Claire Benson, Salford CVS' Development Worker for Girls and Young Women has compiled a list of websites that offer ideas and support for the community.

Reason Digital have gathered together some resources, freebies and advice that we hope will help charities at this time. 

Funds you should know about 

The Co-operate have complied a number of great ideas on how to stay healthy and enterained at home.   

It’s important to stay healthy and entertained at home: 

• for your physical and mental wellbeing 

• if you’re currently working from home 

• if you’re juggling work and home schooling 

• if you’re self isolating  

Thanks to Sandy Adirondack for signposting to these policies as part of their legal update on employment and volunteering.

You can subscribe to Sandy's updates by contacting: legalupdate@sandy-a.co.uk. ​

Daniel Barnett's HR Policies 2020, a recently published suite of 20 employment policies, includes a policy on employee homeworking.

Jack Monroe, author of Tin Can Cook is going to be live on Twitter everyday at 5pm.

The campaign is helping people to cook with the ingredients they have available.

Jack is asking followers to send photos of what they have in their store-cupboards to help them come up with a plan for what they can have for dinner.

An Introduction to Podcasting (taster session)

Join Vic Elizabeth Turnbull from MIC Media for a free taster session in an Introduction to Podcasting on Tuesday 7th April, 10am - 10.45am. 

In this taster session you will learn the all the basics of what it takes to make a podcast - including how you can make one whilst keeping a social distance!

NHS information on how to go about getting an isolation note.

Use this service if you have been told to self-isolate because of coronavirus and you need a note for your employer.

This service is only for people who:

The DBS Contact Centre will be temporarily closed from 24 March 2020 for a deep clean. 

For more information follow the link here  

Greater Manchester Moving has pulled together some tips, advice, guidance and things you can do to keep moving during this time of physical distancing. 

Follow the link to Greater Manchester Moving website here https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19

In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic there has been some targetted fraudulent activity.

For example:

Information about coronavirus and claiming benefits has been published here.

The webpage continue to be updated. Please check it regularly for updates on the arrangements the Department for Work and Pensions is making to support those who are affected by coronavirus.

LGBT Foundation Coronavirus Update.

Dear friends,

Over the last two days LGBT Foundation has been testing and preparing new ways of delivering our vital services to LGBT communities, in light of the rapidly changing information and guidance from Public Health England and the Government. 

Disability Rights UK are well aware that the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing great uncertainty and stress.

They have produced a page which will be kept up to date with information and links to government and institutional guidance.

View the page here.

Please see alternative format information regarding the coranavirus as well as support and advice available form NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group 

• Posters using photosymbols
  
  • How to stay safe
  • Coronavirus and health issues
  • What to do if you get ill

An update from Ian Mitchell, Partnership Manager - Salford, Trafford and Manchester; Department of Work and Pensions: 

During these unprecedented times DWP needs your help to ensure we provide our customers with the fastest and safest service.  

Join BreathChamps for a Facebook Live Chat - Friday 27th March 7-8pm 

Let’s talk about keeping safe and well with asthma.

https://www.facebook.com/BreathChamps/

Co-hosted by

Heather Henry, registered nurse and Peter Marks, community pharmacist (chemist)

BASIC - the Brain and Spinal Injury Centre have produced some chair based exercises with their physiotherapists.

They have made it into a YouTube video - the short exercise video was shot in BASIC before the lock down.

It was meant to be a trial video only, but due to circumstances we decided to release it as a main video and there's more on the way.

60 micro commissions to be given to artists and creators, based in Greater Manchester, across all artforms.

The commissions, worth £500 each, apply to music, art, poetry, theatre, short stories, design, gaming, stories etc.

As the crisis situation around Coronavirus develops, we are refocusing the charity around our food clubs, food supply and distribution, including managing donations from the public and distributing to homes for people who are on benefits or no income.

With this in mind, we have put together a priority list of items which we are currently in great need of:

FOOD

In light of recent developments regarding COVID-19 the Partners in Salford Emotional Health webpage regularly updated with information, links and resources, to access please click

Eccles Mosque Closure Announcement 
 
 

It is with great sadness that Eccles Mosque have suspended all congregational prayers *WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT* until further notice. 
 
The Adhaan (Call to prayer) will continue and will be performed by our imam, but no congregational prayers will take place. 
 

The Spirit of Salford Helpline is now live.

The helpline is for local people who are self-isolating and can’t get support from family, friends or neighbours and need help with:

• Food shopping
• Getting essential medication
• Getting fuel (if you are on a pre-paid meter for gas or electric)
• Looking after pets

If you need help, or if your group knows someone who does, call 0800 952 1000, Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 6pm.

Charities across the country are facing imminent collapse as fundraising income dries up, charity leaders warned today.

Charities have been in conversation with the government about a package of support for the charity sector, but warned today that without an urgent injection of money many charities of all sizes would start to close their doors as soon as next week.

As the crisis situation around Coronavirus develops, Mustard Tree are refocusing the charity around their food clubs, food supply and distribution, including managing donations from the public and distributing to those on benefits or no income.

With this in mind, they have put together a priority list of items which we are currently in great need of:

FOOD

NCVO have produced some guidance on how you can volunteer to help and support others during the coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic.

Look out for your neighbours

The simplest thing everyone can do right now is look out for their neighbours and offer help with shopping and other errands.

