BNRRN E-Bulletin 3rd Nov 08

News & Information Roundup

Making Planning and Regeneration Meaningful in Barnet
Building on its project work in Barnet, BNRRN has teamed up with Just Space* to provide discussion groups on planning and regeneration policies. The first session took place at Barnet Multi-Cultural Community Centre on September 25th 2008. The aim was to provide an introduction to the London Plan and the borough's Core Strategy. These are the key planning documents which decide where new housing and employment will be located and how to protect and improve community facilities, parks and open spaces.

Barnet Voluntary Services Council and Barnet Council's Planning Policy Team attended the session. After the session, help was given to make a written representation on Barnet's Core Strategy.

Of the 12 participants, all from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups, none had prior knowledge of the London Plan, but as a result of the session they recognised how big an impact the London Plan will have on their communtities. Further sessions in Barnet on the London Plan and statement of community involvement take place in November.

* Just Space is a network of voluntary and community groups committed to raising awareness of, and involvement in, planning policies in London. Introductory workshops are being held in other boroughs. Contact marian@londoncivicforum.org.uk to find out more.


The Good Trustee Guide
The revised and updated guide is an ideal introductory guide if you are a new board or your organisations has a new board. It is also a refresher if you are a long-serving trustee. It contains information to help you in your role and guidance on how to make your board more effective.£25 (£17.50 NCVO members)
Special offer - order four copies and get a fifth copy free.For more visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/goodtrusteeguide.To order copies of these or any other NCVO publication call the NCVO HelpDesk on 0800 2 798 798 or visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/publications .



Women and Girls Network (WGN)
Women and Girls Network (WGN) is a Voluntary Sector counselling organisation that has, for over 20 years, specialised in providing holistic therapeutic services to women who have experienced gendered violence (including trafficking, torture, female genital mutilation, childhood sexual abuse, rape, forced marriage, and domestic violence). The service is free, confidential and meets quality standards set by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Women and Girls Network prioritise providing services to women who have least access to them, including women from black, minority ethnic and refugee communities, disabled women, lesbians, older women and women on low/no incomes.

Women and Girls Network can support Forum members who work with women who have experienced gendered violence, in the following ways:

· Organisations can refer women to our counselling service in west London. Women will go onto a waiting list. When vacancies arise, they have an assessment and then be allocated a counsellor. The sessions take place in their west London base.

· Women and Girls network can set up a satellite service in your or a member’s organisation if there is space to house a counselling service for one day a week for a minimum of 15 weeks. This way, women can access the service faster, and more locally to them.

· Women and Girls network have for the past four years run a specific project for women who have been trafficked into prostitution.

If you would like to discuss any of the issues above, or find out more about Women and Girls Network work, please feel free to call 02076104678.


Networking - African Diaspora Alliance for International Development (ADAID)
UK African diaspora organisations have set up a network to coordinate their activities – the African Diaspora Alliance for International Development (ADAID). The network will support the involvement of African diaspora-led groups in the economic, social and political development of the African continent and has already received an invitation from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Development to meet with representatives of DfID in October.

The network, formed by more than 100 UK African NGOs and organisations, aims to lobby the UK government and other funding agencies to make their funds available to African diaspora organisations on the same basis as other NGOs involved in international development.

ADAID will also seek to use its collective clout to put pressure on African governments to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, as well as to establish good governance and fully recognise the human rights of all their citizens.

For further information please contact:
Ernest Rukangira, Chair, Conserve Africa - 020 8803 6161 or 07903221466, ernest.rukangira@conserveafrica.org.uk


Events

BNRRN AGM
BNRRN holds its AGM on Tuesday 18th November 2008,
Venue- Michael Young Room, 18a Victoria Park Square, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PB.
Time 11.30-2.30, with Lunch and Networking at 1.35-2.30.

This is an opportunity to get to know the work of BNRRN and it’s achievements in the past year as well as priorities for the coming year. There will also be presentations on BNRRN’s current Policy and Engagement projects.

