A penny for their thoughts

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I recently completed the latest Restore Survey from NCVO. This Survey has been highlighting the key themes for Charitable Organisations (of all shapes and sizes) over the past 12 months. The latest Survey focussed in a large part on Funders, and the relationship our Sector has with them.

I think my concern about funders (of all types) is their short term view on providing support. Anyone who has ever worked in Communities or Community Development understands that Real Impact takes time: It cannot be achieved in 12 months or less, particularly when you realise how left behind (A nice new piece of Jargon)
some areas are: What you actually achieve in 12 months or less is a series of unsustainable Quick Wins. If like me you have worked in Neighbourhoods which have been subjected to a series of Quick Wins over the years, you understand how that approach begins the process of social action and re-engineering and then cuts its throat before its even had a chance to live and breathe. What I want to see from funders is a real commitment to 3 or 5 year Change Programmes which mean something. Nearly everyone I talk to across the Sector says the same thing, yet the change has not come. I therefore challenge Funders to come to Northamptonshire and meet our VCSE sector and explain their thought processes. I think that might help.

I have a further gripe though: Now is not the time for Funders to close their Programmes, Reprioritise or take 6 months to Make a Decision. What we now want from Funders is less Red Tape, and a more intuitive approach to grant giving which helps our organisations to help the most vulnerable (and there will be many more after the latest Energy Cost Rise and the Removal of the Universal Credit Uplift). I wonder how many organisations have gone out of business whilst awaiting a funding decision?

Funders and our VCSE want the same thing ultimately which is strong and vibrant communities. I sometimes fail to understand why a more level playing field cannot be established. Looks like I will be writing to all of our National Infrastructure Bodies again next week.

Office space survey

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In the current climate, a lot of organisations are re-thinking how they use office and meeting spaces and VIN are no exception.  We’d be really interested in hearing about the needs of the sector regarding physical spaces for staff, and how we can best support these.  Please could you spare one minute to complete this form and let us know your thoughts – https://forms.office.com/r/7YHin3hucR

Northampton Film Festival 2022

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Northampton Film Festival 2022 is now open for film submissions to the Schools Competition and Main Short Film Competition

After 2021’s virtual festival, Screen Northants are excited to be launching the short film competitions for Northampton Film Festival 2022 ready for events around Northampton town centre in May. Northampton Film Festival 2022: Know Your Place will bring people together in Northampton town centre to watch locally-connected short and feature-length films, and take part in Q&As and masterclasses with film industry professionals.

Becky Adams, Producer at social enterprise film company Screen Northants says

The theme in 2019 was Coming of Age followed by Kind of a Big Deal for our virtual 2020/2021 festival, and now in 2022 we think you should Know Your Place…. That means knowing there’s a place for you in the film industry if you want it and knowing there’s plenty to celebrate in Northampton.

Northamptonshire filmmakers can now submit their short films for free to a number of different categories

  • Schools Competition with a prize of £2000 worth of filming equipment sponsored by Northampton Town Centre BID
  • Main Short Film Competition for films made by Northamptonshire writers, producers or directors, or filmed in Northants, with both drama and documentaries subcategories
  • and the new Sketchy Link to Northants short film category so NFF can celebrate work from those with a connection to the county even if the link is a little tenuous or outdated, such as having studied here some years ago.

Paul Mills, Producer at Screen Northants, says

Screen Northants have worked with so many talented young people in Northamptonshire over the last 5 years that we thought there should be a platform to show their work and to celebrate their talent. And as we’re Northampton Film Festival, if you are a Northampton school, we are offering free workshops to inspire and equip students to make their own film. We’d urge local schools to get in touch, if they haven’t already, and take advantage of these opportunities kindly supported by Northamptonshire Community Foundation and Northampton Borough Council.

More information on the film competitions can be found on the festival’s website www.northamptonfilmfestival.co.uk

In December Screen Northants are hosting events at their premises in the Grosvenor Centre Northampton where the public can watch previous festival films, meet other local film fans and makers, and learn about NFF. Plus they start their free-to-enter 48hr Film Challenge series. Details are on the festival website.