It's not just about neighbours who are self-isolating or vulnerable. Other people in the community who might also appreciate help are:

The Chancellor has today outlined an unprecedented package of measures to protect millions of people’s jobs and incomes as part of the national effort in response to coronavirus. This comes as Government instructs entertainment and hospitality premises, like bars and restaurants, to close from tonight to limit spread of coronavirus.

The GMCA is currently sharing two surveys on our online hub, www.gmconsult, on behalf of Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA).

Mosque Announcement 

In light of the significant increase in coronavirus cases in the UK, within Salford and within our own Eccles community, with careful discussion and consideration among the committee board and advice from the Greater Manchester Council of Mosques, it is with great regret that we will enforce the following measures: 
Suspension 

Download the image here 

Coop - Monday to Saturday: 8-9am.  Sun:10-11am. For the elderly, vulnerable and NHS staff

Iceland – Monday to Saturday: First hour elderly and vulnerable. Last hour NHS staff

The National Emergencies Trust has launched an appeal to raise funds to help local charities in their work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Anchor Removals and storage company trades out of Wardley Industrial Estate, Swinton as Britannia Anchor. We are very much a community employer with 90% of our staff living in the Salford area.

Forever Manchester launch Community Support Fund

Forever Manchester has launched a Community Support Fund for grassroot community groups that are responding to the impact of Covid-19 by helping those most affected.

Awards of up to £1,000 are available.

COVID-19 Update

Centre closures and temporary service suspension

Wai Yin Society has been taking protective measures to safeguard the health and well-being of our service user, volunteers, and staff against the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 Coronavirus in recent weeks.

Big Issue Changemaker Fans Supporting Foodbanks (FSF), a partnership of Liverpool and Everton fans supporting the most vulnerable on Merseyside, are asking clubs to focus on supporting fans.

They penned an open letter to clubs pleading with them to lift the burden on supporters hit by COVID-19.

Healthy Heart Clubs and Bereavement Group are closed until further notice.

Serena Rice, Co-ordinator at Salford Heart Care has shared the following statement:

Following a meeting of the Committee this morning I can now confirm that ALL of our Healthy Heart Clubs and The Bereavement Support Group will CLOSE until further notice.

In Ripon neighbours are communicating with each other via coloured paper.

They display green coloured paper to show they are okay and replace this with red paper if they need assistance e.g. with shopping.

Thanks to Beth for sharing this innovative idea:

At home the whole street has added green paper to their windows. If it changes to red it’s means they require assistance, shopping, medication or transport. THIS IS AMAZING

Further to the governments press conference’s this week regarding the coronavirus the trustees and the board of SDC Trading Ltd., have considered the advice given and have decided that all Parish and Community Centres must close on 18th March and for the foreseeable future.

St Sebastian's take the Health and Safety of their staff and clients seriously and have taken this step in order to protect them.

This page was last updated on 26 March 2020.  

What is COVID 19?

A coronavirus is a type of virus that are common across the world, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus.

Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Following the agreement of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership and the Accord with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the VCSE Leadership Group

Do you enjoy being outdoors?

Do you have an interest in improving the environment?

Would you like to make a differece in your local community?

Incredible Education CIC are looking to recruit a small team of volunteers to support the ongoing development of their new project site at the former Cleavley Plant Nursery in Winton.

Regular weekly sessions start 23rd April 2020 between 1.30 - 3.30pm.

***Event Cancelled***

Therapy sessions, courses and workshops are still taking place.

Together Family Centre invites you to their new headquarters for an open day!

Saturday 14th of March 2020 from 1pm - 3:30pm

Together Family Centre, St. Joseph Presbytery, Cutnook Lane, M44 6GX

Self Help, a user-led mental health charity are offering free wellbeing workshops to organisations in Manchester and are inviting VCSE organisations to take advantage of the offer.

Early Break work with children and young people as young as 5 years old to help build reslience and self-regulation with their emotional health and wellbeing.

• They offer Bereavement & Loss Counselling where their specialist counsellors help children make sense of their, often confusing, emotions around the loss of a loved one.

Get Started in Podcasting!

Do you want to have a go at podcasting but have no idea where to start? Do you find the TON of information out there just a little overwhelming? Do you want to someone to cut through the waffle and get you podcast ready?

Is that a yes, yes, YES?

Tuesday 31 March 2020, 1pm – 5pm 

Saturday 7th March, 1pm - 3pm

Peel Park Pavillion, Manchester Road West, M38 0BT

Little Hulton Big Local (LHBL) vision is “to Unite Little Hulton as a Community and to Enhance Local Peoples Wellbeing.”

Little Hulton Big Local has +£1 million to invest to achieve it's vision.

As a celebrated and unique part of the city centre, this is a listening exercise to provide an updated understanding of the importance of the Gay Village as a safe space for the city’s LGBTQ+ community.

Tuesday 24 March 2020, 09:30am  – 12:30pm

St Thomas Centre, Ardwick Green, Manchester, M12 6FZ

St Andrew’s Church on Chadwick Road in Eccles is delighted to have being awarded £7,432 in funding by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Have you got what it takes to be a mediator?

Do you want to learn new skills?

Do you want to make a difference in your community?

Smile Mediation are providing their six day, College of Mediator accredited training course in April and May 2020 for people who are willing to volunteer as Mediators for Smile.

