The ICB endorses the VCSE Memorandum

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On the 20th of October 2022, the Integrated Care Board (or ICB) endorsed and ratified the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the ICS and the VCSE. This follows previous endorsements by both Health and Wellbeing Boards (North and South) in September of 2022. The Memorandum can be viewed here for those who have not seen it previously. This places the VCSE is an excellent position within Northamptonshire. Whilst the Memorandum is a set of high-level ambitions and aspirations, it clearly challenges the system to work with Voluntary and Community organisations who are brokers into their communities, conduits for engagement and the deliverer of services. VIN will be working to deliver a set of Impact Statements around the MOU and a process for 360-degree evaluation about how effective system wide VCSE engagement and co-production has been. Watch this space for more information as the ICS journey continues.

Local Area Partnerships – The story so far

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West Northamptonshire Council begin to build the Local Area Partnership journey as part of the Integrated Care System. Two pioneering Partnerships known as LAPS are being developed in N4 (Northampton) and DSN4 (Towcester). The North are doing likewise in Corby and Kettering.

The Slide Deck which can be seen here demonstrates the Operating Model that will be used within these LAPS, and the clinical and health related issues which (based on Insight Data) are being viewed as Priorities.

VCSE organisations should read the Slide Deck in detail as they may be required to contribute to these LAP programmes at some stage in the future.

In addition to this, the overarching Integrated Care Partnership Strategy is being developed, and VCSE organisations should watch this space for its final iteration. Ther may be some engagement on this Strategy in late October or early November 2022.

Keep returning to our What’s New Section of the Website for further developments on the ICS story.

Emerging Talent Centre Coach

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NTFC  Community Trust are looking for a new Emerging Talent Centre Coach. You can find more information here.

To apply or for more information, please contact charlene.wardgreef@ntfc.co.uk

State of the Sector Report

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Earlier this year we asked VCSE organisations to get fill in our State of the Sector Survey. We have put together our findings into a report which can be found here. The case study appendix can also be found here. 

The Lloyds Bank Foundation pledge

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This week The Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales unveiled ‘Building a Better Future‘, a five-year strategy prioritising equity, diversity, and inclusion, and committing to helping small charities become more resilient, communities to grow stronger, and people to overcome complex issues and barriers so they can transform their lives.

In ‘Building a Better Future’, the Foundation acknowledges the barriers people face because of their gender, ethnicity, nationality, disability, which it says are worsened for people dealing with complex issues that don’t have simple solutions, such as homelessness or domestic abuse.

Building on learnings from its Reaching Further strategy, learning report published on its website, the Foundations 2022-26 plan will focus on small, local, and specialist charities with an income of £25,000 – £500,000. It states that because of their size and in-depth understanding of the communities they serve, these charities are best placed to reach, engage, and support people and where the Foundation’s combination of unrestricted funding and capacity-building support will have the greatest impact.

By supporting these charities – which it argues are too often underfunded, under pressure and underrepresented – with flexible, unrestricted grants of £75,000 over three years, Lloyds Bank Foundation will provide charities with greater stability and freedom to use funds as they see best, particularly in the current climate.

Over the last two years, Lloyds Bank Foundation has worked to address racial inequity and it builds on this commitment by allocating at least 25 per cent of its core funding to charities led by and for Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. Another 25 per cent will be committed to charities led by and for D/deaf and disabled people. The Foundation is working closely with charities led by and for these communities on developing these programmes ahead of launching next year.

Recognising the challenges facing small charities, people and communities, the Foundation will also increase its capacity development offer, which helps charities build and strengthen skills and knowledge so they can set and achieve their objectives and secure funding elsewhere. The capacity development program also maximises the Foundation’s partnership with Lloyds Banking Group, which brings together individuals and teams from the Group to offer volunteering opportunities, mentoring and skills sharing with charities the Foundation supports.

The Foundation will continue to work with organisations across civil society to influence policy and practice, focusing on seeking to secure change in three critical issues for people and charities: improving the availability of accommodation, the operation of the welfare system, and the support provided to refugees and asylum seekers.

To create more space and opportunities for charities to work together and with other partners at the local level, the Foundation will also launch a distinct funding and support programme encouraging impactful partnerships to help influence local systems, practices, and policy and improve people’s lives. Details of how to get involved in this work will be announced next year. The Foundation will continue partnering with six communities across England and Wales to support long-term transformational change.

The Foundation has been working closely with charities to develop its funding programmes.

Further details will be announced with the application opening from November 2022.

For more information visit www.lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk/about-us/our-strategy

To read more about the Foundations learnings, visit www.lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk/we-influence/research/lessons-for-funder-practice

Workplace Mental Health

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Workplace mental health and well-being has been a focus of much media attention during the pandemic.  The Enterprise Research Centre (ERC) tracked how 237 firms or charities across the Midlands (including Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire) experienced and dealt with mental health and well-being issues through the duration of that pandemic. They interviewed business leaders or CEOs in each firm or charity in each year during the pandemic.