The Northampton Film Festival has been made possible with support from Film Hub Midlands through funds from the National Lottery. Film Hub Midlands support people to watch, show, and make films in the Midlands. Screen Northants receives on-going support from Northampton Filmhouse and also the Grosvenor Centre where they are based. To find out more visit www.northamptonfilmfestival.co.uk or find @NNFilmFestival or www.facebook.com/NorthamptonFilmFestivalUK on social media.

Hunsbury Hill gets a new community orchard

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Thirty heritage fruit trees will be planted as part of an urban community orchard at the Hunsbury Hill Centre on Tuesday, November 30th, 2021.

Students from the local primary school and Moulton College will be planting apples, pears, damsons, plums, and quince on the grounds of Northamptonshire ACRE, at Harksome Hill. The fruit varieties have been chosen for their historic value and were once grown in orchards across the East Midlands.

The orchard, funded by the Postcode Places Trust and Northampton Rotary, is part of a wider project to restore the beautiful Grade 2 listed farmhouse, outbuildings, and landscape at the Hunsbury Hill Centre.

It’s hoped the planting will provide a beautiful community space for East and West Hunsbury residents and visitors to enjoy, and learn new skills. There are plans for orchard activities and events to take place in future years.

The project is a collaboration with West Hunsbury Parish Council, community group Save Our Street Trees, and urban forester Russell Horsey from Woodland Dwelling – who will be leading the planting day. Northampton Rotary Club has sponsored five trees as part of its centenary celebrations, which will see it plant 100 trees across the town.

Northamptonshire Acre CEO Elaine O’Leary said: “Planting this orchard is the culmination of a long-held wish of the charity. We are delighted to be working with our partners to deliver a wonderful growing space for the benefit of the local community as well as doing our bit for the Queen’s Green Canopy.”

A photocall will take place at 11 am on Tuesday, November 30th, 2021. Please contact Projects Administrator Natasha Jimenez Sanchez at ACRE on natasha.jimenezsanchez@northantsacre.org.uk or telephone 01604 765888.

Shoosmiths Foundation donates £90,000

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LEADING UK law firm Shoosmiths has agreed to donate funds to End Youth Homelessness and Street League charities, awarding a total of £90,000 through the Shoosmiths Foundation.

The Shoosmiths Foundation was launched earlier this year to build upon the law firm’s existing community investment programme, which supports local charity partners through staff fundraising and firm donations, staff volunteering, and the provision of legal advice pro bono. The £90,000 grants support the firm’s strategic aim to advance social mobility, in line with the Shoosmiths social mobility action plan. The Shoosmiths Foundation’s other funding priorities are to advance a carbon net zero UK and promote access to justice in the UK.

End Youth Homelessness (EYH) is a national movement of local charities that have joined forces to tackle the UK’s youth homelessness crisis. It provides a national platform to raise awareness, share experience and generate voluntary income. Its member charities supported over 40,000 homeless young people aged 16-25 last year.

Faye Edmondson, End Youth Homelessness head of fundraising, said:

Nearly 60% of homeless young people are not in education, employment or training when they arrive at their EYH member charity, yet we know that securing a job is the surest route out of homelessness. EYH’s Employability Fund provides 1:1 support to help the young people we work with finish school and get qualifications or a job. We are very grateful to Shoosmiths for such generous support.

Funding from the Shoosmiths Foundation will prove that ‘talent can come from anywhere’. It will:

  • provide 2,174 hours of employability support from employability coaches
  • help circa 41 young people back into EET

Street League’s vision is a society in which all young people have the opportunity of secure employment and a brighter future. Using sport and education, they help young people into work.

Joe Flack, Street League corporate partnerships manager, said

The Shoosmiths Foundation together with Street League will support 53 unemployed young people aged 16-24 living in some of the most deprived communities across Leeds and Sheffield, to gain qualifications they need to secure meaningful job opportunities. This project is a critical intervention at a crucial time, ensuring those already facing disadvantage are not left even further behind.

