23 September: Weekly Bulletin for the Voluntary and Community Sector in Milton Keynes

23 September 2019

Autumn networking event: Living well in communities

Date: Tuesday 8th October 2019
Time: 2:00 – 3:00pm. Optional Walk to Conniburrow commencing at 3:00pm
Venue: The Meeting Place (next to The Point in CMK)

REGISTER HERE

Join us to explore ‘Living Well in Communities’ in the new urban dwellings of Milton Keynes and come together with colleagues and friends from the voluntary and community sector to explore the hidden gems within these communities.

There will be a walk (optional) into Conniburrow to view the hidden gems of this estate and to explore the community engagement activities taking place there, with guidance from our colleagues working with Big Local Conniburrow.

Let’s Talk Good Finance MK

Thursday 17th October, 1.30 – 4.30pm.
This session is designed for charities, social enterprises, community businesses and local groups in Milton Keynes interested in social investment. To find out more about social investment and to book your free place, REGISTER HERE.

Sign up to our Cyber Protect workshops

The workshops will be held on the following dates and times:
Workshop 1: Tuesday 8th October
11am – 1pm.
Workshop 2: Thursday 24th October 11am – 1pm
Venue: Grant Thornton, 199 Avebury Blvd, MK9 1AU. REGISTER HERE

Meet Peta : drop-in with the representative of MK Health & Wellbeing board

Drop in on 25 September, 13:00-15:00, Acorn House Foyer to meet Peta Wilkinson from the MK Health and Wellbeing Board.

For more information about what the Health and Wellbeing Board is and what they do, click this link.

Age UK Milton Keynes AGM

Thu, September 26, 2019, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM. REGISTER HERE
Guest speaker is Michael Bracey, Chief Executive Milton Keynes Council, who will be speaking about the changing role and relationship between the council and the voluntary sector.

Proposed changes to sexual harassment law

The government has opened a consultation on sexual harassment in the workplace and the legal protections available under the Equalities Act 2010. NCVO has published some useful information for charities which explains what the consultation is about and how the proposed changes to sexual harassment law may affect how you safeguard not just staff, but also volunteers. You can read NCVOs guidance here and you can take part in the consultation here

Independent Examination update for Trustees – TCC

The Charity Commission has updated its guidance for trustees on what they need to know about independent examination. This guidance gives trustees the information they need to:

check whether their charity can have its accounts independently examined instead of audited
appoint a suitable person to carry out the independent examination, and
prepare for the independent examination.
Find out more

Milton Keynes Council Open Consultations

See all MK Council consultations

Milton Keynes Housing Strategy Consultation

The Housing Strategy provides a clear vision of how the Council and its stakeholders can achieve our shared aspiration in providing housing that meets the needs and requirements of Milton Keynes. Find out more and have your say here.

EEH Transport Strategy Meeting

England’s Economic Heartland (EEH) officers are holding a local engagement event where you can hear about the strategy and their work. The event will take place on 25 September 2019 from 6:30-8pm, in the Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Milton Keynes. Please email Transport.Policy@milton-keynes.gov.uk

British sign language (BSL) taster Session (5th October) and BSL Course (9th October)

Find out more:
Email us: info@access-ambassadors.co.uk for information or go onto our website: https://www.access-ambassadors.co.uk/bsltraining

Bletchley Speakers Club – Local Speakers Club offers free public speaking course

Have you noticed how much time people spend looking at their phones? Is the art of verbal communication dead? Bletchley Speakers Club invites you to get out from behind your screen, and talk.

The club is offering a free 5 week course in public speaking starting Tuesday October 1st
7.30 – 9.30 pm at Rectory Cottages.

What’s been happening in Conniburrow? A BLC Update.

