The Newsletter for voluntary organisations on Anglesey

The Newsletter for voluntary organisations on Anglesey
Charity Number Issue No. 24 March 2001

Jane Davidson announces new identity and membership of body to drive forward
Education and Training reforms in Wales.

The new National Council for Education and Training for Wales, will in future be
recognised as 'ELWa'- with an annual budget of £370m for the year ahead.

· The new short name of 'ELWa' has been chosen to reflect its meaning in Welsh 'to gain benefit from'
· It is an Assembly Sponsored Public Body responsible for promoting, planning and funding post-16 education and training in Wales, except for higher education.
· The Council will consist of 12 members including the Chair and Chief Executive.
Congratulations to Dr Haydn Edwards Principal of Coleg Menai on being elected on to this National Council.
· 'ELWa' will start to exercise key functions with effect from 1 April, 2001.

Jane Davidson AM said 'The new Council will have the task of delivering on the
Assembly's ambitions to turn Wales into a learning country which is of critical importance to the future of the Welsh economy. The members will play a fundamental role in shaping the strategic direction of the Council.
Learning is at the forefront of our partnership objectives - if we are to succeed in this knowledge-driven world we must ensure that everyone has the knowledge and skills to
fulfil their potential throughout life.
Ensuring that the changing skill needs of business in Wales are met, and that the people of Wales can realise their aspirations for a better quality of life through vastly improved and more relevant post-16 education and training'.

WEFO News - Welsh European Funding Office

Objective 1 Fast Track Approvals.

The first package of 30 projects worth a total of £38.8m funded under the Objective 1
programme has been approved.

The following have been successful either as European Social Fund (ESF) or European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 'Fast Track' Approved Projects.

Isle of Anglesey County Council Môn Shared Apprenticeship £ 9,082.
Isle of Anglesey County Council Mônfenter £216,000.
WEA North Wales Outreach in the communities £620,254.
Ynys Môn Voluntary Services Capacity building for voluntary
and community groups £ 39,930.

Over 800 applications are currently undergoing the appraisal process.

£6.2 million of Local Regeneration Fund funding has also been awarded to match fund successful Objective One projects.

N E W S

Wales Council for Voluntary Action Grant schemes

WCVA manages a range of grant schemes that support local voluntary organisations throughout Wales, with funding from charitable trusts, the Millennium Commission and the National Assembly for Wales, amongst them are:

The Volunteering in Wales Fund - this has been set up with funding from the National Assembly for Wales. This scheme can provide grants of up to £25,000. It supports projects whose aims are mainly achieved by volunteers, that recruit and place volunteers, that develop good practice in volunteering, or that encourage activities in areas where volunteering is less well developed.
General Small Grants, is a programme where grants of up to £500 are available to local charities in Wales concerned mainly with social welfare, but not excluding arts and environmental organisations. The scheme supports registered charities that may find it difficult to raise funds from other sources.
Arwain-Millennium Awards is administered by WCVA, on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales and the Millennium Commission. Grants of up to £2,500 each are available to support volunteers on a project or programme of activities that help them develop their own skills and abilities as well as providing benefits for local government.
Social Risk Capital - is a small grants programme funded from the Objective 1 and 3 European Schemes. This scheme will provide small grants to local voluntary groups to develop projects that combat social exclusion and contribute to local regeneration. The aim of the scheme will be to provide local groups with simple and speedy access to European Social Fund monies.

An updated information sheet, B4 WCVA Grant Schemes, will give you a summary of all the schemes administered by WCVA and details of who to contact.

WCVA has also recently updated their B1 Welsh Based Charitable Trusts information sheet. This gives details of trusts which make grants to voluntary organisations (not normally to individuals), and which are based in Wales, have particular connection
with Wales or specify Wales as part of Wales in the area where they distribute grants.
Please contact Wendy Gilbert on for copies of the above mentioned
information sheets.

A Funding Information Day for voluntary groups on Anglesey will be held at
Oriel Môn, Llangefni on Friday, 16th February, 2001 at 10.30 am to 12.30 pm,
concerning the above grants. Please see enclosed leaflet in Dan Do Môn.

First Commissioner for Children in Wales appointed.

The National Assembly announced that Childline Cymru / Wales's Director Peter Clarke has been appointed as the first Children's Commissioner for Wales.
Born in Llandudno, a qualified social worker, he sits on the management committee of a number of voluntary organisations in the field of children and mental health and is a
member of the Appeal's Committee of the BBC's Children in Need.