In 2020, interviews were completed immediately prior to the first UK lock-down in March which provided a pre-Covid baseline.

In 2021 (between January and April) the survey was repeated during the 3rd national lockdown in England, a period when many employees were working from home and many more were on furlough.

In 2022 the same firms or charities were re-contacted between January and April, a period after the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in England (July 2021) and the end of the furlough scheme in September 2021.

The Insight Report and its conclusions can be seen here: ¬¬X (enterpriseresearch.ac.uk)

Community Warm Spaces

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As part of West Northamptonshire’s Anti-Poverty Strategy, the Warm Spaces Cross Sector Project Team are looking to provide a network of warm spaces to support residents of West Northamptonshire who are struggling with the cost of living this winter and are keen to work with community groups and organisations that would be able to provide warm welcoming spaces within their community.

By working with Local Partnerships across the West, the Local Authority can highlight existing provision and any gaps to create a Warm Spaces Directory that can be accessed by residents.

Community and Voluntary Organisations are encouraged to register their community space by completing the form here: https://forms.office.com/r/EHJpfj9uCF

As this is a fast-paced project organisations are encouraged to return the form by October 12th, 2022, if possible.

Group Support

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 VIN has always provided information and advice to VCSE organisations both large and small.

Group Support will now be provided by Alison Hodson at 2 days per month and starting from September 2022 through to March 2023.

If your organisation requires support, then please E Mail VIN at groupsupport@voluntaryimpact.org.uk in the first instance and Alison will be in touch. When E Mailing please explain the nature of your query and the information or advice you may need.

VIN can offer information on advice on a range of subjects which include:

Governance

Constitutions

Writing Effective Funding Applications

Fundraising

Bank Account queries

Trustees Responsibilities and Much More..!! 

This information and advice service is separate to any Training courses that me may provide. Please also remember that a range of free Resources are available at our website: www.voluntaryimpact.org.uk

 

The story of Brad and Happy @ Home

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Brad lives alone, he is 77 years old and has severe heart problems which affects all aspects of his life.   His mobility is very poor, and he can only walk a few steps before he becomes breathless.  As a younger person Brad worked locally in the boot and shoe Industry. He lost his dear wife some years ago and one of his children.

His mental health has been severely affected not only by his losses and his illness, but also by his living arrangements and this is the issue that he had desperately been asking for help with. Brad lived in the bottom half of a house owned by the council.  The top half of the house had been sold by the council to younger people.  He experienced difficulty getting in and out of his home due to rubbish being stored along the side of the property where he kept his scooter.  He was also disturbed (day and night) on a regular basis by loud music.  Brad’s home was no longer his safe place!

Brad’s flat had many problems.  Mold and damp were all over his bedroom walls, and stains appeared on his kitchen ceiling due to leaks from properties above. His internal doors wouldn’t close which made it difficult to contain the heat in the drafty rooms.  His bathroom was not fit for purpose as he had difficulty getting in and out of the bath due to his mobility issues. His mobility scooter which couldn’t be kept inside the property as it was deemed a fire hazard was stolen from outside his home.

He desperately wanted to move into a bungalow that would be more suitable for someone with his mobility challenges. 

Brad was referred to Happy@Home Northampton by Social Services who believed that having a volunteer befriender to talk to might help Brad cope with his circumstances!

Happy at Home | Voluntary Impact Northampton

One of our Happy@Home Coordinators Roz contacted Brad to discuss our befriending service and to arrange a home visit. Roz was disturbed to see the hostile environment in which Brad was living, and to learn that nothing appeared to be happening to rectify his situation.                                          

Roz notes that during her two visits with Brad he was upset and in tears. 

With Brad’s consent Roz put pen to paper and contacted his local MP and social worker.

And now, after some time Brad is in his new home, a home where the doors all close, a home with a bathroom he can actually use and a home where he can relax and talk to his neighbours.  He doesn’t need a befriender as he can get out and about on his replacement scooter and he uses the buses on a regular basis. 

Brad states:

This has changed my life: I feel free of all the problems I had with the old house.  I have no roads to cross as the bus stop is right outside my door: I am sleeping better as well – I am grateful to Roz as she really got things moving for me.   

Brads story is also the story of our Happy @ Home Befriending service. Sometimes people just need a little extra help and support, and our team is there to provide that.

The passing of Queen Elizabeth

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As you will now be aware Queen Elizabeth has passed and we now have a new King in Charles.

Please find attached some useful links relating to the National Period of Mourning, which includes a bank holiday for the Queens Funeral, which has now been agreed as the 19th of September 2022.

  • This gives advice on travelling into and out of London-

 Travel advice for the mourning period – Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk)

  • This is general advice for businesses throughout the mourning period-

 The Demise of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: National Mourning Guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

  • This is advice regarding the funeral day itself which has been confirmed as a Bank Holiday on Monday 19thSeptember-

 Bank holiday announced for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral on Monday 19 September – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)