Leap into Volunteering

Volunteer Speed Matching Event

Wednesday 29 February 2012, 10.00am-12noon

Penrith Parish Centre, St Andrews Place, Penrith

12 local organisations attending to have speedy chats about local volunteering opportunities.

To book your place contact Margot Dent at Cumbria CVS Eden on 01768 800350 or email eden@cumbriacvs.org.uk.

Click on this link for more information

Many thanks

Judith Holmshaw, County Volunteering Co-ordinator, Cumbria CVS

Please find a booking form for the event here:

Cumbria CVS Eden Speed Volunteering Event Booking Form 29 Feb

 

Cumbria Social Media Surgeries

Local voluntary and community sector groups and individuals are invited to this free social media advice session. You will get practical hands-on advice for putting social technology into action for your cause, to help you reach a wider audience and promote the good work you do.

• Ambleside Thurs. 22nd March 6.00 to 9.00 pm

For more information and booking visit:

http://www.socialmediasurgery. com/surgeries/cumbria

If you are from a community or voluntary group and want to learn how to use the social web, please come along.

For further information contact 07837 679338 or admin@awaz.info

VOLUNTEERS needed to help at the Social Media Surgeries please sign up or get in touch

If you are interested in hosting a SMS please get in touch.

A social media surgery is a pretty informal gathering of people who want to learn how to use the web to communicate campaign or collaborate. They are deliberately relaxed. You will get to sit alongside someone who understands good ways to use the internet and they'll show you useful free tools. If you like what you see they can also help you set up your blog, or Facebook page or Twitter account. Most social media surgeries have an event every few weeks, so you can keep coming back for help.

Independent Complaints Advocacy Service

Supports people who want to complain about

NHS-funded Treatment or Care

The role of the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service is to support people who want to make a complaint about their NHS-funded treatment or care. Itis a free, confidential and independent service designed to help people understand their rights and make informed choices.

When you contact ICAS you will be supported throughout the complaints process by an experienced advocate who understands how the NHS complaints process works. In fact, since ICAS was set up in 2002 it has helped around 30,000 people nationally to make a complaint

ICAS in the North East and Cumbria are pleased to announce the launch of a text messaging service to enable more people to contact the service. This is an obvious benefit to anyone with a hearing impairment, or those who may prefer this means of initial contact. The number is 07595 654102.

Alternative ways in which people can contactthe ICAS service are;

• By calling our free phone number – 0808 802 3000
• By emailing penrithicas@carersfederation.co.uk
• By submitting a form on our website www.carersfederation.co.uk/contact-icas/

• Organisations may complete our External Agency Referral Form which you will find attached to this email

Towards the end of 2011 we also updated our informationleaflet; a copy of which is attached. We can also provide the leaflet in 19 other languages. There is a ‘downloads’ section on our website where these can be found, along with British Sign Language (BSL) information.

Improvements in our service and accessibility are only made possible through liaison work with stakeholders such as yourselves. The introduction of the text messaging number above and our online BSL video was as a direct result of such feedback received in October of 2011.

If you haveany questions or would like some promotional material please contact the office on 01768 861830; we can also arrange for our staff to come out and visit you to discuss the service.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Philippa Lisle

Senior Administrator, ICAS

Suite 5, Cumbria House,Gilwilly Road, Gilwilly Industrial Park, Penrith, CA11 9FF

Tel: 01768 861830

Fax: 01768 861839

Email:philippat@carersfederation.co.uk

Website:www.carersfederation.co.uk

 

New LGBT History website

with specific focus on 2^nd World War

"The following pages will help you to understand the LGBT history of persecution that is long forgotten, I have focused on Germany and the Second World War because the Homosexuals were one of the first victims of the Nazis. Their persecution began in 1934 one year after Hitler had come to power and how laws were passed against homosexuals that would lead to arrest by the Gestapo, where they could either be sent to a prison or worse to a concentration camp......."

 

To view more please go to: -

http://callumslgbthistorycorner.weebly.com/

Cumbria Rural Forum

"Localism – From Theory to Practice” Event

Stoneybeck Inn, Penrith

Saturday 24 March 2012

Please see attached details of the forthcoming Cumbria Rural Forum Event "Localism – From Theory to Practice” to be held at the Stoneybeck Inn, Penrith on Saturday 24^thMarch 2012. If you would like to reserve a place, please complete and return the attached booking form to me.

We do hope that you are able to join us at what we hope will be an interesting and thought provoking event.

