Spring 2012

GRAPEVINE Inside this issue 1. CVABV Challenges & Opportunities 2. CVA Blyth Valley / Fairshares Training 3. Blyth Valley CAB 4. Buffalo Community Centre / Ghost N. East WATBus Northumbria Youth 5. S.East Northumberland Stroke Support Group What’s on in Blyth, Cramlington & Seaton Valley 6. What’s On.. continued

7. 8. 9. 10.

Funding Information Community Foundation Scottish Power Rothley Trust Wolfson Foundation Sport England CVA Blyth Valley Outreach Arrangements Date for your Diary!

& This is your free community newsletter. You can use it to promote your services, recruit volunteers and publicise your events. All you need to do is to write a short article and either post, fax or e-mail it to us and we will let everyone else know about your work! This newsletter has a circulation of over 400 and is delivered free of charge.

Identifying New Challenges and Opportunities CVA Blyth Valley are no different to any other VCS group, future funding and sustainability is a constant challenge. We are very well aware of the need for the services we provide and the positive impact they have throughout Blyth, Cramlington and Seaton Valley, but is the funding out there to continue those services? Like everybody else, funding will be available for some of our services, but not for others. CVABV are currently undertaking a review of the services and support we currently provide. We undertake this review every couple of years and we appreciate and utilise the feedback you provide. This enables us to provide evidence of the need for our services and the direct impact those services have within our local communities. It also enables CVABV to improve and to focus our services on the main areas of need identified by you, our service users. With this in mind we are pleased to announce we are in the final stages of agreeing a 2 year contract, to provide funding advice and support, including financial management support, across Northumberland, in partnership with Wansbeck CVS and Community Action Northumberland, with the C4C Partnership, which will last through until March 2014. We have also submitted tenders to provide further services and support through the C4C Partnership, which we be able to update you on, in the coming months. Our review will also identify opportunities where CVABV can develop new areas of work, which will again, address the greatest areas of need with our local communities. This will be particularly useful information, at this time, as some of our longer funded projects do come to an end towards the end of this year and whilst we have been working alongside local groups in developing our succession planning for some time, this is a good time to be reviewing our overall service and in planning further and future areas of work. We will provide further information on the outcomes from our review, outlining any new areas of work as they come forward. If you require any further support in reviewing your service(s), then please do get in touch and CVA Blyth Valley staff will be able to advise and support you in future planning and in identifying funding opportunities to develop your future work.

CVA Blyth Valley / Fairshares Training Supporting and Supervising Volunteers It is acknowledged that all volunteers should have support and supervision, but what does this mean to us in our role as co-ordinators/managers and to our volunteers. Venue: Day / Time: Facilitator: Cost:

New Hartley Community Centre, St Michaels’ Avenue, New Hartley Wednesday 16th May 2012, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon (arrive 9:45 am) Ann Broome, Wansbeck CVS Free

Safeguarding and Child Protection This course provides a basic awareness of child protection and you and your organisation’s responsibility to respond to child protection concerns. This workshop is aimed at people who are part of a voluntary/community group working with children or young people in a paid or voluntary capacity. We also like to encourage Management Committee Members/Trustees to attend as they may find the legal responsibilities pertaining to their roles and responsibilities interesting and useful. The workshop will be delivered in a relaxed, informal way using a participatory approach aimed at raising awareness of child protection and help to alleviate anxieties surrounding the subject. Venue: Day / Time: Facilitator: Cost:

Briardale Community Centre, Cowpen Road, Blyth Wednesday 30th May 2012, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm (arrive 9:15 am) Lesley Hill, Northumbria Youth, Ashington £10 per person (payable on booking)

Food Hygiene / Safety Level 2 This course includes: Legislation, food premises and equipment, food safety hazards, refrigeration, chilling and cold holding, temperature control, cooking, hot holding and reheating, food handling, principles of safe food storage, and cleaning. Venue: Day / Time: Facilitator: Cost:

Isabella Community Centre, Ogle Drive, Blyth Friday 1st June 2012, 9:30 am—3:30 pm (arrive 9:15 am) Trainer from Priory Training £10 per person (payable on booking)

Management Committee Roles & Responsibilities This half day course is aimed at people who are new to the responsibilities of their role within a management committee or wish to update their knowledge about the way management committees work. The interactive workshop will explore the different roles within management committees and give an overview of your responsibilities . Venue: Day / Time: Facilitator: Cost:

Buffalo Community Centre, Regent Street, Blyth Wednesday 4th July 2012, 9:30 am—12:30 pm (arrive 9:15 am) Trainer from CVABV £10 per person (payable on booking)

