0-25 VCS Forum Newsletter - 12th February 2025
0-25 VCS Forum Newsletter - 12th February 2025
Dear 0-25 VCS Forum members,
Welcome to YOUR 0-25 VCS Forum February 2025 Newsletter!
This issue is packed with local sector news, events, training and funding opportunities!
You can also book to join us at our next 0-25 VCS Forum General Meeting, a Face 2 Face event at the Dorset Youth HQ in Dorchester, we look forwarding to seeing you all!!
NEWSLETTER SIGN UPNational Apprenticeship Week
This week is all about celebrating apprenticeship opportunities, and what better way than to mention our own apprentice? Qasim is currently working on a L2 Customer service apprenticeship through Dorset Council and is doing a placement with us. We are so grateful to be a part of helping young lives and their careers.
QASIM'S STORY More on NAW
0-25 VCS FORUM GENERAL MEETING
0-25VCS Forum General Meeting is now ready to be booked! - Date changed to 11th March (24th February cancelled)
Please join us for a Face 2 Face meeting at Dorset Youth office. It's a great chance to meet the new Dorset Youth team, join other VCS members, network, share best practice and hear the latest funding updates available from the Dorset Wide LAGs. We will also be presenting the results of the 'How Can Dorset Youth Help? question and answer session held at Kingston Maurward in January, and then sharing training dates and some exciting plans to support the 0-25 VCS for the year ahead!
09:15 am Attendees are welcome to arrive
09:30 am New Team & New 0-25 VCS Member intros, sector and funding news.
10.30 am Break
10:45 am 'How Can Dorset Youth Help? Q & A findings, training opportunities and plans for the year ahead!
12.00 pm Meeting closes , Networking!
Date: 11th March 2025 (moved from 24th February)
Location: Dorset Youth, Lubbecke Way, Dorchester
Artz+ Sportz+ Xtra programme- half term
School holiday arts and sports events for Dorset children who are disabled and their families including:
Artz & Bounce Sensory, Bounce ‘n Sportz Sensory, BIG Drawing Fun & Games, See a show: Wonderful World by Squashbox Theatre
MORE INFO BOOKING INFORMATIONCOMMUNITY SPACES NETWORKING
Date: Wednesday 26th February
Time: 5.30pm - please note the new time.
Where: Online via zoom
Cost: Free
This networking event will be about dealing with big bills in winter time. We will be looking at options for changing tariffs and reducing the amount used. Plus ACRE knows best; looking at ACRE's information sheet on Gambling and lotteries which are often used as fundraisers. We will have updates and the opportunity to "ask the experts".
Our guest speaker is Julie Johns, Big Energy Project, who will talk about how to support people who may be at risk of fuel poverty.
EVENTS CALENDAR
Dorset Community Action have lots of events listed up until July. From safeguarding training to Maker's Markets, you can access these activities on their handy calendar.
EVENTS CALENDARSPORT IN MIND CALENDAR 2025
Sport In Mind's free sessions are open to anyone 17+ experiencing mental health problems and carers. The sessions are lots of fun, for all abilities and drop-in sessions, so no need to book and no referral required. The sessions are all delivered by a qualified instructor and all equipment will be provided. Carers, friends and family are more than welcome to accompany participants to the first couple of sessions – the more the merrier!
All that is asked is anyone attending for the first time completes a participant form, which you can find through the button below.
#WILLDOES PRESENTATION EVENING & AGM
#Willdoes will be hosting their AGM later next month at The Bear in Wareham. It promises to be a night of uplifting success stories, networking and canapés! To find out more information and to RSVP, follow the button below.
#WILLDOES AGMCLOSET NIGHT FOR ADULTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES
Closet Weymouth and Ema Social Care are doing an event in Weymouth!
Please note this event is 18+
MORE INFO0-25 VCS Forum Events and Training
LATEST GRIN FUNDING NEWS
LATEST DORSET COUNCIL FUND FINDER NEWS
Have you signed up to get regular funding updates from Dorset Council?
It’s easy!
click on this link to register and get all the local funding opportunities direct to your mailbox!
DORSET FUNDFINDERFUNDING FOR FOOD REDISTRIBUTION CHARITIES JUST ANNOUNCED
£15 million food surplus fund now open for applications. Food redistribution charities can submit applications for grants starting at £20,000.
MORE INFORMATIONACTION HAMPSHIRE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
There are a range of projects and associated funding opportunities that are currently on offer through Action Hampshire to voluntary and community groups in the Dorset area. The Action Hampshire website is currently under maintenance, but the below button will take you to a form where you can learn more about these opportunities.
LGBT+ HISTORY MONTH
The theme for February 2025 is Activism and Social Change.
Throughout history LGBT+ people have been activists and helped shape and create social change, advancing society for everyone using many different approaches to activism. Below is some more information about what Schools Out is doing this month.
VIDEO MORE INFORMATION
OUR TRAINING
FREE TRAINING FOR SAFEGUARDING LEADS
Date: Wednesday 26th February
Time: 10.30am
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free
Join our two-hour session for community safeguarding leads to learn about practical requirements and implementation.
FREE INFANT MENTAL HEALTH COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK TRAINING (IMHCF) LEVEL 1
DORSET SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN PARTNERSHIP TRAINING
Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership have a wide range of courses happening in the near future. To learn more and book yourself onto some training, follow the button below:
TRAINING BOOK HERETHE FRIENDLY FOOD CLUB- LET'S GET DORSET COOKING!
