ERDF WORKSHOP (17 JUNE 08)

ERDF workshop, Tuesday 17 June, 10am to 12pm

at the Design Exchange, Bradford

Groups interested in finding out more about the ERDF programme should consider attending this bfunded event.

The new programme is very different to previous ERDF programmes, hence the event title "Come and find out what you can’t do!"

Some of the issues to bear in mind include:

* Projects must have match funding
* In general, grant requests should be a minimum of £1 million ERDF
* Activity is much more targeted at Social Enterprise and supporting organisations to become Enterprising
* Ineligible activity includes Training, Jobs Brokerage, Advice and Guidance, generic Capacity Building
* Capital support is available however, expressions of interest must be with Yorkshire Forward by 30 June 2008 .

If you feel that you have the capacity to fulfil the above requirements or want to find potential partners, please come to the workshop. There will also be an opportunity for you to ask questions you may have about the programme.

If you would like to attend, please confirm your place by emailing Jasvinder Gill by 10 June, email:
jasvinder.gill@bradford.gov.uk.

You can view the application forms and documentation for the new ERDF programme at:
www.yorkshire-forward.com/ERDF

MENTAL HEALTH AT WORK (5 JUNE 08)

Looking after mental health and well-being at work

FREE Seminar on:

• How to employ someone with mental health problems
• The different types of mental health problems
• Resources available to help the mentally ill at work
• How to keep your employers mentally healthy.

Thursday 5th June 2008

9.30-12 noon at the Carlisle Business Centre, Manningham, BD8 8BD.

For further information, contact:

Bradford Area Occupational Health and Safety Forum, 13 Scott Street, Keighley, BD21 2JH.

Tel: 01535 691049 Email: admin@baohsf.org.uk

http://www.baohsf.org.uk/

ACCESS TO NATURE MEETING (3 JUNE 08)

Access to Nature - BEF meeting 3rd June

Further information about Bradford Environmental Forum's (BEF) coordinated approach to the Access to Nature funding programme:

The next BEF meeting for groups in Bradford district who are interested in applying to Access to Nature is on 3rd June at 3.30pm at the Carlisle Business Centre in Bradford. At the last meeting on 8th April, four possible bids were discussed and the meeting on 3rd June will be an update as to how those bids are developing.

Groups interested in partnership possibilities for bidding or even just benefiting from outreach offered by organisations who are bidding e.g. being part of activities rather than the bid should contact Julia Pearson at BEES on 01274 513109.

If you would like to attend the meeting on the 3rd June, please get in touch with Julia Pearson at BEES on 01274 513109.

Information about the Access to Nature fund is available on the Natural England website at
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/leisure/grants-funding/outcomes.htm

PRACTICE BASED COMMISSIONING

The Who, What, Where, When and Why of Practice based Commissioning:

A conference for the Voluntary & Community Sector in Bradford and Airedale

17th June 2008 • 12.30 – 4.00pm • Great Victoria Hotel, Bradford

The introduction of Practice based Commissioning presents opportunities for the Voluntary and Community Sector to both provide and influence local services. Find out how at this half-day conference.

Winning contracts requires an understanding of the local commissioning priorities and the processes that drive it. This half-day conference will give delegates a clear understanding of:

• The Strategic and funding relationships between statutory bodies and the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in the Bradford District
• The role of Bradford and Airedale tPCT as purchaser of services and the role of the VCS as the provider of services
• What Practice Based Commissioning is and how it works in the Bradford District
• The commissioning process, priorities and requirements
• The future role of the VCS in the design and delivery of tPCT services

The conference is an invaluable opportunity for VCS organisations to network with commissioning managers. This is a Bradford and Airedale district-wide event for voluntary sector organisations and community centres that deliver health activities or projects.

BOOKING
You must complete a booking form to reserve your place. Please do not just turn up on the day. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis. We will confirm your place on receipt of the booking form.

This conference is FREE to members of HealthNet (£25 to non-members). Membership of HealthNet is FREE.

You can join by indicating this on the booking form or contact us by phone: 01274 722772 or email: health@bradfordcvs.org.uk

HealthNet, Bradford CVS, Sunbridge Road, Bradford, BD1 2AY.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD LEAFLET / BOOKING FORM

AMAZE YOURSELF

Amaze Yourself @ Bradford is a FREE enterprise training and development programme delivered by the University of Bradford for those who want to ....explore a business idea ...develop entrepreneurial and employability skills ...increase knowledge and experience of business.

