VCSE News

Local Interest


Salford Hustings VCSE

Date: Tuesday 16th April
Time: 6.30pm for refreshments, 7pm start, 9pm finish
Venue: Eccles Sixth Form College, Chatsworth Rd, Eccles, Manchester M30 9FJ

Salford CVS and We Stand Together have organised a Hustings meeting for VCSE organisations in Salford. The meeting will provide an opportunity for those working in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector to hear the views of candidates and have an opportunity to ask questions.

We Invented The Weekend

We’re looking for a team of amazing volunteers to bring their energy and enthusiasm to a huge, free festival in Salford.
Volunteering is a great way to experience We Invented the Weekend. You will be supported in your role, be part of the team, meet new people and have fun!

 

What are the priorities for your organisation and sector for the next five years and beyond? What challenges are your organisation facing that need to be heard? Do you want your voice added to a manifesto that will help set the political agenda for the VCSE sector?

With a devolution deal, local, mayoral, and (likely) general elections happening this year, now is the time to raise our collective voice, engage with our political leaders and campaign for the sector together.

Eccles Funding image

Tuesday 26th March 2024, 1pm-3pm
Salford CVS Training Room
, The Old Town Hall, Irwell Place, Eccles, M30 0FN

Wellbeing Matters and Salford CVS are hosting a funding information session available to VCSE organisations across Salford.

The session will include: 

Get involved in Greater Manchester’s plan for nature screenshot

Like the rest of the country, Greater Manchester faces closely linked climate and biodiversity emergencies. Locally and nationally – we know we all need to do more to support the recovery of nature and increase the benefits it provides to our people and our economy.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority is currently developing a Local Nature Recovery Strategy, a new plan for nature, to set out our local ambitions for nature. 

Changes to UK company law logo

Changes to UK company law – Use of PO Box addresses for registered office addresses, Identity Verification and other changes

Companies House in the UK has announced a policy change regarding registered office addresses, effective from the 4th March 2024.

GM Walking Festival

Aligning with May’s National Walking Month, The GM Walking Festival is a celebration of walking and an opportunity for everyone to join in with a programme of free, organised group walks across Greater Manchester.

The month-long programme of activities is organised and shaped by local people and organisations to spread the joy of walking and connect people to each other and local places.

VCSE Leadership

On behalf of the Greater Manchester VCSE Leadership Group, you are invited to Greater Manchester VCSE Sector Manifesto Assembly Event, online, Tuesday 27th February 10am-12:30pm.

We want to amplify your voice as a voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) group in Greater Manchester.

We are drafting a Greater Manchester VCSE Sector Manifesto to raise our collective voice, to use as a tool to engage with leaders and campaign together.

Homelessness event image

Join the Greater Manchester Homelessness Action Network in bringing together partners working across the criminal justice and homelessness systems to explore the good work that is being done and understand how we can work together to build on this and improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.

Household Support Fund new image

Do you need support to pay for food, fuel or energy costs?

Apply for the Household Support Fund before the deadline on Sunday 31st March 2024.

You don’t need to be in receipt of benefits to apply and if you have applied for support in previous rounds, you may still be eligible for further help.

Menopause image

Mind in Greater Manchester has been awarded a share of £1.97 million from the government to provide menopause support across Greater Manchester. Launched in April 2018, the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Fund is a joint initiative run by the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency.

Bee Net Zero logo

Whether you’re adopting green tech, hoping to learn more about the circular economy or are an industrial business looking for support with decarbonisation; Bee Net Zero partners have rounded up a series of events aimed at businesses across Greater Manchester.

Hate Crime Awareness Plan

Greater Manchester is a place where everyone should feel safe to be themselves. No one should face violence, abuse or hatred just because of who they are, who they love, where they’re from, what they look like or what they believe. Hate incidents and hate crime will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester.

Measles

Measles is in the news again. There have been serious outbreaks in Wales and England and the number of children catching measles is rising. Measles can be a very serious disease, leading to ear and chest infections, fits, diarrhea, and damage to the brain. Measles can kill.

AAA quote

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a swelling in the main tummy blood vessel and is 6x more common in gender diverse, Trans women and non-binary people assigned male at birth.  It doesn’t cause any signs or symptoms but can be fatal is left undetected.

GM Equality Alliance

GM=EqAl have just begun recruiting for new working group members. They are particularly looking for new members from Salford. 

Do you represent marginalised or minoritised communities and want to assist the Greater Manchester Equality Alliance in connecting communities and policy makers and help to ensure the equality, diversity and inclusion are at the forefront of decision making at the highest levels in Greater Manchester?

