the workshops is to support the VCSE sector through the new commissioning landscape of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) being responsible for commissioning the majority of victims’ services locally through funding from the Ministry of Justice, as well as increasing the capability and capacity of the VCSE sector to deliver services including those commissioned by PCCs.

The workshops are free and will be delivered in each of the PCC areas across England and Wales, including Derbyshire on Wednesday 12th March from 9:30am to 4pm. 

What You Will Receive:

• An intensive one day workshop
• A mixture of technical training, together with group exercises
• Peer-to-peer learning, including time for reflection and consideration
• Examples of good and bad practice
• Bite-sized modules, concluding with a full Q&A
• Opportunity to learn from a guest speaker
• A variety of resources and materials

The workshops are aimed primarily at those VCSE sector organisations that deliver or are intending to deliver victims’ services, and are planning to bid to the public sector, including PCC in order to obtain contracts to deliver local services.

Places are limited; to find out more about the workshops including delivery dates and how to register your interest visit: www.vcseworkshops.co.uk

Starting and running an enterprise is challenging, so HMRC provide a wide range of support to help you run your business including videos, emails, e-learning, record keeping apps and online presentations (webinars).

This webinar on Wednesday 12th March at 3pm will show you how to access and make the most of this help to improve your tax knowledge and give you more confidence to get things done correctly first time.

Register for the webinar at https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/611897182