Who can join?
Any Bradford resident aged over 16 years, particularly people who are unemployed or not working.

The programme offers:
1. Basic modules in business planning, financial management, marketing and sales
2. Interactive sessions in networking skills, ideas development and skills development
3. Talks and master classes by local entrepreneurs who can share their experience of business set up.
4. Broker one to one business and professional support through a range of business advisers, coaches and mentors.

NEXT PROGRAMMES at the University:
9 June - 24 June
7 July - 22 July
4 August - 13 August

PLEASE PROMOTE THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO YOUR SERVICE USERS AND CLIENTS.
For more information, contact Eleanor/Hina on 01274 236771 or amazeyourself@bradford.ac.uk or visit www.bradfordkickstart.com/amazeyourself

MAY ISSUE OF BRIEFING BRADFORD NOW OUT

You can download the May issue of Briefing Bradford NOW!

http://www.bradfordcvs.org.uk/may08bb.pdf

The hard-copy newsletter will be mailed out early next week (w/c 19 May).

ALL ABOARD THE BOPA BUS!

Transport bosses have issued a 'use it or lose it' warning to passengers of a free city centre bus service that has not even started operating yet.

"It really is a case of use it or lose it because we can't afford to have a bus full of fresh air running around Bradford city centre," said Councillor Chris Greaves, Metro's spokesman for Bradford.

"The public, particularly the Bradford Older People's Alliance (BOPA), have been really pushing for this service. Now we have shown faith in them, they have to put faith in the service to prove it's viable," added Councillor Greaves.

FULL STORY:

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/display.var.2254798.0.0.php?utag=49454

BME NETWORKS EVENT

West Yorkshire BME Networks Celebration event
Wednesday 4th June 2008
Time: 10:00 - 14:00
Venue: St Chads Community Centre, Headingley, Leeds

The event will:
* Launch the West Yorkshire BME Networks Strategy
* Celebrate the achievements of the West Yorkshire BME Networks and provide inspiration for the future, and
* Provide networking opportunities for BME Network members across West Yorkshire.

EVENT FLYER AND FURTHER DETAILS:
http://www.wylda.org.uk/admin/uploads/files/West%20Yorkshire%20BME%20Networks%20Celebration%20Event.pdf

Please feel free to publicise this event through your networks, in particular to BME organisations and stakeholders.

MORE JOBS

BD3 OLDER PEOPLES PARTNERSHIP

PROJECT COORDINATOR
SALARY £18,701 - £19,862 PRO-RATA FOR 18.5 HOURS PER WEEK
(ACT. £9,225 - £9,798 ) 3 YRS FIXED CONTRACT
Will run the project on a day to day basis on behalf of the Steering Committee and the Lead Organisation; promoting the well being of older people and working with a range of community groups

BILINGUAL OUTREACH WORKER
SALARY £16,457 - £17,391 PRO-RATA 18.5 HOURS PER WEEK
(ACT. £8,118 - £8,579) 3 YR FIXED TERM CONTRACT
To promote older peoples overall wellbeing and uptake of activities through your dedicated outreach. Facilitating and co-ordinating access to new and existing provision through partnership working.


LACO MIGRANT WORKERS PARTNERSHIP
Required to join this innovative new project supporting Migrant Workers in the BD3 area of Bradford:

PROJECT COORDINATOR
3 YEAR FIXED TERM CONTRACT
SALARY £21,673 – £23,187 PRO-RATA FOR 30 HRS HOURS PER WEEK
(ACT. £17,338 - £18,549)
You will develop and coordinate the delivery of the project ensuring access to appropriate support services and provision supporting the holistic well being of this potentially disadvantaged group

SLOVAKIAN SPEAKING OUTREACH WORKER
3 YEAR FIXED TERM CONTRACT
SALARY £19,255 – £21,016 PRO-RATA FOR 30 HRS HOURS PER WEEK (ACT. £15,404 - £16,330)
You will develop the outreach promoting Migrant Workers overall wellbeing and uptake of activities through your dedicated outreach. Facilitating and co-ordinating access to new and existing provision through partnership working.