Dani Hudson

Business Support Officer

Voluntary ActionCumbria

Operating as ACTion with Communities in Cumbria

The Old Stables, Redhills,Penrith,Cumbria, CA11 0DT

Tel: 01768 869511

Fax: 01768 242134

Email: DaniHudson@cumbriaaction.org.uk

www.cumbriaaction.org.uk

Please click on the links for the following documents:

Cumbria Rural Forum Localism Event Programme 24 March

Cumbria Rural Forum Localism Event Booking Form 24 March

The Equality Delivery System for the NHS

Please complete one of the surveys

 

What is the Equality Delivery System?

 

The EDS is designed to support NHS commissioners and providers to deliver better outcomes for patients and communities and better working environments for staff, which are personal, fair and diverse. The EDS is all about making positive differences to healthy living and working lives.

The EDS is a tool for both current and emerging NHS organisations – in partnership with patients, the public, staff and staff-side organisations - to use to review their equality performance and to identify future priorities and actions. It offers local and national reporting and accountability mechanisms.

At the heart of the EDS is a set of 18 outcomes grouped into four goals. These outcomes focus on the issues of most concern to patients, carers, communities, NHS staff and Boards. It is against these outcomes that performance is analysed, graded and action determined.

The four EDS goals are:

1. Better health outcomes for all

2. Improved patient access and experience

3. Empowered, engaged and included staff

4. Inclusive leadership at all levels

The grades are as follows:

1. Excelling – Purple

2. Achieving - Green

3. Developing – Amber

4. Undeveloped – Red

Over the next few months NHS organisations across Cumbria will be engaging with local people and their staff to enable them to grade their NHS Trusts against the 18 outcomes.

There are links to 2 surveys a public / patient survey and a protected groups survey (those who consider themselves to be covered by one of the 9 protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act). These surveys will be open until mid March and will go towards providing evidence for assessing how NHS Organisations in Cumbria are performing against EDS goals and outcomes.

Public survey link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5KRMXQ7

Protected groups link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z5R255X

If you would like to get involved or would like more information please contact:

Christine Harrison, Locality Public Engagement Lead, NHS Cumbria on:

01900 324244 or email christine.harrison@cumbriapct.nhs.uk

 

Sign the Government E-Petition

to save the NHS

                     

Tens of thousands of 38 Degrees members have voted on what we do next to save the NHS. The votes have been counted. Here's our top priority: force MPs to hold a fresh debate on whether to scrap Andrew Lansley's plans for our health service. [1]

There's a petition on the government website calling for Lansley's NHS plans to be dropped. It's got 60,000 names on it. The government has said that when a petition reaches 100,000 names it can trigger a proper debate in Parliament. [2] So let's get signing!

If 38 Degrees members participate now, we can easily raise this petition past 100,000 signatures; the more names on it, the more pressure on the government and MPs to rein in Andrew Lansley's plans.

The government said they launched their own petition website to give voters more say. [3] So let's hold them to that. Just this week fresh opinion polls have shown that most voters don't support Lansley's plans. [4] Let's try to use their petition website to force MPs to listen to our message that the NHS plans need to be stopped.

38 Degrees members know that the future of the NHS matters. It’s about each one of us knowing that we can get the treatment we need when we need it, without having to worry about paying.

It's about knowing that our loved ones will be able to rely on the same thing in years to come. It’s a national treasure,. So let's keep fighting for it!

Leading medical organisations like the Royal College of GPs and the Royal College of Nurses are now calling outright for Lansley’s plans to be dropped.

Take two minutes to sign the government e-petition:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22670

NOTES

[1] You can see the full results here:

http://www.38degrees.org.uk/nhs-poll-result

[2] More details here:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/how-it-works

[3] See here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14326218

LGBT History Month Display

By young people from PiNC LGBT Group

Carlisle City Centre Library

11 Globe Lane, The Lanes, CA3 8NX

There will be a display of information posters on LGBT history at Carlisle Library from 13 February to 29 February 2012.  The display was created by young people from the Pride in North Cumbria LGBT group. It will be located upstairs in Carlisle Library for public viewing. Please go along and see it. Pam Eland (PiNC project worker)

Pride in North Cumbria is a group for young people who identify as being Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Questioning their Sexuality. The group is open to young people between the ages of 13-25.

The group provides a safe, supportive environment for young people to meet up, socialise, and provides opportunities for personal development.

If you are interested, please contact Pam Eland for full details of the location, dates and times by emailing pinc-carlisle@hotmail.com or ring 07971253241.

