This page contains the latest information about items of interest to the Voluntary Community and Faith Sector in Knowsley 

ADULT LEARNING CLASSES

If you are interested in gaining academic qualifications in subjects like Computing, Sign Language or German, or simply want to find an exercise class like Legs, Bums and Tums or get involved in a new hobby like flower arranging or beauty therapy, then this could been what you've been waiting for! A variety of classes take place across Knowsley to suit a range of interests. Much more than can be listed here! Classes begin Monday 12th April 2010. Please click the 'Family and Community Education' link at the very bottom of this page.

Rare Wildlife Habitat To Get New Lease of Life

BTCV Merseyside and local conservation volunteers will be starting the regeneration of a nationally rare wildlife habitat with the help of a grant awarded by The Veolia Environmental Trust.
The Trust's grant of £14,000 has been awarded through the Landfill Communities Fund to help finance the regeneration of the Lowland Heath at Pex Hill in Cronton.
Over years, the heathland area has been encroached by bracken, bramble and other scrub species that have out competed the heather and gradually caused the decline of original heathland plants.
BTCV volunteers will remove these plants and replant with heather to restore the area to its former heathland glory.
The United Utilities-owned site represents 27 per cent of Merseyside's lowland heath and is one of 42 similar sites nationally that the government considers a high ecological importance. It figures significantly in local biodiversity action plans.
Neil McMahon, BTCV Merseyside Project Manager, said: "The regeneration of the area will help to restore the heath to its former glory, preserving another valuable habitat for wildlife and a valuable green space for local people to enjoy.
"BTCV is very greatful for the financial assisstance from The Veolia Environmental Trust which is helping to regenerate this valuable site".
The Executive Director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, Margaret Cobbold, added: "The Trust works to support community and environmental projects across the UK.
"This scheme will have a double benefit - it will protect and preserve an important habitiat and will also create a greenspace for people to enjoy. I look forward to seeing the work completed.'

Leadership Development Programme - Phase 2

The Leadership Development Programme is part of a series of programmes for managers and leaders in the young people's workforce. It is specifically for middle managers in third sector and local authority services who are ready to become the service leaders of the future. Successful participants will play a crucial role as champions for the wider reform programme within the young people's workforce.

This programme is designed to develop leaders of the future. It is aimed at managers in third sector organisations and local authority services for young people who are ready to take the next step up into formal positions of leadership. The programme aims to build capacity in the sector. It is therefore less relevant to managers who are in the later stages of their careers or those that have already completed leadership development programmes. There are only 150 places available in Phase 2 of the programme, allocated to statutory and third sector organisations. Delivery will be through 6 regional cohorts. We expect demand for this programme to be very high. If you are interested, it suggested you apply immediately. Courses will run between April and June 2010.

Click here to download the brochure.
Click here to download the application form.
Visit www.fpmonline.co.uk for more information.

Commissioning of Positive Activities for Young People in Knowsley

Greater Merseyside Connexions invites proposals for the delivery of PAYP in Knowsley from April 2010 to March 2011

We are interested in receiving proposals from organisations who can deliver positive activities to support at risk young people aged 11-16

The closing date for the submission of Proposals is Monday 8th March 2010
For more information or a commissioning pack please email: rachel.hives@connexionslive.com.

Alternatively, click here for the PAYP proposal pack.
Click here for guidance.
Click here for the tender specification.

KNOWSLEY CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S PARTNERSHIP

This briefing is aimed at all organisations working in Knowsley who come into contact with children and young people across the Borough. The briefing highlights the revision of two key documents which are essential reading for organisations that provide support to children and young people.

Knowsley's Children and Young People's Plan is the critical framework for all of us involved in delivering services to our children and young people across Knowsley. This revised document updates the 2007/10 plan to reflect recent performance and Government policy, and extends its delivery to 2011. In doing so the Children & Young People's Partnership has:

Reviewed the impact of services and the impact on children during 2007/08
Assessed need by listening to what children, young people, families and staff have told us
Evaluated the external assessment of our performance from inspection information; and
Identified areas where most improvement is needed

Click here for Knowsley Children and Young People's Strategic Plan 2009-2011 (pages 1-26)
Click here for Knowsley Children and Young People's Strategic Plan 2009-2011 (pages 27-80)
Click here for the Workforce Stategy 2009-2011

Further support
If your organisation needs any further support to align the services you provide to the collective priorities of the Children and Young People's Partnership please contact:

Workforce and Organisational Development Team
1st Floor Huyton Hey Road
Huyton
L36 5YH

Alternatively please contact 0151 443 5623 or 0151 443 3229 or email glenys.hurst@knowsley.gov.uk

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SKILLS PLEDGE PLUS TRAINING BURSARY WORKSHOP

A Skills Pledge Plus training bursary workshop will be taking place across Merseyside at Kirkby Unemployed Centre on Wednesday 24th February. VOLA can offer £1,000 training bursaries to voluntary, community and faith organisations that sign the Skills Pledge to pay for learning and skills development of staff and volunteers.

