0-25 VCS Forum Newsletter -27th 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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*** Dates for your diary! ***
0-25 VCS Forum General Meetings
* Tuesday 30th April 2024
* Monday 15th July 2024
* Tuesday 8th October 2024
* Monday 10th February 2025
All of the above meetings will be held face to face starting at 10am (refreshments and time to chat from 9.30am). Information for each meeting will be sent closer to the date along with the booking link.
** National Youth Service Census
Why should you complete the Census?
· It will make you more visible to decision makers and funders as well as other organisations.
· It will show where you are doing good work – as well as where there are gaps in your area to help NYA make the case for more investment in youth work.
· The Census is located on the Youth Work One platform, which is a one stop shop for training, resources and events for the sector.
· On Youth Work One you will be able to use the interactive digital map of current youth work provision so you can see what other youth work is taking place in your area.
How do you complete it?
· First you need to register on Youth Work One. You can access guidelines to help you here
· Get all the information you need to complete your Census here
· Complete your Census return on Youth Work One – it shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes
When’s the deadline?
Please complete the Census by 31 March 2024
Click here to find out more and complete your Census now!
For more information, please email census@nya.org.uk
** Holiday activities and food programme. Information for local authorities who will receive funding to support disadvantaged children during the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays.
** Preparing for child's future - Following the success of the last event, Dorset Council want to invite you to join the next Let’s Talk: SEND in Dorset online event on 17 April at 12 pm. During this session, we will be looking at the theme of “preparing for your child’s future.” The event will include some short talks by our team on things such as Supported Internships and post-16 provision. There will also be plenty of time for Q&A. You can sign up for event by clicking here. If you have any questions for the session, feel free to submit them anonymously in advance. Simply visit this link to pre-submit your queries. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions live in the session as well. We understand that some of you may have work commitments during the event. Not to worry! We will provide a post-event recording, along with a write-up summarising the key takeaways.
** The Dorset Innovation Hub’s Summit takes place on Tuesday 18 June 2024 at the Dorset Museum, Dorchester. The event is for anyone seeking to adopt and spread proven innovation in health and care; including voluntary & community sector, charities, health and care professionals, decision makers and influencers of NHS & social care services, academia, local authority staff, and industry. Participate in a range of interactive workshops, explore stands and network with colleagues who are working to improve the adoption of proven innovation. Find out more and book here: Dorset Innovation Hub Summit June 2024 Tickets, Tue 18 Jun 2024 at 09:30 | Eventbrite
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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)
** Dorset’s neurodiversity information hub is now live! http://www.nhsdorset.nhs.uk/neurodiversity We hope it will be a valuable resource for our neurodivergent community in Dorset. We’ve produced an information article and supporting resources (including digital/printable posters + social media graphics) to support the launch.
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** Useful information and advice for parents and carers - including Easter activities, Dealing with Parental Anxiety and Creating a Balanced Gaming Life for your Child - Family Lives Newsletter March 2024 (mailchi.mp)
** Revealed: homeless children spending entire lives in temporary housing in England. Thousands of families have not found permanent accommodation for more than a decade, according to alarming new research
** For those working in the BCP area - The UK Government is continuing to provide food support during the Easter holiday under the Household Support Fund. BCP Council Family Information Service can provide a £30 food voucher for eligible pre-school age children living in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole. Request for Easter 2024 holiday food vouchers - Household Support Fund – closes 11pm on Wednesday 27th March.
** £35 million investment to boost maternity safety - England Press Release Almost £35 million will be invested to improve maternity safety across England with the recruitment of additional midwives and the expansion of specialist training to thousands of extra healthcare workers.
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** Family disputes to be resolved faster through extra £170 million investment into the justice system Press Release As part of the package announced last week, £100 million will be invested in measures in prison designed to support rehabilitation and cut crime, such as schemes to help offenders find work on release. The investment will also be used to hire more staff and refurbish the workshops prisoners rely on to learn the skills that will turn them away from crime.
