0-25 VCS Forum Newsletter -10th January 2024
If you work with children, young people and families within Dorset, we have all the latest news and updates for you.
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0-25 VCS Forum - join us for these upcoming events, TRAINING and meetings:
** 0-25 VCS Forum Information Session - Wednesday 24th January - 10 - midday **
We will hear from SAMEE - self employment support for young people and Healthwatch Dorset will give an update on their latest report, plus an update and follow on from our previous meeting on the DC Pathfinder Project - book your place here: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/...
** 0-25 VCS Forum - free training - Young Carers Awareness and Identification - Wednesday 28th February - 10am-midday - online via Zoom **
Outline: To support professionals to increase their confidence in identifying a young carer, including how to support them and what support is available. Who are young carers and what do they do. The impact of caring on a young person. What support young carers might need from professionals. The wider support offer for young carers.
This training aims to create a confident workforce - being able to identify and support young carers. Increase practical skills and awareness of how to support young carers. Book your place here: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/...
https://dorsetyouth.com/0-25-v...
For information and updates from the Dorset Council Children's Services Local Alliance Groups follow this link: 0-25 VCS Forum Meetings & Minutes (dorsetyouth.com)
A woman who founded an equine charity to help disadvantaged people has been made an MBE in the New Year Honours List. Harriet Laurie founded The Horse Course in 2010 to help people with anxiety and other issues and has trained others to set up similar sites across Britain - read more here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-... Huge congratulations to Harriet from the 0-25 VCS Forum
Advancing the Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly in Dorset - We are all involved in supporting one another in our communities – together we are the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS). Everyone in the VCS is a partner in the Assembly and everyone’s voice counts. The Dorset Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly (VCSA) aspires to greater representation of issues that are experienced by the VCS, creates stronger connections within the VCS, and facilitates increased networking and collaboration with partners from other sectors in the community. Dorset VCS Assembly – Our Dorset
Dorset Council Cost of Living Help - offers free, confidential and impartial support on money worries, accessing affordable food, housing and employment rights and looking after your mental health - find out more here: Cost of living help - Dorset Council
🌈❄️ January 2024 Space Youth Project newsletter (mailchi.mp)
The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a campaign to help improve school attendance in England. The campaign includes a communication toolkit to support schools in communicating with families. Find out more: Major national drive to improve school attendance Access the toolkit for schools (PDF): Attendance communications toolkit for schools
Foundations has published a news story on children experiencing domestic abuse in England and Wales. Findings from an analysis of existing NSPCC and ONS data estimate at least 827,000 children in England and Wales may have experienced domestic abuse by the end of 2023. Read the news story: Over 827,000 children estimated to have experienced domestic abuse this year, with concerns of increase at Christmas underscoring urgent need for stronger support
The National Children’s Bureau has published a review of youth diversion programmes in England and Wales. The programmes divert children away from the criminal justice process and through an alternative community-based intervention. Findings from research into diversion programmes show: various barriers and facilitators to engaging children and young people in diversion programmes; and access to diversion programmes can be unequitable. Recommendations include: empower children and young people’s voices throughout the diversion process; address ethnic disparity in diversion practices; and improve multi-agency collaboration. Read the report: Four ways to improve youth diversion
Groundbreaking programme for young adults with additional needs to expand across Dorset. Open Event’ this month (January) will showcase its successes. Following its first ‘incredible’ 18 months supporting young people in BCP, Autism Unlimited’s Futures programme is seeking to expand across Dorset and is inviting young people and their families to learn how they too can grow their confidence, seek employment and become active members of their communities.
Futures Programme** Round 4 of the Household Support Fund reopened for applications at 10am on Wednesday 3rd January for low income families in the Dorset Council area - read more here: Round 4 of the Household Support Fund reopens for applications - Dorset Council
** Utilita Giving - their aim is to aid people in fuel and food poverty in England, Scotland and Wales. Utilita Giving will support individuals, families and households who are experiencing fuel and/or food poverty across England, Scotland and Wales, and who meet the charity’s purpose and eligibility criteria. The charity will also support groups and organisations whose intentions match that of Utilita Giving, helping people in fuel and food poverty - read more here: About — Utilita Giving
** The 7stars Foundation - awards grants to charities supporting young people, aged 16 years and under, across the UK -
Our grants are targeted to further the potential and opportunity of children and young people who are surviving abuse, at risk of or experiencing homelessness, caring for a loved one, and challenged by addiction (either personally or through a member of their family) Coming deadlines are 31st January, 30th April and 31st August 2024 - Apply for Funding - the7stars foundation
** Garfield Weston Foundation - Grants are available to charitable organisations in the UK who are working in the areas of arts, community, education, environment, faith, health, museums and heritage, welfare and youth. The Foundation awards grants for capital, project and revenue costs to UK registered charities working within the UK. Home - Garfield Weston Foundation
** The Bernard Sunley Foundation - Grants of up to £5,000 are available to charities, specialist schools, CIOs, and other not-for-profit organisations including scout and guide groups, and housing associations, that are working to raise the quality of life for people in England and Wales - Funding for Projects that Raise People’s Quality of Life (England & Wales)
*** Full details of all of the above can be found here: Funding Homepage (dorsetyouth.com)
Crisis Tools Academy crisis lines
NHS England and People Unlimited (previously Healthy Teen Minds) are proud to deliver Crisis Tools Academy, a unique free online training programme that uses co-production to help crisis line workers develop their approach to supporting young people in a mental health crisis over the phone. - Crisis Tools Academy crisis lines - Crisis Tools Crisis Tools Academy is designed to amplify the voices of young people with experience of accessing crisis care, allowing you to better understand their needs, prepare for and manage key conversations and provide more effective and personalised support.
