Spring Campaign to tackle litter

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West Northamptonshire Council is springing into action to tackle litter across the area as it launches a new campaign to help reduce littering which blights our streets, roads, and green spaces.

Councillor Phil Larratt states:

It is disappointing that some people show such little regard for the environment and their local community that they drop litter wherever they like.We’re committed to tackling this issue, and it is always heartening to see the great work of our partners, officers and volunteers who work so hard to keep their communities clean and green. We want to do all we can to support their excellent work, as well as encourage and assist other groups to join them. By working together to clean our local area, we send a strong message that littering is anti-social and not acceptable.If you would like to hold litter pick in your community and support the community spring clean please get in touch with us to find out more about borrowing free litter picking equipment.

For more information click here: West Northants Council to tackle litter this spring | West Northamptonshire Council

Invite to Mental Wellbeing Support Workshop

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Following a review of current arrangements for promoting mental wellbeing, both West and North Northamptonshire have concluded that a more strategically aligned delivery option is required.

A joint letter from North Northamptonshire Public Health and West Northamptonshire Public Health was issued on 21st February 2024 stating that each Council would be making separate commissioning arrangements going forward, based on local needs and the specific prevention investment and delivery arrangements that operate in their respective unitary authority areas. In this letter West Northamptonshire Public Health stated that it was planning a half day workshop on Friday 15th March 2024 – 9:00am – 2:00pm at The Great Hall, St Andrews Hospital, Northampton, to work with the wider VCSE sector to co-produce their new service arrangements.

The overall aim of this half day workshop is to inform the development of a service specification and the service delivery arrangements for the VCSE to support the mental health and wellbeing of local people.  This will be achieved through Public Mental Health colleagues working with a variety of differing VCSE stakeholders.

The objectives of the workshop include:

•             Sharing a strategic approach for improving public mental health in the Council area.

•             Sharing key priority areas of the work programmes, which are evidence-based and cost-effective.

•             Sharing some of the principles that will underpin the new service arrangements.

•             Outlining the proposed timeline for the new arrangements.

•             Co-developing ideas on delivery approaches that address strategic outcomes and priorities.

Please see the below link for further details about the workshop and to book a place.

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/westnorthantscouncil/t-xmjkjng

Join VIN on the 1st of May 2024 to discuss Collaboration on Health Inequality.

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VIN is being supported by NHS Partnerships England to deliver an event on Health Inequalities with specific relevance to the Local Area Partnerships and their Inequality themes.

This is a perfect opportunity for the VCSE, Local Authority and Health Practitioners to come together and discuss closer working relationships.

Being held at Kings Park Action Centre, with refreshments and lunch on the 1st of May 2024.

Book your space now by clicking on the attached link: Collaboration in Health Inequalities Tickets, Wed 1 May 2024 at 09:30 | Eventbrite 

If you are interested in involving yourself in the ICS and the Local Area Partnership Health Inequality priorities, or simply want to find out more on what’s happening then this is an event not to be missed.

There are only 60 VCSE spaces available and 21 have been taken already. So, book now to avoid disappointment.

The Road Ahead 2024

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NCVO have just released their latest publication entitled the Road Ahead 2024.

The publication cites the challenges that the VCSE sector faces, but also highlights the potential opportunities on offer.

NVCO identify 3 headline themes:

A general election brings uncertainty, inertia but also an opportunity to lobby and define a new space with central government.

Challenging economic times are set to continue with demand increasing and supply possibly restricting.

Charities must embrace innovate technology to perform their duties and deliver services to their beneficiaries.

Their insights can be viewed here: The Road Ahead 2024: Opportunities and challenges for the voluntary sector | NCVO

Public Trust in Charities

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Public trust and confidence is a governance challenge that all charities face, whether large or small.

NCVO note: 

Because the charity sector depends on donations and support from individuals, businesses, local and national government, and exists to deliver charitable purposes for public benefit, it’s imperative they demonstrate their impact and show that they are acting with integrity.