Letter to Jeremy Hunt

Barnardo’s has written to the Chancellor today alongside representatives from more than 120 other organisations, including Salford CVS, calling for an urgent extension to the fund. The charities warn of the ‘devastating consequences’ for families facing hardship if the fund is not extended.  

Letter:

Dear Chancellor,

We are writing to you as a group of organisations deeply concerned about the future of the Household Support Fund (HSF).

Houses

Salford’s existing housing Allocations Policy has been in place since March 2019, the Policy lasts for five years so a new Allocations Policy is due in 2025.

The Housing Act 1996 requires a local housing authority to have a scheme, which sets out how housing is allocated within their area and how applicants on the housing register are prioritised.

Strand 2: Applications open until midday Monday 26th February 2024

WEA (Workers Educational Association) and GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) are pleased to launch the first round of funding, across 2 strands, for the £5m GMCA Community Grants Programme. 

 

Following a break in earlier this week, Irlam and Cadishead Foodbank are now trying to build up their stocks so they can continue to help those in our community who need it most. Could you make a donation to help replace these items that were kindly donated by people in our community? 

Below is a full list of items that are needed most to help rebuild the stock that has unfortunately been taken: 

 

The Salford Pulse Check is our opportunity to provide you with a brief snapshot of the issues and topics important to the VCSE sector in the city.

Completing this quick survey will help us at Salford CVS get a clearer picture of the type of support you require as members of the organisation, as well as help us to demonstrate how the sector contributes to key priorities established across sectors on a city-wide basis. 

This quarter's theme: Health and Wellbeing.

Leadership development

The VCSE Leadership Development Programme will bring together a group of people with experience of VCSE management and leadership, to co-design and participate in a series of leadership learning workshops.

Heart of Salford Awards

Yesterday was our 20th Heart of Salford awards. It was a great afternoon celebrating the amazing work of Salford's Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector. Congratulations to everyone nominated, shortlisted and the winners!

Here are the shortlisted groups and individuals and the winner in each category, voted by the audience:

VCSE Future Leaders Programme 2024

The 10GM VCSE Future Leaders Programme aims to nurture talent in Greater Manchester’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector by building capacity and skills. The programme will run from January to June 2024 and will be co-designed with future VCSE leaders. It will include workshops and oneto-one support for participants.

Answer Cancer logo

Answer Cancer's new training dates for courses planned for the new year January- March 2024. 

Free training sessions from Answer Cancer, the Greater Manchester Cancer Screening Engagement Programme.  Different dates and times available to suit you. 

It’s time to get prepared for the winter season!

As the leaves begin to fall and the temperatures start to drop, it’s important to prioritise your health and well-being.

Greater Manchester is a city-region rapidly becoming the UK and European centre for cyber and digital ethics, trust and security. Boasting a £5bn digital economy, the location of a GCHQ hub in Manchester was the recognition of the capabilities, expertise and potential of the city region in digital security.

Mental health and wellbeing support in Greater Manchester: If you need support we’re here to help

Free online wellbeing programmes

SilverCloud – aged 16 years+

Thousands of homes are eligible for retrofitting grants, particularly homes owned by people who are:

  • Aged 65 and above
  • Who can’t always afford to heat their home 
  • From an ethnic minority background
  • A disabled person
  • Non-native English speaker
  • Not having access to the internet

And properties that are:

Do you run peer support sessions? Do you have questions, such as: How do I attract attendees? What makes peer support successful? How do I prevent burn out? Join one of our free Peer Support Forums to discuss the challenges you face and share resources and tips. You can come to a daytime or evening forum, it’s up to you. All sessions are on Zoom.

NHS England has launched its national Cancer Patient Experience Survey (CPES), asking for feedback from cancer patients (16 years and over*), to inform and improve local cancer services across England. 

The NHS want patients to have the best experience possible and hearing about your experience is crucial in helping them to deliver what you need and want. 

This course will provide participants with a basic understanding of the Family Partnership practice model that is being rolled out across Salford Children’s Social care. Our Early Help colleagues have been using this practice model for some years, and we chose to adopt the same model to ensure consistency across Salford.

Celebrating the Third Sector Fund

On Thursday 14th September 2023, Salford CVS hosted an event at The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays, to showcase and highlight the impact of the Third Sector Fund on Salford’s VCSE sector, their communities, and their health.

Kings Award for Voluntary Service - SENPCG

We are delighted to announce that Special Educational Needs Families Support Group (SENFSG) have received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE. SENFSG are a grassroots, needs-led, unique and independent network, of impassioned people that provide interventions guidance and practical help. 

Better buses survey

If so, can you tell us about your experience?

Salford City Council would like to know your feedback about your journey and how it could be improved, or what changes you'd like to see to encourage you to use the bus as your main mode of transport.