Transport for Greater Manchester are running two free Ride Leader courses next month!

If you’re involved with youth or community groups, are a workplace cycle champion or a club rider wishing to gain insight into leading rides then this is the course for you.

The course will equip you with the required skills to lead and supervise cycle rides. You need to be a competent cyclist to take part.

Seminar At Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Mayo Building

24 March 2020 from 8.30am to 1.30pm.

Purpose Of The Event

1) To summarise both the policy context and the evidence which describes the challenges that face us in Salford and the case for wider collaboration among partners

This Leap Year local and national charities are appealing for donations to cover the extra day of services they will be delivering on the 29th February. 

St Ann's Hopsice are asking people across Greater Manchester to Donate Your Day to help local patients by pledging a day’s wages to your local hospice.

Girl Gang Manchester are a collective of artists, activists, academics and party instigators who run events and build communities both online and in the real world. 

Monday 2 March 2020, 12pm – 4.30pm at GRUB, 50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, M4 4HF.

Greater Manchester partners are hosting an Innovation and Change workshop to identify city-region actions that will push Greater Manchester towards a sustainable food future, tackling food poverty without increasing reliance on surplus/waste food.

Participants will gain knowledge of the principles of the inter-generational approach to community organising, with resources to cascade.

Friday 13 March 2020, 10am – 3.30pm

Ordsall Hall, 322 Ordsall Lane, Salford, M5 3AN

Recent local research has identified the need to establish high quality business support to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) social businesses across Greater Manchester. 

Answer Cancer is a Voluntary Community & Social Enterprise sector-led response to cancer in Greater Manchester. It is the working name of the Greater Manchester Cancer Screening Engagement Programme, a Voluntary Sector partnership working to improve cancer awareness across the region.

You are invited to the Crossing Divides Live Festival at the BBC HQ in Salford.

Thursday 5th March from 11.45am to 4.45pm.

You will walk away with a set of skills in deep listening that you can use in your work and life, and the chance to practice them with someone with opposing views.

This festival is a culmination of a year of our BBC Crossing Divides season, brining people together in a fragmented world.

Wigan & Leigh College are offering free distance learning courses to adults over 24 years of age. 

With many courses aimed at health and wellbeing these are a good opportuntity for VCSE organisations to upskill their staff.  There are level 2 accredited courses that delegates can start at any time and fit around work/home life.

All learning materials are provided along with dedicated tutors. 

ILC is inviting you to the launch of our new report on the economic opportunities of ageing in Greater Manchester.

Tuesday 25 February 2020, 9.30am – 12noon

Manchester Technology Centre, 103 Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 7ED

Worsley Woods Action Group are delighted that the popular play area in Worsley Woods is to be refurbished.

The extensive trim trail which is in a unique woodland setting is popular with young and old from across the city and there was consternation when its annual safety inspection decided it had come to the end of its life over twelve months ago. The equipment was regularly maintained, but the natural materials and the exposed setting gave it a fixed lifespan.

NEON are excited to launch their first regional press officer training for Manchester-based folks who do press work for organisations or campaigns; or activists who do media work.

Apply here!

DEADLINE: 11:59pm; 19th February 2020

Date: Wednesday 11th March

Location: Manchester

GMCVO have now launched the second stage of their grants programme to get Greater Manchester Walking.

Funded by Greater Manchester Moving (with money from Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership), we are now offering grants between £1,000 and £5,000 specifically to support activities that encourage people who are usually less active to start or increase the amount they walk regularly. Applications should also address one or more of the following:

Greater Manchester took charge of health and social care spending and decision making three years ago aiming to achieve the biggest, fastest improvement to the health and wellbeing in our region.

We did this because we know good health and wellbeing are crucial if we’re to make Greater Manchester one of the best places in the world to grow up, get on and grow old. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, however, there is still more to do.

A £4.9 million programme to tackle unemployment has been launched in April 2019 with backing from the European Social Fund.

The funds have been granted by the government’s Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) in partnership with Greater Manchester Combined Authority to the WEA (Workers' Educational Association), an adult education charity which provides training and learning opportunities for people at risk of exclusion.

The Women’s Organisation are running a free 2-day training course for anyone who lives in Greater Manchester thinking about starting their own business.

The training will be taking place on Friday 20th & Friday 27th March, 09:30-16:30 at:

Confucius Institute

180 Waterloo Place
The University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9GP

Tuesday 18^th February 2020, 10.00 – 12.00, Manchester, M12 6FZ.

Free

Funded PhD Scholarship - this is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in early years research. 

It will fully fund an ESRC PhD (full or part time) and pay a tax free stipend of £15,000 per year (pro-rata). 

Greater Manchester will receive a share of a new £33 million investment programme launched today aimed at tackling inequality through boosting the social economy.

Local Access, a partnership between Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, and Big Society Capital, will provide money for six places in total: Bradford; Bristol; Gainsborough; Greater Manchester (Bolton, Oldham, Stockport and Wigan); Hartlepool, Redcar & Cleveland; and Southwark in London.

The Salford Safeguarding Children Partnership want to know what you think of their new website.

You can view the website here.

Please take a few moments to complete a short online survey and give your feedback.

They want to make sure you can find the information you want quickly and easily, and make any improvements so you get a better experience.

Papyrus, the national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide, will be delivering a series of workshops across Salford.