The latest Charity Commission research shows that charities saw a significant fall in public trust in 2016-18. Concerningly, at one point they were less well trusted by the public than an ordinary person in the street. However, headline trust in charities has recovered since 2018, while many other institutions have seen falls in trust in the last couple of years. As a result, charities are now more trusted than most other institutions, more than the police, but less than doctors.

Other headline themes include:

  • Negative actions by a single charity can impact the public perception of charities generally. When one charity mismanages funds, acts unethically or is involved in a scandal, it can affect charities everywhere.
  • While trust in charities has improved since 2016, there is still a gap between different communities. The most affluent and diverse communities have the highest trust in charities, while the least affluent and diverse communities have the lowest trust.
  • As a regulator, the Charity Commission is responsible for demonstrating the impact of charities to the public, and ensuring charities are acting within the law.
  • Public trust in charities is complex and nuanced but it’s especially impacted by how responsibly funds are used, whether they act ethically and whether they can demonstrate impact.

 

  • Trustee boards must ensure that they understand and can identify conflicts of interest.
  • Trustee boards should familiarise themselves with their statutory duties, as set out in the Charity Commission’s 5-minute guides.

VIN runs training courses on Trustee Governance, the Charity Governance Code and Demonstrating Social Impact. If any organisation requires a bespoke session on these subjects contact info@voluntaryimpact.org.uk in the first instance and we will be in touch.

Grant Funding for Volunteering – Round 3

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West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has launched a third round of grant funding which aims to create additional volunteering opportunities in West Northants.

Local charities, voluntary or community groups, clubs, community interest companies, and not for profit organisations are invited to apply for a grant up to £1,500 to recruit new volunteers for use for projects which address a local community need.

For more information click here: Third round of grant funding launched to help recruit volunteers in West Northants | West Northamptonshire Council

Further information and the full criteria for applications can be found on the WNC website and in the Council’s Community Funding Grants Framework.

If you would like an application form or wish to speak to the Community Funding Grants Team about your project or your eligibility to apply for this grant simply E Mail: communitygrants@westnorthants.gov.uk including your contact telephone number. 

More information about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) can be on the Gov website.

Do you want to be a Trustee at VIN.

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Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire (VIN) is looking to expand its current Board by 2 new members. If you are interested in volunteering and want a Trustee role to develop your skills or abilities then we would be interested to hear from you.

Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire is a local charity and Infrastructure Organisation based in Northampton. It started life as a Volunteer Bureau and has developed over time to provide a range of services, including community advice, training, and support.

The current Trustee Board consists of 7 volunteers, and we are looking to increase that number.

For more information about our organisation please visit: www.voluntaryimpact.org.uk

Trustees are required to attend on average 6 Meetings per Year plus the Annual AGM. These are currently held virtually via Zoom or in person at our offices in St Giles Street.

 

Role Specification:

 

A commitment to the mission of Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire.

A willingness to meet the minimum time requirement.

An ability to think creatively and strategically.

An ability to work as part of a Board.

An ability to make decisions which are often difficult and challenging.

The board of Trustees collectively need skills and experience in the following areas:

Fundraising.

Marketing.

Human Resources.

This should not preclude volunteers from applying who do not possess the above skill sets. Our constitution allows us a Board of 15 as a maximum.

A basic induction is provided. For more information or an informal discussion please contact the VIN CEO on 07592 501770 or at Russell.rolph@voluntaryimpact.org.uk

Park Visitors Survey – West Northamptonshire

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West Northants Council manages over 160 parks and open spaces. Parks and open spaces provide vital opportunities for recreation, contributing to the physical and mental health of the people of West Northamptonshire as well as being important for habitats, supporting local wildlife and biodiversity.

