Notes from our latest funding workshop: Developing your community facility

July 29, 2014July 29, 2014Martin 4 Comments

Dudley CVS has always worked to broker relationships between funders and the groups we support, through working with big and small funders on their programmes and helping to promote them, searching for funders for our groups and supporting them with applications and bringing funders together with groups at regular ‘meet the funder’ events. But last week, we ran a ‘meet the funder’ event with a difference, focussing on a theme which is becoming ever more popular in Dudley – developing community facilities and asset transfer.

In this post, you’ll find details of the event and the presentations that funders and others gave.

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The positive impact of physical activity on people with sight loss

July 22, 2014November 25, 2014Becky 6 Comments

Meet some of the staff, volunteers and swimmers from Thomas Pocklington Trust Stourbridge’s project supporting people with sight loss to access sport and physical activity, a piece of work which is not only helping people to feel healthier, it’s also giving participants a new lease of life.

As one of the projects funded by the Improving Physical Activity Fund (mentioned in my previous post), I met with some of the group members, 3 volunteers, Sharon the instructor and project-manager David, to discuss what impact the project has had on them.
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Lye & Wollescote Chapels – Dudley Asset Transfer & Development

July 7, 2014caroline 3 Comments

Community Assets are land or buildings predominantly owned by statutory services which are then transferred over and developed under the management of community organisations. Asset based development assists 3^rd sector organisations to achieve long-term sustainable social, economic and environmental achievements within their own locations.

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Contributing to a healthier, happier borough (#DudleyHWB)

July 1, 2014November 25, 2014Becky 3 Comments

If you’re interested in health and wellbeing, you may want to attend ‘The First Chapter‘, Dudley Health and Wellbeing Board’s event on Friday which will look at its first year’s work and provide collaborative ways that we can contribute to improving health in our communities. There are still spaces for residents to join us at the event, and you can book your place here: http://thefirstchapter.eventbrite.co.uk. Continue reading →

What will be the future role for the voluntary and community sector in integrated care in Dudley borough?

May 19, 2014Kate Leave a comment

What is integrated care?
Integrated Care means care and support built around the needs of the individual, their carers and family. It aims to achieve high quality and compassionate care, resulting in better health and wellbeing of citizens in Dudley borough. Integrated care will mean getting better at preventing deterioration of health and fewer people ending up in hospital, by providing a seamless service focussed on the individual within their own homes.

There is a need to create a culture of better cooperation and coordination between health, social care, public health, other local services and the voluntary and community sector. There needs to be an end to institutional divide between physical and mental health, primary and secondary care, and health and social care as budgets and resources reduce.

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Creating places for people to thrive: Diyya’s journey

GalleryMay 15, 2014May 15, 2014Becky 2 Comments

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In the last two years, Diyya has grown into a successful and lively organisation that improves the quality of life for women and their families in Lye and the surrounding areas. I recently joined them at their bustling Saturday Club to meet some of the people they support. Continue reading →

The art of the possible – looking at what we could achieve!

May 7, 2014Becky 1 Comment

Andy Gray is Chief Officer of Dudley CVS and has been invited to attend the second VCSS Camp this year. Eileen from the Planning Team, who works at Dudley CVS, invited him to share this thoughts and expectations on the value of attending VCSSCamp 2014.

Why are you coming to VCSSCamp?

I am interested in looking at how, through social media, you can discover fresh thinking, make new contacts and learn about other opportunities

For the organisation – the feedback from those members of my team who are currently using social media has thus far been really positive: it’s opened up lots of avenues, networks and opportunities. It feels like the event will be a creative space and an opportunity to see what possible outcomes could develop.
Personally – it’s an opportunity to catch up and see what other people have done, what they used and what the outcomes were. …

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New locality integrated care in Dudley borough – what will this mean for the voluntary sector?

April 28, 2014Kate 2 Comments

Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group (Dudley CCG) and other statutory partners are moving towards a model of locality based integrated care services. This will involve a process of advanced personalised care planning for older people, people with mental health issues, people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and children. In each of the five localities within the Dudley borough, there will be a need for better cooperation and coordination between health, social care, public health and the voluntary sector.

Dudley CVS is hosting a workshop in partnership with Dudley CCG on 30th April to explore the potential role and contribution of the voluntary and community sector in integrated care in Dudley borough. We will post information and ideas from the event and encourage online debate following the event through this blog.

What’s the secret to finding people to lead your community organisation?

April 21, 2014Becky 2 Comments

Finding and recruiting new leaders for your community organisation needn’t be as hard as locating the elusive Easter Bunny.

This post briefly looks at how ‘community organisations’ (shorthand for the wide range of organisations that make up our vibrant sector – charities, voluntary organisations, faith groups, sports clubs, social enterprises…) can find and recruit new ‘leaders’ (e.g. trustees, committee members, directors, board members) to keep them diverse, relevant and strong in a changing climate.

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