Funding for joint academic / community projects

22/04/2016
  • Do you have a good idea for a community-university partnership project?
  • Do your ideas involve working with communities, projects or academics local to University of Brighton campuses?
  • Do you need some seed funding to kick-start co-working?

Cupp seed funding aims to support the development of partnerships between academic staff and community organisations that will work together on a topic of mutual interest.  This fund supports work across our campus areas of Brighton, Eastbourne & Hastings.

Up to £5000 is available per project and Cupp can offer you support to develop partnerships, project ideas and your application.  For further information visit the Cupp website, where you can download a copy of the guidance notes and learn more about eligibility and the criteria – or call 01273 643004 to talk to one of the team about your ideas.

The deadline for applications is the 23rd May 2016, and successful projects would be expected to start by October 2016.

You need to call Cupp to discuss your ideas before putting in an application.

Training day on mental health and human rights

19/04/2016

The British Institute of Human Rights is holding a learning event on June 23rd about human rights and mental health. The event is part of a project run by BIHR and partners which looks at how human rights can help ensure people using mental health/mental capacity services are treated with dignity and respect. The project is called ‘Care and Support: A Human Rights Approach to Advocacy’ (funded by the Department of Health).

This learning event will look at:

  • An introduction to human rights: values and context
  • An introduction to the Human Rights Act
  • Mental health and human rights: examples of good practice
  • Using human rights in practice

The event is free to attend but places are limited and only open to those working on mental health or mental capacity for a third sector organisation.

For full details and to book a place, go to https://www.bihr.org.uk/Event/mhbrighton2306

Working with Communities training course

19/04/2016

This two day course is organised by the Trust for Developing Communities and Brighton & Hove City Council.

The course gives an overview of different ways to work with communities and then supports participants to develop their own approach and test it out. So it would directly support any work with communities you are doing.

The course is also a great opportunity to network with and learn from other people from different sectors in the city who are working with communities.

It is well established and past participants really enjoy the participative nature of the course and the way it focuses on the work they are currently doing.

There’s more information at http://bit.ly/1W4nod3

If you would like to book a place please contact Kelly Butler, Brighton and Hove City Council Human Resources & Organisational Development on Kelly.butler@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call 01273 295282.

Know My Neighbour open meeting

14/04/2016

Know My Neighbour is a citywide community project run by One Church Brighton, aimed at sparking social connections to create a better Brighton & Hove. This May is the launch of Brighton & Hove’s first Know My Neighbour week, starting Saturday 21st May. The Brighton-wide Know My Neighbour week will feature different initiatives running across the city to encourage neighbourly activities as a way of tackling social isolation.

There will be an open meeting on Wednesday 20th April 3.30pm – 5.00pm we’ll be meeting at One Church, Gloucester Place to firm up the plans for Know My Neighbour 2016. A particular focus will be on Know My Neighbour week 21st-27th May and how organisations/individuals can get involved.

The purpose of the meeting will be to:

  • Share events planned so far, with a special focus on Know My Neighbour Week 21st-27th May including our week long Pop-up Cafe event.
  • Explain how organisations and individuals can get involved and partner with Know My Neighbour – benefiting neighbours and the activities/services you are involved in.
  • Provide an opportunity for those already involved to speak to a member of the team about a planned event or initiative.

For further information, and details of previous events and meetings, visit the Know My Neighbour website.

RSVP to hello@knowmyneighbour.org to confirm whether you can attend.

Know My Neighbour Pop-up Cafe

31/03/2016

Know My Neighbour is a citywide campaign run by One Church Brighton, aiming to encourage neighbourliness to create a better connected city.

The pop up café will run throughout Know My Neighbour week 21st – 27th May at Gloucester Road Church, 11am – 7pm. Local people and community groups are invited to get involved by showcasing their work – either in the form of entertainment, running a food session at the pop up café (lunch or afternoon tea) or coming along to chat with guests.

For example a recovery group choir could perform, an older person’s cooking group could provide cakes for an afternoon tea or a community café/group could run the lunch for one day.

Groups are also welcome to simply provide flyers that advertise their activities and services.

To get involved, email hello@knowmyneighbour.org, or call 01273 694746.

 

Tesco’s Bags of Help funding scheme

18/03/2016

The second round of funding for the Tesco Bags of Help scheme will open for applications on 18 April 2016 and close on 3rd June.

Bags of Help is administered by Groundwork and funded by Tesco customers from the proceeds of the 5p charge for plastic carrier bags.
The scheme is open to community groups across England, Wales and Scotland to apply for grants of £8,000, £10,000 and £12,000 to improve local green space.