Online safety - NSPCC - Date: 07 February 2024
The NSPCC is holding a workshop about keeping children safe while gaming online as part of the NSPCC Game Safe Festival in February 2024. The workshop, for families and professionals working with children, takes place on 07 February 2024.
Visit the page: Game Safe Festival
Find out more: Workshop for parents, carers and those working with families
The 0-25 Knowledge Hub is part of our 0-25 VCS Forum and highlights our wonderful voluntary and community sector. It is for anyone working with and for children, young people and their families in Dorset. Check out the site here and make sure your organisation and service is included 0-25 Knowledge Hub Homepage (dorsetyouth.com) if you are not listed, contact us to ensure details of your service is Dorset are available
Kooth needs your response to support their service - At Kooth, we are committed to ensuring that our product and service best meets the needs of the communities that we serve, and shows our value within the local mental health ecosystem. To do this, we are keen to understand the views and perceptions of Kooth from our system-wide partners who refer or signpost into our service, specifically healthcare and education professionals within your area. As a healthcare or education professional, we would greatly value your input to this survey - it will take only a couple of minutes. If you are a commissioner, please forward this email on to relevant professionals within your area. We will use the feedback from the survey in our iterative development and improvement of our service. Understanding your expectations and need for Kooth will help us to review our current approach, support our further integration with local systems, and ensure our communication strategy reaches the right people at the right time. We would ask that you provide your response as soon as you can. Thank you for your engagement and supporting us to reach those who need us most.
The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has published the results of a survey on the mental health and wellbeing of schoolchildren. The survey was carried out with 7,498 11- to 16-year-olds and findings show: 7% of respondents reported feeling lonely often or always; 19% of respondents indicated they definitely have had concerns or worries about their mental health; and 65% of those who had concerns did not seek help. Read the news story: Young persons behaviour and attitudes survey 2022: mental health and wellbeing
NHS England has published new guidance on maternal postnatal consultations provided by GPs in England. The guidance aims to ensure more comprehensive mental and physical check-ups which include a review of the mother’s mental health and general wellbeing. Read the news story: NHS boosts health support for new mums Read the guidance: GP six to eight week maternal postnatal consultation – what good looks like guidance
The Department for Education (DfE) has published its response to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s report on safeguarding children with disabilities and complex health needs in residential settings in England. It sets out steps the government is taking around five key focus areas: keeping disabled children in residential settings safe; continuing to reform safeguarding; improving support in the community; commissioning places to live for disabled children; and developing a stable and well-trained workforce. The NSPCC Learning CASPAR briefing on this review has been updated to include the government’s response. Read the response: Safeguarding children with disabilities in residential settings: government response Read the CASPAR briefing: Safeguarding children with disabilities and complex health needs in residential settings
The UK Safer Internet Centre has created short films on online safety ahead of Safer Internet Day on 06 February 2024. The films are aimed at 3- to 18-year-olds and have been designed for professionals to use when running Safer Internet Day activities with children and young people. Find out more: Safer Internet Day 2024 films launched!
Artz+ Sportz+ February Half Term programme has now arrived hot off the press! View and download below.
View the full programme hereIf 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
Purbeck Youth and Community Foundation are looking for an experienced Youth & Community Family Worker for 18.5hours to support our work & community engagement. Purbeck Youth & Community Foundation work with 0-25 year olds, parents & carers and other organisations. we need adaptable people who want to support our local community. Closing date for applications 14th January 2024 - PYCF- Youth & Community Family Worker (dorsetyouth.com)
Purbeck Youth and Community Foundation are looking for an experienced Administrator / Receptionist for at least 12hours a week over 3 days. Purbeck Youth & Community Foundation work with 0 -25 year olds, parents & carers and other organisations. we need adaptable people who want to support our local community. Closing date for applications 14th January 2024 - PYCF- Administrator (dorsetyouth.com)
Vacancies & Voluntary Opportunities (dorsetyouth.com)
support local youth clubs
- Gillingham Youth Club Lead Youth Worker- This youth club is looking for a new lead youth worker, to see the full job description and how to apply visit our vacancies & voluntary opportunities page
- Blandford Youth Club- need a space to rent for activities or meetings? Blandford Youth club have space available for you to rent, lots of room to run small activities or office space to work and have meetings. To find out more please contact 01258 455 106
YOUTH CLUB SUPPORT
- Lead Youth Worker Peer Support Group- If you are a lead youth worker could do with some peer support from other Lead Youth Workers in the county then get in touch with Lilly from Dorset Youth. This is a fairly new group that tries to meet once a term to talk about currently challenges, best practice and advice. Our next meeting is on 12th January, to find out more please email clubssupport@dorsetyouth.com
- L2 Safeguarding & Online Safety- We still have spaces left on the next safeguarding course which is on 20th January at The Reef Youth Club in Colehill. This is a FREE training course for those that work with young people. To book your place click this link
- Connecting Youth Services to their Local McDonalds- Would you like to connect with your local McDonald's restaurant to develop and grow community relationships?
With the support of BBC Children in Need, McDonald's have linked with over 70 projects around the UK working with young people. There have been lots of fantastic examples that have benefited young people and the organisation involved. McDonald's hope to build on this success and connect with many more youth work organisations all over the UK, making their restaurants more welcoming for young people and supporting youth services in their area.
Support from the restaurant could include:
- Marketing/signposting for your project within the restaurant
- Delivering youth work activities in the restaurant and connecting with new young people
- Use of the restaurant space for meetings and get togethers
- Restaurant providing light refreshments for meetings and events
- Work experience opportunities and employability skills training
- McDonald's crew members volunteering to support local projects
- Restaurant delivering activities and initiatives such as business challenges, mentoring, coaching and sponsorship
- Marketing/signposting for your project within the restaurant