As CVA Blyth Valley have received funding from local trust funders, we are able to offer some of these training sessions free to VCS groups in Blyth, Cramlington and Seaton Valley, with some having a minimal cost. For groups outside these areas and statutory organisations the price is £30 per delegate. Places are limited to 3 places per group initially, although additional places may become available. If anyone is interested in attending these courses please contact us on:

01670 353623 or email [email protected]

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Blyth Valley Citizens Advice Bureau Income Tax and National Insurance rates From April 2013, the 50p top rate of tax will be cut to 45p. Personal allowance is £8,105 from April 2012, and £9,205 from April 2013. The basic rate limit will be reduced, from £34,370 to £32,245 in 2013–14. This will affect those earning more than £41,450. Age-related allowances for pensioners to be simplified over time, starting in April 2013, creating a single personal allowance for all. Employment and Support Allowance changes from 1 May 2012 From 1 May 2012 (later in Northern Ireland), changes are being made to contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The changes are:  If you're in the Work-related Activity Group, the amount of time for which you can get contributory ESA will be limited to 365 days  If your limited capability for work began in youth (before the age of 20 or, in some cases,

before the age of 25), there will be no special conditions of entitlement  If you reclaim ESA within 104 weeks of a previous claim, your claim will no longer be linked

to the previous claim unless the period between claims is twelve weeks or less. If you're not already getting income-related ESA, you may qualify for it when your contributory ESA stops. If you're already getting income-related ESA, you're likely to qualify for more when your contributory ESA stops. Income-related ESA is means-tested, so the amount you get will depend on your other income and capital and the income and capital of your partner. Fixed costs for tax debts From 6 April, in England and Wales, if HMRC successfully recovers tax debts through the county court, they will charge a fixed amount for the cost of using a solicitor. The cost will be on a sliding scale, so if the value of the claim is between £25 and £500, the cost will be £33. If the claim is between £500 and £1,000, the cost will be £47. Further information is on the HMRC website at www.hmrc.gov.uk. Crisis loan changes The government has announced changes to crisis loans from 9 April. From that date:  the maximum crisis loan for living expenses for non-householders is reduced to 30% (from 60%) of the appropriate benefit personal allowance rate. It will remain at 60% for householders and people without accommodation 

crisis loans awarded because someone has been awarded child tax credit but has not yet received it will no longer count towards the limit of three crisis loans for living expenses in twelve months.

Blyth Valley CAB Eric Tolhurst Centre 3-13 Quay Road Blyth, NE24 2AS Tel 01670 367779 Page 3

Spring 2012

Buffalo Community Centre GHOSTnortheast Paranormal Investigations and Public Ghost Hunts at the North East’s Most Haunted Locations. Overnight Ghost Hunt at The Buffalo Community Centre and Stables. Have you ever watched “Most Haunted” and thought I would love to do that? Then become a Paranormal Investigator for the night and join the team as we try and unlock the mysteries of the Buffalo on: Saturday 26th May 2012, 9pm - 2am Cost: £20 pp For further information please contact: [email protected] or visit www.ghostnortheast.co.uk

WATBus Community Transport Free Community Transport for Seaton Valley Where do you want to go… Theatre, shopping, walking, group activites? WATBus Community Transport will provide 60 free minibus bookings for the next 12 months to community groups within the Seaton Valley area. Also free MIDAS driver training for up to 10 people to be able to drive and operate the wheelchair accessible minibuses.

For more details contact Colin at WATBus on: 01670 522999 [email protected]

Northumbria Youth FREE VOLUNTEER CRB’S Northumbria Youth are currently in receipt of funding from c4c to process volunteers CRB’s free of charge but they must meet the following criteria:  They must be new/emerging voluntary and community groups  They must register with c4c within one month or they will be charged for the processing

Please note that the free processing only applies to new emerging groups . Take advantage of the opportunity this funding provides. Email [email protected] Tel. 01670 858000 / Fax 01670 858025 High Market Resource Centre 17 - 19 High Market Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 8NE

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South East Northumberland Stroke Support Group A volunteer group that is organised by people living with stroke, for people living with stroke. This groups meets at Bedlington on the 3rd Monday of the month at the Bedlington Residents Station from 1—3 pm. (Open day on Monday 21st May 2012) And also at Cramlington on the 1st Tuesday of the month at St Nicholas Church Hall, Church Street, Cramlington Village from 1—3 pm. (Open day on Tuesday 1st May 2012). These meetings have regular speakers, supervised light exercise, outings, social events, computer classes, games, quizzes, raffles and a bit of a laugh. Join them for a cuppa and a chat and discover that there is life after a stroke and there are others to help you. Visit South East Northumberland Stroke Support Groups’s website at: www.strokesense.org.uk

What’s On Seghill Community Association Seghill Community Association be holding an AGM on Monday 14th May 2012 at 7.30pm at Seghill Institute Community Centre, Main Road, Seghill. The committee would like to invite all Seghill residents to a special evening to celebrate their achievements over the last year. Sample FREE Wine, Cheese and Refreshments

The evening will give you the chance to find out about the annual Seghill Gala, Senior Citizens Christmas Party and what has been achieved within the community centre over the last year, plus find out what is planned for the future. Maybe you would like to be a part of it, just find out what is going on or give us some new ideas and remember you don’t have to come to meetings to be involved there are lots of other ways you could get help out if you want to. Please come along for this FREE social evening. All welcome!

