0-25 VCS Forum Newsletter -13th March 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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Hi Everyone, It is that time of year again when I need to plead with you all to please to take some time and complete our survey and share your thoughts on the work of the 0-25 VCS Forum. By spending a few minutes sharing your thoughts with us, you really can help support the work of the 0-25 VCS Forum and help us plan what we can offer for the coming year – so your feedback really is vital to our work. Please support us by following this link https://forms.gle/xXyS1wnpRD71463V7 - your time and support is truly appreciated. Thank you!! Lynne
** Dorset Council are holding a Partnership workforce event to focus on working together for children, families and communities and this is being held on the 21 March 10:00-12:30 at the George Albert Hotel, near Dorchester. All professionals working in the Dorset Council area are welcome to attend. To book on this event click here
** The NSPCC’s child safeguarding conference, How Safe 2024, takes place on 26 June. The theme for this year is: Working Together: securing a better future for our babies, children and young people. The conference will bring together thought leaders, government representatives and front-line workers to share the latest research and innovations in child protection to support practitioners to influence a national strategy for children. This event will be hosted online. Find out more: How Safe 2024 conference
** As you know both the national statutory guidance for working in partnership with people and communities and our local strategic approach include the 10 principles listed. As NHS Dorset start to think about refreshing their strategic approach and to help inform future planning – they would be very grateful if you could complete this form. MS Form – Working with partnership with people and communities in Dorset Your experiences, feedback and suggestions would be hugely helpful. Thank you so much in advance, Frances Aviss, Head of Engagement, NHS Dorset 07876 104752
** The Dorset Families Matter team want to hear all about the fabulous work you do with families. This information will feed into our annual submission of the Early Help system review.
- How involved are children, young people and families in shaping and running your service?
- How positive is your relationship with Dorset Council children’s services?
- How well are you connected to the local community?
And more………….. 5 minutes of your time, have your say!
Survey live: 1st – 29th March.
Link: 0-25 VCS Forum - Annual Early Help System Review - Have you say!
** As part of BCP Council’s “Knife Crime Awareness” month, an end of month event will be held in Bournemouth Town Centre on Saturday 18 May, from 11 am until 4 pm. We are looking for organisations and groups, to take part in the day, to celebrate and promote some of the amazing activities our young people (12 years +) get involved with. Are you a group who provide activities that young people participate in? For example, do you work with young people and maybe run an entertainment group, sports group, activity group, run a young person’s band or singing group etc.
If you would either: -
• like to have a free pitch, on 18 May, to promote or demonstrate an activity young people could take part in, or
• have a young people's band, choir, dance group etc, who would like to perform in the Town Centre,
please complete the form below, by 4th April and we will be in touch.
https://forms.office.com/e/3nTGyFE3gy
Julie Borthwick, Volunteer Coordinator – communities@bpccouncil.gov.uk
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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)
Read the article now - A new fun and safe space thanks to the #WillDoesBus - Dorset Council
What is the NHS England Youth Forum?
The NHS Youth Forum is a national forum for young people which has been running for over 10 years. The Forum uplifts young people’s voices and allows them to become involved with NHS England through designing and creating projects such as research and resources.
We are recruiting 25 young people to the Forum, aged 16-24 from across England. It is a voluntary position and requires commitment of around 4 hours per month (1-2 hours fortnightly) and 2 in-person residentials across the year.
The recruitment pack is attached to this email, below is a link for the Padlet which has all of the information a young person would need to apply!
https://padlet.com/VoiceandInfluence/NHSEYouthForum
What is the NHS Advisory Network?
The NHS Youth Advisory Network is a consultation role where policy makers and service providers will come to young people to ask for their opinions, feelings and feedback about services, resources, and projects they are working on or providing. We are looking for young people between 11 - 25 to help shape and influence healthcare services and decision making across England, helping to improve health for young people across the country.
The recruitment pack is attached to this email, below is a link for the Padlet which has all of the information a young person would need to apply!
https://padlet.com/VoiceandInfluence/NHSEYouthAdvisoryNetwork
If you know any young people who have an interest in the NHS & wider health sector, passionate about youth voice & advocacy and possess a willingness to learn and want to be part of a team to create positive change, please share this opportunity with them.
We welcome anyone and everyone from any background to apply!
If you have any questions please do contact us at this email address (NHSYouthForum@barnardos.org.uk)
NSPCC Learning's CASPAR update 12th March 2024 CASPAR weekly update (nspcc.org.uk)
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** abrdn Financial Fairness Trust - Standard Life Foundation changed its name to abrdn Financial Fairness Trust in 2021 following the sale of the Standard Life brand. - Grants are available for strategic work, including policy work, campaigning and research, which has the potential to improve financial wellbeing at a national scale in the UK, especially for those on low-to-middle incomes. Deadline 3rd June at 1pm
** The Woodward Charitable Trust Summer Play Scheme Grants 2024 - Grants of between £500 and £2,000 are available for locally-based UK registered charities with an annual turnover of under £100,000 - Closes midday 5th April
** Armed Forces Day Grants 2024 - Grants up to £10,000 are available to a range of UK organisations, including charities, community groups, local authorities and schools, for events that show support for UK servicemen and women, past and present, on or around Armed Forces Day on Saturday 29th June 2024 - Event Funding – Armed Forces Day . Application deadline: Monday 1st April 2024
** The Cosaraf Charitable Foundation Hardship Grants - Grants, generally of up to £500, are available to families and individuals across the United Kingdom that are facing financial hardship and who have exhausted all other options for financial support. Please note that applications must be made by an eligible third-party organisation on behalf of a family or individual - Home - Cosaraf Application deadline: none – applications may be made at any time by an eligible third-party organisations on behalf of a family or individual. Please note that the Foundation has stated that its Hardship Grants programme is often oversubscribed and that it may take longer than usual before it can respond.