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** The NSPCC has published a news story about contacts to Childline and mental health. New data shows Childline delivered 14,253 counselling sessions about low mood or unhappiness with children who contacted the service over the past year. This comes as Childline launches its new campaign ‘Find Your Calm’ encouraging children to learn different ways of coping with frequent low mood. Read the news story: Childline receives nearly 40 contacts per day from children who feel unhappy
** Tens of thousands of children and young people are at risk of being exploited across the UK – groomed, coerced and threatened into a life of violence, criminalisation and abuse. A new approach is needed to end this crisis. In response to this crisis, Action for Children launched the Jay Review of Criminally Exploited Children in November 2023. Our aim was to learn from what’s working well to protect children from exploitation and determine what more can be done. The Jay Review of Criminally Exploited Children | Action For Children
** The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a report on children’s access to mental health services from 2022 to 2023. An analysis of NHS England data shows: 949,200 children in England had active referrals to Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) at any point within the 2022-23 financial year; of these children and young people, 28% were still waiting at the end of the year. Reasons for referral included anxiety, depression and self-harm. Read the report: Children’s mental health services 2022-23
** Ofcom has published three new research reports on children’s experiences of harmful content online exploring: violent content; content related to suicide, self-harm and eating disorders; and cyberbullying. The reports look at children’s pathways to harmful content and highlight a lack of trust and confidence by children and young people in safety measures and tools to report harmful online content. These research reports will form part of the evidence base used by Ofcom to draft new codes of practice to help tech firms meet their responsibilities to keep children safer online under the Online Safety Act. Read the reports: Protection of children online, research Read the news story: Encountering violent online content starts at primary school
** Unpaid carer’s leave - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) IMPORTANT: Prepare for change in law April 2024 Coming into effect 6th April 2024, working carers, i.e. staff balancing paid work and caring responsibilities, will have the right to take off up to five days’ unpaid Carers Leave each year. All employers will need to be ‘Act-ready’.
They will have the same employment protections associated with other forms of family-related leave, such as maternity leave etc. The leave can be taken flexibly, in full or half days, or up to a block of a whole week.
This new legislation highlights the importance of employers reviewing their current workplace policies and practices to ensure that there is a clear understanding of what it means to be a carer and communicating this clearly within your workplace.
** The PDSCP have published their annual report covering the period April 2022-March 2023 and it is available here to read. The joint Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) between the PDSCP and Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership have also now published their annual report covering the period April 2022-March 2023 and it is available here to read.
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** Police Funding to Reduce Antisocial Behaviour and Increase Public Safety in Dorset - The Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is offering grants of between £100 and £5,000 for community groups, charities, and community interest companies to deliver projects and activities that reduce incidences of antisocial behaviour and increase public safety in Dorset.
The Operation Relentless Community Fund will support projects that reduce antisocial behaviour, increase public feeling of safety in areas disproportionately affected by antisocial behaviour, and:
- Have a local focus.
- Bring a real, lasting difference to the area.
- Can be delivered within 12 months.
Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Specificity: Initiatives must deliver outputs and outcomes relating to the purpose of the fund.
- Deliverability: Projects employing either innovative or proven approaches that are likely to address and deliver the desired outcomes of the funding within the grant period.
- Working in partnership: Priority will be given to applications from consortia of providers or partnerships between the VCSE sector and private/public sector partners. Projects involving co-production with other agencies and/or with users of a service will also be prioritised.
- Sustainability: Priority will be given to initiatives that have clear exit plans for sustainability or are self-sustaining.
This fund is being delivered as part of the Police and Crime Plan 2021 to 2029. The deadline for applications is 22 April 2024 (midday). Find out more here: Operation Relentless Community Fund - Anti Social Behaviour · Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner (pcc.police.uk)
** The Ironmongers’ Company wishes to support projects that provide opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people to fulfil their potential - Funding to Enable Disadvantaged Young People Reach their Potential (UK). Registered charities (including Schools that are registered as charities for young people with disabilities) that work with disadvantaged children under the age of 25 can apply for funding of up to £10,000. The deadlines for receipt of applications are 15 December and 31 July respectively.
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** New Funding Opportunity for the Youth Homelessness Sector (UK). Comic Relief expects to launch a new funding opportunity in April for organisations that specialise in providing support to young people aged 16-25 in the UK, who are at risk of, or experiencing homelessness. This will be for organisations that are already working in this area. Further funding criteria is being developed. More information about the funding and the application process will be made available in April 2024.
** One Stop Stores Ltd Community Partnership Grants - Grants of up to £1,000 are available to a wide range of organisations in England, Scotland and Wales for local good causes that address food poverty, support low-income families, older people and those living in a neighbourhood who are disadvantaged and vulnerable. Environmental, recycling and reducing waste initiatives, as well as youth sports teams, may also be funded. Projects must be based in an area in which a One Stop Store is currently accepting applications. Closing date - 26th April 2024
** The Peter Harrison Foundation Opportunities Through Sport and Physical Activity Programme - Small Grants of up to £5,000 and Major Grants of between £5,001 and £30,000 are available to UK registered charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) for sports-based projects providing sport and physical activity opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people and/or people with a disability. Application deadline: MONDAY 1st APRIL 2024. Further application deadlines for 2024 are provided in the main article below.
** THE YOUTH MUSIC ENERGISER FUND – 10 grants, each for up to £120,000, are available over a 3-year period for arts organisations in England for activities that support the delivery of projects which explore, energise and celebrate creative practice with 2-4-year-olds across a range of art forms. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 5th April 2024 - Energiser Fund | Youth Music
** Dorset Welcome Fund - Grants of up to £5000 for community groups offering activities and services to welcome and support refugees/asylum seekers of any nationality who are arriving, residing or settling in Dorset. Please note: Grants cannot support activities that are supporting residents of Bibby Stockholm in Portland. If your proposed activities include participants from Bibby Stockholm please apply instead for funding available from Dorset Council: Community Connection Fund - Dorset Council - closing date - midday 3rd May
** Grants for young people with sporting talent - Closes midday 5th April - Grants of up to £2000 to young people age 14 - 21 who have an exceptional sporting talent but are struggling to meet the costs of progression. We can support with kit/clothing, competition fees, coaching, travel costs and accommodation (not an exhaustive list).