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What’s On … continued Astley Park Pavilion Children’s Festival, Wednesday 18th July 2012, 10am – 2:30pm Lots of activities for children aged 0 - 17, ie sports, circus training, science boffin, crafts, music workshops, bike workshops, sensory room, sand pits, real food (smoothy bike) and more. If you would to attend this event please phone Fiona Wardlaw at CVABV on 01670 353523 for a security pass.

Seghill Community Centre Gala Queen Disco, Saturday 28th April 2012, 2:00 pm Spring Fayre / Crafts, Saturday 19th May 2012, doors open at 10:00 am. Tables priced at £8 Seghill Gala, 2nd June 2012 from 10 am – 4 pm. More info at a later date via our e-zine.

St Mary`s Church, Holywell Open Day with a Diamond Jubilee Theme: Wednesday 15th August 2012, 10am -3pm (Stalls/ Tombola/Refreshments, etc... Everyone very welcome) Entry fee

Seghill Holy Trinity Church Seghill Holy Trinity Vicar`s Garden Party: Saturday 1st September 2012, 12 Noon-4pm Free entry - Through Church grounds, and Vicarage garden side-gate. Stalls/Raffle/ Tombola/Refreshments, also to include Jumble Sale!

Seaton Sluice Community Centre Fun Quiz (for group of up to four people) Thursday 17th May 2012, 6:45—9:00. Free Welcome drink and half and hour AGM to celebrate another successful year. Quiz starts 7:30 pm. Pit your wits against other groups. Cost: £1 per team—groups can enter more than one team. Refreshments available, please phone or email to register your team on: Tel: 0191 298 0323 or email: [email protected]

Seaton Delaval Hall Traditional Lawn Games - Bank Holiday Monday 7th May, 11am - 5pm Join us for traditional games and a family day out. There will be balls, bats, hopscotch, skittles and of course a traditional maypole, with maypole dancing instruction. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. Public Meeting - Tuesday 22nd May 2012, 7pm - 9pm These are exciting but also challenging times for Seaton Delaval Hall. As we begin our third year of opening, we'd like to invite our local communities to join us at the Hall for a discussion on how far we have come, how far we still have to go, and what we have planned for the year ahead. For further information please call: 0191 237 9100 for details or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/seaton-delaval-hall

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FUNDING INFORMATION Community Foundation John D Fund at the Community Foundation - Funding for Artistic Projects The John D Fund, which is managed by the Community Foundation, awards grants to projects in Tyne & Wear and Northumberland for out-of-school artistic activities that offer young people the opportunity to explore various artistic mediums in a non-academic setting. The project must encourage young people to spend their free time constructively and to take part in artistic activities that could encourage them to take up new hobbies or interests. Some of the projects previously supported include an outdoor arts activity programme, a photography project for visually impaired young people and a graffiti project. Grants from £500 to £2,000 are available for pieces of artistic equipment, artistic resources, external support, and inspirational trips or visits. Apply online at www.communityfoundation.org.uk/apply please mark the application JOHN D. Applications should be received by 18 May 2012. P&G Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation Guidelines The P&G charitable fund at the Community Foundation makes grants to support community groups on Tyneside and in Northumberland to provide children, aged 0 – 13, with opportunities under their funding themes of live, learn and thrive. Groups can apply for up to £2,000 to support their work with children including:  Equipment for activities, for example, play resources, camping equipment and sports

equipment.  Learning resources, for example, books and IT software.  Learning experiences such as workshops, educational trips and outings.  Children’s club resources, such as nursery and baby equipment. All applications must include a breakdown of costs including hourly rates and costs per unit and where possible provide quotes. (for example: 6 footballs @ £5 per unit; £20 for tutor costs @ £10 per hour x 2 hours). Please note: The fund does not contribute towards general running costs or management overheads; to individuals; sponsorship or towards large project costs. How to Apply - Application forms can be accessed on online at www.communityfoundation.org.uk/apply . Please mark the application for P&G. To apply by post, please call 0191 2220945 for an application form or download from the Community Foundation website as above. Applications should be sent direct to: Community Foundation, 9th Floor, Cale Cross, 156 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 6SU. Closing date for the next round is Friday 25 May 2012