RSVP to Symone Robinson symone@bnrrn.org.uk or ring 0208 981 3003.


Empowering Black Governors – A Seminar
Aims of the seminar
· Making schools & education governance relevant & accountable to BME communities
· Building effective empowerment & networking programmes for BME governors

The seminar aims to develop school governing bodies that reflect Britain's multi-ethnic, multilingual, multicultural, multi-faith communities by enrolling Black men & women who are willing to work with teachers, parents & pupils to create schools as welcoming, inclusive & integrated learning communities.

The seminar will contribute towards building an action orientated programme and will
focus on:
· Training, support, networking etc. needs of Black governors
· The role of Black governors in creating schools as inclusive, integrated & welcoming learning communities
· Black empowerment programmes including training, support & networking, pupil self-government & parent activities
· Improving practices promoting an equal opportunities anti-discriminatory education service.

Interest from organisations wishing to explore potential for organising activity to empower BME governors/communities, address inequalities or improve BME engagement or leadership is also welcomed.

For further information please contact TAHA by email on: leadership@taha.org.uk

Date: 22 November 2008
Time: 10.30 am – 4.15pm
Venue: Croydon Town Hall, Park Lane, Croydon.
Keynote Speaker: Professor Gus John



“Planning for A Better London” Event
There is an online Consultation on "Planning for A Better London". To join in the conversation go to http://www.londoncivicforum.org.uk/page.asp?n=94

In addition….
Just Space has been undertaking Outreach in partnership with BNRRN. There has been a meeting on 'Planning', with voluntary and community organizations in Barnet and further work is proposed. Contact Richard Lee on richardlee50@googlemail.com for more information or if you would like to participate in future meetings.

Also…..
Women's Design Service will be setting up a project which will enable women to have an ongoing voice on spatial planning. The project will be piloted in Barnet, Redbridge, Enfield and Westminster. For more information go to www.wds.org.uk

There is also an online Consultation on "Planning for A Better London”. To join in the conversation go to http://www.londoncivicforum.org.uk/page.asp?n=94


Assessing the needs for Community Facilities in Barnet-Meeting
Date: Wednesday 12th November 2008
Time: 10.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
Venue: At the Sangam Centre (210 Burnt Oak Broadway Edgware)

Just Space and Black Neighbourhood Renewal and Regeneration Network (BNRRN) are organising a series of networking and information events in Barnet on the involvement of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee communities in Planning and Regeneration.

Existing community facilities need protection and improvement. New community facilities should be provided wherever development takes place At our event we will consider how this is working in practice in Barnet.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson wants to see LIFETIME NEIGHBOURHOODS, which means community facilities, local shops and green open spaces within easy walking distance and accessible to everyone. We will be looking at what this means for Barnet.

The LONDON PLAN is the Mayor’s key policy document. It sets out policies on the issues facing London - for example, around health, housing and employment – which then have to be implemented by the local boroughs.

Our event will share information on what the London Plan has to say about community facilities and other issues of interest. User friendly handouts will be provided.

To book a place at this event, and to find out about other events in the programme, please contact Richard at richardlee50@gmail.com or by telephone on 020 7701 0125.

Just Space is a network of voluntary and community groups committed to raising awareness of, and involvement in, planning policies in London.


Free Voluntary and Community Sector Leaders Event
At this free NCVO/Guardian breakfast seminar Sadiq Khan, Labour MP for Tooting, will be speaking about civil liberties, community cohesion and the role of civil society. There will be plenty of opportunities to network with other voluntary sector leader colleagues.
Date: 5 November 2008
Time: 08:30 - 10:45
Venue Guardian Newsroom, 60 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3GA
Sponsored by Bircham Dyson Bell
For more and to book visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/guardianseminar.


Policy Updates & Briefing

The 'Communities in Control: Real People, Real Power'
The White Paper published 9 July 2008
The aim of the white paper, 'Communities in control: real people, real power' is stated as to ‘pass power into the hands of local communities, give control over local decisions and services to a wider pool of active citizens and thus generate a vibrant local democracy in every part of the country.’