A NEW report is calling for further support for co-operatives in Greater Manchester to ensure the city-region stays at the forefront of co-operative development and bring even greater economic benefits to the local community.

Greater Manchester is home of the co-operative movement, with The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers being established in 1844. Greater Manchester remains home of the Co-operative Group, the world’s largest consumer owned business.

Hate Crime Awareness Week 2020 is taking place from 3 - 9 February 2020.

Hate crimes are acts of violence or hostility directed at people because of who they are or who someone thinks they are. Hate crimes can take many different forms and no hate crime is acceptable. 

Hate crime has no place in Greater Manchester. Everyone has the right to feel safe and we all have a responsibility to stand against hatred and discrimination.

Friday 13 March 2020 9:30am – 5:30pm

Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, Science And Industry Museum, Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4FP

This national learning event, taking place in Manchester, will share best practice in reducing health inequalities for LGBT people across the NHS, social care and voluntary sector.

Homelessness charity, Emmaus Salford, is celebrating after successfully securing funding from Nationwide Building Society’s Community Grant fund.

The Pendleton-based charity has received a £50,000 grant from Nationwide that will fund a dedicated Support Worker role for the next two years. Emmaus Salford supports 22 formerly homeless people by offering a home, meaningful work in a social enterprise and an opportunity to get back on their feet again.

Join GM4Women2028 as it announces the results of the Pankhurst-Fawcett Scorecard and be inspired by its vision for Greater Manchester to be one of the best places for women and girls to grow up, get on and grow old. This will be an afternoon of shared songs, poems and pledges.

Ambition for Ageing have today published a suite of documents looking at the conditions needed to get microfunding right.

The documents draw on the learning from our Local Delivery Leads on delivering microfunding and highlight areas of success, note challenges and share learning for those who may want to implement similar practices.

Give your views in this survey!

Create time to consider your future and your financial security -it is never to late to start or improve on your financial resilience.

Friday 14 February 2020, 10am – 12.30pm at Lloyds Bank, 42-46 Market Street, Manchester, M1 1PW

Volunteers are wanted to become Independent Custody Visitors (ICV) in Greater Manchester.

The ICV scheme ensures that custody facilities at Greater Manchester Police are independently checked and monitored by volunteers.

Monday 3 February 2020, 5.45pm – 9.30pm

Klondyke Centre, 1 Burnage Range, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 2HQ

Greater Manchester Law Centre (GMLC) and Thompsons Solicitors are pleased to announce a community screening of Ken Loach's latest highly acclaimed new film: "Sorry We Missed You."

The inaugural GM Digital Skills Day will take place on 7^th February 2020 as part of the drive to get people of all ages excited about digital skills and the opportunities it brings.

The ambition for Greater Manchester to be a world-class leading digital region begins with our people, and ensuring everyone has access to the skills and opportunities needed to thrive in an increasingly digitised world and no one is left behind.

The next Working Well Early Help webinar is running on Wednesday 22^nd of January from 11am until 12pm.

The webinar runs through the free support service that is available to Greater Manchester’s residents.

Working Well Early Help is able to offer support for staff who are currently off work do to health. Residents who enrol for the support work with a trained vocational rehabilitation caseworker who supports them with tailored interventions. I

Shared Decision Making training is taking place to train and support colleagues to work in a THRIVE-like way.

Attendees are required to attend one full training day. They will then be contacted about optional follow up work to develop learnings in their area.

Be sure to sign up quick as places are limited!

30th January 2020 10am--5.00pm, held in Manchester.

The Ignition Project brings together 12 partners from Greater Manchester’s local government, universities, non-governmental organisations, and business.

They aim to address the emergency caused by climate change. The project are investigating how we can fund the delivery of more nature based projects that will help make us less vulnerable to climate change.

The Ignition Project aim to achieve a 10% increase in our city’s coverage of plants and trees by 2038.

Greater Manchester’s linguistic and cultural diversity has grown significantly in the past decade creating multiple challenges for service delivery in the VCSE sector. These challenges, while felt on a daily basis in VCSE organisations, do not often receive systematic attention. 

The VCSE sector plays a hugely important role in helping people to stay well and prevent health problems, as well as supporting those who are unwell.

Join the GM VCSE assembly event at a crucial point in time to hear more about for Greater Manchester’s plans around protecting the health of Greater Manchester’s citizens and to have your say in their development.

A event programme will be published in due course. 

The Greater Manchester Older People’s Network (GMOPN) aims to make sure that older people have an influence in key decision-making and that their voices are championed in the areas that most affect their lives.

Do you know someone who travels on Metrolink or by rail using a pension-age concessionary travel pass from Transport for Greater Manchester?

There is an important change coming from 1 February 2020. Bus travel will still be free off-peak, but to continue using rail and Metrolink, customers will need to add tram and train to their pass for an annual charge of £10. This will give them access to unlimited off-peak travel in Greater Manchester.

Salford residents are being asked for their views on plans for major new pedestrian and cycling routes in Salford, connecting Walkden, Worsley and Boothstown as well as providing access to RHS Garden Bridgewater along the Bridgewater canal.

The two-week consultation period is from Monday 13 January to Friday 24 January 2020.

Langworthy Cornerstone Association currently have office space for hire.

The space is fully serviced, including broadband, and is a large open plan first floor office.

