Advice Dorset Partnership E news No. 8 – 19th July 2018
Welcome to the Advice Dorset Partnership E-News bulletin. The bulletin is circulated every two weeks and will bring you news and information relating to the advice sector in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole. If you would like to send anything out via the bulletin, please send it to Sue at: advicedorsetpartnership@gmail.com
For this and all other enquiries about the Advice Dorset Partnership contact caroline@caidorset.org.uk
Events
Dorset One World Festival: Saturday 11 August 2018 – Borough Gardens, Dorcehster: a multi-cultural event with food, arts/crafts, music, dance and song to showcase the diversity of residents in Dorset. A number of local organisations will be having stands. More information on their facebook page: HERE
There are no upcoming Advice Dorset Partnership events. Please let us know about your event so we can advertise it here.
Job Opportunities in local Citizens Advice offices
Citizens Advice Bournemouth & Poole are currently recruiting for a Training and Development Manager. The advert is HERE
For other national citizens Advice job opportunities available for national opportunities click here
For Volunteering opportunities find your local Citizens Advice office here
Job Opportunities in other local agencies
Dorset Advocacy: Independent Advocates We are looking for 2 dedicated and motivated Advocates to join our team. We believe that everyone is entitled to a fair deal from their health and care services, and that the law (such as the Mental Capacity Act and the Care Act ) should be applied fairly and consistently to everybody. Our Advocates visit people in their own homes, hospitals and care homes. This work provides an excellent balance between working “out and about”, and from our office-base in Dorchester. We can also negotiate flexible working, including working from home.
2 x 24 hour per week positions on a temporary basis until the 31st March 2019
Pay Scale – £23,123 FTE
For more information and to download a job pack, go to here
To discuss the roles, please call Dorset Advocacy on 01305 251 033 and ask to speak to Sheryl Seeley or Louise John.
News and Useful Information
Dorset Voluntary and Community Sector Transition Group: you will have read about the work of this group in previous newsletters. In order to promote the role of sector we have produced a flyer which will is uploaded below: (paper copies are also available).
Strong local relationships make the most of community resources: a timely update from national Citizens Advice from their recent attendance at the Local Government Association conference – read more here
Disability Living Allowance (for children) appeals can be complex and daunting. Advice Now have produced a helpful guide on the whole process: HERE
Other Events and Training
Dorset Community Action
Purbeck-Bite Sized Training – “Successful Bid Writing”, 25th July 2018
This two hour ‘Bite Size’ course, led by Dorset Community Action, is aimed at voluntary and community groups and will assist you in preparing for and writing a successful funding bid. A successful bid is when your group is able to sell a project idea through a funding application or letter to a Trust or Foundation. If the funder is inspired by the changes described, they will want to help you make this happen.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for new and existing groups who want to develop the skills and tools to write successful bids for funding.
What will the course cover?
Describing the impact of your project
Understanding how to put this information into a funding bid
Recognising a successful funding letter
Understanding the secrets to success in writing funding applications
Date: 25th July 2018 (9.45am registration for 10 am start through to 12 noon finish)
Venue: Swanage Fire Station
Cost: £30 pp for voluntary and community groups, £40 pp for statutory groups. Further information can be found here.
Purbeck – Bite Sized Training – “Trustee Roles and Responsibilities”, 22nd August 2018
This bite size course is designed for trustees or committee members of all types of voluntary and community groups, from community libraries to pre-schools and lunch clubs. It is also suitable for those considering taking on the role of trustee. New regulations are coming into effect in July and this course will cover any changes that you need to be aware of.
The course will cover:-
The general duties and responsibilities of trustees
Specific roles – chair, treasurer and secretary
How to have an effective board
Key policies and procedures overview
Date: 22nd August 2018, 1.15pm registration for 1.30pm start through to 3.30pm finish
Venue: Prospect House, Sandford Lane, Wareham
Cost: £30 pp for voluntary and community groups, £40 pp for statutory groups. Further information can be found here
Research and Reports
Timetable for managed migration of universal credit is a ‘viable plan’
The timetable for the managed migration of universal credit is a ‘viable plan’, the Director General of Universal Credit Neil Couling has said.
In an oral evidence session with the Public Accounts Committee on 9 July 2018, Mr Couling conceded that managed migration is the ‘most challenging bit’ of the universal credit programme, and that the ‘really tricky bit’ will be switching off entitlement to legacy benefits and switching on universal credit entitlement, while ensuring that financial cover continues.
The minutes of the oral evidence session are available from parliament.uk here
Other projects
No current updates.
Funding Opportunities
Big Lottery Building Connections Fund: a new funding stream for projects that prevent or reduce loneliness. More information here
St Martins in the Field throughthe Vicar’s Relief Fund (VRF) provides small crisis grants of up to £350 to support people who are at risk of, or currently, experiencing homelessness or are vulnerably housed, to establish and maintain their tenancies. Types of applications include funding to secure accommodation and to clear rent arrears following an eviction notice.
They accept applications from support services eg. Citizens Advice or a homelessness charity. For more information on how to register to apply for grants see here
Dorset Police & Crime Commissioners’s Safer Dorset Fund – community grants: grants of £100 – £3,000 for projects that meet one or more of the Dorset Police & Crime Plan. More details here
The TDS Foundation fund projects to promote knowledge of Landords’ obligations OR Tenants’ rights and responsibilities. Read more here
The Woodward Charitable Trust make small grants to organisations working with children facing exclusion, disabled people, prisoners, and for community cohesion work Read more here