Taking Account 3 Survey – an economic and social audit of the community and voluntary sector

20/08/2013

The Community and Voluntary Sector Forum (CVSF) is currently running an online survey, aiming to collect information about the size, importance and value of the community and voluntary sector (CVS) in Brighton and Hove.

Similar surveys were completed in 2003 and 2008 but much has changed since then, it will show:

  • the number of volunteers and the hours they contribute
  • how groups and organisations are funded
  • the economic contribution of the sector to the City (£96m in 2008)
  • how many groups and organisations exist
  • the struggles and challenges you are facing but also the way you are innovating

The research will also be used to inform the development of CVS support, the city council’s new CVS strategy as well as the wider public sector approach to working with the sector.

Your group doesn’t need to be a member of CVSF to take part – you can complete the survey here: http://bit.ly/1b5ILo5

For more information about the survey, email laura@cvsectorforum.org.uk or call Laura Williams on 01273 810242.

4 new folding tables for hire

09/08/2013

Due to popular demand, we have added four new folding tables to our collection. These are slightly shorter, to make them easier to transport in cars.

To book, call us on 01273 606160, or for a full description, you can look at the equipment page.

We are grateful to the Robin Hood pub for funding this new equipment.

Healthy Heart Grants deadline 31st August 2013

08/08/2013

Medical charity Heart Research UK (HRUK) provides the Healthy Heart Grants scheme to enable community organisations to carry out new, original and innovative projects that actively promote heart health and help to prevent or reduce the risks of heart disease in specific groups or communities.

Applications are accepted twice a year (January through February and July through August) for projects that run for about a year and which focus on and actively promote heart health. Funding will not be awarded to general healthy lifestyle projects.

Community and voluntary organisations, registered charities, and other not-for-profit organisations based and working in the UK may apply for grants of up to £10,000.

The next deadline for applications is 31 August 2013.

A funding pot of £50,000 is available in each grant round with a maximum of £10,000 available per application. Competition is very high, and the success rate is currently around 1 in 40.

Full details can be found on the Heart Research UK website

BBC Performing Arts funding for Community Theatre Groups

08/08/2013

For the last three years the BBC Performing Arts Fund has been focusing on a different art form (dance, music, theatre). This year is the year of theatre.

The Fund is seeking local community theatre groups who are ambitious, willing to take on a challenge and looking for ways to increase their group’s confidence and motivation and to raise their profile in the local community.

Grants of between £500 and £5,000 will be offered to up to 50 groups across the UK to carry out training, attract new audiences, encourage new members and raise their profiles in their communities.

Projects should be new, open to the wider public, and take place any time between 1 December 2013 and 30 November 2014.

The Fund welcomes projects which involve new group members, perform to new audiences, bring communities together, improve community cohesion, or work with other community groups.

The grants are intended to help with the following costs:

  • Training courses for group members and the people who run the group.
  • Master classes for the group.
  • Bringing in an expert to help work on improving specific skills.
  • Help in tackling a new piece of theatre that is a stretch for the group.
  • Putting on a more ambitious performance.
  • Performing in public for the first time.
  • Working with another theatre group.
  • Working with other groups, for example a dance group.
  • A project to recruit new members.
  • Running a beginners course to attract new members.
  • Commissioning a new piece of theatre.
  • Putting on a performance in a new venue.
  • Taking the theatre out into the community.
  • Taking part in a local festival.

Eligible groups must have been in existence since 2011 with a demonstrable track record and a bank account in the group’s name.

The deadline for applications is 16 September 2013 (5pm).

Full details can be found on the BBC Performing Arts Fund website

Engaging with Gypsies & Travellers Training: 23rd September

07/08/2013

This is a half day course for workers and volunteers in voluntary sector organisations wanting to engage or work more effectively with Gypsies and Travellers.

Takeaway resources and handouts provided.

Learning outcomes:

  • An overview on Gypsy & Traveller issues and the Brighton & Hove picture.
  • Barriers to engagement and how to overcome them.
  • Best practice models of engagement and real life examples.

Date and venue: Mon 23rd September in the conference room at Community Base.

Times: 10am – 1pm with a networking sandwich lunch to follow.

Cost: £25 including lunch.  Free places for Gypsies & Travellers. Please enquire about bursary places.

