Resource Centre business plan

19/06/2017

We’ve published our business plan for 2017-20.

Having celebrated our 40th year as an organisation last year, we are continuing to focus on what we do best – providing practical, relevant support to small community groups in Brighton & Hove. Our business plan describes how we plan to build on our achievements and adapt to changing circumstances, without losing track of the key ideas which underpin our work:

  • Small groups are the vital glue that holds communities together. These groups have particular needs and the Centre is a specialist in meeting these needs.
  • While we specialise in supporting small groups, the help we are able to offer our user groups is broad. Our services work together to support different aspects of a group’s work, and develop alongside groups as they change. We know that a major aspect of our success comes from the fact that our different services strengthen each other.
  • The support we provide is above all practical: it is designed to give groups the tools they can use to overcome barriers to their activity.
  • Groups value our consistency and stability. Any changes in how we support groups will be minor and gradual. We know we are already extremely successful at what we do, and don’t plan any major changes in our work.

 

Support the Resource Centre when you shop at Waitrose

01/06/2017

The Resource Centre has been nominated to receive a donation from Waitrose via their Community Matters scheme.

They have £1000 to divide between three charities.

Three people holding a very large cheque

Ekhlas and Roy, Resource Centre trustees 2011-12, collecting our cheque from Waitrose in 2012.

Please ask for a green token when you shop at Waitrose on Western Road, and use it to vote for the Resource Centre. You can vote as many times as you like until the end of June.

In 2012 we received £317 from the same scheme. We bought a new PA system which has been used at 116 community events so far!

A big thank you to Ekhlas from the Christian Arabic Club for nominating us again.

‘Understanding Eating Disorders’ workshop

18/04/2017

21st April, 1-4pm, at the Brighthelm 

The workshop will:

  • Explore some of the myths & misconceptions often associated with eating disorders.
  • Look at eating disorders, definitions, contributing factors and other associated conditions.
  • Provide an insight into the issues sufferers and carers’ face getting help and looking at real experiences from men who have suffered themselves.
  • Examine the barriers men face in accessing services and looking at ways professionals and services can overcome these barriers to provide gender inclusive service provision.

Delegate rate costs are as follows:

  • Professionals working in voluntary organisations and charities: £45.00 per place
  • Professionals working in statutory organisations or independent organisation or independently practice: £65.00 per place

For further information and to download a booking form please go to http://mengetedstoo.co.uk/blog/training-and-events-calendar or email sam@mengetedstoo.co.uk

Bid writing workshops

18/04/2017

Brighton: 13th June 2017

Bid Writing : The Basics

TOPICS COVERED

Who are the winners and losers in grant funding. How to identify the weaknesses in your project. What questions will funders will ask themselves about your bid. Common reasons for applications being rejected. The key terms in bid writing explained with examples of each. Make your application short but effective.

Start telling funders the things they really want to hear. How to build greater credibility in the eyes of funders. Demonstrating that the beneficiaries of your project are involved. The importance of getting your numbers and totals right. What to do with all your supporting documents. Make your proofreading foolproof.

Bid Writing : Advanced

TOPICS COVERED

What makes for a more fundable project. How to find new ideas for fundable projects. Developing new techniques that can have a wider impact. Can you criticise the establishment whilst asking for money. Knowing and managing your online profile. What pressures are funders’ staff under. Handling multiple funding sources.

Working in partnership with others. How rich people make their money and what they like to fund. How to demonstrate that you will be able to pay running costs for new buildings. Use Freedom of Information laws to obtain statistics and generate fresh evidence. Use e-mail marketing to build up volunteers and donors even for brand new projects before you apply.

Each attendee will receive a full set of notes and copies of eight real successful funding bids by e-mail after the workshop.

COST

£95. Refreshments provided. No VAT. No booking fees.

The courses are run by nfpworkshops.co.uk/

Brighton & Hove City Council announces grants for community organisations

04/04/2017

Brighton & Hove City Council has launched its Communities Fund for 2017-18.

Not-for-profit organisations can apply for funding for work that meets one of the following outcomes:

  • Improving wellbeing
  • Building cohesion
  • Promoting fairness

There are three funds available to apply for:

The Engagement Fund: Grants of up to £2,000, for organisations with an income of up to £20,000 per year. Next deadline 15th May.

The Resilience Fund: Grants of up to £10,000, for organisations with an income of up to £100,000 per year. Next deadline 15th May.

The Collaboration Fund: Grants for organisations working in partnership with one another to support the city’s most vulnerable residents. No deadlines.

Playland – your group’s stories in Brighton Festival

17/03/2017

The Playland Project is looking for community groups to help create a new art work exploring place and identity, to be performed in Brighton Festival this May.