** 7Stars Foundation is offering grants of up to £2,500 for registered charities with an annual turnover of less than £1.5 million across the UK to deliver projects and activities that support young people aged 16 years and under across the priority themes of abuse, addiction, child carers, and homelessness - Apply for Funding - the7stars foundation - now accepting applications for second 2024 funding round with a deadline of 30th April 2024
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** The HSE state: It may also be helpful to have people trained to identify and understand mental ill health symptoms who are able to support someone who is experiencing a mental health issue. You may decide that someone with an FAW or EFAW qualification is already able to provide initial support and reassurance to a worker experiencing an acute mental health episode, but you should consider if any further training is required. You should be satisfied that they:
- Know how to access professional help if necessary
- Can act promptly, safely and effectively until that help is available
The College will be running a range of Mental Health First Aid courses starting from April 2024:
Weymouth College are offering the following courses:
- Supervising First Aid for Mental Health – 2 day course. £250 per person. Ideally suited to supervisors or managers within your organisation.
- First Aid for Mental Health – 1 day course. £120 per person. We offer 2 different courses, one focussed on those working with adults and one focussed on those working with children and young people.
- Awareness of Mental Health – ½ day course. £55 per person. Suitable for all.
More information is available on our website https://www.weymouth.ac.uk/courses/mental-health-first-aid/ or please send us an email and we can send you detailed information including next available dates.
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- The Four Principles of the EYFS: presented by early years consultant and trainer Judith Twani. Judith explains the holistic way in which the four principles should work together to enable every child to have the best start in life, and looks at the key points that early years practitioners need to think about and incorporate into their practice. Order today for £49.
- The Prime Areas of Learning: presented by early years consultant Anne O’Connor. Anne examines the educational programme and Early Learning Goals for each Prime Area in the revised EYFS and considers the implications for your practice. Order today for £39.
- The Specific Areas of Learning: presented by early years consultants Helen Tate and Judith Twani. Helen gives a guide to Literacy and Mathematics, while Judith looks at Understanding the World and Expressive Arts & Design. Order today for £49.
- The Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning: presented by early years consultant and author Penny Tassoni. Penny considers the focus on the role of the adult in the revised EYFS framework and shows how the characteristics can help you reflect on the needs of individual children and also on your provision. Order today for £39.
- A New Vision for Outdoors: presented by early childhood landscape designer and Nursery World author Julie Mountain. Julie gives a step-by-step guide to developing your outdoor area in Evaluating your Outdoor Provision, Identifying Opportunities for Change, and Making and Managing Changes. Order today for £39.
- Early Years Curriculum: presented by leading early years specialist and member of the advisory group for the revised EYFS Jan Dubiel. Jan looks at what we mean by an early years curriculum and how we construct one; how progression can be ensured by its coverage and depth; and at assessment – how do we know that children know what they know? Order today for £39.
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**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
** The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has published a podcast episode on online safety and child sexual abuse. The podcast discusses new research into offenders’ use of end-to-end encrypted apps to contact children or share and find child sexual abuse imagery. Read the news story: How online predators use privacy apps. New podcast episode from the IWF Listen to the podcast: In conversation with - an IWF podcast
** 🌈🌸 March 2024 Space Youth Project newsletter (mailchi.mp)
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**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
STARS Dorset is a growing, independent charity supporting those living, working or studying in Dorset who have been affected by sexual violence and/or domestic abuse. We support approximately 3600 unique individuals every year with our specialist support services, enabling them to start their own journey of recovery. Over the past 5 years we have seen increasing demand for our frontline services and we are now looking for a Treasurer to lead on the financial governance and compliance of our charity.
This is an exciting time to join our talented and friendly Board. The role provides the opportunity for the right candidate to use their experiences and skills, to help shape and steer our charity in its next phase of development to ensure our future sustainability and growth.
We expect all staff and volunteers to model and support our values of integrity, excellence, supportive, determination, and innovative. As an integral part of our team, you will be committed to making a difference for those affected by sexual violence and domestic abuse
As a charity that values and celebrates people’s diversity and champions opportunities for all, we welcome applications from all sectors of the community. We believe that a diverse organisation is one that is more innovative, more creative and achieves better results.
STARS Dorset is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Any offer of employment will be subject to receipt of a satisfactory DBS Enhanced Disclosure and acceptable references.
To apply for the role please visit our website www.starsdorset.org/jobs where you will find more information about the role, an application form and Trustee skills audit form. For more information about the role please contact our CEO, Helen Stevens, on 01202 308856 or email her: helen.stevens@starsdorset.org.
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Vacancies & Voluntary Opportunities (dorsetyouth.com)
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YOUTH CLUB SUPPORT
**Youth Work FREE Training- we will be releasing the next dates for the Youth Work Training Days soon as well as the L2 Safeguarding and Introduction to Youth Work dates for the next financial year. we still have some spaces left on current Safeguarding and Introduction to Youth Work to find out more visit our Eventbrite page https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/...
**Peer Support for Lead Youth Workers or Managers- we are holding our 3rd peer support group lead youth workers/managers on 15th April at Verwood Youth Club from 11am-12:30. If you are a lead youth worker and could do with some extra support to talk through things and get advice from like minded professionals then please get in touch with lillymarkwell@dorsteyouth.com to find out how to be involved.
**Bursaries for youth work training places in 2024. Up to five hundred bursaries for training places on youth work courses are on offer through the NYA and Regional Youth Work Units.
The bursary scheme opens up exciting opportunities in the youth work profession, as well as the chance to specialise in different areas of youth work, or progress into a leadership role. Simply complete a short form to find out what is available in your local area.