CARBON LITERACY TRAINING FOR TOWN AND PARISH COUNCILS
only £60 (plus booking fee), including the Carbon Literacy accreditation fee.
There are upcoming courses running in March and April with spaces - book your place now!
This Carbon Literacy course and accreditation equips town and parish clerks, staff, councillors and community group leaders with the understanding of their roles and of their influence in relation to the need to reduce carbon impact. It provides the information they need to communicate the significance of climate change, and the changes needed to address the climate emergency.
Learn the latest climate science and impacts; the global, national and local policies and action plans; and discuss what we can do collectively to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for known climate impacts in Dorset.
Gain Carbon Literacy certification and join the facilitation team delivering online and in-person training.
Please let them know if you have any questions or would appreciate a concessionary rate.
They are also able to run bespoke courses for local councils who wish to train a number of councillors and staff at once, and can offer reduced packages to suit your needs, so let them know if you are interested.
BOOK HERE MORE INFORMATION'GAMING AND GAMBLING' Harm Prevention WORKSHOPS
Ygam is an award-winning charity with a mission to prevent children and young people from experiencing gaming and gambling harms through awareness raising, education and research. Through a portfolio of evidence-based programmes, we develop and deliver training and resources for a range of groups who have influence over children and young people.
Follow the buttons below to find out more and book training.
YGAM HARM PREVENTION PROGRAMME YGAM FOR PARENTS AND CARERS YGAM FOR UNI STUDENTSCALLING FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS
RESOURCE INFO HERE
Stormbreak been working hard over the last few years to help children find ways to understand, recognise, and talk about their emotions and develop ways through mentally healthy movement so they can manage and regulate these helping them face their day to day challenges. Unfortunately, they are hearing more about the increase in struggles that young children face around worry, anxiety, going to school, building healthy relationships and, on top of this, children are moving less. We can do so much more!
Kai’s stormbreak story is drawn from our real world insight, evidence and impact. It tells of a young boy who is initially struggling with managing his emotions and through stormbreak shows the positive impact that mentally healthy movement can have on a child as they grow and develop. They’re thrilled that broadcaster and TV personality Adele Roberts narrated it.
SPOTLIGHT ON VAPING
An article about ensuring staff and pupils have the knowledge and skills to understand the risks and environmental effect of vapes and other nicotine products. Useful links at the end of the article.
WEBSITEFREE HPV VACCINES FOR 16-24 YEAR OLDS
Dorset HealthCare is running HPV vaccination catch-up clinics throughout February and March 2025, and we want to ensure that as many eligible young people as possible take up this vital opportunity.
Many young people missed having the HPV vaccination at school because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are trying to reach these young people, to help them get protected.
HPV vaccinations help to protect all genders from genital warts and HPV-related cancers, including penile, anal, vaginal, cervical, and throat cancer.
The NHS in Dorset are running drop-in clinics for:
✅ Females born on or after 1 September 1991 (up to age 24)
✅ Males born on or after 1 September 2006 (up to age 16 and 17, and some 18-year-olds)
✅ Transgender individuals aged 16–24
DORSET POLICE
JOB VACANCY
**If you are working within the VCS in Dorset with or for children, young people and families and would like to your job vacancies and volunteering opportunities, email the details and we will add them here free - 0-25vcs@dorsetyouth.com
YOUTH CLUB SUPPORT
Snooker Table up for grabs- a local person in Dorchester has a 3/4 size snooker they wish to donate to a local youth club or setting, it comes with cues, balls and scoring board. The snooker table will need to be collected and will require a least two people as it is very heavy to move. If your youth club is interested please get in touch via this email clubsupport@dorsetyouth.com
Days for Girls, is turning periods into pathways. They increase access to menstrual care and education by developing global partnerships, cultivating Social Enterprises, mobilizing volunteers and innovating sustainable solutions that shatter stigma and limitations for women and girls. We have a small team local team who make and donate re-usable period products who make and donate re-usable period products through the charity Days for Girls. Our kits can contain a combination of: - re-usable, washable pads - a menstrual cup - a small number of disposable pads and tampons Would you be interested in a small donation of these kits for you to share with girls? if so contact Liz on dorchesteruk@daysforgirls.org
Days for GirlsYOUTH OPPORTUNITIES
Relationship and Sex Education questionnaire- We’re aiming to gather as many views as possible from young people aged 11-18 years old (Years 7-11, sixth form and college) on RSE lessons in school. This includes what works well, what is missing, and other ways they would like to learn about sexual health, healthy relationships and safe sex. The questionnaire is confidential, but some of the feedback gathered will be used to help shape improvements to RSE lessons in school across the county in future.
Please help us to reach as many young people as possible by sharing the questionnaire and help encourage young people to share their views on RSE lessons. The questionnaire will close on Friday 7th March.
QuestionnaireRoutes Into Music will be an engaging conference day for students to explore the diverse career opportunities within the music industry.Students will be able to meet expert professionals, and take part in interactive workshops, panel events and demos to explore the range of careers, and routes into the industries.
The event is open to students who attend Dorset state schools and educational settings and those who are educated at home.
- NEW DATE: Tuesday 29th April 2025
- Time: 10am-3pm
- Venue: Kingston Maurward College