Applicants need to send a completed application, a recent bank statement and 2 letters of support (one ideally from a representative of the National Governing Body of their sport) For more information, please CLICK HERE
** SWEF Enterprise and Business Fund - applicants can apply at any time - We offer Enterprise and Business grants of up to £2000 to young people age 18 - 30 who need financial support to take next steps in a new business in its first 2 years. For more information, please CLICK HERE
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** Free training for volunteers from the Red Cross - Sally Blackmore is the Community Education co-ordinator for the region and would like to make your community groups aware of the wellbeing and First Aid workshops we offer to free of charge.
Adults:
Adult 1st Aid – gives participants the skills and confidence to help in a first aid emergency
Adapt & Recover – looks at practical and emotional strategies to build resilience and recover from challenges.
Supporting Connections – provides basic training for volunteers and others in supporting roles who work with people who might experience loneliness.
Youths (aged 10 – 19)
Youth 1st Aid - participants learn essential first aid skills - building confidence and willingness to help someone in an emergency using everyday objects
Coping with Challenges - this resilience-building workshop uses experiential learning to help young people learn resilience-building skills that help them cope better with the challenges they face.
Empathy + Migration – participants learn about the experience of migration and reasons why people may have to leave home. They focus on developing empathy by putting themselves in the shoes of others and engaging in stories of migration.
You can find more information about these workshops on our website: https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/teaching-resources/community-education-workshops#adult
If any of these are of interest to you, or you would like more information about them, please do not hesitate to contact me Sally Blackmore - sallyblackmore@redcross.org.uk - 07935 343778
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Training available from Pan Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership
** PDSCP – Trauma Informed Practice Introduction - online, 25 April 2024, 09.30-12.30
** PDSCP - Update - Multi-Agency Working Together in Safeguarding - online, 17 April 2024, 13.30-16.30
** PDSCP - Multi-Agency Working Together in Safeguarding - online, 24 April 2024, 09.30-15.30
** PDSCP - Update - Multi-Agency Working Together in Safeguarding - online, 30 April 2024, 09.30-12.30
** PDSCP - Multi-Agency Working Together in Safeguarding - online, 02 May 2024, 09.30-15.30
** PDSCP - Multi-Agency Working Together in Safeguarding - online, 10 May 2024, 09.30-15.30
** PDSCP - FACE TO FACE - Update - Multi-Agency Working Together in Safeguarding, 14 May 2024, 09.30-12.30
** PDSCP - FACE TO FACE - Update - Multi-Agency Working Together in Safeguarding, 14 May 2024, 13.30-16.30
** PDSCP - Safer Recruitment – online, 15 May 2024, 09.30-15.30
** PDSCP – FACE TO FACE - Multi-Agency Working Together in Safeguarding, 16 May 2024, 09.30-16.30
** PDSCP - Update - Multi-Agency Working Together in Safeguarding - online, 20 May 2024, 09.30-12.30
** PDSCP - Update - Multi-Agency Working Together in Safeguarding - online, 20 May 2024, 13.30-16.30
** PDSCP - Multi-Agency Working Together in Safeguarding - online, 22 May 2024, 09.30-15.30
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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 in Dorset are available
** NSPCC Learning has published updated posters to encourage children to contact Childline if they need to talk. Different designs are available for children of primary and secondary school ages in English, as well as versions in Welsh. The poster for Report Remove has also been updated to encourage children and young people to use this tool to get help removing nude images shared online. Access the resources: Childline posters
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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
** Dorset Council commissions National Youth Advocacy Service, NYAS, to manage the Independent Visitor Service on its behalf for Dorset’s children in care and care leavers. NYAS is looking for volunteers within Dorset to provide support and friendship to a young person in care through long-term supportive relationships.
Many children in care lack stability in their lives due to the frequent changes in living arrangements and environments. They often experience a revolving door of supporting adults and leave care with very few loving relationships.
For just a handful of hours each month, you could be the stable, supportive adult these young people deserve.
The role does not require any specific qualifications and all training will be delivered prior to the start of the role. NYAS do ask that all Independent Visitors commit for a minimum of two years to allow for the relationship with the young person to grow, and to be a stable figure in their life.
If you would like to learn more about becoming an Independent Visitor, please visit the NYAS volunteer opportunities web pages.
There is also more information on our website about the scheme Independent Visitors - Dorset Council but please contact NYAS directly if you are interested in volunteering.
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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.