 

Passion Play in Kendal, 6 & 7 April

and

Icon Painting Workshops, May & July

Kendal Passion Play: "A Passion for Kendal”

6 & 7 April 2012, Kendal Community Theatre

The Passion Play: A Passion for Kendal is being performed in Kendal for the first time in 400 years on 6 & 7 April by Kendal Community Theatre.

For more details:

Email: apassionforkendal@gmail.com

http://apassionforkendal.blogspot.com/

******************************************************************

Icon painting workshops

The Monastery of Our Lady of Hyning has a beautiful Icon workshop. Sister Mary Stella made an Icon of St John the Theologian for Jacquetta Gomes who is playing him in the Passion Play. (She is a member of KWMMG Kendal Women’s Multi-faith Meditation Group) and a regular visitor to Hyning since 1999 with KWMMG). By invitation of the Mayor of Kendal Councillor Jonathan Brook (who is playing Jesus Christ in the Passion Play) the Icon will be visiting the Mayors Parlour in Kendal Town Hall.

******************************************************************

Icon painting workshops led by Sister Mary Stella take place at Hyning Monastery. In 2012 they are held on May 8 -12 (beginners) and July 2 - 6 (intermediate and advanced). There will be an exhibition of Icons in 2012.

Please contact:

01524-732684.

hyningbookings@yahoo.co.uk

www.bernardine.org

******************************************************************

Sister Mary Stella explains the Icon of

St John the Theologian as follows:

St John the Theologian is known in the Gospel of John as the Beloved Disciple.

St John is turning around and up to listen to God’s Word seen in the upper left hand corner. God is mysteriously present always. St John teaches us to listen with our inner ear and heart. The divine presence is seen as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

St John holds a scroll in his right hand. It is the inspired word of God that his disciple (not seen) is taking down as dictation.

St John’s left hand is open to the world, giving what he has heard to the world.

The halo on St John reminds us he is divinized by God’s grace. Gold is a symbol of the divine presence.

St John sits with his feet on a sort of platform bringing heaven and earth into greater oneness.

The blue cloak reminds us of the divine and St John transcribed the divine word.

The rocks in the desert remind us it is the locus of God.

The cave is of dark ignorance, losing one’s way, despair etc.

St John sits in the true light and God uses him as a bearer of light.

St John invites us to sit in God’s presence.

Oxfam Nurturing the Roots:

Building Sustainability in the BME Women's Sector

Tuesday 6 March 2012, 9.45-3.30, Manchester

The voluntary and community sector faces extremely challenging times, especially the Black and Ethnic Minority women’s sector. BME women’s groups work within some of the most marginalised and vulnerable communities in the country, providing specialised services in culturally appropriate ways to women that many others find hard to reach.

Nurturing the Roots is a free event (organised by Oxfam’s Routes to Solidarity Project) which brings together BME women’s groups and funding bodies to look at how BME women’s groups can ensure their survival, become more sustainable and increase the impact that they have.

We invite you to come along and join us at this event, where you can:

· talk to funders about the needs of your communities and your groups

· learn more about social enterprise; winning contracts; and writing successful funding bids

· visit funders’ stalls, to find out about their funding and support

· network with other groups, hearing about how they are building their sustainability

· enjoy hot food provided by two BME social enterprises

A range of funders are taking part, and include:

• The Big Lottery Fund
• Comic Relief
• Community Foundation for Merseyside and Lancashire
• Charity Bank Limited
• sported

To book your place at the event, please contact Katie Lau (routestosolidarity@oxfam.org.uk or 0161 860 2811).

For more information, please contact Maya Sharma (0161 861 7940 or masharma@oxfam.org.uk).

VSO - Ben & Jerry’s Partnership

Competition to recruit 15 young people to create new sustainable business models

Summary

A partnership that has been established between VSO and the ice-cream company Ben and Jerry’s.

Ben and Jerry’s are running a competition to find fifteen 18-35 year old social entrepreneurs with ideas for sustainable businesses. After a selection process, the successful 15 will go to Uganda (where Ben and Jerry’s source their Fairtrade vanilla) for 10 days and will be given financial support and mentoring to put their business plans into practice.