Health Minister Jane Hutt said "Wales is taking the lead in the UK in placing the rights and needs of our children and young people centre stage".
The Commissioner's role is expected to expand to cover a wide range of areas, such as the health service and schools in Wales.

T R A I N I N G

Voluntary Organisations and the Law.

This course develops an awareness of a range of Legislation, which can apply to Voluntary Organisations. It includes equal opportunities, Health and Safety, employment, disability, financial management and accountability.

The programme also includes constitutions and the reasons for having one, and
different types of legal status.

Participants will be encouraged to look into types of legislation applicable to their own organisations and implications to his / her own work.

The course will be held on:

Tuesday 20th March, 2001 in Housing Department Conference Room 16, Ynys Môn County Council Offices.

The course is accredited, lunch will be provided, and the cost will be £12.50.

Other Training dates for 2001:

Finance - 26th June, 2001.

Events and - 18th September,
Activities 2001.

If you have any suggestions on future Training needs / Information Seminar please contact us at .

WAKE -UP TO A NEW LIFELONG LEARNING WEBSITE

Staff at NIACE Dysgu Cymru invite you to log onto their new website
www.niacedysgucymru.org.uk

You can find the most up to date information on:

Promotional events
Courses and conferences
Research papers

Publicity and Marketing.

This course encourages participants to compare the general aim of their organisation with its public image and to look at ways of bringing the two closer together.

It covers different marketing strategies and how to target defined groups, and identifying relevant press and broadcasting media contact.

You will also be shown how to provide suitable publicity material for a particular purpose, such as writing an effective press release.

The course will be held on:

Tuesday, 15th May 2001 in Committee Room 1, Ynys Môn County Council Offices.

The course is accredited, lunch will be provided, and the cost will be £12.50.

Essential Skills for Local Businesses

A new part-time course is available for those wanting to reach new levels at work or
pursue a career in business. The course is very flexible. Individuals can study just a few units or work toward the full qualification - a Degree in Business with Regional Development.

Some units may even be available on-line.

The course was developed through the Community University of North Wales and is currently available at Bangor University.

For more information contact:

Community University of North Wales,
c/o Centre for Continuing Education,
University of Wales Bangor, Dean Street, Bangor, Gwynedd. LL57 1UT.
Phone:
Fax:

YMVS have organised course on 'Regular Inspections for Playgrounds' with
Tony Chilton, Play Wales, on Thursday 8th March, 2001 - 11.00am - 5.00pm at
Caergeiliog Village Hall or Saturday 10th March, 2001 9.00am - 3.00 pm at Bodffordd Community Hall. Contact: Robyn at YMVS.

Let's Rough it for Refugees!

This summer, United Nations Association Wales invites people from all over Wales to join in a trek across the country to show solidarity and to raise funds for refugees across the world. Participants will trek from their home towns to arrive at a 'refugee camp' in mid Wales on the first World Refugee Day, 20 June 2001.

The UN refugee agency, UNCHR, was created 50 years ago to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of refugees. Today there are over 21 million refugees and displaced people worldwide, frequently facing violence, poverty and discrimination in addition to the loss of their homes and families.

Are you ready to support Rough it for Refugees? You can:

join the trek, or sponsor others to do so
help organise a local event to increase understanding of refugee issues

Rough it for Refugees is an opportunity both to give practical support to refugees and to explore the refugee issues of particular concern to your organisation, such as child refugees, human rights, asylum, women refugees or conflict prevention.

If you would like an information pack on joining the trek, or on putting on an event in your area, please ring Helen on or Karen Wales Refugee Council on .

Wales Women's National Coalition:-

Who are we?

Founded in 1997 the Wales Women's National Coalition (WWNC) is a partnership of national women's voluntary organisations in Wales.

What do we do?

Promote understanding and co-operation between women's voluntary organisations in Wales.
Take note of how European and International issues affect the lives of women in Wales.
Promote the participation of women in Wales in the decision making at all levels.

We have received funding to assist the National Assembly for Wales to hear from women and their organisations in Wales.
Membership is open to voluntary organisations that represent women's issues within Wales.

For further information contact:
Nia Bennett c/o Chwarae Teg,
Companies House. Maerdy,
CARDIFF. CF14 3UZ.