Click here for more information about the event.
Click here for a booking form for the workshop.

To find out more about making the Skills Pledge and unlocking £1,000 contact Helen Stephens on 0151 285 4011 or email info@volamerseyside.org.uk

Volunteer of the Year Awards

Do you have a young volunteer who deserves a big thank you for the work they've put in for you? Why not nominate them for a Volunteer of the Year Award? Just answer three quick questions on the downloadable form below.

The V Oscars will be held in Huyton Suite, 7pm, Wednesday 3 March. Book your places now!

Email c.georgeson@knowsleycvs.org or call Cathy on 0151 489 1222

For more information click here.

BBC CHILDREN IN NEED SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME

BBC Children in Need announce the launch of a Small Grants Programme.  For more information click here.

BECOME A VOLUNTEER FAMILY MENTOR

Having difficulty finding a job?

Need work experience and training?

Want to put something back into the community?

Why not become a volunteer family mentor? Knowsley Council are running a volunteer family mentor training programme delivered by Knowsley CVS.  For more information click here.  

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Network Rail's No Messin! Programme 

The programme is offering groups the chance to win £200 and an all expenses paid residential. Has your group got an idea? If you do, you can get money to make it happen. Click here for more information. 
 

Free Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults Alerter Workshop

This workshop is recommended for all staff and volunteers working with the general public, or with children and their families or other vulnerable groups. Through the work of the training company Aftathought, scenarios will be acted out and characters will interact with the audience. This day promotes the message that safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults is everyone's responsibility.

Please email training.&conferencecentre@knowsley.gov.uk for an application form and click here for more information.

VINVOLVED KNOWSLEY  

The v team has achieved successful completion of REACH, the quality practice framework for youth action agencies from the national body Youth Action Network.  

v Oscars, 3rd March 2010, have you got your free ticket? Email Cathy at c.georgeson@knowsleycvs.org to reserve places for your organisation and young volunteers.

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GROWING PLACES KNOWSLEY

If you are a keen outdoor enthusiast, interested in learning how to grow things, keen to make a positive impact on the community of Knowsley or enjoy learning for learning's sake then get in touch with Growing Places Knowsley.

Projects are taking place in Kirkby, Prescot, Halewood and Huyton.

For more information please click here or contact Helen or Graham at KPAC on 0151 481 0047.

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COMMUNITY COHESION IN KNOWSLEY 

The borough's Community Cohesion strategy was formally launched on the 30th November in the Huyton Suite and sets out the Knowsley Partnership's ambitions to develop strong community cohesion throughout our communities. Partners from a wide range of agencies and sectors have been involved in its development and our community, voluntary and faith organisations, who are at the very heart of our communities, will play a key role in its success.

If your organisation would like some training or further information on what the strategy means for you, please contact Linda Richings on 0151 489 1222 or e-mail linda.richings@knowsleycvs.org. Similarly, if you have a project idea you would like to discuss or plans already underway that we can help you profile, please let me know.

To download Knowsley's Community Cohesion Strategy please click here.

The Health Work and Well-being Challenge Fund is a grant scheme of £4million funded by the Department for Work and Pensions. Small and medium sized businesses and local partnerships can apply for grants to set up new projects that improve workplace health and welfare. For more information click here.

Ofsted ‘Inspections of Safeguarding Children and Looked After Children Services - framework for inspection and guidance for local authority partners'.

The framework and guidance set out in this document are for the inspections of
outcomes and services for safeguarding children and young people and outcomes
and services for looked after children and care leavers that are provided either singly
or jointly by local authorities and their partners.

click here to download a copy

Developing the Regional Strategy

RS2010 provides the NW with a unique opportunity to bring together its spatial, economic,
social and environmental strategies and build a new long term vision for the region. The goal is
to produce an agreed strategy which will guide action and investment by Business, National
and Local Government and the Voluntary and Community Sectors.

This event will look at Part 1 of RS2010 which has been produced following the consultation on
the Issues & Principles Paper during 2009.

At this free event partners from the key regional agencies will give a brief overview on RS2010
and a presentation on the key points in Part 1. You will have the opportunity to feedback to
regional partners and this offers us an opportunity to discuss the shared priorities important to
Greater Merseyside's development.

Click here to download further information.

Venue: Blackburne House, Off Hope Street, Liverpool, L8 7PE

Bookings & event details: linzi@changeupmerseyside.org.uk or 0151 920 0726 x318

This event is FREE however prior booking is required

Family and Community Education

To register or to find out more visit

www.knowsleycommunitymessaging.org

or call the Community Messaging Administrator on 0151-777 6217