E-bulletin 
Summer 2020

News, views and opportunities from the voluntary sector

CVS rises to the challenge!

March 23^rd saw the world change as lockdown was implemented and everyone had to adapt to change. CVS were pleased to be able to quickly meet the needs of our community. Here is a taster of what we’ve been doing during the last three months….
Our Shopping Scheme has been running since the second week of lock-down. Taking just four days to establish, recruiting volunteers and raising awareness, it has provided a trusted service to complement other local schemes that developed.  It’s been a huge success. We have supported those over 70’s that were self-isolating as well as  extremely vulnerable and shielding people with pre-existing conditions.
Through helping people get their weekly shop, our Engagement Team have connected with even more people in the community, some of whom we may never have had contact with but for lockdown.                                                              
Our Dementia Awareness Officer has been sending people advice and information specifically on how to support people with dementia (PWD) throughout lockdown and explaining to them why they can’t go out. She’s been busy collating activity packs for individual people and staff from residential care settings and community groups to pass on to others and signposting Carers to the different kinds of Virtual Carers Support and virtual training courses that has become available.                                                                                                                         In partnership with Active Notts and Newark and Sherwood District Council, we’ve also been working on a project to encourage physical activity in Ollerton which has included sending physical activity packs out to families. With our Door2Door service temporarily suspended (see update below) drivers re-invented themselves as a telephone check and chat service, phoning clients to make sure they were okay.  
 
#NeverMoreNeeded
A new dedicated website has been set-up for the national #NeverMoreNeeded campaign. The campaign's aim is to make sure charities’ voices are heard and raise awareness of the vital work they are doing to help the country come through the pandemic and recover. 
Visit the #NeverMoreNeeded website  at https://nmn.org.uk/
 
Your Health Your Way
As of 1st June 2020 Your Health, Your Way will be delivering all elements of Nottinghamshire’s integrated wellbeing service, and will be accepting referrals for:  • • Weight Management • • Smoking Cessation  • • Physical Activity  • •  Alcohol Support.  YHYW will be able to provide both one to one and group based support via telephone and online support (Zoom).  Third party and self-referrals can be made online by visiting https://yourhealthnotts.co.uk
 
Nottinghamshire Mental Health Helpline
The Nottinghamshire Mental Health Helpline is now available 9am-11pm 7 days per week for anyone living in Nottinghamshire, who needs emotional support or information about what help is available locally for people struggling with mental health challenges. A team of supportive mental health workers are on hand to provide information and advice e.g. techniques that people can use to manage anxiety. They will also be able to direct people to other services where needed. Professionals are also welcome to call the helpline for advice on working with patients with mental health issues. The helpline is being delivered by Turning Point. The helpline number is 0300 555 0730. For more information and mental health resources visit htpps://www.turning-point.co.uk/nottingham-helpline

Door2Door returns
CVs popular Door2Door service had to be suspended during lockdown. Now, with all necessary precautions in place it looks set to return from July 1^st 2020.This transport service requires an annual registration. For more details about how the service works, please contact Lucy Fountain on 01636 611220.
 
Town Fund
Helping the community to have a voice is at the heart of what we do so we were delighted to be asked to contribute to infrastructure education and heritage workshops and to sit on the board of the committee helping to determine how we might make best use of government funds to develop a Newark for the future.https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/business/newarktownsfund/

Because of COVID-19 all training is exclusively online. Here are some interesting opportunities:-

Public Health England

 New Psychological First Aid training during COVID-19 open to all frontline and essential workers and volunteers
 
On 15 June is Public Health England (PHE) is launching an updated Psychological First Aid (PFA) training module, aimed at all frontline and essential workers and volunteers. The course teaches the key principles of giving psychological first aid in emergencies and aims to increase awareness and confidence to provide this support to people affected by COVID-19.  PFA is a globally recognised training in emergency situations and PHE has been developed this new course as part of our national incident response, and in partnership with NHS England, Health Education England, FutureLearn and others.
 
The course is free, and no previous qualifications are required.  By the end of the course, outcomes will include: understanding how emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect us, recognising people who may be at increased risk of distress and understanding how to offer practical and emotional support. The course takes around 90 minutes to complete and is also available in three sessions for the learner to complete at their own pace.

Coalfields COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliance Fund
Who can apply: Organisations providing guidance and support to people in crisis or who are experiencing financial hardship.The project must last for a minimum of 2 months (our expectation is that projects will deliver over a six month period rather than our usual twelve month period)
Grant value: up to £10,000
Deadline: 11th September 2020 at 5pm
Further details: https://www.coalfields-regen.org.uk/england/covid19-ccip-funding-support/

Who can apply: Projects that improve community wellbeing such as :-

• People: Projects that help people to lead a healthier life and gain new skills
• Places: Projects that help to create better places to live in and use
• Environment: Projects that will help look after our natural environment, give people greater access to that environment or help look after water
  Grant value: There are three sizes of grant to apply for
  £2,000 to £10,000 
  £10,001 to £75,000
  £75,001 to £250,00

Mid Notts CVS Partnership
The Mid Notts CVS Partnership (which comprises Newark and Sherwood CVS, Mansfield CVS and Ashfield Voluntary Action) are looking to engage with groups and organisations  and gain insight about them and the impact of COVID-19. This is to establish what support you have and what is needed going forward. We would be grateful if you could find the time to complete this survey in order to assist us with this.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/MidNottsCVSPartnershipSurvey

We are trying to reach as many VSO as possible with this survey so please feel free to share  with relevant contacts as you see fit. If you are unable to access the internet or need help completing the survey, please contact the Partnership Development Coordinator, Jo Talbot on 07387 995075

If you have news, opportunities or events you'd like to share, please email the details to us by 15th of the month, for inclusion in the next issue.  Our aim is to issue a bulletin every 4-6 weeks.

We want to help promote activities in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise community - feel free to tag us in your group's Facebook posts if you'd like us to share @newarkandsherwoodcvs 

We're always keen to hear your views: Contact us to give feedback on this e-bulletin and the content you'd like to see in the future.