POLISH SPEAKING OUTREACH WORKER
1 YEAR FIXED TERM CONTRACT
SALARY £19,255 – £21,016 PRO-RATA FOR 30 HRS HOURS PER WEEK (ACT. £15,404 - £16,330)
You will develop the outreach promoting Migrant Workers overall wellbeing and uptake of activities through your dedicated outreach. Facilitating and co-ordinating access to new and existing provision through partnership working.

For an application form or information contact:

For more information contact Helen Speight
E: hspeight@thornburycentre.com T: 01274 666649
Thornbury Centre, Leeds Old Road, Bradford BD3 8JX.

Closing date: 22/05/08

NATIONAL IDENTITY SCHEME - A JUST RESPONSE

JUST West Yorkshire is inviting you to sign up to their response to the government’s proposal to introduce a National Identity Scheme. (http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/downloads/national-identity-scheme-delivery-2008.pdf)

As a racial justice and human rights organization they are concerned about the steady erosion of civil liberties which is having a disproportionately negative impact on Black and minority ethnic communities.

The government’s insistence on rolling out the scheme despite wide opposition from leading human rights organisations, the Law Lords and the Conservative and Liberal Democratic parties is indicative of the government’s resolve to press ahead with its implementation despite deep disquiet about the proposed plans.

In response to the government’s consultation on the proposals, JUST has prepared a position statement and set out the arguments for opposition to its implementation.

You can find out more at: http://justwestyorkshire.org.uk/just_general/campaigns/18.html

The consultation period ends on 30 June 2008.

For more on the National ID Scheme, see our previous post: http://briefingbradford.blogspot.com/2008/05/national-identity-scheme.html

MYPLACE GRANTS FOR YOUTH FACILITIES

Myplace grants for youth facilities - programme launches 6 May

The Big Lottery Fund is managing a new programme on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to work with young people to deliver youth facilities. Myplace will offer grants of between £1m and £5m. Projects must deliver on all four of the following outcomes:

1. More young people, parents and communities feel that young people have exciting and safe places to go in their leisure time where they can get involved in an attractive range of activities
2. More young people, particularly the most disadvantaged, participate in positive leisure time activities that support their personal and social development.
3. More young people have access to information, advice and support services from within places they feel comfortable.
4. Stronger partnership working between local authorities, third, private and public sector partners to plan, deliver and operate financially sustainable youth facilities with and for young people.

The programme will be launched on 6 May. Regional workshops are being held during May, with the Yorkshire and Humber event on the morning of Tuesday 13 May in Huddersfield.

More information is available from the BLF regional office in Leeds, tel: 0113 224 5301.

In Bradford District a strategic group is in place called the Youth Matters Next Steps Group. This group is within the Children & Young People's Strategic Partnership, has identified this funding and is preparing to bid. VCS representatives, including Kerr Kennedy from Bradford CVS, attend this group and will be promoting VCS interests.

VCS groups interested in putting forward a project to go into this partnership bid should contact Kerr as soon as possible with their ideas. It is likely that there will only be one bid from Bradford district.

Kerr Kennedy can be contacted at Bradford CVS on 01274 722772 or by email kerr@bradfordcvs.org.uk

An information leaflet on the fund can be viewed on the Big Lottery Fund website at:
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_myplace.htm?regioncode=uk&status=theProg

OUTCOMES TRAINING - REVISED DATES

Outcomes Training for Voluntary & Community Organisations

‘Understanding and using an outcomes focus’

20th May & 17th June 2008 (9.30 – 4.00)
OR
2nd July & 23rd July 2008 (9.30 – 4.00)

The Green Room, Christchurch, Riddings Road, Ilkley LS29 9LU.

How much do you know about the effects of your organisation’s work?
Would you like to know more about outcomes?
Are your funders asking about outcomes monitoring?

By the end of the training participants will:

* Have a clear understanding of what an outcome is and what it is not
* Be better able to identify outcomes relevant to their work
* Be aware of the main benefits of focusing on outcomes
* Know more about how to monitor outcomes
* Know more about effective ways to introduce an outcomes approach in their own organisation, and have made a start on it.

We strongly encourage you to send two or three people (paid staff, trustees or volunteers) onto the course. This may seem a big investment, but experience shows that the benefits will far outweigh the cost to you in time.