The space includes a shared kitchen and rest area, plus use of desks, furniture, filling etc. and access to other services and activities in the building, plus our on-site cafe. The space would suit charity, social enterprise, public or private sector use. All options will be considered.

Over 300 young people from across Walkden were consulted and involved with the name for the new facility in Walkden. There were a number of options as well as the opportunity to come up with their own name and Walkden Youth Zone and The Den were the top two.

A selection of designs are up for consultation. young people will also have their views heard and students from the Co-op Academy Walkden will have the opportunity to have their say.

Information guides are now available for residents to help prepare for flooding.

One is specifically for the Lower Broughton area and the other is general for flood risk areas in other parts of the city.

Saturday 25th January 9am at Worsley Woods.

Worsley Woods parkrun is a FREE weekly 5km event for runners of all standards, which takes place every Saturday at 9:00am in It's run at Parrin Lane, Salford. It is not a race against other runners, but a 5k timed run and it can really be whatever you want it to be, whether that's for fun or as part of a training plan.

The Personalised Care Group and LGBT Health Team at NHS England have jointly commissioned LGBT Foundation to produce an LGBT Health Inequalities and Personalised Care Best Practice Guide. This resource will highlight the benefits of personalised care for LGBT people.

As a part of this project we are looking for case studies and examples of good practice in personalised care for LGBT people. These case studies will form the key part of this resource.

Modern policing wrestles with ethical dilemmas every day.

Could you play a part in helping the police negotiate challenging, complex and sometimes controversial issues by joining Greater Manchester’s Independent Police Ethics Committee?

The committee is seeking new members to provide advice, support and guidance to GMP and the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime on the complex ethical issues that face modern policing.

Come join the discussion on: "How We Treat Our Emergency Services!"

Thursday 16 January 2020, 18:30 – 20:30.

GM Fire & Rescue Service Training Centre, Cassidy Close, Manchester, M4 5HU

Consider questions such as:

We're celebrating the New Year by sharing how everyone has something valuable to give to good causes!

Making a good brew, IT skills, experience of caring, being green fingered or a great listener, an encyclopedic knowledge of rare books...they can all be used to #Volunteer2020!

The Heart of Salford Awards are Salford CVS and Volunteer Centre Salford’s prestigious annual ceremony to celebrate volunteering and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in Salford.

The Heart of Salford Awards held on Monday 18^th November, 2019 at the AJ Bell Stadium, acknowledged the vast contribution made by volunteers and VCSE organisations in Salford.

Over the last few years in Greater Manchester, Perinatal and Parent Infant Mental Health (PIMH) services have undergone a period of substantial transformation.  We have seen more investment in perinatal and parent infant mental health services and the development of  a ‘whole system’ approach that brings together PIMH specialists, adult mental health, IAPT, maternity and children’s services in a drive to improve outcomes for families with children in the 0-2 age group, known as 1001 Critical

The next Greater Manchester Walking Festival is planned for the 1- 31 May 2020.

Celebrating the joy of walking, the Festival will bring together neighbours, friends and communities to have fun and re-discover, or perhaps discover for the first time, the joy of the journey!

For the past five years the Walking Festival has encouraged people across our great city-region to get out and enjoy a walk, make new connections, discover new places and perhaps learn new things.

A seminar and discussion focusing on supporting employees who are experiencing domestic abuse.

Wednesday 15 January 2020 at University of Central Lancashire.

Speakers:

• Malka Livingstone, Coordinator, Domestic Abuse Workplace Scheme. Merseyside PCC
• Dr Gemma Wibberley, iROWE, UCLan
• Dr Tony Bennett, Sheffield Hallam University and Visiting Fellow, iROWE

The seminar will discuss:

Malka:

The free service connecting charity and social enterprise leaders with successful entrepreneurs such as the founders of Carphone Warehouse, Pret-a-Manger and The White Company will operate from Manchester’s Central Library.

The Human Lending Library®, which matches charity and social enterprise leaders with successful entrepreneurs as mentors, has opened in Manchester.

The GM Moving Team are on the hunt to find Greater Manchester’s most inspiring stories about moving a little more each day and the positive effects it has had.

To be in with the chance of being the next face of the campaign all you have to do is post your story, image and/or video under any of the competition posts found on the @ThatCountsGM social media channels (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter).

Employer supported volunteering is on the rise and we want to ensure that the VCSE sector lead on how this is shaped.

To do this, Skill Givers needs you!

Skill Givers are looking for groups and organisations in Manchester and Salford, who would benefit from, or are interested in, ‘doing things differently’ by developing its approaches to employer supported volunteering to form part of our time-limited action group beginning in the New Year.

Join us on Monday 16th December to find out more about the History Makers project and how you can get involved.

We would like you to take part in this 10-year study of the voluntary and community sector which is now running right across the North of England.

Whether your organisation or group is big or small, flourishing or struggling financially – or just carrying on more or less as normal – we need to hear from you.

Expression of interest to undertake train the trainer course to deliver parental conflict training:

We are looking for a number of people across the local authority, schools, community and voluntary sector and partner agencies to undertake a train the trainer course that will enable them to deliver the training to their own organisation or/and to be part of a training pool, delivering the course as part of the multi-agency offer across Salford. 

Thursday 5 December 2019, 9:00 – 11:00

Federation House, 2 Federation Street, Manchester, M4 4BF

How can civil society and the social sector be at the forefront of shaping the impacts of technology on our lives and communities?