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Scottish Power Green Energy Trust Local community groups and not for profit organisations and charities in the UK can apply for grants for the installation of renewable technologies. Applicants can apply for grants of up to £25,000 (however, most projects receive around £10,000) for up to half the cost of the chosen renewable technology. Projects need to have a really strong community benefit and wider educational element. The Trust considers all kinds of renewable technologies. Grant requests must be to support the capital and installation costs of a renewable energy project. Deadlines for applications are usually considered during the first week of April and October. For more information please visit: www.scottishpowergreentrust.co.uk/content/

Rothley Trust Grants of £100 to £1,000 available The Rothley Trustees want to help small charities and voluntary groups operating in the North East, to reduce their energy bills. They are setting aside £20,000 in their budget for 2012/13 for small energy saving items e.g. roof insulation, radiator thermostats, blinds and curtains, energy efficient equipment, double glazing, timer switches etc. (It is not for large projects such as solar panels and wind turbines.) Organisations must be able to answer yes to the following:      

Does your organisation actively work in the North East? Do you require a contribution towards capital costs? Do you have charitable purposes? Do you have written constitution? Do you have audited accounts and an annual report? (Newly formed groups –evidence of bank/building society account and names of key people) Does your project help any of the following; children and young people, disability, community, education, ex-services, and world in need?

Grants will be awarded at their quarterly meetings in May, August, November and February. Hard copy appeal letter to be sent with latest accounts to: Mrs Diane Lennon, Trust Secretary The Rothley Trust, MEA House, Ellison Place Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8XS. www.rothleytrust.org.uk/eligible.htm

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Wolfson Foundation Special Needs Grants Programme The Wolfson Foundation makes grant awards for people with particular health needs or disabilities, often through smaller charities doing work in a specific local community. Over the last three years around £7.5 million has been allocated to nearly 150 different projects. Projects can include new buildings, major refurbishment work, equipment or vehicles. Charities are encouraged not to apply more than once every five years. There is a two stage application process. Initially an outline of the project should be submitted. Successful applicants at this stage will be invited to submit a full proposal. Deadline for full second stage applications is 1st September 2012. For further information please visit: www.wolfson.org.uk/grant-applicants/special-needs/

Sport England The Sustainable Investment in Communities Facilities Fund Sport England has announced that they are accepting applications through its new Sustainable Investment in Communities Fund. The fund is open to organisations including sports clubs, voluntary or community organisations, local authorities, as well as education establishments such as schools, colleges and universities. The Fund will invest £10m a year of Lottery and Exchequer money into innovative projects capable of transforming the places where we play or take part in sport. The Fund is aiming to invest in projects that demonstrate:   

Impact and the contribution to grow, sustain and excel Sustainability Ability to deliver.

Priority will be given to proposals that draw in funding from other sources, have a collaborative or consortia approach and those that can demonstrate the potential to grow and sustain participation in community sport. The funding is for the development of the capital infrastructure. There will be a two-stage application process. Deadlines for applications are 30 June and 31 December each year. For more information please visit: www.sportengland.org/funding/sustainable_facilities.aspx

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Staff List: Thom S Bradley Chief Executive Pauline Blake Capacity Building Officer Sybil Pattie Administrator Gina Robson Capacity Building Officer Jill Oxnard Capacity Building Officer Fiona Wardlaw Capacity Building Officer (Community Engagement & Involvement)

CVA Blyth Valley Outreach Arrangements CVA Blyth Valley provide outreach services at local venues throughout Blyth, Cramlington and Seaton Valley as follows:     

Cramlington Concordia (Town Council office) – Mondays Seaton Delaval & Holywell Community Centre Seaton Sluice Community Centre Seghill Community Centre New Hartley Community Centre

For Seaton Valley venues and times please contact Gina Robson for more information. You can drop in for a full range of our advice and support services or ring our main office on 01670 353623 to arrange an appointment at any of these venues.

Disclaimer: The information in this Newsletter, as far as we can ascertain, is accurate at the time of publishing. CVABV cannot take any responsibility for subsequent changes or for the quality of information or services provided by other organisations.

Date for Your Diary !!! We are organising a joint Funding Event between Wansbeck CVS and ourselves on: Wednesday 3rd October 2012 Choppington Social Welfare

Acknowledgement is given to local funders for information contained in this Newsletter.

CVA Blyth Valley is financially supported by The Big Lottery BASIS programme, Community Foundation / Fairshares, Connect4Change and local trust funders.

C VA B l y t h Va l l e y 22 Beaconsfield Street, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 2DP Tel: 01670 353623 / Fax: 01670 365783 Email: [email protected] Web: www.cvabv.org.uk Registered Company No: 5860971 / Registered Charity No: 1116430 Opening Times: Mon–Thurs 9:00 am – 5:00 pm / Fri 9:00 am - 4:30 pm