Supported by Brighton & Hove City Council.

Bookings and enquiries to: Chris Whitwell  Tel. 01273 234772

Limited places – 30 maximum

CVSF Briefing Sessions – Charity Finance for Trustee Boards

07/08/2013

Are you a trustee?

Do you fully understand the financial information that you are given?

Do you know your responsibilities with regard to finance?

Community and Voluntary Sector Forum, in conjunction with the Corporate Partnerships Project at Skills Exchange, is running a briefing session on Charity Finances for Trustee Boards.

The session aims to give trustees a basic understanding of how charity finances should be run so that they can feel confident in their role as a trustee. The session will be delivered by Carol Lewis, Director at Bainbridge Lewis Chartered Accountants.

Points that will be covered:

  • Review of charity accounts. What the different terms mean and what the important figures are.
  • Good financial practices for Charities. What financial information you should expect as a trustee and how to interpret this information.
  • Funding applications and monitoring. Most charities are dependent on funding so they constantly have to apply for funding and report back to the funders on how their money has been spent.
  • A brief overview of tax for Charities. Most people ignore tax for Charities as they think they are outside the tax system. However, there some key tax issues that do have implications for charities. This includes a discussion around claiming gift aid.

Tuesday September 17th, 2013 6pm – 8pm. Venue to be confirmed

Cost: £10 – £25, a limited number of bursaries may be available for very small organisations.

For more information or to book a place contact info@cvsectorforum.org.uk or call 01273 810230

Money in Mind project still going strong

06/08/2013

The latest update on the Money in Mind project shows that 285 small groups have been helped to manage their finances better since the project started in October 2009.

Money in Mind offers free one-to-one support to any small community group in Brighton & Hove, as well as a range of information sheets and two downloadable accounts systems, designed specifically to meet the needs of small groups.  The project also offers a free examination of accounts service for small groups, providing reassurance for group members and funders alike.

New thermal catering-style flasks for hire at the Resource Centre

26/07/2013

Thanks to funding from the Robin Hood pub, we now have two 3.7 litre thermal flasks for hire at £2.60 each. We hope that these will be useful for community groups who are organising meetings or events, and want to serve ready-made hot or cold drinks.

To book, go to the equipment page here: thermal flasks, or give us a ring on 01273 606160.

Coming soon: additional folding tables for hire!

Google for Non-profits – free advertising, access to Google Apps, online support & resources for registered charities

25/07/2013

Funding Central’s news article states: “Once charities sign up they will receive up to $10,000 (approximately £6,647) a month in advertising credit on Google AdWords to promote their causes and reach potential donors. They will gain free access to the online communication and collaboration suite Google Apps to help cut IT costs and improve communications. Charities will also have access to premium features within YouTube and Google Earth Outreach to help raise awareness of their work. A number of learning resources will also be available to charities, such as educational videos, technical support via an online forum and advice on how to connect with other charities.”
The original article can be found here: www.fundingcentral.org.uk

For more information, visit the Google for Nonprofits website: www.google.co.uk/intl/en/nonprofits/

Brighton Community Base launches new website

24/07/2013

Community Base have launched a new website, redesigned to make the site easier to use when searching for volunteer posts, jobs, services and venues in the Brighton and Hove area. Local organisations can now advertise their services and volunteer opportunities directly on the site, making it a valuable resource for the community. The site will also soon feature an events calendar to promote the wide range of events happening at the centre.

Olivia Canham, Centre Manager, said “We’re delighted with this new site, which we hope residents of Brighton and Hove will find even more useful than before. At Community Base we aim to provide real help to real people, and this site enables us to do that.”

Situated in a seven floor building a few minutes from Brighton station, Community Base provides affordable office space, meeting rooms and a wide range of other services to organisations and local people in a friendly, supportive and cooperative environment.

Since opening in 1997, dozens of community and voluntary groups have made use of the Community Base building. There are currently nearly thirty groups based within the centre with their diversity reflecting the variety of people in the local area – groups are involved with homeless people, ethnic minorities, carers, parents, volunteers, asylum seekers, older people, travellers and many others.

To view the site please visit www.communitybase.org.  For further information please email reception@communitybase.org, call 01273 234000 or call into the Community Base reception in person.