Online applications will be accepted from a wide range of organisations including: voluntary/community organisations, registered charities, schools, health bodies, Parish/Town councils, social enterprises, Community Interest Companies, community councils, local authorities and housing organisations. Other not-for-profit organisations might also be eligible.

The scheme funds capital projects that provide community benefit and where there is no charge to access. Projects that will get the green light as a result of the funding will include:

• Green corridors – river and canals, cycle ways

• Parks, pocket parks and urban green spaces

• Formal and informal play areas

• Open access sports facilities within public parks and recreation grounds

• Informal outdoor recreation facilities; e.g. gym equipment, trim trails and woodland walks

• Nature reserves, community woodland, ponds and village greens

• Churchyards

• Seafront improvements

• Community allotments, community gardens, orchards and city farms

• Spaces in the grounds of hospices and day centres

• Allotments

• School grounds

• Community spaces on housing estates or residential areas

There is no match funding requirement to access this funding but the grant should be the majority of the funding required for the project. All projects will need to be completed within twelve months of receipt of the grant. Additionally, landowner’s permission is essential and some projects may need planning permission.

Tesco customers will be able to cast their vote on which shortlisted project in their area they would like to see receive the top grant from 1 October 2016.

To find out more go to: www.groundwork.org.uk/tescobagsofhelp<http://www.groundwork.org.uk/tescobagsofhelp>

Community Shares Conference

18/03/2016

Brighton & Hove Social Enterprise Network is organising a Community Shares conference on  Thursday, 7 April 2016, 10 am. to 4 pm at the Brighthelm Community Centre, North Road, Brighton, BN1 1YD. It is free.

Community Shares offer opportunities for communities to raise finance for capital projects that would not be possible from grants.

Community Shares can help communities:

  • buy pubs, shops or community buildings
  • transfer assets from Local Authorities
  • raise finance for renewable energy schemes

This conference offers an opportunity to hear from influential speakers in the community shares world who have found solutions for people supporting their communities and meet people who have been through the process. They will de-mystify the community shares process and answer your questions and concerns. You’ll also learn more about the co-operative option and be able to network with fellow co-operators. More information here

 

Community Development qualification

18/03/2016

The Trust for Developing Communities is developing a new training course ‘Working in C-ODE’ for anyone working in communities and wanting a level 2 or 3 qualification in Community Development.

It is for anyone

*        in paid work or volunteering

*        who is actively involved in community development,

*        in voluntary and community organisations, statutory bodies or businesses.

They are holding an information workshop on the morning of Wednesday 27th April where you can find out more about the course and help to co-design the course materials.

Learners have described the similar WICO course as being a ‘a life-changing factor’ and ‘without doubt a stepping stone into employment’.

‘Working in C-ODE’ will support you to develop practical and analytical skills to work with a range of communities. You will gain an understanding of community development values and purpose, work with community groups and the diversity of communities as well as skills in community development practice –  inclusive group work, assessing community needs and reflective practice.

The course will be delivered and sponsored by the Trust for Developing Communities with support from the University of Brighton and bursaries will be available.

If you are interested please contact Trust for Developing Communities by emailing info@trustdevcom.org.uk or calling 01273 262220.

 

Next Brighton Soup event 29th April

15/03/2016

Brighton Soup are holding their next event on Friday 29th April at The Crypt, Kemptown.

Community projects who need a little funding are invited to submit their ideas by midday on Tuesday 5th April. Four shortlisted projects will be invite to pitch on the night to win the ticket money.

If you want to know about what it’s like to pitch at BrightonSoup: http://brightonsoup.org.uk/2016/01/19/so-who-can-pitch-at-brightonsoup/

Projects must be charitable and of benefit to the people in Brighton & Hove City. If interested please apply online at BrightonSoup.org.uk/projects or send a couple of paragraphs explaining your project and what you would do with the money to projects@brightonsoup.org.uk.

At the last BrightonSoup event in February, Simon Cobb from Stoneham Bakehouse won the vote and took £352.20 in ticket money for his Elephant Bike to Delivery Bread & Wellbeing project. Although one project got the funding, all the projects benefited from connecting with people and getting skills pledges and offers of help. It’s a great opportunity to meet people and get support.

Brighton & Hove Council 2016-17 grant funds now open for application

15/03/2016

Groups with annual incomes below £35,000 can now apply for funding from Brighton & Hove Council’s five annual grant schemes, for activities in 2016-17:

There will be three deadlines in 2016: 15th April, 8th July and 14th October. Forms and guidance are available to download from the council’s website.

Funding for participation in the Pride festival is not yet confirmed, but is expected to be available later in the year.