Last chance to book on Monitoring & Evaluation course, 19th July

15/07/2016

This course is organised by Community Works. Booking details are below.

Course: Getting to Grips with Monitoring and Evaluation and the Community Insight Tool

Date: Tuesday 19 July 2016

Time: 9.30am-1.00pm

Fee: This is a free course.

Venue: Friends Meeting House

Trainer: Paul Bramwell (pfb consultancy) and Kate Gilchrist (Public Health)

This half-day course is a back to basics for anyone who is involved in or new to monitoring and evaluation, or who wants a refresher to improve the quality of their work. It will also include a session on the Community Insight Tool, which allows you to find, explore and use a wide range of facts and figures at different geographic levels for Brighton & Hove.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

  • Measure success against the aims and objectives of your organisation;
  • set a baseline against which to monitor and evaluate future work and use the Community Insight Tool to help you do this
  • set and measure outputs, outcomes and milestones
  • use different qualitative and quantitative monitoring techniques
  • use the information you have gathered to critically evaluate your work
  • begin to convince funders and commissioners of the added value of your work
  • Techniques covered will include record keeping, questionnaires, evaluation forms, focus groups, interviewing and other participatory methods of collecting information about your activities or services. There will also be an opportunity to talk about building relationships with your funders.

Who is this course for?

This training is aimed specifically at groups:

  • with an income of under £35,000 and who are receiving a grant through the Community Health Fund and/or who are delivering health and well-being activities
  • we will prioritise those groups whose health and well-being activities support LGBT people, people from BME communities or older people (including intergenerational work)

To book a place:

Please book your place through Eventbrite here:

https://cw-getting-to-grips-community-insight-19-jul-2016.eventbrite.co.uk

City Parks consultation meeting with community groups

08/07/2016

Building a resilient future for our parks and open spaces

A City Parks consultation meeting with community groups for the new Open Spaces Strategy

Tuesday 19th July 2016,  6:00 – 8:00pm  (networking and refreshments from 5:30pm)

Community Base (South Wing Conference Room), 113 Queens Road, Brighton BN1 3XG

 

Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) is working with the Volunteers Alliance for Community Open Spaces (VACOS) and Community Works to host this meeting for ‘Friends of parks’ and other community groups and voluntary organisations concerned with our city’s parks, gardens, and open spaces.

It represents a commitment from the Parks Projects Team to meet with Friends of Groups in forum-style meetings to discuss the challenges of our parks, the scale of issues that face our open spaces, and how the upcoming Open Spaces Strategy (OSS) can work to address them.

The meeting will include presentations by Paul Campbell of the Parks Projects Team and Denise Taylor of City In Bloom & VACOS as well as a discussion.

Agenda (draft)

  • Introductions
  • Context of Cityparks –present challenges  and the Open Spaces Strategy (Paul Campbell – Cityparks, Park Projects and Strategy Manager)
  • Establishing an open spaces network (Denise Taylor – Volunteers Alliance for Community Open Spaces & City in Bloom)
  • The role of Friends of groups in the care and management of our open spaces
  • Training needs for Friends of groups volunteers
  • Public consultation – We will have an online portal, but where would you like us to be located with a paper consultation?
  • Summary and next steps

By the end of this meeting we hope that participants will:

  • be better informed regarding the current resources and finance situation for Cityparks, and the challenges that this poses
  • understand the City Council’s emerging volunteering strategy
  • have more clarity about the City Council’s relationship with, community groups in light of challenging economic circumstances
  • have clarified how Cityparks can support volunteers and the training that is needed (e.g. guidance on health and safety, insurance, fundraising, project management, working with special needs groups and individuals, etc.)
  • have clarified the potential role of a city-wide open spaces network (such as Volunteers Alliance for Community Open Spaces)

For more information and/or to book your place follow the link to Eventbrite below:

 

https://openspacesstrategyconsultationevent.eventbrite.co.uk

 

A chance to tell health planners what your members need

08/07/2016

As part of the 2016 update of some of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) summaries, the JSNA team within Public Health is asking for evidence from community and voluntary organisations in Brighton and Hove.

The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) is a piece of research which provides a high level overview of the population of Brighton and Hove, and of the current and future health and wellbeing needs of local people.

To support the process, Community Works and Healthwatch are holding sessions on 27 July and 28 July. You can book half an hour with Kate Gilchrist, Head of Public Health Intelligence to discuss your evidence before submitting it.

To book a half an hour slot just email laurajayne@bhcommunityworks.org.uk or call 01273 234025.

You can find additional information along with the submission form here: http://www.bhcommunityworks.org.uk/joint-strategic-needs-assessment/

The deadline to submit evidence is the 12th August 2016. To submit evidence along with the completed submission form, please email natalie.johnston@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Social enterprise support

08/07/2016

Brighton & Hove Social Enterprise Network have launched a new ‘season’ of support for social enterprises of all shapes and sizes. Through to December support includes:

The season launches with a social enterprise surgery on the 20th July, followed by the first in a series of 3 Action Learning Sets on 26th July.