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.

Salford’s Santa Appeal to collect brand new Christmas toys or gifts for children and young people who might otherwise miss out is coming back.

This year the public can put items out for collection by Salford City Council bin crews between Tuesday 3 December and Friday 6 December.

Time to Grow Programme

Flourish CIC are running their ‘Time to Grow’ programme from January 2020 – July 2020 to support women who would like to explore different pathways back to work whilst make a difference in their community. They are looking for 25 women, currently unemployed from across Greater Manchester to go on a journey of self-discovery.

GM i-THRIVE: the transformation of children’s services across Greater Manchester, have launched a GM i-THRIVE Arts and Mental Health Innovation Programme Survey (Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust). This programme is unique to GM i-THRIVE in the context of a 30+ year history of arts and health research in Manchester.

Mayor Andy Burnham and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) signed the Charter for Faith & Belief Inclusion in the presence of the Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, and other leaders of Greater Manchester Faith Communities at an event today (Monday 11th November).

Free Digital Phoenix Drop-in running every Thursday (1pm-3pm) at Langworthy Cornerstone.

The drop-in is designed to help those with mental health and disabilities to get online and support them in this digital age.

Manchester Art Gallery welcomes you to Open Doors Sat 16th November.

Open doors is a creative workshop especially for children and adults  with autism and other social communication issues, their families and carers. We open our doors early so that you can come enjoy and explore art together as a family.

The sessions planned for 2020 so far are:

The Keep It Out campaign, that warns people about the harms caused by illegal tobacco and encourages them to report it has been relaunched today (18 November).

It follows the first successful phase of the campaign that took place in the summer, which saw a tenfold increase in reports to Greater Manchester Trading Standards departments – resulting in more illegal tobacco being seized between April and October 2019 than the whole of the previous year.

PARENTS and professionals working with pre-schoolers will now benefit from free digital resources to support children’s development – thanks to an initiative launched by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the BBC.  

Tiny Happy People is a brand new venture designed to tackle the pre-school language and communication gap in Greater Manchester.

Next week (18th - 24th November) is national Safeguarding Adults Week.

Here in Salford we’re taking this opportunity to remind you how to report a concern about an adult who may be unable to protect themselves.

The Skill Givers project, delivered in partnership with Macc and Salford CVS, aims to make the most of volunteer time offered by employer supported volunteering schemes, for everyone involved.

They do this by working with local voluntary and community groups, sports clubs, charities and social enterprises who support their community to get active, across Manchester and Salford, to identify where they could most make use of support from employee volunteers.

As part of their refreshed Strategic Growth Plan, Breakthrough UK are keen to understand the feasibility of investing in a new Social Enterprise which will part of the next stage of Breakthrough’s development.

Salford Social Enterprise City are working with Power to Change, Social Enterprise UK, The Business Group, Abram Ward Cooperative, Flourish CIC and Manchester Social Entrepreneurs in an attempt to identify all incorporated social enterprises within the Greater Manchester region, with a focus on four areas of GM for more detailed information – Manchester, Salford, Stockport and Wigan.

Social Enterprise Day 2019 is on Thursday 21st November, and is part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

On this day #WhoKnew will be taking place – a global digital campaign designed to give social enterprises the chance to tell their stories, show what makes them different from traditional businesses and shout about the impact of their work.

Markets

17th November and 15th December 

With a variety of stalls

Christmas Trees

Real trees and wreaths available from the end of November

Elf Club!

1st, 8th, 15th December

Join the elves as they prepare for Christmas with crafting and lots of festive fun

Holly Jolly Festival

Train rides, market stalls, Santa's Grotto, food, entertainment and more...

Homelessness charity Emmaus Salford has received a donation of £1,000 following an Oktoberfest fundraiser at Exchange Quay, one of the North West’s largest office developments. The event raised more than £500 and the management team at Exchange Quay matched the funds to bring the total to £1,000 for the charity.

The GM VCSE Leadership Group, with support from colleagues at the GMCA have developed a VCSE Policy Position Paper which sets out a long term ambition for the VCSE sector in Greater Manchester.

Are you a contemporary visual artist over 50 years of age living in Greater Manchester?

Do you have a track record of recent professional activity as a visual artist*?

Do you want an injection of critical and professional support to move your practice on to the next level?

Food For Life 'Get Togethers' - Local Commissioning Partnership (up to £10,000)

Food For Life (FFL) are seeking applications from individuals, organisations and groups to partner with their FFL ‘Get Togethers’ 4 year Lottery Community funded programme. Get Togethers aim to bring people from different generations and backgrounds together through good quality food.

Salford Loaves and Fishes would like to invite you to their Open Event to celebrate two years on in our new building and to look back on the what they have achieved.

Salford Loaves and Fishes look forward to seeing their friends, partners, funders and supporters on:

Tuesday, 12th November 2019 between 1pm and 3pm

1 Paddington Close, (off Churchill Way), Salford, M6 5PL

The Greater Manchester VCSE Mental Health Forum is in the process of evolving the way that the VCSE sector works with the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership and the wider system around mental health.

Saturday 16th to Friday 22nd November 2019.

Testing is easy, free and confidential. Our tests are simple and require a small amount of blood from your finger.

Next dates: Thursday 14th and Friday 15th November 2019 (Two day course)

Closing date for nominations: 28th October 2019.  