To make the most of this opportunity, we ask you to commit to:

* participants attending both days of the course
* engaging in the take-away task between the two training days. This involves holding a meeting in your own organisation on adopting an outcomes focus.
* exploring further actions to introduce an appropriate outcomes focus within your organisation.

If you require more information about the course, please contact

Mary on T: 01943 603348 or E: info@cvs.ilkley.org

BUDGETING FOR BIDS (20 May)

Budgets for Bids: Tuesday 20th May, Shipley Cellar Project

Not sure where to start with your funding application budget?

This half-day session will help groups new to creating budgets for funding bids and is taking place on Tuesday 20th May, 10am – 1pm at the Cellar Project, Shipley. The trainer is Fit4Funding.

Places are available to Bradford voluntary and community groups at a subsidised rate of £20 for this half-day session.

To help you budget for your project and activities the session will cover:
* Preparing a budget for a funding application
* Common budgeting mistakes and how to avoid them
* Estimating costs
* Identifying resources needed to deliver your project

To book a place please download a booking form from www.bradfordcvs.org.uk or telephone Diane Fox at Bradford CVS on 01274 722772

Further funding related courses, in Bradford and beyond are listed on the bfunded website at http://www.bfunded.org.uk/diary.php?month=05&year=2008

DISABILITY EQUIPMENT BRADFORD

PROGRAMME OF FOCUS DAYS 2008

Between 10am and 2.30pm

Wednesday 7th May > Mobility Issues

Tuesday 3rd June > Footcare & Shoes

Friday 4th July > Independence Day

Monday 7th August > Focus on Young People

Thursday 11th September > Focus on Seating

Tuesday 28th October > Bathing issues

All ages and abilities are welcome on our Focus Days.
An Occupational Therapist will be in attendance to offer help and independent advice.

Professionals are also welcome. Come see what we can offer you and your clients.

T: 01274 589162 E: ammccabe@disabilityadvice.org.uk for further information.

103 Dockfield Road, Shipley, BD17 7AR.

NATIONAL IDENTITY SCHEME

On the 6th March, the Home Secretary published the National Identity Scheme Delivery Plan 2008
http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/downloads/national-identity-scheme-delivery-2008.pdf

From 2008, Government will start to issue the first identity cards in the form of biometric immigration documents to foreign (non European Economic Area) nationals.

In the second half of 2009, Government will start to issue cards to British and foreign nationals (including European Economic Area citizens) working in sensitive roles or locations (e.g. airport workers).

From 2010 Government will issue identity cards on a voluntary basis to young people to assist them in proving their identity as they start out their independent life in society.

From 2011/12 Government will start to enrol British citizens at high volumes offering a choice of receiving a passport, identity card or both.

Home Office Minister, Meg Hillier, is hosting a number of consultation events around the country: Reading on 6 May, London on 7 May, and then Birmingham, Newcastle, and Wales.

If you are interested in attending, please email: IDRoadshow@ips.gsi.gov.uk

LIVING LIBRARY

Borrow a real-life Talking Book!

Living Library at

Bradford Central Library

In May Bradford Central Library will be hosting the innovative "Living Library" project. Living Library works like a normal library – readers come and borrow a book for a limited period of time and when they have finished they can return it and borrow another. There is one key difference however - the books in the Living Library are human beings and the reader can enter into a dialogue with the “Book”.

Living Library gives direct access to someone else’s experience, by allowing people to ‘borrow’ a person who has experience to share, or is passionate about a hobby, lifestyle or an interest.
Bradford Libraries is one of four authorities to pilot the Living Library in England. The project is funded by the Museums Libraries and Archives Council.

The "books" - which you will be able to select from a catalogue - will share their own life experience of subjects as diverse as being an allotment holder, a composter, former vicar, a carer, a goth, a Munroist, a knitter, a Nightstop worker, or a life-long learner. These are just some examples of the types of “books” that will be available.

So why not come and "borrow" a living book for half an hour and take the opportunity to share a life experience or even gain some knowledge from someone from the local community. Come with an open mind and be prepared to learn something new!

Living Library sessions will be held in the Learning Zone, 1st Floor, Central Library on:
Wednesday May 14th 3.00pm - 7.00pm

Thursday May 15th 9.30am -12.30pm

Saturday May 17th 9.30am - 12.30pm

For more details please contact Christine Dyson from the Information Services Department at Bradford Central Library on 01274 433657.