The project takes inspiration from a new film commission by international artist Jivko Darakchiev. Your group/service users would work with Brighton based writer and poet Evlynn Sharp to create monologues, short stories or memoirs which would be produced as text or sound pieces which would be shown alongside Jivko’s film in Brighton during this year’s Brighton Festival. The nature of the project would be developed with the direct involvement of your service users.

So far the film has been shown alongside works by different groups of people in Folkestone (with local people from the Harbour district of the town), Margate (with older people experiencing change to the town centre through re-development), St Leonards (with people from the refugee community) and Worthing (with young adults who attend a West Sussex Day Centre).

Playland would require no financial contribution from yourselves. The project is funded by Arts Council England and The Big Lottery.

If you are interested or want to find out more, contact James Shea – email james@jamessheaconsulting.com

Sussex Clubs for Young People, Spring Conference, Saturday 22 April

15/03/2017

Spring Conference 2017 – Who washes the tea towels?

Sussex Clubs for Young People are working with the University of Brighton to provide a conference with “nuggets” of training opportunities that will support your whole youth club. It won’t just be about safeguarding and youth work training, but a chance to meet with others to have fun, with just a little bit of Swedish Disco Dancing. Their idea is that for their Spring Conference on Saturday 22nd April 2017 your committee chair, treasurer, safeguarding officer, youth worker and young volunteers will come together to take part in a range of bite-sized courses and seminars to help you fund-raise, manage your club and develop your staff and volunteer team. It will also put you in touch with people who can offer more advice and training if you want to take your learning further.

Sessions on offer:

  • Swedish Disco Dancing
  • How to run a DJ Workshop
  • Fundraising tips and grants
  • Stress Busters
  • Working with challenging behaviour
  • Digital Festival
  • Tackling Homophobia
  • Connecting with your community
  • Developing your staff and volunteer teams
  • Writing your child protection policy
  • Games and icebreakers for youth clubs
  • Plus a market place with a range of providers (If you are interesting in having a stand, please contact us for more details – £30 per pitch.

Cost for the day £10 per person (£5 for young people) as a contribution towards food and refreshments. They will send an invoice for all spaces reserved.  Please contact Sussex Clubs for Young People for help with transport or the cost of the event.

To register, please go to

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/who-washes-the-tea-towels-tickets-32802863247

Welfare Reform Update Training

15/03/2017

25th April 2017 in Brighton

This course is run by Brighton Housing Trust

As usual, nothing stands still in benefits world, so it’s time for a refresher on what’s going on.

From April 17, we have new benefit rates, full Universal Credit coming to East Sussex later in the year, controversial restrictions on entitlement for people with more than two children and people entering ESA, the new Youth Obligation, bedroom tax decisions, tougher conditionality for parents with very young children, and many other issues bubbling away.

BHT’s new half day Welfare Reform Update will ensure your knowledge of the latest news is up to date.

Who should attend?

This is a three hour workshop suitable for staff who need to feel confident and up to date with their knowledge.  It will be too basic for people who do regular benefits casework.

For more info:

https://bht-training.org.uk/training-course/welfare-reform-update-eastbourne-2017-04-25/

Ask Me: Free domestic abuse training

14/03/2017

People who work in the Brighton, Hove and Eastbourne areas are invited to become Ask Me ambassadors, by attending free domestic abuse training, organised by Rise.

 When:

 There are a choice of three 2 x day courses which are running as follows:

  • Thursday 23rd & Friday 24th March (9:30 – 4:30pm)
  • Tuesday 4th & Wednesday 5th May (9:30 – 4:30pm)
  • Saturday 24th June & Saturday 1st July (9:30 – 4:30pm)

Who can attend:

ANYONE who lives or works in the Brighton, Hove and Eastbourne areas and come into contact with your community somehow. i.e. bar staff, hairdressers, reception staff, HR teams, dentists, pharmacists, retail staff and community groups.

What the training will cover:

  • Understanding and recognising signs of domestic abuse in the community
  • Responding effectively if someone discloses they are in an abusive relationship
  • Knowing where survivors of domestic abuse can get help and support if they want it

How to apply:

In order to confirm your training space we ask you to fill in an application form. Your space is not guaranteed until you do so.

Download a recruitment pack here: http://bit.ly/2lcs3Oo

Download an application form here: http://bit.ly/2lcB3mM

Please return your application form ASAP to: askme@womensaid.org.uk

Training venue:

Venue to be confirmed upon your successful application.

Domestic abuse is far too prevalent in our society, please help spread the word about this fantastic initiative to take action to stop it!

For more information, click here.

 

Would you use a Community Teaching Kitchen?

10/03/2017

Brighton & Hove Food partnership are considering setting up a community teaching kitchen in the centre of Brighton.

To find out if this is needed, they have set up a short online survey.

If your group works with people who would like to learn cookery in a community kitchen, please fill in the survey before March 14th.