Simon Boss, Shoosmiths’ chief executive, said:

This funding is provided with the aim of creating fairer and wider opportunities for young people facing homelessness and unemployment across the UK. The Shoosmiths Foundation was established as a grant making body to help address societal issues, to empower sustainable change and to improve the lives of the people and the environment in the UK. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic these donations are more vital than ever. End Youth Homelessness and Street League both reflect the firm’s priority to improve social mobility, and it is an honour to work alongside them as part of our long-standing community commitments.

Further information about the Shoosmiths Foundation can be found here.

Toby Sanders appointment Designate Chief Executive

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Following a robust process, NHS England and NHS Improvement have recommended that Toby Sanders is the new Designate Chief Executive of Northamptonshire’s Integrated Care Board (ICB), ready to take up the post in April 2022 as part of our transition to full Integrated Care System (ICS) status, subject to government legislation.

As Chief Executive of NHS Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Executive Lead of Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership, Toby has consistently proved himself to be an experienced leader who can operate with real energy to lead system partners to create a fully mature, thriving ICS with a strong place-based approach to delivery and local commissioning. I have every confidence that his experience of driving forward the transformation of health and care services across our county will be key in our work of securing the provision of comprehensive, fit-for-purpose services for the people of Northamptonshire.

The Health and Care Bill 2021, which contains a series of measures to formally establish Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), is currently at Committee Stage in Parliament receiving a detailed examination following its second reading.

The Bill will put ICSs on a firm statutory footing, and here in Northamptonshire will formalise our existing local partnership approach to better join up health and care, improve population health and reduce health inequalities.

Our ICB will hold a substantial budget for commissioning high-quality patient care and have the authority to establish performance arrangements to ensure this is delivered.

A key element of preparing for legislation to take effect is confirming who would take up senior roles within each ICB. This started with my appointment as the ICB Chair Designate and continues with today’s announcement regarding the Designate Chief Executive, responsible for NHS budgets and functions, and for working with our full range of partners and local communities to improve services and the health of those we all serve.

Reflecting on his appointment, Toby said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as the Designate Chief Executive for Northamptonshire’s ICB. I believe working together across health and care as an integrated system gives us a real opportunity to make a positive difference to people’s lives in terms of their health outcomes and experience of care.

I’m looking forward to being able to build on the positive relationships between partners that have been strengthened over the last 20 months and to accelerate the development of our local collaborative and place arrangements as the basis of how we will work together to deliver care going forward.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the hard-working health and care staff who are the backbone of our local system and without whom we could not do what we do.

Our local NHS Chairs and the leaders of Northamptonshire’s two unitary councils have offered their congratulations to Toby on his appointment. You can read their comments in the online version of this announcement on the NHCP website.

I am sure, like me, you will look forward to continuing to work with Toby and other colleagues on improving care for the people of Northamptonshire.

The next step will be to recruit Non-Executive Members and Executive Directors to the ICB over the coming weeks and we will keep you informed as this work progresses.

While getting our structures and governance right is crucial, integrated care is about practical, real improvements to care and population health. We thank you for your continued effort to make integrated care a reality, and I will keep you updated as preparations for statutory footing continue.

Sikh Community Centre wins Best Special Project Award 2021

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SCCYC Board members Charanjit Kaur Grewal (Trustee & Elders Services Board) and Rupinder Singh Thind (Board Digital Director) attended the awards ceremony at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery on September 15th.

The ‘Sikh Museum Northampton’ space has been developed to share diverse Sikh and Punjabi heritage exhibitions, and oral histories of the Sikhs of Northampton. The project explores the values that helped the community through migration challenges and settlement and values that helped them to flourish as a community and provide wider benefit to the Town’s communities.

