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General > News & Events
News & Events
How can the Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) work with the new AAPs? The attendees raised questions which were answered by Gordon Elliott and Andy Coulthard from DCC. Many ideas and information came out of the session about how we ensure the VCS has a strong and positive involvement in AAP activities. If you haven’t booked your place yet, there’s still time… · 7 July: Bishop Auckland and · 14 July: Weardale Action Partnership- · 21 July : Agenda: 5.00 – 5.30pm: Registration, buffet tea and an opportunity to meet and network with other voluntary and community groups in your AAP area. 5.30 – 6.00: Introductions and update on your AAP’s launch and key priorities 6.00 – 6.30: How can you get involved with your AAP and its priorities? 6.30 – 7.00: What support do you need to develop your involvement with the AAP? You are welcome to attend the session nearest to you, or most relevant to the work of your organisation. Each session will follow the same format, and be facilitated by Sue Shaw. There are still some places available, so please call 01388 762220 or E-mail enquiries@2d.org.uk">enquiries@2d.org.uk to book a.s.a.p. A Celebration of Community Involvement & Volunteering in Health
A total of 42 awards were presented at The Park Head Country Hotel in New Coundon to inspirational individuals and outstanding groups from across Teesdale and Helen Goodman MP introducing the event stressed the importance of volunteering in community involvement and health and introduced the Turrets Drama Group who performed sketches dramatising health related issues where community involvement has made an impact.
The people collecting these awards are genuine unsung heroes in the community. We are extremely pleased to be able to honour them. We appreciate that the volunteers and workers don’t look for rewards but this was our opportunity to say ‘Thank You’ to all those people who contribute their time, energy and skills for the benefit of others in their community. We are also very grateful to the partners who supported the event, the Wear Valley Community Network, County Durham Primary Care Trust, WVDC Neighbourhood Arrangements Team, Wear Valley Local Strategic Partnership and The Park Head Country Hotel & Restaurant. The following people were awarded for their outstanding involvement and contribution through the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) Process. June Crosby, Peter Irving, Barbara Ornsby, Lucy Thompson, Robin Easton, Eddie Tomlinson, Joe Buckham, Alan Townsend, Kevin Hickford, Trevor Crompton, Mary Tribe, John Kirkby, Julian Haynes, Pam Forbes, Mary Hall, Brian Myers, Rebecca Abrahams, Mike Bettison, Neville Singleton, Paul Allison, Margaret Elliott The following volunteers and workers were also nominated to receive a certificate of recognition for the enormous contribution they have made within the field of community involvement. Tracy Blandford, Doreen Bryden, Judy Caplin, Jill Cole, Elizabeth Conran, Jenny Flynn, Jenny Garrod, Pam Grunwell, Harriet Harnett, Alan Howard, Margaret Ingledew, The following organisations and the volunteers within them were awarded for their outstanding contribution to the field of health. TODY’s (Teesdale Opportunities for Disabled Youngsters) Butterwick Hospice Friendships in Tees Esk and Teesdale Talking Newspapers Stanhope MS Society Friends of BLIND Life in LEAPS (Lead to Encourage Activities Participation & Sport) Weardale HELP Trust Chyrelle Addams Breast Cancer Appeal Trust Leonard Cheshire Disability, Crook British Heart Foundation Shop Crook Parent Carers Crook Friendly Club Hospital Voluntary Services Teesdale Arthritis Care Teesdale Day Clubs Teesdale Disability Access Whilst we appreciate these are just a sample of all those who contribute to the community and health related organisations. The aims of the event were to promote involvement and highlight the many achievements of both individuals and groups in Teesdale and The Volunteer Centre, like to recognise the hard work, commitment and achievements of volunteers working in the voluntary and community sector in Teesdale and
2D- The Helping Hand If you missed the Radio Teesdale programme "2D - The Helping Hand", a documentary about how 2D has developed over the years; it is available on the link below which will take you to the ‘Listen Again’ section of the web site. The documentary features a history of 2D, and interviews with Peter Irving, Treasurer of 2D, Jim Welch from BLIND, Trish Greensmith from The Chyrelle Addams Breast Cancer Appeal Trust and a children and young people’s interview from the 2D AGM. 2D have just signed up to The Mindful Employer Charter.
The Charter is one element of the MINDFUL EMPLOYER® initiative. MINDFUL EMPLOYER is led by employers and aimed at increasing awareness of mental health in the workplace and supporting businesses in recruiting and retaining staff by giving: For further information on becoming a Mindful Employer visit: www.mindfulemployer.net Public Consultation Document Following on from the summer unitary consultation events, of which 2D were the host of one, please download the Consultation Document below regarding the Area Action Partnership function, governance and budgets. Public Consultation Document The Shape of Things to Come The 'County Durham Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Infrastructure Review' was commissioned by the One Voice Network with the aim of "setting out options for structure and service delivery of VCS infrastructure in 1. Existing and emerging needs for support Many of the identified VCS support needs in 2. The organisation of The VCS in 3. Lessons from elsewhere In some areas infrastructure organisations are at various stages of pursuing mergers (for example 4. Future scenarios for the development of VCS infrastructure There is no clear consensus about the future development of VCS infrastructure, either amongst VCS infrastructure organisations or external stakeholders. VCS infrastructure organisations seem to be quite pessimistic about the future, particularly about the likelihood of being ‘forced’ to merge, although the future may be more open than is imagined. The research concludes that there is a case for changing the organisation of
Action Plan The One Voice Network Steering Group met on 18th June 2008 to discuss ‘A Shape of Things to Come’, the above report commissioned from Dr. Rob Macmillan of The discussions at the meeting focused particularly on the recommendations contained in the report and they were all, without exception, agreed in principle. This Action Plan was developed following the meeting to prioritise and set out a practical and realistic timetable of implementation of those recommendations which takes into account organisational capacity and available resources.