Time: 9.15am – 4.30pm

Presented by: Salford SCP Training Pool

Target Group: Staff from all agencies who may be involved with families where domestic abuse is an issue.

The English Language School (www.englishlanguage-school.co.uk) is offering free English classes for staff and volunteers who are speakers of other languages ac

The VCSE Devolution Reference Group was formed in 2016 as a coalition of leaders from the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector who wanted to promote the role and involvement of the VCSE sector and communities in Greater Manchester devolution.

Claremont & Weaste Community Committee Budget Sub Group fund things which provide a benefit to part or all of the community.

It has four priority areas so applications which address one or more of the following will be looked on particularly favourably:

1. Youth
2. Crime and disorder
3. Cleansing and environmental maintenance
4. Older people

In addition, the Budget Sub Group has two main geographical priorities:

You have a great idea for a tech product or service that can create social change - but you need budget to get it off the ground and a model that can sustain it ongoing. There are a bunch of ways you can do this and Tech for Good are bringing in a range of experts that can talk about how.

They will also have community announcements, drinks and food, and a chance to meet people and connect.

The Healthwatch Salford Network is a project linking in existing community social and health related support groups directly with Healthwatch, giving more people across Salford a chance to have their say in their health and care services.

What groups can take part?

Community Change Programme (CCP) works directly with people who are in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. They seek to enable individuals to re-integrate back into their communities through empowering them to take back control of their own positive growth and change. This is achieved through people engaging with their structured programme of training, development and support groups.

The Re:Connect project, consists of:

Reading and writing is an essential part of everyday life and it’s hard to imagine trying to navigate the modern world without these skills, yet a national survey carried out in 2011* found that as many as 2.4 million adults in England had a reading age of less than would be expected of a 7-year-old.

LGBT Patients' Experiences of Primary Care Annual Survey 2019.

This research is part of Pride in Practice, a quality assurance and social prescribing programme for primary care services and LGBT communities. Pride in Practice provides training, assessment, accreditation and ongoing support for healthcare services to help them be inclusive of LGBT patients. Pride in Practice is funded by the Governemtn Equalities Office and Greater Manchester Health and Care Partnership.

Our 46th Annual General Meeting will be held at Eccles Community Hall on Tuesday 22nd October from 6pm.

It’s not too late to join us, we’re kicking off with refreshments and networking. ⁦⁩

The formal AGM commences at 6.30 pm, we will talk through our achievements and accounts.

You are invited to Doing Things Differently for Care Leavers in Greater Manchester, an event to showcase the work that is taking place in Greater Manchester to support care leavers.

The event will be held on Friday 1st November 2019 from 11:30-16:00 at the University of Manchester’s University Place.

Thursday 24th October 2019, 3pm - 6pm.

Brabners, 55 King Street, Manchester, M2 4LQ.

Charity Fraud Awareness Week promotes openness and honesty about fraud. It brings together everyone involved in the charity and not-for-profit sectors to raise awareness and share good practice in tackling fraud and financial crime.

The GM VCSE Reference Group and GM Health and Social Care Partnership are seeking to increase cross-sector understanding of our great VCSE workforce.

To take this forward, Macc and Connected Consultants have been working in partnership to try and engage with as many VCSE leaders as possible to explore workforce development, HR challenges and any recommendations for the VCSE sector, the public sector, or our commissioners.

Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised training programme designed specifically for anyone who works / volunteers with young people aged 8-18. The course will provide you with skills and confidence to step in, offer first aid and guide them towards the support they need.

There are 2 levels of the MHFA training programme, they are:

Are you a Chair / Vice Chair of a charity with an income under £1m?

Wednesday 6th November 2019

Young people over fourteen years old are the most likely group after under 1’s to be subject to a child protection Serious Case Review. The current focus on Gangs, Knife Crime, County Lines, and CSE acknowledges that risks, choices and opportunities pose the most significant challenges for young people.

Salford Council has responded to this challenge by developing Young Person Plan’s that aim to work with the young person to achieve change.

An award-winning photographer is sharing the stories of Salford’s black, Asian and minority ethnic communities through an exhibition at The Lowry marking Black History Month.

Still I Rise celebrates black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) culture in Salford and tells the stories of some of those working in the city’s public and voluntary sectors.

The Big Health Day is an annual event for adults with learning disabilities, their families and paid staff that aims to give people information and skills to improve their health.

This year the theme is around people with learning disabilities having more choice, control and sense of personal responsibility around their health because they have told us they do not feel this.

Age Proud is the theme of this years Salford Older Person Day.

The theme will be explored through arts and culture activities.

Salford Celebration International Older People Day

Tuesday 1st October 2019 - 10.00am – 3.00pm

Salford Art Gallery and Museum, The Crescent, Chapel Street Salford

Salford will once again be celebrating our older population on Tuesday 1st October as part of the International Older Peoples Day event.

Northern Care Alliance NHS Group are delighted to invite you to their Joint Annual Members & Public Meeting (Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust) to celebrate a fantastic year for the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group.

Chief Executive Raj Jain and the Board of Directors will be joined by the Governors, staff members and volunteers to talk to you about this year’s activities, NCA's achievements, their plans for the future and their challenges.

Free event in Manchester for charities, social enterprises and community organisations.