Sponsored by The Platform

Cllr Emma Daniel’s surgery for voluntary and community groups

10/06/2016

Cllr Emma Daniel is the chair of the council’s Neighbourhood, Communities and Equalities Committee. Her next Voluntary and Community Sector surgery is 12th July, running from the Community Works office on Queens Road. This is a chance for community groups in the city to discuss their concerns and priorities with Cllr Daniel.

To book an appointment to discuss issues important to your organisation/city priorities from your perspective, please contact Faye Perry Faye.Perry@brighton-hove.gcsx.gov.uk

Free events listing on ESCIS

31/05/2016

ESCIS is the East Sussex Community Information Service, run by East Sussex Libraries Service. It now has an events section, as well as listing contact details for hundreds of local groups.

If you have a community event coming up, it’s free to add it to the events listing.

To  find out more about ESCIS and how to add your organisation’s  details, see their handy About ESCIS page or contact Vicki Holland on Vicki.Holland@eastsussex.gov.uk

Refugee Week steering group

20/05/2016

Sanctuary on Sea is hoping to set up a group to coordinate events in Brighton & Hove during Refugee Week, 18th to 26th June.

The first meeting of the group will be held on Thursday 2nd June from 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm at Community Base.

Anyone who is planning an event during Refugee Week, or interested in getting involved, is welcome to come to the meeting. The aim of the meeting is to discuss:

  • What events are planned and how we can jointly publicise them
  • What help is needed by organisations – funding, materials and how we can source these or share resources
  • Whether there is a role for volunteers and how these can be recruited
  • Whether we want to have any joint media or communications messages as the organisations working on Refugee Week in Brighton & Hove

If you are interested in attending the meeting, or want to find out more about Refugee Week, please contact Monika on 077 303 391 45 or akilalive@gmail.com

Monika is the Refugee Week coordinator for Sanctuary on Sea. She can offer support to organisations and communities involved in Refugee Week to organise a calendar of events and activities from 18th – 26th June 2016. She will also help organise volunteers to support events where needed. If you are organising an event during Refugee Week, you can contact Monika with the details and she will publicise your event on  the Sanctuary On Sea website and the National Refugee Week website.

East Brighton Trust grants available via Sussex Community Foundation

12/05/2016

East Brighton Trust offer small grants for community groups which benefit residents of East Brighton.

In future these grants will be adminstered via Sussex Community Foundation. The application process has changed, but the grants are still available to groups in East Brighton.

Your group can still apply for an East Brighton Trust grant, even if you have received a Sussex Community Foundation grant this year.

For more information see our Favourite Funders page.

Multi-use venue on Lewes Road available for hire for free to community groups

05/05/2016

ABOUT:

The new FIELD building at Preston Barracks on Lewes Road, recently renovated after years of neglect, is now home to a number of resident innovators and makers who are developing their ideas and products in a shared space: www.fieldbtn.com

The building also houses a spacious licenced Brewhouse Café, run by Old Tree Brewery, specialising in botanical drinks and sprouted and fermented food. The cafe and adjoining atrium can be hired free of charge for events/workshops/talks/film-screenings, with the added benefit of in-house catering, an outside cafe garden area, free parking and disabled access.

CAFE OPENING HOURS: The Old Tree Brewhouse Cafe is open to the public from 9am-5pm Mon-Fri.

EVENT HIRE HOURS:

The space can be booked for events between 5pm-8pm Mon-Fri. On Saturdays the café space is available for hire from 8am-8pm. We are closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

EVENT FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT:

Tables, chairs and benches can be provided, as well as a white wall for projector screens, a sound system and extra lighting.

HIRE CHARGES:

Hire of the space is free (to community/non-profit groups).

CATERING & SERVICE CHARGES:

As well as the cafe menu, Old Tree can provide extra equipment, staff and bespoke catering services, including the serving of alcohol (brewed on-site) – prices on application.

CAPACITY:

Approx 40 people seated.

Restrictions may apply depending on desired use.

All applications must be approved prior to event.

Deposit may be required (refundable).

CONTACT:

For bookings and enquiries please contact oldtreecoop@gmail.com

http://oldtree.house/

 

FREE First Aid for babies and children course – spaces still available

05/05/2016

Last few free places on First Aid for Babies and Children course at the Vallance Centre next Thursday 12th May.
Please call the Community Learning team reception on 01273 810 210 to find out more information or book a place.

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Free First Aid for Babies and Children – Central Hove Course date: Thursday 12 May

Time: 10am-1.15pm (enrolments from 9.30am)

Venue: Vallance Community Centre, 2 Conway Court, Clarendon Road, Hove BN3 3WR (Next to Honeycroft café)

Tutor: Agnes Munday

You will find out about: Managing burns and scalds, how to deal with choking, the recovery position and basic life support for babies and children.

To be offered a free place learners will need to:

  • Be aged 19 and over
  • Live in Brighton & Hove
  • Be unemployed and in receipt of income related benefits
  • Or be on a low income
  • Have no qualifications (or few)
  • We will need to see your most recent proof of benefits
  • These courses are for people who have lived in the EU for at least 3 years

Call  01273 810210 to find out more