2D have again broken new ground by becoming the first infrastructure organisation in County Durham to be awarded the Matrix accreditation for the delivery of advice and guidance. The Matrix Standard is the unique quality framework for the effective delivery of information, advice and/ or guidance on learning and work. Michele Armstrong, CEO says “undergoing this process has helped 2D move forward with fully committed staff that are aware of their role and where they fit into the organisation. The overall result means our staff are competent and our clients get the best possible service”. All the staff at 2D would like to thank all the volunteers, members and representatives from groups who gave their time .Their contribution was invaluable and helped to give the assessor a complete picture of how 2D operates with our members and partner organisations alike. “As a result 2D were successful and have now attained the Matrix accreditation, once again many thanks for your time and input”. Michele Armstrong. URGENT! A note to members... We have in recent times had groups/organisations come to us on the brink of going under. I know that we are all in a climate of change and funding is getting harder to come by, I urge you to look carefully at your running costs for your next financial year and remember your reponsibilities in running an organisation. If you would like to talk through any concerns you may have about the future of your organisation then please do so at the earliest point and do not leave it to the last minute. Staff at 2D are here to try and help or point you in the right direction so please contact us, don't what ever you do stick your heads in the sand! Working Neighbourhoods Fund The Working Neighbourhoods Fund ReportThis document acknowledges that while there has been rapid improvements in most deprived areas, worklessness remains persistent in some local communities. As part of a concerted drive to get people off welfare and into work the Government has decided to establish a new Working Neighbourhoods Fund. The new fund will replace Communities and Local Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and incorporates the Department for Work and Pension's Deprived Areas Fund to create a single fund. This paper sets out the rationale for this change. THE THIRD SECTOR STRATEGY FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Voluntary Organisations' Network North East (VONNE) is the regional infrastructure organisation for the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in the North East of England. It aims to inform the VCS about policy developments; promote its involvement in decision-making at a regional and national level and articulate its views. The VCS in the North East covers a wide range of groups from internationally active charities with large numbers of employees to small community groups without paid staff. It also covers a range of activities from companies whose trading purpose is to benefit the community in which they work, to local community groups focused on a single issue. The VCS is a valuable contributor to the North East Economy in its own right, which although led by volunteer management boards, employs 4.4% of the region’s workforce, totalling around 47,000 paid employees, and is supported by the work of 143,600 volunteers. Click here to see the RESPONSE FROM THE VOLUNTARY ORAGNISATIONS’ NETWORK NORTH EAST 2D Role as an Intermediary Handling Donations from Charitable Trusts Some grant making trusts limit their giving to registered charities. This can cause problems for groups who are non- registered charitable groups. 2D may be able to help by offering to accept those grants and passing them on to the non- registered charitable groups. 2D must comply with the following formalities in order to stay within the law:
Unfortunately the complexities of this process however the law surrounding this subject is far from simple and 2D must take great care that we are acting legally. For further information contact 2D on 01388 762220
Have you ever considered making a donation to a local The County Durham Foundation provide financial support for individuals, grass-roots groups and other good causes. Last year alone they gave out £2.7m to good causes across our County and this year they need your help to support even more people. As little as £10 a month could help pay for:
You can even give your support to your very own good cause, town or village that’s close to your heart and receive all the tax advantages you’d get for giving to a charity. Chief Executive, Gillian Stacey said, ‘We’re here to provide the means for local people to support local projects. These days giving to the larger national and international charities is very well publicised and often people aren’t aware that they can also put something back into the community in which they live and work. That’s where we come in.’
For more information about giving to County Durham Foundation please call Simon on 0191 383 0055 or visit their website www.countydurhamfoundation.co.uk where you can even donate money online.
The County Durham Compact is an agreement between the voluntary & community sector and the statutory sector on the other setting the terms for partnership working. Please see below a short-and-simple poster summarising the Compact's key principles. The Compact is a set of promises governing the behaviour towards one another of County Durham's statutory bodies and voluntary & community groups. Lots of people know that it exists, but aren't sure exactly what its all about, or what it means for their organisation. Surestart Playbus Timetable Morning 9.3-11.3 Afternoon 1-3 Monday High Etherley Copley Tuesday not out Hutton Magna Wednesday Ingleton Whorlton Thursday Hamsterley Ramshaw Friday Marwood not out For more info. or to check on any alterations call freephone 0800 328 1604 |
More than 140 guests attended a glittering awards ceremony on Friday 13 March to recognise and pay tribute to individual community volunteers and groups working in health related organisations, all of whom have gone that extra mile.
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