Thursday 17th October 2019, 9am – 12pm at St Thomas Centre, Ardwick Green North, Manchester, M12 6FZ

This half-day event is suitable for trustees, directors, CEOs and managers.

Our new Smart Meter project aims to raise awareness of Smart Meters by reaching older people aged 65+ in Salford.

Key Project Objectives

1. Develop strategic partnerships to sustain behaviour change & reduce energy consumption

Still I Rise: 10 years of Safety4Sisters

Pay As You Feel (Suggested Donation £5)

CELEBRATING the work of S4S and the voices of migrant BME* women

FUNDRAISING some cash to help S4S keep going

CONSCIOUSNESS RAISING so S4S can keep fighting for the rights of migrant BME women

S4S have amazing women on decks:

Langworthy Cornerstone are taking part in the Festival of Learning's Have a Go Month by hosting their very own taster week from 16th - 20th September.

All of the activities featured below will be running free taster sessions during that week. Plus the regular free / reasonably priced class will be running as usual.

If you want to try something new, or aren't sure if something will be for you take part in a free session and find out!

To coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day (Tuesday 10 September) we are proud to be partnered with the Zero Suicide Alliance to provide suicide prevention training for all our staff and the public.

The Age UK Salford Annual Boat Race is back for it's third year! 

This year it will be held on World Alzheimer's Day -  21st September. 

The day will run 11am - 3pm and will include boat races, information stalls, scrumptious food, fun and laughter.  The day aims to positively challenge the stigmas associated with dementia.

NHS Salford CCG need your views!

Salford’s locality plan is the ‘blueprint’ for our health and social care. Launched in April 2016, it explains how providers of public services - like the NHS, Salford City Council, Fire Service and Police - will work closely together with the private and voluntary sector so services work better and cost less.

Have your say: 28^th September 2019

The VCSE Devolution Reference Group, with support from colleagues at the  Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), have developed a draft VCSE Policy Position Paper which sets out a long term ambition for the VCSE sector in Greater Manchester. 

PrEP and Prejudice in partnership with BHA for Equality in Health and Social Care, invite Front line service providers in Manchester to a free PrEP awareness Training workshop.

The workshop will take place on:

 Friday 20th September 2019 9:30am- 12:30pm

St Thomas Centre, Ardwick Green North, Manchester, M12 6FZ

Light refreshments will be provided.

Are you a voluntary, community and social enterprise organisation that provides ‘on the day’ health or care services in Salford?

This may be for people in crises or who are unable to get help elsewhere at short notice.

We have been asked to collect some information on these services to inform the planning of health and social care services in Salford, it may help us to secure support and investment into the sector in the future.

Please provide:

“A canary in a coal mine is an advanced warning of some danger. The metaphor originates from the times when miners used to carry caged canaries while at work; if there was any methane or carbon monoxide in the mine, the canary would die before the levels of the gas reached those hazardous to human.”

The White Paper on Unified Public Services for the People of Greater Manchester is one of the major strategies that underpins the Greater Manchester Strategy (see the diagram below). The paper was considered and endorsed by the full meeting of Greater Manchester Combined Authority on Friday 26th July. 

The Dementia United team are asking you for a few minutes of your time to complete a short survey to support the development of a “lived experience barometer” for people living with dementia and/or caring for someone with dementia in their own right in Greater Manchester.

The next Princes Trust Team at Eccles Fire Station will begin on 9^th September!:

Eccles Fire Station, 9.30am – 4.30pm

Monday – Friday for 12 weeks

The programme is for 16-25 year olds that aren’t in employment, education or training to gain qualifications and take part in something challenging and rewarding.

Looking for digital skills training and need help preparing for employment?

Skills People Group can offer a fully-funded 10-day course in Salford for individuals aged 19+ who are not in employment.

The purpose of this course is to allow learners to demonstrate an understanding of, and competency in, digital skills and to enhance their success in employment. It will help learners progress to a work role where digital skills are required.

On Thursday 29th August, Europia is launching its EU Settlement Scheme Support Project in partnership with Citizens Advice Bury and Bolton.

The event will take place in Manchester Cathedral with keynote speeches from The very reverend Rogers Govender the Dean of Manchester Cathedral, the CEO of Citizens Advice Bury and Bolton, Richard Wilkinson and the Executive Director of Europia, Kush Chottera. 

Positive Moves CIC have a minibus for sale.

The mini-bus Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2.2 CDI 413 Window H/R Mobility 4dr (LWB) was used for short distances excellent runner 16 seats including driver inspected every 10 weeks.

How can we maximise the support available to low income households in the austerity era?

A one day course.

Answer Cancer is a Voluntary Community & Social Enterprise sector-led response to cancer in Greater Manchester. It is the working name of the Greater Manchester Cancer Screening Engagement Programme, a Voluntary Sector partnership working to improve cancer awareness across the region.

There are places available on this 20 week accredited course based at START, Tuesdays 1pm-4pm starting on 1st October 2019—24th March 2020.

Attenders will complete 3 units in the Open Awards Level 1 Award in Skills for Further Learning and Employment course. These are Colour Theory and Design, Carrying out a Research Project and Interpersonal Skills.

What: One day workshop for non-profit organisations.
When: 10am – 4pm, Wednesday 13th November 2019
Where: Ardwick Green Hall, St Thomas Centre, Ardwick Green North, Manchester M12 6FZ