 

More details of the competition and VSO’s involvement are detailed in the attached document, but as a summary, VSO’s role is to:

1. Select, assess and train suitable participants going to Uganda (watch this space about the selection process!
2. Create a 10-day plan of activity in Uganda
3. Support B&J’s in recruiting through our own channels

If you know someone who may be suitable to apply, they can do so via the following link

www.joinourcore.com

Ian Moffett

Assessment and Training Advisor

VSO UK

Telephone: +44 [0] 20 8780 7307

Email: ian.moffett@vso.org.uk

www.vsointernational.org

Assertiveness and

Decision Making Course

Tuesdays, 9.30am to 4pm

21 February to 27 March 2012

Workbase, Kendal Business Park, Appleby Road, Kendal, LA9 6ES

• Would you like to build your self confidence and be heard?
• Do you want to understand body language clues?
• Do you want to cope better in stressful situations?

This 6 week course at Entry Level 3 leads to a nationally recognised qualification.  On the course you will:

• Learn to speak up for yourself in different situations
• Identify and change negative thought patterns
• Learn how to say ‘no’ in a positive way
• Challenge unfair criticism
• Use anger management techniques
• Identify your strengths and qualities when thinking about work

Full fee - £90            Course fees are FREE if you are: 

• Unemployed, seeking employment and are on any state benefit or
• If you do not have 5 GCSE’s Grades A-C (full level 2)

The course, offered through Adult Education.

 

To book your place or for more information contact Helen Edmonds on 07917 072469 or helen.edmonds@cumbria.gov.uk

Cumbria CVS North Funding Fair

Carlisle Racecourse

Thursday 29 March 2012

A Changing Landscape

Cumbria CVS will be holding 3 Funding Fairs across the county, the first one of which isNorth: Thursday 29 March 2012 at Carlisle Racecourse(9.15 am – 3.15pm.

This fair will target groups mainly from Eden and Carlisle, aiming to give them a greater insight into the sphere in which they now are operating.

The day will start with the plenary session entitled Changing Landscape, where Cumbria CVS and NCVO respectively will give an overview of how local and national landscapes have changed/are changing. This will be followed by Funders Question Time. Unfortunately due to logistics, it will not be possible for every funder to take part in this. Our aim is to ask different funders at each event – to make for a more interesting mix of information.

Following the plenary, the day will progress similar to the previous fairs with groups choosing to attend either a workshop, presentation or visit the marketplace (meet the funders).

Groups will also be able to attend bitesize sessions over lunch and at the end of the day, in other areas of interest/relevance.

There is a charge for these events, but at £20 per person, it will still be accessible and affordable to local groups.

Please do not hesitate to contact either of us with any queries.

Please feel free to distribute this information to groups who may wish to attend.

Please click the following link for the booking form for the North Funding Fair on 29 March:

Cumbria CVS North Funding Fair Booking Form - Carlisle - 29 March

Please click on this link to see the original article

Please note the dates of the other two fairs are as follows:

West: Wednesday 4 July 2012at Energus (Workington)

South: Wednesday 21 November 2012(venue tbc)

Carlisle West Sure Start

Children's Centre

February Activities

Please click on the links to see the following documents:

Carlisle West Sure Start Noticeboard - February Activities

Carlisle West Sure Start Full List of February Activities

Interview with Richard Kavanagh

from Outreach Cumbria

about his life & work with the LGBT community

in the News & Star on 31 January 2012

Please click on this link to see News & Star article

Outreach Cumbria Developments &

Volunteer Vacancies

Are you interested in supporting the LGBT community in Cumbria? Are you affected by the difficulties we face in this rural, isolated part of Britain? Are you concerned by the lack of specialist services for the 30,000+ LGBT people who live in Cumbria and the 720,000 who visit every year?

At OutReach Cumbria we are doing something about it. We plan to launch a number of services for our community in the next year, and want to hear from anyone who lives and works in the county who would like to help us. We are looking for help to launch a number of different projects, so if you have some time on your hands and would like to be part of this exciting initiative then we would love to hear from you.

At the moment we have vacancies for volunteers in the following roles:

• As committee members, helping to ensure that our organisation is well governed.
• As telephone helpline volunteers, providing advice and support.
• As health advisors, providing advice and support in community venues.

All positions include full training and out of pocket expenses. We are interested to hear from anyone with an interest in the LGBT community in Cumbria; if you have specialist skills in the areas we work in that is great, but if not then we will be equally pleased to hear from you. Your enthusiasm is most important to us.

We would also like to hear from anyone who is currently providing services for the LGBT community in Cumbria; we feel that everyone will benefit if we are all able to work together and support one another across the county. It is easy to feel isolated in an area the size of Cumbria, and if we all know what support is available in each area then it will be easier to find help for those who need it.