Eating Disorders Awareness Week 11th - 17th February

A series of information events will be held across Wales to raise local awareness about eating disorders.

The Information Events will aim to:

raise awareness and knowledge of eating disorders, their causes and prevalence
provide information about local and national sources of treatment and help
provide an opportunity to discuss local needs and ways forward
offer a forum for networking and information sharing

The events have been organised by the EDA Wales Working Party which is the leading charity working in the field of eating disorders. Local support is
provided through its network of self help groups and contacts.

For more information about the North Wales EDA information event contact:
Pam Cuffin on
Mobile Phone:

F U N D I N G - - - N E W S

Esmee Fairbairn Charitable Trust has made a grant of £1 million available to assist community foundations in the middle stage of development.

The grant will be distributed over three years to community foundations that submit the most viable development plans to the Community Foundations Network. An independent panel will assess applications.

The aim of the grant is to helpcommunity foundations at the critical period between the start up and permanence, and according to the Trust it demonstrates a vote of confidence in community foundations in the UK.

For further information contact:
Community Foundation Network

Macmillan Cancer Relief Fund

This is a UK-wide charity that supports people living with cancer. Working with the National Health Service and others in the field of health care, the Macmillan Charity aims to help people with cancer and their families by ensuring that the best
information treatment and care is available.

More than £40.2 million is committed to funding the following services:

Macmillan Nurses and Doctors and other medical positions in hospital and community care.
Information service and a telephone helpline.
Grants for cancer patients in financial hardship.
A building programme for new and improved cancer facilities.
Giving cancer patients more of a voice in their own treatment and care.

Access to the above services is through GPs, consultants, nurses and other health professionals who all act as part of an NHS team to provide co-ordinated practical and emotional care for cancer
sufferers, free of charge, in hospital and in the home.

The Charity Tax Review 2000

Since the Charities Tax Review came into effect in April 2000, any donation from a UK taxpayer - from small change to six figure sums - can now be given in a way that ensures the Government does its bit too.
Charities Aid Foundation's (CAF) 20 page booklet aims to explain what this review means to charities and to guide them through the basics in simple, straightforward language.

For your free copy contact Karen Mansen on .

Money for trees for public areas

The Tree Council Community Trees Fund 2001 provides support for community and voluntary organisations, community councils and individuals to plant trees on community land or land which the public has access to.

However, projects have to be 'high quality' ones which have been properly researched. The costs should be between £100 and £700, and 50 per cent should be applied from other sources. The deadline is 30 June 2001.

Contact the Tree Council,
51 Catherine Place, London SW1E 6DY.

Telephone:
www.treecouncil.org.uk

Children under 8 grant scheme

31 groups received a grant of £95 each under the above scheme for groups associated with children under 8 years.
All groups applying should provide financial information with their application form and return the pro forma or future applications will not be considered.

The Peter Harrison Foundation

I.T. entrepreneur Peter Harrison has launched a £30 million foundation to help
disabled and disadvantaged people through sport, education and special needs for children and young people. The Peter Harrison Foundation will make grants of around £1.4m a year to regional and national projects.
Funding will be available to registered charities only and applications are invited under two programmes:

Opportunities through Sport
This programme will support sporting activities and projects to provide
opportunities for disabled or disadvantaged people to fulfil their potential and for other personal life skills to be developed.
Small grant programme
This programme is only for organisations in the South East of England with preference given to areas where there is a high level of deprivation.

Full guidelines and application details are available from:
Sophie Kilminster, Director, The Peter Harrison Foundation, 42 - 48 London Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 9QQ.

Childcare for School Aged Children

Do you need childcare for school aged children on Ynys Môn? Help is available! Grants from the New Opportunities Fund are available, as is support to set up a voluntary committee to run an Out of School Club. These clubs can be open after school, during the holidays and before school depending on the need of the parents. If you are interested in forming a committee in your area to set up a club please phone
Wendy Roberts on .

Change of career? - Interested in becoming a Communicator for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing People.
Contact: Mrs Meryl Roberts
Wales Council for the Deaf,
Glenview House, Courthouse Street,
Pontypridd, CF37 1JY Tel:

Voluntary Organisation Membership on the Children Services Strategy Group

A new strategy, Planning and Co-ordination for Children Services will commence in the new year. The Strategy part of the group will consist of Senior Officers and will meet twice a year. The first meeting will be on 26 March, 2001.

