Walsall Voluntary Action

Justice in the West Midlands - can you help?

ian — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:46:28 +0000

The West Midlands Criminal Justice Board is seeking volunteers from the Black and Minority Ethnic communities to join the new Independent Advisory Group (IAG).

The IAG is a community-led group that will advise and constructivelt challenge the Criminal Justice Board, helping to improve the understanding and awareness of Black and Minority Ethnic community issues amongst the criminal justice agencies.

An awareness and recruitment event for people interesting in joining the IAG is being held at Birmingham Council House on Saturday 27 March from 10:30am - 12:30pm. If you would like to attend, please reserve your place by calling Renu Bhopal-Padhiar on 0121 250 6168 or email wm-cjb@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk.

Working with Bangladeshi communities: Paan Workshop

ian — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:04:16 +0000

Palfrey Children’s Centre is holding a workshop for professionals aimed at raising awareness about the consumption of Paan (betel leaf) and other related products (including betel nut, chewing tobacco and zarda) amongst the Bangladeshi and other South Asian communities.Areas to be covered include:

What is Paan?
How is it eaten and disposed off?
Myths and misconceptions.
Reasons people use Paan.
Dental care.
Talking about Paan to users.
Working with Bangladeshi communities.

The session will be an ideal networking opportunity for professionals working with Bangladeshi communities and a chance to discuss new projects and initiatives.

The session will take place at Sure Start Palfrey Children’s Centre, South Street, Palfrey, Walsall, WS1 4HE on Friday, 26^th March 2010 from 2:15pm - 4:30pm.

Light refreshment will be provided.

Please confirm your attendance by contacting Arfan Zaman on 01922 642382 or 07752471090. Alternatively you can email Arfan at arfanzaman@surestartpalfrey.co.uk.

Walsall Advice Network Forum Meeting

ian — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:55:31 +0000

Walsall Citizens Advice Bureau is hosting a meeting for advice giving voluntary organisations working in the borough. It’s a chance to meet people from other local voluntary and community groups in order to network, learn from each other and discuss key issues.

Topics on the agenda this month include Tax Credits and the Advice Plus Project, which will be providing support to organisations across Walsall.

The meeting will be held at the Citizens’ Advice Bureau Training Room, 139-144 Lichfield Street, Walsall WS1 1SE on Monday 15 March from 10am to 12noon. Places are free, but limited, so please contact Gazanfer Ali by 13 March in order to reserve your place. Gazanfer can be contacted on 01922 700671 or by emailing gazanferali@cab.walsall.org.uk.

NHS Walsall Bidder Information Event

ian — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:03:53 +0000

NHS Walsall is currently advertising a contract for the operation, management and part-funding of an In-Patient Palliative Care Facility.

An information event for prospective bidders is being held on Thursday 11 March at the Village Hotel, Tempus Drive, Tempus Ten, Walsall WS2 8TJ, from 11:00am to 1:00pm. The event will provide potential bidders with the opportunity to clarify any points arising from the contract and to find out more about the procurement objectives and requirements of NHS Walsall.

To register for the event, please complete the registration form below and email it to procurement@walsall.nhs.uk.

PCC Bidder Event - Registration Form

Age Concern Walsall seeks Trustees

ian — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:21:01 +0000

Age Concern Walsall is a trusted charitable organisation within the borough that aims to improve the quality of life for older people by actively working to promote choice, independence, inclusion and dignity whilst working to overcome isolation, exclusion and discrimination.

The charity is now looking to recruit new members onto its Trustee Board. Trustees have ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of the charity and must ensure it is solvent, well run and delivers the charitable outcomes for older people within Walsall.

Age Concern Walsall is looking for Trustees who have the skills and experience to take forward the organisation’s aims and objectives and help to meet the inevitable challenges of supporting an ageing population. You must have a willingness to devote the necessary time and effort into effectively overseeing the Charity which will include attendance at monthly board meetings.