The white paper explains the government’s thinking: it believes that communities can take difficult decisions and solve complex problems for themselves and believes that the state's role should be to set national priorities and minimum standards, while providing support and a fair distribution of resources.

Within the white paper there is a repeating emphasis on strengthening representative democracy and restoring peoples faith in politics, especially with an evident and growing disenchantment with the political process throughout the UK.

The white paper addresses seven key areas with respect to empowering communities however note that the white paper looks at empowerment from the perspective of the individual citizen. These seven areas include being active in the community; access to information; having an influence; challenge; redress; standing for office; and ownership and control.

Councils remain central to Local democracy and Government will introduce a new ‘duty to promote democracy’ which will mean councils will help promote political involvement through specified methods, including clearer information, better trained staff and more visible councillors in the community. The existing ‘duty to involve’ on councils will be extended to local people and will come into effect in April 2009, and will cover police authorities and key arts, sporting, cultural and environmental organisations. Other duties on the council are the duty to promote voting which includes working with young people through citizenship lessons. The Local Authority will also have a focus on engaging more people in commissioning local goods and services.

Government will set up an Empowerment Fund of at least £7.5m to support national third sector organizations turn key empowerment proposals into practical action.

White paper themes:
There are several themes to the white paper
· Under ‘Making sure your petitions are heard,’ the white paper details Government’s steps to provide better access to information, including steps to ensure that community petitions are heard and acted on. There will be a new duty on councils to respond to petitions and Councils will also act as community advocate for petitions related to the Primary Care Trust.
· Under the theme ‘Increasing your chances to influence council budgets and policies’ the white paper details how government will increase citizens chances to influence council budgets and policies with ‘Participatory budgeting’ (where citizens help to set local priorities for spending) operating in few local authorities spreading to all councils.

· On the theme of ‘Giving more people more say in their neighbourhoods’, Government is looking at creating more neighbourhood councils particularly in urban areas. Highlighted is Government support for the use of ‘community justice’ which gives local people a chance to decide on the tasks offenders should undertake and Government support for community engagement in planning.

· Under the theme of ‘Giving older and young people a stronger voice’, the white paper talks about steps to engage young people in the political process. There is a youth sector development fund available to support third sector organisations to deliver good quality provision to young people. A review of older people’s engagement with government has also been launched in 2008.

· Under the theme of ‘Enabling local people hold those in power to account’, the visibility of the overview and scrutiny function is to be raised in local government. Also the accountability of local police and health services is set to be increased. The directly elected major model is promoted in the white paper.

· Under the theme of ‘Redress when things go wrong’ the right of the public to complain and seek redress is supported. Local Authorities are instructed on having a system of accessible, interactive contacts for citizens to raise concerns. An extension of ‘community contracts’ is proposed which means priorities are agreed between councils, police or the NHS and local residents. A review into extending redress for citizens will be commissioned and a report is expected early in 2009.

· Under the theme of ‘Making it easier for citizens to stand for office’ the underrepresentation of councillors who are women, who are under 25, and those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds is noted. Government has set up a task force chaired by Baroness Uddin to help more black and minority ethnic women become councillors. More powers will be granted to back bench councillors to make changes in their wards. In general the white paper say that government wants people to serve in a range of civic roles and will work to promote this.

· Under the theme of ‘Ownership and Control’ the white paper highlights that government wants to see an increase in the number of people helping to run or own local services and assets, and speaks of its desire to transfer more of such community assets to community ownership with a new Asset Transfer Unit being proposed. Such assets include, community centres, street markets, swimming pools, parks etc.


Further notes
· Government will support people become more active citizens and also volunteer.

· Community led organisations will be supported in their role in empowering local people through a £70m Communitybuilders scheme to help them become more sustainable. Other funds available are the Grassroots Grants, from the Office of the Third Sector, offer small sums of money from an £80m fund, and in addition to the £50m community endowment fund.