The Museum exhibitions explore core values such as ‘helping those in need’ and ‘equality and inclusion’ that have a positive impact to people’s lives. An educational area has also recently been developed, containing a library and digital learning resources.

Harjinder Kooner, Chair of SCCYC said,

“We are honoured and humbled with yet another recognition award, what a wonderful way to celebrate SCCYC’s 25th Anniversary!” The SCCYC management team would like to thank everyone involved in the development of the Sikh Museum of Northampton. It is a great achievement considering the scale of building work and project work involved in the midst of a pandemic. The Museum is a valuable educational and enjoyable resource, a legacy for the whole town and for future generations. We anticipate and official opening in the new Year, followed by tours, workshops, and heritage events thereafter, with an expected annual footfall of approximately 10,000”.

Martin Lawrence MBE, Chair of Northamptonshire Heritage Forum visited the Sikh Museum to speak to the SCCYC management, and learn about Sikh, Punjabi, and local heritage.

If you would like to help maintain the Museum or get involved in the development of future heritage projects, contact Pindy Kaur, Development Manager, email pindy@watersideconnect.com.

Learning Together – Community ambassador grant fund

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Want to know what Social Prescribing is and how it can impact your work as a health and well-being non-for-profit community group or organisation?

Get a grant of up to £500 to take part in the Learning Together Programme and become an Ambassador of Social Prescribing. You will have the opportunity to learn about Social Prescribing and how it might relate to your work, as well as taking part in online webinars and networking events with others from across the Midlands.

The Learning Together Programme is free to all participants. The ambassador grants are an additional fund, to enable individuals from smaller, user-led voluntary and community organisations to take part. For example, by paying for additional hours so that you have time to take part, or for the cost of equipment or getting online.

Social Prescribing is about helping people engage in non-medical community-based activities which improve their health and wellbeing. Social Prescribing Link Worker posts are now part of NHS Primary Care and the number of roles is growing. Find out what it’s all about and what the opportunities might be for your organisation to connect. Click here to see the online application.

If you have seen this opportunity before, but didn’t know whether to apply please see an updated version with more detail and flexibility for your application. It could take as little as half an hour to apply.

If you have any questions or need the information and application form in a different format, please email midlands.thrivingcommunities@nasp.info

VCSE Online Network

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Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire’s mission is to support Community organisations through advice, information and training. Support volunteering initiatives in all its forms. Provide voice and advocacy for the sector. Deliver and support placed based social action.

Between Apr 2020 to March 2021 VIN, in response to the lockdowns ran a short VCSE Online Network on a fortnightly basis giving organisations at the height of the pandemic a chance to share and network. To see details of these sessions including the audio recording of some of these sessions please click here

We have now started offering a new format that includes

  • Bitesize Training
  • External Guest Speaker
  • Networking

To book your place on any of the VCSE Online Network events click here.

Meeting notes

Enhanced members kick off VINs Leader in You series

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18 Enhanced Member Organisations joined VIN and the Speaker with the Orange Tie (AKA Steve Beccles-Ebusua) at St Crispin’s Community Centre in Northampton on the 23rd September 2021. The first of two sessions from his Leader in You Programme was interactive, full of interesting content and explored the concept of Leadership, what it is, could be and what’s involved. As community based organisations continue to struggle with COVID, reduced Funding and increasing demand, Leadership as a skill is becoming vital. This first session introduced how perception plays a role in Leadership, how conditioning can affect decision making and what staff teams truly value from their Leaders. Feedback included:

“Fantastic Session, very informative and enjoyable and I am looking forward to the next one.”

“Really enjoyed the workshop: Many Thanks.”

“It was great listening to the various different types of leadership which I will seek to implement.”

“Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.  A few hours well spent.”

The second session takes place on Thursday 21st October 10.00am, at St Crispins Community Centre and the Eventbrite Registration Link can be found here.

Please note that these sessions are for organisations who have paid an annual fee to become an Enhanced Member of VIN. If you wish to attend the second session and take advantage of the Enhanced Member Benefits click here