Age Concern Walsall offer a full induction programme so previous experience serving on a Board of Trustees is not necessary. However experience and skills in other professional environments will be essential - eg HR, Marketing, General Business & Finance.

To find out more about these challenging but rewarding positions, please telephone Davina Lytton, Chief Officer, for an informal chat. For an application form and job description please call Cheryl Cumbley 01922 638825 or email cheryl@ageconcernwalsall.org.uk.

Walsall Bite Size launches 2010 Directory

ian — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:12:13 +0000

A comprehensive guide to free adult learning taster sessions available across the borough of Walsall has been launched.

Walsall Bite Size is being promoted by the Walsall Lifelong Learning Alliance and the Black Country Learning and Skills Council to encourage adults into trying something different through short, free taster sessions.

Details of the sessions can be found in the new Walsall Bite Size Directory, which is being distributed to households and community facilities across the area. You can also view a copy of the Directory and catch up on the latest news by visting the Walsall Bite Size website here.

West Midlands Later Life Forum Launch Event

ian — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:18:02 +0000

The West Midlands Later Life Forum and Assembly will be holding their inaugural meeting on Monday 29^th March 2010 at Carrs Lane Church Centre, Birmingham. The Assembly and Forum will provide a regional voice for the views and aspirations of older people. If you are an older person or you currently work in the Local Authority, PCT’s, or voluntary and community organisations at local, regional or sub-regional level and have experience of later life issues your attendance is welcomed.

Please contact laterlife@gowm.gsi.gov.uk for more information on the event or to reserve your place.

Putting People First in Adult Care

ian — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:38:01 +0000

Walsall Council’s People First Team have published a briefing pack for local voluntary and community organisations on the personalisation of adult social care services.Personalised services are being introduced under the Putting People First initiative. This is an agreement between national and local government and other organisations about the changes required to adult social care to ensure that people have more choice and control over the social care services they receive.

The briefing pack outlines Walsall’s plans for self directed support, which is part of a national programme related to personalisation. Self directed support starts with the individual, rather than the service. Instead of a social worker or other professional assessing the individual and their needs, the individual will be supported to assess themselves. They will talk about what they need and want out of life and develop a support plan to achieve it. The person won’t be limited to the ‘usual’ type of services and support such as day care, home care or meals on wheels. They will be encouraged to think about different, less traditional ways of getting support, using family, friends, community groups and organisations.

The briefing pack provides an update on the operating model developed by the People First team - the “Citizen’s Journey”. To access the pack, please follow the links below.

An introduction to self directed support

What’s it all about?

The Citizen’s Journey

The Citizen’s Journey explained

Frequently Asked Questions

IYPSS Competitive Grants Programme placed on hold

ian — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:17:10 +0000

Walsall Children’s Trust has announced that the Integrated Young People’s Support Service Competitive Grants Programme is being placed on hold.

All current and potential applicants have been informed of the decision and the Trust will be announcing a new timescale for the programme shortly. Work is also being undertaken to align the grants programme with Walsall’s new neighbourhood management areas.

Walsall Voluntary Action will make sure that the sector is kept informed as to developments - so keep an eye on our website for further details!

Your chance to comment on Walsall’s Children and Young People’s Plan

ian — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:17:52 +0000

Walsall Children’s Trust is seeking comments on a draft ‘refreshed’ Children and Young People’s Plan. The three year plan is now in its second year of operation.Each year, the Trust reviews the progress made on the plan’s priorities and updates its analysis of local needs. As a result, the Trust have changed some of the success measures. These are shown in the refreshed plan, along with the key actions to deliver improved outcomes for children and young people in Walsall. A copy of the draft plan can be viewed by following the link below. The Trust is keen to hear your views on the refreshed version. If you have any comments, please email them to Laura Wells at wellsl@walsall.gov.uk, by 5^th March 2010.

The final refreshed plan will be approved by the Children and Young People’s Trust Executive Group on 31^st March 2010 and will be made available on the Children’s Trust website on 1^st April 2010.

Walsall Children and Young People’s Plan: Draft Refreshed Version