Increasingly, people are coming together to provide much-needed services in local communities. This may be achieved through the establishment of a new group, or by an existing group looking to expand a service or facility. V

illage SOS (VSOS) is a 2 year Big Lottery Funded Campaign to encourage the development of community enterprise across the UK. It can offer some free project support and a small amount of funding to help with developmental costs, such as training expenses and travel costs to visit similar projects operating elsewhere (case studies). VSOS can also link the project group up with an experienced Mentor to offer bespoke support and advice to the group.

What is a Community Enterprise

• Shops, pubs, broadband providers, woods, libraries, education centres.
• Windfarms, farms, tourist information centres, solar energy providers, cafes,
• Cinemas, ferries, care homes, toilets, garages, bakeries, transport providers.
• Football clubs, sports centres and facilities, community allotments/orchards.
• Etc….

Projects can range in size from:

Large scale projects, e.g. may involve buying up publicly owned assets, developing a community energy project, taking over the management of your local pub or shop, to

Small scale projects, e.g. refurbishing a village hall in order to increase services, running a mobile library, food projects.

If you are interested in learning more about the VSOS Campaign, visit the VSOS website. People with or without project ideas, are being encouraged to sign up as  Members in order to receive regular project updates, news and information.  You will also receive the ‘How to create a successful Community Enterprise’ booklet which contains lots of great case studies to help people come up with their own ideas. The website also lists VSOS events that are being run across the UK which some of you may find worthwhile attending.

Please note: the VSOS Campaign is coming to an end in August 2016. Therefore, this opportunity is time limited and you will need to act fast in order to benefit from this free offer. The sooner the better!

If you already have a project idea that you would like to discuss or are uncertain about the VSOS package of support, then contact  Helena Stubbs, Community Buildings Officer (usual days Mon, Tues, Wed), 01629 592973.

NMVC Handicraft group have been busy making beautiful gifts for Mums for Mothering Sunday and lovely gifts for Easter as well as the usual home-made cakes.

It is a week-long event comprising of  a series of activities and initiatives to support and raise awareness of the hundreds and thousands of small charities that, every day, make a huge difference to vulnerable communities right across the UK and the rest of the world.

www.smallcharityweek

The Back on Track service whichprovides one to one counselling, group work and special activity daysto children living with a parent or carer with a life-limiting illness,  or those who have been bereaved, will be able to continue thanks to the grant. 

Imagine you are 5 years old and death takes away your parent or carer: you don’t have an explanation for why this has happened, much less the capacity to make sense of what death means.  What  you  do  know,  with  every  fibre  of your  being,  is  that  you  are  cut  loose  from secure  moorings  and  the  constant  source  of  love  and  stability  in  your  life  is  gone.

Blythe House works with children and young people to ensure that they have the opportunity to move  forward  in  their  lives.” commented Margaret Peters, Children and Young People’s Counsellor at Blythe House.

In   Derbyshire   alone,   according   to   research   recently   undertaken   by   the   Childhood Bereavement Network, approximately 2730 of our 5 - 16 year olds have been bereaved of a parent  or  sibling  at some point in their childhood. The ‘Back on Track’ service from the hospice is there to help.

BBC Children in Need have recognised the important work of ‘Back on Track’ and have decided to award funding for a further three years meaning the valuable work can continue. 

Repeat  funding  such  as  this  is  quite  unusual  so  it  is  a  realtestament  to  the  quality  of  the service and the community impact that it has been awarded again. 

For more information about Blythe House Hospice’s services or the support they can offer call 01298 815388 or visit www.blythehousehospice.org.uk

Derbyshire officers are teaming up with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau to raise awareness of a cyber scam targeting businesses across the UK.

Recently a number of businesses throughout the UK have received extortion demands from a group going by the name of 'RepKiller Team'.

The cybercriminals have sent emails to the businesses demanding payment of between £300 and £500 in Bitcoins by a certain date and time.

If their demand is not met, they threatened to launch a cyber-attack against the business and its reputation by automating hundreds of negative reviews online.

If you have received such an email you are advised to:

• Make a report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via the online reporting tool on www.actionfraud.police.uk (opens in a new window);
• Do not pay the demand;
• Retain the original emails along with the headers;
• Maintain a timeline of the attack, recording all times, type and content of the contact.

For help and support in protecting your business against cybercriminals, visit the dedicated Protect Yourself Online hub at: www.derbyshire.police.uk/cybercrime 

The online application form is available and applications are being accepted for the 2016 theme of Children and Youth.

Priority will be given to projects focussing on homelessness, domestic abuse, prisoners/offenders, training and education, counselling and support, and activities for those with limited access or opportunities.

Grants of between £1,000 and £3,000 are available to UK registered charities for projects taking place within the UK.

The deadlines for application are 1 June 2016 and 1 November 2016.

austin-hope-pilkington.org.uk

Applications for projects supporting the following outcome themes will be prioritised:

• Employment and training
• Family support
• Homelessness and outreach
• Supporting the elderly

www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-support/external-grants/

The grants are to be used for the more speculative, early stages of a project’s development, such as public consultation and preliminary viability studies.

The Fund’s Administrator does not know at this time whether or not the Fund will continue into the next financial year. It was originally scheduled to run until November 2017. 

www.gov.uk/guidance/urban-community-energy-fund

Tom was an honorary member of Glossop Rotary Club and lost his life tragically young to cancer. Tom was a committed sportsman, dedicated to encouraging other young people to make the very best of their lives and talents.

The Bursary is £500 and must be used for something that you really want to do and will make a big difference to your life.

To be eligible to apply you need to live in High Peak, Stockport or Tameside and be under the age of 21 at the time you submit your application. You need to tell us all about yourself and your experiences. If it would feel better you may ask someone that you trust to submit your application for you, it can be easier than writing about yourself sometimes.

More details and an application form can be found at www.glossoprotary.co.uk or by emailing: karenrigg572@aol.com

Sign this petition to save Derby CAB s funding and the service.  If we get 5,000 signatures the Derby City Council  cuts to VCS grants in their entirety will need to be discussed again at the next Council cabinet meeting.

you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/restore-citizens-advice-centre-in-derby