· Barriers to commissioning services from faith-based groups are to be removed. A ‘Green Neighbourhood’ scheme has been launched to demonstrate how communities can reduce their carbon footprint.

Down load the full white paper including a summary from
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/886045.pdf


Community Empowerment Fund
In furtherance of the White Paper (Communities in control: real people, real power) objectives, Government is proposing an Empowerment Fund, which will amount to £7.5 million. This will provide support for existing third sector organisations operating across England over three years (2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11) in their role helping local communities turn the proposals in the white paper into practical action. Three areas of consideration for the Empowerment Fund are community leadership, involvement in planning and social enterprise. Of this amount, £1.5m is specifically for community involvement in planning.
Government consulted on the draft prospectus of the Empowerment Fund for 12 weeks (closed 30th September 08). The final prospectus has been published (October 20th) and the deadline for applications to the Empowerment Fund is 17th of November 2008. Selection of successful applications should happen by the end of December 2008.
There are two levels of funding available:

• Level 1 – £600k spread over three years. Organisations applying must be able to demonstrate that their 2007-08 income is £1m or more. 8-12 organisations are expected to be given financial assistance at this level
• Level 2 – £250k spread over three years. Organisations applying must be able to demonstrate that their 2007-08 income is £400k or more.

Download relevant documents
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/empowermentfund


BNRRN Response to the Community Empowerment Fund
BNRRN feels that the conditions placed on applications to the Empowerment Fund unnecessarily disadvantages BAMER organisations. Even with the lowest funding level available (Level 2), would require an organisation with an annual income of over
£400K. Most BAMER organisations which fall within small to medium size range do not have such an annual income (across the country there are a few that have the level of annual turnover!).

The move of Government to encourage consortium bidding often does not take into consideration the cultural as well as language differences between BAMER groups and in this respect the short time scale also means insufficient time for smaller BAMER groups to put together consortium bids.


The Future of the Compact
The Compact is an agreement between the Government and the voluntary and community sector to improve the way they work together. A Commissioner for the Compact was appointed and is currently considering options for the future of the Compact. Compact Voice would like to hear your views on the Compact. This is a chance to help shape the future of the Compact and ensure it is as relevant and powerful as possible.
For more visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/compactquestionnaire before 10 November 2008.


Vacancies, Training, Volunteering and other opportunities

Training - IVAC Training on Organisational Structures
Thursday 6 November 2008; 9.45am to 1.30pm; John Barnes Library, London

Who is it for? - This is a basic training course for those who are working with a small voluntary sector group, and have an interest in its legal structure. If you want to know what it means to be incorporated (a company) or whether or not you are a charitable organisation – this is for you.

What is it about? - This session examines the different organisational structures available to voluntary sector groups. Attendees will be able to decide which structure is appropriate for their own organisation, and what they would need to do in order to obtain a particular status e.g. unincorporated association, company limited by guarantee, or charitable association. Students will also learn about charitable aims and how to register with the Charity Commission or Companies House.

What will I get out of it?- An understanding of the different structures available and the ability to identify which is appropriate for your organisation; The advantages and disadvantages of different legal structures; A basic knowledge of charitable purpose in law and examples of organisations that would have these as their main charitable object; A practical understanding of how to register as a charity, a company and a charitable incorporated organisation.

For further information about this course and the full IVAC training programme, please visit IVAC website www.ivac.org.uk or contact IVAC on 0207.359.2963, email development@ivac.org.uk


Job Vacancy - IVAC Development Officer
£30,014 p.a. Hours 35 pw
Closing date for receipt of applications: 5pm on Thursday 6th November
Interviews will be held on Wednesday 12th November
Islington Voluntary Action Council is recruiting to a development officer post for one year. The person appointed will undertake some work with our EC1 project and will also be involved in training and general development work. This work is supported with funding from EC1 New Deal for Communities
For further details about these posts please visit the web site www.ivac.org.uk
For an application pack please call or write to the recruitment advisor, Anne Gadson, on 01494 478801, email ivac@hradvantage.co.uk


ROTA Trustee Vacancy
Closing Date for applications: 19th November 2008, 12:00pm.
Race on the Agenda (ROTA) is London’s leading social policy think-tank focusing on issues affecting Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities and the Third Sector that serves them. They are committed to working towards achieving social justice and the elimination of discrimination and promoting human rights, diversity, equality of opportunity and best practice.