Big Local Conniburrow has had an exciting few weeks, because as well as having new member of personnel join the team, there was a bunch of events such as the Fun Day, Treasure Hunt and the Cheese and Biscuit
Quiz. These events were overall positive and promoted the BLC to new families and groups. Read the blog here

The rule that gave people with learning disabilities a voice

Essex County Council’s 100 Day Challenge explored the best ways to support people with learning disabilities and autism. During their challenge, a new way of working emerged that remains in place today to ensure everyone’s ideas are heard. Read more

Bicycle Training Sessions

MKC’s Transport team deliver bicycle training sessions across MK – providing people with the skills to increase their confidence and safety. The training sessions are suitable for all abilities and can be completed individually, in groups or as a family. Click here to book the right course for you. Email cycling@milton-keynes.gov.uk.

Crowdfunding for the Children & Young People of Milton Keynes

Arther Ellie Mental Health Support are raising £1,000,000 to provide the children and young people who are unable to access help across Milton Keynes with 1:1 therapeutic support. Find out more

Volunteering opportunity of the week: Quality Christmas Gift Wrapping in December 2019

It’s too early for Christmas, surely? Not for Nkiru Arts – they are thinking ahead and already looking to recruit volunteers for Christmas! Nkiru Arts are currently recruiting unpaid volunteers for December up to Christmas Eve to be trained for quality Christmas Gift Wrapping to work a few occasional 3 / 4 hour shifts on the Charity Gift Wrapping Stall in INTU as part of the Christ The Cornerstone Christmas Appeal Christmas Gift Wrapping Stall. Find out more

Volunteering drop in

Community Action: MK also hold a Volunteer drop in service every Tuesday afternoon from 1pm -3pm at Acorn House, 351 Midsummer Blvd, CMK, MK9 3HP. Pop in to speak to our friendly volunteering advisors and find out about the many local volunteering opportunities you could get involved with.

Part time Information Advice and Guidance Adviser

Come and join our team at Works for Us!
We are looking for an outstanding individual to provide one-to-one advice sessions to our clients to support them in obtaining employment, education, training or volunteering. This position requires excellent communication skills and experience of working with people from a variety of social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Find out more

Small Charities Challenge Fund

Maximum Value: £ 50,000
Deadline: 28th November 2019

The Small Charities Challenge Fund (SCCF) is a funding opportunity for small UK-registered charities and not-for-profit organisations. SCCF project grants of up to £50,000 are available for projects of up to two years. Grants are available for UK-registered organisations working towards addressing the Global Goals to improve the lives of the most vulnerable and marginalised. Find out more

Groundwork partners with Comic Relief to offer grants of up to £4,000 for grassroots organisations

Grant funding of up to £4,000 will be available for projects, including purchasing items, materials and equipment to benefit the local community, improvements to a community building, developing an outdoor space or running a community project or activity. Projects can also fund coordinators to manage volunteers, staff to lead activities or training sessions, workshops and community activities. Find out more

Cultural Impact Development Fund

A £3.7 million fund providing small-scale repayable finance to socially-driven arts and cultural organisations. Cultural Impact Development Fund will pioneer the use of financial incentives to drive the achievement of social impact targets in its investment portfolio, making it one of the few impact investment funds with a clear trade-off of financial return for the attainment of social outcomes. The Fund is supported by Access – The Foundation for Social Investment through the Growth Fund programme, with finance being provided by its partners The National Lottery Community Fund and Big Society Capital.

Velobants

Saturday 28 September

Velobants present CX in The City 2, Central Cyclo-Cross League Round 3 – next Saturday 28 September.
A special plea to all female riders – local cycling club Velobants are trying to attract 100 women riders to help break the British Cycling record and each rider gets a chance to win a Trek Crockett bike.Don’t forget to log your miles for Cycle September https://www.lovetoride.net/miltonkeynes !

The Festival of Creative Urban Living : 26 September – 13 October 2019

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You’ll find MK’s first ever free ‘A Festival of Creative Urban Living’ from 26 September – 13 October on Midsummer Boulevard in Central Milton Keynes.

Find out more