2D have just signed up to The Mindful Employer Charter.

The charter is for employers who are positive about mental health and is a voluntary agreement seeking to support employers in working within the spirit of its positive approach.

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:

• Ongoing practical support
• Training materials
• An online discussion forum
• Support networks and assistance from other employers

For further information on becoming a Mindful Employer visit: www.mindfulemployer.net

Top of the page

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 County Durham". The options are based on research undertaken between June 2007 and February 2008. The key findings for each of the four main strands of the research are:  

1. Existing and emerging needs for support

Many of the identified VCS support needs in County Durham in 2004 remain the same, for example in terms of ‘funding information and advice’ and support in ‘finding and keeping volunteers’. However, greater emphasis is being given to the need for more intense and bespoke support on business and strategic planning and developing new projects. 

2. The organisation of County Durham’s VCS infrastructure

The VCS in County Durham is supported by a plural VCS infrastructure network of ‘core’ infrastructure and ‘supplementary and specialist’ provision. Core infrastructure has a combined income of approximately £2.84m, but appears to be somewhat fragile with questions over sustainability. Overall staff capacity of 57 full time equivalent posts is spread unevenly throughout the County, and there are concerns about consistency. Infrastructure is thought to have a good presence and understanding of the sector local level, but lacks a proactive approach.

3. Lessons from elsewhere

In some areas infrastructure organisations are at various stages of pursuing mergers (for example Cumbria and Warwickshire), but this is not the only way forward. Other developments include the establishment of overarching partnerships (South London) and Consortia to bid for countywide infrastructure tenders (Worcestershire). There may not actually be any specific ‘models’ which can be easily replicated. There is more of a sense of more-or-less-settled accommodations between organisations about the way forward. 

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 County Durham’s VCS infrastructure. ‘A Shape of Things to Come’ outlines a proposal for the development of VCS infrastructure, involving much deeper collaboration and coordination from a Countywide perspective. This would be based on a new independently constituted One Voice Network as a Countywide VCS infrastructure coordination mechanism.

View the full report here

Top of the page

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.

Top of the page

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

Top of the page

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:

• Organisations whose income is in excess of the Charity Commission threshold (£5000) are obliged to apply for charity status and should not ordinarily apply for this facility
• The organisation must write to 2D's Chief Executive Officer seeking approval, giving an explanation of the work the organisation carries out including a copy of their governing document. Additional information such as an Annual Report would also be useful.
• The same letter should inform 2D of the names of the trusts to whom they are applying, how much and what it will be used for.
• 2D will let the organisation know in writing whether or not to act as a transmitter of funds
• 2D will ensure that the donor trust understands and accepts that we will not be monitoring the use of funds nor will be held accountable for them
• It would be useful for trusts to state on the release of the cheques which organisation the funds are intended
• Please note that the agreement by 2D to provide this service iis not open ended. If after 6 months the organisation wishes 2D to continue the arrangement, another request by letter, including information on new funding approaches must be sent
• No prmission is given for 'using' or 'borrowing' our charity number, this is illegal

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

Top of the page

Would you like to make a difference within your local community?

Have you ever considered making a donation to a local County Durham charity but not really known how to go about it? Perhaps you’re just not sure which charity or group you should support? Well help is now on hand from local charity County Durham Foundation.

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:

• Trees and plants for a community garden
• Food and bedding for a homeless shelter
• Costumes for a theatre group working with disabled children
• Paint and building materials to restore a community building
• Toys for a toddlers group
• Banners and Floats for a community carnival
• Kitchen equipment for a over 60s luncheon club
• Tools for a community allotment
• Camping equipment for a Scout/Guide group.
• Community healthy living workshops

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.

Top of the page

Top of the page

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

Top of the page