Representatives from two voluntary organisations are invited to join the Strategy Group to represent the Voluntary Sector.

Please write to Mr Byron Williams,
Director of Social Services,
Isle of Anglesey County Council,
Neuadd y Sir, Ffordd Glanhwfa,
Llangefni,
Ynys Môn, LL77 7TS

no later than 16 February if you wish to be considered.

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES

Hospice at Home - to assist at Day Centre in Holyhead on Mondays and Fridays and Beaumaris on a Thursday, and with home visits, transport etc

Riding for the Disabled - urgently to assist adults and children with learning and/or physical disabilities with horse riding and/or to drive a pony and trap

Age Concern Gwynedd and Môn - with their Luncheon Clubs at Newborough, Llangefni and, Menai Bridge

Royal United Kingdom Benificient Association - to visit/support elderly people being helped by RUKBA

Citizens Advice Bureau - to join their team of advisors

Car Linc Môn/Good Turn Scheme - drivers needed, as well as volunteers to help with essential tasks, e.g. shopping, visiting, collection service, where no other means of support is available

S cope - Training Scheme - If you are aged between 16 and 24 and consider yourself to have a disability, Scope are able to provide a 12 month programme funded by the Millennium Volunteers Programme

Chwarae Teg/Fair Play - to form Members Committees to open and run 'Out of School Clubs' on Anglesey

Ysgol y Bont, Llangefni(Special Needs) - at the school e.g. reading to the children, assisting on outings

Witness Service - to assist in both local Crown and Magistrates Courts

Barnardos Ynys Môn - need childcare volunteers. All volunteers receive support and training

Red Cross - (Transport Scheme) - for their transport scheme on Anglesey
Taran-to support people with varying disabilities in an office situation and with social activities

Abbey Road Centre, Bangor - receptionists required for the evenings at the Centre

R SPB, Voluntary Wardening Scheme - Can offer the opportunity to be a Voluntary Warden for up to 4 weeks on one of 31 RSPB nature reserves

Victim Support - to provide help/support to victims of crime on Anglesey

Millennium Volunteers - a recognised volunteering award for those aged 16-24. Don't miss out!

As a Volunteer you should be reimbursed for all your out of pocket expenses, it's the time given that's for free. Continue to claim your benefits providing you inform your local Job Centres/Benefits Office.

For further information on any volunteering opportunities please contact:

Jackie or Cadi

CALL FOR AN END TO THE TAX ON VOLUNTEERS

The Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) which comes into effect in July 2001, will charge between £10-£20 per enquiry to check whether or not volunteers have a criminal record. The charge will have to be met by voluntary organisations or the volunteers themselves.

Sue Pickavance, head of volunteering at WCVA, said: "The introduction of police checks amounts to a tax on volunteers - and the impact of this on the voluntary sector will be devastating. Fewer people will come forward to volunteer, which will consequently lead to a drop in services offered by voluntary organisations.

"We are calling on the Government to provide funding for the police checks. The voluntary sector should not be expected to pay for it."

The WCVA is asking those who want to join the campaign to stop the tax on volunteering to write to their local MPs and sign a petition at the Bureau which will be presented to the Home Secretary.

For further information about the Criminal Records Bureau or to obtain a copy of the petition please contact Sue Pickavance at Welsh Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) on .

Themed Months for IYV 200

The United Nations International Year of Volunteers (IYV) 2001 was launched on December 5 2000 at Techniquest in Cardiff Bay by Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services Jane Hutt and WCVA Vice Chair Margaret Jervis.

The months of next year will be themed to link in with the main subject areas of voluntary organisations in Wales. This is a great way for organisations and volunteers to utilise IYV2001 to let the rest of Wales know more about their volunteering.

It is hoped that through using these themes the profile of volunteering will be raised throughout the year and that the impact of IYV2001 in Wales will be maximised.
January - Communities
February - Ethnicity and Culture
March - Disabilities
April - Health
May - Animals
June - Advice, Support and Care
July - Environment
August - Arts and International
September - Sports and Housing
October - Youth, Education, Training, Employment
November - Elderly
December - Children and Families
For more information about IYV contact Isobel Hume at WCVA's Cardiff Bay Office on or email or visit the UNIYV 2001 website at www.iyv.org .

Ynys Môn Voluntary Services Room 20, Môn Training
Pen Yr Orsedd Industrial Est Llangefni
Ynys Môn LL77 7JA