ROTA is looking for a trustee, to ensure, in common with fellow Board members, that Race on the Agenda operates in a manner which enables it to fulfil its aims and objects as effectively as possible. They are particularly interested to hear from applicants with the following skills and experience: finance, academia, human resources and employment law, social enterprising, marketing and media.

Can you support ROTA in informing strategic decision-makers about the issues affecting the BAME Third Sector and the communities it serves, and make government policy more accessible to BAME groups?

Successful candidates will be expected to attend ROTA’s Annual General Meeting due to take place at The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund on the 15th December 2008, 13:30 – 16:30 where they will be presented to members for election.
Fur further information and an application pack: Saifur Valli Saifur@rota.org.uk: 020 7729 1310
You can also download the application pack from www.rota.org.uk


Achieve a Certificate in Campaigning-Training
This is a ten module, soon to be university accredited course, covering all aspects of campaigning. A small number of bursary places are available for infrastructure organisations, with priority being given to organisations working with women’s groups, black and minority ethnic groups, refugee organisations and disability groups. The closing date for the bursaries is 20 November. For more information about the Certificate and the bursaries, visit http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/campaigningeffectiveness/index.asp?id=2843 or contact Rosemary Frazer on rosemary.frazer@ncvo-vol.org.uk


Refugees into Employment
5E Ltd is offering a range of different, new programs, tailored for the refugee community of the following Boroughs of North London: Haringey, Enfield and Barnet.
If you have a full refugee status and live in one of the areas listed above drop by and enrol at Selby Centre. Their programmes aim to help you in the following areas:
· Early integration and settlement through work experience.
· English language skills through accredited vocational ESOL training.
· Vocational training and qualifications.
· Professional Job Search help.
Please call or drop by. Monday to Friday, 10:00AM to 5:00PM. You will need to bring your passport or id card with you.
Address: Selby Centre, Selby Road, London, N17 8JL
Look for George in the North side of the Building, 2nd Floor, Room T11.
You can also email: georgek@fivee.co.uk or Tel: 07942 754 959


Free Commissioning Training for VCS Organisations
National Children's Bureau (NCB) are running a new series of training courses to support voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations in the commissioning process for children's services. Free training places are available for certain VCS organisations.
For more visit www.vcsengage.org.uk, email vcstraining@ncb.org.uk or call 020 7833 6822 / 020 7843 6084.


Do you work in campaigning?
Visit National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) website for an extensive range of resources, information and real-life examples to support and inspire your campaign work. You can also access details of how to involve beneficiaries and users in your campaigns as well as case studies to learn from.
For more visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/campaigningeffectiveness.



Get Funding!

BBC ‘Children in Need’ Programme Open for Applications
BBC Children in Need distributes grants to not-for-profit organisations working with disadvantaged children and young people, under the age of 18, living in the UK.

The charity aims to positively change the lives of those affected by:

· Disability;
· Behavioural or psychological problems;
· Poverty or situations of deprivation; and
· Illness, distress, abuse or neglect.
Grants from £500 to over £100,000 are available for up to three years at a time. The funds can be used to meet a wide range of costs. Priority will be given to projects that:

· Improve young people's choice and opportunity;
· Enhance young people's abilities;
· Encourage independence;
· Build confidence and self-esteem;
· Involve disabled young people and adults as positive role models;
· Counter negative attitudes and barriers to participation; and
· Recognise the needs of families and carers.
The closing date for receipt of application is 15 January 2009.


Prince's Trust Community Cash Awards

Young people from across the UK are invited to apply for funding of up to £5,000 to carry out activities that benefit their local communities. Sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Prince’s Trust Community Cash Awards offers grants for people aged between 14 and 25 to carry out projects such as running a local magazine or holding sex education workshops in schools.