The Council would like to know your thoughts on certain major parks that exist in West Northamptonshire. If you would like to comment on more than one park, please complete a separate survey for each park. All of the Parks are listed in the attached link which can be found here: West Northamptonshire Parks Visitors Feedback Survey – West Northamptonshire Council – Citizen Space

Local Area Partnerships in West Northamptonshire

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Local Area Partnerships (LAPS) are now up and running across West Northamptonshire. In total, there are 9 LAPS covering Northampton, Daventry, and South Northants.

Details on these can be found by clicking on this link: West Northamptonshire Local Area Partnerships | Live your best life (wpcomstaging.com)Each LAP is made up of organisations that are working together in Partnership to provide services for their local communities.

Sir Keir Starmer to outline Labour’s vision for the charity sector at Pro Bono Economics (PBE) event.

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  • Labour leader to deliver keynote speech joined by 17 shadow ministers.
  • Major summit to be attended by 150 charity leaders.
  • Charities vital to solving big issues facing UK today, says PBE.
  • New polling shows public agree – they are five times more likely to trust charities than government to understand key issues affecting them.
  • Charities being asked to do more than ever, but with £1.7bn less in government funding and significant drop in volunteers.
  • Next government needs strategy to unleash sector’s full potential.

Sir Keir Starmer will outline his vision for how the charity sector can help deliver Labour’s five missions for Britain in government, as part of a major Pro Bono Economics (PBE) event on Monday (January 22).

The Labour leader will deliver the keynote speech to 150 charity leaders at the Labour and Civil Society Summit in central London and will be joined at the event by 17 shadow ministers, including frontbenchers Wes Streeting, Yvette Cooper and Bridget Phillipson.

It marks the first time in more than a decade that a major party leader in Britain has set out a vision for the charity sector and comes as new polling shows the British public are five times more likely to trust charities, rather than government, to understand the key issues affecting them.

As public services continue to come under mounting strain, the nation’s charities are being asked to do more than ever to support the most vulnerable in society. But in the wake of the pandemic and subsequent cost of living crisis, the sector now receives £1.7 billion less in government funding than it did in 2009/10. There has also been a significant drop in volunteers in recent years, with around 4 million fewer regular volunteers in England post-pandemic.

With no clear vision for the sector set out by a political leader since David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ in 2010, PBE is calling for the next government to treat the sector as a strategic partner equal to UK business, rather than simply a lowest-cost provider of public services, in order to unleash its full potential.

A new YouGov poll of the public, conducted for PBE and the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), found that more than a third (36%) of people think that charities are best-placed to understand the issues affecting people in the UK today, more than five times the number of people who think the government is best-placed

Overall, almost six in 10 (59%) adults in the UK think that government should listen more to charities when thinking about the long-term challenges facing the country, with just 5% saying it should listen less.

And nearly a third (32%) think that government should encourage more wealthy people to support charities, while three in 10 (30%) say that charities should be more involved in decision-making.

Matt Whittaker, CEO of Pro Bono Economics, said:

“The UK’s charities are essential to solving the major challenges we face as a country today. They are equally pivotal to both Rishi Sunak’s five pledges as Prime Minister and Keir Starmer’s five missions for a Labour government.

“The public recognise the importance of the sector and have greater faith in the country’s charities than policymakers at present. Our new polling finds that the public are five times more likely to trust charities, rather than government, to understand the key issues affecting them.

“Yet Keir Starmer’s speech today is the first time a political leader in the UK has set out a strategic vision for how the sector can serve as a partner to government since David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ concept in 2010. Since then, the sector has changed enormously and now has a workforce totalling just shy of 1 million.

“While it has grown in size and become ever more vital to supporting the most vulnerable in society, the charity sector has had to deal with £1.7 billion less government funding in real terms and 4 million fewer volunteers over the same period.

“Charities sit at the centre of everything the nation aspires to – from the health of the economy to the quality of life we enjoy. It is vital then that the government which comes to power following the next general election does what it can to help the sector unleash its full potential.”