We would love to hear from anyone who lives in the area or who travels there for work, education, leisure or any other reason.

Survey image

Are you an adult who provides unpaid care for another adult with care and support needs who lives in Salford?

The Salford Safeguarding Adults Board, or ‘SSAB’, work to promote the wellbeing, security and safety of adults with care and support needs in Salford. They are currently holding their first ever ‘Voice of the Carer’ survey and would love to hear from you!

Autistic people offer employers both a new pool of talent, and a greater diversity of thought within a workforce and teams. That is the message of two new guides launched in Greater Manchester.

Local social enterprise, Unlimited Potential, has published Fulfilling Your Potential – a guide for autistic people – and Untapped Potential – a guide for local employers.

New Social Investment fund for organisations and social businesses looking to grow

GMCVO have launched a new social investment fund for organisations and businesses working in Greater Manchester who are trading for social good and looking to grow.

Vaccination image

Vaccinations will once again be available to people at highest risk of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) following a small increase in the number of cases in Greater Manchester. Vaccination has played a crucial role in protecting people and reducing the number of people infected. Case numbers have remained low since December 2022.

People who are eligible for a mpox vaccine include:

Big Ideas Fund collage

In 2022, Salford CVS awarded grants of up to £25,000 to VCSE sector organisations in Salford to invest in resources that would continue to benefit their organisation and community for many years to come, or to pilot an innovative project linked to Salford’s Great Eight.

START, the esteemed mental health charity in Salford, is delighted to unveil its forthcoming Vigil & Procession of Remembrance in commemoration of World Suicide Prevention Day. This profound event, is being run by its award-winning initiative 'Reach Out; Start to End Suicide' and with the support of the Salford Integrated Care Partnership, has garnered the backing Living Experience Advocate, Melanie Anderton.

In April 2022 the Brain and Spinal Injury Centre (BASIC) were awarded a Big Ideas Fund grant by Salford CVS (supported by NHS Salford ICP) to purchase a wheelchair accessible electric vehicle to provide low-cost transport for their clients. This proved to be a great success in enabling local people to access therapeutic services at BASIC, hospital appointments and social activities.

No one left behind report image

Salford City Council has committed over £3 million to provide essential support to residents, families and young people facing challenges with the rising cost of living.

The funds come from a one-off refund of £3.203 million from the Greater Manchester Waste Levy and will form part of our on-going commitment to help address the economic hardships experienced by some of our households in the city.

a photograph of peel park

Nine outdoor spaces in Salford have been voted amongst the best in Britain.

Agecroft Cemetery, Blackleach Country Park, Boothsbank Park, Clifton Country Park, Parr Fold Park, Peel Green Cemetery, Peel Park, Victoria Park and Winton Park were all recognised in The Green Flag awards 2023.

Screenshot of New plan for nature to help make a greener Greater Manchester

 

Greater Manchester has kicked off development on a new plan designed to help nature recover across the city-region, following confirmation of funding from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Greater Manchester Combined Authority has been allocated around £250,000 to develop its Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) over the next two years, building on the city-region’s successful LNRS pilot which concluded in September 2021.

Salford Arts Funding Partnership Fund
  • City to receive almost £750,000 funding from Arts Council England
  • Funding received following a bid from Salford Culture and Place Partnership, led by Salford City Council
  • Funding will enable planning for a three-year programme of creative activities across the city
  • Events to be hosted in the city’s parks, gardens and high streets
Shaping Our Lives image of a woman with a walking stick

Shaping Our Lives is a non-profit, user-led organisation working for the inclusive involvement of Disabled people and people from other seldom heard groups. They are looking to involve people with lived experience in shaping their service design and delivery to ensure that their services are inclusive and accessible.

People litter picking

The Green Social Prescribing Toolkit, a detailed document created by NHS England and Natural England, is now live and on the NASP website.

The Green Social Prescribing Toolkit is designed to help communities, organisations and health professionals who are looking to set up green social prescribing programmes that connect with local health systems.

VCQA logo

We are delighted to inform you that Salford CVS has recently achieved the Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation (VCQA), demonstrating the quality of their offer and impact in supporting local voluntary, community and social enterprises across Salford. Accreditation is awarded for three years, and is provided following independent assessment of a portfolio of evidence provided against a set of criteria based around the Five Functions of Volunteer Centres.

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Salford CVS & Volunteer Centre
Registered address 
The Old Town Hall 
5 Irwell Place 
Salford, M30 0FN

Tel: 0161 787 7795 
Email:
 office@salfordcvs.co.uk

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Salford CVS is the city-wide infrastructure organisation for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector; providing specialist information, advice, development support and opportunities for influence and collaboration.