The scheme is specifically targeted at youngsters who are still in school but are struggling, or people who have left school and are either unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week.

Grants of up to £1,000 are available for people aged 14-16, whilst £5,000 is up for grabs for 16-25 year-olds. Eligible projects must be run by the young people and bring a clear benefit to their local community. Formal groups and organisations are not allowed to apply, and funding cannot be used for expeditions, overseas travel or fundraising.

For more information about the Community Cash Awards, visit the Prince’s Trust website http://www.princes-trust.org.uk/Main%20Site%20v2/14-30%20and%20need%20help/grants%20for%20community%20projects.asp or contact the Prince’s Trust on free phone number 0800 842 842.


Richard Reeve’s Foundation for Young People in Camden, Islington and City of London

The Governors have recently reviewed the guidelines for organisations and have identified themes and priorities for new applications. The aim is to support educational projects that will benefit young disadvantaged people in the local area.

Funding decisions will be made four times a year, with the next meeting in early December 2008. Interested groups can download further information and application forms from www.richardreevesfoundation.org.uk or call 020 7726 4230.


The Community Grants Programme
This will provide grants of up to £12,000 to small voluntary and community organisations to support their capacity to engage with local communities and deliver a range of skills and employment support activities.
The grants aim to support a quality outreach provision in providing an essential stepping stone for participants to progress onto other provision, with the emphasis being clearly on this progression.

The programme will support small third sector organisations who are best placed to reach excluded individuals who face barriers to employment. Grants cannot be given to individuals.
Typical organisations which will be supported to deliver the projects include:

· Social enterprises;
· Registered charities;
Voluntary and community organisations supporting refugees, women, children, families, disabled and other disadvantaged groups.

The application round is four weeks long and so will close on Wednesday 19th November at 5pm.


The 2012 London Cultural Skills Fund
The 2012 London Cultural Skills Fund: Find out more at LVSC's 2012 event in Ealing on November 5th

The prospectus for the London Cultural Skills Fund was launched on October 17th.
The first deadline for initial responses is November 7th, and must be made through CompeteFor, a website on which all LDA contracts and opportunities are now advertised.

Grants of £25,000 to £50,000 are available to support the advancement of cultural and creative skills during the Cultural Olympiad. These grants are only available to Third Sector Organisations and Local Authorities. The LDA are particularly seeking applications from organisations who may not normally work with the arts, and whose projects involve local people in the design and implementation of the project, and reach a wide range of people, including equality groups.

The prospectus is available at:
http://www.lda.gov.uk/upload/pdf/2012_London_Cultural_Skills_Fund_Prospectus_2008_to_2010_20081017113718.pdf,

Note: applications will need to be submitted via CompeteFor. To register with CompeteFor, go to www.competefor.com.

Find out more at 'The 2012 Games: Opportunities for the Third Sector' event in Ealing on November 5th

Organisations can find out more about the 2012 London Cultural Skills Fund and CompeteFor at the LVSC event 'The 2012 Games: Opportunities for the Third Sector', which will be held at Ealing Town Hall on November 5th. To find out more, and book a place, go to www.lvsc.org.uk/2012events. This event is free for small organisations and LVSC network members, and £25 for others.


Tendering opportunities in Islington

You can find details of tendering opportunities for voluntary and community organisations in Islington https://tenders.islington.gov.uk/systems/islingtonqtplanner.nsf


Member Profile

BNRRN
Black Neighbourhood Renewal and Regeneration Network, (BNRRN) which is an infrastructure organisation working with BAMER organisations across London. BNRRN is currently running the project ‘Routes to Engagement’. Funded by London Councils and Big Lottery Fund, the project aims to increase the number of BAMER organisations representing their communities on decision making bodies and partnerships (both locally and nationally) and also BAMER organisations engaging in regeneration initiatives.

Visit the website www.bnrrn.org.uk or ring 0208 9813003 for more information on working with BNRRN.